Latest news with #JeremyValeriote
Global News
22-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
CN move opens ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity' for passenger rail to Whistler
Could skiers, hikers and other visitors soon find themselves whisked from Metro Vancouver to Whistler via a passenger rail service? It's a tantalizing possibility that's in the spotlight after CN Rail announced plans to discontinue operations and maintenance on the rail line it currently controls between Squamish and 100 Mile House. CN currently holds a multi-decade lease on the old BC Rail right of way, but in a three-year operating plan released on July 11, the company revealed plans to discontinue use of the corridor. However, the company plans to continue operating the stretch of line between North Vancouver and Squamish. 1:47 Global BC at 60: West Coast Express marks 25 years of operation 'With no customers and a pretty high cost to keep up that lease and maintain the tracks, they're they're looking at essentially abandoning it and giving up the lease,' said West Vancouver-Sea-to-Sky BC Green MLA Jeremy Valeriote. Story continues below advertisement Valeriote believes that this opens a rare opportunity to bring passenger rail back to a region that is surging both in population and in popularity as a tourist destination, and already sees significant congestion on the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Valeriote added that historically, the stretch of track between Squamish and Whistler has been viewed as too windy for an efficient train, but that new technology has allowed for a service that could reach a speed that's 'competitive with the highway.' He said the timing of CN's announcement would give governments about a year to build a business case for a rail service. 'The reason we wanted to highlight it is because of the opportunity, but also it's going to take a lot of work to pull something together if we can,' he said. 'And that would probably include a private partner to run the operation, but also you need to commit to taking on the lease and work with all levels of government.' 1:43 Light rail floated from Richmond to Chilliwack The idea may have a receptive ear in Ottawa. Liberal MP Patrick Wieler, who represents West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea-to-Sky country, called the situation a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity.' Story continues below advertisement 'It does open up a world of possibilities where an operator that may have an interest in this could work with CN on that lower patch up to Squamish and then open up the pathway to Whistler, perhaps to Pemberton, even to beyond,' he said. 'I've already heard a tremendous amount of interest from folks not only in the Sea-to-Sky, but also on the North Shore of what that could do. To things like alleviating congestion and providing a boost to the tourism economy.' In a statement, B.C.'s Ministry of Transportation said it was working on 'long-term options' for regional inter-city transportation, including in the Sea-to-Sky corridor. It added that it had been holding discussions with local governments and First Nations about 'working towards passenger service' in the corridor. While CN's move looks like an opportunity to some, it could prove to be a problem for one popular tourist attraction. The Rocky Mountaineer said if the rail line does get discontinued, it would be forced to shut down its Rainforest to Gold Rush route, which runs from North Vancouver to Jasper via Whistler and Quesnel.
CBC
25-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
April sees increase in toxic drug deaths in B.C., as coroner reports 165 fatalities
Social Sharing The B.C. Coroners Service says April was the first time in six months that more than 160 deaths were recorded due to toxic drugs. It said in a statement that 165 people died in April, up from 143 deaths in March and 132 fatalities in February. The February and March numbers represented year-over-year declines of more than 30 per cent compared with the same months in 2024, while April's total amounted to a lesser decrease of about 14 per cent. The statement released Tuesday says deaths in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities make up 57 per cent of fatalities so far this year. It says fentanyl continues to be the most common substance linked to deaths and smoking is the primary mode of consumption of unregulated toxic drugs. While Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities have the larger number of deaths, the Northern and Interior health regions have seen the highest per-capita rates of death so far in 2025. The B.C. Green caucus issued a statement Tuesday noting that a growing number of drug deaths occurred outdoors, 21 per cent so far this year, compared with 15 per cent in 2022. "This report underscores the widening gaps in care, housing, and access to life-saving services," said interim Green Leader Jeremy Valeriote in the statement. "The ongoing loss of life is not inevitable — it's a consequence of political choices." The Greens are asking the province to provide a regulated alternative to the toxic drug supply, supervised consumption services that are accessible, and timely treatment for those who need it. New service standards for OPSes Earlier this month, the province released new minimum service standards for all community-based overdose prevention sites (OPS) that receive public funding and all in-hospital sites, laying out a baseline of how they should be operated. The province says there are nine OPSes at hospitals in B.C. It says the service standards are not intended to identify where more sites