The Hook: Political news, freshly caught
BC government needs to clarify ferry goals: committee chairs
The Ferry Advisory Committee Chairs are criticizing the provincial government for not going further to fix governance of the provincial ferry system. Read more…
Should There Be More Regulations on Big Tech?
- Yes.
- No.
- I don’t know.
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Are you watching the winter Olympics this year? Read the results of that poll here.
Taxpayers Federation claims credit for BC Ferries FOI move
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is claiming credit for the British Columbia government bringing B.C. Ferry Services Inc. back under freedom of information legislation, even though it's something many groups have called for since 2003. 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…
Olympic bus driver widow says husband worked 12-hour days
The Olympic Bus Network driver who suffered a fatal heart attack at the wheel on Feb. 22 had been working 12-hours days to "pick up the slack" when other drivers missed shifts, according to his widow.
Jeanette Roberge also told Vancouver's 24 hours that while she was treated well by the bus company, no one from VANOC called to offer condolences. 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…
BC Ferries brought under FOI law, executive salaries capped
Salaries for future B.C. Ferries executives and directors will be capped and the publicly-owned company will be subject to provincial freedom of information laws under legislation introduced today. 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…
Publication ban on reason for new delay of Basi-Virk trial
The start of the B.C. Legislature Raid trial for three former B.C. government staffers facing corruption charges has been delayed to May 17 from its scheduled start of May 3.
But because of a publication ban imposed by presiding B.C. Supreme Court Justice Anne MacKenzie in March on all matters connected to pre-trial hearing and other evidence previously discussed in court, reasons for the delay cannot be reported. Read more…
Ottawa and BC sign climate change agreement
VANCOUVER, B.C. - The federal government and province of British Columbia have signed an agreement to tackle climate change. Read more…
Timing right for BC Rail execs to go: minister Bond
Three of the four British Columbia Railway Company executives are losing their jobs now because the company's business has become small enough that the government can do it, said transportation and infrastructure minister Shirley Bond.
“Obviously as we move that organization back into government we have no longer a need for that executive group,” said Bond. Read more…
Province terminating three BC Rail executive contracts, paying severance
Two B.C. Railway Company executives will collect a total of almost $600,000 in severance payments when they lose their jobs by the end of March.
President and CEO Kevin Mahoney and executive vice-president real estate John Lusney have been given their notice and will go by March 31, transportation and infrastructure minister Shirley Bond said yesterday responding to NDP questions in the legislature. They'll receive severance payments of $392,000 and $203,000, though Bond did not say who will receive which amount. Read more…
Officer charged in BC Ferries sinking
Navigating officer Karl Lilgert has been charged with criminal negligence causing death in connection with the sinking of the B.C. Ferries vessel Queen of the North. Read more…
Cruise ship emissions may be Victoria health concern: report
Emissions from cruise ships may be harming the health of some Victoria residents, according to a newly released air quality report. Read more…
Libs selective with photo radar stats, ignore lives saved
A British Columbia Liberal caucus press release on photo radar yesterday quoted figures on traffic deaths from 2007 and 2008, but ignored a wealth of more relevant statistics. Read more…
Judge sets wide publication ban on BC Rail corruption case
Justice Anne MacKenzie has imposed a publication ban severely limiting what media may legally report from the British Columbia Legislature raid case. Read more…
BC Ferries reports larger third quarter loss
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. today released financial statements showing a net loss in the quarter that ended Dec. 31, 2009. Read more…
What unites Critical Mass and the Olympics?
One event has a pedal-powered mandate and zero budget. The other is a $6 billion winter sports spectacle. Yet Friday’s Critical Mass ride and the 2010 Olympics may share some things in common. Read more…
'It's been horrible. I made a mistake': MLA facing drunk driving charges
The Liberal MLA facing drunk driving charges apologized again today for her behaviour, but said transit could be improved in North Vancouver. Read more…
Will the 2010 Games make commuting more sustainable?
Olympics transportation patterns could be the blueprint for long-term green legacies, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson declared today.
Of course, there’s a big difference between an Olympics period and normal routine. Vancouver citizens were told for months to leave their cars behind. Read more…
Liberal MLA faces drunk driving charges
Liberal MLA Jane Thornthwaite is facing drunk driving charges after being stopped at a road check last night, she said in a statement.
“Returning from a series of events, I was stopped at a roadcheck by RCMP in North Vancouver and am now facing impaired driving charges,” said Thornthwaite, the MLA for North Vancouver-Seymour, in the statement the Liberal caucus released at 4 p.m. this afternoon. Read more…
