BC politics

B.C. NDP house leader Mike Farnworth takes a question in the B.C. legislature as Citizens’ Services Minister Lisa Beare listens, June 16, 2021. (Hansard TV)

B.C. sets $10 fee for non-personal public information requests

Down from $25 originally hinted, pushed through legislature

 

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)

B.C. local governments need help with flood control, Horgan says

Passing down responsibility for dike works ‘a bad call’

 

One of the flooded farms in Sumas Prairie from an aerial tour with provincial officials, Nov. 23, 2021. Some farms are recovering but more heavy rain is expected. (B.C. government photo)

B.C., Ottawa to match flood relief donations to Canadian Red Cross

Trudeau, Horgan tour flooded Abbotsford area to see damage

 

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions about his decision to keep secret-ballot votes for union certification, as demanded by the B.C. Green Party, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

Pandemic-battered B.C. small businesses say they can’t afford sick pay

Labour minister says 5 days reflects average usage of paid leave

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions about his decision to keep secret-ballot votes for union certification, as demanded by the B.C. Green Party, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
Logging trucks head down Highway 1 through Hope to join a convoy of drivers from across B.C. who were heading into Vancouver on Sept. 25, 2019. to protest provincial forestry policy. (Jessica Peters/Hope Standard)

U.S. doubles softwood lumber ‘dumping’ duties on B.C. producers

Minister says issues in trade dispute will be appealed again

Logging trucks head down Highway 1 through Hope to join a convoy of drivers from across B.C. who were heading into Vancouver on Sept. 25, 2019. to protest provincial forestry policy. (Jessica Peters/Hope Standard)
B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains. (Hansard TV)

B.C. requires 5 days a year of paid sick days starting in 2022

New program replaces temporary 3-day government payments

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains. (Hansard TV)
B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy is leading an overhaul of the B.C.’s Crown forest management. (Hansard TV)

B.C.’s sweeping forest changes pushed through over MLA objections

Business leaders protest potential mill, value added job losses

B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy is leading an overhaul of the B.C.’s Crown forest management. (Hansard TV)
Crews work through the night to clear landslide debris from B.C. highways after torrential rain known as an ‘atmospheric river,’ Nov. 15, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

‘Atmospheric rivers’ are the new hurricanes, rating system coming

B.C. expecting more rain this week as flood waters recede

Crews work through the night to clear landslide debris from B.C. highways after torrential rain known as an ‘atmospheric river,’ Nov. 15, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Deltaport coal shipping facilities at Tsawwassen, where U.S. thermal coal is shipped to Asia as well as metallurgical coal from B.C. mines in the Kootenay and Northeast regions. (Port Metro Vancouver)

B.C. deficit shrinks as economy, taxation recovery continues

Real estate, coal and copper up, flood costs still unknown

Deltaport coal shipping facilities at Tsawwassen, where U.S. thermal coal is shipped to Asia as well as metallurgical coal from B.C. mines in the Kootenay and Northeast regions. (Port Metro Vancouver)
Coquihalla Highway collapse roughly halfway between Hope and Merrritt, Nov. 16, 2021. (BC government photo)

Coquihalla drivers warned of ‘pooling water’ before washouts

MLAs drove highway to Victoria Sunday, shortly before disaster

Coquihalla Highway collapse roughly halfway between Hope and Merrritt, Nov. 16, 2021. (BC government photo)
B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth battles with opposition critics in the legislature, February 2020. (Hansard TV)

B.C. Alert Ready phone text system ready next spring, minister says

Opposition asks why all other provinces have it working

B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth battles with opposition critics in the legislature, February 2020. (Hansard TV)
First Nations Summit executive member Cheryl Casimer and Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee speak in the B.C. legislature in 2018 before a provincial law committing to adopt United Nations rights is implemented. (Hansard TV)

B.C. bolsters Indigenous rights protection as land conflicts continue

Old-growth forest, Coastal GasLink talks at critical stage

First Nations Summit executive member Cheryl Casimer and Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee speak in the B.C. legislature in 2018 before a provincial law committing to adopt United Nations rights is implemented. (Hansard TV)
Daycare program operated by the Burnaby school district, March 2021. The B.C. government has shifted its emphasis to public and non-profit child care as it enters Ottawa’s national child care program. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. government shifting funds to public, non-profit child care

Private providers have led growth, internal document says

Daycare program operated by the Burnaby school district, March 2021. The B.C. government has shifted its emphasis to public and non-profit child care as it enters Ottawa’s national child care program. (B.C. government photo)
B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks by video link to the annual Council of Forest Industries convention, April 8, 2021. (COFI video)

Timber buy-back, redistribution in latest B.C. forest overhaul

New rules to audit, enforce payment for log exports

B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks by video link to the annual Council of Forest Industries convention, April 8, 2021. (COFI video)
Attorney General David Eby speaks in the B.C. legislature, Oct. 5, 2021. (Hansard TV)

B.C. moves to create protest ‘bubble zones’ for COVID-19 services

Hospitals targeted by anti-vaccine mandate demonstrations

Attorney General David Eby speaks in the B.C. legislature, Oct. 5, 2021. (Hansard TV)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix have been leading the province’s COVID-19 pandemic response. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

Vaccination deadline for B.C. public servants arrives next week

Nov. 22 cutoff affects direct provincial employees

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix have been leading the province’s COVID-19 pandemic response. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
Natural gas revenues to B.C. have fallen along with the price since the surge in shale gas production has continued across North America. (B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources)

B.C. begins review to restore revenue from natural gas sales

Falling royalties as province prepares for LNG exports

Natural gas revenues to B.C. have fallen along with the price since the surge in shale gas production has continued across North America. (B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources)
B.C. Lions vice-president George Chayka and Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad speak before a Lions home game featuring an orange team shirt giveaway, Sept. 16, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. partners with Lions football team to tackle racism in schools

Past players to take part in classroom sessions next year

B.C. Lions vice-president George Chayka and Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad speak before a Lions home game featuring an orange team shirt giveaway, Sept. 16, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Truck leaves log sort on the Fraser River at Maple Ridge B.C. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

U.S. softwood ruling, old-growth plan add uncertainty to B.C. lumber trade

Canfor, West Fraser get more time to argue against border duties

Truck leaves log sort on the Fraser River at Maple Ridge B.C. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
B.C. Children and Family Development Minister Mitzi Dean. (Hansard TV)

B.C. minister under fire for changes to child special needs support

Opposition calls new system ‘clawback’ of individual funds

B.C. Children and Family Development Minister Mitzi Dean. (Hansard TV)