BC government

Minister says B.C. making significant progress toward good health

Dix touts multiple initiatives and hires, acknowledges more needed, particularly in cancer care

 

Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Minister Nathan Cullen Nathan Cullen, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, Chief Marilyn Slett, Premier David Eby, Nanwakolas President Dallas Smith and Coast Funds CEO Eddy Adra were in Vancouver Tuesday to announce $60M in funding to support marine conservation in the Great Bear Sea. (Photo courtesy of Caitlin Thompson/Nanwakolas Council)

Indigenous-led conservation in B.C.’s Great Bear Sea gets $60 million injection

Provincial funds will be used for sustainable development off B.C.’s central and north coast

 

A new poll finds Premier David Eby, here seen speaking in November at a meeting of business leaders in Victoria, as the most popular leader in B.C. among the four party leaders with almost four out of 10 British Columbians having a positive impression for plus-rating of 14 per cent. New Democrats currently maintain an 18-per cent lead among committed voters ahead of the Conservative Party of BC. (Screencap).

Poll shows NDP with a firm grip on B.C., as Conservatives pick up steam

Conservative Party leads BC United by nine points for second place in new Abacus Data poll

 

The provincial government is receiving broad praise for its housing policies from the British Columbia Economic Forecast Council, but its members are urging more and faster measures to help increase housing supplies and lower costs. Some members are also warning of a looming recession and the possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House. (Black Press Media file photo)

‘Feel like a recession’: economic forecast says B.C. headed for a slow year

BC Economic Forecast Council praises housing policies, but says government needs to do more, faster

The provincial government is receiving broad praise for its housing policies from the British Columbia Economic Forecast Council, but its members are urging more and faster measures to help increase housing supplies and lower costs. Some members are also warning of a looming recession and the possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House. (Black Press Media file photo)
Premier David Eby speaks during a press conference in the press theatre at legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Politicians left British Columbia’s legislature Thursday after passing a series of ambitious housing-focused laws Opposition parties say will do little to change the province’s status as the jurisdiction with the most unaffordable housing in North America. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Housing dominates B.C. legislative session as next election looms

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says there’s more legislation on the way

Premier David Eby speaks during a press conference in the press theatre at legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Politicians left British Columbia’s legislature Thursday after passing a series of ambitious housing-focused laws Opposition parties say will do little to change the province’s status as the jurisdiction with the most unaffordable housing in North America. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
An electric scooter driver dodges pedestrians as they cross an intersection in downtown Denver. British Columbia will be kicking off a four-year review in April on the emerging mode of transportation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-David Zalubowski

4-year safety review for electric kick scooters to begin in B.C. in the spring

The study will evaluate how the scooters can be safely integrated into local transportation networks

An electric scooter driver dodges pedestrians as they cross an intersection in downtown Denver. British Columbia will be kicking off a four-year review in April on the emerging mode of transportation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-David Zalubowski
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon Thursday faced the media to talk about his government’s housing agenda specifically and the concluded fall session generally. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Fall session dominated by housing ends with promise for more housing laws

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said spring session will see more housing legislation

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon Thursday faced the media to talk about his government’s housing agenda specifically and the concluded fall session generally. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Premier Eby Wednesday said B.C. faces a housing crisis in response to questions about concerns from the opposition that his government is rushing through legislation, while promising improvements in the management of the legislature. Wednesday afternoon, Government House Leader Ravi Kahlon limited debate on Bill 44, much to the chagrin of the opposition. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

B.C. government cuts debate short, passes major new housing bill

Opposition laments lack of time to debate bill, but Premier Eby says B.C. is an housing crisis

Premier Eby Wednesday said B.C. faces a housing crisis in response to questions about concerns from the opposition that his government is rushing through legislation, while promising improvements in the management of the legislature. Wednesday afternoon, Government House Leader Ravi Kahlon limited debate on Bill 44, much to the chagrin of the opposition. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Finance Minister Katrine Conroy says her ministry’s housing forecast are prudent. They show 4,000 fewer new housing starts in 2024 than in 2023. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. forecasts smaller deficit, but also fewer housing starts in 2024

Finance Minister Katrine Conroy delivered fiscal update for the second quarter of 2023

Finance Minister Katrine Conroy says her ministry’s housing forecast are prudent. They show 4,000 fewer new housing starts in 2024 than in 2023. (Black Press Media file photo)
Plastic shopping bags, along with a wide range of containers made out of certain plastics, will be banned Dec. 20. (Neil Corbett/The News)

B.C.’s soon-to-be ban on certain plastics feeds entrepreneurial boom

Co-founder of company offering sustainable foodware products welcomes Dec. 20 ban

Plastic shopping bags, along with a wide range of containers made out of certain plastics, will be banned Dec. 20. (Neil Corbett/The News)
A new study from Statistics Canada finds just over 14 per cent of adult children born in the 1990s owned homes in B.C. in 2021, the lowest rate in Canada. But the figures go up with income and most importantly with the question of how many properties their parents own. (Black Press Media file photo)

