u/caramelsundaye

The B.C. government has given senior executives and political staffers “performance-based” raises during a year in which the province ran the worst deficit in its history, cut throngs of jobs and sought ways to reduce spending.

The pay bumps ranged from two to 2.5 per cent, depending on the position. They were authorized by the NDP government in February and made retroactive to July 1, 2025.

The B.C. government is preparing to shut off public access to its online government directory, leaving taxpayers in the dark about who works for the province and the basic organizational structure of the government.

If you're in the market for a new kitty, now's your chance.

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government says the final accounting for the budget year ending in March shows a deficit of $7.7 billion, more than three billion lower than forecast.

The latest fiscal update from Finance Minister Brenda Bailey on Monday says the deficit was $3.3 billion below the estimate for fiscal year 2025-2026 because of higher revenues and lower spending on capital projects.

I have the Sunday scaries tonight and I’m feeling unsettled about work tomorrow. There’s been so much uncertainty over the last year and a half with restructuring, job security, salary growth, and very few opportunities to move. I’m at a point where I don’t feel connected to BCPS, and I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to be doing?

The frustrating part is that I would have actually liked to stay here for the rest of my career.

The lack of progress, control, and meaning (particularly where I am in CSBC) has really gotten to me. I know I’m capable of doing good work, but it feels like I spend most of my time reacting to organizational changes instead of building anything meaningful. Even as a unionized employee, I still feel like a sitting duck.

I don’t need to be passionate about my job, but I do need to be busy, feel useful, and feel like my work is going somewhere. I also want to feel like I’m not being gaslit/lied to by my leadership. Right now, I don’t really have that.

I also feel stuck because leaving the BC Public Service would mean walking away from the seniority, pension, benefits, and job protections I’ve spent years building. Staying means accepting that I have no idea how long this period of uncertainty is going to last and I’ve been just miserable.

Anybody in the same boat have any advice? Should I stick it out and wait to find motivation as it’ll show up again somehow? Any tips on how to go through the motions? Leave?

Any advice helps. TIA.

I’ve been doomscrolling all morning and seeing heartbreaking images of cats, dogs, horses, etc burnt by the BC wildfires, and I’d really like to help.

I know many of these animals need vet care, which gets expensive quickly, and some organizations are becoming overwhelmed as more animals are coming in.

Does anyone know which Victoria-area rescues are actively helping with the wildfire response and could use donations right now?

I know the BC SPCA has a province-wide response and can move animals from affected areas to shelters elsewhere in BC that have capacity. Would donating to them be the most effective option, or are there local Victoria organizations doing similar work that need support?

Any guidance is appreciated. Thank you.

Hello. Recognizing we have BCPS colleagues and families in areas impacted by the life altering wildfires right now. If there’s anything those of us outside the affected areas can do to make things a little easier, whether that’s helping with something practical, covering something at work, finding resources, or anything else, please reach out here or privately. And if anyone knows of a specific way we can support right now, please share.

“British Columbia is under a provincial state of emergency as of Saturday afternoon as over 100 wildfires rage across the province. Tens of thousands of people are displaced from their homes and more are under evacuation alerts.”

Recognizing Victoria is lucky right now, but sharing because I think it’s important for us to be informed and find ways to help our neighbours. 🫶

Over the past couple years, we’ve realized we have almost everything we need out here, so it’s pretty rare that we head into Victoria or Saanich anymore.

We’re actually more likely to drive out to Sooke or up Island than into Victoria.

Anyone else find the same thing?

Housing Minister Christine Boyle says the provincial government is working on an approach that works for B.C. and final details could be announced in the fall.

Where’d you go? Trying to compare prices around town :)