may be needed, but noted that health-care authorities have been told the requirements for creating new ones. The province says there had been more than 5.6 million visits to OPSes since January 2017, and the services had prevented more than 12,400 overdose deaths since 2019. "Overdose prevention services are critical in saving thousands of lives, connecting people to treatment and reducing public drug use," said Health Minister Josie Osborne in a ministry statement. Doctors for Safer Drug Policy, an advocacy group consisting of physicians who care for drug users, said it was cautiously optimistic over the new standards. The group has been involved with setting up an unsanctioned overdose prevention site at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital, as well as other pop-up sites at hospitals on Vancouver Island. The group's co-founder, Dr. Ryan Herriot, says they agree with the government that the services save lives and reduce public drug use — but Herriot says he has concerns with whether the new standards will mean drawn-out consultation processes for new sites. "Even if these processes are well-intentioned and well-designed, there is the possibility of further slowing things down, which, again, given that it's an emergency, is not ideal," Herriot said in a statement.
CTV News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Fires in Squamish ‘could take weeks' to extinguish
Jeremy Valeriote, the MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, says the greatest concern from the fires in Squamish is the proximity to homes.
National Observer
06-06-2025
- Business
- National Observer
BC green lights LNG pipeline, with no need for new environmental assessment
The British Columbia government says a decade-old environmental assessment certificate remains valid for the construction of a natural gas pipeline in northern BC, in a decision opposed by the province's Green Party and environmental groups. The Environmental Assessment Office says it has determined the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline has "substantially started," fulfilling a requirement of the 2014 certificate and allowing the project to proceed without a new assessment. The original approval was for a roughly 900-kilometre pipeline between Hudson's Hope in northeastern BC and Lelu Island near Prince Rupert, the site of a liquefied natural gas processing facility that has since been cancelled. The pipeline was purchased by the Nisga'a Nation and Texas-based Western LNG last year to supply natural gas to the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG facility, a project the province says is still undergoing environmental assessment. The province says the office is also reviewing requests by the proponent to change the pipeline route, including shifting its end point to the Ksi Lisims facility and rerouting the eastern portion of the pipeline. The BC Greens say in a statement that upholding the original certificate is "reckless," prioritizing the project's American financial backers over Indigenous rights, environmental protection and community well-being. "It's outrageous that the government is allowing construction to proceed with no approved terminus, using an outdated plan, and threatening one of the province's most sensitive salmon habitats, all to serve the interests of foreign-owned fossil fuel companies," the Greens' interim leader, Jeremy Valeriote, says in the statement. "This is a betrayal of environmental stewardship, Indigenous rights, and a threat to sustained climate action in this province," Valeriote says. The pipeline is partly financed by the US private equity firm Blackstone, which the Greens described as a major Republican donor with ties to US President Donald Trump. The Greens' statement also noted that the US engineering and construction company Bechtel had been selected to construct the pipeline. Western LNG called the substantially started ruling "a significant milestone in the path toward delivering responsible, Indigenous-led energy infrastructure" in BC. Eva Clayton, president of the Nisga'a Lisims Government, says in a statement released by Western LNG that the ruling was "an important step — not just for (the pipeline), but for the Nisga'a Nation's vision of self-determination and long-term prosperity." The project is opposed by the nearby Lax Kw'alaams Band and Ts'msyen hereditary chiefs, who the Greens say claim jurisdiction over Pearse Island, the site of the proposed Ksi Lisims terminal. Gitanyow hereditary chiefs have also opposed the project based on concerns over Nass River salmon, the Greens add. Thursday's statement from the province says the Environmental Assessment Office began its review last November in order to make a determination of whether the project had been "substantially started" within the 10-year deadline. It says the office looked at construction and other activities by the proponent up to the deadline of Nov. 25, 2024, and found the condition was met. The review included a field assessment of the project, documentation from the pipeline proponent and "information from First Nations, Gitanyow hereditary chiefs, Gitxsan Wilps and members of the public," the statement says. The Greens' statement says construction activities moved ahead last summer on a portion of the pipeline's right-of-way in order to avoid expiry of the original permit. The environmental group also issued a statement calling the decision to uphold the decade-old certificate as a "slap in the face" of BC's climate plan. The decision follows the release of BC's climate accountability report, which showed the province is already set to miss its climate targets, the group says.
