I am now back in Victoria at the Legislature until the end of May. While there are many events and meeting requests that come across my desk, I am only in the constituency on Fridays and Saturdays and quite often that time is limited by weather and other unforeseen issues. I depend on my very resourceful and knowledgeable...

As the NDP critic for post-secondary education, I’ve met with a number of groups over the past weeks and months to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing universities, colleges and technical institutions, as well as with the students who are working hard to better their futures.  And the benefits to post-secondary ...

Local leaders are divided in their reaction to the Provincial Liberals' 2016 budget. City councillor Deb McIntosh pulled no punches in a critique she posted on Facebook. “Balanced budgets are fantastic, but not when we allow a high level of child poverty and no changes to income assistance rates,” McIntosh wrote. “Fantastic...

In a budget that rewards the wealthiest British Columbians at the expense of all other citizens, Christy Clark maintained a billion-dollar tax cut for millionaires and created a slush fund with unfair MSP tax hikes. "This is not a budget for B.C. families,” said Katrine Conroy, MLA. “This budget continues the tax break for ...

The word “traumatized”is a fascinating and viciously misused word. You had a brutal experience? You saw something no one else should ever see? If you responded to it like a normal person, then you’re not ‘traumatized’, and we don’t need new words to describe it. You had the mother of all bad days, and that […]

The growing proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries in Nelson not only prompted city council to roll up a change to its business licence bylaw, but it piped up two resolutions directed at upper levels of government to help deal with it. Over the past year, several storefronts — at least five — selling medical marijuana...

Nelson’s Chinatown, located on the two blocks of Lake Street — bordered by Vernon, Front, Ward and Hall streets — is one of 21 sites in the province of historical significance to the Chinese Canadian community that are being provincially recognized under the Heritage Conservation Act fulfilling a commitment in the Chinese...

Trail residents can sleep easier knowing that at the end of 2015, Trail was the second-safest city in the region, having experienced significant crime reduction rates. Last year, the city saw a 17-per-cent reduction in overall criminal code offenses, along with an eight-per-cent reduction in property crimes during the same ...

The Regional District of Central Kootenay has adopted management plans for three area parks — Crescent Valley Beach, Waterloo Eddy and Pass Creek. The plans were given the rubber stamp by the Board and are ready to implement, the RDCK announced Wednesday   “The process to engage the public, collect feedback and draft the plans […]

A city council meeting held at Stanley Humphries Secondary School Monday afternoon had both good points and bad, according to city councillor Florio Vassilakakis. The meeting started at 12:30 p.m. (students were allowed to miss some class time to attend), and saw about 65 people in attendance (not counting media, mayor and ...