A developing story in Victoria, where police have been called in and government employees fired for an alleged privacy breach and conflict of interest. Four employees were fired today from the Pharmaceutical Services division of the Ministry of Health; three others are suspended without pay. Two contractors have had their contracts, worth a … [Read more...]
CTF CAMPAIGNS TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE WAGES
August 29, 2012 by
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation wants to bring public sector pay down to the levels that exist in the private sector. BC director Jordan Bateman explains the campaign, which the CTF calls "Unfair Labour Day." "This year we're launching what's called a campaign for a compensation equity act. Essentially what it is is an act that would make it … [Read more...]
Government workers to strike September 5th
August 28, 2012 by
As negotiations between the Province and BC Government workers appear to be going nowhere, the BC Government and Service Employees' Union is planning a strike for September 5th. The job action will affect all government work sites. This comes after job action over the summer. Workers staged a one-day strike at liquor distribution branch centres in … [Read more...]
Government seeks injunction against private clinic
August 22, 2012 by
A judge will decide whether two private health clinics in Vancouver will be allowed to keep illegally billing customers for services covered by Medicare. The Medical Services Commission has made good on its threat to seek a court-ordered injunction against Cambie Surgeries Corporation and the specialist referral clinic. On July 18th, both clinics … [Read more...]
Millions in severance paid out by BC Government triggers political back and forth
August 14, 2012 by
The BC Conservative party says they have crunched the numbers and discovered bc taxpayers paid a massive bill for saying goodbye to government staffers. John Cummins says in severance payments to government staff alone taxpayers are on the hook for over $ 62 million over the last seven years. Cummins says under Premier Christy Clark … [Read more...]
Government scrambles to respond in wake of released credit-card transactions
August 4, 2012 by
It may be the BC Day long weekend, but B.C. government communications staff are working overtime. It's in response to the recent release of government credit card transactions, which revealed what exactly taxpayers are on the hook for in the millions of dollars in spending from Victoria. In a media fact sheet, the ministry of finance says there are … [Read more...]
Government does cost a lot of money
August 2, 2012 by
Almost half a million dollars in credit card bills were wracked up by the Premiers Office from April of 2011 to March of this year. Former Premier Gordon Campbell's office spent just 202-thousand the year previous. Among the costs going to taxpayers, 20-thousand at various electronics shops, and six-thousand to buy coffee. Cellphone bills ran … [Read more...]
BC Government reports 1.84 billion dollar deficit
July 25, 2012 by
BC ended the fiscal year with a smaller deficit than what it had been predicting in February. But at $ 1.84-billion, it's much higher than the one reported this time last year. Total government spending is $ 926-million higher than what was anticipated in the 2011 budget. The reason? Finance Minister Kevin Falcon says the $ … [Read more...]
Pricey B.C. government software slammed by children’s watchdog
July 19, 2012 by
BC's child and youth representative is slamming new software used by the Ministry of Children and Families. And Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond is so concerned about it, she's making a rare public statement. Launched in April, the "integrated case management" software was supposed to save time for child welfare workers, so they could spend … [Read more...]
NDP wants government to pause sale of liquor distribution services
July 18, 2012 by
BC NDP leader Adrian Dix says Premier Christy Clark and the BC Liberals have absolutely no mandate to privatize the liquor distribution branch. Dix says its not just because of serious questions being raised about the request for proposals process, or about BC Liberal ties to companies vying for the 10-year contral. He says like … [Read more...]
