Municipal Government

People carry umbrellas while crossing Robson Street as rain falls in Vancouver, on Thursday, January 6, 2022. Canada’s intelligence service warns that technological innovations adopted by municipalities could be exploited by adversaries such as the Chinese government to harvest sensitive data, target diaspora communities and interfere in elections. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

CSIS warns ‘smart city’ technology can open door to attacks, foreign interference

AI platforms for things like traffic lights, energy use, transportation create security risk

 

Bonnie Forsythe with her family at the Coachman Apartments complex in Terrace. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)

‘Feeling like we’re drowning’: Tenants of rundown B.C. building fear for future

Tenants living in “shocking” conditions fear losing what little they have left

 

Terrace Mayor Sean Bujtas (right) gaining entry to the managers’ office at Coachman Apartments. (Submitted photo)

Northwest B.C. mayor steps in to help apartment residents after burst water pipes

Provincial emergency support services assisting displaced Terrace, B.C. tenants with hotel rooms

 

The Knights of Columbus annual nativity scene atop Terrace City Hall on Dec. 14, 2021. (Ben Bogstie/Terrace Standard)

Northern B.C. officials ban nativity scene from Terrace city hall roof

The move reflects a 2015 Supreme Court of Canada decision

The Knights of Columbus annual nativity scene atop Terrace City Hall on Dec. 14, 2021. (Ben Bogstie/Terrace Standard)
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke gives her inaugural address Monday night after being sworn in at city hall.

New Surrey city council is sworn-in

Mayor Brenda Locke and Councillors Linda Annis, Harry Bains, Mike Bose, Doug Elford, Gordon Hepner, Pardeep Kooner, Mandeep Nagra and Rob Stutt took their oath

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke gives her inaugural address Monday night after being sworn in at city hall.
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)
David and Amanda Horvath look over the looming cliff of a landslide behind their home at 5412 McConnell Crescent in Terrace, B.C. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)

Couple’s ‘dream home’ at risk of sliding into northwest B.C. river

Families look on helplessly as property erodes into river behind them

David and Amanda Horvath look over the looming cliff of a landslide behind their home at 5412 McConnell Crescent in Terrace, B.C. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)
Nanaimo city council, at a meeting this week, voted to repeal a bylaw relating to public morals which prevented people from making use of any “profane, obscene, blasphemous or grossly insulting language.” (City of Nanaimo image)

B.C. city repeals 130-year-old bylaw banning drunken singing

City of Nanaimo retains bylaw banning nuclear weapons, but takes several other bylaws off the books

Nanaimo city council, at a meeting this week, voted to repeal a bylaw relating to public morals which prevented people from making use of any “profane, obscene, blasphemous or grossly insulting language.” (City of Nanaimo image)
Tiny Town was the creation of the late Jim Allen and modelled after his hometown of Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. (File photo)
Tiny Town was the creation of the late Jim Allen and modelled after his hometown of Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. (File photo)
Surrey council chambers at city hall. (File photo)

Surrey council opts to hold virtual meetings at its discretion

No hybrid model – a mix of in-person and electronic participation – was considered under the amended bylaw

Surrey council chambers at city hall. (File photo)
Langley City Mayor Val van den Broek was censured on May 10 for ‘bullying’ a staffer, a statement posted to the City website on Tuesday, May 31, said. (file)

Langley City mayor was censured for ‘bullying’ staffer: statement

Council statement says Val van den Broek made ‘unjustified and false statements’ about City employee

Langley City Mayor Val van den Broek was censured on May 10 for ‘bullying’ a staffer, a statement posted to the City website on Tuesday, May 31, said. (file)
B.C. Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness Jennifer Rice. (Norman Galimski/Black Press)

B.C. rolls out emergency preparedness funds for First Nations and municipalities

Funding will go toward capacity building for emergency support in those communities

B.C. Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness Jennifer Rice. (Norman Galimski/Black Press)
Surrey Coun. Steven Pettigrew. (File photo)

Steven Pettigrew back on the job at Surrey council after medical leave

The city councillor was granted a three-month medical leave until April 30

Surrey Coun. Steven Pettigrew. (File photo)
The District of Tofino is celebrating the successful hiring of three new staffers for its Community Children’s Centre. (file photo)

Staff-strapped B.C. town scores childcare workers with free tuition, housing

District of Tofino takes unique approach to address childcare resource crunch

The District of Tofino is celebrating the successful hiring of three new staffers for its Community Children’s Centre. (file photo)
Sparwood mayor David Wilks. (File photo)

‘We don’t have the capacity’: East Kootenay Mayor takes aim at COVID health orders

With limited resources, local governments and private businesses are under too much strain from public health orders according to Sparwood Mayor David Wilks

Sparwood mayor David Wilks. (File photo)
Penticton mayor John Vassilaki and Minister of Housing David Eby have been battling over the Victory Church shelter and BC Housing projects in the city. (File photos)

Battle between Penticton and B.C. over homeless shelter officially before the court

The city filed their official petition before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, July 6

Penticton mayor John Vassilaki and Minister of Housing David Eby have been battling over the Victory Church shelter and BC Housing projects in the city. (File photos)
Penticton mayor John Vassilaki and Minister of Housing David Eby have been battling over the Victory Church shelter and BC Housing projects in the city. (File photos)

Penticton heads to court over homeless shelter as BC Housing audit begins

The city was not satisfied with the response from Minister David Eby regarding the ongoing situation

Penticton mayor John Vassilaki and Minister of Housing David Eby have been battling over the Victory Church shelter and BC Housing projects in the city. (File photos)
Penticton mayor John Vassilaki and Minister of Housing David Eby have been battling over the Victory Church shelter and BC Housing projects in the city. (File photos)

Minister Eby receives warning over ‘dangerous precedent’ in Penticton shelter dispute

UBCM president says Eby’s decision to use paramountcy powers undermines local government autonomy

Penticton mayor John Vassilaki and Minister of Housing David Eby have been battling over the Victory Church shelter and BC Housing projects in the city. (File photos)
Approximately 50 protesters gathered at Gyro Park in Penticton Friday, March 5 to protest council’s decision to close Victory Church Shelter. (Jesse Day - Western News)

BC Housing to use provincial powers to keep Penticton shelter open

Penticton council voted Tuesday to reject the shelter’s extension for a second time

Approximately 50 protesters gathered at Gyro Park in Penticton Friday, March 5 to protest council’s decision to close Victory Church Shelter. (Jesse Day - Western News)
(Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. has no parental leave policy for elected councillors, so town makes its own

No provisions under B.C. Community Charter to allow new parents time off without disqualification

(Black Press Media file photo)
Pop-up banner image