Column: Wildfires; lightning, people . . . and climate change
Scientists, journalists, environmentalists and others who draw the connection between increasing wildfires and global warming often face a backlash. It’s not climate change; it’s lightning, careless smokers or campers, poor forestry management, industrial activity or sparks from vehicles, bad government… ...
Opponents fail to stifle referendum
According to a tweet today (Tuesday, August 28) by Keith Fraser of the Vancouver Sun, a bid to stop this fall's referendum on electoral reform has failed. The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) sought an injunction to stop the vote, but in order to obtain an injunction to stop a thing from happening,...
Community Leadership! What’s important on City Council.
We all have ideas about how City Councillors should conduct themselves and all the things our council ought to do, but Monday evening’s session in Castlegar was presented by two well-informed experts on the topic whose ideas have withstood the test of reality. If you have served on Council and think you’re...
From the Hill - MP speaks to wildfires
It’s now official — 2018 has just become British Columbia’s second worst forest fire season in history, second only to last year. Residents have endured weeks of heavy smoke, some have been evacuated from their communities, and some have unfortunately lost their homes. Businesses have suffered as tourists leave or stay away,...
Opinion: Philosophy Shrugged: Ignoring Ayn Rand Won’t Make Her go Away
Article by Skye C. Cleary, from Aeon Philosophers love to hate Ayn Rand. It’s trendy to scoff at any mention of her. One philosopher told me that "No one needs to be exposed to that monster." Many propose that she’s not a philosopher at all and should not be taken seriously. The problem is that people are taking her seriously....
Op/Ed: Wildsight comments on Columbia River Treaty negotiations
By Wildsight Representatives of the Canadian and American federal governments met on August 15th and 16th for the second round of negotiations to update the 54-year old Columbia River Treaty. The meetings were held, not in Ottawa or Washington, but in Nelson, in the Canadian Columbia River Basin. The treaty between the two ...
Column: 'Hot-house Earth' isn't inevitable -- yet. There are cool solutions
In the midst of worldwide record heat, devastating wildfires, droughts, refugee crises, and torrential rains and flooding, some particular disturbing headlines have hit the news. “Planet at risk of heading towards irreversible 'hothouse' conditions” the CBC announced. Similar headlines appeared in other media outlets. As CBC...
MP Dick Cannings to 'Ride the Riding' for third year in a row
Richard Cannings, MP (South Okanagan-West Kootenay) is happy to announce that he will “Ride the Riding” for the third year in a row. Each of the last two years he decided to complete a bicycle trip through the riding, which gave him a unique chance to meet the people, businesses and industries that make up the riding. The...
Permissive Tax Exemptions being reduced; water for farming? Rossland gets a Forest Park; Oregon grape to be sprayed again; and more.
Rossland City Council Meetings, August 13, 2018 Present: Mayor Kathy Moore, and Council members John Greene, Lloyd McLellan, Andy Morel, and Marten Kruysse. Absent: Aaron Cosbey and Andrew Zwicker. Public Hearing on the OCP amendment and the bylaw to enable the creation of the Rossland Forest Park: A property owner who ...
Free Workshop: Get the low-down on Local Government
Contemplating standing for election to your municipal Council this fall? Come to this workshop and learn a lot. Come to it even if you just want to be a better-informed voter. Government! Do you recoil at the term “government”? Despite your initial reaction, government is not a four-letter word. Too often, we criticize it...
