In our discussions about affordability, the topic of pensions is immediately brought forward. My office receives letters, emails and phone calls every day from people worried about their retirement security and about their children’s retirement future. They are not alone. Despite the fact that Canada is one of the richest...

Dear editor, Recently, I have felt compelled to write about the state of high school education in Rossland.  It’s a topic we’ve all heard at least a thing or two about, but if I could bend your ear for just a minute, there’s a chance I might be able to bring forth a unique perspective. Last year, I was a grade 10 student at...

“When you become aware of this great law, then you become aware of how incredibly powerful you are, to be able to THINK your life into existence.” -- Rhonda Byrne, author, The Secret “We create reality with our minds. Consciousness makes the reality you live in. Thoughts are actions, and cause consequences in the material...

For years Stephen Harper often seemed at war with his own government, so consistently critical were reviews by its various independent oversight agencies. It seems that at least one “independent” body, the Parliamentary Budget Office, is now a little more PMO-friendly. A recent report from the PBO’s new chief Jean-Denis Fréchette declared that thanks to […]

Education Minister Peter Fassbender released the following statement in response to the BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) decision to possibly escalate their job action to a full strike: "While we are disappointed with the BCTF's plans to escalate to a full walkout, this in no way changes our resolve to get an agreement by the...

On June 3, BC Southern Interior MP, Alex Atamanenko hosted the Ottawa premiere of “The Change Agents”. The evening was co-sponsored by the Citizens Climate Lobby, Ontario Chapter and saw more than 70 people in attendance, including 10 Members of Parliament. “It was an honour for me to host this important event. I would like […]

Dear parents and guardians: In schools across British Columbia, a student walkout is being promoted for the morning of Wednesday, June 4. While I respect the desire of students to express their views regarding the current labour dispute, the proposed walkout raises a number of concerns, particularly with regard to student...

On one hand you can't fault the B.C. government for trying, but on the other hand their enthusiasm for it – consulting British Columbians on public policy and pending legislation that is – seems a little wanting. Gung-ho it's not. In the last year, there have been government white papers, discussion papers, no papers but input...

I cannot decide if I should laugh or cry in response to the Provincial government’s exasperating effort to come up with lock-out terms for teachers. The government’s objective is to entice teachers to accept its conditions for a new contract. How can restricting the teachers’ hours at work, reducing their income by an arbitrary...

This is a report on the Rossland City Council meeting held on May 26, 2014.  For those who haven't read this column in the past, your reporter's intention is to give you a realistic idea of what happens in council meetings, and where the various council members stand on different issues -- not to report only on particularly ...