Victoria Viewpoints: Saturday-Monday, July 15-17, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for   Saturday-Monday, July 15-17, 2023 

British Columbia Port Workers Strike

Archive of notes on the labour dispute available here.

BC Wildfires

First troops arrive in BC for wildfire fight, as helicopters and Hercules plane readied  

BC Coroner issues safety alert over wildfire smoke after child's death 

Canada sees 100,000 square kilometres burned this record-breaking wildfire season 

Death of nine year old boy sparks safety alert over wildfire smoke from BC coroner 

BC sets all time record for area burned with months left in wildfire season 

Evacuations, flight cancellations as 100 hectare wildfire burns near Cranbrook 

Coroner investigating death of BC child with asthma in midst of wildfire season 

'A drop in the bucket': Monday's minimal rain makes no dent in BC drought, wildfire fight 

Wildfire spotted near Lake Okanagan Resort; boaters asked to stay away from water bombers  

181 fires in Kamloops Fire Centre to date; Bush Creek remains larges tin region 

More than a dozen new blazes in BC since Sunday 

Almost 900 wildfires burning across Canada as provinces and territories set record temperatures 
A 19 year old BC firefighter killed as wildfires continue to burn 

'Like a nuclear bomb went off': BC musician raced to beat Highway 20 closure as wildfire closed in

Military begins deployment, highway to Bella Coola closed as hundreds of wildfires burn across BC

Boy 9, died of asthma attack made worse by wildfire smoke, parents say 

Some particles can change DNA, cause cancer, says BC scientist of wildfire health risk

Cranbrook airport cancels flights due to nearby wildfire 

Behind the scenes in an unprecedented wildfire season 

100 Mile House boy's death linked to wildfire smoke, BC Health officials warn 

2023 has become BC's worst ever wildfire season 

'The heart of us': Colleagues and family honour fallen BC Firefighter Devyn Gale

Human caused wildfire extinguished in Port Alberni  

Globe and Mail

Western Provinces vying to fill Russell Browns empty seat o the Supreme Court of Canada 

Dogs trained to detect potentially deadly superbug at BC hospitals 

BC home builders say construction costs and high interest rates are hobbling them 

Canadian couple spend honeymoon raising awareness about Democracy in Hong Kong 

CBC

Why Ottawa's decisions over the future of the RCMP could impact BC's own decision in Surrey

BC promises $3M to expand program that partners cops with health-care providers 

End to Fraser Valley bus strike may be in sight as non recommends accepting mediator's proposal 

2 sailings cancelled on major route as BC Ferries vessel taken out of service again

BC residents 'hack' unaffordable housing by partnering up to buy homes 

BC man fired from job after saving moose calf on the highway 

Vancouver Island business owners distressed over additional delays with more Highway 4 closures 

BC farmers test game changing cherries developed by federal lab 

BC family searches for stem cell donor to save child with rare neurological disease 

Vancouver Sun 

Federal government eyes RCMP's future as a national force, may drop contract policing for small communities  

Shaken BC judge repeatedly notes 'no one did anything' as children horribly abused

Drugs, Firearms, and 4,000 marijuana plants seized from Abbotsford grow-op 

Rotting boats, old American floating bridge blemishes on the beauty of BC's Alouette and Pitt rivers 

Police identify man stabbed to death in Mission 

BC man says he doesn't regret saving a moose calf off the side of a highway despite losing his job 

Social media rumours led to vigilante attacks, say Dawson Creek RCMP

Victoria Times-Colonist 

Mobile West Shore team to pair police with health care workers for crisis calls 

BC stops collecting vaccine status information from health-care colleges 

Pacific Coastal announces direct Victoria-Kamloops flights 

Two sailings cancelled amid more Coastal Celebration mechanical problems 

Highway 4 back open after wind-related closure 

Rain won't offer much relief to BC's historic drought conditions 

Dogs trained to detect potentially deadly superbug at BC Hospitals 

Coast Guard practices near Ucluelet for Oil Spill response 

Pay parking on Tofino streets comes into effect Monday 

Port Renfrew fishers chocked by sudden chinook salmon cuts 

Victoria News

Greater Victoria's $775M wastewater plat still seeing odour complaints  

Dogs trained to detect potentially deadly superbug at BC hospitals 

Immediate safety concerns found at Oak Bay marina, plus $12M in repairs 

BC Ferries cancels Victoria route sailings, warns of more cancellations 

UVic develops program to combat Greater Victoria French teacher shortage 

Island Health program opens doors to health-care careers 

Uncertainties remain for Island Mill employees amid curtailment  

Heat dome deemed deadliest and among costliest disasters in BC history: report

BC expands crises response teams to 9 communities 

BC's Children's Minister remains 'committed to her work amid resignation calls 

Annual funding finds stability for BC's ground search and rescue teams 

Report finds 'breadth of sexual harassment at BC Ambulance Service 

Global

BC promised a 'Silver Alert' system for missing seniors with dementia. Where is it?

'Fitting in well': Rescued moose calf in good shape at northern BC wildlife centre

Ongoing Highway 4 work, closures cause new headaches for Vancouver Island communities 

Mike Farnworth to announce final decision on policing in Surrey on Wednesday

Teams pairing cops with mental health workers expanding to 9 BC communities  

Union says deal within reach to end Fraser Valley transit strike 

'Surreal and shocking': New Zealand tourist healing from downtown Vancouver stabbing  

Ongoing Capilano University strike means families can't access daycare facility 

Man fatally stabbed in Mission identified as 42 year old Jesse Kennedy 

BC Ferries vessel experiencing mechanical difficulty less than 2 weeks after repairs

The Tyee                                       

Tragically, BC ignored lessons of 2009's killer heat wave 

Have a dozen stop-work orders changed anything for CGL?

For MLA Janis Irwin,  Queer Joy' is where it's at

CHEK TV

Victoria man recounts experience amid suspicious fire spree

Port Renfrew fishing charters shocked by 'last minute' Chinook measures  

Municipal police chief casts doubt on effectiveness of BC drug decriminalization 

Malahat Nation launches curtsied recycling pickup with CVRD

BC promises to $3M to expand program that partners cops with health care providers 

WestShore RCMP among $3M program that partners cops with health care providers 

RCMP officer er injured by speeding motorcycle north of Duncan  

BC Ferries calce;s 3 sailings between Victoria and Vancouver 

Daytime closures return to Highway 4 for road work 

Miscellaneous

Minister says he'll announce decision Wednesday on future of policing in Surrey

Municipal police chief casts doubt on effectiveness of BC drug decriminalization

Dogs trained to detect potentially deadly superbug at BC hospitals

BC promises $3M to expand program that partners cops with health-care providers