Wolf Depner

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Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad said his party would scrap the carbon tax and all other climate related polices if in government. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

‘Not a crisis’: B.C. Conservatives promise to scrap climate taxes, programs

Party Leader John Rustad says current climate change measures a $2.8 billion burden B.C. doesn’t need

Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad said his party would scrap the carbon tax and all other climate related polices if in government. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
A new study from Statistics Canada finds just over 14 per cent of adult children born in the 1990s owned homes in B.C. in 2021, the lowest rate in Canada. But the figures go up with income and most importantly with the question of how many properties their parents own. (Black Press Media file photo)

‘Bank of Mom and Dad’ helps fuel home ownership for young B.C. adults

Lowest home-ownership rate in Canada for children born in 1990s, improves if parents own homes

A new study from Statistics Canada finds just over 14 per cent of adult children born in the 1990s owned homes in B.C. in 2021, the lowest rate in Canada. But the figures go up with income and most importantly with the question of how many properties their parents own. (Black Press Media file photo)
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon was part of Wednesday’s announcement that the speculation and vacancy tax would expand to Vernon, Coldstream, Penticton, Summerland, Lake Country and Peachland among other communities. A total of 13 new communities will be subject to the tax starting January 2025. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Comox Valley mayors react to speculation tax expansion announcement

Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Parksville and Qualicum Beach among 13 communities added

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon was part of Wednesday’s announcement that the speculation and vacancy tax would expand to Vernon, Coldstream, Penticton, Summerland, Lake Country and Peachland among other communities. A total of 13 new communities will be subject to the tax starting January 2025. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Ombudsperson Jay Chalke said thousands of British Columbians are still waiting for financial compensation after government unfairly stripped them of a COVID-19 benefit worth $1,000. (Office of the Ombudsperson)

Thousands unfairly stripped of COVID-19 emergency benefit: BC Ombudsperson

Provincial government failed to inform British Columbians of changes in eligibility

Ombudsperson Jay Chalke said thousands of British Columbians are still waiting for financial compensation after government unfairly stripped them of a COVID-19 benefit worth $1,000. (Office of the Ombudsperson)
Renee Merrifield, MLA Kelowna-Mission, was among several BC United MLA Monday (Nov. 20) attacking CleanBC, the provincial government’s plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below 2007 by 2030. Several New Democratic ministers including Premier David Eby himself defended the plan. (Screencap)

BC United calls the NDP’s climate change plan an attack on B.C.’s well-being

Premier David Eby accused BC United of being ‘desperate’ and saying ‘anything to get elected’

Renee Merrifield, MLA Kelowna-Mission, was among several BC United MLA Monday (Nov. 20) attacking CleanBC, the provincial government’s plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below 2007 by 2030. Several New Democratic ministers including Premier David Eby himself defended the plan. (Screencap)
B.C. Premier David Eby became the province’s 37th premier at the Musqueam Nation, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. UBC political scientist Stewart Prest says provincial New Democrats can be very happy with his performance so far. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Housing dominates ‘selectively aggressive’ premier’s first year in office

UBC political scientist says David Eby focused on the issue expected central to next fall’s election

B.C. Premier David Eby became the province’s 37th premier at the Musqueam Nation, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. UBC political scientist Stewart Prest says provincial New Democrats can be very happy with his performance so far. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Premier David joined by New Democratic MLAs addressed delegates at the provincial NDP’s convention in Victoria. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Premier Eby: B.C. ‘won’t back down’ on carbon taxation

Eby also used B.C. NDP convention speech to 700-plus delegates to attack BC United’s Kevin Falcon

Premier David joined by New Democratic MLAs addressed delegates at the provincial NDP’s convention in Victoria. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, announced $16.5 million for a pilot project to show the viability of commercial trucks running on hydrogen. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Abbotsford facility to help pilot hydrogen commercial trucks amid EV boom

Provincial government is pumping $16.5 into pilot project

Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, announced $16.5 million for a pilot project to show the viability of commercial trucks running on hydrogen. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
North Saanich Mayor Peter Jones, here seen shortly after assuming office, in 2022 has criticized what he calls a “province-wide, ‘one-size-fits-all,’ approach to increasing housing supply” (District of North Saanich/Submitted)

Rural B.C. mayors not eager to embrace new housing legislation

Communities concerned about provincial overreach, lack of local control

North Saanich Mayor Peter Jones, here seen shortly after assuming office, in 2022 has criticized what he calls a “province-wide, ‘one-size-fits-all,’ approach to increasing housing supply” (District of North Saanich/Submitted)
A passenger gets into an Uber rideshare in San Francisco. Labour Minister Harry Bains announced new prosposals to protect ride-hail and food-delivery workers. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

