BC government

Premier David Eby, here seen with Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon Monday in Vancouver, says a new flipping tax will give a families a “leg up” in the search for housing. (Screencap)

‘Final warning’ given B.C. house flippers, Eby says new tax not about revenue

But BC United says new new flipping tax is ‘primarily a political announcement’

Premier David Eby, here seen with Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon Monday in Vancouver, says a new flipping tax will give a families a “leg up” in the search for housing. (Screencap)
Minimum wage workers in industries such as food and accommodation will see their hourly earnings rise to $17.40 on June 1. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. tying minimum wage increases to inflation permanently through new law

Minimum wage will rise to 65 cents to $17.40 on June 1 for most eligible workers

Minimum wage workers in industries such as food and accommodation will see their hourly earnings rise to $17.40 on June 1. (Black Press Media file photo)
Former attorney-general Wally Oppal headed Missing Women Commission of Inquiry in wake of the Robert Pickton trial. A comedy group known as Danger Cats is now facing criticism for selling merchandise featuring Pickton and Premier David Eby has called on the group to apologize. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. premier calls on comedy group to apologize to families of Pickton victims

David Eby calls merchandise depicting Robert Pickton a ‘sad attempt at humour’

Former attorney-general Wally Oppal headed Missing Women Commission of Inquiry in wake of the Robert Pickton trial. A comedy group known as Danger Cats is now facing criticism for selling merchandise featuring Pickton and Premier David Eby has called on the group to apologize. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Speaking at the Junction neighbourhood pub in Vancouver Friday afternoon, Premier David Eby said businesses across B.C. will benefit from the budget’s decision to raise the threshold on the Employers’ Health Tax and the temporary hydro rebate. (Screencap)

Business leaders criticize, praise B.C.’s budget in talk with Premier Eby

Eby says budget will help B.C. respond to growing population and set the stage for economic growth

Speaking at the Junction neighbourhood pub in Vancouver Friday afternoon, Premier David Eby said businesses across B.C. will benefit from the budget’s decision to raise the threshold on the Employers’ Health Tax and the temporary hydro rebate. (Screencap)
Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma, left, and B.C. Premier David Eby walk together as they arrive for a meeting at the Columbia Shuswap Regional District offices, in Salmon Arm, B.C., Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C.’s wildfire travel ban was ‘ineffective, unnecessary’: Penticton Chamber

Local group pens letter to province ahead of 2024 wildfire season

Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma, left, and B.C. Premier David Eby walk together as they arrive for a meeting at the Columbia Shuswap Regional District offices, in Salmon Arm, B.C., Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Home builders and others are praising housing-related aspects of the 2024 provincial budget, but it has also prompted questions about government’s commitment to build new temporary and permanent emergency shelters on top of the 500 existing ones for all of B.C. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. builders and housing analysts happy with province’s direction

Policies confirmed in new budget expected to make it easier to turn renters into owners

Home builders and others are praising housing-related aspects of the 2024 provincial budget, but it has also prompted questions about government’s commitment to build new temporary and permanent emergency shelters on top of the 500 existing ones for all of B.C. (Black Press Media file photo)
B.C.’s opposition parties are criticizing the NDP’s provincial budget but on different grounds. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

B.C. Budget 2024: opposition parties slam NDP’s 2024 provincial budget

BC United, Conservatives accuses NDP of reckless spending, while Greens criticize climate policies

B.C.’s opposition parties are criticizing the NDP’s provincial budget but on different grounds. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
B.C.’s Finance Minister Katrine Conroy speaks during budget lockup in Victoria on Thursday (Feb. 22, 2024). (Lauren Collins)

BUDGET 2024: B.C. runs record deficit of almost $8B, focuses on temporary relief

Budget includes several temporary relief measures and a flipping tax

B.C.’s Finance Minister Katrine Conroy speaks during budget lockup in Victoria on Thursday (Feb. 22, 2024). (Lauren Collins)
B.C. released its 2024 budget on Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Budget 2024: One-off affordability boost for families, small cut to hydro costs

Fiscal plan also expands Employer Health Tax exemption to more businesses

B.C. released its 2024 budget on Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Black Press Media file photo)
Keerit Jutla, president and CEO of the Association for Mineral Exploration, addresses Rock Talk 2024 in Smithers after learning provincial Lands Act amendments are being suspended. (Photo courtesy of Smithers Exploration Group)

Mineral exploration industry supports B.C. Land Act pause

Mineral exploration association president says pause is a chance to get things right for everyone

Keerit Jutla, president and CEO of the Association for Mineral Exploration, addresses Rock Talk 2024 in Smithers after learning provincial Lands Act amendments are being suspended. (Photo courtesy of Smithers Exploration Group)
Thursday is Budget Day in B.C. with Finance Minister Katrine Conroy publicly presenting the budget Thursday afternoon. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

2 B.C. budget wish lists: economists share what this province needs

Finance Minister Katrine Conroy will publicly table budget Thursday afternoon

Thursday is Budget Day in B.C. with Finance Minister Katrine Conroy publicly presenting the budget Thursday afternoon. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
B.C.’s Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Nathan Cullen, here seen in 2022, said it is time to press the pause on proposed amendments to the Land Act. He did not say when government, assuming its re-election, would return to the issue following months of concerns about the substance and process of consultations leading up to amendments. (Thom Barker photo)

