In British Columbia, we know all too well the severity of the toxic drug crisis. On April 14, 2016, it was deemed a public health emergency in British Columbia. Since this time, tragically, more than 14,000 British Columbians have died from accidental overdose: 7 people a day. In recognition of the magnitude of this crisis, […]

The dry facts about increasing water scarcity People can only survive a few days without water. After all, we’re mostly water — basically just liquid blobs with enough organic thickener to keep us from dribbling away. We’re part of nature’s hydrologic cycle of evaporation, condensation and precipitation that cartwheels water around the planet. Given water’s […]

Arc of the Cognizant CLXXXIII “Why don’t you all just f-f-fade away? And don’t try and dig what we all say … The things they do look awful cold. I hope I die before I get old.”  — The Who, My Generation “Your sons and your daughters Are beyond your command Your old road is […]

More ambulance services in rural and remote communities in the B.C. interior (bcehs.ca) People living in 21 communities in the B.C. interior are now benefiting from improved paramedic staffing models to enhance 911 responsiveness and provide consistent and reliable out-of-hospital care. As of April 1: Eight communities including Fruitvale and Rossland were upgraded to the […]

Carbon pricing can be confusing. Simply put, it’s designed to increase costs of burning polluting fossil fuels and encourage cleaner alternatives. It creates a financial incentive for people and businesses to pollute less. Rebates help keep household costs down. As of 2023, 73 global carbon-pricing instruments were in operation worldwide, covering around 23 per cent […]

This year, the Province is investing $11 million through the BC Air Access Program to support 26 upgrades at two dozen airports throughout British Columbia including the airports in City of Trail and City of Castlegar! Projects include: Castlegar – $1.6 million to rehabilitate the aviation apron Trail – $19,747 to cut tops off trees around the airport […]

Editor’s Note: The article below focuses on the federal carbon pricing system; please be aware that in BC, the Province runs its own carbon pricing system, but the carbon price for each is the same, and both the federal and the BC systems have rebates – paid quarterly – to benefit low-income and medium-income households. […]

We do not make history, we are made by history. — Martin Luther King, jr. Our King “ … divinity … doth hedge a King.” — Shakespeare, Macbeth No one reading this is likely to think a king has anything divine about him, but for Shakespeare 400 years ago, — for subjects in Arabia and […]

Fighting for you – Its an expression that has made its way into some of my columns and not one I particularly like given that one of my key motivations for entering politics was to bring people together; to work together across party lines to make real changes to make lives better. Still, the sentiment […]

March is kidney health month! This week I met with Castlegar Sunrise Rotary Club members including Gwen Chernenkoff to chat about the The Kidney Foundation of Canada Walk. As a living donor I know first hand just how much this walk raises funds that directly support families. It was fabulous to share my mine and my […]