Tom Fletcher

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B.C. Finance Minister Selina Robinson delivers 2022-23 budget at the legislature, Feb. 22, 2022. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. budget’s tax increases affect used vehicle sales, tobacco

Minister says she’s ‘closing a loophole’ on private car sales

B.C. Finance Minister Selina Robinson delivers 2022-23 budget at the legislature, Feb. 22, 2022. (B.C. government photo)
William R. Bennett Bridge across Okanagan Lake, one of the tourism destinations hit hard by two years of pandemic restrictions. (Kelowna Capital News)

B.C. tourism industry hoping spring COVID-19 thaw continues

Rebuilding workforce, international visitors a big job

William R. Bennett Bridge across Okanagan Lake, one of the tourism destinations hit hard by two years of pandemic restrictions. (Kelowna Capital News)
B.C. is creating a new ministry for Indigenous-led management of land and water. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. BUDGET: Province braces for shrinking forest industry, new lands ministry

Timber revenues fall as old-growth preservation continues

B.C. is creating a new ministry for Indigenous-led management of land and water. (B.C. government photo)
B.C. Wildfire Service firefighter works on perimeter of a fire, July 2019. (B.C. government)

B.C. BUDGET: Wildfire service going year-round to reduce risk

Prescribed burns aim to reduce decades of fuel buildup

B.C. Wildfire Service firefighter works on perimeter of a fire, July 2019. (B.C. government)
Finance Minister Selina Robinson speaks in the B.C. legislature. (Hansard TV)

B.C. BUDGET: Deficits to rise as COVID-19, rebuilding costs continue

Federal pandemic support ending, health care costs mount

Finance Minister Selina Robinson speaks in the B.C. legislature. (Hansard TV)
Lehigh cement plant in Delta is one of the industries affected by B.C.’s carbon tax, giving a price advantage to U.S. and Asian producers. B.C. has among the highest carbon taxes in the world, with no protection for export industries. (Black Press files)

B.C.’s post-COVID economy faces export, labour, taxation issues

Business council says income, carbon taxes dampen investment

Lehigh cement plant in Delta is one of the industries affected by B.C.’s carbon tax, giving a price advantage to U.S. and Asian producers. B.C. has among the highest carbon taxes in the world, with no protection for export industries. (Black Press files)
B.C. Liberal leader Kevin Falcon speaks to reporters at the B.C. legislature, Feb. 17, 2022. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press Media)

Falcon calls B.C. NDP economic plan ‘propaganda document’

B.C. Green leader says it’s a ‘branding exercise’

B.C. Liberal leader Kevin Falcon speaks to reporters at the B.C. legislature, Feb. 17, 2022. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press Media)
B.C. Premier John Horgan visits trades training facilities at the B.C. Institute of Technology in 2018. A new trades and technology centre at BCIT was announced Feb. 17, 2022. (B.C. government photo)

New trades, technology school adds to B.C. NDP’s economic plan

Skills training full, 85,000 trade jobs in coming decade

B.C. Premier John Horgan visits trades training facilities at the B.C. Institute of Technology in 2018. A new trades and technology centre at BCIT was announced Feb. 17, 2022. (B.C. government photo)
Asbestos was phased out of Canadian construction by the 1980s, but workers continue to be exposed in the renovation and demolition of older homes and other buildings. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. moves to licence, regulate asbestos removal industry

Mandatory training coming by end of year, minister says

Asbestos was phased out of Canadian construction by the 1980s, but workers continue to be exposed in the renovation and demolition of older homes and other buildings. (B.C. government photo)
An Abbott Laboratories Panbio COVID- 19 rapid test device. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

COVID-19 rapid tests to be distributed to B.C. students, at-risk public

Test supply growing, priority remains people with symptoms

An Abbott Laboratories Panbio COVID- 19 rapid test device. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Office building construction site in Victoria, 2019. The B.C. government is expanding mandatory certification for skilled trades. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

B.C. mandatory trades certification ‘phased in’ starting this year

Industry Training Authority renamed SkilledTradesBC

Office building construction site in Victoria, 2019. The B.C. government is expanding mandatory certification for skilled trades. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
A 2019 accident in Langley, knocking out power to the area. (Shane MacKichan/Special to the Langley Advance Times)

B.C. police moving to licence plate readers to check insurance

ICBC offering online insurance renewals starting May 1

A 2019 accident in Langley, knocking out power to the area. (Shane MacKichan/Special to the Langley Advance Times)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry described the regional spread of COVID-19 in a briefing from the B.C. legislature, Jan. 28, 2022. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. health ministry drops daily reporting of active COVID-19 cases

Omicron wave overwhelms testing, changes isolation rules

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry described the regional spread of COVID-19 in a briefing from the B.C. legislature, Jan. 28, 2022. (B.C. government photo)
Provincial parks and campsites in B.C. have been busier than ever before during the COVID-19 pandemic. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. expands provincial parks as recreation demand rises

More than 14% of province now in parks, protected areas

Provincial parks and campsites in B.C. have been busier than ever before during the COVID-19 pandemic. (B.C. government photo)
The Village of Lytton on July 9, 2021, one week after a massive wildfire ripped through the town. (Jenna Hauck/Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. funds first steps of Lytton rebuild, restoring village records

Water systems, debris removal and environmental work

The Village of Lytton on July 9, 2021, one week after a massive wildfire ripped through the town. (Jenna Hauck/Chilliwack Progress)
Kevin Falcon addresses the crowd after being elected leader of the B.C. Liberal Party in Vancouver, on Saturday, February 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. opposition parties take aim after NDP’s throne speech

What about Merritt, Lytton, Sumas Prairie, Falcon asks

Kevin Falcon addresses the crowd after being elected leader of the B.C. Liberal Party in Vancouver, on Saturday, February 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks after chairing a meeting of premiers across Canada, Feb. 4, 2022. (B.C. government photo)

Wait for Henry, Family Day for pandemic relief, B.C. premier says

Some restrictions expected to be eased for Feb. 21

B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks after chairing a meeting of premiers across Canada, Feb. 4, 2022. (B.C. government photo)
B.C. Lt. Governor Janet Austin (red jacket) enters the legislature to present the government’s throne speech, Feb. 8, 2022. (Hansard TV)

Skills development, spending promised in B.C.’s throne speech

Legislature session starts with list of past achievements

B.C. Lt. Governor Janet Austin (red jacket) enters the legislature to present the government’s throne speech, Feb. 8, 2022. (Hansard TV)
Staff at a drive-through COVID-19 testing facility in Burnaby, B.C., Monday, April 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

32 more COVID-19 deaths over weekend, hospitalization rises

11 more outbreaks declared in B.C. senior care facilities

Staff at a drive-through COVID-19 testing facility in Burnaby, B.C., Monday, April 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Former B.C. premier Christy Clark and Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes at the Quesnel Rodeo, July 2016. After an era of urban leaders Clark and Gordon Campbell appealing to the heartlands, the B.C. Liberal Party is working to restore urban support lost to the NDP. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. Liberals saddle up for urban comeback with Kevin Falcon

Opposition critics reassigned for NDP throne speech Tuesday

Former B.C. premier Christy Clark and Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes at the Quesnel Rodeo, July 2016. After an era of urban leaders Clark and Gordon Campbell appealing to the heartlands, the B.C. Liberal Party is working to restore urban support lost to the NDP. (B.C. government photo)