B.C. government forced to defend uranium mining settlement
Recently released court documents suggest the B.C. Liberal government may have overpaid millions of taxpayers’ money to settle a claim from Boss Power Corp. for their Beaverdell uranium mining project. The documents, released to the New Democrats (NDP) and energy and mines critic John Horgan, show three independent evaluations on the valuation of the claim […]
OP/ED: Unplug the MP pension money making machine
By: Jordan Bateman, British Columbia Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation If you could put a loonie into a machine and get $23.30 out every time, would you ever stop? Probably not. That human nature may explain why Members of Parliament have been moving so slowly to reform their platinum-plated pension plan. Unfortunately for taxpayers, we are that […]
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 […]
Earth Day 2012 carries special meaning in Nelson as environmental movement promises to fight back
While people in more than 175 countries used Earth Day 2012 to raise awareness and appreciation of the world’s natural environment, a rally in Nelson had more of a direct message for government — Keep Jumbo Wild and put a stop the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines Project. “Look at this sky, look at that (Elephant) […]
B.C. teachers vote 'yes' for Bill 22 opposition strategy
Ed Note: The following is a press release issued by the B.C. Teachers’ Federation A decisive 73 per cent of teachers have voted in favour of a resistance strategy to oppose Bill 22, the controversial Education Improvement Act. In a province-wide vote conducted April 17–19, a total of 21,625 teachers voted yes and 7,846 voted […]
LETTER: Not everyone thrilled about Rick Hansen's visit
Dear Rick Hansen: I hope that during your next 25 years of raising money for spinal cord research (SCR) we will see the end of inhumane, scientifically fallacious spinal cord experiments on animals. It was 25 years ago when Lifeforce, a Vancouver based ecology and animal rights organization, gave you extensive data about the failure […]
Councillor uses Facebook to gauge community response to fowl play
A Castlegar city councillor is using social media sites to try to gauge how much community support there is for allowing urban chicken husbandry within city limits. Kevin Chernoff, now serving his third term at the council table, says the majority of the people attending council on the issue are in support of the notion […]
MP says Tories wiping out rural services
Southern Interior MP Alex Atamanenko says he was dismayed to hear the news that the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) office in Kelowna is slated for closure earlier today. “The Conservatives are dismantling Canada piece by piece,” he said. “This will result in a critical reduction in services related to citizenship and immigration matters for […]
OP/ED: Castlegar and Trail need to put down the banjos and grow up
“Our airport is better.” “No, OUR airport is better.” “You’re not closing OUR school.” “Well, you’re sure not closing OURS. So there.” Every time I try to imagine how dialogue between Castlegar and Trail must sound to ministry officials at both the provincial and federal levels, I can almost hear the banjos playing in the […]
How many roads?
Bob Dylan wrote the lyrics; Peter, Paul and Mary recorded it in the early 1960s and I, coming of age as a young civil rights supporter and believer, always found the song "Blowin' In The Wind" as evocative, emotional and energizing as the fight for equality and social justice took hold in the U.S. and Canada, including the...