Native Plants vs. Herbicides: Oregon Grape Quandary in the Columbia Cemetery
Last year, several hikers were alarmed and dismayed by signs in the old Columbia Cemetery announcing that a nearby native shrub – Oregon grape -- had been treated with herbicide. They wondered why a harmless native plant was being sprayed, in a City with a policy of not using herbicides except in unusual circumstances...
COLUMN: the Future Isn't in Plastics
People in Canada discard about 57 million plastic drinking straws every day. In my hometown of Vancouver, we toss out 2.6 million disposable cups every week. It’s a global problem. Plastic products are choking landfills and waterways and causing devastation in the oceans. In 2014, scientists even found a new kind of stone in...
Campfire Ban Effective Thursday, July 26
Starting at noon Pacific time on Thursday, July 26, 2018, campfires will be prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre, to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. This campfire ban will remain in place until further notice. The Southeast Fire Centre is currently experiencing hot and dry conditions....
Editorial: Our Choice of Voting Systems -- Part Eight.
There are large, loud and expensive ads urging people to vote against Proportional Representation in this fall’s referendum. Are the points made in those ads valid? As citizens, or even just as residents, we should all care deeply about how well our government serves the public interest. We need to get it ...
Column: From the Hill -- the Bus Service Problem
Greyhound’s announcement that it will be pulling all its routes out of western Canada at the end of October came as a surprise, and for many it was more serious news. It left them wondering how they were going to travel to work sites, to visit relatives and friends, or to go to university in the fall. For them, the bus isn’t...
Editorial: Our Choice of Voting Systems -- Part Seven: Extremism?
Why people defend FPTP and oppose Proportional Representation: There have been some frightening statements made about proportional representation, by a few people. Why do they want to keep using First-Past-the-Post (FPTP)? What are their reasons for opposing all of the three Pro-rep systems being offered in this fall’s...
Column: Warm Enough Yet?
Over the past few months, heat records have broken worldwide. In early July, the temperature in Ouargla, Algeria, reached 51.3 C, the highest ever recorded in Africa! Temperatures in the eastern and southwestern United States and southeastern Canada have also hit record highs. In Montreal, people sweltered under temperatures...
Prime Minister's Youth Advisory Group members ask Trudeau to cancel Kinder Morgan expansion buyout
Unprecedented move by young Canadians to challenge the Prime Minister with the support of members of his own Youth Council. July 16, Ottawa — 16 past and present Prime Minister’s Youth Council (PMYC) members are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to cancel the Kinder Morgan buyout . Today, young Canadian individuals...
Opinion: Is it ever right for political leaders to defy court orders?
Former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Ian Binnie said, “I think the recent popularity amongst political leaders denouncing judicial outcomes is extremely dangerous.” He was referring to the fact that Green Party Member of Parliament (and party leader) Elizabeth May and NDP Member of Parliament Kennedy Stewart defied a court...
Letter to the Editor: My personal fact check
Electoral Reform : My Personal Fact Check #1 Having read through the selection of ‘news and reports’ on the nobcprorep website, there are a few claims that lack support: one is that proportional representation will lead to a string of minority governments along with economic instability. I also just skimmed through the World...
