Close budget vote allows Premier to move on
It was close, but the B.C. Liberal government survived a key budget vote Tuesday. The close vote comes on the heels of a stormy period over a leaked ethnic vote winning strategy. Premier Christy Clark took the positive road, saying the 45 to 38 budget vote in her favour is a sign for her people […]
Discover Camping reservation site begins operation Friday
Don’t get left behind on camping this summer in B.C. Provincial Parks. Starting Friday (March 15) at 7 a.m. the Discover Camping phone lines are opening up to begin accepting reservations for campgrounds with reservable inventory. “With camping being so popular, many British Columbian families are starting to plan for the upcoming camping season. Discover […]
COMMENT: Senate
Reports about the behaviour of some Senators have once again unleashed a flurry of demands to either abandon or at least reform that venerable institution. Defenders refer to the Senate as the “Chamber of Sober Second Thought.” It is not how the Constitution defines it, although sobriety may have been a consideration in the...
Alberta, New Brunswick ranked best provinces for mining investment; Finland No. 1 worldwide while Quebec drops out of top 10
The Fraser Institute Alberta has unseated New Brunswick as the best place in Canada for mining investment while Quebec continues to lose the confidence of the international mining community, according to the annual global survey of mining executives released today by the Fraser Institute. Alberta ranks as the top province, ...
COMMENT: At $18.2 million, election campaigns don't come cheap in B.C.
They're off. The start to B.C.'s official pre-campaign period for the 2013 election campaign is well underway. Day one of the pre-campaign would have been an easy miss, coming as it did on the same day a meteor crashed to earth and the Canucks fell to the Dallas Stars. Heck, Elections BC didn't even post a news release...
Liberals setting next government up for failure, say independent MLAs
Independent MLAs say the current government is putting a stranglehold on the post-election government by deliberately cutting short funding supply for operations. In a statement released this week, the four independents say that no government in the past has taken this approach in advance of an election. "We are calling on ...
LETTER: IntegrityBC recommends platform commitments for all parties before election
IntegrityBC has released a letter that it has sent all 24 registered political parties in the province detailing a series of recommendations on electoral reform and government accountability for each party to consider putting forward in their respective platforms for the May 14th general election. The letter has also been...
BC Government unveils new CareCard
British Columbians can now replace their CareCard with the new BC Services Card. “Starting today, the old CareCard will be replaced by the BC Services Card, a highly secure form of identification,” said Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid. “This new card will be a secure piece of photo identification with many anti-fraud and security features including […]
RCMP: Fast food = long sentence for robbers?
Robberies of Subway restaurants have taken place in multiple jurisdictions in the Lower Mainland and Langley is no exception. From Feb. 2 – 8, nine robberies took place at Edible Arrangements and various Subways and pizza establishments. Police determined the occurrences were linked by a variety of similarities, including – the robber wore a bandana, […]
B.C. Liquor laws get a makeover
Minister Rich Coleman recently announced several changes today that will help support local breweries and distilleries, create new business opportunities, and revise current liquor laws in British Columbia. The changes include: Brewers and distillers now can apply to have an on-site consumption area such as a lounge, tasting room or event area. Small- and medium-sized […]