Right up to the last federal election the Canadian government held firm to the position that an inquiry on the subject of missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada was not needed.  The government believed that the problem could be dealt with by way of criminal justice reforms.  Criminal justice incorporates law enforcement,...

Prime Minster Justin Trudeau's election pledge (and subsequent confirmation) that Canada will not have another election under first-past-the-post has morphed into a growing controversy.  Trudeau's evident attraction to one option for electoral reform -- the so-called preferential ballot, or instant runoff vote (IRV) -- and ...

Community projects will be getting access to more funds this spring through Columbia Basin Trust’s popular Community Initiatives and Affected Areas programs. The Trust announced a 15-per-cent increase from $3.6 million per year throughout the Basin, to over $4.2 million per year for each of the next five years. “We are pleased...

I’ve wracked my brain on this issue, but I can’t see any other way to get the government’s attention on this issue, the issue being what I perceive to be outrageous delays in IIO investigations of officer-involved fatal shootings in our area (for the background story, click here): I think the RCMP members in question […]

The Independent Investigations Office is responsible for investigating two officer-involved fatal shootings in the region in the past two years. In a second interview, conducted this week (the first was in March of 2015, to read that story, click here ) the Source again asked why the investigations were taking so long (to put...

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...

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. ...

BC Hydro has elected to scrap its Grohman Narrows dredging project in face of high costs and potential risks versus the degree of flood risk reduction it would bring, the corporation announced Monday. The results of a two-year investigation by BC Hydro into the potential improvements at Grohman Narrows have concluded that...

By Richard Cannings Parliament opened for a brief two-week sitting in early December.  For a newcomer to Parliament Hill, I found the pomp and ceremony, borrowing from centuries of parliamentary tradition, a moving reminder of the deep trust my constituents have placed in me. I gave my first speech in the House towards the end […]

In the spring of 2016, the City of Castlegar will roll out changes to curbside garbage and recycling collection services. The new Solid Waste and Recycling Program has been carefully designed to help meet the City’s waste reduction goals and to reflect a commitment to environmental and economic sustainability. Stop by Castlegar...