Victoria Viewpoints: Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for   Tuesday, April 20, 2021
   

BC Budget 2021

BC projects record deficit as budget builds on COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan

BC budget steers clear of trying to cool hot housing market in short-term

BC budget sets aside nearly $6 billion for COVID support, forecasts $8.1 billion deficit

BC budget earmarks $120M to help tourism sector recover

BC boosts welfare rates, makes transit free for kids in 2021 budget

$500 for mental health and opioid crisis, as BC budget boosts health spending by $2.6B

BC budget expands $10 a day childcare, boosts pay for early childhood educators 

BC budget to focus on COVID-19 support while tabling massive deficit

New money for old growth protection in BC's budget

BC's pandemic budget increases spending and forecasts big deficits

BC's health spending breakdown: What's in the budget and what's missing

What's in BC's budget for Homelessness? Not Much new

BC Budget forecasts a $9.7 billion deficit to build COVID-19 recovery plan

BC Budget projects billion dollar deficits in each of next three years as part of COVID-19 recovery plan

BC earmarks $800 million in 2021 budget to help businesses recover from pandemic 

The winners in government pandemic spending spree

BC projects $9.7 billion deficit as government spends on social programs, COVID-19 economic recovery

BC debt soaring, ditto the size of the public service

$9.7 billion deficit as province builds COVID-19 recovery

There will be a debt to pay, but not today

BC's struggling tourism sector gets $120 million in new funding

$4 billion in new funding for health, mental-health and pandemic responses 

BC announces historic half billion dollar funding for overdose crisis, mental health

Public transit to be free for kids 12 and younger - a 'bold' BC budget line advocates applaud

BC budget to expand $10 a day child care, but misses the mark on 'truly universal' system

BC restaurants to get COVID-19 'circuit breaker' grant extension 

BC deficit to grow by $19 billion for COVID-18 recovery by spending

Coronavirus response in BC

COVID-19 hospitalizations still rising as BC records 849 new cases and 1 more death

Here's how to book you AstraZeneca shot if you're over 40 in British Columbia

Community with highest COVID-19 case rate in BC declares outbreak at its hospital

Nurse begs BC residents to take pandemic seriously after tear-filled night on COVID-19 unit

BC's COVID-19 infection rate declines, 849 cases Tuesday

Globe and Mail

Former BC Premier Christy Clark testifies at money laundering inquiry

BC's largest school boards face budget shortfall, program cuts 

CBC

Flat Earth followers lawsuit over COVID-19 arrest rejected as patently absurd and nonsensical'

Penticton council votes to sue the province over forcing it to keep a temporary homeless shelter open

Civil liberties group worried BIPOC residents will be unfairly targeted in policing of travel restrictions

What you need to know about BC's new travel restrictions

Former BC Premier says government didn't alert her to rise in money laundering until 2015

Prince George was once a city of affordable homes. Now it's home to bidding wars

Seafarers' union demands vaccine plan for 15,000 marine workers after COVID outbreak on Atlantic Huron

Shuttered Quesnel sawmill to reopen amid building boom

Vancouver Sun

COVID-infected people arrive in BC from India as Trudeau ponders flight restriction

Christy Clark testifies 'we took significant action[' against money laundering in BC

BC tourism operators wait, and worry, for details on travel ban

Periodic roadblocks but no individual stops planned for BC's travel rules

Victoria Times-Colonist

Funding for wage increases offers hope for Greater Victoria School District deficit

Victoria News

BC won't be using random individual road stops to enforce travel rules: Safety Minister

Global BC

YVR study suggests rapid testing contributes to safer travel 

Alberta 'respects' BC's decision to restrict travel as legalities of measure questioned

Georgia Straight

Ontario Premier Doug Ford goes MIA as calls for his resignation grow louder

Vancouver's 'flawed' definition of social housing haunts city hall plan to discard public hearings on projects

RBC economics notes 'half hearted' response by 2021 federal budget to 'blazing hot housing market'

The Tyee

Miscellaneous