Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. energy minister's dropped memo ends up in hands of Opposition BC United

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Nov, 2023 06:10 PM
  • B.C. energy minister's dropped memo ends up in hands of Opposition BC United

A British Columbia cabinet minister says a memo she mistakenly dropped contained notes she sent for herself about a “big and shiny” affordability measure for the next budget, but the paper ended up in the hands of the Opposition BC United party.

Energy Minister Josie Osborne admitted she is the author of the memo which the BC United party says shows the New Democrat government "panicking" about growing opposition to the provincial carbon tax.

Osborne says the memo is a copy of notes she made Wednesday about possible ideas for the government's February budget following discussions she had with an adviser who she refuses to name.

The minister says she emailed the memo of ideas to herself, but she must have mistakenly dropped a printout of the document.

The memo suggests that if Premier David Eby was looking for something "big and shiny" for the budget he could announce the use of carbon tax revenues to freeze BC Hydro bills.

The Opposition BC United has been critical of government's CleanBC plan, calling it economically destructive, and attorney general critic Mike de Jong asked Osborne to explain her memo because the government has consistently refused to give cost relief for residents from the carbon tax.

MORE National ARTICLES

Educators 'heartened' as B.C. and Ontario mandate Holocaust education

Educators 'heartened' as B.C. and Ontario mandate Holocaust education
To combat rising antisemitism, both British Columbia and Ontario announced this week that they would introduce mandatory Holocaust education for high school students, teaching them of the murder of six million Jews and others during the Second World War by Nazi Germany.  Holocaust educators are applauding the move. 

Educators 'heartened' as B.C. and Ontario mandate Holocaust education

Minister promises changes to temporary visas, but no 'draconian actions'

Minister promises changes to temporary visas, but no 'draconian actions'
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says he plans to recalibrate the number of people who come to Canada temporarily to make sure the program is sustainable, but details about what measures the government is considering remain unclear. Miller announced his intentions after he tabled the immigration targets for permanent residents Wednesday afternoon.

Minister promises changes to temporary visas, but no 'draconian actions'

Housing supply still outpacing demand in Vancouver market as sales increase

Housing supply still outpacing demand in Vancouver market as sales increase
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says the region continues to see an increase in newly listed properties, but sales still lag behind long-term trends. The board says October home sales totalled 1,996, a 3.7 per cent increase from the 1,924 sales recorded the same month last year. But the total was 29.5 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average of 2,832 for October.

Housing supply still outpacing demand in Vancouver market as sales increase

B.C. warns drivers of snow and possible freezing rain in southern Interior

B.C. warns drivers of snow and possible freezing rain in southern Interior
The British Columbia government is warning drivers about a storm bringing snow and possibly freezing rain as it bears down on the province's southern Interior. A statement from the Ministry of Transportation says wintry conditions are expected to last until Thursday afternoon, when a transition to rain is forecast.  

B.C. warns drivers of snow and possible freezing rain in southern Interior

B.C. set to table housing law requiring small-scale and multi-unit zoning

B.C. set to table housing law requiring small-scale and multi-unit zoning
The new law would require local governments to update zoning bylaws to permit multi-unit buildings on lots typically used for single-family detached homes. Cities are to allow at least three units on lots up to 280 square metres in size, while at least four units are to be permitted on larger lots, and at least six units will be allowed on larger lots that are close to transit stops with frequent service.

B.C. set to table housing law requiring small-scale and multi-unit zoning

Raid on retail outlets: VPD

Raid on retail outlets: VPD
Vancouver police have conducted a series of raids of retail outlets as part of an investigation into the illegal sale of illicit psychedelic drugs including psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms. Officers searched three storefronts in Marpole, Mount Pleasant, and Strathcona, seizing a variety of controlled substances police believe were being bought and sold in bulk quantities to walk-in customers.

Raid on retail outlets: VPD