Wolf Depner

The provincial government is touting various programs designed to fight inflation kicking in April 1. Inflation for various products including groceries remains but is dropping. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. families to see last topped up benefit payment before permanent increase in July

New B.C. Affordability Credit worth $500 million kicks in April 1 among other programs

The provincial government is touting various programs designed to fight inflation kicking in April 1. Inflation for various products including groceries remains but is dropping. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Leslie Varley, executive director of BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, says a Hyatt Regency Vancouver employee denied a cultural advisor and staff member of BCAAFC access to a washroom, causing a “public and humiliating” incident. The hotel has since publicly apologized. (Screen cap)

Vancouver Hyatt Regency apologizes to First Nations group after alleged discrimination

BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres welcomes apology, but won’t use hotel for event

Leslie Varley, executive director of BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, says a Hyatt Regency Vancouver employee denied a cultural advisor and staff member of BCAAFC access to a washroom, causing a “public and humiliating” incident. The hotel has since publicly apologized. (Screen cap)
Flooding in fall 2021 caused massive to the provincial infrastructure including Highway 8 along the Nicola River near Merritt. Current snow-pack levels are at seasonal norms across the province, but other parts are above seasonal norms. (BC Transportation/Twitter)

Some parts of B.C.’s Interior face spring flooding risk: River Forecast Centre

Snow pack level for entire province, including Lower Fraser River, at normal seasonal levels

Flooding in fall 2021 caused massive to the provincial infrastructure including Highway 8 along the Nicola River near Merritt. Current snow-pack levels are at seasonal norms across the province, but other parts are above seasonal norms. (BC Transportation/Twitter)
Farmers and other food producers are promised additional supports under a new funding agreement between B.C. and the federal government. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

New agreement with Ottawa promises more support for B.C. farmers

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership kicks in April 1, 2023

Farmers and other food producers are promised additional supports under a new funding agreement between B.C. and the federal government. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
What Attorney-General Niki Sharma has called ‘targeted changes’ could make it easier for courts to deny bail to repeat violent offenders by spring 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Ottawa could toughen bail laws as early as spring: B.C. attorney general

Changes would target repeat violent offenders among other measures

What Attorney-General Niki Sharma has called ‘targeted changes’ could make it easier for courts to deny bail to repeat violent offenders by spring 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Premier David Eby says the Inflation Reduction Act poses both opportunity and challenge for B.C. during a news conferenc with Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee.

B.C. premier wants Ottawa to stop clean-energy investment from flowing into the U.S.

David Eby’s first international trip to Washington State also touched on housing, environment

Premier David Eby says the Inflation Reduction Act poses both opportunity and challenge for B.C. during a news conferenc with Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says all British Columbians can “likely” get a COVID-19 boosters in the fall as part of a campaign that might become an annual ritual like the a flu-vaccination campaign.

B.C. announces spring COVID-19 boosters to be available soon

Henry also added that a fall booster will likely be available for all British Columbians

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says all British Columbians can “likely” get a COVID-19 boosters in the fall as part of a campaign that might become an annual ritual like the a flu-vaccination campaign.
Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs Thursday praised the role of B.C. organizations, who help francophones integrate into their respective communities. Le Cercle des Canadiens Français de Prince George received the B.C. Francophonie Day Award. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Province says ‘merci’ to northern B.C. group for supporting francophones

Le Cercle des Canadiens Franç ais de Prince George wins award for supporting French-speakers

Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs Thursday praised the role of B.C. organizations, who help francophones integrate into their respective communities. Le Cercle des Canadiens Français de Prince George received the B.C. Francophonie Day Award. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Artemis Gold has received provincial approval for its open-pit Gold mine some 112 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof (Photo Courtesy of Artemis Gold)

Northern B.C. gold mine gets provincial approval after 7 years of consideration

Artemis Gold Thursday (March 9) received approval for its Blackwater Mine project

Artemis Gold has received provincial approval for its open-pit Gold mine some 112 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof (Photo Courtesy of Artemis Gold)
B.C. Premier David Eby speaks during a news conference in Vancouver, on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

All talk and no clock? B.C. premier explains pause on Daylight Saving Time plan

British Columbians will have to forward their clocks on Sunday (March 12) at 2 a.m.

