COMMENT: Open government isn't about selling access at BC Liberal “power lunches”
IntegrityBC chastised the BC Liberals today for leaving the impression that they're selling access to Margaret MacDiarmid, Minister of Labour Citizens' Services and Open Government, through her presence at a $50 a plate Liberal fundraising lunch tomorrow in Surrey. “There's something incredibly oxymoronic about the minister...
Business retention study aids Boundary business
A project to review local businesses’ needs will be underway soon after funding was secured from the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition (SIBAC). At their Jan. 30 meeting the SIBAC board voted in favour of supporting an application from Community Futures Boundary for $10,000.00 to complete a business retention and...
New meat inspection program planned for B.C. by 2014
The Province has completed a comprehensive review of options for provincially operated meat inspection services at Class A and B licensed abattoirs. This ensures that B.C. continues to provide the most effective, safe meat inspection system possible when the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) steps back from this role. ...
US reduces claim against alleged B.C. Softwood timber violations
Madison's Lumber Reporter has learned that the United States' claim against Canada, for alleged subsidies on British Columbia's timber stumpage rates, has been reduced from US$499 to US$303.6 million. In the American rebuttal of Canada's defense, which was filed on Dec. 23, 2011 but only made public this week, the U.S. Trade...
United States: How the stimulus revived the electric car
By Michael Grabell in ProPublica. A common criticism of President Obama's $800 billion stimulus package has been that it failed to produce anything – that while the New Deal built bridges and dams, all the stimulus did was fill some potholes and create temporary jobs. Don't tell that to Annette Herrera. She was 50 when the ...
Eco-Village proposed for Ponderosa area
A sustainable living development may be in the future for a property west of Christina Lake. A representative from Marga Ventures Ltd., who has chosen to remain nameless while the re-zoning application is in process, made a presentation to the Regional District Kootenay Boundary's (RDKB) monthly board meeting on Thursday,...
Credit union builds a lasting legacy with Phoenix Foundation
The Phoenix Foundation will be $1 million richer with a generous commitment from the Grand Forks Credit Union announced Thursday, Jan. 19. The credit union, who donated $100,000 each of the last two years to the Phoenix Foundation, will continue donations into the Grand Forks Credit Union Community Endowment Fund until the...
LETTER: Local governments should consider new bio-energy industries
To the Editor: Articles exploring ways to treat wastewater show there is excellent potential for the Boundary area to support a viable bio-energy production undertaking. Such a project would have many spin-off benefits for both the people of the Boundary and the quality of the water in the Kettle River. A few years ago the...
Wireless innovations driving BC economy
We are fortunate in our lifetimes to have seen technology’s amazing ability to “amplify human potential,” as Microsoft founder Bill Gates said so aptly.In the last century, we saw how the automobile, the airplane, the telephone, and electricity transformed our society. In the 21st century, the wireless revolution is transforming...
Housing continues to play a key role in economy
Housing-related spending accounts for more than 20 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product, contributing about $330 billion to the Canadian economy in 2010 — up 7.1 per cent from $308 billion in 2009. This and other key findings are in the ninth annual Canadian Housing Observer, released today by Canada Mortgage and...
