By Zak Vescera, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Susan MacRae wants to talk about what happened to her, but she can’t.
As a young girl, MacRae signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that prohibits her from discussing sexual abuse she suffered, even with family members or therapists.
Continue reading Greens Take Lead to Stop NDAs from Silencing Victims
By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Invisible to the naked eye, undetectable by smell and 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide for its short-term warming impact on the climate, methane is explosive, toxic and can make helicopters fall out of the sky. It’s like something out of a superhero movie — or a bad dream.
About half of Canada’s reported methane emissions are produced by the oil and gas industry, both from regular operations and leaks. But much of the climate damage caused by the sector’s methane pollution goes undetected due to weak regulations.
Continue reading An invisible climate killer is lurking behind B.C.’s LNG boomBy Zak Vescera, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The B.C. government is offering the first look at parts of a $460-million plan to plug a growing labour gap as employers struggle to fill jobs.
The province has budgeted $126 million in the next year for skills training, helping immigrants to have their credentials recognized and helping businesses hire staff.
Finance Minister Katrine Conroy said lack of staff is the number one issue for small businesses in the province.
Continue reading Labour Shortage, or Bad Jobs?
— with on the spot reporting, films and photographs from Helen Hall
In recent years, the BC government has made many promises, many representations to the public, about its intent to preserve what little is left of the Province’s old growth forests. Many BC residents, however, feel that — despite the arrival in office of more reality-based politicians such as David Eby — no real progress is being made.
Some of these residents attended a March and Rally in Victoria on February 25th, to express their concerns about deforestation and their frustration with the slowness of government response to what many describe as an ecological crisis. Helen Hall, longtime Cortes resident, traveled to Victoria to participate in this protest.
Continue reading February 25th Rally for Old Growth in Victoria BC
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
BC Ferries got a half-billion-dollar cash injection on the weekend to keep fares below inflation and help electrify the fleet.
However, while Premier David Eby and Transportation Minister Rob Fleming offered details on fare objectives over the next four years, they provided little information on the province’s goals for weaning ferries off fossil fuels.
Continue reading West Coast electric ferries lack the power to ditch diesel
