Innovative plant boosts forest sector, regional economy
A new state-of-the-art Cross Laminated Timber plant in Okanagan Falls, which officially opened Friday, features innovative technology that will change the way wood is used in B.C., providing another boost to B.C.’s forest industry and regional economic growth. Structurlam’s new 1,400-square-metre plant expansion was supported by $5.7 million in provincial and federal funding. The plant […]
British Columbians pay more, get less under HST, corporations billion-dollar winners: BC Federation of Labour
The BC Federation of Labour recently launched a multi-media campaign to give British Columbians another view on the choices they face in the referendum on the HST. “The Clark government’s so-called information campaign on the HST is poorly disguised advertising to persuade British Columbians to keep the HST,” said Jim Sinclair, president of the BC […]
Major bust of Compassion Club in Chilliwack, two days after it opened
Chilliwack RCMP have shut down a Compassion Club that advertised medical marijuana but was allegedly planning to peddle hash oil and drug-laced lollipops. The Be Kind Medical Clinic, complete with doctors and a pharmacist, had a business licence but was open only two days before RCMP obtained a warrant. Investigators located a marijuana hashish lab […]
Assessing infrastructure requirements in BC to make electric vehicles more viable option
A pilot project that will see the installation of up to 15 public charging stations at EasyPark lots throughout the city should help accelerate use of plug-in electric vehicles in the province’s largest city. EasyPark Easy Charge Pilot Project will assess the viability of commercially available EV charging solutions provided by several leading global providers. […]
Minister invites comments on the ALR
By: Don McRae, Minister of Agriculture, B.C. The places we live and work are important to all of us, but possibly none more so than communities with a rich agricultural tradition. These communities produce the food British Columbian families rely on, contribute to jobs we depend on, and are home to countless families, friends and […]
Get back to nature faster at three West Kootenay parks
As summer officially begins Tuesday, backcountry enthusiasts can get into the wilderness faster with a new online system that lets them prepay for their backcountry permit in 26 provincial parks, including three West Kootenay parks. The Discover Camping Backcountry Registration System allows hikers, campers and trail riders to purchase their backcountry permit through the BC […]
Reminders when picking edible mushrooms on Crown land
It is the time of year when people head out onto Crown land to pick edible wild mushrooms, specifically fire morels, in areas previously burned by wildfire. People harvesting mushrooms need to be aware that even though the area may have already been burned once, there is still potential for another wildfire to start. Please […]
BC's poverty rate still highest in Canada: First Call
British Columbia’s child poverty rate rose to 12 per cent in 2009 in the wake of the international economic downturn, Statistics Canada reported recently — it was the highest child poverty rate of any province for the eighth year in a row. The BC rate also remained higher than the national child poverty rate of […]
Teams and tech unleashed to identify, prosecute rioters
The B.C. Criminal Justice Branch has put in place a team of professional Crown prosecutors who will work with police and lead all aspects of the prosecution related to the June 15 riot, Premier Christy Clark announced Friday. Evidence amassed in the coming weeks will determine the ultimate size and extent of the prosecutorial team […]
Preston Manning and the Vancouver riots
Yes, of course, it is a big stretch to suggest that Preston Manning, for the former head of the Reform Party had anything to do with the rioting in Vancouver after the hockey game. But in trying to determine what is at the root of this mindless violent – and the almost equally mindless spectator […]