Poverty groups continues to pressure government over BC Bus Pass changes
The Nelson Committee on Homelessness (NCOH), along with over 150 organizations from around the province have signed on an open letter released by the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition calling for changes to the Provincial bus pass rates and transportation program for people living in poverty. The Province plans on increasing the disability benefits by $77 […]
Mental health system could do more to ensure people can access specialized services
Auditor General of British Columbia Carol Bellringer issued her latest audit May 17: Access to Adult Tertiary Mental Health and Substance Use Services. Bellringer's team looked at how B.C.'s health system manages access to the highest level of mental health and substance use services. They found pockets of good practice, but...
SD 20 approves fees for riding school bus
Not even SD 20 trustees were happy about voting in favour of user-fees for school busing, according to Trail trustee Toni Driutti, after the board approved the fees at their regular meeting Monday evening. Driutti pointed to decreasing ministry funding and wage increases the ministry negotiated but isn't funding, as the reason...
DeGroot shooting now oldest open IIO investigation
An officer-involved fatal shooting dating back to Oct. 13, 2014, has now become the oldest open investigation being handled by the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO). (For coverage of the shooting, click here). The sixth-oldest open IIO investigation is also local, after a fatal shooting on Kinnaird Bridge in...
BC Government Makes Mining Industry Happy
The Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) welcomes today’s announcement by the provincial government of $5 million in funding toward Geoscience BC. This funding will support Geoscience BC’s mandate to attract mineral and oil & gas investment to British Columbia through generating, interpreting and publicly distributing...
OPINION: Electoral Reform Committee makes a mockery of Law Commission Recommendations
How We Vote Reforming the system by which we elect members to the House of Commons was an issue for at least one political party in the last federal election, but it is not a new topic. Arguably the most extensive study undertaken on the subject was the 2004 Law Commission Canada report: Voting Counts: Electoral Reform for ...
Retaining wall replacement on Columbia, flood damage claim, sewerage differences, and more
Report on Rossland City Council's Regular Meeting, May 16, 2016 Council members present: Mayor Kathy Moore, Councillors Lloyd McLellan, John Greene, Andrew Zwicker, and Andy Morel. Absent: Marten Kruysse and Aaron Cosbey Public Input Period: Christine Andison of Red Mountain Racers (RMR) handed out a summation of the...
RDCK approves the first aspect of an electric vehicle project
Change is being fueled in the Kootenays and it is creating an electric feel. The Regional District of Central Kootenay board of directors approved support at its last regular meeting for a project that is expected to raise the profile of electric vehicle use in the Kootenay region. The growing cost of gasoline-fueled...
OPINION: BC encouraging environmentally risky mining and creating massive taxpayer liability
The BC government is enabling a dangerous disregard for environmental monitoring, reporting and protection among mining companies by letting them off the hook for the full costs of environmental reclamation – leaving taxpayers liable for more than $1.5 billion, a new report shows. “Other industrial sectors treat accident...
Trustee pens letter on busing for SD 20 Board of Education
I will be voting against the proposed 2016/2017 budget. This budget contains a school-defining item slated for budget reduction . It is the beginning of the demise of fully funded public busing. Everyone associates the picture of the yellow-and-black bus with school. Restricting the operations of the school bus program strikes...
