B C Update – CP
Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Feb 13, 2017
(BC–Legislature-Session)
British Columbia’s politicians are returning to the legislature tomorrow for what is bound to be a warm-up for the spring provincial election campaign.
Michael Prince, a public policy expert at the University of Victoria, says the Liberal government is expected to have a healthy budget surplus which could be used to fund social programs.
But the four-term government still faces vulnerabilities as it heads to the polls in the spring.
Hamish Telford, a political scientist at the University of the Fraser Valley, says voters could be in the mood for a change after sixteen years of Liberal governments. (The Canadian Press)
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(BC-Softwood-Lumber-Trump)
B-C’s Forests Minister says he’s hoping the Prime Minister brings up the softwood lumber trade deal when he meets with U-S President Donald Trump today.
Minister Steve Thomson says he believes softwood lumber is a priority to the federal government, after he met with officials in Ottawa last week regarding the expired trade agreement that is still under negotiations.
Thomson says he hopes Trump will also understand how important Canadian lumber is to the U-S market.
He says B-C lumber makes up about half of Canada’s softwood production, and the U-S is a major market. (CKNW)
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(BC-NDP-Leadership)
The N-D-P leadership race is off the ground with its first contestant announcing his bid in New Westminster yesterday.
M-P Peter Julian officially announced Sunday his campaign to replace Tom Mulcair as the party’s leader come October.
Julian says he has a vision for Canada where no one is left behind, promising to get rid of tuition fees at public post-secondary institutions, and opposing pipelines such as the recently approved Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain project.
Political analysts say Julian’s speech signals a desire for the party to shift more to the left of the political spectrum, and the leadership race will likely focus on redefining the party’s identity. (The Canadian Press)
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(BC-First-Time-Buyers)
Bidding wars have returned to the real estate market, and some experts say the province’s new first-time homebuyer loan program is to blame.
Realtor Steve Saretsky says 25 per cent of deals last month went into multiple offers.
He says almost the bidding wars were over condo units under 700-thousand dollars, which are affordable entry-level properties for buyers in Vancouver and within the limits of the province’s loan program.
The province has approved over 300 applicants for the 5-year interest and payment free loan that can be used toward a down payment. (CTV)
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(BC-Trump-Travel-Ban)
As more refugees flee to Canada from the U-S, British Columbians are calling for Canada to accept refugees who remain displaced or at risk of deportation following a travel ban proposed by President Donald Trump.
Protesters gathered at the Peace Arch border crossing yesterday to show their upset with Trump’s executive order that put travel restrictions on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, and an indefinite halt on accepting war-fleeing Syrians.
Although a number of U-S federal judges have called into question the legality of the ban, protesters say Canada needs to make specific moves to helping those affected.
They say the government needs to take a position on what’s happening south of the border, and allow refugees who first land in the U-S continue their travels to find safe refuge in Canada. (Global)
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(BC-Stolen-Sisters-Rally)
Hundreds of supporters turned out for the 9th annual Stolen Sisters Memorial to recognize murdered or missing Indigenous women.
The rally which took place in Victoria yesterday saw about 600 people, led by drummers and singers march, to the B-C legislature.
M-L-A Carol James says there is a sense that things are changing in the country as an independent national inquiry into the deaths and missing women begins.
James says it has never been more important that the country sees an inquiry into the tragedy and for communities to stand up and call for an end to the violence and trauma that is taking the lives of women. (CFAX)
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(B-C Update by The Canadian Press)
(The Canadian Press)
