Labour + Industry
Abbott blames teachers' union, hints at legislation
By February 10, 2012 12:53 pm 7 commentsEducation Minister George Abbott stated the government's case against the teacher's union in an editorial today, pouring scorn on the union for "steadfastly (refusing) to accept British Columbia's economic and financial reality," and hinting at legislation if a fact-finding mission rules bargaining is at an impasse. Read more…
Greens exaggerating fracking fears 'to control you': Santorum
By February 10, 2012 12:15 pm 2 commentsGreen groups opposed to hydraulic fracturing are merely trying to raise money for "their reign of environmental terror" says Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. Read more…
Filed inPrime Minister Harper mixes oil with human rights on visit to China
By February 10, 2012 09:46 am 8 commentsGUANGZHOU, China - Stephen Harper left the old political world of Beijing for a new industrial capital of China to deliver his strongest words yet on human rights and oil. Read more…
Vancouver theatre runs down curtain on section of BC's outdated liquor laws
By February 9, 2012 01:07 pm 3 commentsVANCOUVER - An East Vancouver movie theatre has landed the winning punch in a David and Goliath battle that pitted the theatre's future against B.C.'s antiquated liquor licensing laws. Read more…
Filed inBail out of F-35s while we can, argues UBC prof in Canadian Foreign Policy Journal
By February 8, 2012 02:30 pm 9 commentsWhile contracts to procure 65 F-35 fighter jets have yet to be signed, Canada has more reason that ever to back out, argue Michael Byers and Stewart Webb in the peer-reviewed Canadian Foreign Policy Journal, and in a related article published on iPolitics today. Read more…
Filed inEnviros want BC premier to protect more of Great Bear sooner
By February 7, 2012 03:36 pm 3 commentsThree environmental groups are calling on British Columbia Premier Christy Clark to accelerate protection of the Great Bear Rainforest on the province's northwest coast. Read more…
Investment Canada Act update delay makes country a difficult investment: NDP
By February 7, 2012 01:35 pm 3 commentsA much delayed update of the Investment Canada Act promised by the federal government remains undelivered and makes the country a more difficult place to invest for a foreign company, the NDP says. Read more…
Filed inBC Hydro urges Clark to follow 'self-sufficiency' shift by halting private river projects
By February 7, 2012 10:30 am 2 commentsThe union representing workers at BC Hydro today publicly approved of Premier Christy Clark's downgrading of how much power generation capacity is needed to meet "self-sufficiency" for B.C., saying the old framework was "a significant factor in Hydro's current financial problems." But COPE Local 378 wants the B.C. government to go further by cancelling a number of proposed private run-of-river power generation projects. Read more…
MLA vows to fight BC plan to use farm land for foreign trade zone
By February 6, 2012 05:00 pm 3 commentsThe British Columbia government is likely eyeing precious agricultural land in the Lower Mainland for one of two proposed foreign trade zones, said independent Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington. Read more…
Caterpillar shuts Electro-Motive plant in London, Ont., where workers locked out
By February 3, 2012 12:09 pm 6 commentsAmerican-based heavy equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. announced Friday it would close its Electro-Motive plant in London, Ont., a month after it locked out 450 workers. Caterpillar subsidiary Progress Rail Services says the cost structure at the plant was unsustainable. Caterpillar last week reported a 58 per cent increase in its quarterly earnings with a record profit of nearly $5 billion. Read more…
Filed inYouth advocates launch BC child labour study
By February 1, 2012 03:41 pm 2 commentsNine years since the Liberal government changed labour regulations to allow children as young as 12 to find employment, a lack of government oversight has prompted First Call BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition to launch their own study of youth labour. Read more…
Filed inBC Hydro being run like a 'Ponzi scheme,' says union
By February 1, 2012 03:03 pm 8 commentsLow rates and hidden costs are turning BC Hydro into a "Ponzi scheme," says the union representing the company's office workers.
In an ongoing dispute over electricity rate changes proposed by the crown corporation last November, the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, Local 378, says that BC Hydro is using an accounting slight-of-hand to mask the real financial toll of unrealistically low electricity prices. Read more…
Filed inInequality growing here and across Canada: BC Stats
By January 31, 2012 03:50 pm 7 commentsB.C.'s income gap has been growing for 15 years, says B.C. Statistics in a recent report, and only Alberta has more after-tax income inequality than we do. Read more…
Alberta launches legal action against logging protesters
By January 31, 2012 02:53 pm 3 commentsPeaceful protesters stood in front of logging machinery last week on a public road, government officials issued a flurry of legal paper including a development notice, a trespass notice, an enforcement order and now a court order.
