More Grant Applications Needed -- For Community Economic Development
A local group has spent more than half of $600,000 allocated to meet community needs in the Lower Columbia, but is still looking for more economic development projects to support. Economic and tourism development were identified as the top community priorities during extensive public consultations last year by the Community...
In Support of Local Business
(Open letter to Gary Omand of Sodastream) Hello, Gary: I was just informed by Dawn of Bear Country Kitchen in Rossland, BC, that she will no longer be carrying the soda stream refill cartridges because the Soda Stream Company feels she does not do enough business compared to Walmart or Canadian Tire -- or "Big Box" stores. ...
Buying local boosts B.C. bee industry in 2015
The year 2015 was successful for the beekeeping industry in British Columbia, with more and more people buying honey direct from beekeepers, bringing the estimated total farm receipts of the year to more than $25 million. British Columbians preferred to buy their honey straight from beekeepers in 2015, with estimated farm...
CBT Committee seeks applications for economic development funding
A local group has spent more than half of $600,000 allocated to meet community needs in the Lower Columbia, but is still looking for more economic development projects to support. Economic and tourism development were identified as the top community priorities during extensive public consultations last year by the Community...
BC government increases home owner grant threshold in 2016
British Columbians are getting a bit of a reprieve a few days after the 2016 assessment notices were sent out to homeowners. The Liberal government has said in a media release homes valued up to $1.2 million may be eligible to receive a full home owner grant this year, while a partial grant may be available if the home is...
Interest payments exceed $60 billion as Canadian governments continue racking up debt
Interest payments on government debt in Canada consume substantial shares of taxpayer dollars and come at the expense of other budget priorities, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. The study, The Cost of Government Debt in Canada, finds...
COLUMN: Canada is Back? Not Until Taxation is Truly Fair
Justin Trudeau is fond of saying "Canada is back," and in some genuinely gratifying ways it seems to be the case. But by far the most important and substantive evidence for this claim is still missing: an indication that the new government is willing to seriously address the issue that a genuine return to normal rests upon. ...
B.C.'s economy: up, down and sideways
'Tis the season of lists and stocking stuffers of economic forecasts. But instead of soothsaying over what could happen in 2016, a look back at B.C.'s economic performance over the past few years might be more illuminating. Deciphering economic forecasts is a murky task anyways, not that interpreting statistics is any less ...
CBT shifts gears with new Board Chair to guide the Trust
Columbia Basin Trust will have a Chair as of the New Year following some changes to its Board of Directors. Cranbrook resident Rick Jensen will take over after current Chair Greg Deck announced his retirement. Jensen joined the Trust Board in 2013 and served as Vice-Chair in 2015. The three-term mayor of Cranbrook is the Chair...
Plan Ahead: Two Shows at the Flying Steamshovel -- in February
The Flying Steamshovel will be hosting two notable shows in February: Juno Award-winnning "Old Man Luedecke" performs there on February 2nd, and Juno-Award nominee "Yukon Blonde" performs on February 10th. Old Man Luedecke won Juno Awards in 2009 and 2011, both for "Traditonal Folk Album of the Year," and was nominated again...
