New modern liquor laws create new opportunities
An updated Liquor Control and Licencing Act and regulation come into force Monday, January 23, that will create new opportunities for businesses, increase convenience for consumers and enhance the Province’s commitment to social responsibility. “We’ve come a long way since we first began the process of updating B.C.’s antiquated...
Bernie Sanders' style grassroots fundraising it's not
Mere hours before the New York Times went to press with its look at the B.C. Liberal party's ethical scorecard, the party chose to get its 2016 fundraising results out ahead of the storm. One last chance at political counter-spin and what a marvel of spin it was. U.S. Republican party strategist Karl Rove would have been...
BC Coroners Service Releases 2017 Illicit Drug Death Numbers
The number of illicit drug deaths in B.C. continues to increase each month with December numbers the highest ever recorded in a single month in the province, according to the latest statistics from the BC Coroners Service. Provisional data show that a total of 142 persons died as a result of illicit drug use during the month...
Five conditions secure coastal protection and economic benefits for all British Columbians
Following the Trudeau government’s approval of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline Project, the Province’s clear, consistent and principled position on its five conditions has resulted in tangible and significant investments that will protect British Columbia’s environmental and economic interests. “The five conditions ...
Gitxsan chiefs add fourth lawsuit opposing Pacific Northwest LNG
Inland B.C. hereditary First Nations chiefs joined coastal ones in announcing a fourth federal lawsuit against Ottawa’s approval of the Pacific Northwest LNG project, at a press conference in Vancouver. They claim that the gas export terminal is an infringement of their Aboriginal fishing rights. Two Gitxsan Nation hereditary...
Government lends helping hand to families with property taxes by increasing home owner grant
The Province is increasing the home owner grant threshold to $1.6 million, helping keep property taxes affordable for families and ensuring most home owners will continue to receive the full grant this year, Finance Minister Michael de Jong announced Monday. “This is a 33% increase over last year,” said de Jong....
B.C. extends free HPV coverage to boys
Beginning this September, British Columbia will become the latest province to provide the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to boys, as part of B.C.’s publicly funded immunization program, Health Minister Terry Lake announced Friday. “We need to do everything we can to help girls and boys grow up to be healthy adults,”...
First step after BCTF's landmark court win sees Province provides $50 million to hire teachers
Surprisingly, two sides that have battled tooth and nail for more than a decade have reached an agreement to inject some life, and much needed funding, into the public school system. The BC Teachers Federation has reached agreement with the BC Public School Employers’ Association and government on an interim measure to immediately create more […]
Steady growth continues for B.C.’s tourism sector
In the first 10 months of 2016, nearly 4.9 million international visitors came to British Columbia. The latest international overnight visitor numbers from Statistics Canada from January to October 2016 indicate a 12.2% increase over the same 10-month period last year, which translates to 531,431 more visitors to the province....
Illicit drug death numbers hit new record
The month of November brought the highest number of illicit drug deaths in B.C. for a single month in recent memory, according to the latest statistics from the BC Coroners Service. Provisional data shows that a total of 128 persons died as a result of illicit drug use during November, an average of more than four a day. The...
