From The Hill — Full inquiry into Emergencies Act a must
After more than two weeks of an occupation of downtown Ottawa and serious border blockades in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia, the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act on February 14. Local police forces had seemed unable or unwilling to act and both the Ontario and Alberta governments had asked for...
FROM THE HILL: On the Emergencies Act
After more than two weeks of an occupation of downtown Ottawa and serious border blockades in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia, the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act on February 14. Local police forces had seemed unable or unwilling to act and both the Ontario and Alberta governments had asked for help. That […]
Special OP/ED Series; Health care workers talk climate change
I first moved to the Kootenays in 1985 with my partner and first child. After a leaving a few times for work we finally settled here in 1993 with two more children because we love it. Now I’ve lived here longer than anywhere else in my life and I plan to stay for the rest of my life. At least I hope I can…. Several months ...
From the Hill — Affront to democracy in Canada
I’ve been in Ottawa for the past nine days, in the centre of the protest by the “Freedom Convoy”. My offices have been flooded by emails and phone calls on both sides of this issue, so I want to make it clear where I stand and why. First, a short description of how the last week in Ottawa has gone. The organizers of the...
From The Hill: Heath-based private members bill
Parliament began sitting again this Monday, facing its first full agenda since the late summer election. Most committees will be meeting for the first time and we will see the first Private Member’s Bill debates. I’d like to highlight some of those Private Member’s Bills in my upcoming columns, since some could produce...
OP/ED: What is COP26 and why does it matter?
Starting Nov. 1, world leaders — along with scientists, policy-makers, journalists and activists — are gathering in Glasgow, Scotland for the UN international climate conference COP26. Over the next 12 days, they’ll have an opportunity to make crucial decisions about tackling the climate emergency globally. With the most...
LETTER: Honouring veteran members of the War Amps on Remembrance Day
To The Editor: As we approach Remembrance Day, I’d like to pay tribute to the veteran members of The War Amps. The War Amps was started by amputee veterans returning from the First World War to help each other adapt to their new reality as amputees. They then welcomed amputee veterans following the Second World War, sharing...
OP/ED: BC needs to drastically change post-fire logging
As autumn rains extinguish the last of this summer’s fires, the final accounting for a brutal B.C. wildfire season is becoming clear. Nearly one million hectares of forest has been burnt and more than $500 million spent containing the carnage. We are no strangers to the impacts of wildfires here in the Kootenays as we have ...
Letter: Green Party candidate lobbies for real change
An open letter to SOWK residents: Thank you to everyone that participated and voted in the 2021 Federal Election. Turnout across the country was lower than average so I thank you for taking the time to engage. Obviously, this election did not turn out how I wanted and I am disappointed and dismayed by the results. I am concerned...
Op/Ed: Professional Nurses stand for science-based health care
The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and Canadian nurses stand strongly united behind science and the best available evidence as the basis for professional nursing practice and decision-making. Nursing is a rigorously educated, regulated and autonomous profession, and it is first a discipline based in science — not a random gathering of personal opinions and ideologies. […]
