COLUMN: Finance committee chair Wayne Easter defends the privileged, undermines modest tax reforms
What is it about progressive politicians going to Ottawa only to end up as arrogant and nasty conservatives? My old friend Pam Wallin was one of the kindest people I knew in Regina in the 1970s when she was a member of the Waffle group in the NDP. She turned into one of the nastiest Conservative senators. And the last encounter...
Spraying native plants on City property with herbicide; Rossland IS expensive; street light schedule adjustment; arena suggestions
Regular Council Meeting, September 18, 2017 Present: Acting Mayor Lloyd McLellan, and Councillors John Greene, Marten Kruysse, Aaron Cosbey, Andrew Zwicker; Absent: Mayor Kathy Moore, Andy Morel Public Input Period: The owner of Seven Summits Coffee, who purchased and has been extensively renovating the former Rotary...
Editorial: About those proposed changes in federal income tax: Will they hurt small businesses? Will they hurt farmers?
The short answer, according to a number of reviews done by experts in economics, is ― no. The vast majority of small businesses do not make enough money to be affected at all by the proposed changes in federal taxation. Farmers should not suffer either. In fact, according to the conclusions of those ...
Column: Can we have economic growth and lower emissions?
What does climate change have to do with economic growth? Canada’s prime minister and premiers signed a deal in December to “grow our economy, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and build resilience to the impacts of a changing climate.” The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change...
Column: From the Hill -- Business Tax Controversy
There has been a great deal of talk in the news and on the street about the Liberal government’s proposed changes to federal tax laws that would make it more difficult for small businesses to make passive investments in their companies and share profits with members of their families. The Liberals claim that many small...
BC NDP Government releases first budget update
British Columbia’s new government has released a budget update that puts people first, Finance Minister Carole James announced Monday. The balanced Budget 2017 Update forecasts a surplus of $246 million in 2017-18 and takes key first steps to improve affordability, build better services for everyone, and invest in a strong,...
Editorial: Treachery or a higher duty?
On Friday, September 8, Dr. Darryl Plecas, then a Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly, agreed to serve in the Legislature as Speaker. His party promptly disowned him ― first, kicked him out of the Liberal caucus, then on Saturday, September 9, the Liberal Party executive voted to strip him of membership in the Liberal...
Business tax changes? Questions on short-term rentals and street lights; who should teach kids how to cook? -- and more.
Regular Meeting of Rossland City Council, Tuesday, September 5, 2017 Present: Acting Mayor Lloyd McLellan, and Councillors Andrew Zwicker, Marten Kruysse, John Greene, and Andy Morel (Absent: Mayor Kathy Moore, Aaron Cosbey) There was no one present to speak up for Public Input Period. Delegation: Mike Kent, Youth Action...
Op/Ed: We Need to Stop Killing Endangered Right Whales
Article by James Wilt, first published in DeSmog Canada. The summer of 2017 was an extraordinarily deadly one for North Atlantic right whales, a species already hovering on the brink of extinction. Investigations are ongoing into the cause of death of 15 right whales off the Atlantic Coast of Canada and the U.S., although...
Column: From the Hill -- More research, please
In this technological age, information and innovation are seen as the key to building a strong, healthy economy, and the key to information is research. As post-secondary education critic for the NDP, I have talked to many university and college representatives about their concerns and needs. These representatives range...
