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The Hook: Political news, freshly caught

Municipal councillor seeking Green nod in Capital Region

Central Saanich councillor Adam Olsen announced this morning he's seeking the Green Party nomination to run in Saanich North and the Islands in the May 14, 2013 provincial election. Read more…

 

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Poets rally their verse to keep Langley forest from development

Hundreds of poets are putting their verse together to keep a 10-hectare forest slated for development by Langley council intact, and they're hanging their work from trees with ribbons. Read more…

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Ottawa's CETA concessions limit options for provinces and municipalities

Meeting European Union demands for a trade agreement would mean giving up the power to do things like insist Okanagan apples be available in Okanagan hospitals, said British Columbia NDP leader Adrian Dix. Read more…

Europe pleased with access to local contracts in Canada, wants more

European negotiators have been pleased with the Canadian government's concessions on public procurement but want more, according to a leaked European Union document. Read more…


Former solicitor general applauds license plate privacy report

A report on privacy problems with how police departments track vehicle license plates found support this week from the former solicitor general who oversaw introduction of the technology. Read more…

Registrar investigating whether BC police chiefs obeying lobbying law

British Columbia's office of the registrar of lobbyists is investigating whether the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police has followed the province's lobbying laws. Read more…

BC creates Jumbo resort municipality despite strong opposition

British Columbia's cabinet has approved the incorporation of a mountain resort municipality in the Jumbo Valley in the East Kootenays, despite much opposition from local First Nations and other residents. Read more…

Police use of licence plate scans breaks privacy law: commissioner

British Columbia's information and privacy commissioner has condemned how the Victoria police department uses the information scanned from licence plates on people's vehicles. Read more…

Memorial plaques in Vancouver unveiled to honour missing and murdered women

Family members of missing and murdered women lauded the first of 62 bronze memorial plaques for their loved ones installed yesterday on Vancouver's streets. Read more…

At UBCM Premier Clark promises infrastructure sooner and more blacktop

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark promised a series of infrastructure announcements and the expansion of a highway during her speech to the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria today. Read more…

More focus on public-private partnerships coming, says Conservative minister

The Conservative federal government will put a greater emphasis on public-private partnerships for future infrastructure projects, MP James Moore told delegates to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention in Victoria. Read more…

BC mayors' caucus considering ways to become more democratic

A new caucus of British Columbia mayors is on its way to becoming more democratic, said Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. Read more…

NDP leader Dix says he'd balance budgets, but would repeal law

British Columbia NDP Leader Adrian Dix said that while it's necessary for the government to balance budgets over the business cycle, it's pointless to have a balanced budget law that's regularly ignored. Read more…

UBCM delegates vote in favour of decriminalizing marijuana

Delegates at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities voted in favour of a motion supporting the decriminalization of marijuana. Read more…

'I don't know what the solutions are,' minister tells local reps

Local governments in British Columbia will find sympathy but not money from the province, warned community, sport and cultural development minister Bill Bennett today. Read more…

UBCM should refuse money from big oil companies, says councillor

When the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers hosts a reception for local politicians at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention this week, at least one councillor says he'll be outside protesting instead. Read more…

Audit gives feds, provinces, municipalities mediocre grades on access to info

As the country's seventh Right to Know Week kicks off, a new survey suggests that governments at all levels are still falling well short of providing speedy and comprehensive access to information. Read more…

Last residents of Vancouver's Little Mountain wait for an outcome

The last tenants of Little Mountain Housing Complex will appeal their eviction notices, a small crowd gathered outside the single remaining residence heard yesterday. Read more…

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Cabinet shuffle may spur changes to local elections

Changes to how local governments are elected in British Columbia may be back on the provincial government's agenda now that Bill Bennett has been reappointed as the minister for community, sport and cultural development. Read more…

BC Transit prepares to make money in Whistler

More than $200,000 could be made at the BC Transit facility if commercial opportunities are allowed to flourish there. Read more…