BC Ferries vessel collides with humpback whale in Howe Sound near Metro Vancouver
A humpback whale has been struck by a BC Ferries vessel in waters near Metro Vancouver.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada says in an email that they were alerted to the collision on Sunday, when the Queen of Surrey reportedly struck the whale near Keats and Grace islands in Howe Sound.
The 139-metre-long Queen of Surrey provides regular service between Vancouver-Horseshoe Bay terminal and the Sunshine Coast.
The DFO says witnesses reported two humpback whales near the ferry at the time of the collision, and one was struck after it surfaced in front of the vessel.
The federal agency says the whale was seen behind the vessel after the collision, and investigators are working to identify it and assess its condition.
BC Ferries has also confirmed the collision and is co-operating with the DFO, adding that initial reports showed crew had "very little time to react."
"We recognize how upsetting this is, particularly for those who witnessed the collision, including our crews," BC Ferries spokeswoman Lilian Kim says in a statement. "They work on these waters every day and care deeply about protecting the marine life around them."
Kim says BC Ferries crew receive special training on whale awareness, and vessels operate under specific protocols to reduce collision risks.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada would not comment on whether the whale has been found, only stating that the agency is "currently reviewing the situation."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Doerkson says B.C. Conservative growth projection of 3.2% 'absolutely doable'
British Columbia's interim Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson says his party's projection of 3.2 per cent economic growth by 2029 represents about one per cent "more optimism" than the New Democrats had previously budgeted.
The Conservatives' figure, which is more than 50 per cent higher than the forecast in the last provincial budget, is also considerably higher than recent projections by the Bank of Canada and International Monetary Fund at the national level.
But Doerkson told a campaign stop in Maple Ridge, B.C., in the final days before the Oct. 24 provincial election that the growth is "absolutely doable."
He says industries, including natural gas, forestry, mining and agriculture, are waiting for a change in government to invest in the province because of "fear" under the previous NDP regime.
The Conservative platform promises to create $2.6 billion in new revenue over three years, while shrinking the deficit to $10.8 billion based on gross domestic product growing by 2.5 per cent next year, 2.8 per cent the year after and 3.2 per cent in 2029.
NDP Leader David Eby says the Conservatives are "torquing the numbers" and their platform has "major omissions" in how the party would pay for its plans.
"They failed to cost basic platform commitments like their cut to the (Provincial Sales Tax) on alcohol, which costs almost $300 million," Eby told a campaign stop in Vancouver on Monday.
"It is all with the aim of minimizing the reality of the cuts they're going to have to make."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2026.
By Brenna Owen | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Stelco posts strongest quarter since Cleveland-Cliffs takeover amid layoffs
The chief executive of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. says Stelco has posted its strongest quarterly results since the Ohio-based company acquired the steelmaker two years ago, even as it moves ahead with up to 500 layoffs at its Ontario operations.
Lourenco Goncalves says Stelco became a "positive contributor" to Cleveland-Cliffs' third-quarter results for the period ended Sept. 30 amid a sharp improvement in Canada's hot-rolled steel market.
However, he says more needs to be done by the Canadian government to correct "a clearly oversupplied market for galvanized steel in Canada."
Goncalves says without a clear plan from Ottawa aimed at improving market conditions for galvanized steel, the company made the "difficult but necessary" decision to indefinitely idle its galvanizing lines at Stelco.
He says laid off workers will be called back as soon as the current situation improves.
In the meantime, Goncalves says Stelco will concentrate on hot-rolled products "that actually have a market."
He says total production tonnage at Stelco will be maintained, its contribution to Cleveland-Cliffs' earnings will further increase, and about 2,000 Canadian jobs will be preserved.
Stelco produces hot-rolled steel at its Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Ont., for products such as construction materials and pipelines, while its Hamilton Works processes steel into cold-rolled and coated products, including galvanized steel, used for automotive, agriculture and infrastructure applications.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2026.
By Brett Bundale | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Élections Québec engage déjà pour cet automne et ça paie jusqu'à 27,92 $/h
Même la formation est payée! 🤑
Les élections provinciales s'en viennent très bientôt. Le 3 octobre 2022, tu pourras voter pour ceux et celles qui te représenteront au gouvernement. D'ailleurs, tout au long de la campagne électorale qui devrait être lancée sous peu, Élections Québec aura besoin de citoyen.ne aux quatre coins de la province pour aider dans l'organisation et dans le bon déroulement de cet événement marquant.
Bonne nouvelle si tu cherches à te faire un peu d'argent de poche dans les prochains mois, car le recrutement est déjà commencé et plusieurs emplois sont disponibles, en plus d'offrir des salaires avantageux. Ce sont 50 000 personnes qui seront engagées pour l'occasion, et ce, à travers les 125 circonscriptions au Québec.
Pour être admissible à l'embauche, tu devras être disponible durant la période électorale et/ou le jour de l'élection, avoir 16 ans et plus et être citoyen.ne canadien.e. Tu devras aussi résider au Québec depuis plus de six mois et ne pas être sous curatelle ( être jugé.e incapable par le tribunal de prendre soin de toi et de tes biens).
Les salaires varient entre 15,68 $/h et 27,92 $/h selon le poste que tu occupes. Parmi les emplois disponibles, tu pourrais être agent.es réviseur.es et te déplacer afin de rencontrer les électeur.trices, vérifier l'identité des électeur.trices lors du vote, être préposé.e à l'information ou procéder au dépouillement des votes le soir du 3 octobre.
Si cela t'intéresse et que tu désires t'impliquer, tu peux déposer ta candidature en remplissant un formulaire sur le site Internet de Élections Québec.
À noter que toutes les formations nécessaires à l'emploi sont payées.
Emploi Élections Québec
Salaire : entre 15,68 $ et 27, 92 $/h
Employeur : Élections Québec
Pour postuler, c'est ici