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| The Public Affairs Update is your weekly insight, perspective and analysis on politics in British Columbia and Canada. This newsletter is brought to you by the largest, and most broadly-based business organization in the province, the BC Chamber of Commerce – the Voice of Business in BC. |
| Two New Pipeline Plans for British Columbia Announced |
Progress Energy has announced that TransCanada Corporation had been selected to design and build the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project, a $5 billion pipeline that will connect and transport natural gas primarily from the North Montney gas-producing region near Fort St. John to the recently-announced Pacific Northwest LNG export facility in Port Edward near Prince Rupert.
The Pacific Northwest LNG facility is expected to include two plants, which in combination will be capable of processing six million tonnes of gas annually. In addition, TransCanada is proposing to extend its existing NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) system in Northeast BC to connect both to the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project and to additional North Montney gas supply from Progress and other parties.
Kinder Morgan has also announced plans to further increase its Trans Mountain Pipeline capacity to 890,000 barrels per day from its previously proposed 750,000. This change comes as a result of increased commercial support from customers in the Canadian oil producing and marketing business. If approved, Kinder Morgan hopes to have the expansion completed by 2017. |
| Draft PST Statute Released |
| The BC government has released a draft consolidation of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) statute that would take effect April 1, 2013 to help British Columbians and BC businesses with the re-implementation of the tax. This draft consolidation offers a preview of the PST Act, subject to its approval of the Legislature.
Final amendments leading to the re-implementation of the PST are to be formally introduced to the Legislature in February 2013. Draft regulations that complete the legislative package will be released with or before the introduction of the amendments.
The BC government is offering a wide range of tools to business and the public to aid in the transition from the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) to the PST. |
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| Idle No More Protests Held Across Canada |
Prime Minister Hon. Stephen Harper and a group of First Nations Chiefs met last week to discuss treaty rights and other issues. Some Chiefs, however, boycotted the meeting with the Prime Minister, including Chief Teresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation, who has been on a hunger strike since last month. Governor General David Johnston also hosted a ceremonial meeting for the Chiefs.
The meetings with the Prime Minister and Governor General proceeded despite First Nations’ demonstrations across Canada, held to raise awareness of issues affecting their communities. |
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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.
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