Obscure US corporation may be behind BC Hydro's exaggerated power demand, ruinous IPP contracts
By Erik Anderson in The Common Sense Canadian. Why has BC Hydro gone so Big? Over the past few years a number of us have puzzled over this question. The Crown Corporation, in most people’s minds, was given its natural monopoly status in the belief that the Board and Officers will prudently manage Hydro’s ...
City delegation optimistic after meetings in Victoria
Mayor Lawrence Chernoff, councillor Dan Rye and city manager John Malcolm returned to Castlegar optimistic after a full day of meetings with provincial ministers, ministerial staff and elected representatives May 9. Rye said the trio met with, among others, Minister of Advanced Education Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell, opposition critic […]
MP Atamanenko urges government to uphold ban on oil tanker traffic
Forty years ago, the Canadian government introduced a moratorium banning oil tankers from the north and central coast of British Columbia. Now with hearings taking place into the Enbridge Northern Gateway project, Alex Atamanenko, Member of Parliament for BC Southern Interior, is urging the federal government to uphold that...
BCPSEA declares teachers's recent withdrawal an unlawful strike
The B.C. Public School Employers' Association (BCPSEA) applied to the B.C. Labour Relations Board (BCLRB) Wednesday, May 9 for relief from the recent B.C. Teachers's Federation (BCTF) withdrawal of extracurricular activities. The labour relations board is expected to meet with BCPSEA at or around 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 11...
Food Sovereignty: An idea worth fighting for
The concept of ‘Food Sovereignty’, was developed by La Via Campesina as the best way to promote social justice and human dignity. La Via Campesina is an independent, non-partisan body of local and international organizations from 70 countries, including Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, representing 200 million small ...
Disposal of fracking wastewater could pose environmental hazard
A recent study by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that the oil and gas industry are creating earthquakes. New information from the Midwest region of the United States points out that these man-made earthquakes are happening more frequently than expected. While more frequent earthquakes are less of a problem for regions like the […]
End prohibition of marijuana, say B.C. mayors
Tax and regulate say B.C. mayors calling for the end of prohibition of marijuana to lower violence in their communities. Grand Forks mayor Brian Taylor joined his voice to the call that came out last week from the eight mayors of Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver City, Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby, Lake Country and Metchosin. The joint […]
Ancient Musqueam Marpole village site must be protected from further desecration
First Nations Summit leaders are speaking out in support of the Musqueam Nation in their continuing fight to protect the remains of their ancestors located on the former Musqueam village site C̓əsnaʔəm, now known as the Marpole Midden. The Musqueam Nation has been engaged in discussions with the City of Vancouver and the ...
A helping hand for hoppers
The modern dating scene might be a perilous one but the modern breeding scene for local frogs, salamanders and toads is just plain deadly. The Pacific Chorus Frog, the Tiger Salamander, the Long-toed Salamander and the Spadefoot Toad spend their winters among the rocks and trees found in Gilpin Grasslands Provincial Park. But when the […]
OUT OF LEFT FIELD: And you thought the hospital closure was scary ...
Anyone made uneasy by the temporary closure of Castlegar’s hospital in February and the lack of ambulance coverage in Castlegar over the holidays is going to be delighted with this latest bombshell from B.C. Ambulance Services (BCAS) – I was so horrified by what I learned here that I feel obligated to write about it […]
