B.C. to end state of emergency as wildfire risk winds down
Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Sep, 2023 05:12 PM
The British Columbia government says it is ending the state of emergency imposed last month when thousands of residents were chased out of their homes by wildfires.
The government says in a statement the wildfire risk is diminishing in much of the province as temperatures cool, allowing most residents to return home.
On global markets, the price of grains, vegetable oil, dairy and other agricultural commodities has fallen steadily for months. But the relief hasn't made it to the real world of shopkeepers, street vendors and families trying to make ends meet.
Chief economist Bob Duggan says home ownership will be less affordable in the near-term because of higher mortgage rates and high price levels. He also expects rental affordability will likely decline as well.
The River Forecast Centre website says temperatures are expected to be at least 10 degrees above normal for many areas of the province right through the weekend before cooler weather and rain arrive next week.
Mayor Ken Sim says the community has called the cost of parking a barrier to visiting and doing business in Chinatown. The new flat rate will take effect June 1st and run from 9 a-m to 10 p-m, seven days a week.
Lawyers for Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston argued last October that the men were wrongfully denied a chance to give evidence about "egregious" police misconduct and cruel in-custody treatment that tainted their convictions.
Falcon told the Legislature Wednesday that instead of removing school portables, the numbers have doubled in six years of NDP government and some schools are now considering placing portables on top of each other, creating "double-decker portables."