Latest news with #BrendaBailey
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
B.C.'s public service union prepares for strike vote after talks reach impasse
BCGEU president Paul Finch speaks to reporters at the legislature on Friday, July 18, 2025. (CTV News) VICTORIA — British Columbia's public service union representing 34,000 members says it's preparing for a strike vote after months-long negotiations fell apart. Paul Finch, president of the B.C. General Employees' Union, says the impasse came over wages, work from home rules and modernizing the contract. Finch says their members face an affordability crisis, and if wages don't keep up with inflation, skilled workers will be lost, including wildland firefighters, who 'are among the lowest paid employees in the entire government.' In the past 15 years, Finch says they have seen a 52 per cent increase in the size of 'excluded management' inside the public service, while at the same time, front line workers have been asked to do 'more with less.' Wildland firefighters are making $28 an hour, a wage Finch says does not reflect the work they do in protecting communities. B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey says in a statement that the government respects its 'hardworking' public service employees, and believes that agreements will be reached through the collective bargaining process. 'I am hopeful the parties will return to the table soon — it's best to keep the bargaining discussions at the table so the parties can focus on reaching a settlement.' The union says in a statement that its proposal issued last month asked for a two-year deal, with wage increase for workers at the lower end of the pay scale, targeted adjustments for certain jobs and bonuses into base salaries. He says the employers' last offer was a 1.5 per cent increase in the first year, and two per cent in the second year, which isn't 'acceptable,' not to mention that it refused to address key issues such as basic telework protections and removal of an 'outdated' public service job evaluation plan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July. 18, 2025.
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
B.C. boosts tax credit for developers of video games, virtual reality simulators
B.C. Premier David Eby arrives for an announcement about increasing the tax credit for game developers, at Electronic Arts in Burnaby, B.C., on Monday, July 7, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck The British Columbia government is boosting a tax credit to help developers of video games such as Electronic Arts hire additional staff and invest money locally. Premier David Eby said the interactive visual media tax credit will go from 17.5 per cent to 25 per cent starting Sept. 1, which is also when the credit will become permanent to give industry additional certainty. Speaking at Electronic Arts in Burnaby on Monday, Eby said the changes will help the sector remain competitive as part of a larger economic response to American tariff threats, which was a 'wake-up call' for the province to develop an economy that can stand on its 'own two feet.' Finance Minister Brenda Bailey said the measures will help B.C. grow its 'knowledge economy.' Bailey said they could have raised the tax credit higher as other provinces have, but chose 25 per cent because B.C. already has a competitive tax system and other factors that attract global talent. Government agency Creative BC says the interactive digital media sector, which includes video games, virtual reality and educational software, employs about 20,000 people in the province and adds more than a $1 billion to the economy. Natali Altshuler, chief operating officer for EA SPORTS Studios, welcomed the changes. Altshuler said the change recognize the value of the industry, adding that it enables companies such as EA to contribute to the provincial economy. While EA ranks among the giants in the video-game industry, smaller developers are also welcoming the higher tax credit. Heidy Motta, CEO at game studio Coldblood Inc., said the credit has helped the company 'reach the finish line when resources were scarce.' The Entertainment Software Association of Canada says B.C. is home to 161 video game companies and 230 immersive technology companies. It says almost half of all video game companies in B.C. consist of 10 or fewer people. The additional support from the provincial government also raises the question of possible reactions from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has previously criticized public support for industries from Canadian governments that he perceives to be unfair. Trump threatened earlier this year a 100 per cent tariffs on foreign-made movies to help bring more productions back to the United States after B.C. announced higher credits in late 2024 to attract and keep more film productions in the province. Eby said B.C. made the decision to boost the credit for interactive digital media independently of any possible reactions. 'We will cross the bridge's reactions when and if they happen,' Eby said. This report by Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press, was first published July 7, 2025.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
B.C. boosts tax credit for developers of video games, virtual reality simulators
