The search for the new MLA in Kootenay West is well under way. Finally there  are options that go beyond the historic party politics that have caused so much voter apathy in our province; an independent. But how is an independent any better? People say they would love to vote for an independent but they […]

Dear Editor; My name is Rosie Mitchell and I would like to tell you a story. My family originated in the Kootenays, I was born in Rossland and I still have relatives all over up there. My mother decided to move us all back in 1966. I fell in love with Castlegar as only a […]

Mr. Deepak Chopra, President Canada Post Corporation 2701 Riverside Drive Ottawa, ON   K1A 0B1   Dear Mr. Chopra, I have just learned from the Castlegar local of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) that Canada Post has served notice of its intent to open a postal franchise office within one half of a kilometer […]

There is no accounting for political judgment when it gets caught up in irrational euphoria. The overwhelming victory of Justin Trudeau in the Liberal Party's leadership race demonstrates just how impoverished the state of our political culture has become. Did the polls -- almost completely meaningless at this stage of the ...

I recently had the opportunity to speak and offer support for Bill C-380, An Act to Amend the Fish Inspection Act and the Fisheries Act, which would prohibit the importation of shark fins not attached to the rest of the shark and enshrine in legislation Canada's prohibition on finning.  This bill was introduced by my colleague,...

Once every four years citizens are offered a brief reprieve from the responsibility of endless decisions about matters concerning their kids, their homes, and their work; of just getting along and making ends meet. Once every four years we are inundated with propaganda telling us that all the problems associated with the...

It's a bit rich for the B.C. Liberal party to be giving lessons to the BC NDP on political fundraising, as they tried to do over the weekend after the NDP sent a fundraising appeal to corporate Liberal party donors. The Liberals might have been well-advised to leave well enough alone, if for no other reason than it might...

The Official Community Plan (OCP) is a bylaw like no other. The Municipal Act not only requires councils to adopt an OCP; it establishes a time limit for its adoption. The procedure for developing and adopting an OCP is also without equal. The Act requires councils to hold public hearings and it prescribes the form, content,...

Finally, I’m going to talk about actual food (bet you were starting to wonder if THAT was ever going to happen!) One of the problems, for me, is that over the years I’ve stopped measuring ingredients – I just chuck stuff in until it looks right, or smells right, or tastes right, depending on the […]

Dear Readers, This is a message from the aunt of the beautiful girl who was in the fatal April 20 accident in Castlegar. I would like you to read this, and have it in your mind the next time (God forbid) something of this nature happens. Facebook is an amazing site, that can be used […]