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The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
National

What's making news in British Columbia

 

B.C. GOVERNMENT SAYS GROUPS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF RAINFOREST DEBATE LEARNED TO CO-EXIST

Premier Christy Clark says her government's protection of the Great Bear Rainforest is British Columbia's gift to the world.

The province introduced legislation to protect much of the globe's largest intact temperate rainforest on B.C.'s rugged central coast from logging.

It protects 85 per cent of the 6.4-million-hectare area that stretches from the Discovery Islands on Vancouver Island northwards to Alaska covers seven per cent of the province's land mass.

The government announced a landmark agreement last month to protect the area after 20 years of talks with industry, First Nations and conservation groups.

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TRUDEAU AND PREMIERS GEAR UP FOR CLIMATE-CHANGE TALKS IN VANCOUVER

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Vancouver in advance of climate change talks with the premiers on Thursday.

Trudeau admits that finding a middle ground when leaders have differing views is challenging, but that multiple perspectives lead to better solutions.

He says everyone wants growth and jobs, while protecting the environment.

Trudeau has said he favours carbon pricing, but Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has already come out against a national carbon tax.

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GROUP OF DIVERSE BUSINESS, LABOUR AND ACADEMIC REPS LAUNCH SMART PROSPERITY

A group called Smart Prosperity that wants Canada to speed up the transition to a high-efficiency, low-carbon economy has launched in Vancouver.

It includes business leaders, labour, non-governmental organizations, government and academics and aims to promote policies that spur innovation, generate jobs and boost the economy.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave his endorsement at the launch, saying the group exemplifies the kind of collaboration that will be essential to addressing future challenges and opportunities.

Twenty-six individuals have signed on to the initiative, including top representatives from banks and insurance companies, aluminium smelters, the United Steel Workers union, a grocery chain, investment firms and the World Wildlife Federation.

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ALBERTA WOMAN GRANTED RIGHT TO DIE SAYS SHE'LL GET DOCTOR'S HELP IN VANCOUVER

A terminally ill Calgary woman who's been granted the legal right to die with help of a doctor plans to take that step on private property in Vancouver.

The woman, who can't be named due to a publication ban, is in the final stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

The court ruling says the woman has, at most, six months to live and no longer wants to suffer.

The federal government is preparing a new law on physician-assisted death, but for now a judge can be asked to rule on whether someone can be allowed to die that way sooner.

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Justin Trudeau is applauding his personal security team's snowboarding skills during a family trip to Whistler.

The prime minister was asked lightheartedly at an event in Vancouver whether he jeopardized his security by joining his bodyguards on the slopes.

He praised the RCMP officers, saying they're as good on the hills as they are anywhere in the world.

Trudeau is in B.C. this week to meet with provincial and territorial premiers as well as First Nations leaders at Vancouver's biennial Globe conference on clean technology.

The Canadian Press

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