MLA's with 4 years of pension service (Need 6) HOW WILL THEY VOTE IN A CONFIDENCE MOTION ??

• A Member is not entitled to a pension unless he or she has served in the Legislature for at least six years, including the years the Member served immediately prior to the introduction of this plan (April 2007).
• Contributions are fixed at 11% of a Member's pensionable earnings (basic compensation and any additional salary earned). The amount of government contributions is determined by the public service board. All contributions are held and administered by the BC Pension Corporation on behalf of the Legislative Assembly.
• The amount of the annual pension is based on a benefit accrual rate of 3.5% of the highest 3-year average annual pensionable earnings. The maximum pension a Member may receive is 70% of these earnings.
• A Member is not entitled to a pension unless he or she has served in the Legislature for at least six years, including the years the Member served immediately prior to the introduction of this plan (April 2007).
• A Member receives an unreduced pension at age 65, with the option for a retired Member to take a reduced pension between the ages of 60 and 65 (3% reduction for each year pension payments commence before a Member's 65th birthday).
• The normal form of pension for a Member with a spouse at retirement is joint life, with the pension payable to the surviving spouse reduced to 60% on the Member's death. For a Member without a spouse at retirement, the pension is normally for life.

https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members
MLA: Dan Ashton  Penticton Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party 

MLA: Hon. Mike Bernier Minister of Education Peace River South Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party 

MLA: Judy Darcy New Westminster Elected 2013, 2017 BC NDP  
MLA: David Eby Vancouver-Point Grey Elected 2013, 2017 BC NDP 

MLA: Simon Gibson Abbotsford-Mission Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party 

MLA: George Heyman Vancouver-Fairview Elected 2013, 2017 BC NDP 

MLA: Marvin Hunt Surrey-Cloverdale Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party  

MLA: Greg Kyllo Shuswap Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party 

MLA: Linda Larson Boundary-Similkameen Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party  

MLA: John Martin Chilliwack Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party

MLA: Hon. Mike Morris Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Prince George-Mackenzie Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party  

MLA: Hon. Coralee Oakes Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction and Minister Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch

Cariboo North  Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party 

MLA: Dr. Darryl Plecas Abbotsford South Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party  

MLA: Jennifer Rice North Coast Elected 2013, 2017BC NDP 

MLA: Hon. Michelle Stilwell Minister of Social Development and Minister Responsible for AccessibilityParksville-Qualicum Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party 

MLA: Hon. Todd Stone Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

Kamloops-South Thompson Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party 

MLA: Hon. Jordan Sturdy Minister of Environment

West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party 

MLA: Hon. Sam Sullivan Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Minister Responsible for TransLink Vancouver-False Creek Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party 

MLA: Jackie Tegart Fraser-Nicola Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party 

MLA: Laurie Throness Chilliwack-Kent Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party 

MLA: Hon. Teresa Wat Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism

Richmond North Centre Elected 2013, 2017 British Columbia Liberal Party 

MLA: Dr. Andrew Weaver Oak Bay-Gordon Head Elected 2013, 2017 Independent 

MLA: Hon. Andrew Wilkinson  Minister of Justice Vancouver-Quilchena Elected 2013, 2017  British Columbia Liberal Party 
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Don Quixote Note: Originally posted Jun 17, 2017
If there is a NDP/Green government formed will the above MLA's choose to vote as whipped in a confidence vote or abstain in hope of getting the 2 more years needed to get their pension?? Or will a Liberal accept the Speakership from this list.

 A recall campaign in Abbotsford South is already gathering steam. It remains to be seen if Plecas will last the two years he needs to collect his suddenly enriched MLA pension.

17 Liberals & 4 NDP & 1 Green (Independent listed)

MLAs won’t pursue Liberal leadership

RICHARD ROLKEF Morning Star Jul 28th, 2017 1:58pm NEWS
Local MLAs are already insisting they won’t replace Christy Clark as B.C. Liberal leader. The party position is open after Clark announced she would step aside Friday.“There’s no desire to run for leader,” said Greg Kyllo, Shuswap MLA.
“I am well situated to provide representation to the Shuswap.” Eric Foster, the long-time MLA for Vernon-Monashee, also isn’t entertaining a run for the top job. “The answer to the question is no. I’m not interested in running for leader,” he said.“I don’t feel qualified to do the job.”

