The B.C. government introduced legislation today that will add more than 550,000 hectares to the province's parks and protected areas system, Environment Minister Terry Lake announced today.

International Compost Awareness Week (May 6-12) is being celebrated in communities throughout the province, as it is every day, through innovative programs that are substantially reducing the amount of organic materials dumped in landfills.

A septic truck that turned over on the TransCanada Highway yesterday, spilling approximately 1,500 litres of raw sewage north of Victoria, has had no impact to the environment, based on the location, containment and cleanup activities.

Bill 41, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2012, was introduced in the legislature today by Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond. If passed, the amendments will affect the following provincial statutes:

Proposed changes to the Animal Health Act will ensure B.C.'s reputation as a producer of safe and healthy foods and animals.

The Province is granting title of approximately 2.69 hectares of Crown land at Powers Creek to the District of West Kelowna, announced Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Ida Chong.

The 2012 Guide to B.C. Fairs and Exhibitions is a directory of 57 celebrations of local foods, entertainment and community across B.C. between May 6 and Sept. 24, and it is available now.

Cooler temperatures have created a high snowpack in many areas of the province.

Emergency Management BC is urging residents in the B.C's South Interior to take special care where there are high streamflow advisories.

One of the critical factors in our ability to grow B.C.'s agrifoods sector to a $14-billion-a-year industry by 2017 is a solid working relationship between the governments of B.C. and Canada.