The Hook: Political news, freshly caught
BC Supreme Court finds ban on doctor-assisted suicide unconstitutional
The B.C. Supreme Court ruled today that the current law banning doctor-assisted suicide in Canada is unconstitutional, siding with the group claiming the law goes against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Read more…
Should There Be More Regulations on Big Tech?
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Are you watching the winter Olympics this year? Read the results of that poll here.
One year after riot, reporter revisits strange interlude with Canadian forces that night
On June 14, 1994, Vancouver police and RCMP riot squads gathered for what became the Riot on Robson at the Canadian Forces' Beatty Street Drill Hall. On June 15, 2011, when the Vancouver Canucks hosted Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final at Rogers Arena, a blue Canucks' flag was hung from the rafters and more than 300 soldiers and guests watched the game on TV and drank beer in the 110-year-old heritage building. Read more…
BC should release full IBM contract, says Supreme Court
The British Columbia Supreme Court has ruled against the provincial government in its bid to keep parts of a major contract secret. Read more…
Competitive process skipped to hire technology consultant for BC premier
The British Columbia government has awarded a one-year, $198,000 contract to a new president of the Premier's Technology Council without holding a competitive process. Read more…
Developer loses bid to buy DTES hotels
Downtown Eastside housing activists are claiming victory after a controversial developer lost his bid to purchase two Single Room Occupancy hotels in the neighbourhood. Read more…
RCMP and BCCLA clash over First Nations injury investigations
Three First Nations families in northern B.C. have reported serious injuries to a family member resulting in encounters with local RCMP after they called the police for help, according to a statement released by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association Tuesday morning. Read more…
Who are the 275,000 people in Canada's top one per cent?
A paper released last week by University of British Columbia economics professors sheds new light on income inequality trends in Canada, who the top earners are and what policies might best address the country's growing income gap. Read more…
'Modest' changes to welfare welcomed, with some exceptions
Advocates welcomed most of the changes the provincial government made today to the income assistance program, but criticized the province for increasing the time people will have to wait for help and for failing to raise rates. Read more…
Four years later, Harper's apology for residential schools rings hollow for many
OTTAWA - It's four years to the day since Stephen Harper brought together aboriginal groups, opposition parties and churches in offering an unfettered apology for residential schools. But many of those who hoped for progress and reconciliation in 2008 now say Harper's words ring hollow. Read more…
New website translates French-language media coverage of student protests
A new website is providing translations of the French-language Quebec media coverage of the ongoing student protests. Read more…
Online, offline protests of Bill C-38 planned for coming days
As the omnibus budget Bill C-38 marches forward with the weight of the Conservative majority government behind it, opposition groups BlackOutSpeakOut and Leadnow continue to search for ways to block it. Read more…
Christy Clark repealing transparency and privacy rights: FIPA
An advocacy group has written British Columbia Premier Christy Clark expressing "deep concern" about her government undermining the province's information and privacy laws. Read more…
BC government balks at passing Animal Health Act
The controversial Animal Health Act is among four bills the British Columbia legislature will not have passed when the spring session ends today. Read more…
Pickton inquiry gets four-month extension for report, but not for hearings
VANCOUVER -- The former judge overseeing the Robert Pickton inquiry has received an extra four months to write his final report, but the extension will likely do little to allay critics who have demanded commissioner Wally Oppal spend more time hearing from witnesses about why police failed to catch the serial killer. Read more…
BC premier warns cities ditching RCMP means higher taxes
British Columbia's premier is warning municipal politicians that failing to sign a new RCMP contract will increase their policing costs and force them to raise property taxes. Read more…
Legal challenge to Quebec protest law delayed to Friday
A legal challenge against Quebec's controversial Bill 78 requiring protests and rallies of more than 50 people to give police eight hours notice of expected attendance and route, will be heard in Quebec Superior Court on Friday. Read more…
Quebec students, government to resume negotiations over tuition increases
Quebec students and the provincial government will return to the bargaining table today in a high-stakes attempt to end the months-long dispute over tuition fees. Read more…
Citizens group releases video to fight undead Bill C-30
Openmedia.ca released this video and renewed its campaign against Bill C-30 a week after the minister responsible said the bill was not dead. Read more…
BC's move away from open government puzzling, says advocate
Removing a proactive disclosure requirement for the BC Ferry Commissioner is a puzzling step from a minister and government who say they believe in open government, said Vincent Gogolek, the executive director of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Association. Read more…
Coroners' jury calls for mandatory safety training at mushroom farm inquest
BURNABY, 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…
