Jeff Nagel

B.C. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver celebrates his party breakthrough with new Green MLA Adam Olsen. (Arnold Lim/Black Press)

ELECTION: 43 Liberals to rule as minority vs NDP’s 41, three Greens

Christy Clark aims to continue to govern as premier without a majority

B.C. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver celebrates his party breakthrough with new Green MLA Adam Olsen. (Arnold Lim/Black Press)
The Kinder Morgan pipeline is a continuing target of protests in B.C.

Pipeline may well be defeated in courts, not the streets

Federal approval of Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline twinning will face many legal challenges

The Kinder Morgan pipeline is a continuing target of protests in B.C.
Chris Friesen is settlement services director of the Immigrant Services Society of B.C.

Refugee target for 2017 ‘disappointing’: B.C. advocate

Government-assisted refugees accepted to drop below 2015 levels

Chris Friesen is settlement services director of the Immigrant Services Society of B.C.
Flu vaccination rates dipped last year in B.C. after problems with the vaccine composition poorly matching the prevalent influenza virus.

Deadlier flu season may be brewing for B.C.

Vaccine mismatch unlikely to impede protection this year, but most dangerous H3N2 strain expected to be dominant

Flu vaccination rates dipped last year in B.C. after problems with the vaccine composition poorly matching the prevalent influenza virus.
Greater naloxone availability has been part of B.C.'s strategy to counter a growing crisis of opioid drug deaths.

Drug overdose deaths this year now more than all of 2015

555 lives lost in B.C. in first nine months, fentanyl detected in 61 per cent of cases

Greater naloxone availability has been part of B.C.'s strategy to counter a growing crisis of opioid drug deaths.
An upstairs apartment above a plaza in Revelstoke rents for $250 a night on Airbnb.

Airbnb pledges to help B.C. cities regulate, tax vacation rentals

UBCM forum told of growing concern about impact on housing supply, options for local regulations

An upstairs apartment above a plaza in Revelstoke rents for $250 a night on Airbnb.
Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt speaks to resolution on fossil fuel-free investing at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.

B.C. cities seek to end oily investments

UBCM vote calls for alternative, despite challenges

Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt speaks to resolution on fossil fuel-free investing at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.
Delegates voting Wednesday morning at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria.

B.C. cities join push to halt Vancouver Island old-growth logging

UBCM delegates vote to protect remaining ancient forests on Crown land

Delegates voting Wednesday morning at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria.
Townhouses under construction in Surrey.

BC Liberals pledge 3,000 new units through $500m housing fund

Few details yet on new affordable housing projects, to be funded in part by foreign buyers tax

Townhouses under construction in Surrey.
Grizzly bear near Squamish.

B.C. bear encounters soar with good weather, poor berries (with VIDEO)

Conservation officers contend with aggressive grizzly near Squamish, urge caution as wildlife conflicts surge

Grizzly bear near Squamish.
Rising numbers of crashes and higher claims costs are hurting ICBC's bottom line.

ICBC seeks 4.9 per cent basic rate hike as crashes, costs climb

$60 a year increase for most drivers once optional auto insurance increase is included

Rising numbers of crashes and higher claims costs are hurting ICBC's bottom line.
Map from tracking service Inside Airbnb shows locations of more than 4

Airbnb, housing issues get spotlight at UBCM

Cities seek government action to 'level playing field' with existing hotels, avoid loss of long-term rentals to vacation market

Map from tracking service Inside Airbnb shows locations of more than 4
Fentanyl may be passed off as Oxycontin or can be added to other opiates sold by dealers.

CHARTS: Drug overdose deaths in B.C. by city, region

Vancouver is top B.C. city for drug fatalities, but high numbers also in Surrey, Victoria, Nanaimo, Kamloops and Kelowna

Fentanyl may be passed off as Oxycontin or can be added to other opiates sold by dealers.
Liquor store operators say they should be authorized to sell recreational marijuana when it's legalized in Canada.

Liquor stores aim to sell marijuana

Private, government stores 'best suited' to become weed dealers, say union, store owners

Liquor store operators say they should be authorized to sell recreational marijuana when it's legalized in Canada.
Victoria businessman David Black spoke to Rotarians in South Surrey Nov. 18 about his proposal for an oil refinery in northwestern B.C.

Black touts ‘safer’ oil-by-rail plan for B.C. refinery

'Dead' Northern Gateway pipeline prompts plan B to move bitumen using trains

Victoria businessman David Black spoke to Rotarians in South Surrey Nov. 18 about his proposal for an oil refinery in northwestern B.C.
Residents in many neighbourhoods have opposed the switch to community mailboxes because they are often targeted by thieves.

Canada Post halts community mailbox conversion

Possible reprieve for 460,000 households slated to lose door-to-door home delivery

Residents in many neighbourhoods have opposed the switch to community mailboxes because they are often targeted by thieves.
Support for legalization of marijuana has grown in B.C. over the years.

B.C. appetite for pot reform riding high: Poll

Two-thirds now endorse marijuana legalization, pollster says that number has climbed over the years

Support for legalization of marijuana has grown in B.C. over the years.
Dried marijuana is no longer the only legal option available to approved medical marijuana patients.

Right to pot cookies upheld by high court

Supreme Court of Canada rules legal medical marijuana access extends to cannabis derivatives such as pot brownies, tea or oils

Dried marijuana is no longer the only legal option available to approved medical marijuana patients.
Access to medical marijuana may tighten as a result of a new standard doctors are expected to follow if they prescribe pot.

Rules tighten for doctors who prescribe medical marijuana

New standard sets minimum age of 25, continuing care requirement to curb speedy weed docs, avoid 'free for all'

Access to medical marijuana may tighten as a result of a new standard doctors are expected to follow if they prescribe pot.
Dr. Perry Kendall is B.C.'s Provincial Health Officer.

B.C.’s top doc counters feds on medical marijuana

Dr. Perry Kendall cites pot benefits for certain conditions, makes case for regulated cannabis market

Dr. Perry Kendall is B.C.'s Provincial Health Officer.