municipal politics

B.C. Premier David Eby signaled that the province won’t directly help out municipalities facing high property tax hikes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. Premier David Eby signals no help for municipalities pondering large property tax hikes

UBCM, province are currently reviewing municipal financing system

 

Dr. Charmaine Enns, the North Island medical health officer, recently sent a letter to Campbel River city council urging them to hold off on a illegal drug consumption bylaw. (Black Press file photo)

Health officer pushes back as B.C. town tries to step around drug decriminalization

Campbell River rejects plea to wait six months before forging ahead with drug use ban bylaw

 

Christopher Trevelyan, starting his second term as White Rock city councillor, says that he wants to accurately reflect the concerns and needs of residents in the decision-making process. File photo

White Rock council will find a way to work together, says Christopher Trevelyan

Second-term councillor said he hopes to bring residents’ concerns to the table

 

Montreal mayor Valerie Plante delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Big cities have a major role to play in protecting biodiversity, experts say

Increasing native plants and animals and decreasing contaminants, among actions cities can take

Montreal mayor Valerie Plante delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Paul Orazietti sits down for a coffee to chat about his recent run at municipal office. Although he didn’t get elected, he says the experience was both exciting and inspiring—and he plans to run again. (Photo: Malin Jordan)

BIA executive director chats about his recent run at city council

Paul Orazietti reveals what inspired him to put his name forward in the last election

Paul Orazietti sits down for a coffee to chat about his recent run at municipal office. Although he didn’t get elected, he says the experience was both exciting and inspiring—and he plans to run again. (Photo: Malin Jordan)
Pardeep Kooner, Surrey city councillor. (Photo: PerlaFaschowayPhotography)

Pardeep Kooner looking at the long term

Rookie councillor wants to focus on developing 30-year-financial plan

Pardeep Kooner, Surrey city councillor. (Photo: PerlaFaschowayPhotography)
Newly elected Surrey city councillor Gordon Hepner outside his notary public office in South Surrey on Nov. 16, 2022. (Photo: Tom Zillich)

An ‘old soul’ new to the political arena, Hepner follows mother’s footsteps to Surrey City Hall

Manitoba-born notary public wants to steer the city away from ‘the last government’s reputation’

Newly elected Surrey city councillor Gordon Hepner outside his notary public office in South Surrey on Nov. 16, 2022. (Photo: Tom Zillich)
The Knights of Columbus annual nativity scene atop Terrace City Hall on Dec. 14, 2021. (Ben Bogstie/Terrace Standard)

Nativity scene banned from B.C. town’s city hall after decades-long run

Volunteer group hoping to get Terrace to change its mind after annual tradition rejected

The Knights of Columbus annual nativity scene atop Terrace City Hall on Dec. 14, 2021. (Ben Bogstie/Terrace Standard)
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and former mayor Doug McCallum. (File photos)

Locke apologizes to 7 residents banned from council chambers on McCallum’s watch

‘These individuals had to endure the adversity of standing up for their rights to participate in the decision-making process of the City of Surrey,’ Locke said

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and former mayor Doug McCallum. (File photos)
First-term Surrey city councillor Mike Bose on his family’s turkey farm, on 156 Street. “There are very few turkey farms left in Surrey now, we’re talking about four,” Bose said on Nov. 2, 2022. “This is one of the largest now. Total, there’s 9,400 (turkeys) in one and over there, 9,000 birds, right now. The big birds go to market tonight.” (Photo: Tom Zillich)

Mike Bose knows farming and politics, and ‘now the real work starts’ at Surrey City Hall

At ‘the big table’ now, he’s the latest family member elected in Surrey, and gets advice from uncle Bob, former mayor

First-term Surrey city councillor Mike Bose on his family’s turkey farm, on 156 Street. “There are very few turkey farms left in Surrey now, we’re talking about four,” Bose said on Nov. 2, 2022. “This is one of the largest now. Total, there’s 9,400 (turkeys) in one and over there, 9,000 birds, right now. The big birds go to market tonight.” (Photo: Tom Zillich)
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Abbotsford city hall on Nov. 26, 2021 after catastrophic flooding hit the area on Nov. 15. (Andy Holota/Black Press Media)

Flooding and a pandemic: Henry Braun reflects on his 8 years as Abbotsford mayor

‘You have to be there for the good and the bad,’ says outgoing mayor

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Abbotsford city hall on Nov. 26, 2021 after catastrophic flooding hit the area on Nov. 15. (Andy Holota/Black Press Media)
Harry Bains, Surrey city councillor-elect. (Submitted photo)

Surrey Councillor-elect Harry Bains wants to ‘do the right thing’

‘There’s a lot we have to fix in the city and I’m up for the job,’ Bains says

Harry Bains, Surrey city councillor-elect. (Submitted photo)
Linda Annis, Surrey city councillor. (File photo)

Ever-busy Linda Annis says she’ll put experience as Surrey councillor to good use in 2nd term

‘The big one for me to start with is getting city hall open for the residents again,’ Councillor Annis says in first of eight councillor-elect profiles

Linda Annis, Surrey city councillor. (File photo)
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LETTER: Several good sources of information available as we cast our ballots

Editor: Voters in White Rock are fortunate to have several ways to…

  • Oct 13, 2022
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City of Fernie city hall. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

‘I’m so excited to be out of this room’: Departing BC councillor laments experience as elected official

Morgan Pulsifer said he was disappointed by the way city staff, elected officials and service workers were treated in Fernie

City of Fernie city hall. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
The Tiny Home Village in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood welcomed 30 residents in May 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tiny home villages as solution to homelessness? 3 B.C. mayors say yes

Sites up and running in Victoria and Duncan, Port Alberni on its way to do the same

The Tiny Home Village in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood welcomed 30 residents in May 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains, left, and Harry Bains, Surrey council candidate, right.

Harry Bains (not the MLA) running for Surrey council

Lawyer Harry Bains joins Surrey Connect Team in city’s election race

Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains, left, and Harry Bains, Surrey council candidate, right.
Tofino expects to break ground on a $78 million sewage treatment facility this month. (Westerly file photo)

B.C. tourism mecca finally poised to stop pumping raw sewage into the ocean

Shovels expected to hit the ground this month on Tofino’s much-delayed $78M sewage treatment facility

Tofino expects to break ground on a $78 million sewage treatment facility this month. (Westerly file photo)
Daybreak Farms general manager Kieran Christison thanked the community for their “eggstraordinary” support as the farm can now get started on upgrades. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard).

City of Terrace backs northwest B.C.’s biggest egg producer to double output

Daybreak Farms wins big with approval to expand and modernize egg production

Daybreak Farms general manager Kieran Christison thanked the community for their “eggstraordinary” support as the farm can now get started on upgrades. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard).
Surrey city hall. (File photo: Anna Burns)

Surrey council refuses to apologize to 7 residents who were barred from meetings

‘We sure as hell weren’t vindicated,’ said Annie Kaps, one of the residents

Surrey city hall. (File photo: Anna Burns)
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