VANCOUVER - WINTER WORK STOPPAGE PROMPTS SITE C LAYOFFS

BC Hydro is confirming the layoffs of about 200 workers at the Site C dam construction project in northeastern British Columbia.

The corporation says the workers were laid off by consortium that holds the main civil works contract, Peace River Hydro Partners, which plans to stop some of its work over the winter.

A preliminary review released last week by the BC Utilities Commission said more information was needed about the $8.8 billion project in order to determine if the dam is viable.

The utilities commission is holding hearings around the province on the project, which has faced opposition from Peace Valley landowners, First Nations and environmentalists.

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SISTER OF ALBERTA WILLIAMS STILL HOPES FOR JUSTICE

A B.C. woman and the retired Mountie who investigated her sister's murder were reunited Tuesday after 28 years, on a flight from Vancouver to Smithers.

Claudia Williams and Gary Kerr plan to testify together at the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women.

The body of Williams' younger sister Alberta was found east of Prince Rupert in 1989, a few weeks after she disappeared from outside a downtown bar.

Williams said it's important that she has Kerr by her side at the hearing and she hopes public attention from the inquiry will help lead to an arrest in her sister's case.

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B.C. HEALTH MINISTER APPOINTED TO HEAD FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS PROGRAM

Premier John Horgan has announced the appointment of Adrian Dix as Minister Responsible for the Francophone Affairs Program.

The new responsibility is in addition to Dix's role as Minister of Health.

The Francophone Affairs Program is responsible for improving access to programs and services in French throughout the province.

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ALLEGED LUGGAGE THIEF ARRESTED AT YVR

A 46-year-old Vancouver man has been arrested in connection with a spate of luggage thefts at Vancouver International Airport.

RCMP said the man, who is well-known to police, was taking the luggage from the domestic arrival carousels before the owners could retrieve their items.

Airport security spotted a man fitting the description of the suspect Tuesday, and he was arrested by Mounties.

Travellers are advised to go to the baggage claim carousels immediately upon arrival and to report any suspicious activity to police.

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RCMP TELL GUN OWNERS TO CALL AHEAD WHEN SURRENDERING FIREARMS

Mounties in Surrey are offering some "do's and don't's" about the proper way to surrender firearms after someone brought a rifle to a local police station and inadvertently pointed it at staff.

Police said the rifle was not loaded and nobody was hurt, but the incident was described as "unsettling."

People should not bring firearms or ammunition to police stations, but should instead call police so that officers can come and pick up the items safely.

Once a firearm is picked up by police it is taken to the detachment, where it is properly accounted for, recorded and then destroyed.

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By The Canadian Press

News from © The Canadian Press, 2017