Foulds case moves to supreme court
Jason Timothy Foulds of Powell River, accused in the double homicide of Braxton Leask and Dylan Buckle, and the attempted murder of Zane Hernandez, on June 17, 2017, in Lund, appeared briefly in Powell River's BC Provincial Court on February 27.
Foulds appeared via video link from Port Coquitlam. No evidence was presented at the appearance.
Crown prosecutor David Fitzsimmons and defence counsel Paul McMurray, represented by an agent, agreed to consent by committal. The case was sent to BC Supreme Court Powell River, at which time a guilty plea is expected to be made on the grounds of not criminally responsible due to mental disorder.
Crown will be requesting that the supreme court ban publication on any evidence. Foulds remains in custody until the trial begins on April 9 in Powell River.
Province announces payroll tax
Business in Powell River will feel the hit of a new payroll tax announced as part of the BC Government budget on February 20.
Coupled with the yearly incremental minimum wage increase to $15.20 by 2021, owners will be rethinking their business model, according to mayor Dave Formosa, who owns a number of companies in Powell River.
The payroll tax is intended to cover the shortfall from the NDP election promise to rid the province of contributions to Medical Services Plan premiums by 2020.
Beginning January 1, 2019, the new tax will be introduced and companies with payrolls over $500,000 annually will pay a 0.98 per cent tax on annual payroll.
Formosa, who has two business that will be affected by tax, said the cost will ultimately be passed onto consumers.
Another adverse affect could be a reluctance on the part of business to grow in order to stay below the tax threshold.
In Powell River, where the economic climate has shown some positive signs, particularly in the development sector, the payroll tax could stall growth in some sectors.
