B.C.’s finance critic says he's confident the province's credit rating would stay strong with an NDP government, despite a report today that it could change. Bruce Ralston says there is nothing unusual with the Diamond Bond Rating Service suggesting if the province's leadership changes, so too could B.C.’s AA rating. “What I took … [Read more...]
First Nation says it has unanswered questions after B.C.’s LNG conference
March 5, 2013 by
A coastal First Nation is responding to comments made by the premier at last week's conference on liquefied natural gas. Marven Robinson, of the Gitga'at First Nation in Hartley Bay, says members came away from the conference in Vancouver with many unanswered questions. "You know, we're not against it, but we're not fully informed yet. We have to … [Read more...]
B.C.’s first baby of 2013 arrives in Kamloops
January 1, 2013 by
Kamloops is home to B.C.’s New Year’s baby. David Junior Ricky Joe James was born at 12:02 a.m., at 8 pounds, 11 ounces at Royal Inland Hospital. The first baby born Lower Mainland arrived shortly after. "(A) baby boy by the name of Shane Greenwood … born at 12:26 this morning at Langley Memorial Hospital,” says Tasleem … [Read more...]
B.C.’s agriculture minister talks local meat slaughter
October 8, 2012 by
B.C.'s minister of agriculture says he'll consider calls for meat producers to carry out more slaughter at the local level. This, in the wake of a still-expanding beef recall originating at a federally licenced facility owned by XL Foods in Alberta. "That's what I've asked staff to do, to go back and look at the way we have these slaughter … [Read more...]
B.C.’s jobless rate rises to 7%
October 5, 2012 by
B.C. added only 5,700 new jobs last month. Combine that with more people looking for work and entering the labour force, according to Statistics Canada, and the province’s jobless rate rose three tenths of a point to seven percent. May Luong with Stats Can says sectors such as accommodation and foodservices, as well as agriculture, saw a … [Read more...]
Former attorney-general to oversee B.C.’s legal team at Enbridge hearings
September 6, 2012 by
The provincial government has hired a former attorney-general to lead B.C.s team at the Enbridge hearings. Premier Christy Clark has announced Geoff Plant's appointment at YVR, as he and the environment minister prepare to fly to Edmonton for the National Energy Board hearings. "He will be our chief legal strategist. He's going to making sure … [Read more...]
Nearly $18 million raised for B.C.’s sick children
June 3, 2012 by
The annual Miracle Weekend telethon has raised nearly $ 18 million for B.C. Children’s Hospital. Spokesperson Stephen Forgach says it's the highest total ever. "We beat last year's total – and when you get up to raising this much money, it's always hard to push it much higher, but the community comes through for us year after … [Read more...]
Surprise raises hidden in B.C.’s new RCMP contract
April 5, 2012 by
Municipalities who have signed on to the new RCMP deal are on the hook for what could be massive costs after being blindsided by pay raises for the Mounties approved by Ottawa. Langley City Mayor and municipal observer to the RCMP contract talks Peter Fassbender says they just found out. "We got wind of it at a meeting on Tuesday of this … [Read more...]
Highlights of B.C.’s 2013 budget
February 21, 2012 by
Here are some highlights of the 2012-2013 B.C. budget: Projected economic growth: 1.8 per cent in 2012-2013; 2.2 per cent in 2013-2014; 2.5 per cent in 2014-2015 Projected deficit: $ 968 million for 2012-2013; deficit this year, $ 2.5 billion. Balanced budget: Budget balanced next year. B.C. projects a $ 154 million surplus for 2013-2014 and … [Read more...]
Funding crisis in B.C.’s courts: judge
November 24, 2011 by
The Liberal government is under fire once again for a funding crisis in B.C.’s courts. Supreme Court Justice Robert Baumann says the provincial justice system is slowly eroding because of a lack of funding, and is threatened, if not in peril. NDP critic Leonard Krog says the courts are so short-staffed and cash starved, criminals are walking … [Read more...]
