BC government

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem Wednesday announced an interest rate cut of 0.25 per cent to 4.75 per cent, the first cut since March 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

B.C. housing starts, sales should increase after interest rate cut: experts

Bank of Canada lowers interest rate by 0.25 per cent to 4.75 per cent

 

Surrey-South MLA Elenore Sturko and Conservative Party of B.C. John Rustad speak with the media Monday at the legislature after Sturko had left B.C. United for Rustad’s party. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

B.C. Conservatives control right, need urban votes for that to matter: analysts

Party in ‘pole position’ to take on NDP, but will their message resonate in vote-rich urban areas

 

A 2023 report from Statistics Canada gives B.C. the lowest rate of access to air conditioning with 32 per cent. That figure varies across B.C. While 84 per cent of households in Kelowna have air conditioning, the rate drops to 26 of households in Vancouver and 19 per cent in Victoria. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

About 1 in 3 B.C. homes have air-conditioning, the lowest rate in Canada

Air conditioning access even lower among racialized and low-income British Columbians

 

Lorne Doerkson, MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin, has switched to the Conservative Party of B.C., leaving B.C. United. The move gives the Conservative Party of B.C. three MLAs, all first elected as B.C. Liberals, all representing suburban and rural ridings outside of Metro Vancouver. (Misha Mustaqeem/100 Mile Press)

BREAKING: MLA Lorne Doerkson departs B.C. United, joins B.C. Conservatives

Doerkson’s departure gives Conservative Party of B.C. three MLAs, all elected as B.C. Liberals

Lorne Doerkson, MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin, has switched to the Conservative Party of B.C., leaving B.C. United. The move gives the Conservative Party of B.C. three MLAs, all first elected as B.C. Liberals, all representing suburban and rural ridings outside of Metro Vancouver. (Misha Mustaqeem/100 Mile Press)
B.C. announced an additional $20 million toward its air conditioner program that provides people most at risk of extreme heat with a unit. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. expands program to provide air conditioners with additional $20M

In 2023, B.C. provided $10M for about 6,000 air conditioning units for those most at risk of extreme heat

B.C. announced an additional $20 million toward its air conditioner program that provides people most at risk of extreme heat with a unit. (Black Press Media file photo)
Weather conditions aided efforts by firefighters to contain the Parker Lake wildfire near Fort Nelson, but Armel Castellan, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, said Friday much of June will likely be hotter and drier than seasonal norms. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service)

B.C. to face hotter, drier conditions for much of June: Meteorologist

Armel Castellan of Environment Canada says weather will turn hot and dry after first week of June

Weather conditions aided efforts by firefighters to contain the Parker Lake wildfire near Fort Nelson, but Armel Castellan, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, said Friday much of June will likely be hotter and drier than seasonal norms. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service)
A report titled Racial Diversity in the BC Public Service finds a “a pattern of underrepresentation” of Indigenous and racialized British Columbians in the public service. (Black Press Media file photo)

Minorities face ‘pattern of underrepresentation’ in B.C.’s public service

First-of-its-kind report points toward “potential systemic barriers” for Indigenous, racialized groups

A report titled Racial Diversity in the BC Public Service finds a “a pattern of underrepresentation” of Indigenous and racialized British Columbians in the public service. (Black Press Media file photo)
It is not exactly clear who launched this website urging B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon to resign. A self-described “group of long-time (B.C.) Liberal activists” claim to have launched the site, but they have not yet responded to requests for additional comment and information. (Screencap)

B.C. United, Conservatives trade barbs in wake of resignkevin.ca

Conservatives claim no knowledge who launched website urging Falcon to resign, United begs to differ

It is not exactly clear who launched this website urging B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon to resign. A self-described “group of long-time (B.C.) Liberal activists” claim to have launched the site, but they have not yet responded to requests for additional comment and information. (Screencap)
B.C.’s minimum wage is going up on June 1 by 65 cents to $17.40 per hour, but a new report from Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, British Columbia, and Living Wage for Families BC, says the increase will still hundreds of thousands below the living wage for their community. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C.’s minimum wage set to jump, still lags behind living wage: report

B.C.’s minimum wage will rise to $17.50 per hour June 1, but report wants $20 minimum wage

B.C.’s minimum wage is going up on June 1 by 65 cents to $17.40 per hour, but a new report from Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, British Columbia, and Living Wage for Families BC, says the increase will still hundreds of thousands below the living wage for their community. (Black Press Media file photo)
South Okanagan and Similkameen Primary Care Network is adding six more staff, but it is not clear yet when they will become available following Wednesday’s announcement by Premier David Eby in Oliver. (Black Press Media file photo)

NDP hails expansion of South Okanagan, Similkameen Primary Care Network

Premier David Eby Wednesday announced expansion Wednesday with Health Minister Dix, MLA Russell

South Okanagan and Similkameen Primary Care Network is adding six more staff, but it is not clear yet when they will become available following Wednesday’s announcement by Premier David Eby in Oliver. (Black Press Media file photo)
A new government report tracking recommendations to protect old-growth forest in B.C. is facing criticism from the Wilderness Committee, but Forests Minister Bruce Ralston says his government is taking “unprecedented” action on a number of fronts to protect old-growth forests. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

Environmentalists reject B.C. claim of ‘unprecedented’ old-growth deferral

Wilderness Committee accuses government of stall tactic while logging continues

A new government report tracking recommendations to protect old-growth forest in B.C. is facing criticism from the Wilderness Committee, but Forests Minister Bruce Ralston says his government is taking “unprecedented” action on a number of fronts to protect old-growth forests. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon (right), seen here in Vernon earlier in May, said the B.C. NDP is holding its caucus retreat in Osoyoos to learn directly from communities affected by various issues related to climate change. (Roger Knox/Morning Star)

