The Conservatives are hiding from opposition scrutiny by invoking closure to limit the Justice Committee’s debate on the government’s controversial omnibus crime bill, C-10, cccording to Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior. “This is just the latest of seven examples this session where Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have moved to bypass parliamentary work and prevent […]

Here, in our last installment of Candidate Questions, is one that pertains to the use of pesticides on Rossland's lawns. And here it is: "A controversial bylaw to ban “cosmetic” pesticides in town failed to get through council twice in the last term. How did you vote or would you have voted" CARY FISHER: I understand the fear...

One of the biggest decisions on the immediate horizon--certainly in terms of sheer price tag--that the new council will have to deal with will be the Columbia-Washington upgrades and the proposed re-creation of our downtown--cost, noise, disruption, and all. With this in mind we asked the candidates the following question: "What...

We’ll do just that tomorrow evening, Thursday, 7 p.m., with "beers and ballots" at the Red Room. All the candidates have been invited to spend the evening discussing the finer points of local politics—and some of the brightest lights have confirmed—while Tim and Gabriella put on their $10 pitcher special for their selection...

Development Cost Charges (DCCs) have been a source of controversy for a few years now. Do low DCCs encourage development or merely subsidize real estate speculators while passing the burden along to feckless local taxpayers? Gulp. The question, then, is this: "Given the state of the economy, prospects for growth in Rossland,...

This coming Thursday evening, at 7pm the Rossland Telegraph will be hosting an informal discussion with the candidates at the Red Room lounge in the Prestige. Pithily named 'beers and ballots', the goal is to allow ordinary folks to sit down with other ordinary folks (your candidates) for a pleasant chat about local issues,...

Rossland self-identifies as a 'ski town', but the long term viability of this city demands either  an expansion of Red or a need for diversification of this identity. Hence today's question: "Rossland’s economy currently depends on winter tourists. How do you perceive Rossland's relationship with Red Mountain? How can we...

I think most Rosslanders agree that provisions for higher density housing forms to lower costs are a good idea.  These thoughts are crystallized in the 2008 Official Community Plan in section 18.2.  However, the OCP also recognizes the risks of radically changing neighbourhoods.  The following section of the OCP at 18.3.4...

 Today we consider the great terror of war; Remembrance Day swells each of our chests differently, but the same. Emotions are strong, or should be. Whether we know it or not, both as individuals and societies, our past and present are infused with war. That should terrify us.Wars build in a wave of motives and he-said-she-saids...

The Harper government’s announcement that it will change the laws regarding capital gains taxes to encourage more charitable giving strikes an ominous note for the country’s political culture. Harper is mimicking the Conservatives in Britain who are trying to pull the same trick with what they call the Big Society initiative...