British Columbians forced to evacuate due to flooding are now entitled to $2,000 from the Red Cross — in addition to other financial support programs.
Canadian Pacific Railway resumed operations through B.C. on Tuesday, and Canadian National Rail plans to resume rail traffic today.
Non-essential travel restrictions remain in place for several areas of highway impacted by floods.
Restaurants are running out of food and other supplies, which is impacting their bottom line after an already difficult two years.
Recycle B.C. is asking residents to hang on to glass and foam packaging as transportation delays have forced a temporary pause on collection.
British Columbia is bracing for more rainfall in the coming days and weeks as the province works to rebuild after unprecedented precipitation earlier this month.
Up to 80 millimetres of rain is forecast for Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound, Whistler and the Fraser Valley, starting this morning and continuing until Friday.
Strong southeast winds near the water are also predicted as part of this weather system, and freezing levels will rise above mountain tops, which could trigger snowmelt and worsen the flooding situation.
Hay bales are pictured floating in the middle of a street surrounded by floodwaters in the Sumas Prairie flood zone in Abbotsford on Monday. An already dire flooding situation could worsen as heavy rainfall is predicted for the rest of the week. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
The River Forecast Centre has issued a high streamflow advisory for the South Coast, including the Fraser Valley and near Hope — both of which have been trying to recover from severe flood damage.
Forecasters expect rivers will rise Thursday as a result of the rainfall.
Wind, rain and snowfall warnings are in effect for parts of Vancouver Island, the Central Coast and North Coast.
But once that storm passes through, another is set to arrive on the coast on Saturday.
B.C. Hydro released a statement Wednesday saying it anticipates increased water flow into its South Coast and Vancouver Island reservoirs and a higher risk of power outages this week due to the weather.
Last week’s weather also caused power outages as heavy wind and landslides damaged some parts of the province’s hydro system; crews are working to replace transmission structures, power lines and wires while heading into the next series of storms.
Our crews are preparing for the next <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCStorm?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#BCStorm</a> while clean up continues from the atmospheric river last week: <a href=”https://t.co/V9RCM61lna”>https://t.co/V9RCM61lna</a> <a href=”https://t.co/K8BkwHUslq”>pic.twitter.com/K8BkwHUslq</a>
The utility corporation is asking the public to be prepared in case they lose power in the coming days and to stay 10 metres away from fallen power lines.
“The next nine or 10 days could be quite challenging,” Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said during a news conference on Tuesday, as he asked British Columbians to pay close attention to weather forecasts for the coming days.
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun is advising residents to prepare an emergency kit ahead of the next storm, and said the city’s focus is on preparing for more rain.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Braun thanked those from coast to coast who have contacted him to say that the City of Abbotsford is in their thoughts.
“Continue to pray for us, because we desperately need it,” he said.
Abbotsford water advisory
On Wednesday, Abbotsford replaced a boil water advisory for residents in the Sumas Prairie area with a do not use water advisory.
Toilet flushing is permitted, but the city says there are uncontrollable water main breaches in the region that could allow surface water to affect the supply of drinking water.
The affected area stretches from Angus Campbell Road in the west, to Highway One in the north, the boundary with Chilliwack in the east and to the U.S. border and Old Yale Road in the south. Other parts of Abbotsford are not affected.
The advisory could remain in place for several days.
Floodwaters are shown in the Sumas Prairie flood zone in Abbotsford. (Oliver Walters/CBC)
Braun said although recent dike repairs helped seal off the flow of water into the prairie lake bottom area, they need to continue to pump water out.
“As you can imagine, this is not clean water,” Braun said. “We know there are hazardous and potentially toxic material in these floodwaters, which is why we need to complete an environmental assessment of the area to ensure it is safe.”
He said bridges, roads and culverts are being inspected, as is drainage infrastructure. Rapid Damage Assessments also continue to be done to determine when evacuees can return home.
Highways closed for non-essential travel
Highways washed out by floods remain closed, though essential travel is allowed in some areas.
Transportation Minister Rob Fleming advises people to check highways before heading out on the road, because many are closed for non-essential travel.
An aerial view shows a damaged road near Lytton, B.C., on Nov. 15. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation/Reuters)
On Tuesday, Highway 7 between Hope and Mission was closed to non-essential travel. However, the definition of essential travel was updated to include charter buses, school buses and public transit vehicles so that people are still able to get to school or work.
