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2012 budget to include property tax increases for all but major industry

The City of Castlegar unveiled its $19-million 2012 budget to less-than thunderous applause Wednesday, as only seven people (not including city staff and council) showed up for the public meeting. The turnout was disappointing, but not surprising, according to city councillor and finance committee chair Russ Hearne. “It’s similar to the turn out we’ve had […]

Atamanenko 'angered' over Conservatives plan to make changes to the Old Age Security pension

New Democrat MP for Southern Interior of B.C., Alex Atamanenko is “angered” by the recent announcement that the Conservatives are looking at making changes to the Old Age Security pension. The government claims that the present system is becoming unsustainable because of the aging demographics of Canadians. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s surprise plan included a […]

PERSPECTIVE: CAO Victor Kumar

Rossland CAO Victor Kumar recently responded to Andrew Bennett's emailed questions regarding the process leading to the grant application submitted by the city for a four season pool. The questions and Mr. Kumar’s answers have been re-arranged for readability below:Bennett: The over-riding issue is that a grant was made...

PERSPECTIVE: Mayor Granstrom's take on the swimming pool controversy

On Tuesday, Mayor Greg Granstrom met with Andrew Bennett to discuss the process that led to the swimming pool grant application. The following transcript has been abbreviated to the mayor's answers that directly relate to how the swimming pool grant application was prepared and passed.Granstrom:  By resolution of council we...

PERSPECTIVE: Aaron Cosbey on the Rossland Swimming Pool Society’s past and future

Aaron Cosbey is a member of the Rossland Swimming Pool Society (RSPS) and a director on the pool's board. Currently the RSPS is undergoing a transition in which the society will become a city institution. Andrew Bennett interviewed Cosbey by telephone to find out how this transition was decided upon, how it's taking place, ...

US reduces claim against alleged B.C. Softwood timber violations

Madison's Lumber Reporter has learned that the United States' claim against Canada, for alleged subsidies on British Columbia's timber stumpage rates, has been reduced from US$499 to US$303.6 million. In the American rebuttal of Canada's defense, which was filed on Dec. 23, 2011 but only made public this week, the U.S. Trade...

Bow down Canadians, corporations are king

Two recent stories out of Ottawa underline the ongoing political and economic assault on ordinary Canadians. More Canadians are now working for low wages than at any time in decades, continuing a trend that began in the early 1990s, and Stephen Harper has announced major changes to retirement benefits — including delaying Old...

Healthy forests dialogue publishes results

In 2009 and through 2010 a growing concern was voiced among professional foresters and biologists, conservationists, academics, community leaders, forest industry support companies and First Nations that British Columbia (BC) forests are in need of greater attention to meet societal expectations over the long-term. This concern generated the Healthy Forests-Healthy Communities: A conversation on BC […]

Celgar launches $250-million NAFTA claim against Canada over alleged discrimination by BC Hydro

Mercer International, the parent company of Castlegar’s pulp mill, Zellstoff Celgar, is filing a $250-million claim indicating discrimination on the part of BC Hydro is costing the company  about $19 million of incremental energy sales every year. The claim, according to a Mercer press release issued Jan. 26, is against the government of Canada for […]

How Swedes and Norwegians Broke the Power of the ‘1 Percent’

While many of us are working to ensure that the Occupy movement will have a lasting impact, it’s worthwhile to consider other countries where masses of people succeeded in nonviolently bringing about a high degree of democracy and economic justice. Sweden and Norway, for example, both experienced a major power shift in the ...

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