Latest news with #Kahlon
Global News
02-08-2025
- Business
- Global News
As Trump hikes tariffs, B.C. jobs minister urges Carney to ‘negotiate hard'
British Columbia's minister of jobs and economic growth is urging the federal government to stand firm and 'negotiate hard' when trying to find a solution to 35 per cent tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's Ravi Kahlon's advice to Prime Minister Mark Carney and his negotiating team is to keep up what they're doing, and 'find a path forward the best they can.' A statement from Premier David Eby's office says he remains focused on protecting workers and businesses in B.C. from the 'deeply harmful tariffs' imposed by Trump's administration. It says Eby supports the federal government's efforts to get a 'good deal' for Canada, adding that he looks forward to speaking to the prime minister about the situation. 1:09 Scott Moe says Canada should lower or remove counter-tariffs on the U.S. The United States imposed a 35 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods outside the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement on free trade after an agreement couldn't be reached by the Aug. 1 deadline. Story continues below advertisement Several other jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the European Union, have reached deals before the deadline. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Kahlon said Trump is 'constantly finding ways to raise the temperature' so 'they can squeeze out the most' from any agreement. He said he believes Carney and Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc are taking the right approach, 'which is keeping their head down, continue to be at the table, continue to find solutions, and not getting distracted by the day-to-day swings of the president of the United States.' He said he would also highlight the importance of the softwood lumber industry for B.C., which is just as crucial as the auto industry is to Ontario. 'The forest sector here in British Columbia should get the same support,' Kahlon said. Both Eby and Kahlon have repeatedly argued that the long-running softwood lumber dispute with the United States should be part of a larger deal. 5:53 CCPA on new Trump tariffs against Canada Brian Menzies, executive director of the Independent Wood Processors Association of British Columbia, said he is 'not very optimistic' that a future deal would also resolve the softwood dispute as the industry already faces combined tariffs and duties of almost 35 per cent. Story continues below advertisement 'We have been at this for eight years now, and there doesn't seem to be enough of a push on the American side to resolve this,' he said. Menzies also favours ongoing negotiations with the United States to resolve the tariff dispute. 'I would say it's better to get a good deal than a bad deal,' he said. 'I'd say right now, 'Do your best to stand up for what's important for Canada,'' he said. Menzies said being 'kowtowed and pushed over' is not good for Canada or the United States. 'People respect people who stand up for what's important to them, and that's the basis for any negotiation,' Menzies said. Menzies noted that any future deal with the United States might not last long, given Trump's temperament. Kahlon agreed. 'We take nothing for granted,' he said. 'It's a sad state for us in Canada to have a partner down south that doesn't honour a handshake, an agreement,' he said. 'It's hard to do business with somebody that is hard to trust when these things come.' Kahlon added that even the United Kingdom and the European Union are not sure if they actually have agreements with the United States. Story continues below advertisement 'So the uncertainty continues,' he said.
Hamilton Spectator
02-08-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
B.C.‘s Jobs Minister Kahlon urges Canada to ‘negotiate hard' over U.S. tariff raises
VICTORIA - British Columbia's minister of jobs and economic growth is urging the federal government to stand firm and 'negotiate hard' when trying to find a solution to 35 per cent tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's Ravi Kahlon's advice to Prime Minister Mark Carney and his negotiating team is to keep up what they're doing, and 'find a path forward the best they can.' A statement from Premier David Eby's office says he remains focused on protecting workers and businesses in B.C. from the 'deeply harmful tariffs' imposed by Trump's administration. It says Eby supports the federal government's efforts to get a 'good deal' for Canada, adding that he looks forward to speaking to the prime minister about the situation. The United States imposed a 35 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods outside the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement on free trade after an agreement couldn't be reached by the Aug. 1 deadline. Several other jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the European Union, have reached deals before the deadline. Kahlon said Trump is 'constantly finding ways to raise the temperature' so 'they can squeeze out the most' from any agreement. He said he believes Carney and Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc are taking the right approach, 'which is keeping their head down, continue to be at the table, continue to find solutions, and not getting distracted by the day-to-day swings of the president of the United States.' He said he would also highlight the importance of the softwood lumber industry for B.C., which is just as crucial as the auto industry is to Ontario. 'The forest sector here in British Columbia should get the same support,' Kahlon said. Both Eby and Kahlon have repeatedly argued that the long-running softwood lumber dispute with the United States should be part of a larger deal. Brian Menzies, executive director of the Independent Wood Processors Association of British Columbia, said he is 'not very optimistic' that a future deal would also resolve the softwood dispute as the industry already faces combined tariffs and duties of almost 35 per cent. 