Workers Compensation Act expands mental stress coverage
Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act were introduced Thursday in the legislature. The proposed changes ensure the current workers’ compensation system remains responsive to the needs of workers and employers. Specifically, the amendments: Broaden compensation coverage for mental stress conditions arising in the workplace. Adjust compensation for injured apprentices to a level that fairly represents […]
BC Hydro executive bonuses questioned as deficits grow
The NDP is demanding BC Hydro stop paying lavish executive bonuses, following an auditor general’s report that revealed that the Crown corporation actually ran a $249 million deficit last year, the CBC reports. NDP leader Adrian Dix says at a time when Hydro is looking at ramping up rates for customers, the current bonus system […]
White bear cubs risk being shot in B.C. town
It’s a scene that many people in the Kootenay region are familiar with: bears gorging on fruit and garbage. But a situation in Elkford, about three hours east of Nelson, has a pair of rare white bears cubs and a young black bear cub involved, the CBC reports. The bears have become a nuisance in […]
Government receives independent report on community gaming grant system
Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Ida Chong has received the independent report from Skip Triplett that examines government’s community gaming grant system for British Columbia. Triplett, the former Kwantlen Polytechnic University president who has served on numerous corporate and non-profit boards, delivered his report to the minister today. Government will release the report, in […]
Buy a bench, pick a park, mark a memory
With 43 sold so far, there’s still time to sponsor a BC Parks’ limited-edition bench as part of its 100 park benches for 100 years of provincial parks program. The Dalton family of the Lower Mainland jumped at the opportunity to commemorate their family history. Sheena Ball and her brother, Jim Brown, have a connection […]
B.C. workers benefit from minimum wage increase
B.C.’s minimum wage will increase to $9.50 on Tuesday, Nov. 1. At the same time, the minimum wage rate for liquor servers will increase to $8.75. This is the second increase to the minimum wage this year, and follows the announcment to increase minimum wage in three stages to $10.25 by May 1, 2012. Non-hourly […]
IntegrityBC launches “Who really runs BC?” campaign--Liberal donor Pattison Outdoor refuses to run transit ads
IntegrityBC has launched the first phase of its “Who really runs BC?” campaign with the unveiling of the transit shelter ad Pattison Outdoor doesn't want British Columbians to see. In launching its campaign to reform BC's election finance laws, the non-partisan organization is calling for a ban on corporate and union funding...
Trick-or-treaters down to lowest number in 23 years
Canada may see the lowest crop of trick-or-treaters in more than 20 years this Halloween, and it won’t be due to lousy weather or financial uncertainty, according to Statistics Canada, the Vancouver Province reports. Instead, the government agency said those who give out candy will have plenty of leftovers this year because the number of […]
Legalize marijuana sales, say B.C. experts
A high-profile political campaign has been launched to “end the cannabis cash cow of organized crime,” the CBC reports. A group of B.C. police officers, health professionals, legal experts and academics is calling for the legalization and regulated sale of marijuana. Called Stop the Violence, the group includes former B.C. Supreme Court justice Ross Lander […]
Kudos to Harper for shipbuilding methodology
It’s as much a tradition as Hockey Night in Canada: awarding federal contracts on the basis of political seats, powerful clout and, in essence, attempts to bribe voters. I saw that personally while covering Parliament Hill, when Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney overruled all technical assessments and recommendations...