“First rule is, ask yourself, ‘Do I need to be out there?’ Don’t be out there unless it’s absolutely essential,” Fleming said Tuesday afternoon.
“If you are driving, slow down and follow the direction of traffic control personnel and be patient. It will be slow as you make your commute. If you’re heading out of the Lower Mainland, be prepared for winter conditions.”
Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. (CP) operations between Kamloops and Vancouver resumed Tuesday after flooding and mudslides cut vital supply links last week.
The route is CP’s busiest corridor and links the Port of Vancouver to the rest of North America. The first trains arrived in Vancouver Wednesday morning carrying grain and fuel.
Keep recycling at home for now
Road conditions have made it difficult to transport recycling in B.C., which has prompted the organization in charge of recycling to pause collection on some materials.
Recycle B.C. is asking residents to hang on to their glass and foam, as it has had to temporarily suspend collection from both residential addresses and depots.
Containers and paper will continue to be collected as usual, because Recycle B.C., says they can be baled and stored more compactly.
It is unclear how long the collection suspension will last, as the transportation situation in B.C., continues to change.
LONGUEUIL, Que. – People in a part of Longueuil, Que., were being asked to stay indoors with their doors and windows closed on Thursday morning after a train derailed, spilling an unknown quantity of hydrogen peroxide.
Police from the city just east of Montreal said it didn’t appear anyone was hurt, although a CN rail official told a news conference that three employees had been taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.
The derailment happened at around 9 a.m. in the LeMoyne area, near the intersection of St-Louis and St-Georges streets. Mathieu Gaudreault, a spokesman for CN rail, said about eight cars derailed at the Southwark rail facility, including four that toppled over.
“As of this morning, the information we have is it’s hydrogen peroxide that was in the rail car and created the fumes we saw,” he said, adding that there was no risk of fire.
François Boucher, a spokesman for the Longueuil police department, said police were asking people in the area, including students at nearby schools, to stay indoors while experts ensure the air is safe to breathe.
“It is as a preventive measure that we encourage people to really avoid exposing themselves unnecessarily,” he told reporters near the scene.
Police and fire officials were on site, as well as CN railworkers, and a large security perimeter was erected.
Officers were asking people to avoid the sector, and the normally busy Highway 116 was closed in the area. The confinement notice includes everyone within 800 metres of the derailment, officials said, who added that it would be lifted once a team with expertise in dangerous materials has given the green light.
In addition to closing doors and windows, people in the area covered by the notice are asked to close heating, ventilation and air exchange systems, and to stay as far from windows as possible.
Gaudreault said it wasn’t yet clear what caused the derailment. The possibilities include a problem with the track, a problem with a manoeuvre, or a mechanical issue, he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s Liberal party is promising to improve cellphone service and invest in major highways if the party is elected to govern on Nov. 26.
Party leader Zach Churchill says a Liberal government would spend $60 million on building 87 new cellphone towers, which would be in addition to the $66 million the previous Progressive Conservative government committed to similar projects last year.
As well, Churchill confirmed the Liberals want to improve the province’s controlled access highways by adding exits along Highway 104 across the top of the mainland, and building a bypass along Highway 101 near Digby.
Churchill says the Liberals would add $40 million to the province’s $500 million capital budget for highways.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the three major political parties were expected to spend much of today preparing for a televised debate that will be broadcast tonight at 6 p.m. local time.
Churchill will face off against Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston and NDP Leader Claudia Chender during a 90-minute debate that will be carried live on CBC TV and streamed online.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – A group of hotel service workers in Toronto is set to hold a rally today outside the Fairmont Royal York to demand salary increases as hotel costs in the city skyrocket during Taylor Swift’s concerts.
Unite Here Local 75, the union representing 8,000 hospitality workers in the Greater Toronto Area, says Royal York employees have not seen a salary increase since 2021, and have been negotiating a new contract with the hotel since 2022.
The rally comes as the megastar begins her series of six sold-out concerts in Toronto, with the last show scheduled for Nov. 23.
During show weekends, some hotel rooms and short-term rentals in Toronto are priced up to 10 times more than other weekends, with some advertised for as much as $2,000 per night.
The union says hotel workers who will be serving Swifties during her Toronto stops are bargaining for raises to keep up with the rising cost of living.
The union represents hospitality workers including food service employees, room attendants and bell persons.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
