BC politics

Finance Minister Selina Robinson is photographed during a news conference ahead of the budget while at legislature in Victoria on Monday, February 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Climate change focus of B.C. budget after floods, wildfires and heat waves

Human and infrastructure damage of the past year will be a major focus

Finance Minister Selina Robinson is photographed during a news conference ahead of the budget while at legislature in Victoria on Monday, February 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Wildland firefighter Sasha Terhoch sprays water on hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon, B.C., on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Finance minister hints at changes to BC Wildfire Service after climate disaster filled year

Selina Robinson made comments one day before B.C. Budget unveiling

Wildland firefighter Sasha Terhoch sprays water on hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon, B.C., on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Lehigh cement plant in Delta is one of the industries affected by B.C.’s carbon tax, giving a price advantage to U.S. and Asian producers. B.C. has among the highest carbon taxes in the world, with no protection for export industries. (Black Press files)

B.C.’s post-COVID economy faces export, labour, taxation issues

Business council says income, carbon taxes dampen investment

Lehigh cement plant in Delta is one of the industries affected by B.C.’s carbon tax, giving a price advantage to U.S. and Asian producers. B.C. has among the highest carbon taxes in the world, with no protection for export industries. (Black Press files)
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: Bleeding hearts, lawlessness and leadership: ‘Just Watch Me’

Scrolling through my social media feed last week, I came across a…

  • Feb 17, 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)
B.C. Liberal leader Kevin Falcon speaks to reporters at the B.C. legislature, Feb. 17, 2022. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press Media)

Falcon calls B.C. NDP economic plan ‘propaganda document’

B.C. Green leader says it’s a ‘branding exercise’

B.C. Liberal leader Kevin Falcon speaks to reporters at the B.C. legislature, Feb. 17, 2022. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press Media)
B.C. Premier John Horgan visits trades training facilities at the B.C. Institute of Technology in 2018. A new trades and technology centre at BCIT was announced Feb. 17, 2022. (B.C. government photo)

New trades, technology school adds to B.C. NDP’s economic plan

Skills training full, 85,000 trade jobs in coming decade

B.C. Premier John Horgan visits trades training facilities at the B.C. Institute of Technology in 2018. A new trades and technology centre at BCIT was announced Feb. 17, 2022. (B.C. government photo)
Asbestos was phased out of Canadian construction by the 1980s, but workers continue to be exposed in the renovation and demolition of older homes and other buildings. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. moves to licence, regulate asbestos removal industry

Mandatory training coming by end of year, minister says

Asbestos was phased out of Canadian construction by the 1980s, but workers continue to be exposed in the renovation and demolition of older homes and other buildings. (B.C. government photo)
B.C. Premier John Horgan takes questions in the B.C. legislature, Feb. 14, 2022. (Hansard TV)

Health, not honking reduces B.C. COVID-19 rules, Horgan says

Weddings, night clubs, theatres return to full capacity Thursday

B.C. Premier John Horgan takes questions in the B.C. legislature, Feb. 14, 2022. (Hansard TV)
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. cabinet minister didn’t mislead legislature over FOI fee, speaker rules

Dispute over NDP setting $10 fee for information requests

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)
Office building construction site in Victoria, 2019. The B.C. government is expanding mandatory certification for skilled trades. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

B.C. mandatory trades certification ‘phased in’ starting this year

Industry Training Authority renamed SkilledTradesBC

Office building construction site in Victoria, 2019. The B.C. government is expanding mandatory certification for skilled trades. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
A 2019 accident in Langley, knocking out power to the area. (Shane MacKichan/Special to the Langley Advance Times)

B.C. police moving to licence plate readers to check insurance

ICBC offering online insurance renewals starting May 1

A 2019 accident in Langley, knocking out power to the area. (Shane MacKichan/Special to the Langley Advance Times)
Kevin Falcon addresses the crowd after being elected leader of the B.C. Liberal Party in Vancouver, on Saturday, February 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. opposition parties take aim after NDP’s throne speech

What about Merritt, Lytton, Sumas Prairie, Falcon asks

Kevin Falcon addresses the crowd after being elected leader of the B.C. Liberal Party in Vancouver, on Saturday, February 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks after chairing a meeting of premiers across Canada, Feb. 4, 2022. (B.C. government photo)

Wait for Henry, Family Day for pandemic relief, B.C. premier says

Some restrictions expected to be eased for Feb. 21

B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks after chairing a meeting of premiers across Canada, Feb. 4, 2022. (B.C. government photo)
B.C. Lt. Governor Janet Austin (red jacket) enters the legislature to present the government’s throne speech, Feb. 8, 2022. (Hansard TV)

Skills development, spending promised in B.C.’s throne speech

Legislature session starts with list of past achievements

B.C. Lt. Governor Janet Austin (red jacket) enters the legislature to present the government’s throne speech, Feb. 8, 2022. (Hansard TV)
Premier John Horgan talks to media about the recent flooding in the province at the legislature during a press conference in Victoria, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. Politicians are back at the British Columbia legislature today where the New Democrat government will deliver a throne speech outlining its political agenda for the coming months. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. NDP sets out political agenda with throne speech; Opposition has new leader

Premier John Horgan will unveil the government’s long-range economic development plan next week

Premier John Horgan talks to media about the recent flooding in the province at the legislature during a press conference in Victoria, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. Politicians are back at the British Columbia legislature today where the New Democrat government will deliver a throne speech outlining its political agenda for the coming months. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Former B.C. premier Christy Clark and Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes at the Quesnel Rodeo, July 2016. After an era of urban leaders Clark and Gordon Campbell appealing to the heartlands, the B.C. Liberal Party is working to restore urban support lost to the NDP. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. Liberals saddle up for urban comeback with Kevin Falcon

Opposition critics reassigned for NDP throne speech Tuesday

Former B.C. premier Christy Clark and Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes at the Quesnel Rodeo, July 2016. After an era of urban leaders Clark and Gordon Campbell appealing to the heartlands, the B.C. Liberal Party is working to restore urban support lost to the NDP. (B.C. government photo)
Expected job openings in B.C. by region between 2021 and 2031. (B.C. government)

Immigrants, automation unable to fill B.C.’s expected labour gap

Retirement wave to drive 1M job openings from now to 2031

Expected job openings in B.C. by region between 2021 and 2031. (B.C. government)
Kevin Falcon addresses the crowd after being elected leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party in Vancouver on Saturday, February 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Falcon heads to Victoria pledging BC Liberal rebuild, looks for seat in legislature

Falcon held a seat in Surrey for three terms before deciding not to run in the 2013 election

Kevin Falcon addresses the crowd after being elected leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party in Vancouver on Saturday, February 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks after chairing premier’s meeting from Victoria, Feb. 4, 2022. (B.C. government video)

Provinces need $28 billion more a year for health care, premiers say

B.C.’s John Horgan chairs Council of the Federation meeting

B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks after chairing premier’s meeting from Victoria, Feb. 4, 2022. (B.C. government video)
Construction continues on the Site C dam on the Peace River, December 2021. (B.C. Hydro photo)

B.C. cabinet lifts agricultural land rules to mine gravel for Site C dam

Mine, road sites not farmed, to be returned to ALR by 2026

Construction continues on the Site C dam on the Peace River, December 2021. (B.C. Hydro photo)