ICBC employees vote in favour of job action
Union members at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia have voted 87 per cent in favour of job action, said the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, Local 378 (COPE 378). The collective agreement expired in 2010 and the union and ICBC have been bargaining since January of 2011. “The strength of this vote...
PANAMA: Poor but not forgotten thanks to online videos
Coco Solo was once a United States Navy submarine base on the Panama Canal Zone, near Colón, Panama. Today, Coco Solo is the home of some of the poorest, most marginalized Panamanians. In 2008, Reuters published a story about the “poverty and decay” in Coco Solo, where John McCain (then Republican presidential...
TAX TIP: Canada Learning Bond
The Canada Learning Bond provides money from the Government to help you start saving early for your child’s education after high school. Your child could get $500 NOW to help you start saving early for your child’s education after high school, and an extra $100 each year up to age 15. That’s up to $2,000 (plus interest) in ...
Canadian swordfish eco-certified despite deaths of endangered sea turtles and sharks
Despite strong opposition from conservation organizations, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has granted eco-certification to Nova Scotia’s swordfish longline fishery which is responsible for killing 35,000 sharks and 200-500 endangered sea turtles each year as ‘bycatch’. According to yesterday’s announcement by the MSC,...
Council to pass tax bylaw with minimal increase
Despite a residential tax increase this year, Castlegar homeowners will likely be paying less property tax in 2012 than they did in 2010. In a report presented to city council at its regular meeting Monday night, city director of financial services Andre Buss told council that modest increases have been offset by an increase...
SWEDEN: Controversy over 'racist cake' art piece...created by black artist
News website grioo.com reports that on April 15, 2012, Swedish Culture Minister, Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth, attended a exhibition preview at Museum of Modern Art of Stockholm to celebrate ‘World Art Day'. The highlight of the show seems to have been the tasting of the ‘Painful Cake' representing the body of an African woman, ...
VIDEO: William Housty addresses NEB on Heiltsuk culture, threat of oil spill
30 year-old William Housty's powerhouse presentation to the National Energy Board's Enbridge hearings in his community of Bella Bella. William describes the history, language and culture of his people in fascinating detail - and how the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline and Tar Sands supertankers transiting the waters of his...
City dives into Millennium Park pool project with $400,000 grant
Castlegar city council is excited to announce the recent approval of the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development ‐ Community Recreation Program grant funding in the amount of $400,000 for the construction of the Millennium Park Outdoor Natural Swimming Pool. "The City of Castlegar appreciates the Ministry of...
Clothesline Event to prevent domestic violence slated for April 17
Prevention begins with community awareness and education. To this end, the third annual Clothesline Project display will be in front of City Hall on April 17. “The Clothesline Project will display t-shirts decorated by children, women, and other community members, with anti-violence messages,” said Castlegar Victim Services...
Restorative justice program in jeopardy
Castlegar's Restorative Justice program, created in 1999, may be in danger of closing due to a lack of facilitators, according to program coordinator Inga Lamont. "During the past 13 years, we have heard 137 cases involving youth and adults. All but three contracts have been completed. The cases have involved, theft, assault,...
