BC politics

British Columbians took out the least new mortgages in 2023, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s latest survey of mortgage holders. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)

B.C. residents paying more for mortgages while taking out fewer of them

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Equifax Canada reports find B.C. residents struggling

British Columbians took out the least new mortgages in 2023, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s latest survey of mortgage holders. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside address the media outside the provincial legislature after Ottawa had announced that it would grant B.C.’s request to amend the terms of decriminalization. They will make illicit drug use illegal in all public spaces including parks, hospitals and on transit. Original terms of the pilot project had prohibited police from arresting, charging or seizing adults in possession of up to 2.5 grams of heroin, cocaine, crack, crystal meth, MDMA or fentanyl. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

B.C.’s request to ban public drug use approved by Ottawa

Federal Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks says the change is effective immediately

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside address the media outside the provincial legislature after Ottawa had announced that it would grant B.C.’s request to amend the terms of decriminalization. They will make illicit drug use illegal in all public spaces including parks, hospitals and on transit. Original terms of the pilot project had prohibited police from arresting, charging or seizing adults in possession of up to 2.5 grams of heroin, cocaine, crack, crystal meth, MDMA or fentanyl. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike east of Rafah, Gaza Strip, Monday, May 6, 2024. B’nai Brith Canada reports a spike in anti-Semitic incidents in Canada that coincided with the aftermath of the Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Ismael Abu Dayyah)

Anti-Semitic incidents spike 92% in B.C. during 2023: B’nai Brith Canada

B’nai Brith Canada says 2023 was “worst year ever recorded” for Anti-Semitic incidents

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike east of Rafah, Gaza Strip, Monday, May 6, 2024. B’nai Brith Canada reports a spike in anti-Semitic incidents in Canada that coincided with the aftermath of the Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Ismael Abu Dayyah)
Economic development officers from across B.C. are meeting in Penticton May 6 to 9 at the BC Economic Summit. Representatives from industry, as well as provincial, federal and First Nations representatives, will be attending. Issues include the state of the workforce as well health care. (Black Press Media file photo).

Workforce shortfalls top-of-mind at B.C. Economic Summit

Summit underway in Penticton against backdrop of labour shortages, concerns about rural health care

Economic development officers from across B.C. are meeting in Penticton May 6 to 9 at the BC Economic Summit. Representatives from industry, as well as provincial, federal and First Nations representatives, will be attending. Issues include the state of the workforce as well health care. (Black Press Media file photo).
Miles Prodan, president and CEO of Wine Growers British Columbia, says the current trade dispute with Alberta remain unresolved as the industry faces a “dire” situation after this winter’s cold snap. (Photo courtesy Canadian Press)

B.C. wineries faces ‘dire’ situation as Alberta trade dispute remains sour

Miles Prodan of Wine Growers British Columbia says industry faces ‘perfect storm’

Miles Prodan, president and CEO of Wine Growers British Columbia, says the current trade dispute with Alberta remain unresolved as the industry faces a “dire” situation after this winter’s cold snap. (Photo courtesy Canadian Press)
Government is promising better protection for owners of mobile homes in manufactured home parks like this one in Lac La Hache through changes to the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act. The changes come six years after a task force had first recommended them. (Google image)

B.C. adopting recommended mobile home-owner protections, 6 years later

Changes to regulations of Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act promise to curb evictions

Government is promising better protection for owners of mobile homes in manufactured home parks like this one in Lac La Hache through changes to the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act. The changes come six years after a task force had first recommended them. (Google image)
Angela Mason of Amala Vacation Rental Solutions Ltd. located in Victoria fears new short-term rental regulations will have a negative impact on tourism in Greater Victoria, may be not immediately, but next summer, when tourists stop coming to Victoria in the absence of affordable accommodations. (Mark Page/News Staff)

New short-term rental rules will hurt tourism: B.C. business owner

New provincial rules restricting short-term rentals to principal residence now in effect

Angela Mason of Amala Vacation Rental Solutions Ltd. located in Victoria fears new short-term rental regulations will have a negative impact on tourism in Greater Victoria, may be not immediately, but next summer, when tourists stop coming to Victoria in the absence of affordable accommodations. (Mark Page/News Staff)
New housing starts are expected to slow down in Greater Vancouver, Greater Victoria in 2024 before rebounding in 2025, 2026, according to a new report from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

B.C. homebuilding going to drop off before rebounding next year: CMHC

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation also expects vacancies to remain low and rents high

New housing starts are expected to slow down in Greater Vancouver, Greater Victoria in 2024 before rebounding in 2025, 2026, according to a new report from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)
Premier David Eby says Friday’s announcement that B.C. is seeking changes to decriminalization tries to balance the interests of people using substances and public safety. The move has earned praise from UBCM, but also criticism from others. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance-Times)

B.C. municipalities praise NDP for proposed decriminalization changes

Poverty advocate more critical of Friday’s request for changes to drug pilot project

Premier David Eby says Friday’s announcement that B.C. is seeking changes to decriminalization tries to balance the interests of people using substances and public safety. The move has earned praise from UBCM, but also criticism from others. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance-Times)
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon listens as Premier David Eby Monday (April 29) announces eight new B.C. Builds sites across B.C. including three in the Township of Langley. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance-Times)

B.C. announces 8 new Build B.C. housing sites across the province

Sites awaiting affordable housing development located across B.C. including Kelowna and Kamloops

