A report submitted to the House of Commons heritage committee says the federal Online News Act contributed to a loss of credible local news on Facebook during wildfire emergencies, with rural communities particularly affected.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia, examined how the disappearance of Canadian news content from Facebook affected communities during wildfire events.

The report, When Good Intentions Cause Harm: The Online News Act, Meta’s News Ban And Public Safety During Wildfire Emergencies, focuses on several B.C. communities and looks at the impact of Meta’s decision to block Canadian news content from Facebook and Instagram.

The move followed the federal government’s passage of Bill C-18, also known as the Online News Act. The legislation was intended to require major digital platforms to negotiate compensation agreements with Canadian news organizations for news content shared on their services.

Meta opposed the legislation and subsequently blocked news content from its platforms in Canada.

According to the UBC researchers, the change had significant consequences in smaller and rural communities, where Facebook had become an important source of information during emergencies.

The researchers argued that the loss of local journalism was especially problematic during wildfires, when residents need timely and trustworthy information about evacuation orders, alerts, road closures and other developments.

“Rural B.C. communities lost access to credible journalism at the precise moment they needed it most,” the researchers wrote, arguing that the situation had implications for public safety, public trust and compliance with emergency directions.

The report found that the removal of professional news coverage did not result in Facebook becoming an information-free environment. Instead, posts from individuals continued to circulate, with researchers arguing that emotionally charged content could receive greater attention and contribute to anger, speculation and conspiracy theories.

Researchers attributed the information gap to several factors, including declining trust in institutions, social media algorithms and the loss of professional journalism from Facebook.

The report also raised concerns about the changing nature of mainstream wildfire coverage. With fewer local journalists available to provide on-the-ground reporting and established relationships with communities, news organizations were increasingly reliant on government agencies and other official sources.

According to the researchers, this could result in coverage that focused heavily on whether residents were following emergency instructions rather than documenting the experiences and concerns of people directly affected by wildfires.

The findings point to what researchers described as an unintended consequence of the Online News Act. While the legislation was intended to address the financial challenges facing Canadian journalism, particularly those created by changes in the digital advertising market, its implementation was followed by the removal of Canadian news from one of the country’s most widely used social media platforms.

The report has renewed discussion about the role of local journalism in rural communities and how residents receive critical information during emergencies.

The findings were first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, an independent Canadian news organization that has opposed the Online News Act. The outlet has argued that the legislation represents federal intervention in Canada’s news market and says it did not seek or accept payments made available through the legislation.

Police are asking for the public’s help locating a 32-year-old Saanich woman who has been missing since she was dropped off near Woss more than two weeks ago.

Saanich Police say Taisa Verbitchi was last seen shortly before 7 p.m. on July 22, when she was dropped off at the end of West Woss Road. She had planned to camp in the Woss area.

More than two weeks have now passed since Verbitchi was last seen, and police are appealing to anyone who may have been travelling through the area or spending time outdoors near Woss to come forward with information.

The remote North Island area is surrounded by extensive forests, lakes, backroads and recreational areas, and police are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have encountered Verbitchi or seen her while travelling in the region.

According to information released by Saanich Police, Verbitchi is 32 years old. Police have released her photograph as part of the search and are asking anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact investigators.

The circumstances surrounding her disappearance have not been publicly detailed, and police have not indicated that a criminal investigation is underway.

Anyone who may have information that could help establish Verbitchi’s movements after she was dropped off near West Woss Road is asked to contact Saanich Police.

Police are urging anyone who was camping, hiking, driving forestry roads or otherwise travelling through the Woss area around July 22 or in the days afterward to consider whether they may have information that could assist the investigation.

Saanich Police continue to list the case as an active missing-person investigation.

The wildfire situation on Vancouver Island continued to improve Saturday, with two more fires declared out by the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).

While wildfire activity is escalating across much of British Columbia, prompting new evacuation orders and alerts, conditions on Vancouver Island have eased. By Saturday evening, the number of active fires had declined and several blazes had been brought under control.

The North Island now has one wildfire burning out of control, two being held, one under control and one declared out. On southern Vancouver Island, two fires remain under control, while the Sooke wildfire has now been declared out.

Of the eight wildfires reported on the Island this week, six are believed to have been caused by lightning, one is suspected to be human-caused, and the cause of the Sooke fire remains under investigation.

North Island Wildfires

Out of Control

The only wildfire still classified as out of control is located northwest of Strathcona Provincial Park (V81131). The fire was discovered Thursday and remains approximately 0.009 hectares in size. BCWS says the size is based on the most current information available.

Lightning is believed to have sparked the blaze.

Being Held

The Island’s largest wildfire, burning near Kalpit Lake southwest of Woss and Highway 19 (V91091), has been downgraded from out of control to being held.

Discovered on July 21, the fire covers approximately 6.3 hectares. BCWS says it has shown minimal growth in recent days, poses no threat to critical infrastructure, and is currently burning as a combination of smouldering ground fire and low-intensity surface fire. Ground crews and aircraft continue suppression efforts.

