Environment

A 2023 report from Statistics Canada gives B.C. the lowest rate of access to air conditioning with 32 per cent. That figure varies across B.C. While 84 per cent of households in Kelowna have air conditioning, the rate drops to 26 of households in Vancouver and 19 per cent in Victoria. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

About 1 in 3 B.C. homes have air-conditioning, the lowest rate in Canada

Air conditioning access even lower among racialized and low-income British Columbians

 

A new government report tracking recommendations to protect old-growth forest in B.C. is facing criticism from the Wilderness Committee, but Forests Minister Bruce Ralston says his government is taking “unprecedented” action on a number of fronts to protect old-growth forests. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

Environmentalists reject B.C. claim of ‘unprecedented’ old-growth deferral

Wilderness Committee accuses government of stall tactic while logging continues

 

The Nature Conservancy of Canada has bought 667 acres of land, some of which are shown in this handout image, in B.C.’s southeast for a conservation area to protect and preserve grasslands that are home to nesting birds including the Long-billed Curlew. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Nature Conservancy of Canada

Skookumchuk Prairie purchase aimed at preserving B.C. grasslands

Nature Conservancy of Canada buys 271 hectares in the East kootenays for new conservation area

 

Eligible British Columbians could get up to $16,000 and up to $19,000 if they live northern B.C. for converting their oil, propane or natural gas systems to heat pumps under an agreement between B.C. and the federal government. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. residents could get up to $19,000 in heat pump rebates

Federal and provincial ministers announce new program Monday

Eligible British Columbians could get up to $16,000 and up to $19,000 if they live northern B.C. for converting their oil, propane or natural gas systems to heat pumps under an agreement between B.C. and the federal government. (Black Press Media file photo)
The provincial government is encouraging First Nations to join an app-based notification system alerting them to hazardous spills to improve response efforts. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. encouraging First Nations to sign up for app-based spill alert system

About 20 of more than 200 B.C. First Nations currently using app-based spill notification system

The provincial government is encouraging First Nations to join an app-based notification system alerting them to hazardous spills to improve response efforts. (Black Press Media file photo)
Rainbow trout infected with whirling disease which damages the backbone of the fish causing them to swim in a ���whirling��� pattern. (Photo: Sascha Hallett, fishpathogens.net)

B.C.’s Columbia River watershed infected with fish-killing whirling disease

Canadian Food Inspection Agency declaration imposes restrictions on movement fo fish and equipment

Rainbow trout infected with whirling disease which damages the backbone of the fish causing them to swim in a ���whirling��� pattern. (Photo: Sascha Hallett, fishpathogens.net)
Coho salmon swim at the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Capilano River Hatchery in North Vancouver on Friday July 5, 2019. The Canadian government has agreed to prioritize environmental assessment for a chemical used in tire rubber that has been linked to the deaths of Pacific salmon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada makes assessment of tire chemical tied to salmon deaths a priority

Environment Canada responds to a request by several environmental groups

Coho salmon swim at the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Capilano River Hatchery in North Vancouver on Friday July 5, 2019. The Canadian government has agreed to prioritize environmental assessment for a chemical used in tire rubber that has been linked to the deaths of Pacific salmon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Pedestrians walk past Lululemon Athletica’s flagship store on Robson Street in downtown Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday August 21, 2014. The company is under invetigation by the Compeition Bureau Canada for allegedly misleading customers about its environmental impact. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Competition bureau investigating B.C.’s Lululemon over alleged greenwashing

Environmental organization claims athletic apparel company is misleading customers

Pedestrians walk past Lululemon Athletica’s flagship store on Robson Street in downtown Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday August 21, 2014. The company is under invetigation by the Compeition Bureau Canada for allegedly misleading customers about its environmental impact. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Federal Environment Commissioner Jerry V. DeMarco holds a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, April 20, 2023. DeMarco is giving the federal government a failing grade on reducing their financial liability in remediating contaminated sites in the north — and says they’re leaving some Indigenous Peoples out of the process altogether. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada’s failures on contaminated sites putting the North at risk: audit

Indigenous peoples could bear the brunt as financial liabilities continue to grow

Federal Environment Commissioner Jerry V. DeMarco holds a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, April 20, 2023. DeMarco is giving the federal government a failing grade on reducing their financial liability in remediating contaminated sites in the north — and says they’re leaving some Indigenous Peoples out of the process altogether. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
West Fraser Timber’s MDF plant in Quesnel the site of an effluent spill now under investigation. The waste chemicals reportedly did not make it into the nearby Fraser River.

