Castlegar is being hailed as a regional leader in climate change adaptation, particularly during a two-day workshop Thursday and today at the Complex, an event which has drawn civic leaders from across the West Kootenay. “Castlegar has really shown tremendous leadership in this area; both staff and elected officials,” said Kate Mahoney, coordinator of Columbia […]

A review of documents related to projects undertaken in the arena in 2010 and 2011 raises many serious questions and suggests that Mayor Granstrom and Council have not provided adequate oversight for the actions of staff. In December 2009, the City issued a proposal call for the upgrade of the arena roof.  Council did not...

How can the public give their input into the budget, as Coun. Fisher suggested, while avoiding the potential for "chaos" that Coun. Spearn feared? I have a suggestion for council: swing a deal with ThoughtStream for a software license for the city, and hire one of their facilitators.   Right now, the idea of "engaging" the ...

In Maine and Maryland, voters have approved ballot measures yesterday to allow marriage between same-sex partners. Votes for a similar measure in Washingtonare still being counted. Reports from Minnesota suggest a ballot measure that would amend the constitution to ban gay marriage has been rejected by voters. In Maryland, voters supported the law passed earlier this year by Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley 52% to 48%. Josh Levin […]

There is a class of people and corporations in this country whose illicit financial practices have an enormous negative impact on the country and its citizens. Yet the law and order regime of Stephen Harper barely plays lip service to the issue of tax evasion through tax havens. While Harper cuts billions from government...

Were the Obama administration and Ambassador Stevens set up? November 05, 2012 “Antiwar” —  A reporter found the evidence of our folly in the ruins of the American consulate in Benghazi, scattered on the floor where it had been overlooked by looters. Amid the rubble and ashes were documents left there since the attack — […]

This is the final article in a series to address Coun. Cary Fisher’s surprise at a lack of awareness about the budget among Rossland residents. Part One examined the General Fund in broad strokes. The actual “general” revenue of the city in 2011 was $6.4 million, to which taxation contributed 57 per cent, residential taxes ...

In response to Coun. Cary Fisher’s "shock" at a lack of budgetary awareness among city residents, here we tackle the portion of the budget that deals specifically with city funding for community organizations and facilities, parks, and recreation. In Part One we examined the broad strokes of Rossland's major revenue streams,...

Coun. Cary Fisher has taken Rossland's budget to task, recently asking residents, "Do you know what you're paying for?” Fisher expressed dismay that many residents didn't know where their taxes go. He pointed to the media to sound the alarm and called for the public to identify budget cuts before the annual budget cycle gets...

Budget season is coming up fast and Coun. Cary Fisher, a self-described "numbers guy," has sounded the alarm: "Do you know what you're paying for?"Fisher came to council with an emphasis on trimming fat from the budget, but last year he felt that council didn't get a solid chance to make spending cuts because councillors were...