The Hook: Political news, freshly caught
Sliammon group unable to block treaty vote
The Sliammon band, whose reserve is located just outside Powell River, is voting today on whether to become the third First Nation to enter into a treaty agreement with B.C. The vote comes nearly a month after protesters blocked the initial vote on June 16. Read more…
Should There Be More Regulations on Big Tech?
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Are you watching the winter Olympics this year? Read the results of that poll here.
Vancouver's First United shelter funding extended one year
The B.C. government will continue to fund the First United shelter in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside for another 12 months past the original expiration date, according to the shelter's executive director Stephen Gray. Read more…
BC jobs minister says drop in unemployment rate tied to Asian economies
VANCOUVER - B.C.'s Jobs Minister Pat Bell says Asia was largely responsible for an increase of 3,600 jobs in the province last month. Read more…
NPA's Anton pens love letter to the oil sands
Had Suzanne Anton won Vancouver's last mayoral election, city hall would be a lot friendlier towards the oil sands industry and plans to greatly increase the amount of bitumen crude passing through Vancouver harbour. Read more…
BC gov't releases tech contract after eight-year legal battle
VANCOUVER - The British Columbia government has released an eight-year-old technology contract after a lengthy battle to keep it hidden cost taxpayers more than $200,000. Read more…
UNBC support workers in favour of strike
After two years of negotiations, support workers at the University of Northern British Columbia vote in favour of a strike mandate. Read more…
Minister says fired school board had political agenda, board chair agrees
VANCOUVER - A school board in Cowichan Valley, B.C., has been expelled after not passing a balanced budget. Read more…
- Education and
- BC Politics
BC liquor workers to strike in Vancouver, Victoria, Kamloops
The union for B.C.'s liquor distribution system issued a 72-hour strike notice this morning, saying workers will picket three distribution branches early next week. Read more…
Disease rates in oil and gas region show need for monitoring
Air monitoring in northeastern British Columbia is a step in the right direction, said the author of a new report on how the province's oil and gas industry may be affecting people's health. Read more…
BC 'carbon tax shift' a success, says think-tank report
B.C.'s carbon tax has worked to cut down the fossil fuels use of British Columbians to the lowest in Canada with little economic damage to show for it, according to a new report. Read more…
As BC Ferries lost money and traffic, executives got bonus bump
Executives at BC Ferries got a big bump in their total compensation last year as the government owned company lost money and passenger levels sank to a 21-year low. Read more…
BCTF, government reach tentative bargaining deal
The BC Teachers' Federation and government have reached a tentative collective agreement deal. But the union is taking the government to court again, this time over the legislation that puts limits on teacher bargaining. Read more…
- Education and
- BC Politics
Years before pleading guilty to corruption, Basi alleged Clark was leak
The allegations contained in a newly released memo related to the BC Rail case were aired in British Columbia Supreme Court three years ago, before the person who wrote them pleaded guilty to corruption charges. Read more…
Overselling small programs damages premier's credibility, says Dix
It's a mistake for Premier Christy Clark to try and sell a $700,000 announcement as a "pillar" of her agenda, said NDP Leader Adrian Dix. Read more…
Broad support across BC for carbon tax: Pembina report
British Columbia's carbon tax is broadly supported by businesspeople, academics, local governments and environmentalists, indicates a new Pembina Institute report. Read more…
Contradicting BC premier, shale gas calculated to be 'dirty' as coal
B.C. Premier Christy Clark announced on Thursday that natural gas is a "clean energy" if used to develop and ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Asia.
But experts have calculated that "fracked" shale gas of the sort that B.C. produces has a large greenhouse emissions footprint -- as big as coal's, even. Read more…
Tla'amin treaty vote rescheduled amid protest blockade
A treaty ratification vote on the Sliammon reserve has been rescheduled for July 10, despite a continuing blockade that halted the initial vote on June 16. A dozen members of the Sliammon band have blocked the reserve's voting station in opposition of a process a group of protesters called "undemocratic" in a press conference at the office of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs on June 21. Read more…
Public ferry process aimed at finding $30 million in cuts, says minister
The British Columbia government is planning to ask the public where it would like the coastal ferry service to be cut to save money, says the minister responsible. Read more…
VSB holding public forum on adult ed cuts
The Vancouver School Board is holding a public forum on the affects of adult education cuts on the community tonight. But while trustee Allan Wong says saving money isn't a good reason to cut course funding, he admits the district has had to make adult ed funding cuts of its own. Read more…
- Education and
- BC Politics
More ferry consultation delays fixing problems: NDP's Coons
A provincial government plan to consult the public about coastal ferry services is a delaying tactic that won't address BC Ferries' real problems, said NDP ferries critic Gary Coons. Read more…
