Labour + Industry
Could Fort Mac become an eco-tourist hotspot?
By May 22, 2012 12:04 pm 3 commentsFort McMurray, the boomtown at the centre of Canada's oil sands, may not exactly be known for its pristine natural surroundings. But one Alberta research consultant thinks it could someday become a haven for environmentally conscious tourists. Read more…
Filed inHarper gov't funded study arguing Canada suffers from 'Dutch Disease'
By May 18, 2012 02:45 pm 43 commentsOTTAWA - The Harper government has funded research that argues Canada's economy suffers from so-called Dutch Disease, an economic theory the prime minister and other senior officials ridiculed when raised recently by NDP Leader Tom Mulcair. Read more…
Union cites safety risk as marine centres slated for closure, including BC
By May 18, 2012 10:30 am 5 commentsVANCOUVER - Several marine communication centres across Canada, including three in British Columbia and two in Quebec, are being closed by the federal government. Read more…
Filed inCoroners' jury calls for mandatory safety training at mushroom farm inquest
By May 17, 2012 10:00 amBURNABY, B.C. - All British Columbia agricultural workers and their employers should undergo mandatory two-day training sessions on occupational health and safety, a coroner's jury has recommended at the inquest into the accidental deaths of three men at a Langley, B.C. mushroom farm. Read more…
Filed inEI reform will drive down wages for everyone: CLC chief Georgetti
By May 16, 2012 08:30 am 5 commentsThe president of the Canadian Labour Congress says Canada's job market remains fragile and this is no time for the federal government to make it more difficult for unemployed Canadians to receive Employment Insurance benefits. Read more…
Filed inReporters will remain free to report on animal disease outbreaks: minister
By May 15, 2012 03:45 pm 1 commentsThe British Columbia government has no intention of restricting journalists from reporting on disease outbreaks on farms, said Agriculture Minister Don McRae. Read more…
BC Supreme Court upholds BC Ferries union exclusions
By May 11, 2012 11:18 am 11 commentsA British Columbia Supreme Court judge this week dismissed a B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers' Union application for a judicial review of a Labour Relations Board decision. Read more…
Vancouver Public Library says City will foot bill for labour lawyer
By May 9, 2012 05:35 pm 3 commentsThe statement comes as part of an ongoing dispute between VPL management and unionized library workers, who were upset by hour reductions for 19 part-time workers and the library's decision to contract prominent lawyer Kim Thorne of Roper Greyell to handle collective agreement negotiations on management's behalf. Read more…
Filed inBC aims to slow skyrocketing ferry fares
By May 9, 2012 04:09 pm 10 commentsThe British Columbia government today introduced changes and provided money aimed at slowing the increase in fares on BC Ferries. Read more…
Globe to Harper govt: Stop 'smearing' green critics
By May 7, 2012 09:57 am 10 commentsThe federal government's claim that Canada's environmental movement is "laundering" money for foreign charities is apparently part of a deliberate campaign to "smear and intimidate" its critics, reads a Globe and Mail editorial. Read more…
In protest of library staff cuts, VPL workers will leaflet writers fest
By May 4, 2012 10:39 amUnionized workers at the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) are feeling the bite of $500,000 worth of planned staff hour cuts, which union members plan to protest by leafleting the May 9 Vancouver International Writers Festival at the VPL, said Alexandra Youngberg, president of CUPE Local 391. Read more…
TransCanada files new application to build controversial Keystone XL
By May 4, 2012 10:19 am 2 commentsTransCanada is taking another crack at winning a permit to build its Keystone XL oil pipeline after the Obama administration nixed an earlier iteration of it. Read more…
Filed inForcing bodily fluid samples is an unnecessary intrusion: commissioner
By May 3, 2012 06:08 pm 4 commentsBritish Columbia's information and privacy commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, has panned a third piece of government legislation this week. Read more…
BC commissioner critical of animal health secrecy measures
By May 3, 2012 04:28 pmInformation and privacy commissioner Elizabeth Denham has sent her second letter this week criticizing a British Columbia government bill. Read more…
Pro-asbestos group closure hailed by labour advocate, NDP
By May 3, 2012 01:55 pm 7 commentsAn asbestos industry lobby group partially funded in the past by the Quebec and federal governments has indicated it will cease its operations. Read more…
