Don’t look now but that $0.63 stamp used Friday by people mailing letters is now rising to $0.85 on Monday (March 31, 2014) for people who buy stamps in booklets or coils thanks to the recent changes to its operations announced by Canada Post in December 2013. People who purchase stamps individually, the cost of […]

The electoral process in Canada is about to see some significant changes, as the Harper government’s Fair Elections Act has has made it to the last step toward becoming law, despite widespread opposition to the bill. BC Southern Interior MP, Alex Atamanenko and Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall say the bill poses a threat to democracy […]

In my last column, I reported that Council had set the date for the legally required public consultation on the budget.  That date is April 2, at City Hall, at 7:00 P.M. Why should you go?  -- If you have a strong opinion about any of the budget decisions made by Council, that's the time to let them know.  Will it make a...

Last January, my party introduced an Opposition Day Motion urging the Conservatives to take immediate steps to increase investment in mental health services for Canadian Forces members.  The three-part motion called on the federal government to: address the mental health crisis for Canadian soldiers and veterans by hiring...

The topic of water metres came before council again at their regular meeting Monday night. Coun. Michael Wirischagin brought up his concerns during his councillors report early in the meeting. He started by telling council he was part of a group that is dedicated to improving communities in BC. When he met with this group, ...

The notion of ‘big ideas’ periodically raises its head in Canadian politics and I recently criticized the NDP for taking a good idea – a national day of action – and wasting it in on, well, small ideas. Specifically I suggested that the party’s focus on excessive interest rates and other charges effectively redefined citizens...

A plan to keep the recycling facility at the Nelson transfer station will be discussed at Thursday’s RDCK board meeting — along with a possibility of an Eco Depot located on the site. This comes after Multi Material BC (MMBC) refused to allow the RDCK to become part of the stewardship program legislated by the […]

The City of Grand Forks, participated as one of three municipalities out of 26 in a pilot ‘Community Engagement’ project sponsored by the Association of Kootenay and Boundary Local Governments (AKBLG) on March 12 at the Omega Restaurant. Seventy-five local citizens registered to join in a lively discussion facilitated by...

A meeting in Castlegar Monday saw Interfor workers vote overwhelmingly in favour of a new five-year deal, according to a press release issued this morning: Following four days of bargaining in late February with INTERFOR for members at the Castlegar and Grand Forks Sawmills, USW Local 1-405 and 1-423 announced today that the...

The already-contentious City of Trail Recreation program has sustained another blow, as Warfield has now followed Beaver Valley's lead and opted out of the Trail Resident Program (TRP) rate structure. In a release issued this morning, Trail mayor Dieter Bogs expressed distress over Warfield's decision, arguing it may force ...