BC politics

Sonia Furstenau Thursday tabled legislation to prevent rents to go up when a unit becomes available. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

BC Greens want rent hike limits tied to units, instead of renters

BC United accuses NDP of failing to support seniors by neglecting SAFER program

Sonia Furstenau Thursday tabled legislation to prevent rents to go up when a unit becomes available. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
Tents and people are seen at a homeless encampment at Crab Park below the towers of the downtown skyline in Vancouver, on Sunday, August 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver’s unhoused could reach more than 4,700 people by 2030: report

Housing Minister Kahlon says improvements have been made, but acknowledges more work ahead

Tents and people are seen at a homeless encampment at Crab Park below the towers of the downtown skyline in Vancouver, on Sunday, August 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Fiona Famulak, president of the BC Chamber of Commerce, here seen with Premier David Eby in December, (Screencap)

B.C. business leader calls for ‘balance’ after government raises minimum wage

BC Chamber of Commerce’s Fiona Famulak worries about rising costs, while union leader praises hike

Fiona Famulak, president of the BC Chamber of Commerce, here seen with Premier David Eby in December, (Screencap)
B.C. Auditor General Michael Pickup Tuesday tabled a report that finds that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has not been effectively managing ministry effectively managing hazardous spills.(Photo Courtesy of Office of the Auditor General)

Hazardous spills increasing, B.C. not prepared or transparent

Auditor-general: B.C. lacks up-to-date major spill response plan, failing to keep people informed

B.C. Auditor General Michael Pickup Tuesday tabled a report that finds that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has not been effectively managing ministry effectively managing hazardous spills.(Photo Courtesy of Office of the Auditor General)
B.C.’s tourism minister Lana Popham says “numbers” for hosting seven matches of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Vancouver “have changed substantially” since Vancouver learnt that it would host seven rather than five games. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Tourism minister says cost of B.C. hosting World Cup grew ‘substantially’

Lana Popham has a ‘ballpark figure’ but won’t release it until staff has completed work

B.C.’s tourism minister Lana Popham says “numbers” for hosting seven matches of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Vancouver “have changed substantially” since Vancouver learnt that it would host seven rather than five games. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
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)
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)
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)
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)
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon, here seen announcing Karen Long as the party’s candidate in Langley-Abbotsford, said his party’s candidates for the upcoming provincial election reflect a wide variety of backgrounds, while acknowledging the loss of several sitting MLAs who won’t be running again. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

BC United Leader Falcon says new candidates reflect party’s ‘renewal’

Nine out of 26 current BC United caucus members won’t seek re-election

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon, here seen announcing Karen Long as the party’s candidate in Langley-Abbotsford, said his party’s candidates for the upcoming provincial election reflect a wide variety of backgrounds, while acknowledging the loss of several sitting MLAs who won’t be running again. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
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)
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon unveiled four proposals Thursday to create more affordable housing. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Rent-to-own program, tax cuts promised as BC United unveils housing platform

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon says measures market-friendly, and would help improve affordability

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon unveiled four proposals Thursday to create more affordable housing. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong announces on Wednesday in the Legislature in Victoria that he is retiring from provincial politics. (Wolfgang Depner/Black Press Media)

Abbotsford MLA Mike de Jong to retire from provincial politics

BC United MLA says he is considering a run with the federal Conservatives

Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong announces on Wednesday in the Legislature in Victoria that he is retiring from provincial politics. (Wolfgang Depner/Black Press Media)