From The Hill — Past the engagement process on climate action
For too long, Canada has dragged its feet on the urgent need to battle climate change, a hesitancy largely caused by concerns over the economy and jobs. It is now clear that we not only must take bold steps in this battle, but we can do this while creating good jobs and putting Canada at the forefront of the global clean...
Column: Blueberry River First Nations court case victory and what it means
A recent momentous court victory for Blueberry River First Nations could put Canada on track to realizing key Truth and Reconciliation Commission “calls to action.” Two of those are for government to “fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation”...
Rossland's Tara Howse named Green Party of Canada candidate in the SOWK
On July 7, 2021, the local Green Party membership voted to elect their candidate in the federal riding of South Okanagan–West Kootenay (SOWK). After a great turnout from the membership, Tara Howse from Rossland won the race against New Denver’s Trevor Holsworth. “I’m thrilled to be the representative again. I’m so glad Trevor...
As Parliament wraps up, MP Cannings wants more support for Canadians
Last week, as Parliament held its last session until is resumes in mid-September, local MP Richard Cannings is calling for government to do more to support Canadians. Cannings is one of 24 New Democrat MPs in Parliament that have successfully punched above their weight in the minority government. The NDP’s consistent pressure...
MP Cannings speaks to residential schools
The discovery of 215 unmarked and seemingly undocumented graves of children on the grounds of the former residential school in Kamloops has produced an outpouring of grief and anger across Canada. While the discovery was not a surprise to many people, especially to residential school survivors, it served as a shocking reminder...
MP Richard Cannings speaks to ongoing housing crisis
Canada is in the middle of a housing crisis, and the south Okanagan, Boundary and West Kootenay areas are very much in the middle of that crisis. This is an urgent and rapidly growing problem that demands the cooperation and priority of all levels of government. The crisis has emerged out of a perfect storm of factors....
Budget 2021: More promises but everyday Canadians are left holding the bill for the pandemic while the ultra-rich enjoy a free ride
Many struggling Canadians hoped that today’s budget would offer meaningful supports and steps towards recovery. But more than that, they hoped that it would be the ultra-wealthy who have profited from the pandemic who would be paying for these supports, not the workers who have been hit so hard. According to local MP, Richard...
MP Cannings: Important to thank people to help those with addictions
Last year, Gord Portman saved two people in a house fire in Penticton. When he saw his picture in the local newspaper, he said to himself ‘Oh boy I need help.” Gord was addicted to drugs. So he turned to Discovery House, a local organization that helps men battle their addictions, and he now thanks Discovery House for saving...
Letter: The promise parties keep making -- and breaking
Dear Editor: Monday, February 1 marked the four year anniversary of Trudeau's broken promise on electoral reform. “We are committed to ensuring that the 2015 election will be the last federal election using FPtP” It was a key campaign promise which Trudeau repeated over 1800 times. An all party parliamentary committee, ERRE,...
COLUMN: From the Hill -- BC apple farmers and food security
Many sectors have been hard hit by the pandemic, and agriculture is one of them. Despite concerns about food security and pleas to buy local, orchardists and farmers in the region have had a number of serious headwinds facing them over the past year. B.C. apple growers have had to deal with huge production from just across...
