Being Ripped Off by Drug Companies -- and Trade Agreements
One way of looking at the current election is to see it as a massive civic literacy test, not just for those who actually intend to vote but for those who mistake cynicism for sophistication and stay glued to their iPads instead. As David Akin of the Toronto Sun once said, "Bad governments are elected by good folks who don't...
Electricity rates to go up next week
Electricity rates are set to increase next month, according to a press release issued by FortisBC this afternoon.The release reads as follows: FortisBC has completed its annual rates review with the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) and has received approval from the BCUC for a 1.6 per cent increase effective August 1, 2015. The...
Community goes 'whole hog' to support local farmer
Residents rallied after reading a heartfelt – and heartbroken – Facebook post written by a local pig farmer who was nearing the end of his rope after hundreds of dollars of meat were stolen right out of the freezer at his farm. Jim Ross, 51, is the owner of Havesome Hogs in Slocan and creator of the Facebook page Farm the...
CBT and Fortis plugging local communities into energy savings
Several West Kootenay communities will soon be reducing their carbon footprint thanks to $168,000 support from Columbia Basin Trust and FortisBC. Over the next year, participating local governments will work alongside the Community Energy Association (CEA) which will provide expert support to help communities, in FortisBC’s...
CBT annual report shows $22 mill invested in Basin
As it approaches its 20th anniversary, Columbia Basin Trust is pleased to announce 2014/15 was another year of strong support to the area it serves in the Columbia Basin. Over the year the organization delivered nearly $22 million in programs and services to communities and residents, $17 million in new loans to Basin businesses...
Low flying Loonie makes shopping at home at lot more attractive
A low flying loonie of late has feathered the local economy as those who once flocked over the border to shop in the U.S. are choosing to nest at home. Currently the loonie sits at 0.79 versus the US Dollar. Since 2013 the Canadian dollar has been dropping from a near-parity perch to trading at about 79 cents U.S. What that...
We are all (or should be) Greeks now
The temple of neoliberalism and its ideology of social suicide in the interests of the banks has been breached. The hysteria in European capitals (particularly Germany) after the resounding 'No' vote by the people of Greece is entirely appropriate. For decades now developed country governments and their enforcers, the IMF...
Waneta Expansion Project celebrates grand opening
The Waneta Expansion Limited Partnership (WELP), a partnership between Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corporation and Columbia Basin Trust, celebrated the grand opening of the $900 million, 335 MW Waneta Expansion Project, near Trail today. The official grand opening celebration took place at the facility with project stakeholders,...
CBT gets $3.34 mill to bring high-speed Internet to the Koots
Everyday tasks that were once done in person, such as shopping, communicating, learning and banking, are now done online. To help Canadians have better access to these and many other online opportunities, the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Industry and Minister Responsible for British Columbia, and David Wilks, Member ...
We Are Greater Than Tar Sands
Kootenay paddlers joined a call for action on climate change. People are speaking out: a flotilla of over 50 paddlers in 30 boats took to Kootenay Lake on Saturday July 4 to join in a national day of action for jobs, justice and climate action, sponsored by 350.org. “It was a great way to keep cool, have fun, and speak ...
