Castlegar takes its Chances with new gaming casino, open today
Today’s the big day – after years of anticipation, Chances Gaming Centre will finally be opening its doors in Castlegar. Grand opening celebrations begin with an invitation-only reception, from noon to 4 p.m., with over 200 guests ranging from the local MP and MLA, as well as mayors-and-councils from all tri-city communities, to contractors and […]
Celebrate with Celgar this weekend
2011 marks the 50th anniversary for the Celgar pulpmill. To celebrate this historic milestone, Zellstoff Celgar invites kids and adults alike to take a guided tour of the mill. Tours will be offered three times a day, from July 18 to 22. Space is limited, so please book ahead by calling 250-365-4238. Zellstoff Celgar will...
Signs of improvement for West Kootenay info signs
Ever actually stopped at one of those “Information areas” along the highways in the region? You know the ones I mean. The ones featured at highway pull outs, coated with outdated ads and feature a surprisingly square, seemingly scale-less, essentially useless series of connect-the-dot lines between community names? If you’ve ever wondered if anyone has […]
Province records lower deficit than forecast
The Province of British Columbia ended the fiscal year with a smaller deficit than forecast. “Better economic conditions and our prudent approach to spending mean we’ve been able to close the deficit gap considerably, ending the year with a deficit of $309 million and keeping us well on course to balance the budget in 2013-14 […]
New programs support job training in Kootenays and other B.C. regions
Proposals are being sought for new industry-specific programs to provide more skilled workers in the Kootenay region, as well as North Coast, Nechako and Cariboo areas. It’s anticipated that B.C. will have one million job openings in the next 10 years, and much of the demand will be in the Interior and northern B.C. To […]
OP/ED: MP slams new US tax laws that apply to some Canadians
BC Southern Interior MP Alex Atamanenko is outraged at the proposed United States (US) tax crackdown recently announced by the American government. By law, all individuals holding US citizenship are required to file annual income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In addition, the new US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) obliges […]
Get a grip on the steering wheel, carbon tax increases the hit at the pump
No, it’s not a long weekend gouge, but expect to pay more at the pumps starting on Canada Day. Effective July 1 the carbon tax on gasoline rises by 1.11 cents per litre to 5.56 cents per litre. Other fuels see a similar increase. However, the Low Income Climate Action Tax Credit also increases by […]
Rural areas to get better high speed internet service
Rural and remote areas of the West Kootenay-Boundary and across the province are expected to benefit from a $100-million, 10-year strategic telecommunications services contract the Province signed with TELUS Wednesday. Under the contract, high-speed Internet connections will be improved for families and businesses in rural and remote B.C., and cellular coverage along highways across the […]
BC’s tax system means richest households pay lowest overall tax rate
Public debate about taxes may be focused on the HST, but a new report suggests that the HST is only one piece of an inequitable provincial tax system, a system in which the richest 20 per cent of British Columbians pay a lower tax rate than the rest of us. The report, by the Canadian […]
Buying a West Kootenay cottage and keeping the peace
As summer approaches thoughts start turning to lapping waves, crackling campfires and tranquil forests. It’s the time of year when cottage, cabin or beach house fever starts to take hold. But the sunny dream of owning a vacation home may be dampened by the reality of property prices in many of the region’s popular vacation […]
