Today’s the big day – after years of anticipation, Chances Gaming Centre will finally be opening its doors in Castlegar. Grand opening celebrations begin with an invitation-only reception, from noon to 4 p.m., with over 200 guests ranging from the local MP and MLA, as well as mayors-and-councils from all tri-city communities, to contractors and […]

Ever actually stopped at one of those “Information areas” along the highways in the region? You know the ones I mean. The ones featured at highway pull outs, coated with outdated ads and feature a surprisingly square, seemingly scale-less, essentially useless series of connect-the-dot lines between community names? If you’ve ever wondered if anyone has […]

The Province of British Columbia ended the fiscal year with a smaller deficit than forecast. “Better economic conditions and our prudent approach to spending mean we’ve been able to close the deficit gap considerably, ending the year with a deficit of $309 million and keeping us well on course to balance the budget in 2013-14 […]

Proposals are being sought for new industry-specific programs to provide more skilled workers in the Kootenay region, as well as North Coast, Nechako and Cariboo areas. It’s anticipated that B.C. will have one million job openings in the next 10 years, and much of the demand will be in the Interior and northern B.C. To […]

 BC Southern Interior MP Alex Atamanenko is outraged at the proposed United States (US) tax crackdown recently announced by the American government.  By law, all individuals holding US citizenship are required to file annual income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In addition, the new US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) obliges […]

No, it’s not a long weekend gouge, but expect to pay more at the pumps starting on Canada Day. Effective July 1 the carbon tax on gasoline rises by 1.11 cents per litre to 5.56 cents per litre. Other fuels see a similar increase. However, the Low Income Climate Action Tax Credit also increases by […]

Rural and remote areas of the West Kootenay-Boundary and across the province are expected to benefit from a $100-million, 10-year strategic telecommunications services contract the Province signed with TELUS Wednesday. Under the contract, high-speed Internet connections will be improved for families and businesses in rural and remote B.C., and cellular coverage along highways across the […]

Public debate about taxes may be focused on the HST, but a new report suggests that the HST is only one piece of an inequitable provincial tax system, a system in which the richest 20 per cent of British Columbians pay a lower tax rate than the rest of us. The report, by the Canadian […]

As summer approaches thoughts start turning to lapping waves, crackling campfires and tranquil forests. It’s the time of year when cottage, cabin or beach house fever starts to take hold.   But the sunny dream of owning a vacation home may be dampened by the reality of property prices in many of the region’s popular vacation […]

A new state-of-the-art Cross Laminated Timber plant in Okanagan Falls, which officially opened Friday, features innovative technology that will change the way wood is used in B.C., providing another boost to B.C.’s forest industry and regional economic growth. Structurlam’s new 1,400-square-metre plant expansion was supported by $5.7 million in provincial and federal funding. The plant […]