BC legislature

Former minister of international trade Teresa Wat speaks during a press conference in Sidney, B.C., on April 8, 2014. BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon says he supports supervised drug injection sites, but when Wat spoke to the audience of a Mandarin news show last week, she had a different message. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. MLA the latest politician with mixed messaging for non-English media

Teresa Wat later said she ‘accidentally misrepresented’ her party’s position

Former minister of international trade Teresa Wat speaks during a press conference in Sidney, B.C., on April 8, 2014. BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon says he supports supervised drug injection sites, but when Wat spoke to the audience of a Mandarin news show last week, she had a different message. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Premier David Eby (right) during a news conference Tuesday morning with the federal health minister Jean-Yves Duclos and federal minister of intergovernmental affairs, infrastructure and communities Dominic LeBlanc. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

$600M health-care cheque incoming to B.C., details need to be stitched to close the deal

Money earmarked for bilateral deals still subject of talks between Victoria and Ottawa

Premier David Eby (right) during a news conference Tuesday morning with the federal health minister Jean-Yves Duclos and federal minister of intergovernmental affairs, infrastructure and communities Dominic LeBlanc. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Jon Coleman (right) and other members of the Cowichan Tribes-owned Khowutzun Development Corporation, here seen blocking work at the site of the new Cowichan District Hospital on Bell McKinnon Road over union issues, has called on the provincial government to abolish an agreement that he says prevents him and other Indigenous contractors from working on the site. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Indigenous contractor won’t represent ‘token Indians’ in B.C. hospital dispute

Builder wants community benefits agreement abolished despite exception allowing him to work on site

Jon Coleman (right) and other members of the Cowichan Tribes-owned Khowutzun Development Corporation, here seen blocking work at the site of the new Cowichan District Hospital on Bell McKinnon Road over union issues, has called on the provincial government to abolish an agreement that he says prevents him and other Indigenous contractors from working on the site. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Premier David Eby arrives with ministers before the start of the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. B.C. politicians are returning to the legislature for the spring sitting, starting with a throne speech laying out the government’s goals for the months ahead. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C.’s economy, health care and housing to be the focus of throne speech: Eby

New premier won’t be there for the start of the session as he heads to Ottawa to talk health care

Premier David Eby arrives with ministers before the start of the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. B.C. politicians are returning to the legislature for the spring sitting, starting with a throne speech laying out the government’s goals for the months ahead. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
B.C. Liberal Party Leader Kevin Falcon promises to put about $1.5 billion dollars toward a no-cost recovery-oriented approach toward helping individuals needing treatment and recovery from drug use. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Falcon promises $1.5 billion ‘no-cost recovery-oriented’ approach toward addiction

B.C. Liberal leader said new plan would include recovery centres established across the province

B.C. Liberal Party Leader Kevin Falcon promises to put about $1.5 billion dollars toward a no-cost recovery-oriented approach toward helping individuals needing treatment and recovery from drug use. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix pauses while responding to questions during a news conference with his provincial counterparts after the first of two days of meetings, in Vancouver on Nov. 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. health minister Dix ‘delighted’ premiers finally set to meet PM on funding

Provinces want feds to increase share of health-care spending to 35 per cent from 22

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix pauses while responding to questions during a news conference with his provincial counterparts after the first of two days of meetings, in Vancouver on Nov. 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Mayor Lisa Helps speaks during a vigil in Victoria on January 31, 2017. Helps says she’s disappointed in the poor judgment exercised by a member of council who travelled outside of Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Appointment of former Victoria mayor as housing adviser draws wide range of reactions

Lisa Helps will help develop housing for middle income families

Mayor Lisa Helps speaks during a vigil in Victoria on January 31, 2017. Helps says she’s disappointed in the poor judgment exercised by a member of council who travelled outside of Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
West Fraser Williams Lake Plywood. (John Wiege photo)

B.C. to dedicate some provincial timber supply to value-added industry

Program focusing on products such as mass timber, plywood, veneer, panelling and flooring

West Fraser Williams Lake Plywood. (John Wiege photo)
A tentative contract has been reached for 21,700 people who work in B.C.’s private homes, group homes, residential living centres, child development and mental-health centres. (pixabay photo)

Tentative contract reached for thousands of health support workers in B.C.

