BC politics

Port Alice pulp mill site on northern Vancouver Island, shut down since 2015, is being cleaned up under a court-ordered receivership after it changed hands and was abandoned in 2019. (North Island Gazette photo)

‘Polluter pays’ the goal of B.C.’s industrial performance bond

Ministers seeking ways to enforce up-front fund for risks

Port Alice pulp mill site on northern Vancouver Island, shut down since 2015, is being cleaned up under a court-ordered receivership after it changed hands and was abandoned in 2019. (North Island Gazette photo)
B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham introduces Sarah Wilson of Pendleton Farm in the Comox Valley, one of more than 200 farmers using the B.C. Land Matching Program, Merville, April 13, 2022. (Scott Stanfield/Comox Valley Record)

B.C.’s young farmer lease program grows to 203 properties

Retiring farmers get matched with those starting out

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham introduces Sarah Wilson of Pendleton Farm in the Comox Valley, one of more than 200 farmers using the B.C. Land Matching Program, Merville, April 13, 2022. (Scott Stanfield/Comox Valley Record)
Kimberley’s Centre 64 arts centre has needed roof and truss replacement since 2019, and is among 57 projects receiving federal and provincial infrastructure funds this year. (Kimberley Bulletin)

B.C., Ottawa announce 57 recreation projects in province

Federal funds require Indigenous consultation on each facility

Kimberley’s Centre 64 arts centre has needed roof and truss replacement since 2019, and is among 57 projects receiving federal and provincial infrastructure funds this year. (Kimberley Bulletin)
Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair (left), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C. Premier John Horgan meet at the premier’s office in Victoria after touring flooding in the Fraser Valley, Nov. 26, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

Horgan, other premiers pan Ottawa’s lack of help for health care

Trudeau’s budget expands to dental care in deal with NDP

Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair (left), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C. Premier John Horgan meet at the premier’s office in Victoria after touring flooding in the Fraser Valley, Nov. 26, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Trans Mountain pipeline twinning work continues in December 2021 near Blue River on B.C. Highway 5, about halfway between Kamloops and Jasper, Alberta. (Trans Mountain photo)

B.C. employers blindsided by construction union raiding changes

Site C, Trans Mountain and LNG Canada all open-shop projects

Trans Mountain pipeline twinning work continues in December 2021 near Blue River on B.C. Highway 5, about halfway between Kamloops and Jasper, Alberta. (Trans Mountain photo)
B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions about his decision to keep secret-ballot votes for union certification, demanded by the B.C. Green Party, B.C. legislature, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

B.C. moves to drop employee vote from union certification drives

Construction workers to be allowed to change unions once a year

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions about his decision to keep secret-ballot votes for union certification, demanded by the B.C. Green Party, B.C. legislature, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
There have been “missed opportunities” to develop density along SkyTrain lines, B.C. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says. (TransLink photo)

B.C. to force higher-density development along transit lines

Agency will have authority to buy land along rail corridors

There have been “missed opportunities” to develop density along SkyTrain lines, B.C. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says. (TransLink photo)
Surrey South MLA Stephanie Cadieux has announced plans to resign. (Contributed photo)

Surrey South MLA Stephanie Cadieux resigns seat to become Canada’s first Chief Accessibility Officer

Longtime politician will leave post at end of April

  • Apr 4, 2022
Surrey South MLA Stephanie Cadieux has announced plans to resign. (Contributed photo)
Livestock farmers are experiencing a shortage of veterinary care in B.C. (North Thompson Star-Journal photo)

B.C. doubles subsidized training seats for veterinary medicine

Global shortage of vets, training costs $68,000 a year

Livestock farmers are experiencing a shortage of veterinary care in B.C. (North Thompson Star-Journal photo)
Carl Archie, an elected councillor of the Canim Lake Band, describes impact of forest changes on traditional Indigenous culture of the Cariboo region, April 1, 2022. (B.C. government video)

B.C. old-growth logging deferrals exceed Great Bear Rainforest

Canim Lake Band reserves right to alter its plans

Carl Archie, an elected councillor of the Canim Lake Band, describes impact of forest changes on traditional Indigenous culture of the Cariboo region, April 1, 2022. (B.C. government video)
With the Peace River diverted through tunnels, the powerhouse for the Site C dam takes shape, Nov. 28, 2021. (B.C. Hydro photo)

Pilings, pandemic push up unexpected costs for B.C.’s Site C dam

BC Hydro still implements small cut to electricity rates today

With the Peace River diverted through tunnels, the powerhouse for the Site C dam takes shape, Nov. 28, 2021. (B.C. Hydro photo)
Elections B.C. map of the Okanagan area.

