COLUMN: A Bill to improve the Species at Risk Act
Last Friday, I tabled my Private Members Bill, C-363, in the House of Commons. This bill would patch a large loophole in the Species at Risk Act, or SARA, that has allowed previous governments to wilfully ignore scientific advice as to which species need protection in Canada. SARA is designed to be transparent and timely. ...
Trust strengthens child care in Basin
Columbia Basin Trust is launching a new $3.6-million program to help maintain and create new child care spaces in the Basin. “The Child Care Support Program will help sustain and grow quality licensed child care in the Basin,” said Johnny Strilaeff, President and CEO, Columbia Basin Trust. “The child care sector has several...
Slocan's W.E. Graham Community Services awarded funds from FortisBC Community Giving Program
FortisBC announced Monday at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention in Vancouver that W.E. Graham Community Services in Slocan has been awarded funds as part of the 2017 Community Giving Program. Slocan's W.E. Graham Community Services was one of the organizations to receive the $15,000 in funding to help advance ...
Legal cannabis: help B.C. lead the way on safety, health
The BC Government is inviting British Columbians to share their views about how the Province can keep young people, neighbourhoods and roads safe after Canada legalizes non-medical cannabis next year. "We want to hear from as many people as possible about how we can best protect our kids, keep our roads safe, and lock criminals...
Slocan Housing project to break ground this fall
“It’s been a very long haul,” said Slocan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society president Rita Moir, “but we are really pleased to announce final funding has been approved for affordable seniors’ rental housing in the Village of Slocan.” BC Housing, Columbia Basin Trust (the Trust), the Village of Slocan, Slocan Valley Economic ...
Community residents take aim at hunters
Some residents of Shoreacres say they’re fed up with people hunting illegally close to their properties. Brian Kirkham and Dave Jennings came to the board meeting of the Regional District of the Central Kootenays on Thursday to ask them to do something about it. “There’s nowhere you should hunt [in the subdivision], we’re...
Campfire ban to be rescinded in southern B.C.
Effective at noon on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, campfires will once again be allowed throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre, Southeast Fire Centre and Cariboo Fire Centre. A return to more seasonal weather conditions and recent precipitation has reduced the wildfire risk in these areas. The BC Wildfire Service reminds the public ...
B.C.'s Wild West reputation laid to rest — NOT!
The headlines should have read “B.C.'s Wild West reputation laid to rest.” Instead, British Columbians woke up to “Taxpayers would give millions to political parties in NDP plan,” all thanks to an ill-advised decision to slide two unexpected provisions into the government's campaign finance reform package: a transitional...
Site C or No Site C — Public hearing Tuesday in Nelson
British Columbians are facing a crucial test in the coming weeks – reaching an opinion on the planned Site C dam. Currently estimated to cost $8.8 billion, the hydroelectric dam on the Peace River is the single most expensive public infrastructure project ever proposed in B.C. history. Originally put forward along with a...
UPDATED: Environment Canada continues Special Weather Statement for Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass
Environment Canada issued a Special Weather Statement Thursday morning for Highway 3, Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass due to a cold airmass associated with an upper low has caused freezing levels to plummet this week. "Snow has been observed on the Okanagan Connector, Rogers Pass, Paulson Summit and Kootenay Pass on several...