VICTORIA — The British Columbia government is boosting a tax credit to help developers of video games such as Electronic Arts hire additional staff and invest money locally. Premier David Eby said the interactive visual media tax credit will go from 17.5 per cent to 25 per cent starting Sept. 1, which is also when the credit will become permanent to give industry additional certainty. Speaking at Electronic Arts in Burnaby on Monday, Eby said the changes will help the sector remain competitive as part of a larger economic response to American tariff threats, which was a "wake-up call" for the province to develop an economy that can stand on its "own two feet." Finance Minister Brenda Bailey said the measures will help B.C. grow its "knowledge economy." Bailey said they could have raised the tax credit higher as other provinces have, but chose 25 per cent because B.C. already has a competitive tax system and other factors that attract global talent. Government agency Creative BC says the interactive digital media sector, which includes video games, virtual reality and educational software, employs about 20,000 people in the province and adds more than a $1 billion to the economy. Natali Altshuler, chief operating officer for EA SPORTS Studios, welcomed the changes. Altshuler said the change recognize the value of the industry, adding that it enables companies such as EA to contribute to the provincial economy. While EA ranks among the giants in the video-game industry, smaller developers are also welcoming the higher tax credit. Heidy Motta, CEO at game studio Coldblood Inc., said the credit has helped the company "reach the finish line when resources were scarce." The Entertainment Software Association of Canada says B.C. is home to 161 video game companies and 230 immersive technology companies. It says almost half of all video game companies in B.C. consist of 10 or fewer people. The additional support from the provincial government also raises the question of possible reactions from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has previously criticized public support for industries from Canadian governments that he perceives to be unfair. Trump threatened earlier this year a 100 per cent tariffs on foreign-made movies to help bring more productions back to the United States after B.C. announced higher credits in late 2024 to attract and keep more film productions in the province. Eby said B.C. made the decision to boost the credit for interactive digital media independently of any possible reactions. "We will cross the bridge's reactions when and if they happen," Eby said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2025. Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Vancouver Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Despite 'looking under every rock,' B.C. NDP not rushing to trim deficit
VICTORIA — Finance Minister Brenda Bailey says the New Democrats are 'looking under every rock' for several hundred million dollars in savings to get control of a budget deeply in the red. 'That's what British Columbians will expect from us, and that is exactly what we were doing,' Bailey told the legislature during debate on the spending estimates for her ministry of finance. 'Every single ministry is looking at their programs and their budgets to ensure that every dollar is being well spent. We're looking under every rock. It's being done very carefully.' A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Also urgently. The province has to act quickly 'to get a handle on its deficits, according to Bailey's deputy minister, Douglas Scott. 'This is not a short-term financial crisis,' the deputy finance minister told public servants in an online meeting last month. 'We have a systemic deficit that we have to adjust. If we don't adjust it, it will go on in perpetuity.' Bailey confirmed Scott's warning this month. But she maintained that the New Democrats are already facing up to the challenge. 'The deputy minister, who I work with very closely, is sharing that should we not do this work, this is what the outcome would be,' she told the house. 'It is really important to know that were we not to take action, that would be the situation that we are in. But we are taking significant action.' The starting goal is to rustle up $300 million in savings. A sizable sum that nevertheless accounts for only a tiny percentage of the projected $95 billion in spending in the current financial year. The finance minister has already incorporated the amount into this year's projected bottom line. 'The $10.9 billion deficit assumes the $300 million in savings,' said Bailey. But under Opposition questioning this week, she was reluctant to speculate about where the money would be found. 'What was cut? What was not approved for expenditure that otherwise was going to be?' challenged Conservative finance critic Peter Milobar. 'That is what is called a savings. It's not just pulling a number out of the air and saying, 'Oh, we saved $300 million' without actually being able to show your work. Can the minister provide a detailed breakdown of where that $300 million in savings was found?' No, she could not. 'We are not able to share with the member decisions made on the efficiency review because they haven't been made yet,' replied Bailey. 'The work is going on right now across government. It's that simple. 'The work that we're doing right now is reviewing every single ministry to look at where we can find savings. We expect to reach that $300 million mark, and it is my hope we go further.' A progress report on the hunt for the elusive $300 million will be included in the first update for the financial year, scheduled for release in early September. Could Bailey at least specify under which rocks she would be looking? asked Milobar. 