Close X
Monday, November 11, 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

Funeral Chain Creates Program To Underscore The Dangers Of Fentanyl

Funeral Chain Creates Program To Underscore The Dangers Of Fentanyl
LANGLEY, B.C. — A funeral services chain in British Columbia is developing a program it hopes will cut the number of drug deaths related to fentanyl among children and young adults.

Funeral Chain Creates Program To Underscore The Dangers Of Fentanyl

My Family Is 'Shiv Bhakt', Won't Do 'Dalali' Over Religion: Rahul Gandhi

My Family Is 'Shiv Bhakt', Won't Do 'Dalali' Over Religion: Rahul Gandhi
Gandhi’s visit to the Somnath temple got engulfed in a controversy after his name was found written on the entry register for non-Hindus.

My Family Is 'Shiv Bhakt', Won't Do 'Dalali' Over Religion: Rahul Gandhi

CREA Wants Parents To Assist Children With Home Purchase With Their RRSPs

CREA Wants Parents To Assist Children With Home Purchase With Their RRSPs
Under the current plan, first-time buyers can withdraw up to $25,000 from their RRSPs to contribute to the purchase of a home. The tax-free loan must generally be repaid within 15 years.

CREA Wants Parents To Assist Children With Home Purchase With Their RRSPs

Winnipeg Security Guard Pulls Suspected Knife On Shoplifter At Toy Store

Winnipeg Security Guard Pulls Suspected Knife On Shoplifter At Toy Store
A holiday shopping trip turned ugly for a Winnipeg grandmother after a security guard pulled what appeared to be a knife on a suspected shoplifter at a toy store.

Winnipeg Security Guard Pulls Suspected Knife On Shoplifter At Toy Store

Swedish Man Gets 10 Years In Prison For Raping Canadian Girls — Over The Internet

Swedish Man Gets 10 Years In Prison For Raping Canadian Girls — Over The Internet
Defence lawyer Kronje Samuelsson says that Bjorn Samstrom "has been convicted in a way that we do not think is correct."

Swedish Man Gets 10 Years In Prison For Raping Canadian Girls — Over The Internet

Christmas Tree Prices On The Rise For First Time In Almost A Decade

CALGARY — You might have to pay a little more for the evergreen scent of a natural Christmas tree this year as droughts and increased demand have put pressure on prices.

Christmas Tree Prices On The Rise For First Time In Almost A Decade