Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. Premier John Horgan Says Housing Top Issue For 2018, But Much More On NDP To-Do List

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Dec, 2017 12:51 PM
  • B.C. Premier John Horgan Says Housing Top Issue For 2018, But Much More On NDP To-Do List
VICTORIA — Premier John Horgan says addressing British Columbia's housing crisis is his government's top priority in 2018, but it's not the only pressing concern on his minority New Democrat government's to-do list.
 
 
Here's a list of the consultations, audits and reviews the government is expected to complete or undertake in 2018:
 
 
Ride Sharing: Legislation to introduce ride sharing in B.C. is scheduled for next fall after the release of a government-commissioned review of the taxi industry.
 
 
Poverty Reduction: Poverty reduction legislation with targets and timelines is expected in the spring to outline the government's anti-poverty strategy, including a basic-income pilot project to test whether giving people a basic income is an effective way to fight poverty.
 
 
Child Care: More details are expected in February's budget on a promised 10-year affordable child care program. Earlier this month, the government announced it will spend $33 million to create 3,800 new licensed child-care spaces.
 
 
Massey Tunnel:  An independent technical review is due in 2018 to determine the best option for replacing the aging Massey Tunnel south of Vancouver. The previous Liberal government had plans to replace it with a 10-lane bridge but Transportation Minister Claire Trevena said the plan lacked support from mayors and residents.
 
 
Foreign Buyers Tax: The government is reviewing a 15 per cent tax on foreign real estate buyers in Metro Vancouver and an interest-free loan program for first-time home buyers. Horgan says February's budget will include measures to dampen speculation in the real estate market.
 
 
Insurance Corp. of B.C.: : The government ordered a full audit of the Crown auto insurer's operations, with results due in 2018. Attorney General David Eby said ICBC is in crisis, with financial losses totalling more than $500 million last year.
 
 
Aquaculture Policy and Licensing: A committee continues to examine the aquaculture industry, and a report is expected early in 2018. The government announced this month a review of fish processing plants to ensure wild salmon are not impacted by waste products from plants.
 
 
Money Laundering at Casinos: An independent review of B.C.'s policies to prevent money laundering, conducted by a retired RCMP gaming crime expert, is due in 2018. The review was commissioned after a report concluded a Metro Vancouver casino had taken in $13.5 million that police said could be proceeds of crime.
 
 
Marijuana Regulation: The government set 19 as the minimum age to buy and consume legal marijuana when cannabis becomes legal in Canada in July 2018. B.C. must still introduce legislation that regulates the sale and distribution of cannabis and update impaired driving laws.
 
 
Human Rights Commission: Legislation to re-establish the Human Rights Commission is due in 2018 after the former Liberal government dismantled it in favour of the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.
 
 
Minimum Wage: A fair wages commission was established in October to advise the government how to move towards a $15 minimum wage with regular, measured and predictable increases. The commission's first report to Labour Minister Harry Bains is expected early in 2018.

MORE National ARTICLES

Fernie, B.C., Celebrates Opening Of Outdoor Rink Following Deadly Ammonia Leak

Fernie, B.C., Celebrates Opening Of Outdoor Rink Following Deadly Ammonia Leak
 Snow and bone-chilling cold could not dampen the enthusiasm of a British Columbia community as residents opened an outdoor ice rink Thursday night and took another step in their recovery from a deadly tragedy.

Fernie, B.C., Celebrates Opening Of Outdoor Rink Following Deadly Ammonia Leak

Buyer Beware: High Quality Fake Gold Bars Being Sold Online, Police Say

Buyer Beware: High Quality Fake Gold Bars Being Sold Online, Police Say
Investigators say they've received complaints of counterfeit gold bars being sold online through buy and sell websites such as Kijiji.

Buyer Beware: High Quality Fake Gold Bars Being Sold Online, Police Say

Artificial Intelligence Shouldn't Be Used To Replace Human Intelligence: Indo-Canadian Whiz Kid

Artificial Intelligence Shouldn't Be Used To Replace Human Intelligence: Indo-Canadian Whiz Kid
Bakshi, 14, a cognitive developer, TEDx Speaker, Algorithmic as well as an author, was speaking at an interactive session with technology journalist Rajeev Makhani, organised by FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) here on Friday.

Artificial Intelligence Shouldn't Be Used To Replace Human Intelligence: Indo-Canadian Whiz Kid

Chilliwack Police Seek Man Who Allegedly Exposed Himself To 10-Yr-Old Girl

Chilliwack Police Seek Man Who Allegedly Exposed Himself To 10-Yr-Old Girl
On December 18th around 2:15 pm, a male allegedly exposed himself to a 10-year-old girl who was walking in the 4600-block of Community Street.

Chilliwack Police Seek Man Who Allegedly Exposed Himself To 10-Yr-Old Girl

Surrey Residents And RCMP Donate Generously To Goodwill Initiatives

Surrey Residents And RCMP Donate Generously To Goodwill Initiatives
A record number of donations were collected this month from the public and Surrey RCMP employees and staff in support of two holiday themed goodwill initiatives.

Surrey Residents And RCMP Donate Generously To Goodwill Initiatives

29-year-Old Indian Origin Woman Priti Patel Missing, Montreal Police Seek Help

29-year-Old Indian Origin Woman Priti Patel Missing, Montreal Police Seek Help
Priti Patel has been missing since Sunday. She had been visiting her family in Saint-Laurent and spent the day watching football with her older brother, Hitesh.

29-year-Old Indian Origin Woman Priti Patel Missing, Montreal Police Seek Help