Jen Riley, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement in response to the release of Budget 2026 by the Government of British Columbia. “As expected, Budget 2026 provides a sobering economic outlook for the province in the year ahead and over the three-year fiscal plan. “Today’s budget offers little in the way of […]

COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE  (3:30 PM) Money money money!  It’s all about the evolving Financial Plan – and taxes (etc.) and whether spending and taxation are “sustainable” and if not – what services and amenities should stop? Only two residents showed up for this session. PRESENT: Mayor Andy Morel and Councillors Stewart Spooner, Jeff Weaver, Craig Humpherys, and […]

What dating apps are really optimizing. Hint: it isn’t love By Mathieu Lajante and Sameh Al Natour In the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, dating apps typically see a spike in new users and activity. More profiles are created, more messages sent, more swipes logged. Dating platforms market themselves as modern technological solutions to loneliness, […]

Change has been the constant at the Skills Centre over the years, and several major changes are happening in the coming weeks. First, the Skills Centre is announcing a change in leadership. After more than eight years in the role, executive director Morag Carter will be leaving at the end of March. “Morag has done so […]

Columbia Basin Trust is partnering with CityWest to transfer ownership and operations of its broadband network assets, ensuring long-term management of the Basin’s fibre optic network by an experienced telecommunications provider. The network will continue to operate on an open-access basis, supporting multiple internet service providers. “From the outset, the Trust’s goal was to put […]

German scientists are warning that global warming is accelerating, that the planet could heat by as much as 3 C over pre-industrial levels by 2050 — just 24 years from now — and that we could exceed 5 C of warming by the century’s end. This should be top headline news. It should alarm us […]

By Robert Chernomas and Ian Hudson, Professors of Economics, University of Manitoba United States President Donald Trump and his MAGA base are often portrayed as a break from past political norms. While that is certainly true, it overlooks the long and predictable path that led to his rise. The slogan “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) […]

We must stop using fossil fuels now, for the sake of the climate, but also to bring about greater global peace and stability. Renewable energy technologies are improving rapidly while installations continue to ramp up. Energy from wind, solar and storage is now the most cost-effective and prices continue to drop. It’s more efficient and […]

PRESENT: Mayor Andy Morel and Councillors Stewart Spooner, Lisa Kwiatkowski, Jeff Weaver, Craig Humpherys, Maya Provençal and Eliza Boyce (online). Staff:  CAO Bryan Teasdale, Deputy Corporate Officer Cynthia Añonuevo, CFO Craig McDonald, Manager of Public Works and Infrastructure Scott Lamont, City Planner Stacey Lightbourne, Manager of Recreation & Events Kristi Calder, Executive Assistant Rachel Newton, […]

The 2026 property assessments, which reflect market value as of July 1, 2025, have been announced for property owners of nearly 450,000 properties throughout the Southern Interior. The updated property values are now available at bcassessment.ca in addition to 2026 Property Assessment Notices being mailed to each property owner. “For 2026, most homeowners can expect […]