B.C.'s budget praised for housing investment, criticized for lack of business support
The British Columbia government’s new budget will spend more as the economy shrinks.
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Published by Observer Media Group
B.C. budget spends big on health, housing, families
Deficits are in the forecast for British Columbia’s budget, but that’s not stopping the New Democrat government from spending billions on health, housing and families.
‘Gimmicky clothing ads’ raise awareness of youth homelessness
A national youth homeless survey shows that 20 per cent of Canadians living without housing are between the ages of 13 and 24. Raising the Roof's "streetwear" campaign uses irony to send a message that kids should never be homeless in the first place.
West Coast electric ferries lack the power to ditch diesel
BC Ferries just got $500 million in funding to keep fares low and help electrify its fleet, but critics say the provincial announcement was heavy on climate rhetoric and light on concrete details or commitment.
From cradle to compost — there’s a path to make death greener
Startups rush to gain foothold in a burgeoning industry as New York and California move to legalize human composting.
Miscarriage of justice act ‘a long time coming’
This proposed Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission Act is an opportunity for wrongful conviction applications to be dealt with and reviewed in a way that upholds the integrity of our criminal justice system, says Pam Glatt of Innocence Canada.
Billionaire Irvings get help from the feds
In December, Export and Development Canada advanced Irving Pulp and Paper a loan to help build a waste treatment facility it promised to build after pleading guilty to dumping improperly treated effluent into the Saint John River.
Feds announce collaborative modern treaty policy
The implementation policy will streamline modern treaties, create government oversight and train a "muscle memory" in Ottawa's bureaucracy when dealing with Indigenous self-government.
Foreign interference protocol did a good job in 2021 election, report says
Former civil servant Morris Rosenberg says the panel created by the protocol did not find there was foreign interference in either the 2019 or 2021 elections that compared to the scale of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.
Alberta reaches health-care funding deal with Ottawa
Alberta’s health minister says the new health funding deal with the federal government will dovetail with provincial reforms to the system.
B.C.'s finance minister suggests budget deficits on way after surplus
British Columbia's financial status will not be as rosy as it has been over the past year, says Finance Minister Katrine Conroy, who will table the New Democrat government's budget on Tuesday.
Oilpatch funds poured into pro-Smith political group after she floated royalty break
Oilpatch support for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's agenda ballooned after she won her party's leadership and put the so-called RStar program — a plan to give tax breaks to energy companies for fulfilling cleanup work they are already obliged to do — high on the government agenda.
Canada bans TikTok on government-issued mobile devices
The federal government is banning TikTok from government-issued mobile devices days after federal and provincial privacy commissioners began investigating the social media platform.
Indigenous chiefs eager for $2.8B residential school settlement deal
First Nations leaders are voicing their formal support in Federal Court for a $2.8-billion settlement agreement to a class-action residential schools lawsuit.