B.C. Liquor laws get a makeover
Minister Rich Coleman recently announced several changes today that will help support local breweries and distilleries, create new business opportunities, and revise current liquor laws in British Columbia. The changes include: Brewers and distillers now can apply to have an on-site consumption area such as a lounge, tasting room or event area. Small- and medium-sized […]
RDKB Town Hall Meeting
The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary held a town hall meeting last Thursday, February 7 at the community hall in Christina Lake. This was an opportunity for the public to meet and question those who make decisions about, and provide, services for the region. It was also an event where regional government comes to explain...
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...
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 […]
COMMENT: Why this problem can’t be buried
Twenty-five years ago, after consensus on the reality and impacts of manmade climate change led to the formation of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, western governments had two choices. They could either stop subsidising fossil fuel industries and invest the savings in promoting energy efficiency and renewable...
COMMENT: 2013 should be the year of the democracy coalition
When historians write the chapter on the current period of social democracy in Canada they might well conclude that the worst thing that happened to it was the 2011 election when the NDP got 103 seats it hadn’t really earned. It was such an unexpected event that the NDP could not cope with it. You could see it in the euphoria...
COMMENT: The Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Part 1
I had the opportunity in January to represent our country at the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in Vladivostok, Russia. This was the 21st annual Forum which hosted over three hundred parliamentarians from 23 APPF member states as well as representatives from other countries, the UN and other world organizations. Our...
City of Rossland asks BC Auditor General for Local Government to investigate governance issues in the arena scandal
The crowd spilled into City Hall’s hallways as 11 Rossland residents addressed council’s public input period on Monday to support Coun. Kathy Moore’s motion to request that BC’s new Auditor General for Local Government (AGLG) investigate the big picture of policy, procedure, and governance in Rossland that may have contributed to the Jason Ward arena […]
Local activists voice displeasure over Enbridge to National Energy Board’s Joint Review Panel
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 […]
Protesters in Nelson join other Idle No More rallies across Canada
The Idle No More rally once again made a stop in Nelson as approximately 30 protesters tied up traffic briefly on Baker Street to raise awareness of issues Aboriginal people face and demanding changes from the federal government. The rally happened between noon at corner of Baker and Ward Streets in downtown Nelson. The rally […]