Provincial Government

People can expect to see their family benefit and the bonus cost-of-living payment as a deposit or cheque through the Canada Revenue Agency alongside the federal Canada Child Benefit program. (Black Press file photo)

Low and moderate-income B.C. families to get second family benefit boost

A family with two children can receive up to $350 more than usual from Jan. to Mar.

People can expect to see their family benefit and the bonus cost-of-living payment as a deposit or cheque through the Canada Revenue Agency alongside the federal Canada Child Benefit program. (Black Press file photo)
A cat at Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven. (Sarah Sovereign Photography)

Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven gets provincial government grant

Money from the Community Gaming Fund is earmarked to pay for heat pumps and solar panels

A cat at Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven. (Sarah Sovereign Photography)
Bailey Road from Chilliwack River Road to Matheson Road will see a new sidewalk and bike lane installed, thanks to $500,000 in ‘active transportation’ funding from the province. (City of Chilliwack webmap)

More than $1M for active transportation around Chilliwack will bring bike lanes, sidewalks

Tzeachten First Nation, City of Chilliwack, and FVRD projects in latest round of provincial funding

Bailey Road from Chilliwack River Road to Matheson Road will see a new sidewalk and bike lane installed, thanks to $500,000 in ‘active transportation’ funding from the province. (City of Chilliwack webmap)
MLA John Rustad in Victoria May 17, 2018. Photography by John Lehmann

Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad crosses the floor to B.C. Conservatives

Rustad was kicked out of BC Liberal caucus for views questioning climate change

MLA John Rustad in Victoria May 17, 2018. Photography by John Lehmann
Ross Aikenhead is putting the provincial goverment on notice he can no longer make himself available to undertake cleanups in the Chilliwack River Valley. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress screenshot)

Chilliwack volunteer puts B.C. minister on notice he’s no longer available for garbage cleanups

Why are volunteers left to clean messes that trained professionals should be dealing with?

Ross Aikenhead is putting the provincial goverment on notice he can no longer make himself available to undertake cleanups in the Chilliwack River Valley. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress screenshot)
Environmentalists praise the creation of a new conservancy area in the Incomappleux Valley near Revelstoke. (Photo courtesy of Paul Zizka)

1 down, 168 to go: Environmentalists call for province to protect 30% of land by 2030

Wilderness Committee calls for additional steps for province to protect 30% of land base by 2030

Environmentalists praise the creation of a new conservancy area in the Incomappleux Valley near Revelstoke. (Photo courtesy of Paul Zizka)
Premier David Eby at Shxwhá:y Village in Chilliwack on Feb. 10, 2023 speaking about $5 million in provincial money for flood protection. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. Premier David Eby in Chilliwack to announce $5 million in flood protection funding

At-risk communities of Sqwá, Shxwhá:y, and Chilliwack to see immediate action on erosion with riprap

Premier David Eby at Shxwhá:y Village in Chilliwack on Feb. 10, 2023 speaking about $5 million in provincial money for flood protection. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
Premier David Eby, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Anne Kang, and mayor Brenda Locke at an announcement for local government infrastructure in Surrey on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (Photo: Anna Burns)

Province pledges one-time grants totalling $1B for B.C. cities, regional districts

Premier David Eby announced the funding Friday morning in Surrey

Premier David Eby, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Anne Kang, and mayor Brenda Locke at an announcement for local government infrastructure in Surrey on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (Photo: Anna Burns)
New funding will help almost 50 communities across prepare for climate-change related effects like increased flooding. (File photo by Don Bodger)

49 B.C. communities receive funds for projects to curb climate-change disasters

Almost $24 million comes from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund

New funding will help almost 50 communities across prepare for climate-change related effects like increased flooding. (File photo by Don Bodger)
Official Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon of the B.C. Liberals said B.C. health care system is getting worse after the release of a study that shows British Columbians waited 79 minutes to a see walk-in-clinic doctor. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

B.C. has the 2nd worst wait times for walk-in clinics across Canada: Survey

B.C. residents waited 79 minutes to see a walk-in physician in 2022

Official Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon of the B.C. Liberals said B.C. health care system is getting worse after the release of a study that shows British Columbians waited 79 minutes to a see walk-in-clinic doctor. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon said the province will take its time to develop new legislation around housing to ensure clarity. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

B.C.’s Liberals, Greens take aim at alluded spending by Eby government

Opposition critical of Throne Speech even before having read it

Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon said the province will take its time to develop new legislation around housing to ensure clarity. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
B.C.’s Lt. Governor Janet Austin at the B.C. Legislature ahead of the annual Throne Speech on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. (Wolfgang Depner/Black Press Media)

