Western Premiers met in Vancouver over the past two days to discuss ways to build future prosperity in Canada’s Western provinces and territories.

Western Premiers acknowledged progress, as directed by Canada’s Premiers last year, on creating a national inventory of firefighting resources and ensuring that training is provided to Canadian Armed Forces personnel in wildfire firefighting techniques.

Temporary water use restrictions on the Coldwater River and its tributaries have been rescinded effective noon, Sept. 18, 2015.

Temporary water use restrictions on the Coldwater River and its tributaries have been reinstated effective noon, Sept. 2, 2015, through an order issued by Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson.

With weather conditions expected to remain warm and dry, water users in the Lower Columbia, West Kootenay and East Kootenay regions are being urged to reduce water consumption, and the Government of B.C. has announced a Level 3 drought rating for the area.

B.C. Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick issued the following statement, about the Government of Canada's decision to grant tax deferrals to B.C livestock producers in regions affected by drought.