B C Update – CP

Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Sep 12, 2017 

(BC-Budget)

Finance Minister Carole James has tabled a financial plan that hikes taxes for the province’s wealthiest residents while boosting spending for education, housing and health care.

She says the budget update puts British Columbians first and makes sure that the people who build the province benefit from the economy.

But James says the New Democrats need more time to fulfil some promises they made on the campaign trail last spring, including 10-dollar-a-day childcare and rebates for renters.

She says British Columbians can expect to see more on those commitments when a full budget is put forward next spring. (The Canadian Press)

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(BC-Budget-Rxn)

B-C’s finance critic says a budget update put forward yesterday by the minority N-D-P government is long on spending but short on plans for creating jobs and growing the economy.

Shirley Bond with the Opposition Liberals says the financial plan will also reduce B-C’s competitive advantage over other provinces by increasing the corporate tax rate to 12 per cent.

Jock Finlayson with the B-C Business Council says the business community expected tax changes because they were laid out in the N-D-P’s economic platform.

But he says the budget isn’t going to create a lot of new investment and increases in personal income tax could result in B-C companies having more trouble attracting top-level talent. (The Canadian Press)

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(BC-Wildfires)

Nearly half a billion dollars has been spent fighting wildfires across B-C this year and fire officials warn that the season isn’t over just yet.

Kevin Skrepnek with the B-C Wildfire Service says the fire situation is still very volatile in some areas, including the parched southeast.

Wetter, cooler weather expected to arrive in the region tomorrow, but Skrepnek says a large amount of rain will be needed to soak the forest floor following a sustained hot and dry summer.

More than 12-hundred fires have burned across B-C since April 1st, charring a record-setting 11-thousand 700 square kilometres. (The Canadian Press)

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(BC-Ancestral-Remains)

A First Nation in southern B-C has been granted permission to remove the remains of their ancestors from a piece of private property.

Members of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band were granted the ministerial order to enter the property in Cawston following a meeting with government officials last week.

The First Nation says the move is unprecedented and will ensure that the reburial of the remains is expedited and sanctioned.

Chief Keith Crow says the decision comes after more than a year and a half of waiting and is a step towards meaningful nation-to-nation relations in B-C. (CHBC)

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(BC-Motorcycle-Crash)

Police say a 58-year-old man has died after a motorcycle and a truck collided near Victoria.

Investigators say the crash happened in North Saanich yesterday afternoon.

The motorcyclist was taken to hospital with serious injuries and later died.

Saanich Police are now investigating the collision. (The Canadian Press)

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(BC-Fossilized-Tracks)

A paleontologist has discovered some unique footprints in northeastern B-C.

Richard McCrea was working in the Peace Region in July, when he found fossilized tracks made by a large crocodillian.

Researchers have previously discovered dinosaur fossils in the area, but the tracks are unique and may help shed light on the Cretaceous Period.

The tracks will be documented in an upcoming journal article and plans are underway to install an interpretive panel near where they were found. (Energetic City)

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(B-C Update by The Canadian Press)

(The Canadian Press)