Business

St John Ambulance to close Trail branch, but will remain in region

by Kyra Hoggan on 15 Feb 2013
in
St John Ambulance to close Trail branch, but will remain in region

After upwards of 70 years in Trail, SJA is closing its Trail branch and disbanding its local first-aid Brigade, citing a diminished volunteer-base as the primary reason for the branch closure  - but never think that means they're turning their backs on the  Kootenays.

City's $20.83-million budget unveiled; 3% tax increase for residents

by Kyra Hoggan on 07 Feb 2013
in
City's $20.83-million budget unveiled; 3% tax increase for residents

The City of Castlegar is all set to unveil its $20.826-million 2013 budget at a public meeting Feb. 18.

The meeting, slated for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. (directly preceding council's regular meeting at 7 p.m.) will be an opportunity for residents to see what the city has planned and offer feedback and suggestions before the document is adopted.

Residential taxes are set to increase three per cent and commercial one per cent, with heavy industrial remaining the same.

Downtown business owners respond to city's parking boot

by Kyra Hoggan on 07 Feb 2013
in
Downtown business owners respond to city's parking boot

There's a mixed reaction from downtown business owners to city council's decision, at its last regular meeting, to 'boot' (immobilize) prolific parking violators with unpaid fines in the city's downtown core (until now, the only options were to either impound the vehicle or issue a violation ticket).

Teck charged for effluent disharge into Columbia River

by Kyra Hoggan on 07 Feb 2013
in
Teck charged for effluent disharge into Columbia River

Teck Trail Operations was officially charged Friday in relation to accidentally-discharged effluent with a higher-than-allowable pH-level, according to a press release issued by Teck representative Richard Deane.

Deane said the incident occurred March 5, 2011, and the company is being charged under the Fisheries and Environmental Management Acts. He said the water used to clean their boilers was discharged at a level of 9.1, as compared to the limit of 8.5, “which means high alkaline.”

What Ontario Can Learn from Greece

by Contributor on 04 Feb 2013
in
What Ontario Can Learn from Greece

By Livio Di Matteo, The Fraser Institute

“Even Greece, the poster child for rampant debt, carried an Ontario-style debt load as recently as 1984” -- Don Drummond (2012) Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services

Greece is experiencing a massive fiscal crisis rooted in rampant debt with resulting cuts to its public spending and services and a decline in the quality of life.

Local activists voice displeasure over Enbridge to National Energy Board’s Joint Review Panel

by Nelson Daily staff on 29 Jan 2013
in
Dick Vission and Pegasus McGauley represented the Nelson Chapter of the Council of Canadians in Kelowna Monday. — Suzy Hamilton photo

By Suzy Hamilton, The Nelson Daily

Quoting UBC Kermode bear expert Kermitt Ritland, bear biologist Wayne McCrory said: “One thing is for sure, black oil will not look good on a white coat.”

“What are we going to tell our children when we knew what was inevitable and approved it anyway?”

McCrory was presenting a submission at the National Energy Board’s Joint Review Panel in Kelowna Monday.

The compensation gap; why it pays to be a government worker in BC

by Contributor on 27 Jan 2013
in
The compensation gap; why it pays to be a government worker in BC

by Jason Clemens and Amela Karabegovic

More than three years after the end of the recession and British Columbia’s provincial government continues to struggle with deficits, which as of the last quarterly update will likely exceed $1.5 billion.

Relying on revenues to rebound enough to catch up with spending just doesn’t work as BC’s own history aptly demonstrates.

Castlegar? There's an app for that!

by Kyra Hoggan on 24 Jan 2013
in
Castlegar? There's an app for that!

Members of city council’s Green Committee will be attending a webinar Feb. 7 to consider creating a Castlegar ‘app’ for your smart phone.

Councillor Kevin Chernoff said this is but one of many neat ideas council is looking at to enhance service and stewardship on the city’s part.

Mayor/CAO to court retail developers

by Kyra Hoggan on 24 Jan 2013
in
Mayor/CAO to court retail developers

Castlegar mayor Lawrence Chernoff and city CAO John Malcolm will be heading to Whistler this weekend to attend the International Council of Shopping Centres conference, with an eye toward drawing retailers to the Sunflower City.

Funding available for environmental projects in Waneta area

by Contributor on 17 Jan 2013
in
Funding available for environmental projects in Waneta area

Partners in the Waneta Expansion Project - Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corporation and Columbia Basin Trust, are accepting applications for this year’s Waneta Terrestrial Compensation Program (WTCP).

This program provides up to $50,000 annually to projects in the Waneta area that promote conservation and restoration through research, physical works, and other on-the-ground or applied projects.

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