March 28, 2024

Treaty Commissioner sees progress

A more upbeat annual report from the BC Treaty Commission today. Last year, chief commissioner Sophie Pierre said without signs of progress, the billion dollar enterprise might as well be shut down. Today,  Pierre says the parties listened. "From that statement thankfully it appears that our message has gotten through because we have seen a … [Read more...]

Park Board commissioner wants lower user fees for people with disabilities

An NPA park board commissioner in Vancouver wants people with disabilities to pay less at community centres. "The user fees at our community centres and facilities, including the aquatic centre, are just out of reach for some of them and they're not able to use the facilities,” says Melissa De Genova. “Most are low-income, and they rely … [Read more...]

Commissioner confident with RCMP act changes

The RCMP's top cop is confident changes to the RCMP act will give him more power to personally deal with so-called "bad apples."Commssioner Bob Paulson admits cases such as Monty Robinson and Don Ray - have been embarrassing for the national police force. "There will be an ability for the conduct authority, the person that's bringing the prosecutor … [Read more...]

Commissioner says mayors can’t abandon property tax plan

Translink's Commissioner says Metro Vancouver mayors don't have the legal right to retract support for using property taxes to pay for transit expansions. In April, the mayors withdrew support for using property taxes, by passing a resolution at one of their council meetings. But Translink Commissioner Martin Crilly says they can't do that. "In … [Read more...]

Coast Guard Commissioner clams up

Canada's Coast Guard Commissioner refused to answer questions after wrapping up a meeting with staff in Vancouver this morning. Marc Gregoire was guided past reporters to ihs car outside the Kitsilano station after spending about an hour and 15 minutes inside. "Why do you think this coast guard station is expendable??" "Can't you provide a … [Read more...]

Police Complaint Commissioner clears officer in death of Alvin Wright

The Langley RCMP officer who shot and killed 22-year-old Alvin Wright will not face criminal charges. The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner says Sgt. Don Davidson's actions the night of Aug. 6, 2010, were reasonable. RCMP were called that night to Wright's home for reports of a domestic dispute.  The office says Davidson confronted … [Read more...]

B.C. inquiry commissioner threatened to quit

VANCOUVER - The man whose inquiry findings led former British Columbia premier Bill Vander Zalm to resign in 1991 says he threatened to quit before completing his task.Ted Hughes, a former conflict of interest commissioner, is suing Vander Zalm for defamation over passages in the former premier's 2008 book "Bill Vander Zalm: For the People."Hughes … [Read more...]