The Liberal Party has not determined when a leadership race will be held.Clark decision to resign as party leader comes after the Liberals narrowly won the provincial election but lost a non-confidence vote in the Legislature which led to the NDP forming power. “The premier leaves with her head held high,” said Kyllo, adding that the province has created a strong economy. “B.C. owes her a debt of gratitude for the leadership she’s provided.” Foster admits he’s disappointed by Clark’s departure as leader. “She’s been a great leader and a good friend,” he said. “We won more seats than the other guys. We just didn’t win it by enough. She’s done a great job and B.C. is No. 1.” Clark will also be stepping aside as MLA for Kelowna West, but it’s not known when a by-election may be held.Premier John Horgan says Clark should be thanked for her service to the province. “As an MLA and as Premier, Ms. Clark fought passionately for what she believed in. I know she will take that passion and energy to her next opportunity. I wish her all the best in her future endeavours,” he said in a release.

MSP CUTS in 2018 and PST reduction on electricity not confirmed.

Because the Liberal Budget was not passed before the election (and will cease to exist if Liberals fail the non-confidence vote on June 29) these cuts will not happened.  The NDP/Greens will have to bring in a budget and may resurrect these cuts??

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Small businesses are also getting a boost from the budget. The province plans to eliminate PST on electricity by April 2019 and cut it by 50 per cent as of Oct. 1, 2017. (This would reduce the PST from 7% to 3.5%)
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As part of its 2017 budget, the Liberal government announced approximately two million British Columbians will have their monthly Medical Services Plan (MSP) premiums cut in half starting Jan. 1, 2018.The MSP break will apply to those with an annual family net income between $29,000 and $120,000, but the reduction won't be automatic. MSP payers will have to fill out an online form to qualify for the reduction.
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Vernon Data from Payments to Vendors in Excess of $25,000 :

• BC Hydro & Power Authority 2,735,122 - Electric utility, pole relocates and contributions in aid. From the 2017 budget the taxpayers electrical bill is $1,359,634 and saving would be $47,587.  From the 2017 budget the Ratepayers (Sewer) electrical bill is $928,964 and saving would be $32,514. 
• 
  
• Medical Services Plan of BC 440,661 Employee benefits (440,661-21,000 (14 employees above $120m not eligible) =$419,661 x 50% =  $209,803 possible reduction in budget  for 2018 IF  implemented ???

Inside the NDP-Green governing agreement

Raise carbon tax, cut MSP premiums and raise minimum wage to $15
TOM FLETCHER Tue May 30th, 2017 2:00pmNEWS

The cooperation agreement between the B.C. NDP and the B.C. Green Party calls for increasing the carbon tax starting next year, “immediately” beginning measures to stop the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline, and establish a “fair wages commission” to move to a minimum wage of “at least” $15 an hour.NDP and Green MLAs met at the B.C. legislature Tuesday to sign the agreement, to be forwarded with a letter to Lt. Governor Judith Guichon this week asking for consideration of their status to govern. Opposition MLAs signed the agreement minutes after Premier Christy Clark announced she will call a new session to present a speech from the throne. That would be the united opposition’s first opportunity to defeat the government and propose an NDP government supported by the Greens.

With an NDP government supported by three B.C. Green MLAs, the carbon tax would rise by $5 to $35 a tonne in April 2018, continuing to rise by $5 a year until it reaches $50 a tonne by 2021, as dictated by the federal government.

The parties have agreed to proceed with a 50-per-cent reduction of Medical Services Plan in January 2018, as promised in the NDP platform. The NDP intends to stick to its plan to eliminate MSP entirely within four years, with some of the burden shifting to the income tax system.