B.C. government to make heavy use of spending surplus: Throne Speech

B.C. has a budget surplus of $5.7 billion

B.C.’s Lt. Governor Janet Austin at the B.C. Legislature ahead of the annual Throne Speech on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. (Wolfgang Depner/Black Press Media)
June 21, 2021 - The front of the BC Legislature’s Parliament building designed by architect Frances Rattenbury. Don Denton photograph

B.C. NDP expects to table more than 2 dozen new bills in spring legislature sitting

B.C. politicians return to the legislature Monday for the spring sitting

June 21, 2021 - The front of the BC Legislature’s Parliament building designed by architect Frances Rattenbury. Don Denton photograph
Canadian premiers listen to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the closing news conference at the First Ministers Meeting in Ottawa, Tuesday October 3, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

5 things to know about health-care talks Tuesday between Trudeau, premiers

The premiers have been asking for a new deal for more than two years

Canadian premiers listen to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the closing news conference at the First Ministers Meeting in Ottawa, Tuesday October 3, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Minister of Health Adrian Dix said 1,043 physicians have so far signed up for the new family physician pay model effective since Feb. 1
Minister of Health Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Joshua Greggain, president, Doctors of BC,

1,000 eligible doctors have signed up for B.C.’s new payment model, which starts today: Dix

1,043 physicians had signed up for the new model as of midnight before Feb. 1 rollout

Minister of Health Adrian Dix said 1,043 physicians have so far signed up for the new family physician pay model effective since Feb. 1
Minister of Health Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Joshua Greggain, president, Doctors of BC,
Cascade Skyline Gondola Project reps hope to have tenure approval in the first half of 2023. (Cascade Skyline Gondola Project)

B.C.’s motorized off-road groups pledge to resolve concerns, misconceptions about gondola proposal

‘An equitable solution can be found for us to support this project application,’ groups say

Cascade Skyline Gondola Project reps hope to have tenure approval in the first half of 2023. (Cascade Skyline Gondola Project)
The province and four First Nations located in the area subject to Treaty 8 announced Friday a consensus document spelling out various initiatives to address the effects of industrial development stemming from oil and gas exploration. The orange-bounded area show the area deemed important by Blueberry River First Nation. It and the provincial government Wednesday announced a historic agreement for a land-management approach. (Screencap)

4 B.C. First Nations reach land-management consensus with province

But final agreements could take years to negotiate and three Treaty 8 nations remain on the outside

The province and four First Nations located in the area subject to Treaty 8 announced Friday a consensus document spelling out various initiatives to address the effects of industrial development stemming from oil and gas exploration. The orange-bounded area show the area deemed important by Blueberry River First Nation. It and the provincial government Wednesday announced a historic agreement for a land-management approach. (Screencap)
Laura Shaver, back left, speaks at a gathering to remember those who died from a suspected illicit drug overdose, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. British Columbia is introducing a policy of decriminalization on Tuesday as part of what it says is an overall plan in its fight against overdose deaths from illicit drugs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Laura Shaver, back left, speaks at a gathering to remember those who died from a suspected illicit drug overdose, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. British Columbia is introducing a policy of decriminalization on Tuesday as part of what it says is an overall plan in its fight against overdose deaths from illicit drugs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

What to know about B.C. decriminalizing possession of drugs for personal use – starting today

Federal exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act will continue until Jan. 31, 2026

Laura Shaver, back left, speaks at a gathering to remember those who died from a suspected illicit drug overdose, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. British Columbia is introducing a policy of decriminalization on Tuesday as part of what it says is an overall plan in its fight against overdose deaths from illicit drugs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Laura Shaver, back left, speaks at a gathering to remember those who died from a suspected illicit drug overdose, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. British Columbia is introducing a policy of decriminalization on Tuesday as part of what it says is an overall plan in its fight against overdose deaths from illicit drugs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Volunteers haul trash up a steep incline from a Sweltzer Creek homeless camp under the Vedder River bridge on Jan. 29, 2023. (Streams Foundations Canada)

Volunteers hauled thousands of kilograms of garbage up steep incline from squatter camp

Second cleanup under Vedder Bridge conducted by Chilliwack river stewards after fire last weekend

Volunteers haul trash up a steep incline from a Sweltzer Creek homeless camp under the Vedder River bridge on Jan. 29, 2023. (Streams Foundations Canada)
A provincial government report finds different levels of internet cell service for urban and rural regions of BC with rural residents paying more for worse services. (Black Press Media file photo)

Rural British Columbians pay more for worse internet, cell phone service: report

Nearly 30 per cent of provincial highways also lack cell coverage

A provincial government report finds different levels of internet cell service for urban and rural regions of BC with rural residents paying more for worse services. (Black Press Media file photo)
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