Thursday October 23, 2008
Ontario runs deficit as B.C. slashes taxes
Premier Gordon Campbell vowed to keep British Columbia a ''deficit-free zone'' even as he outlined a plan last night to cut taxes and boost spending in response to a slowing economy. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
Premier Campbell's 10-point plan
Still vowing not to run a budget deficit, Premier Gordon Campbell announced a 10-point plan last night to cushion the blow from a slowing economy with a stimulus package costing $485-million over three years: From Print Edition, 23/10/08
Finally, an issue that sets mayoral candidates apart
Now that the federal election is out of the way, British Columbians can turn their attention to more pressing matters. Like the civic election taking place next month.Oy vey. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
Rio shifts gears on Kitimat
The board of Rio Tinto PLC has delayed giving final approval to a $2.5-billion (U.S.) aluminum smelter expansion in Kitimat, B.C., and has instead committed an additional $300-million to advance the project while it assesses the impact of the commodities crash. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
Hatred for safe-injection sites is irrational
In the waning days of the federal election campaign, there was an important development in the continuing saga surrounding Insite, Vancouver's safe-injection site.Pivot Legal Society released documents, obtained under an access-to-information request, that show the RCMP paid for research that was clearly designed to attack and undermine Insite. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
GOING OUT: LIVE MUSIC
Tuneful TagaqFamed Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq - whom the Kronos Quartet dubbed ''the Jimi Hendrix of throat singing'' - puts a modern twist on traditional styles with cellist Cris Derksen and DJ Michael Red. Today, 7 p.m. $15-$25. Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
Injured man unable to attend hearing
Thomas McKay will not be able to tell his side of what happened in a cellblock struggle with Victoria police that left him with a devastating head injury, his lawyer says. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
Investment group assures Vancouver athletes village on track
Vancouver officials are watching closely as a financial deadline comes up today for the U.S. lender that is backing the construction of the city's Olympic athletes village.Fortress Investment Group, which has provided the $750-million loan to local company Millennium Developments to build the 1,100-unit village, is facing a $1.7-billion loan of its own coming due today. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
Teen shoots himself in head with crossbow
A young man accidentally shot himself in the head with a crossbow at a party at his home in the eastern B.C. community of Grasmere early yesterday.Alcohol was believed to be a factor in the accident, Elk Valley RCMP Corporal Andy Veltmeyer said in a news release. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
Abbotsford shooting victim identified as gang member
Police identified a man gunned down at Abbotsford's World Extreme Fighting Gym on Monday night as Todd (Joe) Krantz, who was affiliated with the Independent Soldiers gang.''He was involved in a criminal lifestyle,'' said Sergeant Shinder Kirk of the RCMP Integrated Gang Task Force. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
Group calls for $10-million salmon-pen fund
The B.C. government should create a $10-million fund to encourage the province's salmon farmers to develop closed-containment technology, Chamber of Commerce members on Vancouver Island say. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
Two teens held after man thrown over seawall
A 14-year-old Vancouver boy and a 16-year-old Burnaby girl are in police custody after a man was thrown over the seawall at the North end of Bute Street yesterday. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
Migrants' bid to unionize contested
The union movement among migrant workers in British Columbia is growing, with the first two farms granted certification by the labour board.Floralia Plant Growers Ltd. became the second farm to unionize on Oct. 10. Workers on 20 more farms are now interested in joining the United Food and Commercial Workers, according to the union. However, a recent move by employers might put the relationship between migrant workers and the union in jeopardy. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
Queen of the North lawsuits to be heard by jury
The Supreme Court of British Columbia has ruled that several actions stemming from the sinking of the Queen of the North can be heard separately, and by jury.B.C. Ferries had sought to have several lawsuits filed by passengers or their families heard jointly and by a judge alone. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
NDP makes housing a by-election issue
With Vancouver voters set to cast ballots in two provincial by-elections next week, the NDP is making affordable housing a key issue.NDP Leader Carole James appeared with party candidates Spencer Herbert and Jenn McGinn outside an apartment building in Vancouver's West End yesterday to call for greater protection for renters, as well as more investment in social housing. From Print Edition, 23/10/08