The agreement does not include specifics on liquefied natural gas, but meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets would make it more difficult for large projects to proceed. Education, seniors care, child care and Metro Vancouver transit improvements are listed as priorities for improvement, but there are few specifics. The agreement echoes the NDP platform, pledging to meet government guidelines for for public and private care homes.
Other highlights of the agreement:
• Neither party has the right to unilaterally dissolve parliament, which would sit for four and a half years to move the scheduled election date to the fall of 2021. Spring and fall sessions of the B.C. legislature would be made mandatory.
• Legislation would be introduced to hold a referendum on proportional representation in the fall of 2018.
• The Greens are recognized as a third party, which provides additional money for support staff and increased pay for the leader, house leader and caucus whip.
• Both parties recognize the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and recommendations of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation agreement.
• Put BC Hydro’s Site C dam project to immediate review by the B.C. Utilities Commission, but construction would continue, with major contracts already let and work in the river underway.
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Don Quixote Note: $5 rise in the carbon tax each year for next 4 years. GST at 5% charged (pimped) by federal Government.

For non Residential Hydro users it will be interesting to see if the new Green-NDP honours the Liberal Change to eliminate PST (7%) being phased out???

Sent an e-mail to Both Green and NDP leader :

Will you be honouring this PST elimination  ??? This effects all non residential customers including Municipalities etc.

https://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/alliance/news-features/business-rates.html

PST on power bills to be cut in half on October 1, 2017

As part of the BC Budget unveiled on February 14, the BC Government announced that the tax rate on electricity for BC Hydro business customers will be reduced to 3.5% from 7%, effective October 1, 2017. And business customers will be fully exempt starting April 1, 2019.

BC Hydro residential electricity bills are already exempt from the PST.

Conservatives rebuild

Fri May 12th, 2017 8:00amNEWS Morning Star

The B.C. Conservative Party will hold meetings in May and June in the North Okanagan. The goal is to rebuild the party’s grassroots organization. “If the results of the recent election hold through recounts and absentee ballot counts, there will very probably be another election within the next two years,” said Scott Anderson, party official, of a likely minority government. “The B.C. Conservatives intend to be ready with a full slate of candidates when that happens.” The B.C. Conservatives ran 56 candidates in 2013, and 10 candidates in 2017.

April 26 provincial election debate

http://globalnews.ca/news/3376707/where-to-send-your-questions-for-the-b-c-leaders-debate/
A debate between all party leaders in the 2017 B.C. provincial election will be held on Wednesday, April 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The debate, which will feature BC Liberal leader Christy Clark, NDP leader John Horgan and Green Party leader Andrew Weaver, will be broadcast on all major television and radio news networks in B.C. Global BC and CKNW are part of the broadcast consortium hosting the debate.

The April 26 debate will be a chance for the public to hear where the candidates stand on a number of issues that are critical to the future of the province. This will be the only live televised debate of the campaign and your chance to see the leaders together.

We want to hear from you. If you have a question for the party leaders, email it to bcdebate2017@gmail.com for consideration.
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Don Quixote Note: Here are my questions I sent in.

1. What is your schedule for implementation of the Carbon Tax.  (Understand that NDP will accelerate the carbon tax per ton ??)

2. Will your party eliminate the carbon tax on Cremations in B.C. 

3. There is an e-petition to be presented on May 4  in the House of Commons https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-713Petition=e-713  and a private members bill http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&DocId=8830027&Col=1 to be debated in April in the house of Commons.  Will your party support the elimination of any GST been charged on the carbon tax.

http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/2017/04/questions-and-answers-re-gst-being.html

Taxation Oral Questions April 13th, 2017 / 11:50 a.m. https://openparliament.ca/debates/2017/4/13/mark-warawa-1/

Conservative 

Mark Warawa Langley—Aldergrove, BC

Mr. Speaker, a new report reveals that the Prime Minister will take $130 million out of Alberta and B.C. this year by charging GST on top of their provincial carbon taxes. It is shocking. That is $130 million in federal taxes, despite the Prime Minister's promise that carbon pricing would be revenue neutral for the federal government. It is yet another broken promise that will take more money out of the pockets of hard-working Canadians.

