Provincial Government

Child and Family Development Minister Mitzi Dean during an announcement on Feb. 2, 2023. Dean was part of an announcement Tuesday (May 30) for the newly named Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment program that was first announced in the 2022 budget (Dillon White file photo)

B.C. to waive education tuition for former youth in care

First announced in 2022 budget, program gets updated name for 2023 youth in care week

 

Abbotsford Police Const. Zach Parker (left) and Const. Russell Alleman check on an occupant of the Lonzo Road encampment on Thursday, May 4. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)

Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman urges action to address Lonzo Road encampment

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says announcement coming ‘within two weeks’

 

Plans are in the works near Cultus Lake to deal with the summer traffic and vehicles parking in no-parking zones along Columbia Valley Road. (MOTI)

Summer parking problem around Cultus Lake requires stakeholder solution, says FVRD rep

‘Please call in complaints to RCMP non-emergency line rather than posting on Facebook,’ reps asks

 

E-bikes, here seen at Vernon’s Sun Country Cycle, will be subject to a new provincial rebate program June 1. Some eligible British Columbians could get up to $1,400 off their next e-bike purchase. (Contributed)

New provincial program rings up to $1,400 in rebates for e-bikes

Most British Columbians, however, will only be eligible for $350 rebate

E-bikes, here seen at Vernon’s Sun Country Cycle, will be subject to a new provincial rebate program June 1. Some eligible British Columbians could get up to $1,400 off their next e-bike purchase. (Contributed)
British Columbia Premier David Eby stands behind a height-adjustable podium during an announcement at the Seaspan Ferries Tilbury Terminal in Delta, B.C., on Thursday, April 27, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘Explodium’: Mechanical podium aims to even B.C.’s political field no matter height

Podium that can change heights perhaps a more practical option for politicians of all heights

British Columbia Premier David Eby stands behind a height-adjustable podium during an announcement at the Seaspan Ferries Tilbury Terminal in Delta, B.C., on Thursday, April 27, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Premier David Eby called two byelections, one for Vancouver-Mount Pleasand and one for Langford-Juan de Fuca, on Saturday, May 27. 2023. Voters go to the polls June 24. (File Photo)

Byelections called for 2 B.C. ridings

Eby sets date for the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant and Langford-Juan de Fuca byelections

Premier David Eby called two byelections, one for Vancouver-Mount Pleasand and one for Langford-Juan de Fuca, on Saturday, May 27. 2023. Voters go to the polls June 24. (File Photo)
Office towers, condos and apartment buildings are seen in downtown and the west end of Vancouver, on Thursday, January 19, 2023. British Columbia is expanding the tax it created to clamp down on real estate speculation and ensure homes in rental-strapped communities don’t sit empty. A statement from the Ministry of Finance says the Speculation and Vacancy Tax now includes the municipalities of North Cowichan, Duncan, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Lions Bay and Squamish. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. extends reach of property tax aimed at turning empty houses into rental homes

Finance Ministry says speculation tax now includes the North Cowichan, Duncan, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Lions Bay and Squamish

Office towers, condos and apartment buildings are seen in downtown and the west end of Vancouver, on Thursday, January 19, 2023. British Columbia is expanding the tax it created to clamp down on real estate speculation and ensure homes in rental-strapped communities don’t sit empty. A statement from the Ministry of Finance says the Speculation and Vacancy Tax now includes the municipalities of North Cowichan, Duncan, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Lions Bay and Squamish. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
BC Ferries is using the one-year anniversary of a strong atmospheric river storm which washed out highways connecting Greater Victoria with the rest of Vancouver Island to highlight the role the crew on board the Klitsa played in keeping the community connected on that fateful day. (Courtesy of BC Ferries)

President and CEO of BC Ferries says company ‘deeply sorry’ for Monday’s outage

Outage is ‘crushing’ for the 5,100 people who work at BC Ferries, says Nicolas Jimenez

BC Ferries is using the one-year anniversary of a strong atmospheric river storm which washed out highways connecting Greater Victoria with the rest of Vancouver Island to highlight the role the crew on board the Klitsa played in keeping the community connected on that fateful day. (Courtesy of BC Ferries)
Steve Roukema is the executive director with Chilliwack Restorative Justice, an organization that is receiving $40,000 from the provincial government’s Civil Forfeiture Grant Program. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Chilliwack groups get government funding for crime prevention projects

Proceeds of crime flowing back to Chilliwack through provincial Civil Forfeiture Grant Program

Steve Roukema is the executive director with Chilliwack Restorative Justice, an organization that is receiving $40,000 from the provincial government’s Civil Forfeiture Grant Program. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
A small airplane takes off from Chilliwack Airport on May 19, 2023, the day the provincial government announced $1.9 million in funding for a runway extension and new LED runway lighting. (Eric J. Welsh/ The Progress)

VIDEO: Provincial government funding $1.9 million upgrade for Chilliwack Airport

The airport will get a long overdue runway repaving and extension, and new LED lighting

A small airplane takes off from Chilliwack Airport on May 19, 2023, the day the provincial government announced $1.9 million in funding for a runway extension and new LED runway lighting. (Eric J. Welsh/ The Progress)
BC United leader Kevin Falcon spoke to the media in Abbotsford on May 17 on a range of topics, including decriminalization and the pressures it’s putting on individual municipalities. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

