Millions toward climate resiliency, parks and forest management in B.C. budget
While health care, housing, public safety and affordability concerns dominated the 2023 provincial budget, B.C.'s government has dedicated hundreds of millions of dollars towards natural disasters, forest management and provincial park maintenance.
Some $1.1 billion is dedicated to fighting climate change over the next three years, including $300 million to support replacement or repair of provincial infrastructure damaged by climate emergencies; this is in addition to $750 million to help communities affected by wildfires and the November 2021 floods announced in last year’s budget.
This year’s budget dedicates $85 million over three years to increase emergency-management capacity, which includes funding for First Nations and local governments.
As part of a $250 million investment in natural resources over three years, there will be:
- $101 million in operating and capital funding to preserve and expand BC Parks properties
- $21 million in partnerships with First Nations to protect old growth and determine where sustainable harvesting can take place
- $77 million to fast track and modernize the resource permitting process
- $6 million for what’s described as a “new critical minerals strategy”
- $49 million to maintain and upgrade forest service roads, for economic and recreational users alike
Over five years, $64 million will go toward the BC Wildfire Service as part of a federal-provincial cost-sharing arrangement geared toward staffing the agency year-round.
REDUCING EMMISSIONS, BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The province is touting what it describes as an unprecedented three-year investment of $100 million into transportation networks, including walking, cycling and transit.
“Research shows that behaviours will change when options for cleaner transportation are safe and convenient,” notes the 170-page budget document.
Another $40 million will continue a project to subsidize businesses, non-profits and public entities making the switch to electric vehicles through the CleanBC Go Electric Commercial Vehicle Pilot Program.
A new carbon pricing system will be announced in the spring, but a planned $15 increase to the carbon tax will go ahead on April 1, with the goal of making it $170 per tonne by 2030. Many British Columbians will qualify for an expanded offset credit also announced in the budget.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.