Christmas lights consultant, Civic Centre mural, traffic concern, broadband confusion, financial details, and more: Nelson city council June 9, 2014
The following is a summary of the proceedings at Nelson City Council's regular meeting on June 9. Choquette Avenue re-zone and a difficult intersection The controversial rezoning of property at Choquette Avenue came to council for final adoption, and Councillor Donna Macdonald said she would not support it without assurance...
Provincial government addresses concerns over potential BCTF full-scale walkout
Teachers head to the voting booth today and Tuesday to consider whether teachers want to launch a full-scale walkout. The British Columbia Teachers Federation (BCTF) has said the walk out would begin Monday, June 16. The ease the stress of the full-scale strike, the provincial government published a press release on their...
Safe drinking water on tap for Robson?
Residents of Robson have been on a boil water notice since 1997, but now, finally, drinkable tap water might finally become a reality once more. “In British Columbia, all water that is consumed by the public that is surface water, (our water is surface water from Pass Creek) by law has to be treated,” said Anne White, trustee...
OP/ED: City explains benefits of boundary extension
As the Boundary Extension Alternative Approval Process (AAP) for the City of Trail’s intent to extend its boundaries into Columbia Gardens (Electoral Area A) proceeds, the City would like to reiterate the benefits and advantages of the boundary expansion to the public and media. “There are many contributing factors to this ...
OP/ED: Minister releases statement on BCTF job action
Education Minister Peter Fassbender released the following statement in response to the BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) decision to possibly escalate their job action to a full strike: "While we are disappointed with the BCTF's plans to escalate to a full walkout, this in no way changes our resolve to get an agreement by the...
LETTER: SD 20 Superintendent discourages student walkout slated for tomorrow
Dear parents and guardians: In schools across British Columbia, a student walkout is being promoted for the morning of Wednesday, June 4. While I respect the desire of students to express their views regarding the current labour dispute, the proposed walkout raises a number of concerns, particularly with regard to student...
Alternate elementary track meet this Thursday already seeing hundreds of registrants
Due to the rotating teachers strike in School District 20, the annual track and field meet will no longer be held by the school district. But that doesn't mean it's cancelled. “When [the track and field meet] was cancelled last Monday, [The Trail Champion's Peter Sheets] messaged me and said there might be a possibility of ...
COMMENT: Government consultations--is anyone really listening?
On one hand you can't fault the B.C. government for trying, but on the other hand their enthusiasm for it – consulting British Columbians on public policy and pending legislation that is – seems a little wanting. Gung-ho it's not. In the last year, there have been government white papers, discussion papers, no papers but input...
Ministry of Education does an about face on pay cut to Kootenay area school psychologist
An open letter to Premier Christy Clark from a registered psychologist from Nelson that received thousands of reads in media circles has prompted the Ministry of Education do an about face a story Saturday on the website of the Vancouver Province newspaper said. The original letter from Dr. Todd Kettner was in response to the...
The provincial government needs an education about education
I cannot decide if I should laugh or cry in response to the Provincial government’s exasperating effort to come up with lock-out terms for teachers. The government’s objective is to entice teachers to accept its conditions for a new contract. How can restricting the teachers’ hours at work, reducing their income by an arbitrary...