The Hook: Political news, freshly caught
Get rid of Vancouver viaduct, copy SF's 'spectacular' choice: planner
Removing the vestigial freeway from Vancouver's heart won't create traffic messes, but will knit together now divided neighbourhoods and create bustling new public spaces, according to planner Michael Alexander.
Tonight, councillors debate whether or not to move forward with a study that would look at this, and other options for the Dunsmuir viaduct. Read more…
Should There Be More Regulations on Big Tech?
- Yes.
- No.
- I don’t know.
- Tell us more…
Are you watching the winter Olympics this year? Read the results of that poll here.
Wilderness Committee goes on attack against incinerators
The committee launched their "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Breath" video on YouTube Tuesday, urging the public to chime in on Metro Vancouver's proposed waste management options before it's too late. Read more…
City hall won't release names of invitees to Olympic bash
Staff claim it would be an invasion of privacy to release the names of guests to the city's Olympic pavilion at David Lam Park. Read more…
'We are open to future discussions with both bands': marina developers
Proponents of a mega-yacht marina for Victoria's harbour issued a statement today responding to a court action by local first nations against the project. Read more…
Victoria marina approvals challenged in court
Two applications have been filed seeking a judicial review of federal government approvals for a planned mega-yacht marina in Victoria's harbour. Read more…
School board and education ministry fight over funding
A closed door meeting between Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid and Vancouver School Board trustees abruptly ended on Tuesday over disagreements about education dollars. Read more…
Green, dense, rezoned: Marine Gateway, Vancouver’s next big thing
The largest development ever considered for rezoning outside downtown Vancouver -- the Marine Gateway project -- will set a standard for station density planning in the city, says Frances Bula. Read more…
Metro Van residents face soaring sewage treatment fees
By 2020, residents in Vancouver and North Vancouver could be paying close to $1,000 per year in sewage treatment fees unless the federal and provincial governments pitch in to replace aging facilities. Read more…
Artist suing Crown corp over management of Victoria parking lot
A Victoria artist is suing the provincial government and a Crown corporation over management of public space near the capital city’s harbour. Read more…
Bell says he's consulting with current Victoria mayor
Of course former Victoria mayors have opinions about a proposed marina, forests minister Pat Bell said, but it's the current one with whom his ministry will be consulting. Read more…
Girl Guides win tax reprieve on Sunshine Coast
A Girl Guides camp on the Sunshine Coast won’t have to pay the hefty tax bill that caught operators by surprise and threatened to silence the singing around campfires this summer. Read more…
MLA questions Victoria marina team’s Liberal donations
The provincial government should make a decision on a Victoria marina proposal that's in the public interest, not the interests of B.C. Liberal Party donors, said New Democratic Party MLA Maurine Karagianis. Read more…
Minister Bell could stop Victoria marina on 'public interest' grounds
Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell has been quoted saying that if Victoria doesn't want a mega-yacht marina in its harbour it can rezone, a statement that ignores his own power to quash the project. Read more…
Marina developers wanted to tell Bell about 'politically sensitive' plans
Proponents of a mega-yacht marina for Victoria's inner harbour wanted to tell Forests Minister Pat Bell about their project before it went through a provincial approval process because they were worried it would be politically sensitive. Read more…
Proposed Victoria marina clears environmental assessment
A proposed mega-yacht marina for Victoria's inner harbour has cleared a federal environmental assessment but a proponent says it still needs several approvals to proceed. Read more…
Vancouver’s two main political parties plan the future
My assignment: Compare and contrast the annual general meetings of Vancouver’s two major political parties, the Non-Partisan Association, once all-powerful, now hunting for its way forward, and Vision Vancouver, the new ecocapitalist party, still riding high on its 2008 win. Read more…
Chilliwack farmland subdivisions broke provincial law: ALC report
The Agricultural Land Commission found the city of Chilliwack broke the rules for subdividing farm land 66 times between 1991 and 2009. Read more…
New West enacts Canada’s first living wage law
New Westminster has become the first city in Canada to pass a "living wage" bylaw, effectively raising the municipal minimum to $16.74 an hour. Read more…
'New' NPA to consider name change
Vancouver’s iconic political party -- which for 73 years has relished its "non-partisan" identity -- is considering changing its name.
"This is a real opportunity for the organization to present itself in a fresh way," NPA Coun. Suzanne Anton said. Read more…
Toxic air from cruise ships needs more study: BC environment minister
More air quality testing is needed near Victoria's cruise ship docks, British Columbia Environment Minister Barry Penner said today.
“If you don't measure, it's very hard to manage,” said Penner, who last week in the legislature introduced four visiting cruise ship industry representatives. Read more…
