Victoria Viewpoints: Thursday-Friday, August 24/25, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for Thursday-Friday, August 24-25, 2023

BC/NWT Wildfires

Trudeau in Okanagan to meet firefighters, as final travel ban lifted for Kelowna area

The awful fires in the Northwest Territories can light the way to a better, healthier future

NWT Premier says she's done 'begging'  for infrastructure help as wildfires rage 

Answering at a moment's notice: How volunteer firefighting works in Canada

After eerily similar fires 20 years apart, frustrated experts say advice for Kelowna is much the same

Convoy protest highlights the different levels of disagreement tin Shuswap wildfire

Evacuees in BC's Shuswap struggle to cope with anxiety, angst over wildfire threat

Hay River, NWT at threat as weather conditions form a 'recipe for extreme fire behaviour' 

'Now I'm angry': NWT premier calls on Ottawa to provide services in the North 

131 structures destroyed but no lives lost in Shuswap wildfire 

Support pours in for firefighters in BC brigade whose own homes burned down

'I watched my home burn': On the front line with firefighters during BC's worst fire week

Conspiracy theories swirl around wildfires amid record season in Canada 

A Fire Tornado? ye, they're real  - and dangerous

A deserted Northern City faces down a 'Monster' Wildfire

Some BC Residents stayed to fight wildfires amid resource shortage, defying evacuation orders 

Trudeau says Canada needs to prepare for more intense wildfire seasons during BC visit

Unnoticed train fires pose wildfire risk, Transpiration Safety Board warns

Okanagan College student chefs cook dinners for wildfire evacuees, including one of their peers

BC lifts travel restrictions to West Kelowna with fires in Central Okanagan and Lake. Country being held

First Nations lament cultural losses to BC wildfires

Shuswap conflicts raise pressure on province for 'stay and defend' policies

Okangan firefighters recount horrors of facing down 'wall of fire'

As big burns become the new normal, we need new forest management policies 

Smoke over Vancouver Island expected to linger for a few days 

Union of BC Municipalities says more money, not finer-pointing needed to reduce wildfire risk

BC Wildfire conducting aerial ignition on McDougall Creek Wildfire

At least 131 structures lost in BC's Shuswap from Bush Creek East wildfire 

Globe and Mail

First Nations 'shutting down' BC's Joffre Lakes Park for more than a month

The Federal Government can lead on housing

The quest for an ancient colossus, in the wild rainforest of BC

CBC

BC Ferries reports sailing cancelled due to crew shortages have doubled in the last year

It took 5 years but a damaged road that has upended its residents' lives has finally been repaired

There's a 'mass emergence' of mosquitoes in Metro Vancouver and recent rain is to blame, says professor 

2 First Nations 'shutting down' Joffre Lakes access for more than month to allow for harvest celebrations 

Spoof of viral DTES micro-suite ad from Toronto a 'clapback  against gentrification' 

After Prince George explosion, some of the injured avoided hospital treatment: harm reductio group

Vancouver Sun 

BC NDP accuses BC United of 'data mining scheme' through Red Cross wildfire donation site 

Hollywood North unions gather in Vancouver to show support for ongoing strike 

BC First Nations close popular Joffre Lakes Park for harvest celebration

Careless smokers face steep fines for tossing butts in BC

Victoria Times-Colonist 

Police respond to man lighting fires on roof of downtown Victoria building  

'Resilience put to the test' as BC Ferries tries to cope with high traffic, staff shortages, vessel failures

Coast guard airlifts crew member from fishing trawler off Bamberton

Careless smokers face steep fines for tossing butts in BC

We need to end the big business of poverty

Victoria News

Neighbours, developer at odds over massive scope of Victoria project  

Victoria street re-opens as police arrest man for 'lighting items on fire'

Another Greater Victoria driver ticketed for tossing cigarette out window 

Another full day closure planned for Highway 4 near Port Alberni 

Doctors, nurses want BC to limit wildfire, climate impacts of LNG industry

Global

Highway 4 'on track' to fully reopen by Labour Day long weekend: Ministry

'Smelt like bear': Video of BC van intruder prompted reminder from Conservation Officers

'Appalling': BC mayor unimpressed with Ottawa amid foreign meddling claim

Flights resume, parks reopen, boat launches close as Kelowna heads back to normal amid wildfire

Higher prices are driving some resort community residents to leave: 'There is a sadness'

First Nations say they're 'shutting down' public access to Joffre Lakes to harvest 

Cougar knocks rider from mountain bike, prompting Whistler Trail closure 

Record-breaking numbers for vehicle, passenger traffic for BC Ferries

The Tyee                                       

In Northwest BC, the case of the Missing Nuke  

The Hotel Union making noise

In Climate Crisis, We need to de-grow higher ed

Renewable Energy Pause could cost $33 Billion in investment, says Pembina Institute 

How Rainways Could restore 'Raincouver'

Squabbling over the last Fish

CHEK TV

Highway 4 to reopen next week, but one more full day closure needed

Tight squeeze: New trucks too big for aging Oak Bay Fire Hall

Cougar encounter videoed by two friends on Bear Mountain

One person in custody for lighting items on fire on roof: VicPD

Sooke to improve five crosswalks with funding from ICBC

Encampment returns to Langford downtown park after city deep cleaning 

Miscellaneous