Oct 8 - BC government wants construction bills paid on time

Good morning !

The BC government has made a move that should benefit the construction sector, its 260,000 workers, and the companies that many of them work for.
And Clayoquot Sound is back in the news.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

Show them the money on time, says the province

BC’s construction industry says laws clamping down on overdue contractor payments are, in themselves, overdue—and yesterday, the BC government introduced legislation that would ensure contractors, subcontractors, and workers get paid when they should.

“Construction workers, contractors, and subcontractors build the infrastructure that communities rely on—schools, hospitals, roads, housing, and more,” said Minister of Infrastructure Bowinn Ma. 

“By making sure they are paid promptly and fairly, we are helping projects move forward smoothly and supporting good jobs for people throughout the province.”

Construction associations have long said payment delays stymie many businesses, especially small- and medium-sized companies. 

“Electrical contractors are the hidden engine of our communities and economy, powering homes, schools, hospitals, industrial sites, and workplaces,” said Matt MacInnis, president of the Electrical Contractors Association of British Columbia.

“Yet too often, they’re forced to wait months for payment while still covering payroll and supplier costs.”

The proposed system is based on strategies from Ontario and Alberta, where prompt-payment laws have proven to bring certainty to companies and their workers. It also should improve cash flow and company stability, the province said. 

Once passed into law, the legislation would set a 28-day timeline for payment, with the clock starting the day an official invoice is received.

It would also establish a fast-track adjudication process to resolve payment-related disputes, with the construction industry covering the costs. 

The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) applauded the announcement, saying payment uncertainty has been a major issue for too long. 

“When contractors don’t get paid on time, it places unnecessary financial burdens and risks on businesses and blocks cash flow in the economy, with an additional annual cost to taxpayers estimated to be in the billions,” the association said.

The BCAA called the move “an important start” that needs to be supported by clear regulations, the establishment of an appropriate adjudication authority, and strong education resources.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Have your say: Victoria Regional Transit Plan survey and engagement opportunities.

City of Victoria residential leaf collection starts Oct. 14. [See schedule]

Great BC ShakeOut Earthquake Drill is Oct. 16.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

25 years after Clayoquot Sound received UNESCO Biosphere designation, another old-growth protest is aiming for similar protections further south

As one group of people gathered on southern Vancouver Island to protest the logging of BC’s old-growth forest in the Walbran Valley, another came together in Clayoquot Sound to celebrate 25 years of conservation and community building.

For decades, Clayoquot Sound on the Island’s west coast was a region in conflict as hundreds of people stood on logging roads to save a temperate coastal rainforest from being clear-cut. 

At the height of the conflict in 1993, more than 800 people were arrested—it was the largest act of civil disobedience in Canada until 2021 and 2022, when the Fairy Creek blockades near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht First Nations territory resulted in nearly 1,200 arrests.

Around the same time in the early ’90s, a small but passionate group of individuals began considering the UNESCO Biosphere model as a way to bring the region together. Clayoquot Sound, a region that includes the traditional territories of the Hesquiaht, Ahousaht, and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, was designated as the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region (CSBR) in 2000. 

Last summer, the province announced that roughly 76,000 hectares of Crown land within TFL 54, including old forests and habitat for several endangered and threatened species, would be permanently protected to align with Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht’s land-use visions. That figure encompasses about 60% of TFL 54, leaving another 55,000 ha under the forestry tenure.

These protections are directly tied to the activism of the War in the Woods, which saw road blockades take place in multiple pristine old-growth areas on the West Island. One such spot, Walbran Valley, is at the centre of the latest old-growth protests. 

Blockaders in the Upper Walbran, who have been camped on a logging road since August, are awaiting arrest after a BC judge granted an injunction to stop protests in the area. 

Read the full story here.

SPONSORED BY PACIFIC OPERA VICTORIA

You belong at the opera!

Enter the eerie, spellbinding world of Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, a psychological thriller where innocence meets the unknown. Based on the chilling novella by Henry James, this haunting chamber opera follows a young governess sent to a remote English estate to care for two orphaned children. But something is not right. Shadows linger. Whispers echo. And as the line between the supernatural and the psychological begins to blur, the governess is forced to confront the terrifying question: are the children being haunted… or is she?

