Editorial: The case for white roofs; save money, be cooler
During Rossland's Miners Hall renovation, I was disappointed to see that the new roof is a dark chocolate brown instead of a more reflective, pale colour that would help to cool not only the building, but also our city. The more of a building's sky-facing surfaces that can reflect the sun's energy, rather than absorbing...
OPINION: How to get to electoral reform
Scenario: the year is 2007 (or 1997). A political science class is presented with a hypothetical election outcome where parties A and B have each received 40% of the vote and party C the remaining 20%. The class is asked to write an essay: This is the Government the People have Elected. Many agree that, while possible in...
Off-road driving restrictions imposed
A message from the BC Southwest Fire Centre Information Officer: Effective at noon (Pacific time) on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, the operation of any off-road vehicle for recreational purposes on Crown land will be prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre, Kamloops Fire Centre and Southeast Fire Centre. In addition, all...
Rossland and wildfire preparedness
A message from the City of Rossland: As of today, there are approximately 140 wildfires burning across the province of BC. In the Southeast Fire Centre, there are approximately 20 total wildfires burning with 4 of them being fires of note (the closest to the City of Rossland is the Harrop Creek Fire, NE of Nelson). Further...
Opinion: Human Rights and Canada's Environmental Protection Act
Governments change — along with laws, regulations and priorities. It’s the nature of democracies. In Canada, we’ve seen environmental laws implemented, then weakened or overturned, then strengthened and re-instated. But the basic necessities of health, well-being and life shouldn’t be subject to the shifting agendas of political...
Report on the high and rising cost of fire services; scrap or keep the covered stair at Spokane Street? And, NO BURNING allowed now. None.
Rossland City Council held a special meeting on Monday, July 31, at 9:00 a.m. They just had quorum, with Mayor Kathy Moore and Councillors Lloyd McLellan, John Greene, and Andy Morel attending. The agenda dealt with only four items of business: 1. Declassification of the Fire and Emergency Services...
COLUMN: Our firestorms
For the past month, we have seen a series of wildfires race through the British Columbia interior, destroying homes, disrupting lives and damaging businesses. The BC government has already spent over $150 million fighting the fires and has provided over $100 million in relief to those who have been forced from their homes....
The B.C. government's dark ops
As the new B.C. government settles in and email accounts are transferred over, it’ll soon be time for them to pluck up the courage to check the cellar. The nooks and crannies of government operations, if you will. Some of what they’ll find may come as a shock. Think of it as the former government […]
Pacific NorthWest LNG is dead: five things you need to know.
This article is by Emma Gilchrist and is from DeSmog Canada. Malaysia’s Petronas has cancelled plans to build the Pacific NorthWest LNG plant on Lelu Island near Prince Rupert, B.C., in a move seen as a major setback for B.C.'s LNG dreams and as a major win for those concerned about climate change and salmon habitat. The...
Editorial: On being accused of smiling because the NDP are (sort of) in power
An acquaintance recently said to me, "I guess you're smiling because the NDP are forming the government now." Actually, I was smiling about something completely non-political. Besides, I tend to be a bit agnostic about party politics; are political parties really necessary? She went on to say that in her recollection, "when...
