Josie Osborne, Minister of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship; Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation; and Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, have issued the following statement about the status of negotiations with Blueberry River First Nations:

British Columbians’ feedback about the watershed security strategy and fund being developed in partnership between the Province and Indigenous Peoples is now available.

Representatives of Gitanyow First Nation, including Hereditary Chiefs, and the B.C. government are celebrating 10 years of a landmark land-use plan that has reduced land-based conflicts and guided sustainable development in Gitanyow’s territory.

Provincial scientists are asking for help as they investigate several unexpected white sturgeon deaths in the Lower Fraser and Nechako rivers.

From the Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-oceans/news/2022/08/government-of-canada-and-province-of-british-columbia-support-14-fish-and-seafood-innovation-projects.html

From the Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-oceans/news/2022/08/government-of-canada-and-province-of-british-columbia-double-funding-and-extend-pacific-salmon-program.html

Due to increased grizzly bear activity in the upper Chilko River area, access to Chilko-Newton Road, south of Henry’s Crossing, will be closed to the public during salmon spawning season from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, 2022.

When staff at B.C.’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program were notified that a high-risk watercraft heading for the Lower Mainland appeared to be covered in invasive zebra mussels, inspectors with the Conservation Officer Service (COS) immediately took action.