Obama to ask for special BP claims fund over oil spill
US president Barack Obama, in response to criticism over his handling of the ongoing Gulf of Mexico oil spill, has asked the oil company BP to create a special fund with "substantial" amounts of money to pay claimants over the disaster.Obama is to make his fourth visit to the Gulf Coast tomorrow, and on Tuesday is scheduled...
DOBBIN: A response to the banker's association
When is a bank bail-out not a bailout? When the Canadian bankers’ Association President, Nancy Hughes Anthony says so. In her letter to the Vancouver Sun (which published my blog on the issue) Hughes Anthony points out that not a single bank went bankrupt and therefore did not require a bail out.But call it what you will ...
Bellingham, WA first municipality to shun tar sands oil
The city of Bellingham, Washington has resolved to avoid fuel from refineries connected to the tar sands, becoming the first city in North America to take action against the controversial fossil fuel.Bellingham’s city council unanimously passed two resolutions on Monday, Jun. 7 with the aim of eliminating tar sands in their...
No more Mr. Nice Guy...no, really: City promises yet again to enforce water meters
Eight years after bylaws were put in place requiring commercial and multi-family buildings in Rossland to install water meters, the city is done asking politely for compliance. Following council approval of the recommendation this past Tuesday night, city staff will be contacting the remaining commercial building owners without...
Columbia Avenue rebuild: What does your ideal downtown look like?
Ever walked around Rossland and thought, 'wouldn’t it be nice to have a bench here, maybe some flowers over here, a nice sidewalk cafe on this side of the street and maybe rearrange the parking on the other?' Of course you have. Well, it’s not every day that Joe and Jill Canuck get the opportunity have real input on the design...
Columbia Ave rebuild - What does your ideal downtown look like?
Ever walked around Rossland and thought, 'wouldn’t it be nice to have a bench here, maybe some flowers over here, a nice sidewalk cafe on this side of the street and maybe rearrange the parking on the other?' Of course you have. Well, it’s not every day that Joe and Jill Canuck get the opportunity have real input on the design...
Rossland property taxes: steady as she goes...downhill?
The message from City Hall on property taxes this year is one of “steady as she goes.” A recession-style taxation model was adopted by council on Monday night, with tax notices soon to follow. Five taxation models were presented to council, ranging from ones involving dramatic cuts to staff, services and taxes through to ...
A Ray of hope: council tries to take some of the – ahem – Sting out of Trail user fees
When, where, how, and for whom should the city be providing financial assistance to overcome the Trail Resident Program fees imposed on Rosslanders following the dissolution of regional recreation? That question was posed to city council Monday night in response to a letter received from the Trail Stingrays Swim Club. Just ...
The people spoke and IH responded: OR cuts at KBRH largely scrapped
Monday evening, the people of the West Kootenay organized in a show of strength unseen in this area in recent years. An estimated 1,500 plus people lined Hospital Road in Trail with signs, drums and vocal chants protesting the proposed cuts to the O.R. at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital. The rally was timed to coincide […]
Regional sewer deal gets flushed
Another regional service review has come and gone this year with no real resolution. Just as the Regional Recreation Service review last year concluded without a unanimous decision, so too has the more recent Sewer Service review.Last year, the City of Trail called for a review of the sewage agreement between the communities...
