BC politics

Carbon Engineering’s pilot project at Squamish B.C. began in 2018, extracting carbon dioxide from air to convert to liquid fuel. Huron Clean Energy is building a similar facility with the Upper Nicola Band at Merritt B.C. (Carbon Engineering photo)

B.C. government puts $2M toward carbon capture fuel plant at Merritt

Upper Nicola Band partners in hydrogen fuel conversion plant

Carbon Engineering’s pilot project at Squamish B.C. began in 2018, extracting carbon dioxide from air to convert to liquid fuel. Huron Clean Energy is building a similar facility with the Upper Nicola Band at Merritt B.C. (Carbon Engineering photo)
Pruning fruit trees is one of the jobs where temporary foreign workers may be used. B.C. moves to a minimum working age of 16 as of Oct. 15, with exeptions for “light work” on farms such as hand harvesting. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

B.C.’s minimum working age going from 12 to 16 on Friday

Some recreation, farm, administrative, retail jobs allowed at 14

Pruning fruit trees is one of the jobs where temporary foreign workers may be used. B.C. moves to a minimum working age of 16 as of Oct. 15, with exeptions for “light work” on farms such as hand harvesting. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Independent economists’ analysis of B.C.’s natural gas royalty program shows how decades of incentive programs have led to decreased royalties. (B.C. energy ministry)

B.C.’s biggest natural gas leak is revenue loss from Crown sales

Outdated incentives are ‘fossil fuel subsidies,’ minister admits

Independent economists’ analysis of B.C.’s natural gas royalty program shows how decades of incentive programs have led to decreased royalties. (B.C. energy ministry)
Fraser Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart calls for action on wildfire recovery at Lytton, B.C. legislature, Oct. 7, 2021. (Hansard TV)

B.C.’s wildfire recovery taking too long, Premier John Horgan told

Temporary housing in works for burned-out Lytton residents

Fraser Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart calls for action on wildfire recovery at Lytton, B.C. legislature, Oct. 7, 2021. (Hansard TV)
Logging trucks from around the province arrive at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in downtown Vancouver to protest forest industry job loss, Sept. 27, 2019. (Kat Slepian/Black Press Media)

LETTER: Embattled B.C. forest industry needs government leadership

Industry getting attention ‘for all the wrong reasons’

  • Oct 5, 2021
Logging trucks from around the province arrive at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in downtown Vancouver to protest forest industry job loss, Sept. 27, 2019. (Kat Slepian/Black Press Media)
Tent camp at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, April 2021. B.C. communities are struggling with COVID-19 infection among people living in tents or on the street. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

B.C. struggles to contain COVID-19 spread in street populations

Vernon, Kelowna, Prince George running out of space

Tent camp at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, April 2021. B.C. communities are struggling with COVID-19 infection among people living in tents or on the street. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
Orange shirts, shoes, flowers and messages are on display on the steps outside the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Saturday, June 12, 2021 in honour of the 215 children whose remains have been discovered buried near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

COVID recovery and child care are Opposition targets as B.C. legislature returns

Most politicians will be back in-person, following strict pandemic protocols

Orange shirts, shoes, flowers and messages are on display on the steps outside the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Saturday, June 12, 2021 in honour of the 215 children whose remains have been discovered buried near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The B.C. legislature has been called into session for Oct. 4. (Black Press files)

B.C. legislature set to resume with full chamber, COVID-19 rules

Forest protection, virus testing in north on fall agenda

The B.C. legislature has been called into session for Oct. 4. (Black Press files)
Glacial till, filters and aggregate are placed in the main Site C dam structure, September 2021, with the Peace River diverted through tunnels and a long conveyer belt bringing material to the site. (B.C. Hydro photo)

$16B Site C dam takes shape as B.C. aims to sell more hydro power

B.C. Hydro manages earth fill structure, COVID-19 outbreak

Glacial till, filters and aggregate are placed in the main Site C dam structure, September 2021, with the Peace River diverted through tunnels and a long conveyer belt bringing material to the site. (B.C. Hydro photo)
B.C. Liberal leadership candidate Gavin Dew reads a 2011 quote from Kevin Falcon pledging to run in the 2013 election if he didn’t win the leadership against Christy Clark, at a leadership debate in Vancouver Sept. 28, 2021. (B.C. Liberal Party video)

