COMMENT: Where are all the grown-ups overseeing our health care?
I'd like to paint a picture for you, explaining why, in my opinion, this region enjoys sub-par health services: Imagine, if you would, that you're the BC Minister of Health. You oversee five health authorities, with 16 health services delivery areas under them, all of them clamouring for a finite pool of funding and resources....
Broadband in Castlegar explained
This is the first of a four-part series that will describe what broadband is, what the potential is for rural communities as well as how and why Castlegar is exploring options around the development of high speed fibre optics broadband. Part One: The Columbia Basin Trust, the Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation (CBBC) and...
Trail says 'no' to Castlegar-funded examination of acute health care priorities in the region
Trail has chosen to opt out of a process initiated by the City of Castlegar to create a region-wide strategic plan for health care in the region. Castlegar contracted, at the cost of about $20,000, the services of consultant Jim Gustafson (formerly the CAO of the RDCK and, before that, Castlegar) to gather information from ...
Local MLAs to host BC finance critic in tri-city visit
In preparation for the upcoming provincial budget, opposition Finance Critic Mike Farnworth will be visiting the Kootenays, meeting with local governments, industry leaders and small business owners on Feb. 6 and 7. Farnworth, the MLA for Port Coquitlam, has held the post of Finance critic since 2011, and will be responsible...
Ootischenia meeting clarifies Castlegar boundary extension issues
Around 90 people showed up to a meeting at the Ootischenia Hall last night to discuss concerns about a proposed boundary expansion by the City of Castlegar. As explained by meeting chair and RDCK Area J director Gordon Zaitsoff, there were two separate issues causing Ootischenia residents concern, the first being the city's...
GF hosts open house to answer water metre questions
More than 100 residents came to the City of Grand Fork's informational open house, thirsty to learn more about the upcoming expansion of water metre to all residential homes in city limits. “On behalf of council and our staff, we’d like to say thank you to everyone who was able to attend. We were extremely pleased with the...
Judge Chides Harper Government's 'paternalistic, self serving, arbitrary and disrespectful' approach to First Nations
On January 17, 2014, Justice Patrick Smith of the Specific Claims Tribunal issued his decision in Aundeck Omni Kaning v. Canada, finding that Canada's unilateral, take-it-or-Ieave-it approach to the resolution of specific claims represents a blatant refusal to negotiate and undermines the Honour of the Crown in its dealings...
SEEDS greenhouse gets a generous gift of grow-lights
Spinach, chard, cress, arugula, beet tops, carrots, collards, mint, hot peppers, water cress, and seven kinds of lettuce—they’re all flourishing throughout the winter in the SEEDS greenhouse thanks to new grow lights donated by Martech Electric and installed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union. “They...
Stephen Harper’s Disservice to Israel
The dictionary definition of perverse says (of a person or their actions) “...showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often in spite of the consequences.” Well, that just about sums up Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s disturbing trip to Israel. If anyone knows why this...
Implications of City of Castlegar wrong-doing refuted
Implications that the City of Castlegar failed to exercise due diligence in its bid to expand its boundaries have proven to be unfounded. The contention first arose when the city announced its intent to expand its boundaries to include Ootischenia gravel pit lands, which are currently owned by the Ministry of Transportation...
