The economic costs of salmon farms, oil pipelines and natural gas are just as horrific as their environmental ones
Whether or not salmon farms continue operating in BC's marine waters may depend more on economic than environmental factors. Despite withering criticism concerning the ecological safety of its open net-pen operations, the salmon farming industry has doggedly continued on its corporate course. However, two unforeseen factors...
Nathan Cullen would get my vote
There are so many factors that NDP members have to look at when choosing who to vote for in their leadership race that I don’t envy them (I am not a member). How do you weigh the various elements: policies, philosophy, engaging personality, ability to take on Stephen Harper in the House, co-operation with the Liberals, and ...
CARTOON: Harper rolling out the welcome mat for China
Check out this new cartoon from Gerry Hummel highlighting the push to open up BC and Alberta's fossil fuel resources to emerging Asian markets like China. In recent months both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Resources Minister Joe Oliver have told Canadians and leaders on the world's stage that the Enbridge Northern ...
Canada supports the dark side of international finance
You can say one thing for the powers that be in the banking industry. They’ve got a lot of nerve. This past week our own finance minister Jim Flaherty, along with Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of Canada, came out strongly in opposition to a modest proposal to regulate the US banking system. Their interventions followed...
Teachers should learn from paramedics
BC teachers must realize they will get NOWHERE with the Liberal government and school employers without job action and a major fight. They should learn from the mistreatment and suffering of BC’s paramedics at the hands of their employers and an intransigent government under an expired contract since 2001. The paramedics’ ...
Time to zip John Baird’s loose lips
It is hard to credit the latest statements and actions by Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. On both Iran and Israel Baird seems to almost deliberately seek to humiliate both himself and the country he is supposed to represent on the international stage. Taking an ultra-orthodox rabbi (whose organization opposes any Palestinian...
Clark/Good: Like an Orphan’s Club charity event
The weekend promos had heightened the anticipation; what I thought would be the Davis Cup of Politics--BC’s top-rated talk show host Bill Good vs. the province’s top ranked politician, Christy Clark--would take to the air in Vancouver Monday. Maybe not the match of the year, but hopefully some hard-hitting serves and returns,...
COMMENT: Open government isn't about selling access at BC Liberal “power lunches”
IntegrityBC chastised the BC Liberals today for leaving the impression that they're selling access to Margaret MacDiarmid, Minister of Labour Citizens' Services and Open Government, through her presence at a $50 a plate Liberal fundraising lunch tomorrow in Surrey. “There's something incredibly oxymoronic about the minister...
The BC Liberals and the new prison: Same crap, same people, different motives
One should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity, in particular when it comes to politicians and government – case in point, the BC Liberals…As you heard here first, Christy Clark made the announcement yesterday that the Osoyoos Indian Band has been selected as the party who wins the opportunity to host a new ...
Bow down Canadians, corporations are king
Two recent stories out of Ottawa underline the ongoing political and economic assault on ordinary Canadians. More Canadians are now working for low wages than at any time in decades, continuing a trend that began in the early 1990s, and Stephen Harper has announced major changes to retirement benefits — including delaying Old...