The enforcement order, which the group is appealing as an infringement of Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, even banned protestors from occupying or using "any other public lands in the Province of Alberta unless otherwise authorized to so." Read more…
Filed inFormer AB premier Stelmach advises Ukraine on shale gas: report
By January 30, 2012 01:55 pmFormer Alberta premier Ed Stelmach has been giving tips to the Ukrainian government on how to sell controversial shale gas development to a skeptical public, according to a story in the English-language Kyiv Post. Read more…
Filed inConservatives axe popular energy-saving program
By January 30, 2012 01:22 pm 7 commentsOfficials say less than half of the $400 million that was promised for the home energy retrofit program has been spent. Read more…
Filed inCatalyst Paper says one union at Crofton mill voted down new labour agreement
By January 30, 2012 09:52 am 1 commentsSpecialty paper producer Catalyst Paper Corp. says that one of the unions at its Crofton mill in B.C. has rejected a new contract that must be ratified as part of the company's new refinancing plan to stay alive. The plan would improve finances, but give control of the company to its bondholders. Read more…
Filed inFerry advisory group recommends 25 percent fare cut
By January 27, 2012 03:05 pm 2 commentsNot only should British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. and the B.C. government hold future fare increases to the rate of inflation, they should also roll back earlier increases, says the Ferry Advisory Committee Chairs. Read more…
'Radical' federal remarks boost fundraising, support for enviro groups
By January 27, 2012 09:19 am 8 commentsTough talk from Ottawa about radical environmentalists and foreign-funded adversaries seems to be actually strengthening support for those groups under attack. Read more…
HST limbo creates uncertainty in construction industry for 2012
By January 26, 2012 11:50 am 9 commentsThe 2012 construction season could break the backs of some local building companies in Whistler. The second biggest industry in the resort is in a holding pattern as the death knell sounds out on the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). Read more…
Filed in
The next page contains:
UK urges quick completion of Canada-EU free trade agreement
Keystone XL fight not over yet: Nebraska State Sen.
PMO threatened environmental charity, affidavit alleges
Pharmaceutical giant to settle Canadian class action suit on Vioxx
Supreme Court sides with B.C. community in tax fight with paper company
BC has until April 1 to decide on forcing generic drug savings
Mexican journalist in B.C. fears for life if deported after exposing corruption
Hydro carbon emissions drastically underestimated: report
Obama rejects Keystone XL pipeline
Premier Clark's Grey Cup guest list
Canadian pipelines and oil sands by (some of) the numbers
Canadian coal, oil and petroleum production grew in 2010
Premier Christy Clark shuffles senior staff
Unions, government poised for standoff in B.C.
Thousands to rally for locked out electro-motive workers
Canada should stop supporting the asbestos industry: NDP’s Pat Martin
'Environmentalists, other radical groups,' threaten pipeline: Joe Oliver
EthicalOil.org attacks 'foreigners and their puppets' questioning Northern Gateway pipeline
BC teachers enter fifth month of contract talks with no sign of progress
Revamped sled dog company up and running in Whistler
The page after that contains:
Oil producers could lose $72 billion without Northern Gateway pipeline: Report
Right group given wrong oil and gas question, says BC MLA
Canada's top CEOs have already earned what you'll work all year for: CCPA
Oil industry fighting for 'weak' BC-style clean fuel law in California
Poor monitoring of pipelines could harm Canadians: watchdog
BC NDP right to look closely at fracking, says enviro lawyer
Income gap widening in Canada: OECD
BC First Nations community split over Northern Gateway pipeline
Indigenous leaders to pressure Obama on Keystone XL
Baird says Suncor to stay in Syria as UN declares 'civil war'
Native leader to Harper: 'We will be the wall that Enbridge cannot break through'
Paywalls coming to New Brunswick, ending free access to online news
Desmond Tutu, other South Africans take Canada to task over climate policy
Canadian enviros shift strategy in fight against Enbridge
Government calls off negotiations on Bills 27/28: BCTF
Harper govt meeting in secret with UK to sell oil sands: docs
BC may not meet balanced budget target, says finance minister
BC mushroom farm owners fined $350,000 for deaths of three workers
Minister Bell explains source of error on gay tourism ban
Government cuts put prison guards in danger: criminologist
Off the Throne
The British Columbia legislature resumes sitting this week, but not before Premier Christy Clark outlined her spring agenda in an appearance on the Vancouver radio station where she used to work in what was pitched as a replacement for the throne speech. That agenda amounted to staying the course: focus on the economy, no money for teachers or anything else, and no higher taxes.
This from a premier who won the leadership of her party on a "change" platform. Perhaps appropriate then that the government didn't bother with a more formal speech from the throne at a time when polls suggest an increasing number of people are wondering if the premier's going to, as they say, piss or get off the pot.
-- Andrew MacLeod
Sign up for the Tyee's free headlines
The Hook Most Recent
Appeal court upholds ruling on protection of orca habitat
Foreign takeover score is 14,218 to two calculates Mel Hurtig, who speaks Saturday
Abbott blames teachers' union, hints at legislation
Greens exaggerating fracking fears 'to control you': Santorum
Prime Minister Harper mixes oil with human rights on visit to China
The Tyee Most Recent
Good for Your Brain!
Ready to take your game up a notch? Sign up to learn from our experts this spring. Did we mention there will be wine?
BC's Double Standard on FOI Secrecy Perplexes Researcher
Which government asked for mounds of Enbridge pipeline info? And why can't we know?
Time to Zip John Baird's Loose Lips
As if to embody the opposite of diplomacy, he fans hazardous flames in Middle East.
Why Can't Vancouver Keep Its Start-ups Here?
Local talent churns out hot new enterprise! If that's such a good story here, why does it keep ending someplace else?
Becoming the Ethical Hunter
Knife in hand, I remember the maxim that brought me to Deadman Valley: if you eat it, you should kill it. At least once.