British Columbia Minute: Issue 67

British Columbia Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of British Columbia politics.

📅 This Week In British Columbia: 📅

• Calls are growing for salary caps on local politicians in BC after reports revealed some mayors earned significantly more than provincial cabinet ministers. Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie received nearly $400,000 in 2024 from various government bodies, prompting criticism from officials like Municipal Affairs critic Tony Luck, who supports provincial intervention to ensure fairness and transparency. Other high earners include Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley at $377,560 and Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West at $376,233. Critics argue this level of compensation exceeds what should be expected for municipal roles, with one councillor noting Brodie earns nearly as much as the US President. A Deloitte report has recommended the province legislate a cap on total income from all local appointments. While Mayor Brodie declined to comment directly on whether his salary is excessive, Metro Vancouver’s new Governance Committee is reviewing compensation levels. The provincial government plans to participate in this review and supports increasing transparency. Changes may be introduced as early as this fall, though no provincial salary cap has yet been mandated.
  
  
• The BC government is easing rules around development fee payments to help boost stalled homebuilding projects. Under the new policy, developers will pay only 25% of development charges at permit approval and the remaining 75% when the building is occupied, instead of paying all fees upfront. Builders will now have four years, instead of two, to complete these payments. The province will also allow the use of on-demand surety bonds instead of bank letters of credit, which can restrict developers’ access to financing. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says the changes are aimed at helping projects move forward despite rising construction costs and interest rates. Industry leaders, including the Urban Development Institute, welcomed the changes as a relief for builders struggling with capital access. Some developers have already had to lay off workers and cancel projects due to financial pressure. The government hopes these adjustments will speed up construction and make housing more affordable across the province.
  
  
• British Columbia has officially opened applications for its new publicly funded in-vitro fertilization (IVF) program, which covers one round of treatment per patient. The program provides up to $19,000 in funding for those aged 18 to 41, with limited eligibility for those turning 42 between April 1st and July 2nd, 2025. Funding is income-based, offering full coverage to households earning under $100,000 and phasing out for those over $250,000. The support can be used for various parts of the IVF process, including egg and sperm retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer. However, elective egg freezing is not included. The province allocated $68 million over two years for this initiative, which is expected to fund 1,100 to 4,500 IVF cycles annually. Applications must be submitted by a patient’s fertility doctor due to medical requirements and will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The program, originally set to launch in April, was delayed due to its complexity but brings BC in line with several other provinces offering similar fertility coverage.
  
  
• Dr. Jonathan Kerr, a Comox municipal Councillor and longtime family physician, has entered the race to become the next leader of the BC Green Party. He was the first to announce a leadership bid following Sonia Furstenau’s decision to step down after losing her seat in the last provincial election. In his announcement, he emphasized priorities such as affordable housing, universal access to family doctors, a strong economy, and environmental protection. He also plans to travel across the province to meet with voters and grow the party’s presence. Emily Lowan, a 24-year-old activist from Victoria, has also entered the race. With a background in climate organizing and student advocacy, Lowan has spent the past decade working on campaigns related to fossil fuel divestment, Indigenous solidarity, and housing rights. She previously served as UVic Student Union’s director of campaigns and worked with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Lowan’s platform focuses on tackling corporate influence, ending fossil fuel expansion, capping grocery prices, and promoting affordable housing. Voting for the new leader will take place from September 13th to 23rd, with results announced on September 24th.
  
  
• The BC government has pledged $734,000 to expand its province-wide hate crimes unit, following a federal contribution of $1.3 million earlier this year to support anti-hate efforts in Greater Victoria. The provincial funding will allow the RCMP unit to grow from two officers to seven, including five new officers and one intelligence analyst. This comes as hate crimes in BC have increased significantly, with a 23% overall rise between 2022 and 2023. Religion-related hate crimes jumped 50%, those targeting sexual orientation rose 43%, and race-based incidents climbed 12%. The new funding aims to boost investigations and ensure stronger court outcomes by enhancing evidence collection and coordination with prosecutors. BC remains the only province in Canada with a dedicated hate crimes unit.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Our friends at Canada Minute have a petition addressing the Online News Act, which, much like the recently scrapped Digital Services Tax (DST), is a flawed policy that harms Canada’s media landscape and economy. 

Instead of helping journalism, it has restricted access to news and unfairly favoured large legacy media, hurting independent and local outlets. 

It’s time for the federal government to learn from the DST and repeal this damaging law before more harm is done. 

If you agree, please sign the petition today:

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