Vancouver Sun
06-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. gives green light to LNG pipeline, with no need for new environmental assessment
The B.C. government says a decade-old environmental assessment certificate remains valid for the construction of a natural gas pipeline in northern B.C., in a decision opposed by the province's Green Party and environmental groups. The Environmental Assessment Office says it has determined the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline has 'substantially started,' fulfilling a requirement of the 2014 certificate and allowing the project to proceed without a new assessment. The original approval was for a roughly 900-kilometre pipeline between Hudson's Hope in northeastern B.C. and Lelu Island near Prince Rupert, the site of a liquefied natural gas processing facility was later cancelled. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The pipeline was purchased by the Nisga'a Nation and Texas-based Western LNG last year to supply natural gas to their proposed Ksi Lisims LNG facility, a project the province says is still undergoing environmental assessment. The province says the office is also reviewing requests by the proponent to change the pipeline route, including shifting its end point to the Ksi Lisims facility and rerouting the eastern portion of the pipeline. The B.C. Greens say in a statement that upholding the original certificate is 'reckless,' prioritizing the project's American financial backers over Indigenous rights, environmental protection and community well-being. 'It's outrageous that the government is allowing construction to proceed with no approved terminus, using an outdated plan, and threatening one of the province's most sensitive salmon habitats, all to serve the interests of foreign-owned fossil fuel companies,' the Greens' interim leader, Jeremy Valeriote, says in the statement. 'This is a betrayal of environmental stewardship, Indigenous rights, and a threat to sustained climate action in this province,' Valeriote says. The pipeline is partly financed by the U.S. private equity firm Blackstone, which the Greens described as a major Republican donor with ties to U.S. President Donald Trump. The Greens' statement also noted that the U.S. engineering and construction company Bechtel had been selected to construct the pipeline. Western LNG called the substantially started ruling 'a significant milestone in the path toward delivering responsible, Indigenous-led energy infrastructure' in B.C. Eva Clayton, president of the Nisga'a Lisims Government, says in a statement released by Western LNG that the ruling was 'an important step — not just for (the pipeline), but for the Nisga'a Nation's vision of self-determination and long-term prosperity.' The project is opposed by the Lax Kw'alaams First Nation and Ts'msyen hereditary chiefs, who the Greens say claim jurisdiction over Pearse Island, the site of the proposed Ksi Lisims terminal. Gitanyow hereditary chiefs have also opposed the project based on concerns over Nass River salmon, the Greens add. Thursday's statement from the province says the Environmental Assessment Office began its review last November in order to make a determination of whether the project had been 'substantially started' within the 10-year deadline. It says the office looked at construction and other activities by the proponent up to the deadline of Nov. 25, 2024, and found the condition was met. The review included a field assessment of the project, documentation from the pipeline proponent and 'information from First Nations, Gitanyow hereditary chiefs, Gitxsan Wilps and members of the public,' the statement says. The Greens' statement says construction moved ahead last summer on a portion of the pipeline's right-of-way in order to avoid expiry of the original permit. The environmental group also issued a statement calling the decision to uphold the decade-old certificate as a 'slap in the face' of B.C.'s climate plan. The decision follows the release of B.C.'s climate accountability report, which showed the province is already set to miss its climate targets, the group says.