NDP needs to protect children’s public places from drug use, says Kevin Falcon

Opposition leader says decriminalization puts too much pressure on individual municipalities

BC United leader Kevin Falcon spoke to the media in Abbotsford on May 17 on a range of topics, including decriminalization and the pressures it’s putting on individual municipalities. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
From left, four-year-old Giuliano, six-year-old Jackson and six-year-old Luciano play on the new accessible playground at the Landing in Chilliwack on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. A new accessible playground is now coming to Bernard Elementary, funded by the provincial government. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Provincially funded playground coming to Chilliwack’s Bernard Elementary

The provincial government has spent millions on playgrounds to promote accessibility and activity

From left, four-year-old Giuliano, six-year-old Jackson and six-year-old Luciano play on the new accessible playground at the Landing in Chilliwack on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. A new accessible playground is now coming to Bernard Elementary, funded by the provincial government. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
FILE – BC Cancer Kelowna has technology that’s the first of its kind in Canada, an adaptive radiation machine that makes the planning process faster. (Jordy Cunningham/Capital News)

B.C. to send cancer patients to Bellingham for radiation treatment to curb wait times

Breast cancer and prostate cancer patients to be the first to be offered treatment across the border

FILE – BC Cancer Kelowna has technology that’s the first of its kind in Canada, an adaptive radiation machine that makes the planning process faster. (Jordy Cunningham/Capital News)
Stacks of air conditioners, fans and other cooling equipment line the entrance of McLendon Hardware in Renton, Wash., on Sunday, July 24, 2022. British Columbia is preparing for its first heat wave of the year starting Friday, May 12 to Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (Kori Suzuki/The Seattle Times via AP)

B.C. prepares for 1st heat wave of season; increase in wildfire, flood risks

Province says its in a ‘much better place’ to deal with extreme weather after 2021 heat dome

Stacks of air conditioners, fans and other cooling equipment line the entrance of McLendon Hardware in Renton, Wash., on Sunday, July 24, 2022. British Columbia is preparing for its first heat wave of the year starting Friday, May 12 to Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (Kori Suzuki/The Seattle Times via AP)
Jane Hawkins, with her father Allan Hawkins and husband John Bogar, at a South Surrey care facility. Finding wheelchair-accessible taxis for people with mobility issues is often problematic, not just in South Surrey and White Rock but also, across B.C. and the entire country. (Tricia Weel photo)

No-show wheelchair cabs ‘rob people of enjoying special moments’: B.C. couple

Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program aims to improve service through funding, training

Jane Hawkins, with her father Allan Hawkins and husband John Bogar, at a South Surrey care facility. Finding wheelchair-accessible taxis for people with mobility issues is often problematic, not just in South Surrey and White Rock but also, across B.C. and the entire country. (Tricia Weel photo)
Province sets new standards for gender and sex data, which is intended to clarify the difference between gender and sex by providing alternative definitions. (Pixabay photo)

British Columbians will soon be able to self-identify gender on government forms

Province’s Gender and Sex Data Standards updated to be more inclusive, accurate

Province sets new standards for gender and sex data, which is intended to clarify the difference between gender and sex by providing alternative definitions. (Pixabay photo)
Harry Lali, who served as transportation minister from 1998 to 2001 and represented two rural ridings in southwestern BC during two separate periods, said in a statement issued Thursday morning that his former party has become an urban-interest party. (Black Press Media file photo)

Former B.C. NDP minister Harry Lali endorses BC United

Lali says he joining BC United because the rural B.C. lacks ‘voice’ in NDP government

Harry Lali, who served as transportation minister from 1998 to 2001 and represented two rural ridings in southwestern BC during two separate periods, said in a statement issued Thursday morning that his former party has become an urban-interest party. (Black Press Media file photo)
Abbotsford Police Const. Zach Parker (left) and Const. Russell Alleman check on an occupant of the Lonzo Road encampment on Thursday, May 4. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)

‘It’s the Wild West in there’: Abbotsford homeless camp causes health and safety concerns

City bylaws don’t apply on ministry-owned Lonzo Road property

Abbotsford Police Const. Zach Parker (left) and Const. Russell Alleman check on an occupant of the Lonzo Road encampment on Thursday, May 4. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)
Ongoing repairs to the Sumas Dike are included among Abbotsford flood-recovery projects that are receiving $5.28 million in funding from the province. Meanwhile, the multi-government Sumas River Flood Mitigation Collaborative Framework was signed by the various partners on Friday (April 27). (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

Abbotsford, Chilliwack, First Nations and province sign flood-mitigation framework

More than $8.5M designated for pump-station upgrades and infrastructure repairs

Ongoing repairs to the Sumas Dike are included among Abbotsford flood-recovery projects that are receiving $5.28 million in funding from the province. Meanwhile, the multi-government Sumas River Flood Mitigation Collaborative Framework was signed by the various partners on Friday (April 27). (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)
The mirrored, geodesic dome of Science World at the end of False Creek in Vancouver makes is a perfect location for a last light photograph. (John Enman photo)

Science World to get $20M from B.C. for leaky dome repairs

Province also announcing additional $30M for tourism projects across B.C.

The mirrored, geodesic dome of Science World at the end of False Creek in Vancouver makes is a perfect location for a last light photograph. (John Enman photo)