COLUMN: From the Hill -- the new trade agreement
After months of negotiations and a seemingly endless series of false deadlines, negotiators have hammered out a new trade agreement between Canada, the USA and Mexico. The new agreement (called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA for short) will create winners and losers, of course, and the general consensus...
Electoral Reform: Checking the facts -- Part one
Electoral reform fact check: the series -- #1 Both sides of the Proportional Representation (“ProRep”) debate have made claims about what the effects of a ProRep system would be. What should voters believe? Here, two Political Science specialists delve into the major claims made about ProRep by both sides, to distinguish...
Rossland Street Lights, by the numbers
Rossland City Council held a Committee of the Whole meeting, 3:00 pm, September 24, 2018 Present: Mayor Kathy Moore, and Councillors John Greene, Marten Kruysse, Andrew Zwicker and Aaron Cosbey. Absent: Lloyd McLellan and Andy Morel Bright lights, or dark skies? There are advocates for both. Rossland Council has tried to...
The excitement of our civic election -- yes, really!
The civic election is coming up! On October 20, the official election day, we cast our votes for candidates, and six of them (plus acclaimed Mayor Kathy Moore) will form our new City Council. Think about it – please! It’s exciting! Who will govern our community? Will they be focused on the long-term best interests of the...
BC Court of Appeal grants injunction against drilling in Fish Lake area
The BC Court of Appeal has granted an interlocutory injunction against a drilling permit within the sacred sites of Teẑtan Biny (Fish Lake) and surrounding areas. On August 23, 2018, the B.C. Supreme Court upheld a permit authorizing Taseko Mines Limited (TML) to undertake an extensive drilling program at Teẑtan Biny and ...
Report: Analysis of BC's media coverage on electoral reform
By Fair Vote Canada BC citizens are being asked to pronounce themselves on the subject of electoral reform in this fall’s upcoming referendum. This is an issue of significant importance and interest to all of us and if citizens are to vote wisely, they need to be as well informed as possible. “Many citizens place a great deal...
What are Rosslanders' Recreation Priorities? Tell the City, Please.
Recreation is a huge part of Rossland’s appeal; it’s the reason many of us live here. There are so many options – and some of them require significant investment from the people who use them, and from other taxpayers. Maybe we can’t afford to keep them all. How much are we really willing to pay, and for what facilities? ...
Have your say this fall!
Have you moved or changed your name since the last election? Are you a registered voter for BC? The BC government wants to make sure that everyone who is eligible can vote in the October – November referendum on electoral reform, and urges everyone to either register, or make sure their voter information is up-to-date. Chief...
Column: Constituents' concerns
On Sunday I completed my third annual “Ride the Riding” event, cycling 411 kilometres from Naramata to Nakusp. The ride provides an opportunity to meet and talk with constituents on the trail or at scheduled stops in cafes and restaurants in communities throughout the riding, celebrates the beautiful cycling trails we have ...
Op/Ed: BC's Timid Response to Climate Change -- and Twelve Solutions
I wish I didn’t have to write this. I count myself a friend of the NDP/Green Alliance, and I had high hopes for the government’s new climate action plans. [1] BC’s Ministry of Environment has published a series of Clean Growth Intentions Papers, with a deadline for public feedback of August 24th, in the heart of this fire and...
