ATAMANENKO: Time for federal leadership on health care
Across our country, no other public social service is cherished as much as our healthcare system and its underlying principles set in the Canada Health Act. Canadians appreciate knowing that whatever health problem they have, help is available to them, regardless of their ability to pay. But our system is not perfect. There are still […]
Time to zip John Baird’s loose lips
It is hard to credit the latest statements and actions by Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. On both Iran and Israel Baird seems to almost deliberately seek to humiliate both himself and the country he is supposed to represent on the international stage. Taking an ultra-orthodox rabbi (whose organization opposes any Palestinian...
LETTER: Nurses' union speaks to Feb. 4 ER closure
BC Nurses’ Union members continue to be concerned about the closure of the Castlegar Emergency services on February 4. We want the community of Castlegar to know that our priority is to provide quality and safe patient care. The nurses at Castlegar Hospital will continue to advocate for improvements so that high quality care will […]
RDKB Town Hall meetings start next week
It’s budget season again and the Regional District Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) directors want public input on how to spend your tax dollars. RDKB directors are hosting Town Hall meetings in each electoral area beginning next week. During the meetings, directors will be discussing how the district operates, the 2012 budget and the 2012-2016 Five-Year Financial […]
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 Development 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. ...