A second wildfire being held is at Chute Creek (V81185), west of Highway 19 between Courtenay and Campbell River. The fire was discovered Friday and was initially reported as out of control before crews contained it. It remains about 0.009 hectares in size and is believed to have been human-caused.

Under Control

The Holiday Creek wildfire (V91099), west of the Strathcona Provincial Park Northern Woodlands, remains under control. Discovered July 22, the lightning-caused fire measures approximately 0.009 hectares, with suppression efforts continuing to prevent further spread.

Declared Out

The wildfire at the northern tip of Strathcona Provincial Park Northern Woodlands (V81137) was declared out Saturday evening.

The lightning-caused fire was discovered on July 23 and had been listed as being held earlier in the day before crews successfully extinguished it.

South Island Wildfires

Declared Out

The wildfire near Sooke (V61174), discovered Friday, has now been declared out. The fire reached approximately 0.009 hectares before being contained. Investigators are still working to determine its cause.

Under Control

The wildfire near Bear Mountain and Goldstream Provincial Park (V61138), discovered July 23, remains under control at approximately 0.009 hectares. Lightning is believed to be the cause.

The fire has prompted the temporary closure of Prospector’s Trail in Goldstream Provincial Park while suppression operations continue.

Another lightning-caused wildfire near Shawnigan Lake (V61135) also remains under control. The 0.1-hectare fire was discovered Wednesday, with ground crews and aircraft continuing to monitor the area. BCWS says there is no immediate threat to public safety or critical infrastructure.

Wildfire Activity Growing Across B.C.

Although conditions on Vancouver Island have improved, wildfire activity continues to intensify across British Columbia.

The province now has more than 120 active wildfires, including 24 new fires discovered over the past 24 hours. Nearly half are burning out of control.

BC Wildfire Service says warm, dry weather and strong winds continue to fuel aggressive fire behaviour across southern B.C., creating difficult conditions for firefighters and contributing to expanding evacuation orders and alerts.

Officials say protecting both firefighters and the public remains the top priority.

Residents are encouraged to prepare for the possibility of wildfire, even if there is no immediate threat to their community. BCWS recommends registering for local emergency notifications and discussing evacuation plans with household members before an emergency occurs.

The B.C. government is investing more than $800,000 in emergency preparedness projects across Vancouver Island, helping local governments and First Nations strengthen their ability to respond when disasters strike.

The funding is part of the Province’s Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, which is providing approximately $3.5 million for 110 emergency operations centre projects in communities throughout British Columbia, including Sayward. The grants will be used to improve emergency operations centres through equipment purchases, staff training and emergency response exercises.

Emergency operations centres serve as the command hub during disasters, coordinating resources, supporting first responders and ensuring residents receive timely information and emergency assistance.

According to the Province, the latest funding will benefit 138 communities across B.C., helping local governments and First Nations improve their emergency response capacity as climate-related emergencies and extreme weather events become more frequent. Since 2017, more than $25 million has been invested in over 820 emergency operations centre projects through the program.

Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Minister Kelly Greene said emergency operations centres are the backbone of a coordinated response during emergencies and that the funding will ensure communities have the training, equipment and resources needed to respond quickly when people need help.

The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities on behalf of the Province and supports a range of emergency management initiatives, including emergency operations centres, evacuation planning, public notification systems and disaster risk reduction projects.

Two people have died following a helicopter crash during forestry operations in a remote area of British Columbia’s central coast.

The crash occurred on the morning of  Tuesday, July 13th near Loughborough Inlet, north of Vancouver Island, at approximately 6:15 a.m. A Hughes 500 helicopter carrying three people went down while conducting forestry work in the area. The pilot and a forestry worker were killed, while a third occupant survived the crash.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has deployed investigators to the crash site to gather evidence and determine what caused the accident. The investigation is expected to examine the aircraft, weather conditions, maintenance records, and other factors that may have contributed to the crash.

Loughborough Inlet is a remote coastal fjord accessible primarily by boat or aircraft, where helicopters are commonly used to transport crews and support forestry operations in rugged terrain.

The incident has sent shockwaves through British Columbia’s forestry and aviation communities, where helicopter travel is a routine part of working in remote areas. The identities of those involved have not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.

The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is inviting residents to help shape future emergency planning by sharing their perspectives on the natural hazards and risks facing their communities.

As part of its Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA), the SRD is seeking public feedback to better understand the concerns, experiences, and priorities of residents across the region. The information collected will help identify the hazards that pose the greatest risks and guide future emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery planning.

The assessment examines a wide range of potential hazards, including wildfires, flooding, severe storms, earthquakes, landslides, power outages, extreme weather, and other events that could affect communities throughout the Strathcona Regional District. Public input is considered an important part of the process, providing local knowledge that complements technical assessments and historical data.

Residents of Sayward and Electoral Area A are encouraged to participate, as local experiences and observations can help identify community-specific vulnerabilities and improve emergency planning for the region. The completed assessment will be used to prioritize projects, strengthen emergency management strategies, and support applications for disaster mitigation funding.

Community members can complete the survey through the Strathcona Regional District’s public engagement website before the consultation period closes.