Provincial Government

The British Columbia General Employees’ Union says it will set up picket lines at four BC Liquor Distribution Branch wholesale and distribution centres as it begins targeted job action. Strikers are seen in downtown Vancouver during a strike of British Columbia government workers Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Targeted job action, picket lines planned by B.C. public-service union as strike notice expires

The contract between the BCGEU and the Public Service Agency expired April 1

The British Columbia General Employees’ Union says it will set up picket lines at four BC Liquor Distribution Branch wholesale and distribution centres as it begins targeted job action. Strikers are seen in downtown Vancouver during a strike of British Columbia government workers Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The number of rural and northern seats in the provincial legislature might be reduced, and that has MLA John Rustad worried. (Wikipedia photo)

33,000 B.C. government employees issue 72-hour strike notice

The most recent collective agreement between the union and Public Service agency expired on April 1

The number of rural and northern seats in the provincial legislature might be reduced, and that has MLA John Rustad worried. (Wikipedia photo)
Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu is the subject of a recall petition in her riding, launched by a constituent. (Morning Star- file photo)

Vernon woman launches recall petition against MLA Sandhu

Genevieve Ring’s application meets requirements; petition starts Aug. 12

Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu is the subject of a recall petition in her riding, launched by a constituent. (Morning Star- file photo)
B.C.’s current tax has added 20,000 condo units to the rental market (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward).

B.C.’s speculation and vacancy tax set to expand to parts of Vancouver Island by 2023

The tax will now be used in North Cowichan, Duncan, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Lions Bay and Squamish

B.C.’s current tax has added 20,000 condo units to the rental market (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward).
Chief Robert Gladstone of Shxwha:y Village at a federal flood infrastructure funding announcement April 24, 2019. (Jenna Hauck/Chilliwack Progress file)

Shxwhá:y Village, B.C. sign licensing deal for cannabis retail, production near Chilliwack

Shxwhá:y Chief Robert Gladstone calls cannabis agreement ‘reconciliation in action’

Chief Robert Gladstone of Shxwha:y Village at a federal flood infrastructure funding announcement April 24, 2019. (Jenna Hauck/Chilliwack Progress file)
Doug Clovechok at a community event in Golden. Clovechok has worked with John Horgan for six years and says he was a pleasure to work with. (Claire Palmer photo)

Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Clovechok reflects on Premier Horgan’s career

Despite their political differences, Clovechok says it was a pleasure to work with Horgan

Doug Clovechok at a community event in Golden. Clovechok has worked with John Horgan for six years and says he was a pleasure to work with. (Claire Palmer photo)
Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum. (Now-Leader file photo)

Province introduces amendments that will force politicians charged with crimes to take leave

Charged with public mischief, Surrey mayor’s pre-trial conference scheduled for Monday

Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum. (Now-Leader file photo)
Surrey-Whalley NDP MLA Bruce Ralston, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation. (Black Press Media file photo)

Cutting fuel tax won’t reduce high prices at the pumps, Surrey MLA says

Bruce Ralston, B.C.’s minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, noted in 2019 consumers were already getting ‘ripped off’ at the pumps

Surrey-Whalley NDP MLA Bruce Ralston, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation. (Black Press Media file photo)
(Black Press Media photo)

Province of B.C. commits to year-round wildfire service

Permanent year-round service expected by September

(Black Press Media photo)
Graduating students from Seycove Secondary in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, B.C. throw their hats during a physically distanced graduation photo Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Graduating students all over the world are celebrating their grads in different ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Indigenous-focused coursework to be a high school graduation requirement in B.C.

New requirement would enhance knowledges of Indigenous Peoples in classrooms, province says

Graduating students from Seycove Secondary in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, B.C. throw their hats during a physically distanced graduation photo Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Graduating students all over the world are celebrating their grads in different ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Pacific Wild has taken the government of B.C. to court over the legality of contracting civilians to shoot wolves from helicopters. (Black Press file photo)

Animal advocacy group condemns B.C.’s extension of the wolf cull

The cull, which has killed 1,400 wolves since initiated in 2015, has been extended five years

Pacific Wild has taken the government of B.C. to court over the legality of contracting civilians to shoot wolves from helicopters. (Black Press file photo)
Forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon, who previously worked with the B.C Government on developing land-use plans beyond logging, speaks about the importance of revenue options for First Nations on Tuesday at the legislature. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

B.C. ancient forest advocates call on province to fund alternative revenue streams

$300M required to help First Nations, other forest-dependent communities to transition

Forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon, who previously worked with the B.C Government on developing land-use plans beyond logging, speaks about the importance of revenue options for First Nations on Tuesday at the legislature. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Mink farms are being phased out in B.C. and will be shut down entirely by April 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

BC plans to phase out mink farming industry by 2025

The government is doing this over four years to allow farmers and workers a transition period

Mink farms are being phased out in B.C. and will be shut down entirely by April 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
A group calling itself BC Public Service Employees for Freedom is rejecting the province’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which takes effect Nov. 22. (Black Press Media file photo)

Letter to deputy minister latest step protesting B.C. Public Service vaccine mandate

Nov. 22 the deadline for all B.C. Public Service workers to get vaccinated

A group calling itself BC Public Service Employees for Freedom is rejecting the province’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which takes effect Nov. 22. (Black Press Media file photo)
The CanPac Valour will be laying the cable for the project. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror

3,400 kilometres of cable bringing high-speed internet to B.C. coast

Connected Coast project officially launched in Campbell River

The CanPac Valour will be laying the cable for the project. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror
Left to right, Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon, Eevah Macdonald, and Vancouver-Kensington MLA Mable Elmore inside the Legislature in Victoria on Oct. 21, 2021. (Submitted)

Chilliwack MLA Kelli Paddon reads powerful words from bullied 11-year-old in BC Legislature

“They said because I am black, I should go kill myself,” Eevah Macdonald wrote

Left to right, Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon, Eevah Macdonald, and Vancouver-Kensington MLA Mable Elmore inside the Legislature in Victoria on Oct. 21, 2021. (Submitted)
The BC Public Service Agency building on Blanshard Street in Victoria. Some government employees have sent internal emails criticizing the province for mandating COVID-19 vaccination for all employees by Nov. 22. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

B.C. government employees in hot water for sending anti-vaccine emails

Public service agency taking ‘appropriate follow-up’ to messages sent from government computers

The BC Public Service Agency building on Blanshard Street in Victoria. Some government employees have sent internal emails criticizing the province for mandating COVID-19 vaccination for all employees by Nov. 22. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Esquimalt, Nanaimo, Richmond, Rossland, Saanich, Surrey, Tofino, Ucluelet and Victoria all have plastic bag bans. (Pixabay.com)

B.C. cities will no longer need provincial approval to launch single-use plastic ban

More than 20 municipalities in B.C. are developing bylaws banning single-use plastics

Esquimalt, Nanaimo, Richmond, Rossland, Saanich, Surrey, Tofino, Ucluelet and Victoria all have plastic bag bans. (Pixabay.com)
Helicopters fly past the Tremont Creek wildfire as it burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. says expanding emergency alert for wildfires is a priority, but no timeline set

About 4,300 properties were under evacuation orders Thursday due to wildfires

Helicopters fly past the Tremont Creek wildfire as it burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Penticton mayor John Vassilaki and Minister of Housing David Eby have been battling over the Victory Church shelter and BC Housing projects in the city. (File photos)

Battle between Penticton and B.C. over homeless shelter officially before the court

The city filed their official petition before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, July 6

Penticton mayor John Vassilaki and Minister of Housing David Eby have been battling over the Victory Church shelter and BC Housing projects in the city. (File photos)