From the Hill — Affront to democracy in Canada
I’ve been in Ottawa for the past nine days, in the centre of the protest by the “Freedom Convoy”. My offices have been flooded by emails and phone calls on both sides of this issue, so I want to make it clear where I stand and why. First, a short description of how the last week in Ottawa has gone. The organizers of the...
City of Castlegar Council Highlights - February 7, 2022
WEST KOOTENAY REGIONAL AIRPORT Council authorized staff to award Request for Quotation No. 2021-17 Airport Runway Snow Removal Equipment (with Attachments) to Airport Technologies Inc. for a total value of $437,718 plus taxes. The new snow removal equipment will replace 30-year-old equipment. The City received a grant from ...
Protesters to blockade Paterson Border Crossing this Saturday
On Feb. 10, Trail and Greater District RCMP were notified by the Freedom Convoy Kootenay that there would be a blockade of the Paterson Border Crossing located at 10 Hwy 22, in Rossland, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, Feb 12. The organizers plan to have a peaceful demonstration and barbeque to protest against current...
"Freedom convoy" to travel through Trail, Nelson, Castlegar, Fruitvale and Ymir Sunday
Trail and Greater District RCMP has received information that a truck convoy protesting against current vaccines mandates will be touring West Kootenay cities which will include driving through downtown Trail, BC, this Sunday, Feb. 6, according to Trail RCMP NCOIC Sgt. Mike Wicentowich. He said it will begin in Nelson around...
City of Castlegar Council Highlights - January 24, 2022
PRESENTATION Tammy Verigin-Burk, from the Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce, and Lukas Armstrong, from Cover Architectural Cooperative presented an overview of the new Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce building. 2021 COUNCIL AND CORPORATE OBJECTIVES UPDATE Council received a progress report from the Chief ...
City of Castlegar Council Highlights - January 10, 2022
PRESENTATIONS 1. Ty Hetchler presented to Council regarding upgrading youth centre services in Castlegar. 2. Jayme Jones and Rob Tanner, on behalf of Selkirk College, presented the Bridging Rural Homelessness and Well-being – A Sustainable and Collaborative Regional Response Project. Council supported the project by providing...
From The Hill: MP takes stock
This is traditionally a time to look back on the year that was and forward to the year to come. Since 2021 wasn’t anyone’s favourite year with a pandemic, climate disasters, an opioid crisis, housing challenges and more, I won’t dwell on its shortcomings but instead concentrate on my hopes and plans for the future. I hope the...
City seeks input on proposed 2022 budget
Following two days of deliberations, City of Castlegar Council approved a Draft 2022 Budget and is now seeking community input. The budget will result in 5.66 per cent tax increase for residential properties and 5.75 per cent for business and light industrial properties. This equates to $64.96 annually, or approximately $5.41...
Castlegar City Council highlights
PRESENTATION Darlene Kalawsky from Communities in Bloom presented a project idea to complete a budget, plan and design for a Japanese Garden project alongside City Hall that would be a peaceful place linking Castlegar to its sister city, Embetsu, Japan. The project would be a sustainable, low-maintenance design and would...
MP Richard Cannings calls for federal funding to help rebuild after weather
Earlier this week, NDP MP Richard Cannings (South Okanagan—West Kootenay) raised how important it is to help communities in the face of the ongoing flooding in B.C. He asked the minister in Question Period if he would support communities like Princeton, BC recovery financially from the flooding. Right now, the municipality ...