Kevin Falcon pressed on commitment at first B.C. Liberal debate

Six candidates running for leadership of opposition party

B.C. Liberal leadership candidate Gavin Dew reads a 2011 quote from Kevin Falcon pledging to run in the 2013 election if he didn’t win the leadership against Christy Clark, at a leadership debate in Vancouver Sept. 28, 2021. (B.C. Liberal Party video)
Air-to-air heat pump system installation at an Alaska home using oil for heating. B.C. Hydro is increasing subsidies to make the switch from oil and natural gas to electric heat pumps. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

B.C. Hydro adds $260 million in 5-year electric conversion plan

Electric car charging stations, heat pumps, hydrogen trucks

Air-to-air heat pump system installation at an Alaska home using oil for heating. B.C. Hydro is increasing subsidies to make the switch from oil and natural gas to electric heat pumps. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
British Columbia’s provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. Six candidates seeking to become the next leader of British Columbia’s Liberal Party will face each other Tuesday in the campaign’s first debate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

B.C. Liberal leadership candidates to participate in campaign’s first virtual debate

Candidates are: Gavin Dew, Kevin Falcon, Michael Lee, Val Litwin, Renee Merrifield and Ellis Ross

British Columbia’s provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. Six candidates seeking to become the next leader of British Columbia’s Liberal Party will face each other Tuesday in the campaign’s first debate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
B.C. Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon, MLA for Delta North. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter file photo)

B.C. doubles grants for new technology jobs, eases degree rules

$29M program redirected to under-represented groups

B.C. Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon, MLA for Delta North. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter file photo)
B.C.’s carbon tax is the highest in Canada, and the low-carbon fuel standard is increasing. (Black Press Media)

B.C. fuel price monitor a waste of money, finance critic says

Taxpayers billed $641K for ‘a copy of Gasbuddy’ website

B.C.’s carbon tax is the highest in Canada, and the low-carbon fuel standard is increasing. (Black Press Media)
B.C. Premier John Horgan takes part in a video conference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers, March 4, 2021. Horgan has taken over as chair of the Council of the Federation, which met Sept. 23 without Trudeau. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. premier pleads for COVID-19 help as Trudeau government resumes

Nurse shortage not new, Horgan says after chairing national meeting

B.C. Premier John Horgan takes part in a video conference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers, March 4, 2021. Horgan has taken over as chair of the Council of the Federation, which met Sept. 23 without Trudeau. (B.C. government photo)
Average fuel prices for B.C., Alberta and Canada by component factors, including taxes, for July and August, 2021. (B.C. Utilities Commission)

B.C.’s high gasoline prices ease as pipeline shortage continues

Refining, retail margins tracked in independent price monitor

Average fuel prices for B.C., Alberta and Canada by component factors, including taxes, for July and August, 2021. (B.C. Utilities Commission)
Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards operates within the federally-owned Esquimalt Graving Dock. (Seaspan)

B.C. appoints experts to grow shipbuilding, repair industry

Battery tugboats, hydrogen power in future, minister says

Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards operates within the federally-owned Esquimalt Graving Dock. (Seaspan)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C. Premier John Horgan meet in Vancouver, Aug. 29, 2019. (B.C. government)

B.C. daycare, cruise ships top priorities after Trudeau’s re-election

John Horgan wants federal share of health costs increased

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C. Premier John Horgan meet in Vancouver, Aug. 29, 2019. (B.C. government)
Firefighters ignite back-burn on the Deka Lake wildfire near 100 Mile House, July 5, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

B.C.’s 2021 wildfire season winds down, third biggest in area burned

Premier commits to more fire prevention starting next spring

Firefighters ignite back-burn on the Deka Lake wildfire near 100 Mile House, July 5, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Service)
B.C. Premier John Horgan takes questions from municipal politicians at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver, Sept. 17, 2021. (UBCM video)

B.C. housing supply depends on local, federal help, Horgan says

Ministers questioned on affordability crisis at UBCM

B.C. Premier John Horgan takes questions from municipal politicians at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver, Sept. 17, 2021. (UBCM video)