Fire season in region comes in at less than half of average
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson DailyThe number of fires that burned in the West Kootenay region this year was less than half of the 10-year average, with even fewer hectares than anywhere else in the province succumbing to forest fire blazes, according to the Southeast Fire Centre.There were only 227 fires that were reported...
Sinixt claim BC Timber Sales did not consult in issuing timber sale licence and stage protest
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily The one question BC Timber Sales forgot in their due diligence to allow logging on Perry Ridge was to ask the Sinixt Nation what they thought of issuing a timber sale licence for the parcel of land. As of Tuesday, the Sinixt have sent a message to BC Timber Sales, notifying the Crown...
Harper government adopts NDP 'Poppy' plan
The government has finally listened to the Royal Canadian Legion and Canada’s New Democrats and will remove the sales tax from the purchase of poppies and wreaths for the Legion’s annual poppy campaign. When the Harmonized Sales Tax was implemented in Ontario and B.C. this summer, the production of poppies fell under the new tax system […]
CBT pilots water stewardship initiative in six local schools
Grade 8 science students at six schools across the Columbia Basin were among the first to take part in Know Your Watershed, a new regionally-based water stewardship initiative of Columbia Basin Trust (CBT). “CBT recognizes the importance of actively engaging youth in water issues in the Basin, “said Neil Muth, CBT President and CEO. “Through this program we are trying […]
Feds take tax off poppies
The federal government will remove the sales tax from the purchase of poppies and wreaths for the Legion’s annual poppy campaign. When the Harmonized Sales Tax was implemented in Ontario and B.C. this summer, the production of poppies fell under the new tax system since a private firm in Toronto makes the poppies. This means […]
Twenty-one people charged with various drug trafficking offences in the West Kootenay/Boundary
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson DailyA “resource-intensive” investigation by the RCMP in the West Kootenay/Boundary region in the last four months has resulted in 21 people being charged with 43 drug trafficking offences. Members of the Kootenay Boundary Regional Detachment plain clothes General Investigation Section embarked...
Jumbo updated contact information
Due to a cabinet shuffle on Monday, there are new contact people for the pending Jumbo Wild decision, advises a member of the West Kootenay EcoSociety.Coordinator David Reid said in wake of a pending decision on creating a “resort municipality” in the Jumbo Glacier Valley — to allow a 6,500-bed resort town — and the cabinet...
BC Liberals inked 'hidden toll' into Sea-to-Sky deal--and we'll all be paying for the next 25 years
For years, I have often wondered why, in such ’tough economic times’, the very expensive Sea to Sky highway was not tolled. I’ve called for it, many of you have called for it, and last year, even Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson called for it as an avenue for revenue to solve Translinks money woes. What […]
Checking the new routine for the fall
September and October is usually times when everyone gets back into their routines, whether work, school or home. This a great time to see if you have established a good foundation for the winter months ahead. Let’s start at the base of health- sleep. It’s extremely important that everyone has at least 7-8 hours/night of...
Atamanenko: CRTC
New Democrats are asking tough questions about foreign ownership in light of the revelation that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has no research on the impact of foreign ownership in Canada’s broadcast and telecom industries. Speaking to the issue in late July, New Democrat Culture Critic Charlie Angus said the Harper government’s decision […]