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• Industry, conservationists welcome Ottawa's delay on B.C. salmon farm transition plan

  Both sides of British Columbia's contentious fish farm debate are welcoming Ottawa's move to delay a decision on a planned transition from open-net salmon farms in the province's coastal waters.

  

• B.C. prepares for fire evacuations, displacements amid healthcare staffing crisis

  The officials tasked with preparing for and responding to natural disasters in the province are bracing for widespread evacuations of B.C. communities amid tinder-dry conditions that are already prompting dire wildfire predictions.

  

• Vancouver Island wildfire surges in size, forces rolling highway closures

  An out-of-control wildfire on Vancouver Island surged in size Tuesday, covering more than a square kilometre and forcing intermittent closures of the only highway to Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet.

  

• New tax considered for Galloping Goose Trail upgrades

  The busiest pedestrian and bike trail in Greater Victoria is in need of some major upgrades, and the Capital Regional District is considering a new tax to pay for them.

  

• Bank of Canada ends pause on hikes, raises policy rate by 25 basis points

  The Bank of Canada raised its overnight rate by 25 basis points to 4.75 per cent on Wednesday, its first increase since pausing hikes in January.

• End of an era: BC Ferries closes Pacific Buffet

  It's a sad day for British Columbians who enjoyed the unlimited food offerings provided by the BC Ferries Pacific Buffet.

• Severely entangled humpback whale rescued off Haida Gwaii, B.C.

  Video shows Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) staff leading the rescue of a severely entangled humpback whale off the coast of British Columbia last week.

• Here's when and where campfire bans are coming into effect in B.C.

  Campfire bans will come into effect Thursday for most of B.C. and remain in place until October, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

• Vancouver Island scuba divers spot sixgill shark in rare shallow-water sighting

  Connor McTavish and three companions had just planned to explore the site of a shipwreck in Alberni Inlet on Vancouver Island last month when he spotted something in the corner of his eye — a two-metre-long sixgill shark.

• Multi-vehicle crash slows highway traffic near Langford

  A multi-vehicle crash temporarily shut down traffic on Highway 1 in both directions between Langford and Goldstream Provincial Park on Tuesday afternoon.

• Driver narrowly misses police officers while driving through Oak Bay roadblock

  Oak Bay police say officers had to jump out of the way of a speeding car that drove through a roadblock on Friday evening.

• Uber hosts grand opening at Victoria International Airport

  It's official, ride-hailing giant Uber has finally started operations in Victoria.

• Missing man from Vancouver Island may be in Kamloops area, RCMP say

  Mounties are asking the public for help finding a 39-year-old man who is missing from the Lake Cowichan area.

• Union for thousands of B.C. port workers to hold strike vote

  A global trade analyst says a potential strike for more than 7,000 terminal cargo movers in ports throughout British Columbia could have dire consequences for not only the Canadian economy, but globally as well.

• Vancouver Island's largest estuary restoration project to begin

  The restorations plan for the Cowichan River Estuary, which aims to address the impacts of climate change, was made public Tuesday.

• Nanaimo regional district calls for increase to tax exemption for volunteer firefighters, search and rescue

  The Regional District of Nanaimo will submit resolutions to the Union of BC Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities calling for an increased tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue personnel.