Last week Minister of Environment Hon. Terry Lake announced that all proposed waste to energy (WTE) recovery facilities in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley will be subject to a full, mandatory Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with an amended and strengthened regulation under the Environmental Assessment Act.

The reviewable projects regulation, under section 5 of the Act, will be amended to ensure all WTE projects in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, regardless of scope and size, will be subject to a full and objective environmental assessment. Under the existing regulation, a WTE facility has to reach prescribed solid waste and energy thresholds to be considered for an EA.

All proposed waste to energy proposals must first be part of a regional district's solid waste management plan, which must be approved by the Minister of Environment. WTE facilities still need to adhere to B.C.'s emissions standards and maintain a high degree of energy recovery, consistent with European standards. Municipalities must also target a 70% waste reduction before being allowed by the Ministry to pursue a WTE option as an alternative to landfilling.

The Vancouver Sun has reported that the BC Teacher's Federation (BCTF) will ask its members to mobilize in an attempt to defeat the BC Liberal government in the upcoming May 2012 election. In the past, the BCTF has officially claimed to be a non-partisan body.

The proposal to mobilize is part of a plan of action formulated at the BCTF's annual general meeting last week and will be put to vote by the membership next month.

The BC Government Employees Union (BCGEU), the province's largest public sector union

representing more than 25,000 government employees, has set a strike vote for April 2012. BCGEU President Darryl Walker  said the union has decided to seek a strike mandate from its members after three months of negotiations that have yielded no results.

Mr. Walker said the government is offering a three percent wage increase over two years, while the union was asking for eight percent.

BCGEU members include government administration staff, corrections and sheriff services, some hospital staff, liquor retailing and wholesale operations, social workers, child protection, probation officers, system analysts and environmental services.

This weekly report produced for the BC Chamber of Commerce by Fleishman-Hillard.  While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included in this publication as of the date of issue, events and government policies are subject to frequent change.  Therefore, the BC Chamber of Commerce and Fleishman-Hillard cannot assume any responsibility for actions taken solely or principally on the basis on the information contained herein.