From The Hill: Heath-based private members bill
Parliament began sitting again this Monday, facing its first full agenda since the late summer election. Most committees will be meeting for the first time and we will see the first Private Member’s Bill debates. I’d like to highlight some of those Private Member’s Bills in my upcoming columns, since some could produce...
OP/ED: What is COP26 and why does it matter?
Starting Nov. 1, world leaders — along with scientists, policy-makers, journalists and activists — are gathering in Glasgow, Scotland for the UN international climate conference COP26. Over the next 12 days, they’ll have an opportunity to make crucial decisions about tackling the climate emergency globally. With the most...
LETTER: Honouring veteran members of the War Amps on Remembrance Day
To The Editor: As we approach Remembrance Day, I’d like to pay tribute to the veteran members of The War Amps. The War Amps was started by amputee veterans returning from the First World War to help each other adapt to their new reality as amputees. They then welcomed amputee veterans following the Second World War, sharing...
OP/ED: BC needs to drastically change post-fire logging
As autumn rains extinguish the last of this summer’s fires, the final accounting for a brutal B.C. wildfire season is becoming clear. Nearly one million hectares of forest has been burnt and more than $500 million spent containing the carnage. We are no strangers to the impacts of wildfires here in the Kootenays as we have ...
Letter: Green Party candidate lobbies for real change
An open letter to SOWK residents: Thank you to everyone that participated and voted in the 2021 Federal Election. Turnout across the country was lower than average so I thank you for taking the time to engage. Obviously, this election did not turn out how I wanted and I am disappointed and dismayed by the results. I am concerned...
OP/ED: MLA speaks to new COVID-19 safety measures
Dear Friends, Neighbours and Community Members, British Columbia has one of the highest rates of vaccination in Canada. Over 83% of people age 12 and older in B.C. have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and over 75% have received two doses. This is encouraging progress. Each person who gets vaccinated makes...
From The Hill — Past the engagement process on climate action
For too long, Canada has dragged its feet on the urgent need to battle climate change, a hesitancy largely caused by concerns over the economy and jobs. It is now clear that we not only must take bold steps in this battle, but we can do this while creating good jobs and putting Canada at the forefront of the global clean...
Op/Ed: MLA Roly Russell speaks to burning of churches
The discovery of over a thousand unmarked graves at residential schools across Canada, including many right here in B.C., has been a wake-up call. I feel saddened, enraged, disappointed, heartbroken, and much more. But I also know that the emotions non-Indigenous people like myself are feeling right now are just a fraction of...
New report: BC employment impacts of COVID-19: highly unequal for gender and race
Some job creation can be expected when BC moves to the next stage of reopening the economy in July, but labour market data show that in order to have an inclusive recovery significant inequities must be addressed, a new report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, BC Office warns. In fact, the deeply...
From The Hill — Richard Cannings
On Saturday I took part in the send-off ceremonies in Penticton for the Syilx Caravan for the Children that went to Kamloops to grieve for the 215 children who were found in unmarked graves on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation. A good crowd had gathered, ...
