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Vancouver Sun
05-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Will B.C.'s new permitting legislation get clean energy projects, hospitals and schools approved faster?
Article content Langley Township Mayor Eric Woodward, said, however, that municipalities have been calling for the province to take action on infrastructure holdups for a longtime and that he's pleased to see the government finally doing something. Article content He also said that while consultations with First Nations are important, for projects such as schools and hospitals the conversation usually carries on for a significant number of months with ultimately few changes requested by the nations. Article content 'Here in Langley, consultation with First Nations on some capital projects results In very lengthy delays, for relatively questionable considerations that come back, which don't amount to very much,' said Woodward. Article content 'We can send off consultations to lots of groups, and they can be aware of things. They can have some input into the process. But, if it takes six months or 12 months to get a response from a First Nation, that can't be just accepted.' Article content As for industry, Chris Gardner, CEO of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, said that the selective nature of the legislation doesn't move the needle for industries like LNG that he believes are critical for the province moving forward. Article content Article content He said that the NDP has also built up so much red tape over the years that it takes forever to get anything done and that the party has now decided to create a whole new Infrastructure Ministry to fix the problem it created in the first place. Article content 'We can't approve a mine in 15 years. We're not gonna be able to move our goods anywhere if we can't replace the Massey Tunnel,' said Gardner. 'We need a real reform in terms of how we're approving projects.' Article content Jairo Yunis, Business Council of B.C. policy analyst, was more optimistic about the bill, saying it will send a 'strong signal' that the government is serious about speeding up permitting. Article content At the same time, he said 'the real test will be whether the new processes can deliver faster, more predictable outcomes,' which will be dependent on how the NDP handle 'Indigenous consultation obligations, regulatory clarity and transparency in project selection.' Article content While the fast-tracking of hospitals and schools is new, the government announced in December that wind power projects would be exempt from the standard process for environmental assessments. In January, it was announced that the North Coast transmission line would be granted the same exemption. Article content Article content Energy Minister Adrian Dix said on Wednesday that following the introduction of Bill 14 what would happen is the creation of a whole new review system by the energy regulator, which until this point has primarily been in charge of the oil-and-gas sector. Article content 'It's a one-window process, but it's going to be dramatically more efficient,' he told reporters. Article content As for Bill 15, Ma explained the legislation will allow the province to take actions such as grouping projects together so they can go through the procurement process all at once or deliver projects on behalf of smaller school districts. Article content She said the environmental assessment process will also be expedited for these projects through the Environmental Assessment Office. Article content Specific exclusions to the types of projects being approved include low-barrier housing and safe injection sites, which will still need to go through the normal process. Article content Peter Milobar, Conservative finance critic, said he agrees in principle with the government's efforts to speed up projects, but that completely dismantling the regulatory process isn't the way to go. Article content He accused the government of simply bringing back the cancelled provisions of its controversial tariff response legislation, Bill 7, that would have given the NDP extraordinary power over any matter to do with the economy. Article content 'This is more on the construction project side of the equation, being able to, just at will, pick winners and losers and decide which investments don't need to have any type of real, meaningful government oversight or environmental process attached to it,' said Milobar. 'We have no faith that that would be done properly.' Article content The Tory critic pointed out that it was the NDP who reformed the environmental assessment process that they're now saying is too slow for certain projects. Article content Green Interim Leader Jeremy Valeriote said the government needs to strike a fine balance between making sure these projects are completed in a timely manner and making sure the environment is cared for. Article content 'We do need to get things built, particularly renewable energy, schools and hospitals,' said Valeriote. 'What we are wary of is eroding environmental standards and environmental regulations that make sure that they're built properly and with the highest environmental responsibilities.'
CBC
27-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Poilievre's business plans gain Conservatives another endorsement
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is the first federal party leader to campaign in the Lower Mainland. Poilievre announced plans to increase the Tax Free Savings Account limit by an extra $5,000 a year for investments into Canadian companies. Chris Gardner is the CEO of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, which was endorsing the Conservative Party earlier this year. Gardner says Poilievre's plans are what companies need.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
B.C. finance minister to speak to business group a day after budget amid tariffs
VICTORIA — British Columbia's finance minister is starting to sell her budget to the public complete with a record deficit in the early days of a trade war with the United States. Brenda Bailey is expected to speak today at an event hosted by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, her first public appearance after tabling the budget on the same day U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent on Canadian goods. Her budget forecasts a record deficit of about $10.9 billion in the next fiscal year starting April 1, while promising an insurance rebate for drivers of $110, and increases to both supports for families under the Rental Assistance Program and help for elderly renters relying on the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program. The budget comes with $4 billion in annual contingencies for each of the next three years to cover what Bailey called 'unpredictable costs," including the province's response to the tariffs. As industry and advocates get a look at the books, some are raising concerns about what was included and what was left out. The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association calls the budget out-of-touch and says the deficit, rising debt, and trade war will have dire consequences for the economy and the construction industry. The BC Council of Forest Industries says it is disappointed by the absence of dedicated support for the forestry sector which will be particularly hard hit by the new tariffs at a time when the industry is already facing significant challenge amid the ongoing softwood lumber dispute. Bailey told reporters on Tuesday that the budget will focus on education and health care, while also boosting a 'self-sufficient economy.' The Business Council of B.C. says it's concerned about "the ongoing deterioration in B.C.'s public finances" and what it considers the absence of a credible path to restore fiscal sustainability. B.C.'s taxpayer-supported debt is projected to be $97.7 billion at the end of 2024-25, approximately $9.1 billion more than was projected in the budget from the previous year. The deficit is expected to decrease to $9.9 billion by 2027-28. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2024 The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