The Turn of the Screw runs from Oct. 22nd to 28th at the Royal Theatre. Tickets start at just $35. Reserve yours today.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🏈 CJFL playoffs: Westshore Rebels host Prince George Kodiaks. [Saturday at Starlight Stadium]

🐻 Waiting for the perfect shot: A photographer waited 10 hours to capture a bear at sunset in Port Hardy. [Joshua Palmer/ Facebook]

👩‍💻 Glow Integrative is offering a four-part virtual series on perimenopause and menopause, exploring symptoms, HRT, pelvic health, nutrition, movement, and stress management starting Oct. 9.*
*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Potent new drug appearing in counterfeit pills in Greater Victoria
UVic’s drug-checking service said nitizine, a substance that’s roughly five to eight times more powerful than fentanyl and is less responsive to naloxone (NARCAN), has been detected frequently in the past year. The synthetic substance was first found in Canada’s drug supply in 2019, but has rarely been seen on the Island. Since last December, it’s been found in counterfeit pressed pills and sold in Victoria as oxycodone, Percocet, and hydromorphone. The rapid growth is cause for concern, the service said. [Times Colonist]

Victoria condo sales see a sharp drop from last year
Sales of condos are down nearly 20% from last September. Experts say tenants have an abundance of options to choose from—around 350 condos currently sit empty in the city—and the rise in rates has made these homes unaffordable for many prospective buyers. One real estate expert says condo sales won’t start to improve until rates drop. However, single-family homes and townhome sales remain strong. [Victoria News]

30 km/h speed limit may be on the way for local roads in Sidney
There are some Sidney roads already marked at 30 km/hr, but the town is considering adding roads on either side of the Pat Bay Highway. Victoria and other municipalities have been lowering some speed limits to 30 km/hr from 40 km/hr to help reduce the number of collisions and the severity of their impacts. Sidney is looking for your feedback to see if you think it should follow suit. It has put out a public survey that will run until Nov. 14. [CHEK]

SPONSORED BY GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL

Join Us for a Fall Open House at GNS

At Glenlyon Norfolk School, students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 are seen, supported, and empowered to lead with confidence and compassion. Through the International Baccalaureate and a community of care, the GNS Effect begins early and lasts a lifetime. Discover how belonging and personalized learning shape extraordinary futures. Register today!

🗓️ Things To Do

🎭 Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA) presents Joshua Harmon’s Significant Other: A heartfelt romantic comedy exploring the complexities of love, friendships, and the complicated journey of growing up. CCPA’s Performance Hall. Oct. 16-19. 7:30pm/2:30pm. [Info]

🧛 Broken Rhythms Dance presents: Universal Horrors. The performance features dance interpretations of iconic moments from classic horror movies, including Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Metro Studio Theatre. Friday & Saturday. 7:30pm/9:30pm. [Info]

🌷Thanksgiving at Abkhazi Garden: Explore their art show and fall plant sale, and discover unique creations by local artists. Monday. Abkhazi Garden. 11am-3:30pm. [Info]

👟 Royal Victoria Marathon: The 45th annual race will run through downtown Victoria, James Bay, and Oak Bay on Sunday. Check out the map and times of road closures here. [Info]

🛍️ 2nd Degree Vintage UVic Market: Shop 10,000+ curated vintage clothing pieces from 30+ vendors with daily restocks at this free week-long pop-up market. Michele Pujol Room, Student Union Building, UVic. Through Friday. 10am-6pm daily. [Info]

🎨 SIP & PAINT: Unleash your creativity while sipping non-alcoholic beverages at this beginner-friendly painting session in a cozy café atmosphere. Flourish BeauTea Café in Langford. Today. 5pm. [Info]

🎃 Pumpkin Centerpiece with Succulents: Create a unique fall centerpiece with fresh pumpkins, gourds, succulents, and flowers on rustic wood, plus enjoy a hot seasonal drink and treat. Patio Gardens. Today. 6:30-8pm. [Info]

🎺 The Don Leppard Big Band: Swing to Count Basie and Duke Ellington classics with Victoria's 17-piece big band playing everything from jazz greats to contemporary arrangements. Hermann's Jazz Club. Today. 7-9pm, doors 5:30pm. [Info]

🧑‍🎨⚖️ Art & Law in Reconciliation - Fireside Chat with Jeremy Dutcher: Join two-time Polaris Music Prize winner Jeremy Dutcher and lawyer Maggie Wente as they explore how art and Indigenous legal traditions serve as tools for resistance and transformation. UVic Faculty of Law. Today. 7:30pm. [Info]

 😂 Phillips Comedy Night at the Mint: Laugh along with the city's most hilarious comedians while enjoying West Coast Himalayan cuisine at this weekly comedy showcase. The Mint. Today. 8-9:30pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: Newborn Southern Resident killer whale calf confirmed in the Georgia Strait; No playing around: Toy museum reopens; Grieving Island family pushes for ‘Xavier’s Law.’  [Oct. 7]

Striking government workers gather en masse at the legislature. [Times Colonist]

Found Safe: 14-year-old reported missing on Oct. 4. [CHEK]

Man accused of punching and kicking dog in Nanaimo. [CTV]

Cannabis edibles recalled: Sensi Brands Ltd. is recalling its wintermint and cinnamon Chillows cannabis extract due to incorrect THC content. [Gov’t of Canada]

Fire Prevention Week. [Oct. 5-11]

Trick-or-Treat rec passes for summer camp. [City of Victoria]

Great horned owl watches the sunset in Summit Park. [Facebook video]

That’s it!

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