A majority of British Columbians support a ban on corporate and union donations to B.C. provincial political parties, according to a public opinion survey commissioned by IntegrityBC and conducted by the Mustel Group on their BC Omnibus. When asked: “Do you believe that corporations and unions should be prohibited from donating...

In my last column we examined the referendum and its role in a democratic local government. When talking about referendum we cannot afford to ignore the importance of the rules that govern the referendum’s application. As with elections, the rules determine the efficacy of the referendum. Efficacy for the purpose of this...

By Mark Milke, The Fraser Institute If there was a theme in the recent federal budget, it was how chock full it was with new corporate welfare. The underlying refrain was how big government will help big business with your tax dollars. For example, early on in Budget 2013, it is clear that crony capitalism is scattered...

March 22nd is World Water Day – established by the UN as a day to contemplate the importance of access to water for life on earth. On World Water Day nearly 2000 children around the world will die from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation – just like every other day of the year. It is almost impossible to...

The growers of two varieties of apples that were first known as SPA493 and 8S6923 and then introduced to consumers as Salish and Aurora Golden Gala are now receiving Buy Local program funds to help promote these tasty new B.C. products. The Okanagan Plant Improvement Corporation (PICO) is receiving $25,000 to assist in building...

The RCMP has listed March as Fraud Prevention month, which is also an excellent timing for a reminder about counterfeit bills. Although counterfeit levels have dropped dramatically in recent years, the routine checking of security features on bank notes is your first line of defence. While bank notes have many security features...

Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson issued the following statement today with regard to proposed amendments to the Forest Act that would enable the conversion of volume-based forest licences to area-based forest licences: "The mountain pine beetle infestation has had a devastating environmental...

At a time when public confidence in government is at historical lows, the B.C. government should follow Ontario's lead and have the expense claims of senior government employees reviewed by an independent office to ensure they meet both the government's guidelines and the public's smell test, according to IntegrityBC. IntegrityBC...

B.C. media mogul David Black says he is very close to inking a deal to build a massive new crude oil refinery in Kitimat. Black made the announcement during a speaking engagement to business leaders at the B.C. Chamber of Commerce in Vancouver. The newspaper publisher said he plans to sign a memorandum of understanding within...

Reports about the behaviour of some Senators have once again unleashed a flurry of demands to either abandon or at least reform that venerable institution. Defenders refer to the Senate as the “Chamber of Sober Second Thought.” It is not how the Constitution defines it, although sobriety may have been a consideration in the...