Waterways deemed safe after effluent spill at Cariboo fibreboard plant

Officials say nearby river not impacted by West Fraser Timber Quesnel factory incident

West Fraser Timber’s MDF plant in Quesnel the site of an effluent spill now under investigation. The waste chemicals reportedly did not make it into the nearby Fraser River.
Matsqui Institution in Abbotsford is part of the Matsqui prison complex. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)

Corrections says water leak at Abbotsford prison complex poses no risk

Most recent assessment concluded there was no contamination, says CSC

Matsqui Institution in Abbotsford is part of the Matsqui prison complex. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)
Benita Estes is opposed to the development of a biodigester plant 200 metres from her home near High River, Saturday, April 6, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canada’s renewable energy chase generating eco-conflicts in other areas

Alternative energy projects come with their own environmental concerns

Benita Estes is opposed to the development of a biodigester plant 200 metres from her home near High River, Saturday, April 6, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
An engineer who works at the central heating plant at the Matsqui prison complex in Abbotsford is concerned about the potential environmental risks to nearby farms from an ongoing leak of chemically treated water. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)

Chemically treated water still leaking at Abbotsford prison, says engineer

Worker says almost 9 million litres have leaked since investigation into Matsqui complex

An engineer who works at the central heating plant at the Matsqui prison complex in Abbotsford is concerned about the potential environmental risks to nearby farms from an ongoing leak of chemically treated water. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)
British Columbia’s auditor general Michael Pickup as well as Comptroller General Carl Fischer will be investigating MNP’s role in the administration of the two grant programs offered through CleanBC following allegations of a kick-back scheme. (Canadian Press file photo)

B.C. government orders investigation into carbon tax grant process

Investigation to focus on whether grants being awarded fairly after allegations arise.

British Columbia’s auditor general Michael Pickup as well as Comptroller General Carl Fischer will be investigating MNP’s role in the administration of the two grant programs offered through CleanBC following allegations of a kick-back scheme. (Canadian Press file photo)
A new research project aims to develop new testing methods for marine fecal pollution, with the ultimate goal of protecting shellfish harvests. (Black Press Media file photo)

Researchers want to find out where the feces is coming from in B.C. waters

New testing methods being developed with goal of identifying pollution sources, limiting closures

  • Mar 27, 2024
A new research project aims to develop new testing methods for marine fecal pollution, with the ultimate goal of protecting shellfish harvests. (Black Press Media file photo)
A civil lawsuit launched by Stand Environmental Society and two B.C. residents alleges that FortisBC is misrepresenting how much renewable natural gas captured and purified from sources like landfills the company is actually making available to British Columbians. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. residents, environmental society sue FortisBC for ‘greenwashing’

Stand Environmental launched civil suit seeking a court declaration of deceptive conduct

A civil lawsuit launched by Stand Environmental Society and two B.C. residents alleges that FortisBC is misrepresenting how much renewable natural gas captured and purified from sources like landfills the company is actually making available to British Columbians. (Black Press Media file photo)
Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Guardian Gisele Martin shares a moment with an old growth tree. The provincial government is currently accepting public submissions for plans for two conservancies in Clayoquot Sound following discussions with Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations. (Submitted photo)

B.C. considering new forest-protective conservancies in Clayoquot Sound

Proposal would prohibit logging in large parts of what was ground zero in the War in the Woods

Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Guardian Gisele Martin shares a moment with an old growth tree. The provincial government is currently accepting public submissions for plans for two conservancies in Clayoquot Sound following discussions with Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations. (Submitted photo)
The record-setting wildfires across western Canada including British Columbia did not just destroy millions of hectares of forest but also contributed to the on-going shrinkage of glaciers across western Canada. (Pete Laing/Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service) (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Metro Vancouver)

B.C.’s wildfires helped feed glacier meltdown across western Canada: report

World Meteorological Organization report also confirms 2023 as the hottest year on record

The record-setting wildfires across western Canada including British Columbia did not just destroy millions of hectares of forest but also contributed to the on-going shrinkage of glaciers across western Canada. (Pete Laing/Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service) (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Metro Vancouver)
Jens Wieting, senior forest and climate campaigner with the Sierra Club of BC, says B.C. budget could help B.C. make progress on the environment, but he also expressed concern about B.C.’s on-going support for liquified natural gas. (Black Press Media file photo)

Watchdogs critical of B.C.’s continued support of LNG ‘carbon bomb’

Environmental groups concerned LNG policies outweigh progress in other areas

Jens Wieting, senior forest and climate campaigner with the Sierra Club of BC, says B.C. budget could help B.C. make progress on the environment, but he also expressed concern about B.C.’s on-going support for liquified natural gas. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Englishman River estuary in Parksville is one of 15 coastal B.C. estuaries targeted by the Nature Trust’s Enhancing Estuary Resilience project. (City of Parksville photo)

UN salutes B.C. group for coastal estuary protection efforts

Nature Trust of B.C. working to climate-proof estuaries from Haida Gwaii to Vancouver Island

  • Mar 1, 2024
The Englishman River estuary in Parksville is one of 15 coastal B.C. estuaries targeted by the Nature Trust’s Enhancing Estuary Resilience project. (City of Parksville photo)