BC to increase minimum wage June 1
On June 1, 2023, B.C.'s lowest-paid workers will get a pay raise with the general minimum wage increasing from $15.65 to $16.75 an hour. "Having a minimum wage that keeps up with inflation is a key step to prevent the lowest paid workers from falling behind," said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour. "These...
Supreme Court of Canada upholds BC Supreme Court's landmark decision protecting public health care
Today, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed Cambie Surgeries Corporation’s (CSC) attempt to overturn previous decisions made by BC’s courts that upheld the BC Medicare Protection Act. This decision marks the end of the corporation’s lengthy legal battle to overturn key provisions in the BC Medicare Protection Act that ensure...
BC Electoral Boundaries Commission recommends creation of six additional electoral districts
The BC Electoral Boundaries Commission has published its final report with recommendations to the Legislative Assembly for changing British Columbia’s provincial electoral districts. The Commission’s recommendations include a proposal to create six additional electoral districts in areas of rapid population growth, bringing...
Canada, U.S. negotiating teams meet for latest round of Columbia River Treaty talks
The 16th round of Canada-U.S. negotiations to modernize the Columbia River Treaty took place on March 22 and 23, in Washington, D.C. During this latest session, conversations between Canadian and American negotiators focused on strengthening co-operation to support aquatic life and biodiversity in the Columbia River Basin, ...
Safe money services protect people from money laundering
People in B.C. can be confident that money services businesses they use will have greater oversight by the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) as a new provincial regulator. Money services businesses that deal in foreign exchanges, wire transfers, money orders, traveller's cheques or similar services outside of traditional...
Don’t put those winter tires away just yet says Shift into Winter campaign
Don’t put away those winter tires just yet in the Kootenay/Boundary region of BC. Even though it’s officially spring, winter tires or chains are still required on designated highways through March 31. For highways located through mountain passes and/or high snowfall areas, the requirements extend until April 30. “As spring ...
Province improves inclusion, accessibility in B.C. parks
The Province is renewing and expanding its commitment to make B.C. parks more inclusive and accessible with the release of the BC Parks Commitment to Inclusion. The commitment comes with additional funding to upgrade park facilities to accessible standards, so that more people can experience the benefits of being in nature....
Bringing Canadian water priorities to the UN Water Conference
Living Lakes Canada, the award-winning water stewardship NGO based in the Canadian Columbia Basin, will be represented at the first United Nations conference on water in 45 years. The UN 2023 Water Conference is taking place in New York and kicks off on World Water Day on March 22. “It’s a significant opportunity to be granted...
Report: Daily routines and electricity use patterns changed by COVID-19
A new BC Hydro report finds a change in daily routines that started at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have permanently shifted how many British Columbians use electricity at home. The report titled “Powering the permanent new normal: How COVID-19 changed British Columbians’ daily habits and electricity use” finds...
Pacific Coastal Airlines suspends Vancouver – Cranbrook service
Pacific Coastal Airlines will end its regularly scheduled flight service between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) South Terminal and Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC). In a news release Thursday, Pacific Coastal Airlines said the last day of operations for flights between Vancouver and Cranbrook will be Friday,...