‘Bank of Mom and Dad’ helps fuel home ownership for young B.C. adults

Lowest home-ownership rate in Canada for children born in 1990s, improves if parents own homes

A new study from Statistics Canada finds just over 14 per cent of adult children born in the 1990s owned homes in B.C. in 2021, the lowest rate in Canada. But the figures go up with income and most importantly with the question of how many properties their parents own. (Black Press Media file photo)
Ombudsperson Jay Chalke said thousands of British Columbians are still waiting for financial compensation after government unfairly stripped them of a COVID-19 benefit worth $1,000. (Office of the Ombudsperson)

Thousands unfairly stripped of COVID-19 emergency benefit: BC Ombudsperson

Provincial government failed to inform British Columbians of changes in eligibility

Ombudsperson Jay Chalke said thousands of British Columbians are still waiting for financial compensation after government unfairly stripped them of a COVID-19 benefit worth $1,000. (Office of the Ombudsperson)
Renee Merrifield, MLA Kelowna-Mission, was among several BC United MLA Monday (Nov. 20) attacking CleanBC, the provincial government’s plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below 2007 by 2030. Several New Democratic ministers including Premier David Eby himself defended the plan. (Screencap)

BC United calls the NDP’s climate change plan an attack on B.C.’s well-being

Premier David Eby accused BC United of being ‘desperate’ and saying ‘anything to get elected’

Renee Merrifield, MLA Kelowna-Mission, was among several BC United MLA Monday (Nov. 20) attacking CleanBC, the provincial government’s plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below 2007 by 2030. Several New Democratic ministers including Premier David Eby himself defended the plan. (Screencap)
B.C. Premier David Eby became the province’s 37th premier at the Musqueam Nation, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. UBC political scientist Stewart Prest says provincial New Democrats can be very happy with his performance so far. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Housing dominates ‘selectively aggressive’ premier’s first year in office

UBC political scientist says David Eby focused on the issue expected central to next fall’s election

B.C. Premier David Eby became the province’s 37th premier at the Musqueam Nation, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. UBC political scientist Stewart Prest says provincial New Democrats can be very happy with his performance so far. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Premier David joined by New Democratic MLAs addressed delegates at the provincial NDP’s convention in Victoria. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Premier Eby: B.C. ‘won’t back down’ on carbon taxation

Eby also used B.C. NDP convention speech to 700-plus delegates to attack BC United’s Kevin Falcon

Premier David joined by New Democratic MLAs addressed delegates at the provincial NDP’s convention in Victoria. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
The province is looking to select a consultant to create a selection of standardized designs for small-scale, multi-unit homes, such as townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes in a new effort to tackle the housing crisis. (B.C. government)

B.C. looks to standardize multiplex designs as latest fix to housing crisis

The province’s pre-approved designs will be for triplexes, fourplexes and laneway homes

The province is looking to select a consultant to create a selection of standardized designs for small-scale, multi-unit homes, such as townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes in a new effort to tackle the housing crisis. (B.C. government)
Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, announced $16.5 million for a pilot project to show the viability of commercial trucks running on hydrogen. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Abbotsford facility to help pilot hydrogen commercial trucks amid EV boom

Provincial government is pumping $16.5 into pilot project

Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, announced $16.5 million for a pilot project to show the viability of commercial trucks running on hydrogen. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Health-care workers talk with a man in a COVID-19 infected ward at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. B.C. seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie released the results Nov. 16, 2023 from her office’s second provincewide survey of thousands of long-term care residents and their family members – and it shows little progress since the pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Better home support needed in order to delay long-term care: Seniors advocate

Report shows lack of progress since the pandemic, but COVID is not the root cause

Health-care workers talk with a man in a COVID-19 infected ward at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. B.C. seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie released the results Nov. 16, 2023 from her office’s second provincewide survey of thousands of long-term care residents and their family members – and it shows little progress since the pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Premier David Eby, seen here in Nova Scotia, warns against playing affordability off against climate change. During a meeting with federal and territorial leaders in Nova Scotia he held up an “I Heart Heat Pumps” T-shirt during interviews. (Screencap)

‘Mistake’ to play affordability off against climate change, says B.C. premier

Eby calls Ottawa’s handling of carbon tax exemption ‘startling’ and ‘disturbing’

Premier David Eby, seen here in Nova Scotia, warns against playing affordability off against climate change. During a meeting with federal and territorial leaders in Nova Scotia he held up an “I Heart Heat Pumps” T-shirt during interviews. (Screencap)
June Francis, chair of the provincial anti-racism data committee, Wednesday welcomed new measures designed to combat hate-crimes in B.C. (Screencap)

B.C. to help victims of hate-crimes with $2.4 million: Premier Eby

Groups can apply for funding Nov. 28 and hotline to be in place in spring 2024, if not sooner

June Francis, chair of the provincial anti-racism data committee, Wednesday welcomed new measures designed to combat hate-crimes in B.C. (Screencap)