In a media release, the BC Nurses' Union said it supports the Union of BC Municipalities in calling for the provincial government to create a comprehensive mental health strategy. BCNU President Gayle Duteil said in the release that there is an urgent need for better services. “The mental health care system in BC is in crisis,"...

Responding to a series of recommendations made by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), the Province has committed to striking a Provincial Urban Deer Advisory Committee as well as the provision of up to $100,000 for future urban deer management operations. The recommendations from the UBCM flowed from an initial meeting...

There are those who execute contracts and those who award them. In B.C., when it comes to provincially-funded infrastructure projects, valued at more than $50 million, there's a gatekeeper: Partnerships BC. Tough to keep track of all the comings and goings at the Crown corporation. In 2007, there were 26 senior employees at...

The slate of contenders for South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP seems to be increasing rapidly as the filing deadline (Sept. 28) approaches. Although the Elections Canada website only shows three hopefuls so far, at least three more have expressed their desire to run in our riding (current MP Alex Atamanenko will be retiring at...

WildSafeBC is giving Castlegar the opportunity to be designated a ‘Bear Smart’ community during one of our worst bear seasons in years – and encouraging the city penalize residents who won’t get on board. “The bear situation in Castlegar right now is crazy, I've never received so many phone calls and emails,” WildSafe coordinator...

As election season begins to ramp up, local students looking to vote in their own riding before trekking off to school or travel need not worry. Although not many people know of it, Elections Canada offers the opportunity to participate in what’s known as special ballot voting. All that’s required is a piece of photo I.D....

Federal election candidates will have an opportunity to focus on issues of peace, security and climate change in a pair of all-candidates forums slated for September 16 and 17. The three important and often intertwined topics are of increasing importance to Canadians in the 21st Century. Co-hosted by Selkirk College’s Mir...

Locals will get a chance to weigh in on the 2016 provincial budget at a public meeting slated for Sept. 16 at the Fireside Inn, according to a press released issued last week. “The consultation period will formally open by Sept. 15 in conjunction with the release of the Budget 2016 Consultation Paper prepared by the Ministry...

A couple of weeks ago, I sent each candidate in this riding an invitation to answer questions — the same questions for each candidate — to allow the candidates and their parties to help us all understand both the differences and the similarities in their respective positions on issues and their policies, and what they […]

This is the first of three sets of questions.  If the answers arrive, the next set will appear next week.  Each candidate’s responses are published as a separate article.  Please read them all, and compare.  All elections are importatnt, and we all need to be as well-informed as possible — and to vote. Section I:  […]