Jen Riley, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement in response to the release of Budget 2026 by the Government of British Columbia. “As expected, Budget 2026 provides a sobering economic outlook for the province in the year ahead and over the three-year fiscal plan. “Today’s budget offers little in the way of […]

COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE  (3:30 PM) Money money money!  It’s all about the evolving Financial Plan – and taxes (etc.) and whether spending and taxation are “sustainable” and if not – what services and amenities should stop? Only two residents showed up for this session. PRESENT: Mayor Andy Morel and Councillors Stewart Spooner, Jeff Weaver, Craig Humpherys, and […]

Use all your well-learned politics Or I’ll lay your soul to waste.          – Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil I support the left, tho’ I’m leanin’, leanin’ to the right I support the left, tho’ I’m leanin’ to the right But I’m just not there when it’s coming to a fight…       […]

PFAC report highlights forestry problems, but political will remains the barrier to real reform The Provincial Forest Advisory Committee’s (PFAC) newly released report on forest management acknowledges long-standing problems in B.C.’s forestry system, but ultimately fails to address the core reasons meaningful reform has stalled for decades, says Wildsight. While the report includes some positive recommendations — […]

Construction begins on new MRI suite at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital Construction began on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, on the new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) in Trail, marking a major milestone in strengthening medical imaging and diagnostic services for people across the Kootenay Boundary region. Investing in modern […]

A BC Winter Games Update, retaining walls, the pool, the regional fire service, emergency centres and bad cellphone service …   PRESENT:  Mayor Andy  Morel and Councillors  Craig Humpherys, Jeff Weaver, Lisa Kwiatkowski (online), Stewart  Spooner, Maya Provençal.  Absent: Eliza Boyce Staff: CAO Bryan Teasdale, CFO Craig McDonald, Manager of Public Works and Infrastructure Scott […]

I kicked off 2026 by visiting local shops and meeting with business owners throughout our communities. We’re fortunate to have such a diverse range of businesses offering excellent products and services. Thank you to all the shops that welcomed us in and took the time to share about their work and the challenges they’re facing. […]

German scientists are warning that global warming is accelerating, that the planet could heat by as much as 3 C over pre-industrial levels by 2050 — just 24 years from now — and that we could exceed 5 C of warming by the century’s end. This should be top headline news. It should alarm us […]

By Robert Chernomas and Ian Hudson, Professors of Economics, University of Manitoba United States President Donald Trump and his MAGA base are often portrayed as a break from past political norms. While that is certainly true, it overlooks the long and predictable path that led to his rise. The slogan “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) […]

This year, the RDKB has defined an emergency warming centre as a ‘care facility.’ That means the available spaces cannot be used, despite rising community need. An emergency warming centre where people in need could safely spend a night out of the cold is not open in Trail this winter due to the Regional District […]