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BC Ferries vessel collides with humpback whale in Howe Sound near Metro Vancouver
BC Ferries vessel collides with humpback whale
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
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.
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Doerkson says B.C. Conservative growth projection of 3.2% 'absolutely doable'
Doerkson says growth of 3.2% 'absolutely doable'
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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.
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Stelco posts strongest quarter since Cleveland-Cliffs takeover amid layoffs
Stelco posts strongest quarter since takeover
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
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.
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Ces navettes t'emmènent dans des parcs au Québec et il y a même des trajets gratuits
Pas d'auto? Pas d'excuse pour ne pas découvrir les plus beaux paysages!
Si tu as envie de partir le temps d'une journée à l'aventure, mais que tu ne peux te déplacer hors de la ville, sache que l'entreprise Navette Nature offre aux citadin.es l'opportunité de se rendre dans les plus beaux parcs nationaux du Québec tout près de Montréal. Une belle façon de prendre une grande bouffée d'air frais, de sortir du tumulte de la métropole et d'admirer des horizons à couper le souffle, et ce, même si tu ne conduis pas ou ne possèdes pas de voiture.
À bord d'un sympathique autobus jaune, tu peux partir à la découverte des parcs nationaux de la Yamaska, du Mont-Tremblant, de la Mauricie, d'Oka et de trois parcs-nature de Montréal. Plusieurs endroits magnifiques que tu pourras enfin cocher sur ta bucket list.
Sur les lieux, tu décides vraiment de comment se déroulera ta journée. Tu peux donc naviguer sur l'eau en canot, kayak, paddleboard, faire de la randonnée pédestre pour atteindre de jolis points de vue ou simplement te reposer sur une plage un livre à la main. C'est l'occasion de décrocher et de se ressourcer.
Le départ se fait à partir de la gare d'autocars de Berri-UQUAM tôt le matin et le retour en fin d'après-midi afin que tu puisses bien profiter de ta journée.
Le prix d'un billet comprend le transport et l'accès au parc. Aucune activité n'est payée, tu dois donc débourser à tes frais si tu veux louer des vélos, embarcations ou autres.
Si tu souhaites visiter les parcs-nature de Montréal, tu peux maintenant le faire, et ce, gratuitement grâce à un partenariat avec la Ville de Montréal. Tu pourras explorer les berges du Cap-Saint-Jacques, te promener dans la forêt dense du Bois de Liesse ou observer la faune et la flore à La Pointe-aux-Prairies.
À noter que la Navette Nature roulera bientôt sur les routes environnantes de la Capitale-Nationale puisque des départs de Québec s'ajouteront bientôt à l'offre.
Navette Nature
Coût : entre 43,05 $ et 61,50 $ et gratuit pour les parcs-nature de Montréal
Adresse : Gare d'autocars de Berri-UQAM, Montréal, QC
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