'The first lens that we have applied is one of expenditure controls,' said the minister. 'Things like salaries, travel, professional services, office supplies, business expenses, office leases, tenant improvements and more. So that's the initial sort of lens by which we began this work of efficiency review.' She also said the government had made progress on a promised hiring freeze. In a prior year, 'a six to eight per cent increase is kind of what we would have seen,' said Bailey. 'Whereas right now, it is 0.3 — less than one per cent.' But when Milobar offered helpful suggestions — like cutting the budget for advertising or opinion polling — Bailey rejected them out of hand. 'I'm not going to be pushed into a situation of presupposing what the outcomes of those reviews are going to be,' she said at one point. For all Bailey's acknowledgment of the fiscal crisis, she and her colleagues are scarcely in a rush to close the financial gap. They've targeted $1.5 billion in savings over three years, at the end of which the deficit is still projected to weigh in just under $10 billion. And that is without incorporating the $2 billion-a-year hit the government will take from phasing out the carbon tax. Premier David Eby finally did acknowledge the need to address the deficit this year. His mandate letter to Bailey directed her to 'put B.C. on a clear path to a balanced budget.' The notion never crossed Eby's mind in directives to Bailey's predecessor, Katrine Conroy. 'This is not the time,' Conroy said more than once when asked about a budget balancing plan. Premier John Horgan balanced most of his budgets and left behind a surplus that Eby spent. Eby's own performance on the fiscal front recalls the scene in the Roadrunner cartoons, where the coyote runs off a cliff but continues along without noticing — until he makes the fatal mistake of looking down, then plummets to the earth. In financial terms, this is the year that David Eby finally, unavoidably looked down — into the fiscal canyon that he himself created. vpalmer@
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Surrey students deserve better'' parents and teachers launch campaign for more funds
Surrey parents and teachers are calling for more funding amid education cuts. A group of parents and teachers in Surrey, B.C., have launched a joint campaign requesting funding in the wake of severe cuts to the city's education services. The campaign was announced at the CUPE 728 office in Surrey by staff from the union for district support, the Surrey Teachers Association and the Surrey District Parents Advisory Council. 'This is a growing crisis in our public education system,' said Tammy Murphy, president of CUPE 728. 'Funding for education has not kept pace with inflation, population growth, and the rising needs of students.' The goal is to encourage the public to petition for their MLAs to increase provincial funding to Surrey schools. According to the Surrey Teachers Association, the Surrey school district requires $3.8 billion to keep up with rapid population growth and student supports. 'Minister Bailey's mandate is to improve the economy of B.C. How is she going to do that when she's not investing in classrooms, in the education of today?' said STA president Lizanne Foster, in the wake of B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey's budget speech made in March. In a statement to CTV News, the B.C. Ministry of Education and Childcare said the next school year, from 2025-2026, will be the ministry's highest funding for districts in history. Over $8.2 billion, including special grants, is going to districts, marking over 50 per cent more than 2016-2017 year, the ministry said. The statement did not specify how much is allocated to Surrey specifically. The ministry said the province has provided more than $1 billion in funding to the Surrey school district, more than any other district in the province. 'Tall people generally have bigger shoes, Surrey is the largest school district and of course we receive more funding, but it is the ministry's own formula and it's not adequate,' said Anne Whitmore, Surrey DPAC president. Whitmore is also a parent and says she witnesses the challenges firsthand. 'I've watched a child who I love deeply struggle because the supports she needs simply aren't there,' she said, holding back tears. The group also hopes the district re-focuses their spending on supporting students, rather than management. 'At a time when classrooms are overcrowded and supports are vanishing, the district is expanding their administration teams,' said Murphy. Gary Tymoschuk, the chair of the Surrey school district, says there is not much that can be done without more money from the province. 'We're a growing district of course, but I am very proud of the fact that we have one of the lowest percentages of our budget that is allocated to administration or overhead.' It comes as the district faces an anticipated $16 million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 school year. Last month, the district announced it will slash around 50 education assistant positions as a result. Surrey DPAC has organized a rally for May 16, and plans to go to Victoria at the end of the month to fight for more funding from the province.
