This time, Local Governments talk to Feds on future of Columbia River Treaty
Local government representatives Mayor Deb Kozak and Mayor Karen Hamling met with Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, federal officials and regional MPs in late November to emphasize the importance of working with local governments in the Columbia Basin before reaching decisions...
OUT OF LEFT FIELD: Blueberry School AGM a slap in face to taxpayers everywhere
I would like to preface this by saying I have long been a vehement – almost rabid – supporter of the Blueberry Creek Community School Hub (BCCS). I lobbied hard, both personally and professionally, for SD 20 to sell the BCCS property to its non-profit society to keep the school in operation. It is, thus, truly with a heavy ...
City's trash talk paying off for tax payers
The City of Castlegar's newly-implemented garbage/recycling management program has been anything but wasteful, according to data recently released by contractor Waste Management. City director of Transportation and Civic Works, Chris Barlow, said that Waste Management tracks how much waste it collects and to which facility ...
Last week brings BC highest number of 911 overdose calls ever recorded
B.C. paramedics and dispatchers will be getting much-needed support from the provincial government in the face of the province's opioid overdose crisis, with a $5-million injection of funding for BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), Health Minister Terry Lake announced Friday. Over the last week, B.C. had the highest number...
Castlegar/Trail dueling-airport rivalry takes wing
Cross-community competition continues, as Castlegar offers back-handed congratulations to neighbouring Trail's competing airport. A press release issued by the City of Castlegar was the latest salvo in a long-standing rivalry between the two cities, centering primarily around major infrastructure such as the airports and...
A Letter to Trudeau From Young Researchers
More than 1500 early-career researchers in Canada and Canadian researchers abroad are sending an open letter to the Prime Minister and six Cabinet Ministers, calling for scientific rigour and transparency in Canada’s environmental and regulatory decision-making. “As the next generation of scientists in Canada, we are...
COLUMN: A Blow to Regional Collaboration
Over the last couple of years many elected officials in our region have been trying hard to improve collaboration and cooperation between our various local governments. Unfortunately, the region has just experienced a major setback. One area that was a sparkling example of regional cooperation was the economic development...
'Initiative Petition Application' underway, to change paramedics' bargaining rights
British Columbia’s Chief Electoral Officer, Keith Archer, has granted approval in principle on an initiative petition application. The petition will be issued to proponent Joshua Henshaw on Monday, January 9, 2017. The title of the initiative is: An initiative to amend the Fire and Police Services Collective Bargaining Act....
NDP Candidate and MLA Katrine Conroy out listening to constituents
Kootenay West NDP Candidate, Katrine Conroy, hit the streets over the weekend, going door to door in the Village of Slocan, asking residents about what issues concern them and gathering signatures on a petition requesting the BC Liberal government stabilize funding for education in the province. “Education is an issue of...
Fowl play at council - urban chicken project takes wing
It’s official – the urban chicken pilot project in Castlegar is set to soar, after city council’s regular meeting Monday night. But it won’t be a poultry free-for-all, and not everyone with a hen yen can fly out and buy birds. A key element of the project will be a steering committee involving members from SPCA, Bear Aware,...