Will the Prime Minister stop increasing taxes, keep his promises, and immediately eliminate this unfair tax on a tax?

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Mel Arnold North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC Conservative 

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are adding bigger deficits, and Canadians are being taxed deeper and deeper in debt.

The Prime Minister claimed that revenue from his carbon tax would stay in the provinces and territories where it was collected, yet the GST on carbon tax goes to Ottawa.

When will the Prime Minister get his story straight, come clean with Canadians, and not tax a tax to pay for his out-of-control spending?

Money lands at airport

by Darren Handschuh - CASTANET  Mar 22, 2017 / 10:17 am |
Close to a million dollars has landed at the Vernon airport thanks to the B.C. government. The latest of a flurry of funding announcements from the ruling BC Liberal Party has the airport receiving $823,700 in funding from the B.C. Air Access Program this year for runway rehabilitation. Vernon-Monshee MLA Eric Foster made the announcement Wednesday morning. Ian Adkins, aiport supervisor for the city of Vernon, said that is good news for the future of the facility. Adkins said the money will extend the life of the runway for another 25 years. “This is one of the areas that was identified as needing to be done right away,” said Adkins. “The runway has reached the end of its lifespan and we need to ensure it's there for future users. This will guarantee that the runway is available.” Mayor Akbal Mund said the upgrades will make the airport safe. Mund said Kal Air uses the airport several times a day “so it's important for our business sector to bring clients in and out. “Also there are other planes that land here. Kelowna International Airport has been growing and there will be other, smaller airplanes that will re-locate here for their own safety because as Kelowna expands I'm sure they will not have the room to support the smaller aircraft.”

Conservatives Name Candidate

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 KISS FM Pete McIntyre March 21, 2017 05:03 pm

The BC Conservative Party has chosen its BC election candidate in the Vernon-Monashee riding. Nels Harrington owns and operates Harrington’s Renovations, a construction company based in Coldstream. Harrington, 54, was born in B.C., lived on cattle farms in McBride and Alberta, and grew up in a conservative family in B.C.’s Interior where his father was an educator, author and public figure while his mother became head nurse of the extended-care wing of Polson Jubilee Hospital. He and his wife have four children and live in Vernon. “My many years of experience operating a small business have convinced me of the need for local people to step forward and bring good government back to B.C.,” says Harrington. “As a small business owner I have had first-hand experience with the myriad challenges facing small business operators,” he adds, citing imbalanced regulatory frameworks that favour large corporations, privatization of public assets that drive up costs and increasing pressures from automation and other shifts in the business climate that need to be addressed.He is the party’s fourth candidate in BC so far. Vernon city councillor Scott Anderson is Harrington’s campaign manager.

Central Okanagan water systems getting over $85 million from province

By Jenna Hickman InfoTel News arch 17, 2017 - 4:41 PM

KELOWNA - The provincial government handed out over $85 million for water systems in the Central Okanagan this afternoon. The funding announcements from the province's Clean Water and Wastewater Fund were made at a media conference in Kelowna this afternoon, March 17. Kelowna is getting close to $44 million from in government funding for the City's Integrated Water Supply Plan, West Kelowna will receive over $41 million for the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant and the regional district is getting about $602,000 for a project to improve the Falcon Ridge Water System. “This is the largest grant amount the City of Kelowna can recall receiving, so we’re thrilled,” Kelowna mayor Colin Basran says. “This is a really significant day because it sets in motion this 2017 Integrated Water Supply Plan and it is a great first step.” The project, which was announced March 1, is a long-term plan aimed to supply Kelowna residents with clean water. The total cost of the project is $61.3 million, with a combined local contribution of $17.4 million. Since his election in 2014, Basran has made it a priority to address Kelowna’s water issues. Further engineering work needs to be done, but he says the City aims to provide the majority of South East Kelowna Irrigation District ratepayers with water by late 2019 and to all customers in the city by 2020. The over $41 million for West Kelowna will put construction of the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant five years ahead of schedule. “The City of West Kelowna is grateful beyond words for this generous contribution, which will put us on the fast track to building a state of the art facility with the aim of bringing water quality assurances to the entire northern half of our city,” Mayor Doug Findlater says.
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http://coldstreamernews.blogspot.ca/2017/03/kelowna-recives-44-million-for-domestic.html

