Affordable Housing Projects to Receive Funding
ROSSLAND -- The Government of British Columbia is working with the Columbia Basin Trust to build 167 new homes for people struggling to find housing they can afford, in ten Kootenay communities. Rossland will receive funding to develop 24 housing units, planned to be built on the western side of the land known as “the Emcon...
COLUMN: From the Hill -- Canada far behind Europe
Julie Gelfand, the federal Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, released a report entitled Perspectives on Climate Change Action in Canada at the end of March. Canada has a pretty dismal track record when it comes to meeting its climate action commitments. We’ve already missed two targets—Rio in 2000...
Editorial: How much time is enough, what's going on, and what's best for us all?
How much time do citizens need to be informed enough to vote on an issue? Discussions about electoral reform and different forms of proportional representation compared with our long-standing system called “first-past-the-post” have been going on in BC for years. During that time, we've heard many opinions, but few as...
Column: Better vehicle standards drive innovation, benefit citizens
Transportation accounts for about a quarter of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, making it the second-highest source, slightly behind the oil and gas industry. In the U.S., it’s the largest source of emissions and pollution. Despite continued improvements in personal vehicle fuel standards since 1975, Canada’s transportation...
Last-minute Tax Filing Tips from CRA
The Canada Revenue Agency wants us all to file out tax returns on time. For good reason: even low-income people need to file tax returns in order to benefit from such things as lower Medical Services Plan premiums, and other benefits. And it makes life easier for taxpayers and the bureaucrats too. Here's a press release ...
Column: From the Hill -- Pipeline Questions
The Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline has dominated news in the past few weeks. The public is divided over whether we should build this pipeline and allow Alberta oil sands output to increase, or whether it presents too much risk to BC’s rivers and coastal environments. Many experts described the original project approval ...
Commentary: Big Money's Last Hurrah
The big money party is over and what a party it was. Given its well-deserved reputation in B.C. it's fitting that it went out with a bang in 2017. First, though, a walk down memory lane for an appreciation of its shock and awe legacy on B.C. politics. Between 2005 and 2017, B.C.'s political parties reported $206.9 million in...
Rossland Council's recommendations for CIP grants
Rossland City Council met on April 17 to discuss the applications for Community Initiatives Program (CIP) grants, and to make recommendations about which organization should get how much. All Council members were present except Marten Kruysse and Andrew Zwicker. Mayor Moore opened the meeting by expressing appreciation for ...
Congratulations Chris Bell, Community Futures Volunteer of the Year
Community Futures Central Kootenay (CFCK) is pleased to recognize Chris Bell for his years of volunteer work in Castlegar and the Central Kootenay. He has been involved in a variety of organizations, lending his good-natured expertise to many projects. Since 2010, Chris Bell facilitated the Castlegar-based Kootenay Business...
One bigger, better credit union?
Seven credit unions have spent the winter engaged in discussions regarding the potential for combining to form one new, united credit union, and how that can best serve the needs of their members and communities in the Kootenay, Columbia Valley and Boundary regions. The idea: Uniting into one larger credit union could open ...
