BC politics

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

 

Surrey South MLA Elenore Sturko’s decision to defect from BC United to the Conservative Party of B.C. has garnered strong reactions from many. (Wolf Depner photo)

Elenore Sturko decision to defect to BC Conservatives shocks BC United

‘You dance with the person you brought, and that’s not changing for me’: Halford

 

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

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)
Elenore Sturko has changed parties, leaving the BC United party for the Conservative Party of BC. The Surrey South MLA says the move is needed in order to defeat the NDP in the upcoming provincial October. (File photo)

BC United MLA crosses floor to join Conservative Party of BC

‘Our province and its people are worse off today than they were just 7 years ago’: Sturko

Elenore Sturko has changed parties, leaving the BC United party for the Conservative Party of BC. The Surrey South MLA says the move is needed in order to defeat the NDP in the upcoming provincial October. (File photo)
BC United is pledging funding and restructuring of wildlife management resources ahead of the fall election. (Larry Tooze photo)

BC United pledges millions for wildlife management

Kevin Falcon commits to restructuring government oversight of fish and wildlife management

BC United is pledging funding and restructuring of wildlife management resources ahead of the fall election. (Larry Tooze photo)
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)
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)
Damon Scrase is no longer running for the BC Conservatives in the upcoming provincial election. Photo via X

BC Conservative Party candidate steps down after social media exposé

The BC Conservative Party is down a man, after Courtenay-Comox candidate Damon…

Damon Scrase is no longer running for the BC Conservatives in the upcoming provincial election. Photo via X
Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong (shown here on provincial election night in October 2020) has given his final speech in the B.C. legislature. (Abbotsford News file photo)

Mike de Jong gives farewell speech after 30 years as Abbotsford MLA

Former lawyer retiring from provincial politics, hoping to become area MP

Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong (shown here on provincial election night in October 2020) has given his final speech in the B.C. legislature. (Abbotsford News file photo)
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)