Trio of white bear cubs talk of the town in Elkford
Vacation homeowners in Elkford have been asked to search for white bear fur that may have caught on their decks or trees, to help scientists discover the genetic secrets of three white bear cubs seen in the town this fall, the Calgary Herald reports. Residents are also being urged to clear their garbage and fruit […]
COMMENT: Time of use billing has always been the plan for Smart Meters
A confidential report on BC Hydro Smart Meter Business Case by Horizon Technologies Inc. states that "BC Hydro will maintain the same rate structures when Smart Meters are first put in, and implement new rate structures afterwards; so that Smart Meters aren't blamed for higher rates."Read the full confidential report here.Rich...
Cold La Nina winter forecast for B.C. and the West Kootenay
A very cold winter is in store for B.C. and Alberta, but it is far from clear if that means as much snow as the province saw last year, the CBC reports. The winter could be one of the top three coldest winters in the past 20 years for B.C., according to the long term […]
Assembly of First Nations Withdraws from BC Missing Women's Commission of Inquiry
Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo announced Tuesday the Assembly of First Nations will be withdrawing from the B.C. Missing Women’s Commission of Inquiry, citing limitations of the Inquiry itself and an imbalance and inequity in legal resources made available to the parties. “The Assembly of First Nations is no longer […]
Smokers take advantage of new free program to quit
B.C. smokers lit up phone lines calling 8-1-1 this week to get help quitting. A total of 7,107 nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) orders were taken during the first week of the Province’s smoking cessation program coming into effect Friday, Sept. 30. The vast majority of smokers who called HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to register for […]
Top excuses from people caught using cell phones while driving
Excuses, excuses. That’s what police across the province heard last month from B.C. drivers who were caught using a hand-held device while driving. During the month-long crackdown in September on distracted driving, police estimate they issued more than 3,500 tickets to drivers for using electronic device behind the wheel. Drivers need to honestly examine their […]
NDP slams Liberal policy of closing group homes
The Liberal government must act now to address the growing crisis for developmentally disabled British Columbians by putting an immediate stop to further group home closures and beginning a review of how Community Living B.C. is being run, say the New Democrats. “The Liberals’ chronic failure to effectively manage CLBC has come at the expense […]
B.C. First Nations group's case goes to rights hearing in U.S.
The nation’s rules for making treaties is expected to be scrutinized by a foreign government this month, the Victoria Times-Colonist is reporting. The Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, made up of six Vancouver Island First Nations, will have a human rights complaint heard Oct. 28 by the Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. At […]
Amendments introduced to strengthen privacy act
Amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act were introduced in the legislature this week. The amendments to the act are the result of recommendations by the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, and from 118 submissions […]
Vancouver house price increases outpace national average
The average price for a standard detached home in Vancouver is approximately triple the national average, according to the Royal LePage House Price Survey released this week. The average third quarter price for a detached bungalow increased 17 per cent year-over-year, selling for $1,022,375 – nearly three times the national average bungalow price of $349,974. […]