British Columbians can now replace their CareCard with the new BC Services Card. “Starting today, the old CareCard will be replaced by the BC Services Card, a highly secure form of identification,” said Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid. “This new card will be a secure piece of photo identification with many anti-fraud and security features including […]

Thanks to his significant contributions to the Columbia Basin, Kimberley’s Garry Merkel is receiving a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. “Garry is an exceptional visionary with strong leadership qualities,” said Greg Deck, CBT Chair. “Through his significant professional accomplishments and extensive volunteer work, he continually gives back and inspires and motivates others. His impacts […]

by ​​​​F. William Engdahl, Global Research, February 10, 2013 Part I: Africa’s New Thirty Years’ War? Mali at first glance seems a most unlikely place for the NATO powers, led by a neo-colonialist French government of Socialist President Francois Hollande (and quietly backed to the hilt by the Obama Administration), to launch what is being […]

In light of the current fiscal crisis and resultant school closures and reconfigurations being contemplated by our Board of Education to balance its budget we believe it is appropriate to revisit some of Murray Dobbin’s thoughts in his article about School Closures and the “Cult of Efficiency” written in 2008 when he was the...

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 […]

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...

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 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 […]

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...

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...