The B.C. River Forecast Centre has issued flood watches for several parts of B.C. including the northeast Peace region, which is already dealing with out-of-control wildfires.
A flood watch was issued Sunday for rivers and tributaries around Fort St. John, Taylor, Chetwynd, Moberly Lake, Pine Pass, Hudson’s Hope and Dawson Creek.
The river forecast centre says unseasonably hot weather over the past few weeks has led to heavy snowfall melts, which means the region is vulnerable to significant flooding as water levels rise.
Environment Canada says heavy rain is expected Monday through Tuesday, with 50 to 75 mm expected in the southern Fort Nelson region though the North Peace region, and up to 100 mm expected in the South Peace region, including Tumbler Ridge.
The agency is warning of flash flooding, pooling and possible debris flow.
A white sedan teeters on the edge of a flooded street in Dawson Creek, B.C., in 2016. The B.C. River Forecast Centre has issued a flood warning for the city, saying weather and water conditions are similar to those that led to catastrophic flooding in northeastern B.C. seven years ago. (Brett Hyde/CBC)
Multiple thunderstorm watches are in effect with heavy rain forecast through Tuesday by Environment Canada.
The damage from the 2016 floods took months to repair, with entire communities cut off as roads were destroyed and washed away. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation)
Dangers to the public
Officials say it is important to avoid rivers and streams that are under flood watches and warnings.
Swimming, fishing, boating and hiking near these rivers and streams is also discouraged.
On Friday evening, a man drowned trying to rescue a dog that had been swept away by high, fast-moving waters in West Vancouver’s Cypress Falls Park, prompting a warning for pet owners, as well.
“If you are close to bodies of water, keep your dog on a leash,” said Paul Markey, who led North Shore Rescue’s response to the call. “And if the dog does go in, absolutely do not follow the dog in there and try not to get close to the water.”
Storms could help — or hinder — wildfire fight
The warning comes as the region is already dealing with several out-of-control wildfires that continue to force hundreds of people from their homes.
As of Sunday evening, there are more than 90 wildfires burning across the province with the majority of them in the Peace River region, including three wildfires that pose a threat to property.
Forrest Tower, a fire information officer with the province, said there is hope the forecasted rain could help bring some of those fires — such as Red Creek and Cameron River — under control.
However, the fire service is also monitoring any lightning strikes, which could cause new fires, as the rain arrives.
“The timeline, at this point, is just when we start receiving that precipitation,” he said.
Montreal’s mayor says a welcome sign depicting a woman wearing a veil that adorns a lobby at city hall will be taken down in the name of secularism.
Valérie Plante said during a talk show that aired Sunday night that the image of the woman wearing a hijab will be removed because of the “discomfort” it causes but also because institutions must strive to be secular.
The welcome sign, as well as a photo in a public library of a young girl wearing a headscarf, has been criticized in the media, and the Parti Québécois has said the two images show that religion has begun invading the public sphere.
Plante told Radio-Canada talk show “Tout le monde en parle” that she understands the discomfort with the welcome sign, adding that it’s possible to promote diversity as well as secularism.
The subject of religion in the public sphere has resurfaced in recent weeks after 11 teachers were suspended at a Montreal public elementary school over allegations of toxicity and creeping religious instruction.
The mayor’s office said today it had nothing further to add about Plante’s appearance on the talk show, which came just days after she announced she wouldn’t seek a third term as mayor in next year’s elections.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2024.
OTTAWA – Former senator Mobina Jaffer says she was told by the Sudanese intelligence director that he felt Canadian officials had asked him to detain Montreal man Abousfian Abdelrazik.
Jaffer, who retired from the Senate earlier this year, testified today in Federal Court in Abdelrazik’s lawsuit against Ottawa over his detention and alleged torture in Sudanese custody two decades ago.
She recalled her September 2004 meeting in Sudan with Salah Gosh, who was then the director of the country’s intelligence service.
Jaffer, Canada’s special envoy for peace in Sudan at the time, said Gosh told her Canada thought Abdelrazik was a terrorist and wanted him to find out if he was indeed an extremist.
She said Gosh informed her Sudanese intelligence tried “all kinds of ways” to find out, but was completely satisfied he was not a terrorist, and that it was time for Canada to take him back.
Jaffer said it was no secret the intelligence service used brutal methods, so she immediately knew that Abdelrazik did not have a pleasant experience in custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2024.
MONTREAL – The Parti Québécois says it would lean on robots and automation to replace temporary workers as part of a detailed proposal to cut immigration to Quebec.
Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says it’s a lie that immigration can fix labour shortages, adding that Quebec should instead follow the lead of countries like Japan and China that have invested heavily in robotics and artificial intelligence.
The sovereigntist opposition party wants to cut the number of non-permanent residents in the province to 250,000 or 300,000, down from 600,000 today.
In a policy paper published this morning, the party says it would create a special fund for the automation of sectors affected by labour shortages, including manufacturing and retail.
St-Pierre Plamondon says Quebec’s existing immigration system puts pressure on housing and threatens the French language, and he also wants to cut the number of permanent immigrants to Quebec to 35,000 from 50,000 annually.
The PQ leader says Quebec will only attain a viable immigration model if the province achieves independence from Canada.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2024.
