I’d had my column already written; the topic was Canada’s war in Afghanistan. Then the events at the Victoria Legislature hit the news, and it is clear that something must be said about that. It is noteworthy, to me at least, that I was thinking about our war against the Afghan Taliban at a time […]

A secret 10-year deal signed by forest minister Steve Thomson could have significant implications on B.C.’s pulp mills, including Celgar, says New Democrat MLA Katrine Conroy. “We know that mills are having to pay more to get fiber, and we know that as the timber supply problem gets worse, it’s only going to get harder for ...

At least 30 officials in the communities that make up Metro Vancouver earn a base salary that put them among the top one per cent of all income earners in Canada, as do two more at Metro Vancouver itself and another seven at TransLink. Perhaps it will be a leisurely cruise along the French Riviera […]

And the time is flying, seven candles burning low. It’s the new world rising from the shackles of the old. If we could — just — join hands…        — Led Zepplin, The Rover When I wrote my last column, Brazil was not in the news; Turkey most definitely was. Now Brazil has become the latest […]

I was a little startled to read Premier Christy Clark's press release regarding Alberta flooding (see below) - there was no mention of flooding in B.C., no pledge of mutual assistance, nor any statement speaking to assistance already en route ... really, no information at all - I could've been more enlightened by a two-minute...

I was just saying the other day that it’s been a long time since I penned a good old-fashioned rant deriding the moronic behaviour of members of our society who seem to find themselves with a common sense deficit – but really, I’ve had nothing to complain about, being surrounded by largely thoughtful, reasonable, competent […]

We are so accustomed to the connection between political parties and democracy that to question the relationship between the two might seem absurd. But for those who recognize the multiple crises faced by humanity — the destruction of our environment, climate change, the ravages of unfettered finance capital, the undeniable limits to growth — the […]

Unless you are a magazine publisher, you’ve probably never heard of the Canada Magazine Fund. Administered by Heritage Canada, the CMF was established 24 years ago to “contribute towards the production of high-quality magazines showcasing the diverse work of a wide cross-section of Canadian creators” and to build “capacity to help ensure the continued growth […]

This week I travelled to Victoria to be sworn in as MLA and I wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to the people of Kootenay West for my re-election. I am honored and I will do my very best to represent all constituents and take the concerns of this area to Victoria and the […]

By Michael Jessen “The sun is the most important thing in everybody’s life, whether you’re a plant, an animal or a fish, and we take it for granted.”– Danny Boyle What’s all the fuss about the Sun? After spinning at the centre of our solar system for about 4.6 billion years, the ball of scorching […]