Government proposes cutting HST to 10 per cent, with a condition
Talk about dangling the carrot. The Province is proposing to reduce the total HST rate to 10 per cent from 12 per cent in two stages, cutting the provincial portion by one percentage point to six per cent from seven per cent on July 1, 2012, and a further one percentage point reduction would take […]
Harper’s goal: create a new irrational reality
In observing Stephen Harper for the past 20 years, I have often been reminded of the line from Shakespeare: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Replace lawyers with scientists, and you capture the role that the irrational plays in the politics of the prime minister. It shows up everywhere: Over […]
City seeks resident input on Official Community Plan
How would you like a say in shaping your community for years – perhaps even decades – to come? That’s exactly what the City of Castlegar wants, as council encourages residents to offer their suggestions and input at the final public consultation regarding the Official Community Plan (OCP). “We’re re-doing ours – it hasn’t […]
Stink spurs city to solve sewage situation
Continued complaints about odours emanating from the city’s south sewage treatment plant have Civic Works searching for solutions, council heard at its regular meeting Monday night. City councillor Kevin Chernoff said the Civic Works department has already expended a great deal of energy trying to rectify the problem – but with only varying degrees […]
Local men get police/council attention for Facebook guide on how to abuse young girls
A horrifying document posted on Facebook and penned by two local men has reached the attention of both Castlegar city council and the RCMP. Created by two young, adult Castlegar men, the page is a lengthy, step-by-step guide on how to get young girls (between the ages of 13 and 15) to have sex, […]
City pit bull licensing fee to remain $1,000
Pitbull owners in Castlegar will not enjoy a reduction in the cost of dog licensing, as council voted Monday night to maintain the status quo. This, after controversy arose surrounding the city’s $1,000 licensing fee for pit bulls and Staffordshire Terriers (as compared $15 to $45 for other breeds). Nelson and Trail both have […]
First Nations Summit congratulates Yale First Nation
The First Nations Summit congratulates the Yale First Nation leaders, negotiators and community members for reaching their final treaty agreement and the introduction of the Yale First Nations Treaty Settlement legislation in the BC Legislature. “The Yale First Nation should be commended for their significant efforts to reach a final agreement that is appropriate for and supported by […]
The ongoing evil of asbestos exports
The ongoing fight to get this country to ban the export of the world’s deadliest industrial material has finally reached the Comedy Network and Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show. The sheer absurdity of pretending that chrysotile asbestos can be used safely caught the eye of the popular show and they recently did a five minute segment, […]
Markham City Council bans criticism of Apartheid regimes
On May 3, a majority of Councillors from Markham City Council adopted a motion to censor “Israeli Apartheid Week” that is organized each year in March by students on Canadian universities. Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is a week of lectures and film screenings that takes place peacefully on campuses each year and hosts prominent academics and […]
The election by the numbers
To the Editor: Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, 1976 edition, describes “democracy” as “government by the people,” “rule by the majority,” “government in which supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation.” On March 27, after 58 years in government, the Conservative Christian Democratic Union […]