B.C. NDP Osoyoos retreat signals the election importance of Okanagan

No B.C United incumbents running, Conservative support growing, regional voting patterns may change

B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon (right), seen here in Vernon earlier in May, said the B.C. NDP is holding its caucus retreat in Osoyoos to learn directly from communities affected by various issues related to climate change. (Roger Knox/Morning Star)
Premier David Eby defended his government’s record on infrastructure projects after government had announced that the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project (seen here) as well as the Broadway Subway Project will be delayed for another year. (Photo courtesy of the B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)

B.C. Premier Eby says province can’t rely on ‘grandparents’ infrastructure’

Comments come after opposition criticized delays on 2 major transportation infrastructure projects

Premier David Eby defended his government’s record on infrastructure projects after government had announced that the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project (seen here) as well as the Broadway Subway Project will be delayed for another year. (Photo courtesy of the B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)
Food Banks BC executive director Dan Huang-Taylor said he was not surprised but nonetheless disappointed that B.C. received a grade of D-plus in Food Banks Canada’s 2024 Poverty Report Card. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C.’s poor grade in 2024 poverty survey ‘concerning,’ says food bank head

B.C. Premier David Eby says issues around affordability ‘serious and on-going’ in commenting on report

Food Banks BC executive director Dan Huang-Taylor said he was not surprised but nonetheless disappointed that B.C. received a grade of D-plus in Food Banks Canada’s 2024 Poverty Report Card. (Black Press Media file photo)
HTEC, which currently operates five hydrogen fuels stations in B.C., Friday received hundreds of millions of dollars to build up to 20 such stations across western Canada with 18 in B.C. and two in Alberta. (Submitted).

B.C. company receives hundreds of millions to expand hydrogen fuel stations

Vancouver-based HTEC to build up to 18 hydrogen fuel stations in B.C., two in Alberta

HTEC, which currently operates five hydrogen fuels stations in B.C., Friday received hundreds of millions of dollars to build up to 20 such stations across western Canada with 18 in B.C. and two in Alberta. (Submitted).
B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon said Conservative Party of B.C. John Rustad walked away from what Falcon called a “generous” non-competition framework to prevent the B.C. NDP from forming government after this fall’s provincial election. (Black Press Media file photo)

BREAKING: B.C. United says B.C. Conservatives walked away from talks

B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon said his party had proposed a generous “non-competition framework”

B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon said Conservative Party of B.C. John Rustad walked away from what Falcon called a “generous” non-competition framework to prevent the B.C. NDP from forming government after this fall’s provincial election. (Black Press Media file photo)
Food insecurity among British Columbians has been growing according to a new report that gives B.C. a D-plus tracking poverty. B.C.received a failing grade in several areas, but the report also handed out a B for efforts by government to deal with poverty. (Submitted photo)

Food bank report fails B.C. on several poverty tests, but commends efforts

Food Banks Canada tracking poverty gives B.C. an overall D-plus

Food insecurity among British Columbians has been growing according to a new report that gives B.C. a D-plus tracking poverty. B.C.received a failing grade in several areas, but the report also handed out a B for efforts by government to deal with poverty. (Submitted photo)
First Nations Health Authority said in a release Tuesday (May 22) that it discovered “unusual activity on its corporate network” on May 13. While FNHA deployed counter-measures, it “has uncovered evidence that certain employee information and limited personal information of others has been impacted.” (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

Personal but not medical data impacted after hack at B.C. health authority

First Nations Health Authority says “unauthorized entity” accessed its corporate network

First Nations Health Authority said in a release Tuesday (May 22) that it discovered “unusual activity on its corporate network” on May 13. While FNHA deployed counter-measures, it “has uncovered evidence that certain employee information and limited personal information of others has been impacted.” (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
B.C. Premier David Eby, here seen addressing the Fraser Valley Economic Summit on Tuesday (May 21), has reason to smile over a new Research Co poll, which gives him a personal approval rating of 54 per cent, 12 points better than support for the B.C. NDP. The poll sees the B.C. Conservatives in second place with 32 per cent, while the B.C. Greens and B.C. United — the official opposition — are tied with 12 per cent each. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)

Poll gives B.C. Conservatives no ‘reason’ to cooperate with B.C. United: analyst

SFU’s Nicolas Kenny says Conservatives are benefiting from “conservative, anti-establishment wave”

B.C. Premier David Eby, here seen addressing the Fraser Valley Economic Summit on Tuesday (May 21), has reason to smile over a new Research Co poll, which gives him a personal approval rating of 54 per cent, 12 points better than support for the B.C. NDP. The poll sees the B.C. Conservatives in second place with 32 per cent, while the B.C. Greens and B.C. United — the official opposition — are tied with 12 per cent each. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)
The provincial government faces a legal challenge from the society regulating lawyers in B.C. over Bill 21, so-called Legal Professions Act. It creates a single regulator for lawyers, notaries and licensed paralegals with an eye to improve access to legal services, but lawyers fear it undermines their independence. (Don Denton Photography)

B.C. government faces court challenge over law changing legal regulations

The Law Society of B.C. fears Bill 21 threatens the independence of lawyers and democracy itself

The provincial government faces a legal challenge from the society regulating lawyers in B.C. over Bill 21, so-called Legal Professions Act. It creates a single regulator for lawyers, notaries and licensed paralegals with an eye to improve access to legal services, but lawyers fear it undermines their independence. (Don Denton Photography)