B.C. presses pause on Indigenous-related changes to the Land Act

Lands Minister Nathan Cullen says more consultation needed in the wake of growign conflict

B.C.’s Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Nathan Cullen, here seen in 2022, said it is time to press the pause on proposed amendments to the Land Act. He did not say when government, assuming its re-election, would return to the issue following months of concerns about the substance and process of consultations leading up to amendments. (Thom Barker photo)
Minister of Finance Katrine Conroy, here seen in February 2023 tabling her first budget, says tomorrow’s budget will target middle-class British Columbians, but the political opposition questions the direction. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Minister says coming B.C. deficit budget aimed at helping middle-class

BC United and BC Greens question NDP’s priorities, call approach out of touch

Minister of Finance Katrine Conroy, here seen in February 2023 tabling her first budget, says tomorrow’s budget will target middle-class British Columbians, but the political opposition questions the direction. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin arrives to prorogue the 5th session of the 42nd parliament of the province while at legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Housing, health care and heeding rising costs: B.C. delivers Throne Speech

Lt-Gov. Janet Austin delivers Throne Speech ahead of 2024-25 budget release

Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin arrives to prorogue the 5th session of the 42nd parliament of the province while at legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Citizens’ Services Minister Lisa Beare (left) has formally replaced Selina Robinson (right) as Post-Secondary Minister. Robinson resigned from cabinet, after having called pre-1948 Israel a “crappy piece of land with nothing on it.” (Twitter)

Eby shuffles cabinet amid ousting Robinson as post-secondary education minister

Robinson resigned in early February after controversial statements about Gaza

Citizens’ Services Minister Lisa Beare (left) has formally replaced Selina Robinson (right) as Post-Secondary Minister. Robinson resigned from cabinet, after having called pre-1948 Israel a “crappy piece of land with nothing on it.” (Twitter)
City of Merritt Mayor Michael Goetz wants financial credit for last year’s ER closures at Nicola Valley Hospital. (Photo Courtesy City of Merritt)

Merritt wants a refund for multiple hospital ER closures in 2023

Mayor Michael Goetz says his community should not ask to be charged for services it did not receive

City of Merritt Mayor Michael Goetz wants financial credit for last year’s ER closures at Nicola Valley Hospital. (Photo Courtesy City of Merritt)
B.C. chief coroner Lisa Lapointe pauses while speaking about the overdose crisis for deaths involving fentanyl-laced drugs in Vancouver on Wednesday September 21, 2016. Lapointe will officially retire from her role as B.C.’s chief coroner on Feb. 18, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

As Lapointe retires, B.C. appoints new acting chief coroner

John McNamee has been the chief legal officer for the BC Coroners Service since 2017

B.C. chief coroner Lisa Lapointe pauses while speaking about the overdose crisis for deaths involving fentanyl-laced drugs in Vancouver on Wednesday September 21, 2016. Lapointe will officially retire from her role as B.C.’s chief coroner on Feb. 18, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. politicians and business leaders are calling on federal environment Steven Guilbeault to clarify comments that can read as Ottawa’s unwillingness to pay for additional transportation improvements to major highway corridors like Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley. (Langley Advance Times files)

Road rage? B.C. leaders nervous as feds hint they won’t buck up for highways

Politicians, business leaders want federal minister Steven Guilbeault to clarify comments

B.C. politicians and business leaders are calling on federal environment Steven Guilbeault to clarify comments that can read as Ottawa’s unwillingness to pay for additional transportation improvements to major highway corridors like Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley. (Langley Advance Times files)
An 18-storey mass timber building that will include 180 units for middle-income households in the City of North Vancouver is among the first three BC Builds projects announced. But both supporters and critics of the program to build middle-income rental housing wonder if it can be sufficiently scaled. Counting all existing and contemplated BC Builds projects, some 4,300 units could become available by 2026.

Capacity and scale questions greet new BC Builds program

Latest provincial housing initiative draws qualified praise from some, criticisms form others

An 18-storey mass timber building that will include 180 units for middle-income households in the City of North Vancouver is among the first three BC Builds projects announced. But both supporters and critics of the program to build middle-income rental housing wonder if it can be sufficiently scaled. Counting all existing and contemplated BC Builds projects, some 4,300 units could become available by 2026.
Premier David Eby Tuesday announced BC Builds in North Vancouver. BC Builds plans to build affordable rental housing for household incomes between $84,780 to $131,950 for a studio or one-bedroom home or $134,410 to $191,910 for a two-bedroom home or larger.

B.C. launches new agency to build middle-income rental housing quicker

Premier David Eby announced BC Builds Tuesday in North Vancouver

Premier David Eby Tuesday announced BC Builds in North Vancouver. BC Builds plans to build affordable rental housing for household incomes between $84,780 to $131,950 for a studio or one-bedroom home or $134,410 to $191,910 for a two-bedroom home or larger.