COMMENT: MP says safer rail means safer communities
One of the most defining issues of the Conservative’s time in government is their constant march toward self-regulation for industry. In the past, Canada relied on strong public regulation and oversight to ensure risks are managed to protect the public. The move away from the time-tested method has been incremental and...
Harper’s (Un)Fair Elections Act Could Spark Voter Surge
The Harper government seems intent on proving to its detractors that things can always get worse. They’ve one-upped themselves with the farce called the Fair Elections Act. It has been described as a direct threat to the right to vote and an assault on democracy by the very people our democracy assigns to examine these things....
Poetry, agricultural land, Choquette rezoning, and more: Nelson city council April 7, 2014
The April 7 regular meeting of council meeting started with Cultural Development Officer Joy Barrett announcing that it is Poetry Month, and two local poets, Susan Andrews Grace and Emily Hoff, read from their work. Emily is a 14-year-old LVR student from Ymir who won second place in the youth category (grade 10-12) in this...
Kootenay MLAs outraged at government $1 Million commitment to Jumbo
Two Kootenay MLA’s attempted to turn up the heat on the Liberal government this week in the BC Legislature, chastising Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Coralee Oakes for committing $1 Million the new Jumbo municipality. New Democrat MLA’s Michelle Mungall and Norm MacDonald asked why the Liberal government...
Former BC Premier leaves NDP
If the NDP is not ready for prime time, then former BC premier Mike Harcourt is not ready to continue his commitment to the NDP. Harcourt decided to discontinue his membership in BC's New Democratic Party saying series of bad decisions by the party's leaders led to his decision. Two concerns were the party decision to oust ...
Government creates roundtable on the environment and economy
A roundtable of representatives from communities, industry, labour, First Nations and the environmental sector has been established to discuss ways to find the right balance between economic development and environmental protection, Environment Minister Mary Polak announced. In June of 2013, Premier Christy Clark tasked Polak...
Why City Council is worried about Nelson Hydro’s summer tree-pruning plans
Nelson Hydro will be doing some drastic trimming and pruning of trees throughout the city this year. This could include pruning the branches of privately owned trees. Hydro is of course not allowed to cut down homeowners’ trees, but it can trim them without notice to the homeowner if the tree or other vegetation is too close...
COMMENT: Fight for our country but fall through our cracks
Last January, my party introduced an Opposition Day Motion urging the Conservatives to take immediate steps to increase investment in mental health services for Canadian Forces members. The three-part motion called on the federal government to: address the mental health crisis for Canadian soldiers and veterans by hiring...
Coun. Wirischagin asks for voluntary water metres this year
The topic of water metres came before council again at their regular meeting Monday night. Coun. Michael Wirischagin brought up his concerns during his councillors report early in the meeting. He started by telling council he was part of a group that is dedicated to improving communities in BC. When he met with this group, ...
When it Comes to Political Ideas, How Big is ‘Big’?
The notion of ‘big ideas’ periodically raises its head in Canadian politics and I recently criticized the NDP for taking a good idea – a national day of action – and wasting it in on, well, small ideas. Specifically I suggested that the party’s focus on excessive interest rates and other charges effectively redefined citizens...
