OP/ED: Spending is to blame for Alberta's $10.8 billion deficit
The Alberta government could have posted a small budget surplus this year if successive governments had kept program spending increases in line with population growth and inflation, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. But Alberta’s new...
B.C.’s tourism sector sees spike in visitors
In the first 11 months of 2016, more than 5.1 million international visitors arrived in British Columbia, a 12.2% increase over the same time frame in 2015. The latest numbers from Statistics Canada show that from January to November 2016, a total of 5,143,414 international visitors arrived in B.C. to date last year, for an...
Canada’s inadequate patent protections for pharmaceuticals hampering innovation and economic growth
Strengthening protections of intellectual property rights for pharmaceutical drugs would encourage innovation of new medicines, create high-skilled jobs and grow the economy, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank....
Credit unions to keep special tax status one more year
B.C. credit unions will keep their preferential tax advantage a little longer as the provincial government intends to pause for one year the phase-out of the tax advantage credit unions have enjoyed. The change will be introduced Feb. 21 as part of Balanced Budget 2017, Finance Minister Michael de Jong announced Tuesday....
Tim Jones Peak commemorates search and rescue leader
A peak in the North Shore Mountains is being named in honour of a long-time leader of British Columbia’s search and rescue community and commemorates his work as an advocate for backcountry safety. Tim Jones Peak is located on Mount Seymour in the North Shore Mountains and previously was known locally as Second Pump Peak,...
New modern liquor laws create new opportunities
An updated Liquor Control and Licencing Act and regulation come into force Monday, January 23, that will create new opportunities for businesses, increase convenience for consumers and enhance the Province’s commitment to social responsibility. “We’ve come a long way since we first began the process of updating B.C.’s antiquated...
Bernie Sanders' style grassroots fundraising it's not
Mere hours before the New York Times went to press with its look at the B.C. Liberal party's ethical scorecard, the party chose to get its 2016 fundraising results out ahead of the storm. One last chance at political counter-spin and what a marvel of spin it was. U.S. Republican party strategist Karl Rove would have been...
BC Coroners Service Releases 2017 Illicit Drug Death Numbers
The number of illicit drug deaths in B.C. continues to increase each month with December numbers the highest ever recorded in a single month in the province, according to the latest statistics from the BC Coroners Service. Provisional data show that a total of 142 persons died as a result of illicit drug use during the month...
Money makes the world go around
After 15 months on the job, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is embarking on a cross-Canada tour, ostensibly to reconnect with Canadians or at least those that can't afford $1,525 to bend his ear in private. It seems Trudeau – and other federal cabinet ministers – have a fondness for political fundraising events held behind...
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....
