Last Tuesday I was in Ottawa for an emergency meeting of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources in the wake of the Federal Court of Appeal decision that quashed the federal government’s approval of the Trans Mountain Expansion project.  The court quashed the approval based on two errors—the lack of consideration of marine...

Rossland City Council meeting, September 4, 2018 Present:  Mayor Kathy Moore and Councillors Lloyd McLellan, Marten Kruysse, John Greene, Andy Morel, and Andrew Zwicker.   Absent:  Aaron Cosbey Council had one of its shortest meetings ever. First up was a request to approve in principle  moving the community garden from the...

On Sunday I completed my third annual “Ride the Riding” event, cycling 411 kilometres from Naramata to Nakusp. The ride provides an opportunity to meet and talk with constituents on the trail or at scheduled stops in cafes and restaurants in communities throughout the riding, celebrates the beautiful cycling trails we have ...

I wish I didn’t have to write this. I count myself a friend of the NDP/Green Alliance, and I had high hopes for the government’s new climate action plans. [1] BC’s Ministry of Environment has published a series of Clean Growth Intentions Papers, with a deadline for public feedback of August 24th, in the heart of this fire and...

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… ...

With the abundance of smoke we have been experiencing in the last few weeks, I wanted to provide you with some tips for reducing smoke exposure, protecting your lungs, and reducing any damage that may have occurred. 1.      Increase glutathione! When we inhale smoke, we are inhaling many toxins that generate free radicals, ...

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...

“To sit with Elders of the human race. All will be revealed.” -- Led Zepplin, Kashmir “Me and some of my friends, we were gonna change the world, we were gonna make it better… but it fell apart, and it broke my heart.”                                                       -- Neil Young, Giant on the Land “... just a hippie ...

Thanks to Mother Nature for the precipitation, but Environment Canada said the Special Air Quality Statement remains in place for most of BC and Southern Alberta. “Community downwind of wildfires will continue to experience periods of elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter and poor air quality through the weekend, however increased dispersion from winds aloft […]

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....