Last week Premier David Eby issued a heartfelt apology for historic wrongs against the Sons of Freedom children, including the effects on the descendants and community. The Government of British Columbia has committed to a $10 million recognition package and also recognizes the immediate need for these resources, especially for the elderly. In the coming months the […]

Last week Canada took another major step forward truly universal healthcare with the tabling of the NDP’s Pharmacare Act.  When fully implemented this legislation will allow all Canadians to use their health card to obtain their prescription drugs, just as they use it to see a doctor or use hospital facilities.  And it will save Canada as […]

This week, I returned to the legislature for a new session of presenting, debating, and passing legislation alongside my colleagues. In our first week, we presented our Throne Speech and 2024 Budget, sharing some of the priorities of our government for the year ahead. We know that people are facing challenges, like global inflation and high interest rates. […]

The BC Legislature resumed Feb. 20 with a Speech from the Throne that outlines our commitments for the fall session. The 2024 Budget will be announced on February 22. Our government has taken on some of the biggest challenges facing British Columbians, like childcare, housing, and healthcare. We will continue to add important pieces to […]

Government apologizes for historic wrongs against Sons of Freedom Last week in Castlegar and Grand Forks, Attorney General Niki Sharma delivered a heartfelt and a long overdue apology to the Sons of Freedom Doukhobor community for historic wrongs committed by the provincial government. Along with this apology, a $10 million compensation package was also announced for […]

A Federal Court Justice has ruled in favour of conservation groups that challenged the federal Environment Minister for failing to take action to protect the critical habitats of at-risk migratory birds across the country. This includes the threatened Marbled Murrelet, a seabird that relies on coastal old-growth forests in B.C. for nesting. Ecojustice lawyers, on […]

I’ve written in a previous column about the exciting developments in battery recycling in Trail. There, KC Recycling is one of western North America’s largest lead-acid battery recyclers and Cirba Solutions (formerly Retriev) is a major recycler of literally every other kind of battery. Both these businesses are important components of the circular economy we […]

Community programs, research, education, wellness and mental-health supports are part of a $10-million compensation package announced to provide lasting recognition of historical wrongs committed by the Province of B.C. against the Sons of Freedom Doukhobor and their families. Attorney General Niki Sharma announced the package, on behalf of Premier David Eby, at an event held Thursday […]

Cancer touches all of us, and in British Columbia, lung cancer stands out as one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers, while also being the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. With this in mind, in Rossland, Castlegar, TrailMay of 2022 the provincial government through BC Cancer launched the Lung Screening Program, providing access to eligible […]

For the past three and a half months the world has witnessed the devastating situation in Palestine and Israel. Since the horrifying Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7 and the beginning of this latest assault on Gaza by Israeli forces, tens of thousands of innocent people have been killed, of whom two-thirds are women and […]