'Disappointing' federal budget leaves several B.C. asks unfilled
Provincial politicians are expressing disappointment the federal budget didn't allocate specific dollars for key infrastructure projects, and that a more robust plan for housing wasn't detailed.
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, who is developing a "housing refresh strategy" for B.C., said he had impressed upon the federal government the importance of housing.
"We are building our strategy regardless of what the federal government was going to do. Certainly was hopeful they would recognize that housing is one of the (top) issues," added Kahlon.
He said the new policy would be made available soon.
Housing is a big priority for Premier David Eby connecting to issues like homelessness, public safety and mental health and addictions. Yet, ministers here say they didn't see anything that would expedite and fund more homes.
Finance Minister Katrine Conroy said that was disappointing.
"We wanted a partnership. It's very hard to do everything we want to do without partnerships, so it's very important," Conroy said.
Also missing was any reference to the George Massey Tunnel replacement, and the Belleville terminal in Victoria. Not only is the Massey key to cross-border trade, it's the biggest traffic bottleneck in the province.
When the NDP formed government, it scrapped a BC Liberal plan for a bridge, opting for another tunnel instead. The Liberals are criticising the government for not acting fast enough, as Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Rob Fleming said a deal wasn't necessarily off the table.
"We wish that it was explicit in the budget but it doesn't mean there isn't funding consideration there. We heard the importance heard by (Dominic LeBlanc, federal infrastructure minister) and on two occasions the important expressed by Prime Minister Trudeau," he added.
There is excitement for a robust plan to get Canadians off their fossil fuel dependency.
The federal budget has funding to allow small businesses to get money to start clean energy projects. Plus, Crown corporations like BC Hydro will be eligible for tax credits, allowing them to build up a renewable source of energy.
Evan Pivnick, a policy manager for Clean Energy Canada said the money is a significant step towards renewables.
"We're going to talk wind, we're going to be talking solar, and I think we're going to even hear BC Hydro start to talk about that a lot more. I think there's also going to be a big conversation around Indigenous nations and the role they play in this. It's going to be hard to see in B.C. any project really going forward that doesn't have a substantial share, or in fact, full ownership by an Indigenous nation," Pivnick added.
Electrification, exploring hydrogen power, and mining for materials used in batteries are all industries that can get a boost as demand for power is expected to grow.
"We're trying to do the system we built in the last 100 years. We're trying to double or triple it in size in the next 20 to 30 years. It's a monumental undertaking, this starts to at least put those serious resources on the table to grasp that," explained Pivnick.
The next challenge will be where to get the workers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.