B.C. Premier David Eby speaks during a news conference in Vancouver, on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A report from Destination Vancouver predicts that the demand for hotel rooms in the City of Vancouver will start outstripping supply in 2026, in Metro Vancouver by 2030 with consequences for the rest of the province. (Photo courtesy of James Smith)

No Vacancy: Lack of hotels in Vancouver could bring loss of $31B by 2050, report says

Hotel industry leader to discuss predicted hotel room shortage at industry conference in Kelowna

A report from Destination Vancouver predicts that the demand for hotel rooms in the City of Vancouver will start outstripping supply in 2026, in Metro Vancouver by 2030 with consequences for the rest of the province. (Photo courtesy of James Smith)
BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon, Surrey South MLA Elenore Sturko, Chuck and Lorraine Marr and Jennifer Chan and her boyfriend Andrew van Rijswick Wednesday helped to present a private member’s bill by Sturko. It promises to improve suicide prevention. The Marrs lost their son to suicide in 2009. Chan’s sister Nicole, then on leave from the Vancouver Police Department, died by suicide in 2019. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Private member’s bill by BC Liberal MLA looks to improve suicide prevention

Jennifer Chan, the sister of Nicole Chan, helped to present the bill

BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon, Surrey South MLA Elenore Sturko, Chuck and Lorraine Marr and Jennifer Chan and her boyfriend Andrew van Rijswick Wednesday helped to present a private member’s bill by Sturko. It promises to improve suicide prevention. The Marrs lost their son to suicide in 2009. Chan’s sister Nicole, then on leave from the Vancouver Police Department, died by suicide in 2019. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
The provincial government has tabled legislation to ensure gender-pay transparency but critics say it does not go far enough. (Pexels/Contributed)

B.C. employers will have to report pay ranges as part of gender-gap legislation

Finance Minister Katrine Conroy introduces the legislation one day before International Women’s Day

The provincial government has tabled legislation to ensure gender-pay transparency but critics say it does not go far enough. (Pexels/Contributed)
Black Press Media has asked Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad whether he would run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of BC after Trevor Bolin has stepped down while remaining interim leader. (Photo courtesy ofJohn Lehmann)

Rustad for B.C. conservative leader? Speculation becomes more probable as Bolin steps down

The future of MLA John Rustad central to conservative party future as Trevor Bolin spends time with family

Black Press Media has asked Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad whether he would run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of BC after Trevor Bolin has stepped down while remaining interim leader. (Photo courtesy ofJohn Lehmann)
BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon calls on government to approve outstanding LNG projects to help Europe find alternative energy forms as the world marks the one-year-anniversary of Russia’s attack on Feb. 24. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

B.C. has ‘obligation’ to help Europe find alternative forms of energy: Falcon

Falcon made the statement as world marks one-year-anniversary of Russia’s attack on Ukraine

BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon calls on government to approve outstanding LNG projects to help Europe find alternative energy forms as the world marks the one-year-anniversary of Russia’s attack on Feb. 24. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
B.C. Premier David Eby signaled that the province won’t directly help out municipalities facing high property tax hikes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. Premier David Eby signals no help for municipalities pondering large property tax hikes

UBCM, province are currently reviewing municipal financing system

B.C. Premier David Eby signaled that the province won’t directly help out municipalities facing high property tax hikes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Fraser River watershed is among the most threatened in Canada, according to the World Wildlife Foundation. The province has committed $100 million toward a permanent to fund protect watersheds. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

B.C. floats $100M to protect provincial watersheds

BC Greens Leader Sonia Furstenau calls the funding a start, but wants to see details

The Fraser River watershed is among the most threatened in Canada, according to the World Wildlife Foundation. The province has committed $100 million toward a permanent to fund protect watersheds. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
Carol Todd and her daughter Amanda. Carol Todd was in the legislature Monday afternoon as the province tabled legislation against the non-consensual sharing of images. Amanda Todd died of suicide in October 2012 after being cyerbullied online. (Special to Black Press Media)

B.C. tables bill against non-consensual sharing of intimate images

Carol Todd, mother of Amanda Todd, watched as Attorney-General Niki Sharma tabled legislation

Carol Todd and her daughter Amanda. Carol Todd was in the legislature Monday afternoon as the province tabled legislation against the non-consensual sharing of images. Amanda Todd died of suicide in October 2012 after being cyerbullied online. (Special to Black Press Media)
B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau speaks to media ahead of the throne speech at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C.’s 2023 budget not addressing the urgency of environmental issues: Furstenau

BC Greens, Wilderness Committee find some praise, but many faults with provincial budget

B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau speaks to media ahead of the throne speech at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
BC Green leader Sonia Furstenau has called on government to launch a pilot project for a four-day workweek without any changes in pay. (Black Press Media file photo)

Should B.C. move to a 4-day work week? A look inside the debate

Provincial minister of labour Harry Bains says there no plans to change existing labour laws

BC Green leader Sonia Furstenau has called on government to launch a pilot project for a four-day workweek without any changes in pay. (Black Press Media file photo)