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PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY October 16 - 31 , 2017
OP- ED 100 Days of Building a Better B . C .
By B . C . Premier John Horgan
October 26th marks the first 100 days of our new government . We ’ re getting to work to make life more affordable , improve the services people count on , and create good jobs for people throughout B . C .
We ’ re just getting started , but I ’ m proud of what we ’ ve accomplished so far to make life better for people in B . C .
For 16 years , the people in B . C . were left behind . The B . C . Liberal government gave tax cuts to the wealthiest , while families paid the price in increased taxes and fees . Costs went up and housing prices went through the roof , while health care and schools were cut and wages stagnated .
Our government is putting you first , and taking action to make life more affordable for your family . In our first 100 days , we ’ ve taken immediate , concrete first steps to give you some relief and make life less expensive .
As our cities grew , the B . C . Liberals put steep tolls on key commuter bridges and ignored transit users . We eliminated tolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears Bridges and put money back into the pockets of commuters and families .
The B . C . Liberal government doubled MSP fees that hard-working British Columbians pay , costing most families an extra $ 900 a year . Our government cut MSP premiums by 50 per cent , and we ’ re working towards completely eliminating this unfair tax .
Under the previous government , income assistance rates were frozen for 10 years . We increased income assistance and disability payments by $ 100 per month and earning exemptions for people on disability by $ 200 per month .
To help people access the basic education and skills they need to improve their lives , we eliminated tuition fees for Adult Basic Education and English Language Learning
Halloween : Next to Christmas it ’ s one of the Busiest Shopping Seasons
Vancouver , BC - This month North Americans will spend billions on costumes , scary décor , and candy . It ’ s the second largest shopping holiday next to Christmas . The problem , however , is that many stores that sell spooky items only show up once a year .
Every year , shoppers report missing or damaged pieces and unclear return policies . When customers go to exchange or report a problem , the store has packed up and left without a trace or has a “ no refund ” policy .
To avoid becoming a victim , BBB recommends consumers buy from companies they are familiar with , research new stores and ask for yearround contact information for seasonal stores . Consumers should also save receipts , ask about return policies and remember to use companies that have operated in the community for a number of years and have a good reputation if possible .
Finally , if the store allows , it is always wise to try on the costume while at the location in order to avoid future problems . In this manner , consumers can be sure that the costume fits well and is complete as advertised on the package .
BBB offers the following tips to avoid problems shopping at seasonal Halloween stores :
* Start With Trust . Check the
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And as a first step towards making housing affordable , we invested $ 208 million for the construction of over 1,700 new units of affordable rental housing and $ 291 million to support the construction of 2,000 modular housing units for people who are homeless .
We ’ re also focussed on creating good jobs and a strong , sustainable , and innovative economy that puts people first . To support small businesses , we lowered the small business tax rate from 2.5 per cent to 2 per cent .
To help make sure B . C . workers have the skills they need for good jobs in the growing economy , our government created 562 additional seats at 13 public post-secondary institutions throughout British Columbia that offer foundation and apprenticeship programs .
Instead of focusing on one sector to create jobs , we ’ re working to strengthen traditional industries like forestry and mining , while
company ’ s business profile at bbb . org .
* Buy from companies that have been around long enough to have a clear track record .
* Ask the store how long it plans to occupy the building . If you cannot get an answer , ask to speak with a manager .
* See if they have a website in case you need to contact them later .
* Inquire about the return policy in detail . Keep in mind many costume purchases may be final sale .
* Remember , there are no laws that govern return policies . BBB only wants to be sure the business follows its own policies to the letter .
* Save your receipts and use a credit card . You ’ ll have the most protection if you must dispute a problem with the card ’ s issuer .
“ This is also a time for the public to be good consumers ,” says Evan Kelly , Senior Communications Advisor for BBB serving Mainland BC . “ This is one of those holidays where ‘ wardrobing ’ can be a problem . Wardrobing is when a consumer buys a bunch of stuff with the intent of returning it right after the big event for a full refund . BBB sees this as a deceptive practice and can cost a business money . Trust goes both ways in a marketplace .”( evan @ mbc . bbb . org )
supporting small business , tourism , agriculture , manufacturing , technology and innovation .
And to support B . C .’ s lowest-waged workers , we increased the hourly minimum wage to $ 11.35 an hour and established a fair-wage commission to work towards a $ 15-an-hour minimum wage in B . C .
It ’ s time for B . C . to work for everyone , not just the few at the top . That includes improving the services people count on and building a better B . C . for everyone .
We ’ re making sure students get the quality public education they need to succeed , families get health care faster , and seniors can live out their final years with dignity .
As a first step to undo 16 years of neglect , we increased funding by $ 681-million for our kindergarten-to-Grade 12 education system over three years . We ’ re tackling gangs and gun violence and improving access to youthgang prevention .
Our government has taken province-wide action to stem the overdose emergency and help save lives , including establishing a standalone Ministry for Mental Health and Addictions .
We ’ re supporting people , communities and businesses affected by the wildfires , standing up for B . C .’ s interests in the face of Kinder Morgan while tackling the challenges of climate change and protecting B . C .’ s environment .
We ’ ve also made reconciliation with Indigenous peoples a cross-government priority , introduced legislation to ban big money from B . C . politics once and for all , and we ’ ve restored the B . C . Human rights commission .
For too long , the wellconnected came first . And people have been paying the price . We ’ re going to fix those mistakes and make life better for people . This is only the beginning . There ’ s more to come .
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