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon listens as Premier David Eby Monday (April 29) announces eight new B.C. Builds sites across B.C. including three in the Township of Langley. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance-Times)
Stacey Sumners, acting service project manager of mobile service outreach with the Ministry of Citizens’ Services, gives Citizens’ Services Minister George Chow and Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma a tour of the government’s service van that can deliver 300 different services remotely. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Service B.C. is hitting the backroads with satellite-phone equipped van

Van officially launched mid-February following trial runs in late 2023

Stacey Sumners, acting service project manager of mobile service outreach with the Ministry of Citizens’ Services, gives Citizens’ Services Minister George Chow and Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma a tour of the government’s service van that can deliver 300 different services remotely. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau. Furstenau is accusing government of ignoring the courts and the real harms of drug use after Premier David Eby announced April 26 that the government would be moving to ban public drug use. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

B.C. opposition gives thumbs-down to proposed decriminalization changes

B.C. United’s Sturko renews calls to end pilot while B.C. Greens’ Furstenau warns against a roll-back

BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau. Furstenau is accusing government of ignoring the courts and the real harms of drug use after Premier David Eby announced April 26 that the government would be moving to ban public drug use. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
B.C. United leader Kevin Falcon, here seen speaking to a town hall at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre in February, says he hears concerns about public safety wherever he goes. (Jessica Peters/Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. United being pulled to the right, but can’t alienate centrists: SFU prof

Nicolas Kenny also wonders whether public is noticing opposition work of B.C. United

B.C. United leader Kevin Falcon, here seen speaking to a town hall at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre in February, says he hears concerns about public safety wherever he goes. (Jessica Peters/Chilliwack Progress)
B.C. is one of only two Canadian provinces that retain and attract more young skilled workers than they lose, but Alberta tops B.C. by a double-digit margin. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C.’s ‘brain gain’ 2nd only to Alberta in terms of skilled young workers

Western-most pair the only provinces to attract and retain more than they train: Statistics Canada

B.C. is one of only two Canadian provinces that retain and attract more young skilled workers than they lose, but Alberta tops B.C. by a double-digit margin. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Island Health, the health authority covering Vancouver Island, says a document said to be “actively” directing drug use in hospitals according to B.C. United is a “resource document” to support and promote both patient and staff safety. (CHRIS BUSH/ Black Press Media)

B.C. United says health authority actively supporting hospital drug use

Island Health says document coming under fire supports and promotes both patient and staff safety

Island Health, the health authority covering Vancouver Island, says a document said to be “actively” directing drug use in hospitals according to B.C. United is a “resource document” to support and promote both patient and staff safety. (CHRIS BUSH/ Black Press Media)
B.C. Premier David Eby, here seen speaking at the Vitalus Nutrition announcement in Abbotsford on Tuesday (April 23), is the most popular among the four major party leaders with an approval rating of 51 per cent, according to a Research Co. poll released on the same day. It shows the NDP with an 18-per-cent lead over the provincial Conservatives. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)

Conservatives becoming perfect ‘foil’ for B.C. NDP election hopes: SFU prof

With election still an eternity away, Kenny calls recent Research poll good news for incumbents

B.C. Premier David Eby, here seen speaking at the Vitalus Nutrition announcement in Abbotsford on Tuesday (April 23), is the most popular among the four major party leaders with an approval rating of 51 per cent, according to a Research Co. poll released on the same day. It shows the NDP with an 18-per-cent lead over the provincial Conservatives. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)
Health Minister Adrian Dix says the public will be able to review a report into the economics of safe supply commissioned by public health officer Bonnie Henry. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. to release report into economics of safe supply as part of larger review

Public Health Officer commissioned U.S. expert to review economics of safe supply

Health Minister Adrian Dix says the public will be able to review a report into the economics of safe supply commissioned by public health officer Bonnie Henry. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Surrey, which has significant growth in recent years around but not just transit hubs like the King George Skytrain station, finds itself among 20 communities targeted for additional housing. Other notable communities on the list include Nanaimo, Kelowna and Prince George.(Photo: translink.ca/kinggeorgeclosure)

Surrey, Kelowna, Prince George added to B.C.’s housing target hit list

Multiple communities in Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley and on Vancouver Island are also on list

Surrey, which has significant growth in recent years around but not just transit hubs like the King George Skytrain station, finds itself among 20 communities targeted for additional housing. Other notable communities on the list include Nanaimo, Kelowna and Prince George.(Photo: translink.ca/kinggeorgeclosure)
BC United’s Elenore Sturko Thursday reiterated her party’s call to end decriminalization, but government has other options. She added that ending decriminalization would not automatically “flood” the courts with people using drugs, adding other countries have used forms of administrative rather criminal justice as part of a broader response. (Black Press Media file photo)

Ending decriminalization won’t end ‘our fight’ to ‘save people’ says B.C. United

B.C. United’s Elenore Sturko says there are “other options” to decriminalization

BC United’s Elenore Sturko Thursday reiterated her party’s call to end decriminalization, but government has other options. She added that ending decriminalization would not automatically “flood” the courts with people using drugs, adding other countries have used forms of administrative rather criminal justice as part of a broader response. (Black Press Media file photo)
B.C. is expected to spend $55.5 million with the federal government spending $19.5 toward planting 50 million trees this year. (Photo courtesy of Paige Mueller)

B.C. set to shovel more than $55M out to plant 50 million trees in 2024

This year’s tree-planting season happens with several hold-over fires burning in northern B.C.

B.C. is expected to spend $55.5 million with the federal government spending $19.5 toward planting 50 million trees this year. (Photo courtesy of Paige Mueller)