The future of development in Alberta’s oilsands lies in underground, steam-assisted operations that represent some of the country’s fastest growing greenhouse gas emissions. These projects have never been subject to federal environmental reviews and that’s not expected to change with Ottawa’s new-and-improved assessment rules....

Do you want to live in a “themed” community, where all buildings must look similar in style and colour? Or do you prefer a place with more variety? I attended the Heritage Plan Community Workshop on December 1, and it was heartening to see so many others there taking an interest. Yes, let’s preserve our heritage – it’s...

By Walter Sinnot-Armstrong, for Aeon Many of my best friends think that some of my deeply held beliefs about important issues are obviously false or even nonsense. Sometimes, they tell me so to my face. How can we still be friends? Part of the answer is that these friends and I are philosophers, and philosophers learn how to...

A large tract of protected lands stretches between Nelson and Creston, including areas managed by the Province of British Columbia and the Darkwoods Conservation Area, owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). Yet one area within Darkwoods — the Next Creek watershed — remains unprotected. This is about to...

The Nelson and  District Credit Union has stepped up to provide more help with the upgrades needed to keep the Rossland Arena open.  The local credit union announced last week its donation of $5000 to the Rossland Arena Society, which will contribute the funds toward the expensive work of keeping the arena safe to use.  Mayor...

UNESCO issued a stern warning that, in order to keep Wood Buffalo National Park off a list of world heritage sites in danger, Canada must take “major and timely” action on 17 recommendations, including an impact assessment of B.C.’s controversial megadam By Judith Lavoie, the Narwhal Canada will not provide...

Present:  Mayor Kathy Moore, and Councillors Scott Forsythe, Chris Bowman, Dirk Lewis, Stewart Spooner, Janice Nightingale, and Andy Morel. Staff present:CAO Bryan Teasdale, Executive Assistant Alison Worsfold, Chief Financial Officer Elma Hamming, Manager of Operations Darrin Albo, City Planner Stacey Lightbourne, and Manager...

From ECOJUSTICE; by Charles Hatt and Alan Andrews As heatwaves and forest fires broke out across Canada last summer, Ecojustice analyzed the “climate state of play.” Now, we’re back with an update. In the months since Ecojustice’s last analysis of the ‘climate state of play’ in Canada, the...

When faced with conclusive evidence of a major threat to citizens, a true leader would do everything possible to confront it. So, what was the U.S. president’s reaction to a U.S. scientific report compiled by more than 300 scientists and endorsed by a dozen different agencies, including NASA, NOAA and the defence department,...

By Anna Johnston, Staff Lawyer with West Coast Environmental Law There has been a rash of complaints lately about efforts to strengthen and streamline federal decision-making on projects that affect the environment through Bill C-69. They originate from a small but organized group based in Alberta, primarily connected to the...