Details of three-year contract being withheld pending ratification vote

A tentative contract has been reached for 21,700 people who work in B.C.’s private homes, group homes, residential living centres, child development and mental-health centres. (pixabay photo)
Cases of influenza, RSV and COVID are decreasing, with influenza cases decreasing faster. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner

B.C. influenza cases down, RSV cases remain high while also declining

Provincial authorities have detected 24 cases of ‘Kraken’ COVID-subvariant

Cases of influenza, RSV and COVID are decreasing, with influenza cases decreasing faster. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner
B.C. Premier David Eby attends a rally in North Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. The British Columbia Prosecution Service has launched a recruitment drive to fill new and vacant positions for Crown lawyers and staff throughout the province, part of a series of recent measures to address repeat violent offending. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. launches hiring drive for Crown prosecutors to help address repeat offending

David Eby’s safer communities plan inspires push to hire up to 40 prosecutors this year

B.C. Premier David Eby attends a rally in North Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. The British Columbia Prosecution Service has launched a recruitment drive to fill new and vacant positions for Crown lawyers and staff throughout the province, part of a series of recent measures to address repeat violent offending. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix pauses during a news conference with his provincial counterparts after the second of two days of meetings, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. to reactivate its COVID emergency operations centres to prepare for more illness

Expected surge in flu, respiratory illness and COVID cases behind the move at 20 major locations

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix pauses during a news conference with his provincial counterparts after the second of two days of meetings, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Image courtesy Creative Outlet

B.C. boosts funding for Human Rights Tribunal to help tackle increased caseload

Number of cases more than doubled from 1,460 in 2019 to 3,192 in 2022

Image courtesy Creative Outlet
Softwood lumber is pictured at Tolko Industries in Heffley Creek, B.C., on April 1, 2018. British Columbia’s forests sector is in the throes of change, as the province embarks on plans to “modernize” how forests are managed amid ecological concerns, fluctuating lumber prices and a dwindling supply of trees for harvesting. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. timber industry in throes of change, as premier warns of ‘exhausted forests’

Eby embarks on plans to ‘modernize’ forests management amid ecological concerns, fluctuating prices

Softwood lumber is pictured at Tolko Industries in Heffley Creek, B.C., on April 1, 2018. British Columbia’s forests sector is in the throes of change, as the province embarks on plans to “modernize” how forests are managed amid ecological concerns, fluctuating lumber prices and a dwindling supply of trees for harvesting. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
(Pixabay photo)

Report shows B.C. has honoured pledge to deliver pandemic-postponed surgeries: Dix

99.2 per cent of surgeries stalled by second or third waves of the virus have been completed

(Pixabay photo)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. The British Columbia government is extending its COVID-19 wage top-ups for staff at seniors facilities, but the restriction that limited those workers to one work site has been lifted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. government continues the pandemic wage top-up for care home workers

Province renewing its commitment to ‘temporarily fund the increases’

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. The British Columbia government is extending its COVID-19 wage top-ups for staff at seniors facilities, but the restriction that limited those workers to one work site has been lifted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Finance Minister Katrine Conroy hugs Premier David Eby during the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Conroy brings rural perspective to B.C.’s bottom line, may expand speculation tax

Veteran New Democrat surprised she was appointed finance minister in new cabinet

Finance Minister Katrine Conroy hugs Premier David Eby during the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
B.C. Premier David Eby, seen here during his swearing-in ceremony when he became the province’s 37th premier on Nov. 18, has announced his new cabinet with ramifications for the Saanich Peninsula and Greater Victoria. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Inside B.C.’s new cabinet: a look at some of the key moves as David Eby takes over

Abbotsford MLA’s move to agriculture, Kahlon’s housing post among most notable posts

B.C. Premier David Eby, seen here during his swearing-in ceremony when he became the province’s 37th premier on Nov. 18, has announced his new cabinet with ramifications for the Saanich Peninsula and Greater Victoria. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Former B.C. minister of state for child care Katrina Chen speaks as then-premier John Horgan listens during an announcement in Vancouver, on Thursday July 4, 2019. Chen says she took herself out of contention for a new ministerial position in order to deal with “long-standing trauma” suffered as a result of gender-based violence. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Katrina Chen exits B.C. cabinet, citing ‘long-standing trauma,’ gender-based violence

Chen focusing on herself and her son, taking ‘time and space to heal’

Former B.C. minister of state for child care Katrina Chen speaks as then-premier John Horgan listens during an announcement in Vancouver, on Thursday July 4, 2019. Chen says she took herself out of contention for a new ministerial position in order to deal with “long-standing trauma” suffered as a result of gender-based violence. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Premier David Eby speaks after being sworn in as the province’s 37th premier during a ceremony at the Musqueam Nation, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. Premier David Eby will appoint a new cabinet today in a move pundits are saying will be a blend of old and new faces. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. finance minister replaced in Premier David Eby’s cabinet shuffle

Former forests minister Katrine Conroy will take over finance portfolio from Selina Robinson

B.C. Premier David Eby speaks after being sworn in as the province’s 37th premier during a ceremony at the Musqueam Nation, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. Premier David Eby will appoint a new cabinet today in a move pundits are saying will be a blend of old and new faces. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck