|
Representatives of the BC Federation of Labour will be at the Legislature in Victoria Wednesday to deliver more than 56,000 signatures of British Columbians who support raising the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour to help lift half a million low-wage workers above the poverty line .
The petitions will be tabled in the Legislature by Official Opposition
|
Leader John Horgan at the conclusion of Question Period Wednesday afternoon .
Prior to question period , a media conference is set for 12:45 in the Birch Room at the Legislature .
“ The abject failure of Premier Clark ’ s government to tackle poverty and growing inequality is symbolic of the choices that the BC Liberals have
|
made ,” says BC Federation of Labour President Irene Lanzinger . “ They ’ ve chosen to keep wages low . They ’ ve chosen to keep workers in poverty .”
Of the 500,000 British Columbians currently earning less than $ 15 an hour , 60 % are women . 70 % work for companies with more than 20 employees , while 80 % are
|
adults .
With a recent Mainstreet opinion poll showing widespread public support for a $ 15 minimum wage , Lanzinger pledged that her organization would continue to make it an issue in the coming weeks . ( bcfed . ca )
|
|
They ’ re back !
The Pacific great blue herons are now starting to claim nests in the colony located across from the tennis courts and above the parking lot at 2099 Beach Avenue in Stanley Park . It ’ s the 17th consecutive year they ’ ve returned to the same nesting site .
A heron cam at vancouver . ca / HeronCam < http :// vancouver . ca /
|
parks-recreation-culture / heron-cam . aspx > takes viewers inside the nests of one of North America ’ s largest urban great blue heron colonies until the end of the summer breeding season . These herons are a species at risk in Canada and the Stanley Park colony is a vital part of the south coast population . One-third of great blue herons worldwide live around the |
Salish Sea .
“ The herons visited the colony on several occasions for short periods of time , but didn ’ t stay put until March 11th , three weeks later than last year ,” said Vancouver Park Board Chair Michael Wiebe . “ We encourage everyone to come check them out and then use the Heron Cam to continue admiring them from home .”
Last year , the birds began nesting in the colony February 19th . There were 83 active nests and an estimated 138 fledglings were raised . Chicks left the colony in July for nearby feeding grounds such as Iona Beach and Boundary Bay .
Viewers can take control of the camera for short periods of time and zoom into specific nests , as well as ask questions of a biologist via Twitter using the hash tag # HeronTalk .
The heron cam supports the Park Board ’ s Biodiversity Strategy < http :// f o r m e r . v a n c o u v e r . c a / p a r k s / board / 2016 / 20160201 / REPORT _ BiodiversityStrategy20160201 . pdf >, a guide to protect and expand natural areas throughout the city . The enrichment of habitat for urban wildlife , such as the herons , is fundamental to
|
the Biodiversity Strategy .
Heron Cam also supports the Vancouver Bird Strategy < http :// vancouver . ca / files / cov / vancouverbird-strategy . pdf >, providing education and celebrating the city ’ s birds .
Heron Cam is a collaborative effort between the Park Board and Stanley Park Ecology Society ( SPES ). Join our partners the Stanley Park Ecology Society < http :// stanleyparkecology . ca /> for interpretive heron walks during the nesting season .
The gates of the fenced areas below the heronry are secured to reduce disturbances to the colony and protect passers-by from falling debris . Wrap-around barriers were applied to the nest trees to discourage predators , such as raccoons , from disturbing nests . Dog owners are reminded to keep pets leashed around the colony .
SPES has an Adopt a Heron Nest program < http :// stanleyparkecology . ca / get-involved / adopt / adopt-a-heronnest /> which supports efforts to educate , monitor and maintain the great blue herons and protect their home in Stanley Park .
|