‘Be part of the process’: B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission to hold public meetings

Ridings in Nelson, Trail, Radium Hot Springs, Cranbrook, Penticton, Kelowna, Salmon Arm, Revelstoke, and Kamloops are being reviewed

Elections B.C. map of the Okanagan area.
B.C. Energy Minister Bruce Ralston tours Cellcentric’s hydrogen fuel cell plant in Burnaby, August 2021. Cellcentric is a German-based partnership of Mercedes Benz and Volvo, developing zero-emission heavy trucks. (B.C. government photo)

B.C.’s hydrogen fuel project seeing big investor interest, Horgan says

Dedicated permit office aims to streamline development

B.C. Energy Minister Bruce Ralston tours Cellcentric’s hydrogen fuel cell plant in Burnaby, August 2021. Cellcentric is a German-based partnership of Mercedes Benz and Volvo, developing zero-emission heavy trucks. (B.C. government photo)
Bruce Cameron has been a pollster and strategist for over 35 years, working initially for Gallup Polls, Decima Research and the Angus Reid Group before founding his own consultancy, Return On Insight. (Black Press Media files)

CAMERON: Think local, act global

Will micro and macro changes to the world economy hurt or help B.C. in 2022?

  • Mar 30, 2022
Bruce Cameron has been a pollster and strategist for over 35 years, working initially for Gallup Polls, Decima Research and the Angus Reid Group before founding his own consultancy, Return On Insight. (Black Press Media files)
Mitzi Dean, B.C.’s minister of children and family development, speaks in the B.C. legislature, Nov. 24, 2021. (Hansard TV)

B.C. lagging behind Ottawa in support for Indigenous children, study finds

Gap in funding ‘troubling,’ children’s representative says

Mitzi Dean, B.C.’s minister of children and family development, speaks in the B.C. legislature, Nov. 24, 2021. (Hansard TV)
B.C. Finance Minister Selina Robinson speaks to the legislature, Dec. 10, 2020. (Hansard TV)

B.C. government prepares to impose real estate cooling-off period

Bidding wars don’t allow inspection, financing consideration

B.C. Finance Minister Selina Robinson speaks to the legislature, Dec. 10, 2020. (Hansard TV)
More than half of Canada’s forests have no industrial activity, and the remainder is strictly regulated, the Forest Products Association of Canada says. (B.C. government photo)

Forest poll part of anti-Canadian trade campaign, industry says

Ottawa funds group targeting U.S. wood product purchases

More than half of Canada’s forests have no industrial activity, and the remainder is strictly regulated, the Forest Products Association of Canada says. (B.C. government photo)
British Columbia’s provincial flag flies in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. The provincial government is expanding legal aid in British Columbia as part of its 2022 budget.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

B.C. allocates more than $8 million to boost legal-aid services

Funding follows recent analysis of the province’s legal-aid system

British Columbia’s provincial flag flies in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. The provincial government is expanding legal aid in British Columbia as part of its 2022 budget.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
B.C. Premier John Horgan met with local leaders in Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley on Tuesday (March 22). (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

B.C. Premier John Horgan visits Abbotsford to talk flood recovery, prevention

Flood solutions, Highway 1, fostering relationships with Washington, World Cup and more discussed

B.C. Premier John Horgan met with local leaders in Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley on Tuesday (March 22). (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)
Premier John Horgan is meeting with Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun and Abbotsford-Mission MLA Pam Alexis to discuss local issues. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

PHOTOS: Premier John Horgan arrives in Abbotsford

Premier meeting with local leader to discuss issues important to the region

Premier John Horgan is meeting with Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun and Abbotsford-Mission MLA Pam Alexis to discuss local issues. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)