Victoria Viewpoints: Thursday-Friday, December 22-23, 2022

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for  Thursday-Friday, December 22-23, 2022

BC's Holiday Weather horror show

Flight disruptions expected to extend as holiday weekend storm hits British Columbia Ontario and Quebec 

Stormy winter weather wreaks havoc on Canadians' holiday plans from coast to coast  

Bridges close, flights suspended across Southwest BC as winter storm slowly transitions to rain

Are the roads salted? Various factors can determine how salt is used when a storm hits 

BC drivers warned to stay off roads amid dire warnings about snow and freezing rain

A travel nightmare before Christmas in Vancouver as ice hits bridges, SkyTrain line

Lower Mainland bridges close due to winter conditions Friday

Ferry cancellations, highway headaches as snow and ice hit BC interior, Vancouver Island

Weather conditions causing problems for TransLink Friday

YVR putting hundreds of stranded passengers up in hotels amid storm delays 

BC warned of 'considerable' avalanche risk in midst of winter storm

BCAA expects up to 5,000 calls across BC, Yukon, Northwest Territories in extreme weather 

Southern Vancouver Island under flood watch, high streamflow advisory for South Coast

BC Transit suspends service in Central Fraser Valley due to freeing rain, driving conditions

WestJet cancelling flights across Canada amid storm: "Unlike anything we've ever experirenced'

BC Ferries cancels multiple Friday sailings as winter storm bears down on South Coast

A travel nightmare before Christmas in Vancouver as ice hits bridges, SkyTrain line

BC drivers warned to stay off roads amid dire warnings about snow and freezing rain

Winter storms, freezing rain and extreme cold forecast as weather warnings blanket BC

More snow ahead for parts of BC Interior, North, while avalanche risk prompts warnings, highway closure

More than 300 flights cancelled at Vancouver airport during the latest winter storm 

Winter storm causes travel disruptions, outages on Vancouver Island

Port Mann, Alex Fraser bridges closed, Transit disruptions nearly fully cleared, Air Canada, WestJet suspend flights in and out of YVR

Vancouver airport travellers in limbo as snow grounds YVR flights

Flights at YYJ cancelled, BC Ferries sailings going ahead, limited bus service resumes

Snow, ice pellets, freezing rain, rain: prepare for power outages, cancelled flights and ferry sailings

Many taxis, ride-share vehicles not operating in poor road conditions 

WestJet cancels long list of Victoria International Airport flights 

Snow and ice pound mid-to-north Vancouver Island, power outages still possible

Winter weather snarls Island travel plans just before Christmas

WestJet cancels flights at Victoria, Nanaimo, Comox airports ahead of storm

Thousands without power in Tofino, Ucluelet amid Highway 4 shutdown

Globe and Mail

Salvation Army's in-person Christmas feast returns for Vancouver's most needy after pandemic halt 

Ambulance service in BC's Lower Mainland had almost 100 calls in queue waiting for assigned units

For BC patient, last minute surgery cancellation  raises fears of cancer spread 

Surrey Police Service asks BC to reject city's request to hall policing transfer

CBC

Homeless man found dead in Northwestern BC tent camp following freezing night 

Vaccine cuts risk of influenza illness by about half, BCCDC finds

BC sees slight decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations 

Northern Health doctor rings alarm of rising flu cases among children in Prince George

Indigenous woman recounts incident of racist threats on remote stretch of BC highway

BC residents battle frozen pipes from extreme cold

BC shelters burnin people away in the middle of housing crisis

Overnight fire destroys Shelter Restaurant in Tofino

Surrey Police Service submits reports in bid to convince province to continue transition from RCMP

BC Hydro reports all-time record for peak hourly demand as temperatures plummet across province 

Canfor reduces Prince George pulp mill operation leaving 200 plus people off work for 4 weeks

David Eby promises more than 'just words' for British Columbians in 2023

CRAB Park residents hunker down as extreme winter weather blankets camp

Vancouver Sun 

Climate change could force snow-clearing rethink

Surrey Police Service asks province to block disbanding municipal force

Professional drivers in big demand in BC, but face treacherous weather conditions 

This year's vaccines effective against key strain of flu: BCCDC

Trans Mountain pipeline fine for bird disturbances upheld while penalty slashed

Victoria Times-Colonist 

Winter storm causes supply problems at grocery stores and gas stations 

Islands only west-coast inter-city bus service to be suspended in January 

Shelter restaurant in Tofino destroyed by fire

Nanaimo provisional budget includes 7.3% tax increase

BC pauses electricity connections for crypto mining, citing 'massive' consumption 

Victoria News

Island Health consolidates urgent care for Christmas Day

Tips to curb recycling needs this Christmas wit Greater Victoria pickup on hold

CVRD urged to ask province for environmental assessment of Bamberton projects 

Social Services cheques stuck in the mail due to weather; many won't arrive until after Christmas

'Near misses' Greater Victoria plowers beg driver to not pass them

BC Transit to beef up Victoria bus routes starting in new year

Global

Port Hardy Hospital emergency department closed overnight for 18 day holiday stretch 

Early results show flu vaccine more than 50% effective: BCCDC

COVID-19 cases in BC Hospitals hit one-month low

New Ministry launching 18 month review of BC's emergency management strategy 

BC paramedics' union 'optimistic' amid movement at bargaining table

BC Hydro sees record demand for electricity during province-wide cold snap

Canadian doctors raise alarm as Iranian healthcare workers targeted by regime 

Penalty slashed but Trans Mountain pipeline fine for bird disturbances upheld

The Tyee                                                                   

Holy Christmas, it's been a tough year

Is Santa real?

A promising new way to prevent HIV infections 

What should Premier Eby do to solve the Housing crisis?

The 'Top Employer' where workers kept dying

Why I stopped giving to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank

David Eby on what must change in BC

CHEK TV

Nanaimo woman waited more than an hour for BC Ambulance to arrive 

People with mobility issues call for change as Greater Victoria bus stops piled with snow

Fireworks set off, break in attempt reported at Dashwood fire station

Miscellaneous

In person Christmas feast returns for Vancouver's most needy after pandemic halt