Jobs program pays to burn Spilly pine

Province supports resource workers in Golden.

Ministry of Community and Rural Development.

Workers in the Golden area are benefiting from close to $350,000 through a Job Opportunities Program project that will identify and remove trees infested with the mountain pine beetle, announced Pat Bell, Minister of Forests and Range and Bill Bennett, Minister of Community and Rural Development. [Read more]

Cries for help beneath Olympic cheers

British Columbia Federation of Labour.

Against a backdrop of the Winter Olympics, and talk of early signs of economic recovery, the Lieutenant Governor will present a Throne Speech on February 9. Three weeks later Finance Minister Colin Hansen will present a provincial budget. [Read more]

Intrawest foreclosure, Whistler Blackcomb and Olympic Athlete’s Village to be auctioned during games

More drama at the Olympic Games? What games?

Well, are we going to have the 2010 Olympic Games or aren’t we? Newspapers and television have been telling us that Whistler Blackcomb is bankrupt and the creditors are swooping in for the kill. Amid the panic and confusion, what’s the real story here?

This is what CVNews has managed to glean about the possibilities and probabilities of the situation. First, to lay some groundwork, we need to know about the players. [Read more]

Medical support staff cutbacks — does anyone care?

More health care dollars slashed — cuts affect us all.

Recently, the British Columbia government announced to staff at hospitals and extended care facilities across the province, that there were going to be job cuts, pay cuts and shorter hours in dietary and housekeeping departments in an effort to cut more from the health budget. In a system that has already cut costs to the bone and deeper, another cut is hard to imagine. So CVNews has done some digging and what we have discovered has raised a great many questions that don’t seem to be receiving any reasonably believable answers. [Read more]

"We will show the world a modern, forward-thinking province" — Campbell

“We will show the world a modern, forward-thinking province and a people with an eye to the future; a province that is leading North America in embracing the opportunities of the growing green economy.”

By Gordon Campbell,
Premier of British Columbia.

After a year like 2009, it’s hard to imagine what 2010 might bring. We have all felt the effects of the financial turmoil. For some families, 2009 will be remembered as an extremely difficult and challenging time. Most were worried and some lost their jobs. It was, by any measure, a trying year for everyone. And while there are inklings of hope on the horizon, everyone is naturally tentative and reserved about our prospects for the future. One thing we all feel is that it will be different from the past. [Read more]

Economic stargazers predict better times ahead

B.C. economy expected to stabilize in 2010.

Ministry of Finance.

The B.C. Economic Forecast Council has slightly improved its growth projections for British Columbia, citing increased housing starts, and recent improvements in the mineral resources sector and commodities markets as the primary reasons, announced Finance Minister Colin Hansen today.

“Our economy is beginning to show signs of stability,” said Hansen. “However, the council also echoed our calls for continued prudence in the fiscal plan, warning of risks from the severely weakened U.S. economy, slower global demand for B.C. exports, and the stronger than expected Canadian dollar.” [Read more]

BC's plan for resource-dependent communities — diversify

Province creates jobs for displaced resource workers.

Ministry of Community and Rural Development.

Workers in communities throughout British Columbia are benefiting from short-term employment as a result of more than $6.5 million in funding for 38 Job Opportunities Program (JOP) projects, announced Community Development Minister Bill Bennett.

“We’re doing everything we can at the provincial level to support resource-dependent communities that have been particularly hard-hit by the economic downturn,” said Bennett. “Creating jobs is our number one priority in the short term, as we help these communities diversify their economies in preparation for longer-term sustainability.” [Read more]

BC to protect vital services as economy 'stabilizes'

Challenges remain as B.C. economy begins to stabilize.

Ministry of Finance.

Although B.C.’s economy is beginning to show signs of improvement, the global economic downturn continues to have a negative impact and British Columbia continues to face fiscal challenges, Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced today with the release of the Province’s Second Quarterly Report.

“Several of British Columbia’s major economic indicators are beginning to stabilize following the sharp global economic downturn,” said Hansen. “However, the Province’s economic recovery remains subject to a number of significant risks. Within this challenging environment, government will continue to protect vital services while we implement economic stimulus and infrastructure programs and ensure that B.C.’s fiscal plan remains on target.” [Read more]

Copenhagen climate change conference, a hidden agenda?

On his recent return from the APEC summit in Singapore, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that there was “a pretty strong consensus at the meeting this morning that countries of the world remain a long way from a binding, legal treaty on climate change.” Some 3000 unagreed sections of the working document need to somehow be molded into a consensus. This stands in stark contrast to the stated objectives of the conference to reach such a near-impossible agreement. [Read more]

Swine flu a 'big lie'

World-wide pandemic declared with all normal seasonal-flu-like symptoms being put down to swine flu.

Each and every year humans are subjected to flu, vomiting bugs, colds and ‘flu like’ illnesses- this all appears sort of normal as it has always been like this. Just like chicken pox when you are three and any number of other rites of passage. Well, it used to be expected and normal, but increasingly it has become disallowed to have a functioning immune system- ie; present signs of seasonal illnesses that prime the immune system and have various other functions in the body. [Read more]