Canada and British Columbia invest in 144 new water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the province Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/3274588#ixzz4bbzzwrnH

$9 Million For Water Projects

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 KISS FM Pete McIntyre March 17, 2017 12:05 pm 
The BC and federal governments have announced over 9 million dollars in funding for water projects in the North Okanagan.The announcements include 5.8 million dollars for the Duteau Creek Treatment Plant UV disinfection addition, along with just over three million dollars for a sewer extension project in Vernon’s Okanagan Landing. Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster denies the announcements are election related.“This is the typical year end, when you’ve got a surplus, capital projects. In years when you don’t have a surplus, or have a smaller surplus, you can’t do as much. We just happen to have a lot of money this year,” Foster tells Kiss FM.Also getting grants are Coldstream and Lumby for water projects: $107,900 for Coldstream sewer line extension, $200,176 for a groundwater supply evaluation & monitoring well construction in Lumby, and $198,477 for a long-term wastewater treatment plant upgrades in Lumby.


https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2017/03/backgrounder_canadaandbritishcolumbiaannouncenewwaterandwastewat.html

The governments of Canada and British Columbia have approved a new list of projects under the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF), which supports the rehabilitation of community drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and the planning and design of future systems that meet drinking water and wastewater effluent standards.

The Government of Canada allocated $225,067,721 to British Columbia under the CWWF and will fund up to 50 per cent of the eligible project costs. The Government of British Columbia will provide up to $148.5 million and will fund 33 per cent of the eligible project costs. With local governments providing the remainder, a combined total of $450 million will provide B.C. families with clean and reliable drinking water and wastewater services.

As part of the bilateral agreement between Canada and British Columbia, the following 144 projects have now been approved for federal funding amounting to more than $186.6 million. Combined with provincial funding of nearly $123.2 million and local government contributions of over $63.4 million, more than $373.2 million will be going toward projects across the province.
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Location Project Name Federal Funding Provincial Funding Municipal Funding Anticipated Start Date

 

Funding For Cycling Projects

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 KISS FM Pete McIntyre March 13, 2017 05:28 pm
Vernon and Coldstream will receive a combined sum of $637,468 in BikeBC funding this year. MLA Eric Foster says projects receiving BikeBC funding include $200,804 for the District of Coldstream for a Coldstream Creek Multi-Use shoulder, and $436,664 for the City of Vernon for the Okanagan Rail Trail Connector (Kalamalka Lake Road Mutli-Use Path) and 29th/30th Street Transportation Corridor Phase 5. “This BikeBC funding will help develop several pathways, including the scenic route along the Kalamalka Lake,” says Foster. “This investment allows Vernon and Coldstream residents to enjoy their beautiful towns and B.C.’s great outdoors.” BikeBC is the Province’s cost-sharing program that helps communities build cycling projects that attract and support commuter and tourism cyclists.

Dorval to face Foster in election

by Kate Bouey - CASTANET Mar 12, 2017 / 4:14 pm |

The NDP has finally chosen a candidate to run in the May 9 provincial election against Liberal MLA Eric Foster. Barry Dorval, an English teacher at W.L. Seaton Secondary School, was nominated at a meeting on Sunday. Dorval defeated Harwinder Sandhu, a nurse at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, to take the nomination. “My main concerns continue to be finding really decent employment, dealing with homelessness, education,” Dorval said the meeting. “A lot of provincial issues impact what is happening locally as well.” A former president of the Vernon Teachers Association, Dorval also questioned Foster's priorities when dealing with local issues. “My concern has been his ability to listen to what's happening here and reflect that back to Victoria rather than acting the other way where he's coming and representing Victoria to Vernon.” Sandhu also took a swipe at Foster, who has won the provincial seat in two elections. “He has failed on so many levels,” Sandhu said, a proponent of better health care and affordability for people in the Valley. “He has not done the job he should be doing.” Sandhu questioned the timing of the recently announced MRI machine – expected to be in place at Vernon Jubilee Hospital by 2018 – saying it was made just in time for the election. An official at the meeting said it looked like about 80 people were present, though it's not clear exactly how many voted, nor by how much Dorval won. The other official candidate in the riding is the Green Party’s Keli Westgate.

