Local governments 'fragmented', need control: Report
The relationship between local governments and the provincial government reached a new low this week, said RDCK area D director Andy Shadrack, when a provincial review on government wages was leaked to the public. The report prepared by Ernst and Young claimed that salaries and wages in local government are now higher than...
City of Nelson partners with neighbouring communities to provide accounting and budgetary planning assistance
In an effort to support neighbouring municipalities tackle increasing public sector accounting requirements, the City of Nelson has struck an innovative set of arrangements with three Central Kootenay Regional District villages. The Villages of Salmo, Slocan and Silverton have entered into individual agreements with the City. Each of those agreements will see City […]
Public election hearing slated for Trail
The ninth independent and non-partisan British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission wants your input on the area, boundaries and names of provincial electoral districts to be used for the next two provincial general elections. “Now is the time to have your say and shape your province,” says Commission Chair Justice Tom ...
CBT seeking public input
Columbia Basin Trust is asking residents where it should focus its efforts to best support residents and communities in the Columbia Basin now, and into the future. The Trust is kicking off a year-long Basin-wide public engagement process starting with a series of drop-in community workshops and an interactive engagement...
RANT: On mental health, YOLO, rainbows and elections
Okay, time to stick my head in the lion’s mouth again. I posted a photo back on Aug. 26 about the city’s new banners reading , “YOLO” and “XOXO” (neither one of which is as bad – or as funny – as the ones with goofy cartoon faces that read, “A Great Place to Grow”, here in marijuana central. Those still make me giggle every...
UPDATED: Teachers vote overwhelming for binding arbitration
Teachers from across the province voted overwhelmingly to accept binding arbitration B.C. Teachers' Federation president Jim Iker said Wednesday night during a livestream news conference. More than 30,000 teachers of the 41,000 cast ballots Wednesday in voting with 30,490 of the 30,669 voted "yes" to accept binding arbitration...
LETTER: Strike is 'nefarious' and 'manufactured' and should frighten parents
Letter to the Editor: The continuing battle between the BCTF and the Provincial Ministry of Education should be of grave concern to families across B.C., and should be incredibly frightening to parents and caregivers in the Boundary and West Kootenay Region. Most conversations are about laying blame: “It’s the teacher’s fault”;...
OPINION: The BC government's provocation of teachers could set a frightening precedent
Two members of my family are teachers; I will therefore limit my comments on the dispute between the teachers and the government to its constitutional aspect. Through the Health and Social Services Delivery Improvement Act of 2002 the government had attempted to curtail the B.C. health workers’ rights to collective bargaining....
COMMENT: As municipal elections approach, what's the cause of voter apathy?
Taken aback by complete strangers walking up to you this summer to shake hands? Well, that's because they're back. Candidates on the hustings for a city hall near you. And despite their enthusiasm, it's not a passion shared by most voters if past elections are any indication. Even though local governments in B.C. oversee more...
Councillor opposes arbitrary process in policing equipment
A city councillor is speaking out against a process that sees the city making massive expenditures without having any say in the decision-making behind those expenditures. Councillor Kevin Chernoff said he has no problem with getting closed circuit TV surveillance for the local RCMP detachment – but he’s not okay with the...
