Latest news with #RandeneNeill
The Province
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Province
B.C. facing more adverse drought conditions this year as warm, dry weather expected
Randene Neill, minister of water, land and resource stewardship, says they want people to think about saving water wherever possible Published Jul 17, 2025 • 2 minute read Randene Neill, minister of water, land and resource stewardship, says they want people to think about saving water wherever possible Photo by B.C. NDP B.C.'s minister in charge of water is asking residents to do everything they can to conserve the resource in the coming weeks, as the province faces elevated drought conditions in the southern Interior. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Randene Neill, minister of water, land and resource stewardship, says they want people to think about saving water wherever possible, such as watering lawns less frequently and fixing leaky faucets, as up to 70 per cent of water is used in residences in some regions. The conservation drive comes as this year's drought season is expected to be more severe than last, despite the recent rainfall that temporarily alleviated parched conditions in some areas in the northeast. David Campbell of the B.C. River Forecast Centre says the province had only 79 per cent of its normal snowpack level by April, and the snow season ended a few weeks earlier than usual. He says the situation this year has been made worse by a warmer spring compared with last year, where a more gradual snowmelt helped to alleviate drought conditions later in the year. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The centre says that while recent rain has improved conditions near Fort Nelson in the northeast, the Nicola, Okanagan and other regions in the southern Interior are seeing worsening conditions and declining streamflow, with little rain in the forecast. 'While some of the recent rainfall has been beneficial, we really need to see much more sustained longer-term, on the order of months or even a season of wet weather, to really make up the deficit that we've seen over the long-range,' Campbell says. He adds that Environment Canada's seasonal forecast for B.C. calls for an increasing chance of a warmer summer and there's a possibility that drier conditions could be present moving forward, particularly in the Okanagan and the Kootenay regions. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Neill says the province is monitoring streamflow levels and will only issue temporary protection orders 'as a very last resort' and voluntary water conservation efforts aren't enough. 'Though we cannot control drought, we do know that early action will make a big difference when it comes to water scarcity impacts or the amount of water available for ecological and human needs,' Neill says. 'And that's why we always begin with a voluntary approach. 'My message to all of those people (with high residential water usage) is that what you do makes a significant difference to the amount of water the whole community has, and we have to remember that we have to share our water not only with other residents but farmers, agriculture, industry, all of those things.' The province is also introducing a new method for tracking drought, saying the changes are needed because the current drought index oversimplifies the conditions facing local regions. It says the new system addressing water scarcity aligns with drought measurements in other jurisdictions and allows for a more precise understanding of climate trends across the region. It will also measure different needs, including the drinking water supply, ecological health, fish population survival, food production and security. Sports Sports News Crime GlobeNewswire
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
Texada Island grizzly found dead, days before province planned to relocate it
The grizzly bear that's been wandering Texada Island for more than a month has been found dead after being shot, just days after the province started a plan with First Nations to relocate the large carnivore. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service confirmed the bear is the tagged grizzly seen on the island in recent weeks. The animal was found in the Van Anda area on the north end of the island, and is expected to undergo a necropsy. The province said Tuesday it had been working on a plan to capture and move the grizzly from Texada to a remote area up the coast, far away from communities. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. 