New measures to protect gig workers in B.C. coming in early 2024

Expert, labour leader call measures a good first step but insufficient

A passenger gets into an Uber rideshare in San Francisco. Labour Minister Harry Bains announced new prosposals to protect ride-hail and food-delivery workers. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Premier David Eby, seen here in Nova Scotia, warns against playing affordability off against climate change. During a meeting with federal and territorial leaders in Nova Scotia he held up an “I Heart Heat Pumps” T-shirt during interviews. (Screencap)

‘Mistake’ to play affordability off against climate change, says B.C. premier

Eby calls Ottawa’s handling of carbon tax exemption ‘startling’ and ‘disturbing’

Premier David Eby, seen here in Nova Scotia, warns against playing affordability off against climate change. During a meeting with federal and territorial leaders in Nova Scotia he held up an “I Heart Heat Pumps” T-shirt during interviews. (Screencap)
June Francis, chair of the provincial anti-racism data committee, Wednesday welcomed new measures designed to combat hate-crimes in B.C. (Screencap)

B.C. to help victims of hate-crimes with $2.4 million: Premier Eby

Groups can apply for funding Nov. 28 and hotline to be in place in spring 2024, if not sooner

June Francis, chair of the provincial anti-racism data committee, Wednesday welcomed new measures designed to combat hate-crimes in B.C. (Screencap)
B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman acknowledged affordability concerns, but defended the carbon tax in warning about the economic effects of climate change. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

‘Real costs’ of climate change outweigh costs of B.C. fighting it: Heyman

Environment Minister George Heyman defends carbon tax in midst of growing concerns

B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman acknowledged affordability concerns, but defended the carbon tax in warning about the economic effects of climate change. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Crews, here seen repairing repair the Bottletop Bridge on the Coquihalla Highway in late November, 2021, have officially completed their repairs on the major highway connecting B.C.’s southwest corner with the Interior. (B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure)

‘Bigger, stronger, better’: climate-ready Coquihalla repairs complete

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said ‘extraordinary’ work makes Highway 5 climate-resilient

Crews, here seen repairing repair the Bottletop Bridge on the Coquihalla Highway in late November, 2021, have officially completed their repairs on the major highway connecting B.C.’s southwest corner with the Interior. (B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure)
B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau warns against turning the carbon tax into a ‘scapegoat’ for affordability as a new poll shows growing opposition for the provincial carbon tax. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Support for B.C.’s carbon tax fading, poll shows

But environmentalists and BC Greens warn against turning carbon tax into a ‘scapegoat’

B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau warns against turning the carbon tax into a ‘scapegoat’ for affordability as a new poll shows growing opposition for the provincial carbon tax. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
New legislation passed last week promises to make it easier for foreign-trained workers to enter 29 professions, including early childhood education. (Submitted)

New law recognizing foreign-trained professionals passes in B.C. legislature

Workers trained abroad work and earn less, but needed with one million job openings over next decade

New legislation passed last week promises to make it easier for foreign-trained workers to enter 29 professions, including early childhood education. (Submitted)
Some 50 people rallied outside the provincial legislature against the provincial vaccine mandate and Bill 36.(Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Group rallies outside B.C. Legislature against health care vaccine mandate

Health Minister Adrian Dix defends mandate and provincial health officer Bonnie Henry against attack

Some 50 people rallied outside the provincial legislature against the provincial vaccine mandate and Bill 36.(Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Sanjiv Gandhi, a former children’s surgeon, joined B.C. Greens party leader Sonia Furstenau and house leader Adam Olsen in Vancouver in January when party announced him as their second deputy leader. Furstenau fired him Thursday after he liked a tweet comparing provincial health officer Bonnie Henry to Josef Mengele, the infamous Nazi doctor. (Screencap)

Green deputy leader Gandhi fired after liking tweet referencing Nazi doctor

Leader Sonia Furstenau fired Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi late Wednesday evening

Sanjiv Gandhi, a former children’s surgeon, joined B.C. Greens party leader Sonia Furstenau and house leader Adam Olsen in Vancouver in January when party announced him as their second deputy leader. Furstenau fired him Thursday after he liked a tweet comparing provincial health officer Bonnie Henry to Josef Mengele, the infamous Nazi doctor. (Screencap)
New legislation tabled Wednesday upzones areas around Skytrain stations and bus exchanges in promising to create 100,000 new units. (Anna Burns/Surrey Leader Now)

B.C. aims to increase housing density around rapid transit, bus exchanges

New legislation promises to create 100,000 new housing units within a decade

New legislation tabled Wednesday upzones areas around Skytrain stations and bus exchanges in promising to create 100,000 new units. (Anna Burns/Surrey Leader Now)
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and B.C. Premier David Eby held a joint news conference Tuesday prior to signing a statement of cooperation around clean energy generally and the hydrogen economy specifically. (Screencap)

B.C. eyes green hydrogen economy with cross-country partnership

Premier David Eby Tuesday signs partnership agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador premier

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and B.C. Premier David Eby held a joint news conference Tuesday prior to signing a statement of cooperation around clean energy generally and the hydrogen economy specifically. (Screencap)