Two Running For NDP

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 KISS FM Ron Manz February 28, 2017 09:28 am
With just over two months until the May 9th provincial election, the NDP party has announced two candidates are seeking their nomination in Vernon Monashee. Vernon residents Barry Dorval and Harwinder Sandhu are running, with the nomination meeting set for the Vernon Elks Lodge at 1 pm March 12. Dorval is an English teacher at W.L. Seaton Secondary, while Sandhu is a nurse who has lived in Vernon since 2012. The winner will join incumbent Liberal MLA Eric Foster and the Green Party’s Keli Westgate in the race.

B.C. announces 50-cent-an-hour increase in minimum wage, starting in September

February 27, 2017 - 7:45 PM INFONEWS.CA
- VICTORIA - The minimum wage in British Columbia will rise by 50 cents to $11.35 an hour in mid-September. The ministry says there will be an identical increase of 50 cents to the minimum wage for liquor servers, bringing it to $10.10 per hour in September. The Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Ministry says the new wages include a 20-cent increase based on British Columbia's 2016 Consumer Price Index, plus an additional 30 cents. The minimum wage was raised to $10.85 an hour last September. Irene Lanzinger, president of the B.C. Federation of Labour, said at the time that still left 500,000 workers earning poverty level wages of below $15 an hour. In a news release, the ministry says when self-employed people are excluded, there were 93,800 workers earning the minimum wage last year in a workforce of just under two million people. The ministry says it will announce more details later on increases in the daily rates for live-in home support and camp leaders, monthly rates for resident caretakers and the pay rates affecting farm workers harvesting certain fruits and vegetables.

B.C. budget proposes PST relief for business electricity bills

Current Reg. Re PST exemption
for Residential And Farm Use
http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/documents
_library/bulletins/pst_200.pdf

By Tom Fletcher -  February 21, 2017 Kamloops this week.
Finance Minister Mike de Jong has accepted the advice of a business advisory group, proposing to take the provincial sales tax off business electricity bills over the next two years. In his pre-election budget on Tuesday, Feb. 21, de Jong announced a plan to cut the PST on electricity in half effective Oct. 1, from seven per cent to 3.5. The rest would be removed on April 1, 2019. Residential and farm power bills are already exempt from PST. Municipalities, hospitals and schools pay PST on their electricity purchases and would benefit from the change.
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Don Quixote Note: If the Liberals get elected and this 3.5% reduction comes into effect and does apply to Municipalities then Vernon's Municipal budget for electricity should be reduced by 3.5%. The effect on our street lights budget  

2-602 ELECTRICITY  $563,854 STREET LIGHTS (421)

and Spray Irrigation and Sewer system budget 2-602 ELECTRICITY    $773,840  : SPRAY IRRIGATION (490)

2-602 ELECTRICITY   $113,678   VWRC (TREATMENT) (491) will be 1,451,372 x .035 = $50,798 in 2018.

There will be a smaller savings for the October to Dec. period in 2017. The above 3 line items come from the 2017 Vernon Budget. 

There are other line items of electrical use by the city for example : 2-602 ELECTRICITY $152,518 (MULTI USE FACILITY - OPERATIONS (840)

2-602 ELECTRICITY  $159,944 AQUATIC CENTRE (865)

There should be a savings on our water bills at GVAC as they have a large bill for the electricity used by the Mission Hill & Duteau water treatment Plants.

