Justin Trudeau flying to B.C. Friday to visit flood-ravaged Abbotsford
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is flying into British Columbia on Friday to visit the flood-ravaged Fraser Valley community of Abbotsford, which remains partially underwater as more atmospheric rivers head toward the province.
Trudeau is scheduled to meet with Deputy Premier Mike Farnworth, Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun, Sumas First Nation Chief Dalton Silver and Matsqui First Nation Chief Alice McKay when he touches down in the community, according to his itinerary.
He's also expected to meet with Canadian Armed Forces members who have been helping with B.C.'s flood response and storm preparation, as well as first responders and volunteers.
The itinerary doesn't specify when the prime minister is expected to arrive in Abbotsford. He's first scheduled to visit Montreal and meet that city's mayor at 8:45 a.m.
After leaving the Fraser Valley, Trudeau is expected to head for Victoria to meet Premier John Horgan, who was recently diagnosed with throat cancer but has remained on the job.
The two leaders are scheduled to hold a joint media availability at 5:30 p.m.
Much work has been done to reopen B.C. highways and clean up flood-impacted communities since last week's historic storm, but there is still a long road to recovery.
On Thursday, the province revealed the busy Coquihalla Highway, which was damaged or washed away at about 20 different points, isn't expected to reopen until late January.
Abbotsford officials also estimated it will be weeks before the remaining floodwater is pumped out of the eastern Sumas Prairie.
Mayor Braun said crews have been working hard to brace for more wet weather, but noted there are ongoing concerns around the Nooksack River, located outside B.C.'s jurisdiction in Washington state. Flooding from that river is said to have severely exacerbated the situation in Abbotsford last week.
A less severe storm reached B.C.'s South Coast on Thursday, and two more are expected over the coming days. Officials have said the one forecast to arrive on Tuesday will be the worst of the three.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.