BC politics

Each year, less than one per cent of the area designated for sustainable timber harvesting by B.C.’s independent chief forester is harvested. (B.C. government photo)

Modernizing B.C. forests starts with up-to-date facts, industry says

30% of old forests on high-productivity sites, 75% off limits

 

(Pxhere)

Should B.C. have paid sick leave laws? Can employers afford it? Not everyone agrees

Countries like Germany have as many as 30 employer-paid sick days

 

Premier John Horgan speaks at a briefing in the B.C. legislature. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. premier defends freedom of information fee, may not be $25

‘Get real,’ Horgan tells B.C. Liberals seeking screen images

 

The Kelowna Rockets fill the arena against the Calgary Hitmen on February 28, 2015, at Prospera Place in Kelowna. (Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze)

Interior Health MLAs ask B.C. to clarify why local WHL teams are stuck with capacity limits

Provincial restrictions on gatherings set to ease next week, Interior may have to wait

The Kelowna Rockets fill the arena against the Calgary Hitmen on February 28, 2015, at Prospera Place in Kelowna. (Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze)
B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy is leading an overhaul of the B.C.’s Crown forest management. (Hansard TV)

B.C. begins forest management overhaul to increase Indigenous participation

Province reasserting control over Crown forests, minister says

B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy is leading an overhaul of the B.C.’s Crown forest management. (Hansard TV)
Citizens Services Minister Lisa Beare speaks in the B.C. legislature, June 2021. (Hansard TV)

B.C.’s $25 information access fee ‘modest,’ to speed up service

Frequent filers slowing public access, Minister Lisa Beare says

Citizens Services Minister Lisa Beare speaks in the B.C. legislature, June 2021. (Hansard TV)
A compactor works at the Vancouver landfill in Delta. (City of Vancouver)

B.C., Vancouver to expand natural gas capture from Delta landfill

Province matches city’s $4.28 million methane project

A compactor works at the Vancouver landfill in Delta. (City of Vancouver)
Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen (left) and Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside read to children after child care announcement in Langley, Oct. 18, 2021. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

B.C. expanding ‘seamless day kindergarten’ pilot program

Before and after school care expanding to 25 districts

Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen (left) and Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside read to children after child care announcement in Langley, Oct. 18, 2021. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Logging trucks from around the province arrive at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in downtown Vancouver to protest forest industry job loss, Sept. 27, 2019. (Kat Slepian/Black Press Media)

LETTER: Embattled B.C. forest industry needs government leadership

Industry getting attention ‘for all the wrong reasons’

  • Oct 16, 2021
Logging trucks from around the province arrive at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in downtown Vancouver to protest forest industry job loss, Sept. 27, 2019. (Kat Slepian/Black Press Media)
Carbon Engineering’s pilot project at Squamish B.C. began in 2018, extracting carbon dioxide from air to convert to liquid fuel. Huron Clean Energy is building a similar facility with the Upper Nicola Band at Merritt B.C. (Carbon Engineering photo)

B.C. government puts $2M toward carbon capture fuel plant at Merritt

Upper Nicola Band partners in hydrogen fuel conversion plant

Carbon Engineering’s pilot project at Squamish B.C. began in 2018, extracting carbon dioxide from air to convert to liquid fuel. Huron Clean Energy is building a similar facility with the Upper Nicola Band at Merritt B.C. (Carbon Engineering photo)
Pruning fruit trees is one of the jobs where temporary foreign workers may be used. B.C. moves to a minimum working age of 16 as of Oct. 15, with exeptions for “light work” on farms such as hand harvesting. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

B.C.’s minimum working age going from 12 to 16 on Friday

Some recreation, farm, administrative, retail jobs allowed at 14

Pruning fruit trees is one of the jobs where temporary foreign workers may be used. B.C. moves to a minimum working age of 16 as of Oct. 15, with exeptions for “light work” on farms such as hand harvesting. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Independent economists’ analysis of B.C.’s natural gas royalty program shows how decades of incentive programs have led to decreased royalties. (B.C. energy ministry)

