New spaces secured for vulnerable people to self-isolate
To support British Columbians who need a place to self-isolate and to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Province is partnering with local governments, non-profits and the hotel industry. So far, more than 900 spaces have been secured at 23 sites including hotels, motels and community centres throughout B.C. “These new spaces...
FortisBC introduces new financial support for customers
Today, FortisBC received interim approval from the BC Utilities Commission to implement its COVID-19 Customer Recovery Fund, a program that provides new support measures for residential and small business customers who are facing financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Fund will be available...
Selkirk College Launches Emergency Fundraising Campaign to Assist Students
To address the financial challenges facing post-secondary students due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Selkirk College Foundation is appealing for help with those struggling the most. The COVID-19 Student Relief Fund will provide immediate financial support to students who are facing serious financial challenges as they complete...
Early prohibition of fires, fireworks throughout BC: UPDATED
In addition to the earlier announcement of an early burning ban across the province to begin on April 16, the province has issued open burning restrictions for all High Smoke Sensitivity Zones across the province until Wednesday, April 15, 2020. These restrictions are directly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the...
Rossland City Council Meeting, April 6, 2020
The meeting was held by ZOOM, to protect us all from each other’s potential virus load. In one regard, the Zoom meeting was easier for an observer than a meeting in the Miners Union Hall, because it was much easier to hear what each Council member said during discussions. Present: Mayor Kathy Moore, and Councillors Chris...
RDKB says: Please don't travel to secondary homes or cabins in the RDKB
Many residents from BC and other provinces own cabins or secondary homes in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, including at Christina Lake, Big White and other tourist destinations in our region. The regional district has a simple message for anyone contemplating visiting or staying at a secondary home or cabin in ...
COLUMN: From the Hill -- supports for people affected by the pandemic
The COVID-19 crisis continues to dominate the news across the country and around the world. As the news gets grimmer in other regions, there is growing hope from British Columbia analyses that show the daily increases in cases diminishing. Our efforts at physical distancing are working, and we must keep up those efforts. ...
EXPLAINER: 10 things you need to know as a barrel of Alberta oil is valued at less than a bottle of maple syrup
As fears intensify that the benchmark price for Alberta’s oilsands crude could drop below zero, we dig into what’s behind the crash, the phenomenon of ‘homeless crude’ and why new pipelines ultimately won’t solve the problem By Sharon J. Riley for The Narwhal The headlines don’t...
ANALYSIS: What the research shows about wearing face masks in public
By Hector Chapa, for The Conversation With the coronavirus pandemic quickly spreading, U.S. health officials have changed their advice on face masks and now recommend people wear cloth masks in public areas where social distancing can be difficult, such as grocery stores. But can these masks be effective? President Donald...
Letter: Invented money and helping each other
Does anyone without an economist's education understand how vast sums of money are "created" when Western, highly-developed economies are in crisis? In 2008/09, trillions of dollars seemed to be conjured out of nothing, to rescue banks, corporations, and finance capitalists in the USA. Then, Wall St. nearly ruined our world...
