B.C. stalls on promise to enact endangered species law
The province is home to more species at risk than any other and is one of only three provinces that lacks stand-alone legislation to protect endangered species By Sarah Cox, for The Narwhal The B.C. government is backpedalling on a commitment to enact an endangered species law in 2020, sparking concern from scientists who ...
Column: From the Hill -- Invasive Species Action Inadequate
Lost in the recent media frenzy over the SNC Lavalin scandal were the 2019 Spring Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. These last reports from Julie Gelfand before her retirement focused on protection of fish and their habitat from mining effluent, subsidies to the fossil fuels industry...
Column: When does plant and animal species loss become a societal crisis?
It’s heartening, in the midst of the human-caused sixth mass extinction, to find good wildlife recovery news. As plant and animal species disappear faster than they have for millions of years, Russia’s Siberian, or Amur, tigers are making a comeback. After falling to a low of just a few dozen in the mid-20th century, the...
‘Smart’ meters, the Arena, the Skatepark, new Watering Rules, the High Cost of Sewage, and more!
Rossland City Council Regular Meeting, April 15, 2019 Present: Mayor Kathy Moore, and Councillors Janice Nightingale, Andy Morel, Scott Forsyth, Chris Bowman, Dirk Lewis, and – by telephone – Stewart Spooner. Public Input Period: John Howse spoke, objecting to the City’s installation of “Smart”...
COLUMN: Rapid Warming; What are we Doing About it?
Another week, another dramatic warning from scientists — met with shrugs all around. This time, a report commissioned by Environment and Climate Change Canada, “Canada's Changing Climate Report,” warned that this country is warming at roughly twice the global average rate, even more in the North and on the Prairies. Some of...
Column: PART TWO -- Politics, the People, Wilson-Raybould
April Fools: update since Part One Much to the chagrin of our Prime Minister I’m sure, this story adds weekly fuel to fires of controversy. I must comment now about the recorded phone conversation occurring December 19 between JW-R and Michael Wernick. The recording was made by JW-R, unknown to Wernick, and was aired on March...
Column -- From the Hill: Taxpayers and Abandoned Wells
The BC Oil and Gas Commission recently revealed some concerning figures about abandoned oil and gas wells in British Columbia. In one example, Ranch Energy recently declared bankruptcy, leaving up to 500 abandoned wells in care of the Commission. Much of the cost to clean up those sites will likely fall on the shoulders of […]
COUNCIL MATTERS: Life-saving good citizens recognized; Financial plan; Rocky Horror Picture Show
Rossland City Council Meeting, April 1, 2019 [UPDATED] Council Members Present: Mayor Kathy Moore, and Councillors Chris Bowman, Dirk Lewis, Scott Forsyth, Stewart Spooner, Andy Morel and Janice Nightingale. Public Input Period: Lisa Henderson spoke on behalf of the Gold Fever Follies about the contract amendment...
Column: Schlock and Odd in Ottawa; Part One
Political Sense and Nonsense I cannot help it: the Jody Wilson-Raybould / SNC-Lavalin political storm in Ottawa and in news media has fascinated me. Bewildered me at times, but in the main, it has kept me interested week by week. Politics can be a bore. Not this time, not for me, in this instance. Her resignation, followed ...
Column: Children are fighting for their future. We must support them
“And a little child shall lead them.” – Isaiah 11:6 At 16, Greta Thunberg may not be a little child, but she’s showing tremendous leadership. The Swedish student has galvanized a world movement, pressing adults to remove the blinkers of corporate and political self-interest and recognize that their refusal to respond appropriately...
