The Wednesday news briefing: An at-a-glance survey of some top stories
Highlights from the news file for Wednesday, July 19
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NEW B.C. PREMIER EXTENDS STATE OF EMERGENCY OVER FIRES: British Columbia’s new government is extending the state of emergency for two more weeks as wildfires sweeping across the province’s Interior show no signs of slowing. Premier John Horgan said his government’s first priority is to support the more than 45,000 people displaced by the fires, which have so far torched more than 3,200 square kilometres of land. “It’s clear to me that we need to do more,” Horgan told reporters, speaking outside the legislature in Victoria on his first full day as premier. “We need to give additional support to the communities affected, and the first responders.” The current state of emergency expires Friday and Horgan said he regrets having to lengthen it. Horgan said people who are kept out of their homes for more than 14 days will get a second payment of $600, which will be paid out of a previously announced $100-million fund administered by the Canadian Red Cross.
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