BC politics

Repair work at Bottletop Bridge on the Coquihalla Highway, Dec. 7, 2021. Repairs to dozens of highway sites in B.C.’s southern Interior will be ongoing through next year and beyond, at costs not yet estimated. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation photo)

B.C.’s climate plans battered by extreme weather as 2022 begins

Electric cars, forest offsets, carbon taxes don’t stop damage

Repair work at Bottletop Bridge on the Coquihalla Highway, Dec. 7, 2021. Repairs to dozens of highway sites in B.C.’s southern Interior will be ongoing through next year and beyond, at costs not yet estimated. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation photo)
B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy listens as professional forester and Tahltan Nation member Garry Merkel explains the province’s old-growth forest preservation plan at the B.C. legislature, Nov. 2, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. Indigenous leaders testing new authority in 2022 forestry remake

Horgan’s battle with big forest companies is just beginning

B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy listens as professional forester and Tahltan Nation member Garry Merkel explains the province’s old-growth forest preservation plan at the B.C. legislature, Nov. 2, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
The B.C. Ferries vessel Spirit of British Columbia passes Salt Spring Island while travelling on the Salish Sea from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, B.C., at sunset on Sunday, October 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

The best of times, the worst of times

During these tumultuous times, it is easy to forget how blessed we truly are

  • Dec 22, 2021
The B.C. Ferries vessel Spirit of British Columbia passes Salt Spring Island while travelling on the Salish Sea from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, B.C., at sunset on Sunday, October 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
North Island NDP MLA Michele Babchuk. (Photo supplied)

Taking political attacks home part of ‘dangerous trend’ says Vancouver Island MLA

Protests part of the job, but Michele Babchuk says her family did not sign up for that job

North Island NDP MLA Michele Babchuk. (Photo supplied)
A Victoria house is disassembled by Unbuilders Deconstructors, with doors, windows and old-growth lumber recovered for remanufacturing and sale. Unbuilders received a $500,000 grant from B.C.’s building innovation fund last year. (Unbuilders photo via Facebook)

B.C. government looks to assist more low-carbon building solutions

$5M CleanBC building innovation fund opens for applications

A Victoria house is disassembled by Unbuilders Deconstructors, with doors, windows and old-growth lumber recovered for remanufacturing and sale. Unbuilders received a $500,000 grant from B.C.’s building innovation fund last year. (Unbuilders photo via Facebook)
Agriculture depends on irrigation in many parts of B.C., and licences are required for using groundwater sources such as wells for agricultural or industrial use. Farm irrigation in Abbotsford. (B.C. government)

More time needed for B.C. groundwater registration, opposition says

B.C. Liberals, Greens says most well owners unaware

Agriculture depends on irrigation in many parts of B.C., and licences are required for using groundwater sources such as wells for agricultural or industrial use. Farm irrigation in Abbotsford. (B.C. government)
White Rock residents Karen Arsenault and four year-old Dylan Arsenault at the Pacific National Exhibition midway in 2017. (PNE photo)

B.C. doubles COVID-19 relief fund for community festivals, events

Fairs, festivals, rodeos in 134 B.C. communities qualified

White Rock residents Karen Arsenault and four year-old Dylan Arsenault at the Pacific National Exhibition midway in 2017. (PNE photo)
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

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)
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’

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)
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

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. 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)
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