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 Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I'm saddened … this isn't how we wanted this to end,' said Randene Neill, B.C.'s minister of water, land and resource management, in a statement. Neill said the relocation plan was to be done in partnership with First Nations, which had requested the approach. The four-year-old bear was first spotted on Texada on May 25 after swimming over from the Powell River area. The grizzly had been reported as following some residents and stalking livestock since its arrival on the 300-square-kilometre island, home to about 1,200 people, but there had been no reports of any injuries. Conservation officers arrived on Texada on Monday in response to a report by the RCMP that the grizzly had been 'shot and possibly wounded' by a member of the public. The province had previously said the grizzly was not a candidate for relocation after two previous attempts failed. However, Neill said those plans changed. 'We were working with First Nations partners to confirm the bear's exact location and movements, in preparation for placing a trap,' she said. The plan included wildlife experts from the ministry, First Nations Guardians and other sources to locate the bear. The bear was spotted on July 10, said Neill, but before its movements could be confirmed to place the trap, organizers learned the bear was dead. The minister said the province will investigate to determine what happened. Once the necropsy is complete, it will work with the Tla'amin First Nation and shíshálh Nation to ensure the bear's remains are returned to them for ceremonial purposes, said Neill. The grizzly was tagged and moved from Gibsons last fall, and was moved again from Sechelt. It then showed up in Powell River, where it was getting into boats and stalking a couple on a picnic, who had to retreat to the water and remain there while the grizzly paced on shore for half an hour. Three First Nations had asked the province for permission to move the grizzly into their territories. John Powell, elected chief of Mamalilikulla First Nation, called the situation a 'ticking time bomb' last month, saying it was inevitable the bear was going to run into a human or animal and 'have a negative engagement.' Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to report it to the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277. dkloster@
CTV News
4 days ago
- CTV News
Grizzly on B.C. island shot dead, conservation officers investigating
A grizzly bear is seen fishing along a river in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park near Bella Coola, B.C. Friday, Sept 10, 2010. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward) British Columbia's Conservation Officer Service is investigating after a grizzly bear that had stalked Texada Island for more than a month was found shot dead on Tuesday. The agency says a necropsy will be performed on the tagged bear, which had divided residents of the B.C. Gulf Island and prompted public safety warnings ever since it swam over from the mainland in late May. Conservation officers travelled to the island earlier this week after the RCMP reported the bear had been shot and potentially wounded near the community of Van Anda, where the animal was eventually found. The provincial government said last month there were no orders in place to kill the bear, but said relocating the bear for a third time was not in the public's interest. 'This bear is not new to us,' Environment Minister Tamara Davidson and Land, Water and Resource Stewardship Minister Randene Neill said in a joint statement on June 13. 'The COS and provincial wildlife biologists worked together to relocate the bear twice last year, as it was initially found wandering near schools and downtown areas in Gibsons and Sechelt.' The conservation service says it relocated the bear from Gibsons in the first week of September and from Sechelt at the end of that month, and on both occasions it returned to urban areas of the Sunshine Coast within weeks. Before swimming to the island, the bear spent several days in Powell River, breaking into boats and marinas, the conservation office said. On May 22, the grizzly stalked two people walking along a Powell River trail, and they only escaped by getting in the water for 30 minutes while the animal circled back and forth on the shore, where it tore up one of their jackets before leaving. Since its arrival on Texada Island, home to approximately 1,100 people, the bear had chased livestock and showed aggression towards people, according to the province. 'These are difficult decisions, but again, people's safety is always the top priority,' the ministers said. 'While we continue to collaborate closely with our partners, including First Nations and the Grizzly Bear Foundation, the final decision regarding wildlife management is made in accordance with provincial policies to ensure public safety.' The conservation service had urged people on Texada Island to take precautions such as minimizing food attractants, carrying bear spray and travelling in groups to avoid unwanted encounters with the bear. B.C. banned grizzly bear hunting in 2017, with the exception of hunting for food, social and ceremonial purposes by First Nations. At the time, the province estimated there were 15,000 grizzlies in B.C.