BC BUDGET: PST relief proposed for business electricity bills

by Tom Fletcher - BC Local News Victoria BC posted Feb 21, 2017 at 2:00 PM
Finance Minister Mike de Jong has accepted the advice of a business advisory group, proposing to take the provincial sales tax off business electricity bills over the next two years. In his pre-election budget Tuesday, de Jong announced a plan to cut the PST on electricity in half effective Oct. 1, from seven per cent to 3.5. The rest would be removed in April 1, 2019. Residential and farm power bills are already exempt from PST. Municipalities, hospitals and schools pay PST on their electricity purchases and would benefit from the change. De Jong set up a Commission on Tax Competitiveness last year, and it identified B.C. as the only jurisdiction in North America that applies sales tax to electricity bills.

In January, mayors of North Cowichan, Quesnel, Vernon, Port Alberni, Mackenzie, Powell River, Taylor and Port Alice wrote to de Jong asking for the measure to assist struggling sawmills and pulp mills. "It's good news for the pulp and paper industry, good news for our workers and communities," said Len Posyniak, senior vice president of Catalyst Paper. "We're BC Hydro's largest industrial user, and we make up about five per cent of the load." The province currently takes in about $164 million a year from the tax. The finance ministry estimates that the elimination would save small and medium-sized businesses about $50 million a year. The budget also proposes to reduce the small business income tax rate by half a point to two per cent. De Jong said that puts B.C's small business tax at the second lowest rate in Canada, behind Manitoba which has no income tax on small business.

B.C. Budget 2017 Highlights.pdf

http://bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2017/speech/BudgetSpeech_2017.pdf

http://bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2017/highlights/Balanced_Budget_2017_Highlights.pdf

Green candidate enters the race

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star Vernon-Monashee posted Feb 16, 2017 at 1:00 PM

The race for Vernon-Monashee is picking up. Keli Westgate will represent the Green Party in the May provincial election.
“I believe Vernon-Monashee is ready for a fresh perspective and some new leadership,” said Westgate, who is the sales and marketing manager at Spa Hills Compost. “As a mother of a school-aged child and the daughter of senior parents who live here, I am very motivated to build a valley that works for us all, where health is a top priority, and people can feel supported by their community when they need help and where all of us chip in and work together to improve all of our lives. I hope to inspire others to action, especially those that have felt left behind by the status quo.” She is a director with the Sustainable Environment Network Society and has been involved with O’Keefe Ranch. She has also worked in the communications industry and the film sector and was a workshop facilitator for the provincial government on gang and youth violence prevention. “Keli is a welcome addition to the B.C. Green team,” said Andrew Weaver, Green Party leader. “She is a dynamic professional with experience in multiple fields that will be invaluable in the B.C. Legislature.” The other declared candidates in Vernon-Monashee are incumbent Liberal MLA Eric Foster and Don Jefcoat, with the Libertarian Party. The NDP have not selected a candidate yet.

Tax credit offered for volunteer searchers, firefighters mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca

by Tom Fletcher - BC Local News North Vancouver BC posted Feb 11, 2017 at 11:00 AM
The BC Liberal government is adding a provincial tax credit to its pre-election budget for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue members, worth up to $150 a year. Volunteers who put in 200 hours a year for search and rescue, firefighting or both would be eligible for the tax credit, starting this year. Combined with a federal tax credit, volunteers would receive about $600 a year in tax breaks for their efforts. "These local heroes leave the comfort of home to rush out into often dangerous and unpredictable conditions, in every type of environment, to provide a beacon of hope to both those lost and to the families waiting at home," said Naomi Yamamoto, minister of state for emergency preparedness, making the announcement in North Vancouver Saturday. Bob Stevens, president of the Volunteer Firefighters Association of B.C., said the tax credit is welcome recognition for people who in many cases receive no compensation for their effort and personal expense. "Many small communities in B.C. rely heavily on volunteer firefighters and search and rescue groups to provide protection and assistance in times of need," Stevens said. Yamamoto said in an interview the tax credit will cost the province about $1 million a year, in addition to the $5 million a year currently provided for training and materials and $9 million in the current fiscal year to compensate volunteer organizations for fuel, helicopters and other expenses. The B.C. Search and Rescue Association has 2,500 volunteers in 80 groups in the province. The Volunteer Firefighters Association of B.C. has 177 active volunteer fire departments with about 4,500 volunteer members. The B.C. government is set to unveil a monument to search and rescue volunteers on the grounds of the B.C. legislature on March 2.
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Don Quixote Note: My input to the Provincial budget in January 2017. (1 positive response re Provincial Tax credit for 2 of the3 First Responders Volunteers.
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Date: January 15, 2017 at 8:21:51 AM PST
To: citizenengagement@gov.bc.ca,  cc mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca

