NDP slams Liberal policy of closing group homes
The Liberal government must act now to address the growing crisis for developmentally disabled British Columbians by putting an immediate stop to further group home closures and beginning a review of how Community Living B.C. is being run, say the New Democrats. “The Liberals’ chronic failure to effectively manage CLBC has come at the expense […]
B.C. First Nations group's case goes to rights hearing in U.S.
The nation’s rules for making treaties is expected to be scrutinized by a foreign government this month, the Victoria Times-Colonist is reporting. The Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, made up of six Vancouver Island First Nations, will have a human rights complaint heard Oct. 28 by the Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. At […]
Amendments introduced to strengthen privacy act
Amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act were introduced in the legislature this week. The amendments to the act are the result of recommendations by the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, and from 118 submissions […]
Vancouver house price increases outpace national average
The average price for a standard detached home in Vancouver is approximately triple the national average, according to the Royal LePage House Price Survey released this week. The average third quarter price for a detached bungalow increased 17 per cent year-over-year, selling for $1,022,375 – nearly three times the national average bungalow price of $349,974. […]
The 'Ethical Oil' bait-and-switch
In the ongoing campaign to put a positive spin on Alberta’s Tar Sands, proponents have deployed a new rhetorical attack: women’s rights. If you support women’s rights, say conservative pundits Ezra Levant and Alykhan Velshi, choose “ethical oil” over “conflict oil”. The phrase is now standard prose for the Harper government,...
Climate change threatens Canada's water: Report
Federal, provincial and municipal governments should implement coordinated national and regional water conservation guidelines to address the detrimental impact climate change is having on Canada’s water system, according to a new report from ACT, Simon Fraser University’s Adaptation to Climate Change Team. “The days when Canadians take an endless abundance of fresh water for granted […]
B.C. no longer the Best Place on Earth: The Tyee
The province is no longer the best place on Earth, as the Christy Clark era has seen the slow disintegration of the provincial slogan, The Tyee’s Bob Mackin writes. Once the advertising line from the Gordon Campbell-led government’s websites, “The Best Place on Earth” slogan is becoming a thing of history as the province distances […]
Throne speech focuses on creating jobs, safer communities
Monday’s throne speech opening the fourth session of the 39th Parliament in B.C. focused on job creation, building stronger, safer communities and continuing to open up government for British Columbia families. The Province could be introducing changes to benefit families: The introduction of a new provincial statutory holiday Family Day, on the third Monday of […]
COMMENT: Canada’s disappeared women
This fall British Columbia’s Missing Women Commission will finally begin its work. It does so in under a cloud of suspicion: an inadequate mandate, a potentially compromised commissioner, and a refusal to financially support affected native communities, families, and Vancouver Downtown Eastside community groups to participate...
Aboriginal groups slam police and justice system
The First Nations Summit (FNS), the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), the BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) and the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of BC (NCCABC) today expressed shock and outrage at the RCMP beating of a 17 year old handcuffed aboriginal girl in Williams Lake and an aboriginal death in...
