Wildfires causing widespread telecom outages in N.W.T., Yukon
CBC
Wildfires around Fort Nelson B.C. and Fort Liard N.W.T. have caused widespread telecommunications outages in Yukon and parts of N.W.T. — including 911 emergency services outages.
Northern telecommunications provider Northwestel first announced outages on Friday night.
As of Saturday morning, the telecom provider confirmed that cell service, long-distance landline calls, and internet were still down in Yukon, Northern B.C., and the Beaufort Delta and Mackenzie Delta regions of N.W.T.
Long distance calling in Nunavut is also down.
"We are working closely with our partners to gain safe access to the damaged infrastructure to assess the situation. Once we're able to gain safe access, we can begin repairs. We do not have ETA for repair at this time, customers should plan to be without service for several more hours." Northwestel wrote on its Facebook page.
As of Saturday morning, Yukon's emergency management organization told CBC that all cell phone and internet service was down across the territory.
In N.W.T., residents of many communities including Fort Liard and Jean Marie River were reporting that Internet, cell phone, and landline services were down.
In Hay River, N.W.T. officials say that Northwestel internet is also down. Northwestel landlines are down for calls outside of the community. Cell service is unaffected.
911 emergency services are also down in both N.W.T. and Yukon.
During the outage, N.W.T. residents can reach RCMP at 867-765-8337. Residents who can't reach emergency services by phone should go to their local RCMP detachment or health centre.
Yellowknife officials say residents there can call temporary cell numbers in case of an emergency for both fire and ambulance services: 867-688-0462 and 867-686-3653.
In Hay River, residents can access fire and ambulance services at this number for now: 867-874-9333.
Whitehorse, meanwhile, has set up ambulance stations:
Officials there say locals can also get help at any RCMP detachment, at both Whitehorse fire halls or "by flagging down an emergency vehicle."
An ongoing debate in the House of Commons could push some government departments into a cash crunch and run up against other deadlines as the end of the fall sitting approaches.
Celebrity chef Vikram Vij is partnering with a Toronto charity to help raise funds for cash-strapped food banks.
The federal government did not meet the targets for its program to plant two billion trees during the program's third planting season.
Governments in Canada, the U.S. and abroad along with tech giants are all eyeing nuclear power to meet a growing demand for electricity and climate goals at the same time.
Allison McCabe's own story of medical dismissal began last August with a trip to an emergency room in Vancouver.
The leader of Canada's Green Party had some strong words for Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservatives while joining her provincial counterpart on the campaign trail. Elizabeth May was in Halifax Saturday to support the Nova Scotia Green Party in the final days of the provincial election campaign. She criticized PC Leader Tim Houston for calling a snap election this fall after the Tories passed legislation in 2021 that gave Nova Scotia fixed election dates every four years.
Manitoba business owners are gearing up for a temporary federal tax break this holiday season, and while some welcome it, others worry about its timing and the amount of work it will require.
A 36-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly trying to set a fire outside Vancouver City Hall late Friday night, police say.
Calgary city council reversed its decision to close the Inglewood Aquatic Centre Friday.
The Vancouver Police Board says its vice-chair has resigned following statements she posted to social media that were inconsistent with its code of conduct.
Hundreds of people showed up outside Queens Park Saturday afternoon to push back against the Ford government's controversial bike lane bill that would remove certain Toronto bike lanes to help address congestion.