By Zak Vescera, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Paul Finch’s union is about to become a landlord.
The BC General Employees’ Union hopes to start building a 292-unit housing development in Burnaby next year, and at least 50 per cent of the units will rent at below-market rates. The building will also include new offices for the union.
Continue reading How High-Priced Housing Became a Union Issue
National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
An international student leading a controversial civil resistance campaign to end old-growth logging in B.C. is fearful the Canada Border Services Agency is looking to deport him.
Zain Haq, a co-founder of the Save Old Growth (SOG) protest group behind a recent series of highway blockades across the province, has been ordered to show up at a CBSA office.
The third-year history major at Simon Fraser University who hails from Pakistan is in Canada on a study permit, a document issued by Immigration Canada.
Continue reading Save Old Growth organizer fears his climate activism has made him a target for deportationBy John Woodside, National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Burnaby is fighting back against Trans Mountain’s request to be excused from certain fire safety plans.
In early December, the Crown corporation that is building a pipeline from Edmonton to a Burnaby terminal filed a request to the Canada Energy Regulator asking for a “constitutional declaration” that would allow it to build without having secured proper fire safety permits from the city. Since then, the city has mounted a defence and last week filed sworn affidavits accusing Trans Mountain of dodging critically important fire safety requirements.
Continue reading Trans Mountain wants to sidestep fire safety bylaws at Burnaby terminalAt least six protesters have been arrested in this latest phase of the ongoing confrontation between TMX construction crews and self-styled ‘land defenders.’ The immediate struggle is to prevent workers from clearing more than 1,300 trees along the pipeline route through Burnaby. This was to have been carried out between Aug 1 and Sept 15th. The arrests began on September 7th, but a coalition calling itself “Protect the Planet STOP TMX” (PPST) has occupied this site since August 3, 2020.
Continue reading Confrontation over the pipeline continues in BurnabyIn the midst of heat wave that is breaking temperatures across British Columbia, the BC Wildfire Service is imposing a ban on all open fires, including campfires, fireworks, tiki torches, outdoor stoves, sky lanterns, and/or burn barrels in the Greater Campbell River area.
This prohibition will remain in effect until noon on Oct. 15, 2021, or until the order is rescinded.
Continue reading Heat wave: Campfire Ban
