We should have known it was too good to be true. Harper’s many, many repetitions of his government’s commitment to get all the troops out by July 2011 are well known. I think he may actually have meant it because by these repeated statements he framed the issue so strongly that all Canadians expected – […]

Now that I’m back from some well-enjoyed fun in the sun, I am amazed at the number of people who have suggested the biggest story that happened in BC in the past few weeks was the decision by Premier Gordon Campbell to step down.  They are wrong.   As repeatedly explained on this blog long […]

For those considering issue triage — picking five or six issues to focus on — in the fight to rid the country of the current government, one area that is critical to the outcome is exposing the Harper government’s construction of the national security state.   I am referring here to the commitment of the […]

The pretty village of Kaslo on Kootenay Lake has a population of less than 2,000 and one licensed daycare, the Periwinkle Children’s Centre. The centre has a long history in the community and also a long history of the same problems repeating themselves.  Sarah Lawless, chair of the board of directors for the non-profit centre, […]

 The official results are not yet in, but the preliminary ballots show such a resounding “no” vote that no other finale is a possibility in today’s $25-million recreation referendum in Castlegar. The Regional District of Central Kootenay posted the unoffical results on the district website Saturday night.   With just under 40-per-cent voter turn-out, the […]

 Ed Broadbent, one of Canada’s most respected progressive sages, sat down with the CCPA’s Trish Hennessy to talk about the Canada he grew up in and how it’s changed over his lifetime. During this candid conversation — in Mr. Broadbent’s own Ottawa backyard — he reflects on the profound shift away from equality. When he […]

 I think most of us can safely bet the farm on which news story will be dominating B.C. media in the coming weeks – but I hope it doesn’t distract Castlegar from the huge looming issues our community will face over the same timeframe, regardless who holds power in Victoria. Truth be told, with the […]

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said Wednesday he’ll resign as soon as a leadership convention can be held by the Liberal party.  Campbell, the province’s 34th premier, said he has asked the Liberal party to hold a leadership convention as soon as possible to find a new leader.   “It’s time for a new person to […]

$36.8 million is needed for fire safety, sewer lines, water pipes and wells in Grand Forks over the next few years, residents heard last week. At a public meeting to see if locals are ready to foot the bill for the needed repairs, city council presented an engineering report by Kerr Wood Leidel Associates about […]

Interior Health is being anything but vague in dispelling a rumour that Trail’s critical care units are slated for closure. The rumour, disseminated at least in part by email, indicated that the new heliport at Trail’s hospital will allow IH to transport critical care patients to larger centres, thus closing the critical care units now […]