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#215 - 7110, 12
VOL 23 - ISSUE 34
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2024
BC Conservatives promise tax rebate to lower housing costs
The B.C. Conservatives have promised a major provincial tax rebate to address housing affordability, though the party has not said how it plans to pay for this proposal. Leader John Rustad announced Monday that if elected, his party would exempt $3,000 per month of rent or mortgage interest costs from provincial income taxes. The program — dubbed the Rustad Rebate — would start with a $1,500-per-month
exemption that would cost around $900 million for Budget 2026, according to the party. The rebate would then be increased by $500 each year until it reaches the target amount in 2029, which the party says could cost around $3.5 billion if used by every home in B.C. "This is one of the most significant tax reliefs that British Columbia has ever given," Rustad said at a news conference Monday. Continued on Page 7...
Abbotsford surgeon says hospital conditions are ‘unsafe’ More front–line physicians are speaking out about what they see as a crisis in some of B.C.’s busiest hospitals.
Dr. Greg Lewis, a vascular surgeon at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, described the situation there as being on the verge of collapse. “Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre provides tertiary care to about 600,000 people from Langley through Hope and
surrounding communities,” he said. “We provide cancer agency care, including diagnostic radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgical care. We have advanced obstetric care for high-risk pregnancies with neonatal ICUs. It is the only dialysis site in this part of the Fraser Health. The only vascular surgical site providing repair of arteries. And we also provide advanced cardiology with pacemakers and diagnostic cardiology.” Lewis said the hospital was bought about 15 years ago and was too small then. “So we are now running to overcapacity and breakdown of services on the medical wards,” he said. “At least 30 to 40 per cent of patients are housed in beds in corridors, in toilets, in storerooms. They’re not in wards. It’s simply Continued on Page 7... unsafe.
New poll shows Conservatives ahead of NDP in BC The B.C. Conservatives have inched ahead of the B.C. NDP among decided voters in the early days of the election campaign, based on a new Leger poll. Support for the Conservatives is 45 per cent compared to 42 per cent for New Democrats, and 10 per cent for B.C. Greens. The online survey polled 1,001 British Columbians between Sept. 20 and 23. “It’s been a dramatic 12-month rise for the Conservative Party,” said Steve Mossop, Leger’s executive vice-
president in Western Canada. Just a few months ago, polling indicated the governing NDP held a strong lead over its two centre-right party rivals. Mossop attributed the results to Rustad’s growing appeal among young and female voters, as well as the collapse of the B.C. United Party in early September and former Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon’s support for Rustad. Continued on Page 10...
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Canada’s fertility rate has hit a record low - again
Canada’s fertility rate, which has been steadily declining, has hit a record low and the country is now among the “lowest-low” fertility nations. Statistics Canada released new data on Wednesday showing that the Canadian fertility rate in 2023 was 1.26 children per woman, which is the lowest recorded level since the agency began collecting data. The record-low fertility rate was registered across the country in 10 of the 13 provinces and territories. Continued on Page 6...
Businesses face new limits on temporary foreign workers
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Starting today, employers in Canada will face new restrictions on their hiring of low-wage temporary foreign workers — a policy shift the federal government says will push businesses to make a greater effort to hire workers already in Canada. Under the new restrictions: Employers will be limited to hiring 10 per cent of their workforce through the program's low-wage stream. Employers will be unable to hire through this program if they are in census metropolitan areas with unemployment rates of more than six per cent. Contracts for low-wage positions will be generally be limited to one year. Continued on Page 10...