B.C.’s biggest natural gas leak is revenue loss from Crown sales

Outdated incentives are ‘fossil fuel subsidies,’ minister admits

Independent economists’ analysis of B.C.’s natural gas royalty program shows how decades of incentive programs have led to decreased royalties. (B.C. energy ministry)
Fraser Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart calls for action on wildfire recovery at Lytton, B.C. legislature, Oct. 7, 2021. (Hansard TV)

B.C.’s wildfire recovery taking too long, Premier John Horgan told

Temporary housing in works for burned-out Lytton residents

Fraser Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart calls for action on wildfire recovery at Lytton, B.C. legislature, Oct. 7, 2021. (Hansard TV)
Logging trucks from around the province arrive at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in downtown Vancouver to protest forest industry job loss, Sept. 27, 2019. (Kat Slepian/Black Press Media)

LETTER: Embattled B.C. forest industry needs government leadership

Industry getting attention ‘for all the wrong reasons’

  • Oct 5, 2021
Logging trucks from around the province arrive at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in downtown Vancouver to protest forest industry job loss, Sept. 27, 2019. (Kat Slepian/Black Press Media)
Tent camp at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, April 2021. B.C. communities are struggling with COVID-19 infection among people living in tents or on the street. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

B.C. struggles to contain COVID-19 spread in street populations

Vernon, Kelowna, Prince George running out of space

Tent camp at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, April 2021. B.C. communities are struggling with COVID-19 infection among people living in tents or on the street. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
Orange shirts, shoes, flowers and messages are on display on the steps outside the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Saturday, June 12, 2021 in honour of the 215 children whose remains have been discovered buried near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

COVID recovery and child care are Opposition targets as B.C. legislature returns

Most politicians will be back in-person, following strict pandemic protocols

Orange shirts, shoes, flowers and messages are on display on the steps outside the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Saturday, June 12, 2021 in honour of the 215 children whose remains have been discovered buried near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The B.C. legislature has been called into session for Oct. 4. (Black Press files)

B.C. legislature set to resume with full chamber, COVID-19 rules

Forest protection, virus testing in north on fall agenda

The B.C. legislature has been called into session for Oct. 4. (Black Press files)
Glacial till, filters and aggregate are placed in the main Site C dam structure, September 2021, with the Peace River diverted through tunnels and a long conveyer belt bringing material to the site. (B.C. Hydro photo)

$16B Site C dam takes shape as B.C. aims to sell more hydro power

B.C. Hydro manages earth fill structure, COVID-19 outbreak

Glacial till, filters and aggregate are placed in the main Site C dam structure, September 2021, with the Peace River diverted through tunnels and a long conveyer belt bringing material to the site. (B.C. Hydro photo)
B.C. Liberal leadership candidate Gavin Dew reads a 2011 quote from Kevin Falcon pledging to run in the 2013 election if he didn’t win the leadership against Christy Clark, at a leadership debate in Vancouver Sept. 28, 2021. (B.C. Liberal Party video)

Kevin Falcon pressed on commitment at first B.C. Liberal debate

Six candidates running for leadership of opposition party

B.C. Liberal leadership candidate Gavin Dew reads a 2011 quote from Kevin Falcon pledging to run in the 2013 election if he didn’t win the leadership against Christy Clark, at a leadership debate in Vancouver Sept. 28, 2021. (B.C. Liberal Party video)
Air-to-air heat pump system installation at an Alaska home using oil for heating. B.C. Hydro is increasing subsidies to make the switch from oil and natural gas to electric heat pumps. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

B.C. Hydro adds $260 million in 5-year electric conversion plan

Electric car charging stations, heat pumps, hydrogen trucks

Air-to-air heat pump system installation at an Alaska home using oil for heating. B.C. Hydro is increasing subsidies to make the switch from oil and natural gas to electric heat pumps. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)