While teachers celebrate court decision, government contemplates appeal
While teachers across BC are celebrating Monday's ruling by the BC Supreme Court — reaffirming that provincial legislation limiting teachers’ bargaining rights is unconstitutional, restoring collective agreement provisions stripped in 2002, and ordering the province to pay $2 million in damages plus court costs — Premier...
LETTER: UBC students support ban on candy-flavoured cigarettes
Dear Editor, We are third year nursing students at UBC-Okanagan and are writing in regard to the growing amount of flavoured tobacco products available today. With National Non-Smoking Week upon us, we feel it is important to address this concern specifically because of the way these products are being marketed towards youth....
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...
Safety reminder for backcountry enthusiasts
A snowmobile death near Valemont has prompted the Canadian Avalanche Centre to issue a safety reminder for anyone venturing into the backcountry. The avalanche happened (Saturday) January 18, and while everyone in the group was carrying essential safety gear-avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels, the victim could not be...
RCMP ask for public assistance into death of Kelowna man
Kelowna RCMP is asking for public help after a man was found deceased Saturday morning in Rutland. Christopher Ausman, 32, of Kelowna was found dead lying on the pavement in the 100 block of Highway 33 West in Rutland in the early hours of Saturday (January 25). The death was deemed to be suspicious in nature and the Kelowna...
COMMENT: Government subterfuge on local campaign spending limits
When you compare prices at the supermarket you usually look at comparable products, for instance you don't compare the price of a head of lettuce with a can of baked beans. It should be the same way with government consultations. Case in point: when you're trying to figure out how many people live in an electoral district for...
Is Canada a nation adrift?
My reading consists primarily of books on history and political philosophy, and does not include memoirs of has-been politicians. I would not have read Joe Clark’s How We Lead: Canada in a Century of Change had it not been a Christmas gift from my daughter. Had I relied on my prejudices, I would have deprived myself of an...
Kamloops School District, police investigate 'exchange of inappropriate material'
The Kamloops School District is currently conducting an investigation after a staff member learned of "alleged exchange of inappropriate material" online. RCMP were called to join the investigation that involves students from throughout the school district. However, RCMP are keeping tight lipped about the nature of the...
BC Coroners Service schedules public inquest into Burns Lake sawmill deaths
The BC Coroners Service is calling for a public inquest into the deaths of two workers when an explosion ripped through the Babine Forest Products sawmill near Burns Lake in January 2012. The explosion killed Robert Luggi Jr., aged 45, and Carl Charlie, aged 42. Fire from the explosion engulfed the sawmill shortly after 8...
COMMENT: Flavoured tobacco products aimed at kids, should be banned in BC
We are third year nursing students at UBC-Okanagan and are writing in regard to the growing amount of flavoured tobacco products available today. With National Non-Smoking Week upon us, we feel it is important to address this concern specifically because of the way these products are being marketed towards youth. When you...