Filed inHundreds of public sector workers march on Harper's office
By May 1, 2012 03:28 pmOTTAWA - Public-sector workers sang their souls out for a little respect Tuesday as hundreds marched on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office in downtown Ottawa in protest of budget cuts. Read more…
Enbridge risks squandering reputation on Gateway: mutual fund company
By May 1, 2012 12:24 pm 13 commentsFirst Nations opposition to Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline has become so entrenched that the firm's entire corporate reputation could be at risk, says a Toronto-based mutual fund company. Read more…
Taseko asked Minister Kent to restrict First Nations' role in mine review
By May 1, 2012 10:51 am 5 commentsThe president and CEO of Taseko Mines Ltd. wrote to Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent asking the federal government to limit First Nations participation in the review of Prosperity Mine, a project opposed by the Tsilhqot'in National Government. Read more…
National forestry organization urges caution on BC land use changes
By April 30, 2012 10:07 am 3 commentsThe national organization representing foresters and other professionals is urging the British Columbia government to be cautious about making any changes to how public forests are managed. Read more…
Northern mayors warn Burns Lake timber solution may harm their communities
By April 27, 2012 05:38 pm 5 commentsMayors of five northern communities have written to Premier Christy Clark expressing concern that finding enough timber for a new mill in Burns Lake may harm the long term sustainability of the places they represent. Read more…
The next page contains:
As feds 'sell' CETA, BC's Bell says he can't talk about trade agreement
Landmark fracking lawsuit starts with twist in Alberta
'Comprehensive risk assessment' of sawmill dust ordered by WorkSafeBC
Teachers who volunteer will be protected from union says minister
Metro Vancouver living wage rises due to soaring housing and child care costs
Despite safety concerns, BC Ferries paying bonuses for keeping schedule
It will take a year to lower generic drug prices, says BC health minister
ICBC union members vent frustration in strike vote
New law will save government money on drugs, says minister
Wildrose may revisit climate policy after stunning election defeat
Sawdust may be factor in two mill explosions, says minister
Milling mountain pine beetle wood may pose fire risk
University of New Brunswick researchers raise concerns over shale gas fracking
Oil industry workers oppose drilling near their Calgary suburb
Minister for BC Ferries 'unaware' of severe staffing challenge
Protest to save Katimavik program planned for Heritage Minister's BC office
Report warns of economic, social impact from B.C. pine beetle epidemic
Federal agriculture budget cuts worrisome, but BC lab move welcomed
Hotel picket against Rocky Mountaineer replacement workers continues today, says picketer
Hotel ousts Rocky Mountaineer replacement workers
The page after that contains:
Exclusion of engineers from BC Ferries union creating 'severe challenge'
Border cuts at odds with tough-on-crime agenda, union says
Survey says...fracking is causing earthquakes
Local Subway franchise gets 'Bad Boss' award
BCTF asks LRB to cancel mediator's appointment
Company amassing options on protected Delta farmland
Northern Gateway pipeline hearings begin in Bella Bella, 1.5-days late
Heiltsuk statement: Protest in Bella Bella was 'very respectful'
BCGEU members to take strike vote as negotiations stall
All but unscathed by federal cuts: MPs and their pensions
Harper budget has $8M to restrict 'political activities' of charities
Speculation about PetroChina 'premature in the extreme': Enbridge
PetroChina to build Northern Gateway pipeline?
Forum aims to help local politicians make 'progressive' change
Education mediator's 2006 report saw labour agreements as 'constraint'
Ditching fossil fuels could be 'the hardest thing humans have ever done': McKibben
Congo massacre survivors seek leave to appeal case at Supreme Court
Consistent funding necessary for health research body, says NDP's Dix
Denny's foreign workers win class action certification
Jumbo Glacier ski resort likely to fail, says NDP's MacDonald
On The Hook
I will be your Hook editor for this week. But although my particular focus at The Tyee is education, youth issues, and a little bit of poverty and homelessness, we will still be bringing you the latest news from across British Columbia and the country. Count on updates about the student strikes in Quebec, the latest news about oil and gas developments that directly affect this province, local, provincial, and national politics, and more. Stay tuned.
-- Katie Hyslop
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