ANALYSIS: A review of the contracts for Rossland's senior management
As Rossland transitioned to CAO/CFO Cecile Arnott's new tenure this month, we have fielded several questions about the employment contracts of the city's senior management and how these compare to other managers’ in the province. We do not try to answer subjective questions such as whether or not Rossland is getting good value...
COMMENT: B.C. Election Act--time to start from scratch
When the B.C. Court of Appeal struck down the government's not-so-subtle attempt to stifle citizens with its ill-advised “gag” law this month, it was only a partial victory. Regrettably, the Court never had the chance to consider the multitude of contradictions and loopholes that exist in the B.C. Election Act, most of which...
Ontario Premier shocks landscape with resignation
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty shocked his Liberal caucus Monday night by resigning. McGuinty, 57, has led the Liberal party in Ontario since 1996 and was premier since 2003. ““Earlier today, I asked Yasir Naqvi, our party president, to convene a leadership convention at the earliest possible time,” McgGuinty said on the Liberal Party website. McGuinty, […]
Nelson/Creston MLA selected to monitor parliamentary elections in the Ukraine
Nelson/Creston MLA Michelle Mungall is headed to the Ukraine later this month as part of the Canadian delegation to monitor the country’s parliamentary elections. “Democracy is not something that can be taken for granted,” said Mungall, to be in the Ukraine elections on October 28, in a written release. “Canada has a very strong and […]
COMMENT: Huge Chavez confronts (neo) liberal democracy
There has been much written about the erosion of democracy in Canada under the Liberals but even more egregiously under the Harper Conservatives (and PLEASE don’t call these libertarians “Tories”). There is a very long list of grievances from the abuse of prorogation, to deliberate sabotaging of Parliamentary Committees, to election robo-calls, to the gagging […]
OPINION: Rural B.C. Reality vs. Urban Carbon Tax Mythology
By: Jordan Bateman, British Columbia Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation It seems the further you get away from Vancouver, the more hated the carbon tax becomes. The B.C. government has sent its Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services around the province to hear submissions on what should be included...
MoT begins controversial upgrades to 'Million-Dollar Alley'
Construction has begun on improvements to a stretch of Highway 3 dubbed ‘Million Dollar Alley’ by residents, because of the huge number of vehicular accidents that occur in that area. City councillor and manager of Trowelex (a business fronting this stretch of roadway) Kevin Chernoff said he hopes residents are safe and careful as the […]
COMMENT: Happy young farmers in Happy Valley will lease, not buy
Council was divided on whether or not to pursue Dr. Brenda Trenholme's request for an OCP amendment to allow her to subdivide (reported here), so I would like to address Dr. Trenholme's potentially most convincing argument, that smaller lots are more likely to attract young families interested in agriculture. As a member of...
Vote against OCP amendment process halts landowner's plans to subdivide in Happy Valley
[CORRECTION: This article has been modified since publication. We originally wrote that council had voted 3-3 in favour of the motion, but in fact council voted 4-2, with Mayor Granstrom in favour. Had the motion been tied 3-3, the motion would have failed. Our apologies for the error.] Council voted 4-2 in favour of city...
Musical chairs at council in hopes for new harmony...and better 'optics'
Empty chairs on either side of Mayor Greg Granstrom at Monday's council meeting left him noticeably isolated. Previously, the Corporate Officer (CO) would sit on his left and the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) on his right, but now the CO and CAO will sit in the staff corner of the chamber, opposite the media's corner and...