Ottawa spending $50M to build three B.C. salmon hatcheries

Advertisement

Advertise with us

PRINCE GEORGE - The federal government has announced more than $50 million in contracts for the construction of three separate hatcheries in British Columbia aimed at salmon conservation.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

PRINCE GEORGE – The federal government has announced more than $50 million in contracts for the construction of three separate hatcheries in British Columbia aimed at salmon conservation.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada says the projects will be on traditional First Nations territory or operated by a local nation.

The largest contract is worth $38 million for construction of the Upper Fraser River Salmon Conservation Hatchery near the confluence of the Nechako and Fraser rivers in Prince George, B.C., within the territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation.

Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Ottawa has also committed two contracts of about $7.5 million each for construction of a hatchery near Hanceville, B.C. in the central Interior and for the next phase of the Wilp’Ho Dix Hatchery in the Skeena River system in northwestern B.C.

Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson says in a statement that the federal government will own and operated the Upper Fraser hatchery while operations will be shared with the Gitanyow First Nation on the Wilp’Ho Dix Hatchery.

The hatchery near Hanceville, located on the traditional territory of the Tŝilhqot’in First Nation, will be operated by the nation upon completion.

The three facilities are expected to have a combined capacity to raise more than one million juvenile Chinook and sockeye salmon annually.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2026.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

A trio of candidates will compete to become the first new city councillor in River Heights-Fort Garry since 2009.

Coun. John Orlikow, who won the seat in a byelection, is not running for another term.

Georgina Sabesky, who served as Orlikow’s executive assistant for 17 years, is now one of the candidates vying for the council seat.

Sabesky said that job gave her ample knowledge of the ward.

Mayoral hopefuls trade accusations

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Preview

Mayoral hopefuls trade accusations

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026

Two mayoral hopefuls traded accusations about meddling in each other’s campaigns as the incumbent rallied supporters for his re-election bid on the eve of advanced polls opening across Winnipeg.

A social media post made by Mike Vogiatzakis, one of 12 nominees in the Oct. 28 race for the top job at city hall, caught the attention of rivals Sunday.

The funeral director took to Facebook midday to criticize Kevin Klein — a competitor he said he thought of “as a friend” until the former Tory cabinet minister made a U-turn after pledging to back the Vogiatzakis campaign.

“Good speaker? Yes. Good looking guy? Sure. Someone I trust now? Absolutely not,” he wrote in a lengthy post.

Read
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026

Three Manitoba nurses censured for inappropriate behaviour

Morgan Modjeski 3 minute read Yesterday at 8:38 PM CDT

A Manitoba nurse has been disciplined for inappropriate behaviour towards students including what is being described as unwanted touching.

‘Amazing honour’: Winnipeg distribution centre continues award-winning ways for McKesson Canada

Aaron Epp 5 minute read Preview

‘Amazing honour’: Winnipeg distribution centre continues award-winning ways for McKesson Canada

Aaron Epp 5 minute read Yesterday at 6:00 AM CDT

After a three-year absence, the trophy is back in Winnipeg.

Last week, McKesson Canada named its 120,000-square-foot pharmaceutical distribution centre in the northwest part of the Manitoba capital its Distribution Centre of the Year. The award recognizes the facility’s role in helping essential medications reach communities across the province and some of Canada’s remote regions.

This is the fourth time the Winnipeg facility has earned the company-wide award since it opened five years ago. McKesson previously honoured the centre in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The recognition comes with a trophy, as well as a banner that was hung from the rafters on Thursday.

More than 100 employees work across the centre’s day-and-night operations, processing between 80,000 and 100,000 medication units daily. Last year, the centre distributed more than 21 million medication units while maintaining more than 99 per cent accuracy.

Read
Yesterday at 6:00 AM CDT

Two hospitalized in Osborne Village assault

1 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:12 AM CDT

Two people are in hospital and another two are in police custody after a serious assault in Osborne Village early Monday morning.

Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Pat Saydak said officers were called to the assault scene on Osborne Street near River Avenue just after midnight.

Two people were rushed to hospital, one in critical condition and the other in stable condition.

Two individuals, both adults, were arrested by police. There's no word yet on charges.

Khan’s abrupt departure presents desperate Tories with a valuable opportunity

Tom Brodbeck 5 minute read Preview

Khan’s abrupt departure presents desperate Tories with a valuable opportunity

Tom Brodbeck 5 minute read 1:06 PM CDT

If the Manitoba Progressive Conservatives are serious about getting out of the political wilderness, they should start by electing a progressive conservative leader.

Read
1:06 PM CDT