Column: From the Hill -- the new Elections Modernization Act
This week the House of Commons passed Bill C-76, the Elections Modernization Act, the federal government’s answer to the so-called “Fair Elections Act” that the Conservatives enacted in 2014. And although I and the rest of the NDP caucus voted in favour of the bill, I would say this bill is “a day late and a dollar short.”...
Letter: BC needs a new voting system
Several times in our province we have had election results distorted by our current voting system (first past the post). As a result the political landscape has been plagued by polarized politics for as long as anyone can remember and many voters find themselves voting to block something they despise and/or not having their...
Rossland Lauded for Knotweed Control Actions
Japanese Knotweed is among the most feared invasive weeds, because of its effects on real estate values, taxes and infrastructure; it is unfortunately able to damage all three – it damages property values merely by being there, raises taxes by increasing municipal costs, and damages infrastructure by invading foundations,...
Canada has some of the world's last wild places. Are we keeping our promise to protect them?
To meet one of its most critical conservation targets by 2020, Canada must protect a massive amount of land — roughly the size of Alberta — over the next year and a half. So where will this protection occur and can it be done in a way that actually benefits biodiversity? By Gloria Dickie, from The Narwhal The world...
Rossland Post Office Not in Service
Residents visiting the Rossland Post Office to pick up their mail won't find any to pick up, unless they haven't been for a while. On Tuesday, October 30, 2018, people could enter the Post Office to access their mostly empty mail boxes and to mail items by dropping them in a mailbox, but with no assurance that anything dropped...
MP questions PM on Trail acid spills
Richard Cannings MP (South Okanagan—West Kootenay) - Last April and May two serious acid spills caused havoc in Trail, BC. Yesterday during Question Period, Cannings questioned the Prime Minister whether Transport Canada is properly investigating these incidents. Cannings has also been in consultation with local officials ...
Column: War, and sculpting minds with culture
War, what is it good for? Absolutely nuthin.’ -- pop song, 1968 War is the Father of us all. – Herodotus, Greek historian, 5th C. BCE War is over, if you want it. – John Lennon Forgive me Lord, I do so love it. – General Patton, American Army War is the typical normal condition of humanity, not peace. – James...
COLUMN: Governments just giving up on life on earth?
The U.S. president may think global warming is a hoax perpetrated by China, but his administration has concluded Earth’s average temperature will rise 4 C over pre-industrial levels by 2100 if we fail to address the causes. Overwhelming scientific evidence concludes that such a rise would be catastrophic for humanity and many...
Letter: Confused about proportional representation? Read this.
A key ingredient in any democracy is that people choose their leaders based on their values. In our current voting system we are often forced to choose between a person or a party or to vote “strategically”. The make-up of the government often doesn’t reflect the popular vote so a party may only get 10% of the seats even if...
Rossland: Here's our new City Council
Meet your new Rossland City Council. The voting is over, the votes are counted, and we know who our Council members, along with acclaimed Mayor Kathy Moore, will be for the next four years – barring any unforeseen events. The six successful candidates are: Andy Morel Janice Nightingale Chris Bowman Dirk Lewis Stewart Spooner...