COMMENT: B.C.'s polarized political climate turning voters off
With MLAs back in their seats this week, it’s a good time to remind B.C.’s political leaders that a “trust deficit” has broken out between British Columbians and their elected officials. Last week’s Ipsos Reid poll had some startling numbers in it: not a single party leader polled better than their party on the question […]
Clark/Good: Like an Orphan’s Club charity event
The weekend promos had heightened the anticipation; what I thought would be the Davis Cup of Politics--BC’s top-rated talk show host Bill Good vs. the province’s top ranked politician, Christy Clark--would take to the air in Vancouver Monday. Maybe not the match of the year, but hopefully some hard-hitting serves and returns,...
"Complex" DCC debate sent to committee for in-depth discussion
Council's decision regarding a draft bylaw to repeal DCCs (Development Cost Charges, bylaws 2241 and 2315) has been delayed until council can discuss the issues in a Committee-of-the-Whole (COW) meeting to be scheduled for later this month. Coun. Kathy Wallace made the motion to receive the entire packet of information and ...
POLICE BEAT: Robber stopped in his tracks
Grand Forks RCMP caught a robber red handed after a citizen called them out for a robbery in progress at the Overwaitea in Grand Forks. The call came in on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 10:48 p.m.. When the police got there the 51 year-old man from Grand Forks was inside the Overwaitea compound at the […]
Treaty Negotiations under microscope: FNS political executive to appear before Standing Senate Committee
The political executive of the First Nations Summit are travelling to Ottawa this week to provide testimony on the state of Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia to the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples. Grand Chief Edward John, Chief Doug White and Dan Smith will appear before the Standing Senate Committee ...
LETTER: Repeal of Devolopment Cost Charges in Rossland?
Dear editor, The Agenda for the February 13 Rossland Council Meeting, sent out on February 7th includes a Request for Council Decision to repeal the Development Cost Charge (DCC) Bylaw and the Sewer Capacity Charge Bylaw. A further Request for Council Decision is for a Service Connection Capacity Charge to replace DCCs. ...
IntegrityBC releases BC Conservative leader's video answers to Facebook questions
(Victoria, 9 February 2012) – IntegrityBC today released eight videos of B.C. Conservative party leader John Cummins responding to questions posed to him by British Columbians on the organization's Facebook page. Cummins responds to a variety of issues ranging from fears over a Conservative/Liberal vote split to the HST to ...
City invites IHA spokesperson to public meeting to discuss ER closure
The City of Castlegar is asking Interior Health Authority (IHA) spokesperson Diane Gagnon to attend the public portion of city council’s next meeting, to discuss the unscheduled closure of Castlegar’s emergency ward last Saturday. This, after city officials received a letter of apology for the poor communication before, and during, the closure. “Normally, a public […]
Approval of Jasper development ignores public outcry
Banff, Alberta– Over the objections of almost 200,000 citizens, the federal government has approved the proposed “Brewster Glacier Discovery Walk” in Jasper National Park. Conservation organizations fear that the beauty and integrity of Jasper National Park are being surrendered to commercial interests, opening the door for...
COMMENT: Open government isn't about selling access at BC Liberal “power lunches”
IntegrityBC chastised the BC Liberals today for leaving the impression that they're selling access to Margaret MacDiarmid, Minister of Labour Citizens' Services and Open Government, through her presence at a $50 a plate Liberal fundraising lunch tomorrow in Surrey. “There's something incredibly oxymoronic about the minister...
