Sunday, missing time to cause 23-hour day

It’s time to change the clocks again this weekend – forward, this time – and since we are likely going to lose some snooze, we may be shuffling around in a bit of a daze for the next week or so. This could mean that we are not quite as alert as usual when we get behind the wheel of a vehicle and there are crash stats to prove it. According to averages in a five-year study (2005-2009) done by ICBC, on the Monday following the springtime change, there were 850 crash incidents, compared to 690 incidents the Monday of the week before, a 23% increase.

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Homeland Security to screen Canadians for flights over US

As of December of 2010 no passenger on a Canadian airline who is flying to a US destinations, or even over US airspace enroute to another destination, will be allowed on board the aircraft until the US Department of Homeland Security has checked that person against their list of suspected terrorists and given clearance to that passenger.

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BC to be an emerging global economy by 2018

HST report: giant leap forward for investment, jobs.

Ministry of Finance.

Sales tax harmonization and corporate tax cuts will increase capital investment by $14.4 billion and result in a net increase of 141,000 jobs by the end of the coming decade according to a report released today by economist and tax expert Jack Mintz, announced Finance Minister Colin Hansen.

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A record-setting winter (what winter?)

Snowpack and water supply bulletin.

Ministry of Environment.

Environment Minister Barry Penner says there has been a decrease in snowpacks across the province over the past two months, following the warm and dry January and February.

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Electricity rate increase is ‘hidden tax’ — Macdonald

29 per cent BC Hydro rate increase a hidden tax on consumers: Macdonald.

Tuesday’s BC Liberal budget contains an unfair and hidden tax on consumers by forcing at 29 per cent increase on BC Hydro ratepayers, says Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.

“The BC Liberals have found a new way to tax the average citizen that they hope you will never notice,” said Macdonald. “Buried deep in this week’s provincial budget is a requirement for BC Hydro, a crown corporation, to provide an extra $254 million to government this year alone, and the only way for BC Hyrdo to do that is to increase hydro rates.”

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BC credit card sales up 93% during Olympics

Stats for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics are mind-boggling, what with medal counts, visitor counts, etc. as people from every corner of the globe played and cheered for 17 days. But we have one more for you – and we think this one tops all the rest – by a long shot!

The figures from Visa are in and here’s what they show.

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22 million watch Sidney Crosby win gold

• Record audience peaks as overtime goal sends nation into frenzy -
• Canadians consume 1.25 billion hours of Vancouver 2010 coverage -
• 2010 Winter Games audiences 138% higher than Salt Lake City 2002 -
• Nearly half of all internet users in Canada have visited CTVOlympics.ca or RDSolympiques.ca -

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Lower corporate taxes, reduced revenues, resulted in ‘good’ budget

It would seem that at least two people are happy with Colin Hansen’s ‘stay the course’ budget – Mr. Hansen himself and John Pankratz, FCGA, the President of the Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia (CGA-BC). Mr. Pankratz believes that this budget will help the province emerge from the global economic crisis. “While there are no new major initiatives, this is a budget that is based on prudent financial management and sound economic principles that will benefit small- and medium-sized business. And that’s good for British Columbia, which is good for you and me,” he says.

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200,000 sign petition against HST ‘broken promises’

Anger about the BC Budget has exploded from the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association. CFRA Western Canada Vice President, Mark von Schellwitz has taken aim at the BC government about broken promises to the industry. Nearly 200,000 signatures have been gathered on a petition opposing the new restaurant meals tax that will result from the implementation of the HST but the government has ignored the concerns of these business owners, their employees and their customers.

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Union displeased with ’status quo’ budget

While BC Government Finance Minister is smiling about his ministry’s commitment to health care, the Health Sciences Association of BC, the union that represents 16,000 diagnostic, clinical and rehabilitation specialists, is not. Reid Johnson, President of the HSA is warning British Columbians to brace themselves for yet another round of cuts to health care services around the province.

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