Thinking of a cruise? Think again. Global Cruise Activist Network calls for cruise industry changes
Extinction Rebellion Victoria has joined the Global Cruise Activist Network, a worldwide group of activists who are demanding the cruise industry doesn’t return to business as usual as cruise ships start sailing again after the COVID-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, September 2, port communities from around the world — including ...
Column: Old oil and gas wells can find new life with renewable energy
As part of its COVID-19 response, Canada’s government is spending $1.7 billion to clean up “orphan” and inactive oil and gas wells in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Industry should be footing the bill, but the work is critical and will keep people employed and, in some cases, help them upgrade skills. Orphan...
Closing Canadian fisheries would help rebuild stocks and lead to economic gains: study
By Matt Simmons, for The Narwhal Analysis shows temporarily stopping fishing would lead to gains of up to 10 times above the status quo after 30 years At least a quarter of major fish stocks in Canada are in decline, but efforts to rebuild them — such as closing fisheries or setting catch limits — are often...
Public Accounts confirm economic impacts of COVID-19
Despite strong fiscal results in the first three quarters of 2019-20, unforeseen changes in the fourth quarter due to COVID-19, including declines in tax revenues, ICBC losses and early measures to tackle the pandemic, affected the Province’s 2019-20 financial results. “While the first three quarters of 2019-20 reflected a ...
Column: Plastics everywhere; what now?
Almost every product and material we refer to as “plastic” is made from fossil fuels. Most of it hasn’t been around for long — a little over 70 years for the most common products. North American grocery stores didn’t start offering plastic bags until the late 1970s. Over that short time, plastics have become ubiquitous. A...
Happy Hills Farm in Rossland receives boost from FedEx grant
Miche and Dan Warwick of Happy Hills Farm have just become a bit happier, thanks to a $5,000 grant from the FedEx #SupportSmall grant initiative. The program has awarded $5,000 to each of 30 small businesses across Canada that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, in a wide variety of sectors. Here in...
Provincial Government responds to petition seeking referendum
The City of Rossland has received a copy of the response to the request for a referendum on the proposed affordable housing/city hall project in development for the old EMCON lot on 3rd Ave. The request, along with the petition, was sent to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing by a Facebook group called the Rossland...
Four reasons 2020 is set to see the lowest Fraser River sockeye salmon return on record
By Stephanie Wood, for The Narwhal Even a low-ball prediction for the number of sockeye returning to B.C. river was too high and First Nations and conservationists say government mismanagement and lice infestations are partly to blame Scientists at the Pacific Salmon Commission knew 2020 wouldn’t be a great year for...
Column: From the Hill -- Morneau's resignation and pandemic recovery
Bill Morneau resigned as Minister of Finance on Monday. I enjoyed my interactions with the former minister—he was approachable and often crossed the aisle to chat with me when I had a question or comment on financial issues affecting my constituents. Rumour has it that he was at odds with the rest of the cabinet when it...
Policy Note: Public Relations can be Bad News
By Dan Guadagnolo for The Conversation As the Canadian economy slowly recovers from COVID-19 lockdowns, there have been news articles suggesting the Canada Emergency Response Benefit is encouraging workers to stay off the job. But a peek behind the headlines reveals the source of the story to be a business lobby group using...