It hasn't even been tabled yet, but the bill to eliminate the HST and restore the PST is already looming in Victoria. Staff are working overtime on the bill which has been described as phone-book sized, although Finance minister Kevin Falcon quibbles with that. He said "certainly we're talking about a bill in excess of 150 … [Read more...]
Fight HST says they will act if there are changes to the PST slipped into coming bill
May 7, 2012 by
The group that engineered the downfall of the HST will be keeping a close eye on Victoria and are ready to mobilize their army, again, if need be. Fight HST spokesperson Bill Tieleman says his fear is the government might slip in changes to the PST by tabling a bill on the tax at the last minute. He said "The referendum was very … [Read more...]
BC’s Finance Minister says PST bill is coming
May 7, 2012 by
It's coming as soon as possible. That according to Finance Minister Kevin Falcon, who says staff are still hard at work on legislation to officially switch from the HST back to the PST. Falcon said "what i can assure the public of is that the moment it is ready to be introduced in the house, it will be introduced forthwith, the house … [Read more...]
The NDP say time is running out on the bill bringing back the PST
May 7, 2012 by
The NDP are worried time is running out for proper debate on a bill, which has yet to be tabled, over the exit of the HST and return of the PST. Attorney General critic Leonard Krog says the bill must be dealt with by months end, but has yet to be tabled. He says "The HST has to be dealt with in the legislature that is a requirement it … [Read more...]
BC’s Education Minister clarifies mediator Charles Jago’s access to, and role in, Bill 22.
April 10, 2012 by
BC's Education Minister says the government appointed mediator in the teachers contract dispute did indeed get a sneek peek at Bill 22 but not in the way the BCTF is suggesting. In a statement Education Minister George Abbott says he did meet with Charles Jago before tabling Bill 22. Abbott adds it was after identifying Jago as a … [Read more...]
Abbott defends Bill 22
March 19, 2012 by
Bill 22 is a chance for B.C. teachers and their employers to re-start stalled contract talks after a year of no progress. So says education minister George Abbott, while abroad in China. Speaking on CKNW's "The World Today Weekend," Abbott says the bill allows the two sides to finally reach an agreement through an appointed … [Read more...]
Teachers vow to fight Bill 22
March 18, 2012 by
Withdrawing from supervising extracurricular activities is one of the next moves the B.C. teachers’ union will consider to resist Bill 22, the head of the teachers’ federation said Thursday. Susan Lambert, president of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), said the passing of the legislation, which prevents teachers from striking and … [Read more...]
Parents not sure Bill 22 will cover every teacher issue
March 16, 2012 by
Parents are feeling anxious, even though the BC Government has ordered teachers to get back to their full duties and no longer go on strike. Maple Ridge dad Alan Richards says he's concerned teachers might defy Bill 22 and not start writing report cards as will be law on Saturday, "I'm still worried, frankly, as to whether or not they'll carry … [Read more...]
The NDP react to government move to bring closure to Bill 22 debate.
March 12, 2012 by
The Clark government is imposing limits on the debate over Bill 22, which will ban strikes by BC teachers until the end of August. A motion passed today will end all debate on the bill by 5:00 Thursday, NDP house leader John Horgan says the motion was unnecessary. Horgan said "We believe that there's a fundamental impasse between … [Read more...]
