Tom Fletcher

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B.C. Premier John Horgan listens as Finance Minister Selina Robinson presents the province’s latest budget, April 20, 2021. The budget forecasts $19 billion in deficits over three years. (Hansard TV)

B.C. budget deficit $5.5 billion, less than half last year’s forecast

Province’s COVID-19 spending tops $10 billion for 2020-21

B.C. Premier John Horgan listens as Finance Minister Selina Robinson presents the province’s latest budget, April 20, 2021. The budget forecasts $19 billion in deficits over three years. (Hansard TV)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix update B.C.’s COVID-19 situation from the Vancouver cabinet offices, Sept. 17, 2020. (B.C. government)

B.C.’s COVID-19 daily cases jump to 150 Tuesday, mostly in Interior

Now 783 active infections province-wide as walk-in clinics gear up

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix update B.C.’s COVID-19 situation from the Vancouver cabinet offices, Sept. 17, 2020. (B.C. government)
Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, spokesperson for the B.C. RCMP, speaks to Emergency Management B.C. briefing, July 27, 2021. (B.C. government video)

Follow local evacuation orders, B.C. Wildfire Service urges

Crews, aircraft diverted to rescue holdouts trapped by fires

Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, spokesperson for the B.C. RCMP, speaks to Emergency Management B.C. briefing, July 27, 2021. (B.C. government video)
The majority of new infections in B.C. are now among people who have not had two doses of vaccine. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)

Most new B.C. COVID-19 cases are now among unvaccinated people

‘Walk-in-Wednesday’ immunization set for clinics on Aug. 4

The majority of new infections in B.C. are now among people who have not had two doses of vaccine. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)
B.C. currently has 250 active wildfires, as weather forecast continues hot and dry across the southern half of the province. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

B.C.’s active wildfires fall to 250, evacuation orders up to 61

Area burned reaches one third of 2018 record season

B.C. currently has 250 active wildfires, as weather forecast continues hot and dry across the southern half of the province. (B.C. Wildfire Service)
B.C. Premier John Horgan congratulates provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on her management of the COVID-19 pandemic as restrictions are about to lift, June 30, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

Ferry terminal, Agrifair host B.C. COVID-19 vaccination clinics

New infections level off below 100 a day on weekend

B.C. Premier John Horgan congratulates provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on her management of the COVID-19 pandemic as restrictions are about to lift, June 30, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Firefighter lights a back-burn to interrupt the spread of a B.C. forest fire in the summer of 2017. Preventive burns have been advocated since after the 2003 Okanagan Mountain fires. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

B.C. forest fuel load becoming priority after decades of warnings

Prescribed burning urged since 2003 Okanagan wildfires

Firefighter lights a back-burn to interrupt the spread of a B.C. forest fire in the summer of 2017. Preventive burns have been advocated since after the 2003 Okanagan Mountain fires. (B.C. Wildfire Service)
Construction of a nature-like fishway past the Big Bar landslide, March 2021. (B.C. government)

Salmon getting through B.C.’s Big Bar landslide, runs rebounding

Early Stuart sockeye run expected near average after low years

Construction of a nature-like fishway past the Big Bar landslide, March 2021. (B.C. government)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry visits the Interior Health region in late June, 2021 to say thank you to health care workers. (Penticton Western News)

B.C.’s COVID-19 spread rises, 112 more cases confirmed Friday

Interior Health region infections higher than Lower Mainland

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry visits the Interior Health region in late June, 2021 to say thank you to health care workers. (Penticton Western News)
Cultus Lake Water Park is among the attractions receiving COVID-19 recovering funds in B.C. (Black Press files)

B.C. COVID-19 fund supports 83 tourist attractions, bus companies

Butchart Gardens, Hells Gate, water parks among recipients

Cultus Lake Water Park is among the attractions receiving COVID-19 recovering funds in B.C. (Black Press files)
A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is administered at a clinic in Vancouver on March 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS

B.C. sees 89 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, active infections rising

No deaths or health care outbreaks as vaccination continues

A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is administered at a clinic in Vancouver on March 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS
Firefighters ignite back-burn on the Deka Lake wildfire near 100 Mile House, July 5, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

RCMP add officers to help with B.C. Interior wildfire evacuations

North receives rain, no relief in sight for southern areas

Firefighters ignite back-burn on the Deka Lake wildfire near 100 Mile House, July 5, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Service)
B.C. Premier John Horgan, right, walks with Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam in Okanagan Falls, March 2019. Horgan’s NDP government has emphasized value added production and redistribution of Crown timber licences. (Penticton Western News)

Record B.C. lumber profits should go to wildfire fight, Horgan says

Prices have plummeted from May peak, supply tightening

B.C. Premier John Horgan, right, walks with Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam in Okanagan Falls, March 2019. Horgan’s NDP government has emphasized value added production and redistribution of Crown timber licences. (Penticton Western News)
B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions from reporters at the B.C. legislature, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

B.C.’s minimum working age going from 12 to 16 in October

Some recreation, farm, administrative, retail jobs allowed at 14

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions from reporters at the B.C. legislature, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry prepares a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic, April 21, 2020. (B.C. Government)

B.C.’s COVID-19 infection creeps up, 78 new cases Wednesday

Hospitalization remains low, no deaths or care home outbreaks

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry prepares a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic, April 21, 2020. (B.C. Government)
Trozzo Creek fire 7.5 km northeast of Winlaw in the B.C. Kootenay region, July 17, 2021. As of July 21 the fire is estimated at 1,100 hectares, out of control but not threatening structures. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

Stay out of B.C. back country while fire risk high, Horgan urges

State of emergency is to help move people out of danger

Trozzo Creek fire 7.5 km northeast of Winlaw in the B.C. Kootenay region, July 17, 2021. As of July 21 the fire is estimated at 1,100 hectares, out of control but not threatening structures. (B.C. Wildfire Service)
Fraser Health registered nurse Ramn Manan draws a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a walk-up vaccination clinic at Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, May 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. reaches 80% COVID-19 vaccination starts for 12 and older

76 new cases reported Tuesday, no deaths or outbreaks

Fraser Health registered nurse Ramn Manan draws a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a walk-up vaccination clinic at Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, May 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. forest firefighters head into an area south of Lytton to perform a back-burn, June 17, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

B.C. declares state of emergency over wildfire season, preparing for potential ‘mass evacuation’

High winds forecast for Interior and across southern regions

B.C. forest firefighters head into an area south of Lytton to perform a back-burn, June 17, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Service)
Witness gathering at the B.C. legislature in response to 215 unmarked graves located at Kamloops residential school, June 8, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. approves search funds for 18 residential schools, 3 hospitals

Program includes community mental health services

Witness gathering at the B.C. legislature in response to 215 unmarked graves located at Kamloops residential school, June 8, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Faydra Aldridge, CEO of the B.C. Schizophrenia Society, speaks at a funding announcement July 20, 2021. (B.C. government video)

B.C. psychosis intervention to expand with 100 care providers

Regional mental health programs to include rural outreach

Faydra Aldridge, CEO of the B.C. Schizophrenia Society, speaks at a funding announcement July 20, 2021. (B.C. government video)