The Castlegar and Area Fair Vote Chapter, a local citizens group for proportional representation, welcomed the announcement today of the referendum question by Attorney-General David Eby. “We're pleased to have a clear question for the citizens of BC. Now we can get to work on reaching as many voters as possible in our community...

After the 2015 federal election, most Canadians were happy about the prospects for positive electoral reform.  Both the Liberals and the NDP had campaigned on promises that first, there would be no more elections under the old first-past-the-post system, and second, that they would repeal the unfair aspects of the Conservative’s so-called “Fair Elections Act.” […]

The flood situation in the south Okanagan and Boundary regions has dominated the news for the past month and the news seems to get more serious by the day. Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes and many have lost everything—houses, vehicles, land. Last Friday and Saturday I drove from Penticton to Trail and...

In a letter to the editor in the April 19 edition of the Castlegar News, Councillor Bruno Tassone explains his reasoning for voting against a council motion to support the upcoming Regional District Recreation Complex referendum. While I respect his right to support or oppose any motion, I do not accept his asserted reasoning....

The Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline has dominated news in the past few weeks.  The public is divided over whether we should build this pipeline and allow Alberta oil sands output to increase, or whether it presents too much risk to BC’s rivers and coastal environments. Many experts described the original project approval ...

Because it's Sunday (a more casual day, at least in my world), I feel I can write something personal and totally politically irrelevant – just information I stumbled upon which has made my life better, and I want to share. I was talking to my Mom several weeks ago, and told her she's my best friend. She said she found that ...

To The Editor: I was appalled to hear that the Prime Minister intends to provide a Texas extraction company with billions of tax dollars to foist their dirty pipeline on a reluctant province.  First of all, the Trudeau government has no such mandate.  This government pledged to be a proactive partner in the fight against...

Are you thinking about running in the next Municipal election? First and foremost, I say congratulations for wanting to put your name forward. Second, do not be naive as to what is needed from you, and Third, you can no longer say that you are not a politician. The hours vary but, as an example, I put in more than 20 hours ...

I'm sure there are writers out there who could witness what happened in our community last night and respond with a coherent, linear narrative of the true significance of same. Sadly, I am not one of them. Linear, by definition, means 'in a straight line'. All of what I saw last night overwhelmed me with the inherent ripple...

I have agonized for days – in fact, years – over what and how to write in this situation. I am unspeakably angry with the IIO for torturing you like this, and with the provincial government for creating such a body, then ignoring what damage they do, thus brutalizing the public servants we so fundamentally need. Not to mention...