'We have been at this for eight years now, and there doesn't seem to be enough of a push on the American side to resolve this,' he said. Menzies also favours ongoing negotiations with the United States to resolve the tariff dispute. 'I would say it's better to get a good deal than a bad deal,' he said. 'I'd say right now, 'Do your best to stand up for what's important for Canada,'' he said. Menzies said being 'kowtowed and pushed over' is not good for Canada or the United States. 'People respect people who stand up for what's important to them, and that's the basis for any negotiation,' Menzies said. Menzies noted that any future deal with the United States might not last long, given Trump's temperament. Kahlon agreed. 'We take nothing for granted,' he said. 'It's a sad state for us in Canada to have a partner down south that doesn't honour a handshake, an agreement,' he said. 'It's hard to do business with somebody that is hard to trust when these things come.' Kahlon added that even the United Kingdom and the European Union are not sure if they actually have agreements with the United States. 'So the uncertainty continues,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Vancouver Sun
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
After repeated denials, B.C. NDP admits to problems inside supportive housing
VICTORIA — The New Democrats finally acknowledged this week that B.C.'s supportive housing projects have become havens for violence, weapons, fires, and drug use, confirming what critics have been saying for months and, in some cases, years. They also conceded that the government had made the problems worse by amending the Residential Tenancy Act to make it harder to evict the worst-case abusers from supportive housing. But they continued to delay fixing the problems they themselves had compounded. Rather they appointed a working group to come up with remedies, perhaps including repeal of the NDP-authored changes to the Act. A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. As recently as May, Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon had rebuffed pleas for regulatory and legislative relief from the mostly non-profit providers of supportive housing for homelessness, mental illness and drug addiction. 'I believe people are safe,' Kahlon said at the time. 'And I believe they are much safer than if they were in encampments or sleeping in parks. It is safer not only for the public, but it is also safer for individuals.' Yet there was Kahlon on Monday, presiding over a news conference where he pretty much conceded that the critics were right all along. Yes, there was a growing problem of drug-taking in supportive housing. 'We're seeing a greater shift toward smoking fentanyl instead of injecting, many of our supportive housing sites — in fact, most — have policies in place saying no smoking in your room. We also have concerns that we had supportive housing projects that had higher levels of fentanyl in the air.' Yes, there were chronic rule breakers. 'When you have individuals that consistently break the rules, that have a difficult time functioning in our supportive housing sites. … We have some individuals that have been offered housing, but they can't find a way to stay in that housing because they can't follow simple rules.' Yes, there were some genuinely bad actors. 'What I also see is some people trying to prey on vulnerable people at supportive housing, and that's unacceptable. And we are open to whatever measures are needed to keep everyone safe — workers, people living there in the community.' Yes, the government's legislative changes had made it harder to catch the worst offenders and harder still to evict them. 'We have heard from providers that they need more authority to take action and keep people safe, and we will be working with our partners to find a path forward that ensures people can live in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.' And there was growing evidence of trouble, ranging from the death of one person in a project in Victoria to the chaos surrounding three hotels turned into rooming houses on Granville Street in Vancouver. Hence the government's decision to take action. Sort of. 'People living and those working in supportive housing will be safer and better supported as the province begins work to ensure housing providers are able to take quick and decisive action against problematic tenants and guests, and address air-quality issues related to second-hand exposure to fentanyl,' Kahlon declared by news release. Far from taking 'quick and decisive action,' Kahlon referred the challenge to a 'time limited working group' with representation from the housing sector, police and other interested parties. The group was assigned to study 'requests from housing providers for more authority to respond to urgent safety issues and to explore the potential to remove supportive housing from the Residential Tenancy Act.' A delicate operation that, since the New Democrats last year strengthened the Act in the name of providing greater protection to the residents of social housing. But as Kahlon now concedes, the main victims of predatory rule breakers are the very people that the New Democrats sought to protect. 'I have visited many supportive housing sites throughout the province and the concerns that the folks that work there have are similar to those that live there and that are following the rules,' he told reporters. 'They, too, want a safe place. They too want to ensure that if they're following the rules that others are as well.' Amazing it took him and his colleagues this long to figure it out. The government is committed to taking the working group's advice, says Kahlon. Implementation could get underway as soon as the legislature resumes in October. Still, this is not exactly a rush job — the alarm bells began ringing a long time ago on the problems with supportive housing. The grudging response is entirely in keeping with the NDP's response to earlier criticism of its policies regarding decriminalization, open drug use, safer supply and repeat violent offenders. First came the claim that all was well. Then the attacks on anyone daring to challenge the NDP narrative. Kahlon last year accused supportive housing critics of 'punching down to score political points' on drug addicts, homelessness, the mentally ill and other vulnerable people. Then, after all the denials and recriminations, they concede the critics have a point and announce a plan to fix things. It's the Eby government method: It starts doing the right thing only after it has exhausted all the other options. vpalmer@