CBC
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
B.C. facing more adverse drought conditions this year with warm, dry weather expected
British Columbia's minister in charge of water is asking residents to do everything they can to conserve the resource in the coming weeks, as the province faces elevated drought conditions in the southern Interior. Randene Neill, the minister of water, land and resource stewardship, says they want people to think about saving water wherever possible, such as watering lawns less frequently and fixing leaky faucets, as up to 70 per cent of water is used in residences in some regions. The conservation drive comes as this year's drought season is expected to be more severe than last, despite the recent rainfall that temporarily alleviated parched conditions in some areas in the northeast. David Campbell, with the B.C. River Forecast Centre, says the province had only 79 per cent of its normal snowpack level by April, and the snow season ended a few weeks earlier than usual. He says the situation this year has been made worse by a warmer spring compared with last year, where a more gradual snow melt helped to alleviate drought conditions later in the year. The centre says that while recent rain has improved conditions near Fort Nelson in the northeast, the Nicola, Okanagan and other regions in the southern Interior are seeing worsening conditions and declining streamflow, with little rain in the forecast. "While some of the recent rainfall has been beneficial, we really need to see much more sustained, longer-term, on the order of months or even a season of wet weather, to really make up the deficit that we've seen over the long range," Campbell said. He adds that Environment Canada's seasonal forecast for B.C. calls for an increasing chance of a warmer summer, and there's a possibility that drier conditions could be present moving forward, particularly in the Okanagan and the Kootenay regions. Neill says the province is monitoring streamflow levels and will only issue temporary protection orders "as a very last resort," and voluntary water conservation efforts are not enough. "Though we cannot control drought, we do know that early action will make a big difference when it comes to water scarcity impacts or the amount of water available for ecological and human needs," Neill says. "And that's why we always begin with a voluntary approach. "My message to all of those people [with high residential water usage] is that what you do makes a significant difference to the amount of water the whole community has, and we have to remember that we have share our water not with other residents but farmers, agriculture, industry, all of those things." The province is also introducing a new method for tracking drought, saying the changes are needed because the current drought index oversimplifies the conditions facing local regions. It says the new system addressing water scarcity aligns with drought measurements in other jurisdictions and allows for a more precise understanding of climate trends across the region. It will also measure different needs, including the drinking water supply, ecological health, fish population survival, food production and security.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
B.C. facing more adverse drought conditions this year as warm, dry weather expected
Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Minister Randene Neill listens during an announcement about mining in the province, in Vancouver, on Monday, May 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck British Columbia's minister in charge of water is asking residents to do everything they can to conserve the resource in the coming weeks, as the province faces elevated drought conditions in the southern Interior. Randene Neill, the minister of water, land and resource stewardship, says they want people to think about saving water wherever possible, such as watering lawns less frequently and fixing leaky faucets, as up to 70 per cent of water is used in residences in some regions. The conservation drive comes as this year's drought season is expected to be more severe than last, despite the recent rainfall that temporarily alleviated parched conditions in some areas in the northeast. David Campbell, with the B.C. River Forecast Centre, says the province had only 79 per cent of its normal snowpack level by April, and the snow season ended a few weeks earlier than usual. He says the situation this year has been made worse by a warmer spring compared with last year, where a more gradual snow melt helped to alleviate drought conditions later in the year. The centre says that while recent rain has improved conditions near Fort Nelson in the northeast, the Nicola, Okanagan and other regions in the southern Interior are seeing worsening conditions and declining streamflow, with little rain in the forecast. 'While some of the recent rainfall has been beneficial, we really need to see much more sustained longer-term, on the order of months or even a season of wet weather, to really make up the deficit that we've seen over the long-range,' Campbell says. He adds that Environment Canada's seasonal forecast for B.C. calls for an increasing chance of a warmer summer and there's a possibility that drier conditions could be present moving forward, particularly in the Okanagan and the Kootenay regions. Neill says the province is monitoring streamflow levels and will only issue temporary protection orders 'as a very last resort' and voluntary water conservation efforts are not enough. 'Though we cannot control drought, we do know that early action will make a big difference when it comes to water scarcity impacts or the amount of water available for ecological and human needs,' Neill says. 'And that's why we always begin with a voluntary approach. 'My message to all of those people (with high residential water usage) is that what you do makes a significant difference to the amount of water the whole community has, and we have to remember that we have share our water not with other residents but farmers, agriculture, industry, all of those things.' The province is also introducing a new method for tracking drought, saying the changes are needed because the current drought index oversimplifies the conditions facing local regions. It says the new system addressing water scarcity aligns with drought measurements in other jurisdictions and allows for a more precise understanding of climate trends across the region. It will also measure different needs, including the drinking water supply, ecological health, fish population survival, food production and security. This report by Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press, was first published July 14, 2025.
