Government workers in B.C. paid 7.4 per cent higher wages than comparable private-sector workers
Government workers in B.C. receive 7.4 per cent higher wages on average than comparable workers in the private sector, and enjoy much more generous non-wage benefits, too, finds a new study by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank....
Gitxsan chiefs add fourth lawsuit opposing Pacific Northwest LNG
Inland B.C. hereditary First Nations chiefs joined coastal ones in announcing a fourth federal lawsuit against Ottawa’s approval of the Pacific Northwest LNG project, at a press conference in Vancouver. They claim that the gas export terminal is an infringement of their Aboriginal fishing rights. Two Gitxsan Nation hereditary...
City plugs into rate increase for municipal electrical service for 2017
A three-pronged inflationary rate effect is powering a nearly five per cent increase in municipal electrical utility rates for the new year. The city announced Monday night it would be hiking the amount Nelson Hydro customers pay for power for all electrical rate classes by 4.28 per cent in April, with final adoption of the...
Government lends helping hand to families with property taxes by increasing home owner grant
The Province is increasing the home owner grant threshold to $1.6 million, helping keep property taxes affordable for families and ensuring most home owners will continue to receive the full grant this year, Finance Minister Michael de Jong announced Monday. “This is a 33% increase over last year,” said de Jong....
Restrictions and Delays at Northport Bridge
The 1500-foot-long bridge at Northport on State Route 25, five miles south of the US-Canada border, is open to single-lane, alternating traffic only, with no over-legal-weight or wide-load vehicles permitted; restrictions are in force 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are expected to remain in place for up to six...
No more Alberta advantage —corporate rates now lower in Ontario, Quebec, B.C.
Corporate and personal income tax hikes in Alberta last year have wiped away crucial tax advantages that helped fuel the province’s economic prosperity for years, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank....
Current job market sluggish but long-range forecast positive: province
The cold wind of winter might be blowing in snow to the West Kootenay-Boundary region, but it also may be bringing with it some good news on the labour front. According to recent statistics from the ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour, the West Kootenay-Boundary is expected to grow steadily...
Steady growth continues for B.C.’s tourism sector
In the first 10 months of 2016, nearly 4.9 million international visitors came to British Columbia. The latest international overnight visitor numbers from Statistics Canada from January to October 2016 indicate a 12.2% increase over the same 10-month period last year, which translates to 531,431 more visitors to the province....
Changes to camping reservation system take effect in January
With the 2017 camping season just around the corner, those looking to experience BC Parks are reminded to become familiar with new changes to the Discover Camping Reservation Service. The Province announced significant changes to the Discover Camping Reservation Service in November 2016, to enhance fair access for everyone ...
Not everyone jumping on first-time homebuyers program
Not everyone is jumping on the Christy Clark Liberal government B.C. Home Owner Mortgage and Equity Partnership rolled out Friday the the sitting BC government. NDP housing spokesperson David Eby said instead of taking real action to bring down the cost of homes for young families struggling with record debt levels, the Christy...
