Cost of pay-day loans drops next year
MAPLE RIDGE - The borrowing rates of high-cost, short-term cash loans - payday loans - will be lowered under regulations coming into effect Jan. 1, 2017.
The Province also announced plans to consult with stakeholders to help determine how best to further strengthen consumer protection for British Columbians who use high-cost alternative financial services, and whether more affordable options exist.
As of Jan. 1, 2017, the maximum allowable charge for a payday loan in B.C. will drop from $23 to $17 for every $100 borrowed, making it the second-lowest rate in Canada.
Trucking permitting now online
onRouteBC is a new system for the commercial trucking industry that will allow commercial carriers, traveling within B.C., to apply and receive a permit online.
Replacing the current Transport Permit System (TPS), the new system will be available to all commercial carriers on Oct. 3, when commercial carriers will be able to create a profile with their company and vehicle information, apply for permits, make payments, produce a map of the approved route and receive their permits all online.
In many cases, the online system will auto-approve and issue a permit to carriers without ministry staff involvement.
For those circumstances where a load is out of the ordinary, the Permit Centre staff will still be available or called upon for assistance.
More information can be found on https://onRouteBC.gov.bc.ca
Online certification for organic farmers
VICTORIA - A new on-line system will help new entrants achieve certified organic status, as B.C. farmers continue to meet the consumer demand for certified organic B.C. foods.
The Certified Organic Associations of BC (COABC) will lead the development of an Organic Online System, through $117,000 in funding from the governments of Canada and British Columbia.
COABC will conduct consultations and outreach with growers and stakeholders over the coming months to ensure that the project considers stakeholder needs. A pilot of the system will launch in 2017, with full implementation scheduled for January 2018.
The system will save farmers’ time through a more efficient and streamlined process and also be used as a source for sector-wide data to help provide ongoing, reliable, up-to-date statistics about the sector.
The B.C. government will require all food and beverage products marketed as “organic” in B.C. to be certified under either a provincial or national certification program by 2018.
More information can be found on www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca