Provincial Government

Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum. (Now-Leader file photo)

Province introduces amendments that will force politicians charged with crimes to take leave

Charged with public mischief, Surrey mayor’s pre-trial conference scheduled for Monday

 

Surrey-Whalley NDP MLA Bruce Ralston, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation. (Black Press Media file photo)

Cutting fuel tax won’t reduce high prices at the pumps, Surrey MLA says

Bruce Ralston, B.C.’s minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, noted in 2019 consumers were already getting ‘ripped off’ at the pumps

 

(Black Press Media photo)

Province of B.C. commits to year-round wildfire service

Permanent year-round service expected by September

 

Graduating students from Seycove Secondary in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, B.C. throw their hats during a physically distanced graduation photo Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Graduating students all over the world are celebrating their grads in different ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Indigenous-focused coursework to be a high school graduation requirement in B.C.

New requirement would enhance knowledges of Indigenous Peoples in classrooms, province says

Graduating students from Seycove Secondary in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, B.C. throw their hats during a physically distanced graduation photo Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Graduating students all over the world are celebrating their grads in different ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
(Black Press Media files)

Mid-Island MLAs tout more nursing seats at Vancouver Island University

Intake starts this fall as B.C. opening 600 more nurse training opportunities

  • Mar 6, 2022
(Black Press Media files)
Pacific Wild has taken the government of B.C. to court over the legality of contracting civilians to shoot wolves from helicopters. (Black Press file photo)

Animal advocacy group reacts to B.C. government decision to extend wolf cull

The cull, which has killed 1,400 wolves since initiated in 2015, has been extended five years

Pacific Wild has taken the government of B.C. to court over the legality of contracting civilians to shoot wolves from helicopters. (Black Press file photo)
Campus View Elementary’s parent advisory council received almost $80,000 in provincial gaming grant money for a new playground. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. gaming grant supports new playground at Saanich school

Almost $80,000 in funding going towards replacement at Campus View elementary

Campus View Elementary’s parent advisory council received almost $80,000 in provincial gaming grant money for a new playground. (Black Press Media file photo)
Forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon, left, Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner Andrea Inness and Adam Olsen, Green Party MLA for Saanich and the Islands, speak during a press event at the legislature on Tuesday. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

B.C. ancient forest advocates call on province to fund alternative revenue streams

$300M required to help First Nations, other forest-dependent communities to transition

Forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon, left, Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner Andrea Inness and Adam Olsen, Green Party MLA for Saanich and the Islands, speak during a press event at the legislature on Tuesday. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
North Island NDP MLA Michele Babchuk. (Photo supplied)

North Island MLA calls police after anti-vax protest ends up at her home

Michelle Babchuk says ‘lines were crossed’ when people protested on her doorstep

North Island NDP MLA Michele Babchuk. (Photo supplied)
A lightning strike destroyed this radio receiver at the summit of Porter Mountain knocking DriveBC’s Sutton Pass camera out of service in November, 2020. (Photo courtesy of B.C.’s ministry of transportation and infrastructure)

Hwy. 4 camera at Sutton Pass remains down a year after lightning strike

Ministry of transportation and infrastructure says camera damaged beyond repair

A lightning strike destroyed this radio receiver at the summit of Porter Mountain knocking DriveBC’s Sutton Pass camera out of service in November, 2020. (Photo courtesy of B.C.’s ministry of transportation and infrastructure)
Mink farms are being phased out in B.C. and will be shut down entirely by April 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

BC plans to phase out mink farming industry by 2025

The government is doing this over four years to allow farmers and workers a transition period

Mink farms are being phased out in B.C. and will be shut down entirely by April 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
A group calling itself BC Public Service Employees for Freedom is rejecting the province’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which takes effect Nov. 22. (Black Press Media file photo)

Letter to deputy minister latest step protesting B.C. Public Service vaccine mandate

Nov. 22 the deadline for all B.C. Public Service workers to get vaccinated

A group calling itself BC Public Service Employees for Freedom is rejecting the province’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which takes effect Nov. 22. (Black Press Media file photo)
The CanPac Valour will be laying the cable for the project. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror

3,400 kilometres of cable bringing high-speed internet to B.C. coast

Connected Coast project officially launched in Campbell River

The CanPac Valour will be laying the cable for the project. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror
Left to right, Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon, Eevah Macdonald, and Vancouver-Kensington MLA Mable Elmore inside the Legislature in Victoria on Oct. 21, 2021. (Submitted)

Chilliwack MLA Kelli Paddon reads powerful words from bullied 11-year-old in BC Legislature

“They said because I am black, I should go kill myself,” Eevah Macdonald wrote

Left to right, Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon, Eevah Macdonald, and Vancouver-Kensington MLA Mable Elmore inside the Legislature in Victoria on Oct. 21, 2021. (Submitted)
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation master carver Joe David gifted this totem pole to the District of Tofino in 2018 to recognize the community’s presence within the First Nation’s traditional territory. (Westerly file photo)

Island First Nation collaborating with province on reconciliation efforts

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation signs hisiikcumyin pathway agreement with provincial government

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation master carver Joe David gifted this totem pole to the District of Tofino in 2018 to recognize the community’s presence within the First Nation’s traditional territory. (Westerly file photo)
The BC Public Service Agency building on Blanshard Street in Victoria. Some government employees have sent internal emails criticizing the province for mandating COVID-19 vaccination for all employees by Nov. 22. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

B.C. public servants spread messages rebuking province’s vaccine mandate

Public service agency taking ‘appropriate follow-up’ to emails sent from government computers

The BC Public Service Agency building on Blanshard Street in Victoria. Some government employees have sent internal emails criticizing the province for mandating COVID-19 vaccination for all employees by Nov. 22. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Esquimalt, Nanaimo, Richmond, Rossland, Saanich, Surrey, Tofino, Ucluelet and Victoria all have plastic bag bans. (Pixabay.com)

B.C. cities will no longer need provincial approval to launch single-use plastic ban

More than 20 municipalities in B.C. are developing bylaws banning single-use plastics

Esquimalt, Nanaimo, Richmond, Rossland, Saanich, Surrey, Tofino, Ucluelet and Victoria all have plastic bag bans. (Pixabay.com)
A program that is by peers, for peers, will expand reach for those in need of mental health support. (Pexels)

Victoria peer-led program provides training to improve quality of mental health services

Curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including family peer support and substance use

A program that is by peers, for peers, will expand reach for those in need of mental health support. (Pexels)
Helicopters fly past the Tremont Creek wildfire as it burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. says expanding emergency alert for wildfires is a priority, but no timeline set

About 4,300 properties were under evacuation orders Thursday due to wildfires

Helicopters fly past the Tremont Creek wildfire as it burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The District of Sooke's wastewater treatment plant will receive structural and mechanical upgrades, and the local wastewater collection system will be extended to increase sewer capacity. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke mayor welcomes provincial funding for upgrades to wastewater treatment plant

B.C. contributing $4.6 million toward $6.6-million project

The District of Sooke's wastewater treatment plant will receive structural and mechanical upgrades, and the local wastewater collection system will be extended to increase sewer capacity. (File - Sooke News Mirror)