Frankly Speaking

Sunday's fire at Burns Bog in Delta, which prompted a response from water bombers, helicopters and many types of firefighting equipment on the ground,  is a good reminder of just how quickly a major natural disaster can strike. The Lower Mainland of B.C. is not immune from wildfires or other disasters. Sunday’s destructive Burns Bog fire, which went from a small grass burn to a 55 hectare uncontrolled forest and brush conflagration in a matter of hours, is a strong reminder of the potency of fire. Smoke was visible over most of the Lower Mainland Sunday afternoon. Fire crews from various parts of the province, including wildfire specialists, were called in. Water bombers and helicopters were used. One Vancouver radio station went off the air after its transmitter site was burned. Most of the Tilbury industrial park, adjacent to Burns Bog, was evacuated as a precaution and, as of Monday morning, several businesses were still under evacuation orders. Highway 17 between H...

B.C. Government photo The W.R. Bennett Bridge over Okanagan Lake at Kelowna is one of the few reminders of the 11-year reign of Bill Bennett as B.C. premier, from 1975-86. He died in Kelowna on Thursday at the age of 83. Bill Bennett, premier of B.C. from 1975 to 1986, died on Thursday after years of battling Alzheimer's disease. He was one of the most significant premiers of the 20th century in B.C., and he, along with his NDP predecessor Dave Barrett, brought B.C. into the modern era. Bill Bennett was a reluctant politician, at least at first. He was recruited in 1973 to run for the seat his father W.A.C. Bennett, B.C. premier for 20 years, vacated after losing to Barrett in the 1972 provincial election. The South Okanagan seat was a Social Credit bastion, but even before he said he would seek the seat, Bennett was under terrific pressure to take over as Social Credit leader. He had no political experience and had shown little interest in politics until that time. Bill B...