After 11 years of bringing you local reporting, the team behind the Vancouver Observer has moved on to Canada's National Observer. You can follow Vancouver culture reporting over there from now on. Thank you for all your support over the years!

Conservative government

Federal budget 2012: cuts to Elections Canada, environmental assessment, CBC

By the numbers: $5.2 billion in cuts. $377 million slashed from foreign aid. 19,200 federal jobs gone. $275 million for Aboriginal schools. 10% hacked from CBC.

Budget day: Canadians asked to delay retirement to age 67

The Conservative government will push Old Age Security benefits until age 67, according to a Globe and Mail report today. The delayed retirement is part of a budget that confirms Prime Minister...

Five reasons to get behind NDP's Thomas Mulcair

Thomas Mulcair is the NDP’s only shot at defeating Harper, and his aggressive "pit bull" attitude may just be what’s needed to stand up to bullies in Ottawa.

NDP hopeful Paul Dewar shares his vision for a progressive future... and improving his French

New Democrats decide on Saturday who will replace Jack Layton as their leader. With the NDP race turning bittersweet this week, VO hits the homestretch with Paul Dewar.

Enviro Minister coy about Conservatives' use of American strategists to snag majority, criticizes green charities

Tory environment minister Peter Kent was quick to criticize green foundations, but was coy about Conservative's use of American firms to get elected last May.

Harper's Canada: Fact sheets exploring Conservative government policy

To help Canadians understand what's been going on in our federal government, here's your guide to our series of cheat sheets on today's Conservative politics.

Harper’s Canada: A Conservative government policy fact sheet

Having trouble keeping track of what Canada's federal government is up to? Here's part one in a series outlining key events and issues that have defined Canadian politics over the past several months.

Online spying, and where MPs stand on the issue: update from OpenMedia.ca

OpenMedia has just launched a new tool that will let MPs show that they stand with Canada against warrantless online spying, and we're asking Canadians to visit OpenMedia.ca/StandWithUs to send a...

Online spying, "foreign radicals" and faux patriotism: Conservatives bare draconian teeth

Jailing refugees and pot growers wasn't enough to whet the Tory appetite for change. They've now labelled critics child pornographers, foreign radicals, anti-Canada – even Nazis. What can we do?

'Bogus' refugee claims from EU targeted by new Conservative bill

The Conservative government will be taking steps to deal with the influx of refugees from eastern Europe.