B.C.’s fast-tracking bill heads for final vote, facing criticism to the end

By Wolfgang Depner Controversial legislation to fast-track infrastructure projects in British Columbia goes to a final vote in the legislature on Wednesday night, after attracting condemnation from First Nations leaders and environment and business groups. Speaker Raj Chouhan is expected to cast the deciding vote in favour of the government’s Bill 15. The bill responding to American tariff threats promises to speed up public and private infrastructure projects, including mines, but has faced opposition from critics who say it lacked proper consultation with First Nations and others and represents government overreach. The British Columbia Chamber of Commerce is among the latest critics, calling on Premier David Eby to delay the bill until after the spring sitting of the legislature that ends Thursday. It says in a letter Tuesday that while…

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