RE upcoming Budget:

1. The Volunteer Fire personnel (2011) and the Volunteers at Search and Rescue (2014) get a tax credit from the Federal Government. The Police auxiliary volunteers do not so far. (expecting a response in upcoming budget in reaction to petition E-29 https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-29)

Will your government consider a Provincial tax credit for all 3 of these Volunteer First Responders group ?

2. Will the Carbon tax be removed from Cremations done in the Province of B.C. ?? (Recognize that unlike other provinces within this country that do charge HST or a Prov. Sales tax, B.C. does not Charge PST on Cremations). However beside the carbon tax on the Cremations the feds charge their 5% GST on the Carbon Tax. (Tax on a tax)

3. Since Carbon Tax was introduced in B.C. in 2008 the GST has been charged the Carbon Tax. Estimates based on the $ 1.271 billion in estimated Carbon Tax for 2016/17 in B.C. the Feds are ripping off $63.55 million in GST from our Revenue Neutral Carbon Tax Program. (Total Estimated Carbon Tax Revenue Recycling 2008-2015 Carbon tax revenue: $7.3 billion - GSt on this would be $365 million)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-trudeau-climate-change-1.3788825
"Whatever model a province chooses, Trudeau said, it will be revenue neutral for the federal government, with any revenues generated under the system staying in the province or territory where they are generated.”

In view of this statement from the Prime Minister will the Province seek to have the GST removed from the Carbon Tax immediately??

B.C. considers business sales tax relief

by Tom Fletcher - BC Local News Victoria BC posted Jan 25, 2017 at 1:00 PM
B.C. is the only place in North America that charges sales tax on business electricity bills, a cost the finance ministry is considering removing to help the struggling forest and mining industries.The issue was identified in November when an expert panel on tax competitiveness reported back to Finance Minister Mike de Jong. It noted that the province takes in $160 million from provincial sales tax (PST) on electricity bills, part of a generally high-tax environment for business and investment in B.C. relative to the national average. Last week, mayors of eight forest-dependent communities wrote to de Jong and Premier Christy Clark, asking for PST relief for lumber, pulp and paper producers in their communities."Communities in rural B.C. are not experiencing the same economic growth enjoyed in Lower Mainland communities," wrote the mayors of North Cowichan, Quesnel, Vernon, Port Alberni, Mackenzie, Powell River, Taylor and Port Alice.

"Eliminating the PST on electricity for businesses is meaningful action you can take that would not only help the forestry industry and the jobs it supports, but will also benefit the mining industry and other energy-intensive job creators in our province." The finance ministry issued a statement Tuesday acknowledging that de Jong is "considering this proposal along with many other spending priorities as we prepare the upcoming provincial balanced budget and longer-term fiscal plan." Energy Minister Bill Bennett said the issue has come up over the years, but the Commission on Tax Competitiveness report has created a "unified focus" among groups including the B.C. Business Council, the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, the Vancouver Board of Trade as well as mining and forestry associations. It would be a cabinet decision that would only be revealed when de Jong tables the provincial budget Feb. 21.

"Taking PST off the purchase of electricity would help pulp mills, would help the sawmills, would help the mines," Bennett said Wednesday. "It would help small business, and B.C. is one of the only, if not the only jurisdiction that charges sales tax on purchase of electricity." The commission found that B.C.'s PST is an impediment to investment in machinery and equipment, which it found to be the third lowest of any Canadian province.
CommissionOnTaxCompetitiveness Nov 2016