OP/ED: MP encourages HST opposition
As of July 1st, the governments of Canada and B.C. intend to institute a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) of 12 per cent, combining a 7 per cent Provincial Sales Tax (PST) with a 5 per cent federal Goods and Service Tax (GST). As well, despite the Provincial bill still not being passed at the time of this column’s writing, some...
LETTER: Health cuts neither humane nor cost-effective
Ed. Note: The following was copied to The Source for publication as a letter to the editor: Dr. Robert Halpenny, CEOInterior Health Authority220-1815 Kirschner RoadKelowna BC V1Y 4N7 Dear Dr. Halpenny, I was dismayed to learn that the IHA has decided to cut the Social Work positions that offer direct support and care to people and […]
DOBBIN: The Canadian ‘good banks’ myth
The sorry spectacle of Conservative cabinet ministers flying around the world defending banks from a tax to cover their next, inevitable, meltdown is bad enough. What is perhaps worse is that it is being largely justified by the perpetuation of the myth that Canada did not have to bail out its banks.Wrong.We are, according ...
ATAMANENKO: Pension reform and retirement security--two visions
In March, the government released a discussion paper intended as background for its Canada-wide public consultation on pension reform and Canada’s Retirement Income System. If you haven’t heard about it, it’s not surprising. It involved only three town-hall meetings, three by-invitation expert roundtables, and a voluntary on-line component. You could also write in. Their plan […]
OP/ED: Heroes and villians in the face of an environmental disaster
The oil spill that now jeopardizes the entire ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico, and potentially beyond, is a chilling reminder that all is not well with our planet. And what’s actually worse: the amount of oil gushing from the seemingly impossible-to-stop deep-sea oil well or the complacent attitude taken toward the spill by...
TECH TALK: How to keep large downloads from driving you daft
Given what I do for a living (I'm a computer tech), I probably download more files (primarily software) in an average day than most non-geeks will in the average month. That doesn't change the fact that we all run into situations where we'redownloading large files - software, large PowerPoint presentations, movies, etc. And,...
MP joins condemnation of Canada Post decision
Canada-wide changes proposed by Canada Post that will see local mail rerouted from rural communities to sorting centres in cities have drawn the ire of local NDP Member of Parliament Alex Atamanenko (BC Southern Interior). “This completely defies all logic,” said Atamanenko. “In this riding, the result will be that some letters will travel over […]
HE SAID: Climate change bill catastrophic
Leave it to the NDP to introduce a Private Members Bill that I believe will not only be devastating to the Canadian economy but also one that is seemingly based on inconclusive science. Bill C-311 requires the Canadian federal government to set regulations to attain a midterm target to bring green house gas emissions 25 […]
SHE SAID: Climate change debunkers need reality check
To oppose Bill C-311, a climate change legislation passed in the House of Commons on May 5, you must first reject the concept of climate change… so let’s start there, shall we? Can you find scientists to debunk the current modern reality that is climate change? Sure you can! You can also find scientists who’ll […]
MP pleased with climate change bill
On Wednesday, May 5th, the New Democrat Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-311) passed its final vote in the House of Commons by a vote of 149 to 136. “It has been too long coming,” said Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior, “but I am delighted it has passed, once again. Now I encourage Canadians to keep the...