Hamilton Spectator
02-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
B.C. is easing rules on upfront costs for homebuilders to spur project construction
The British Columbia government is loosening the rules for payment of development fees in a bid to jump start home construction that has been hampered by upfront costs. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says among the biggest changes will be more flexible and extended payment timelines for homebuilders, so instead of paying development fees up front, they will pay 25 per cent at permit approval and 75 per cent when the building is occupied. Developers will also have four years, rather than two, to pay the charges, in rule changes that Kahlon says are needed because the current market conditions have stalled projects in the province. While some municipalities want letters of credit from a bank as a promise the work will be done, that can restrict a developer's access to credit, so the government will also change the regulations provincewide to allow for the financial guarantee of on-demand surety bonds. Kahlon says the rule changes could mean the difference between some housing projects moving ahead or not happening at all, due to high construction costs and interest rates that create financial burden for builders. Anne McMullin, president of the Urban Development Institute, says the requirement to pay development fees upfront has become increasingly onerous for builders, especially as fees rise and access to capital tightens. 'By shifting payment to occupancy, the provincial government is enabling more projects to move forward,' she told a news conference on Wednesday. In June, Vancouver-based Wesgroup Properties president Beau Jarvis said in a post on social media that the company had to lay off employees in what was a reflection of the broader realities facing the industry, with housing projects across the country being cancelled or delayed because they are no longer viable. Jarvis said they were also delivering homes that people couldn't afford to purchase. 'I will say it again — This is a cost-of-delivery crisis,' he said on LinkedIn. Kahlon said those were exactly the type of concerns for homebuilding that the B.C. government is trying to address. 'It means housing will be built faster and cheaper in our communities,' Kahlon said. 'And these kind of solutions sound maybe not as grand, but they are significant in the sense that they will make the difference between projects happening and projects not happening.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Global News
02-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
B.C. to ease rules on builders to spur new housing construction
The British Columbia government is loosening the rules for payment of development fees in a bid to jump start home construction that has been hampered by upfront costs. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says among the biggest changes will be more flexible and extended payment timelines for homebuilders, so instead of paying development fees up front, they will pay 25 per cent at permit approval and 75 per cent when the building is occupied. Developers will also have four years, rather than two, to pay the charges, in rule changes that Kahlon says are needed because the current market conditions have stalled projects in the province. 2:01 Municipalities push back over latest provincial list of communities getting housing targets While some municipalities want letters of credit from a bank as a promise the work will be done, that can restrict a developer's access to credit, so the government will also change the regulations provincewide to allow for the financial guarantee of on-demand surety bonds. Story continues below advertisement Kahlon says the rule changes could mean the difference between some housing projects moving ahead or not happening at all, due to high construction costs and interest rates that create financial burden for builders. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Anne McMullin, president of the Urban Development Institute, says the requirement to pay development fees upfront has become increasingly onerous for builders, especially as fees rise and access to capital tightens. 'By shifting payment to occupancy, the provincial government is enabling more projects to move forward,' she told a news conference on Wednesday. 1:58 New realtor trends emerging as housing market cools In June, Vancouver-based Wesgroup Properties president Beau Jarvis said in a post on social media that the company had to lay off employees in what was a reflection of the broader realities facing the industry, with housing projects across the country being cancelled or delayed because they are no longer viable. Story continues below advertisement Jarvis said they were also delivering homes that people couldn't afford to purchase. 'I will say it again — This is a cost-of-delivery crisis,' he said on LinkedIn. Kahlon said those were exactly the type of concerns for homebuilding that the B.C. government is trying to address. 'It means housing will be built faster and cheaper in our communities,' Kahlon said. 'And these kind of solutions sound maybe not as grand, but they are significant in the sense that they will make the difference between projects happening and projects not happening.'
