Stung by derailed negotiations with B.C., Blueberry River First Nations return to court
Three-quarters of the nation's territory lies within 250 metres of an industrial disturbance. A potentially precedent-setting court case on this 'death by a thousand cuts' could disrupt B.C.'s multi-billion dollar natural gas industry. By Christopher Pollon, for The Narwhal After almost a year of negotiations...
Interfor to curtail June operations at mills in Castlegar, Grand Forks and Adams Lake
Interfor mills outside of Castlegar, Grand Forks and Adams Lake are to see another production curtailment in the month of June, according to a press release issued by Interfor Tuesday. “Interfor Corporation today announced plans to temporarily reduce production across its operating platform in the BC Interior during the month...
Organizations Press for Stronger Mining Laws
More than 30 organizations from across the province joined together in Victoria on Wednesday to call for major reform to B.C.’s dated mining laws and regulations. Wildsight joined the group to call on the B.C. government to update the rules for mining in the province to ensure protection of clean water, to make sure mines pay...
Column: From the Hill -- Invasive Species Action Inadequate
Lost in the recent media frenzy over the SNC Lavalin scandal were the 2019 Spring Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. These last reports from Julie Gelfand before her retirement focused on protection of fish and their habitat from mining effluent, subsidies to the fossil fuels industry...
CRA Scams -- Be Aware
Scammers posing as Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) employees continue to contact Canadians, misleading them into paying false debt. Their persistency has created so much fear amongst the public, that many people automatically assume that any communication from someone identifying themselves as the CRA is not genuine. With the tax...
New Emergency Alert System for RDKB Residents
Floods? Wildfires? Residents can register for emergency alerts about these, or other imminent threats, delivered by smartphone app, email and voice or text to a landline or cell number. The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary has launched a new emergency alerting system powered by Voyent Alert! —a Canada-based notification...
Seth Rogen's Castlegar/Trail cannabis connection
What does famous actor/comedian Seth Rogen have to do with Castlegar and Trail? Quite a bit, according to Dave Streloff, co-owner of The Higher Path cannabis stores in Castlegar and Trail. “He (Rogen) has developed his own strain of cannabis – he’s quite a connoisseur,” Streloff said. “He’s really specific about everything ...
Investigation: Petrowest numbered company awarded $10 million Site C dam contract on eve of bankruptcy
Petrowest’s financial woes were widely known when BC Hydro quietly awarded a major contract to a B.C. numbered company — 1054143 — that an investigation by The Narwhal reveals was incorporated by key Petrowest executives. The numbered company received millions in public funds while Petrowest fell into...
Open Letter: Support for the Immediate Passing of Bill C-262
To The Editor: Dear Senators, The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is calling on each Senator of Canada to support the passage of Bill C-262, An Act to ensure that the laws of Canada are in harmony with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, without delay. The Truth and Reconciliation...
In-Depth: Sprawling clearcuts among reasons for B.C.’s monster spring floods
Wildfire, drought and a pine beetle epidemic are piling on top of a long history of logging, pushing the province’s forests to a dangerous tipping point that experts say will make bad flooding worse By Ben Parfitt for The Narwhal Every spring and typically in May the Kettle River hits peak flow. A gauge placed in the ...
