MP Cannings: It’s time to take a serious look at basic income in Canada.
COVID-19 has obviously changed our lives in the short term, and now there is a growing consensus that the pandemic will also bring more long-lasting changes to our society—how we value workers, how we treat our seniors, how we house the homeless, how we protect the environment, and more. One topic that is surfacing more and...
BC Declares Public Health Emergency; Bars, Clubs ordered to be closed
From the Rossland Telegraph On March 17, 2020, British Columbia’s Public Health Officer declared a public health emergency in BC to help control the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry held a news conference Monday afternoon to make statement and ...
COLUMN: From the Hill -- COVID-19
I am writing this from my small Ottawa apartment. It’s Sunday and the spring sun is shining, beckoning me to walk down to the river. But I’ll obey my doctor’s orders and stay inside—although I received the good news yesterday that my COVID-19 test results came back negative, I was told to stay in self-isolation one more...
From The Leg — Doctor shortage, Throne Speech, ICBC
Spring??? Hopefully. I know the last two months have been unpredictable from a weather perspective. We have had moments of incredible volumes of snow in short periods of time only to see it disappear just as quickly and then a couple of weeks later repeat the process. Once again flooding in some areas is a possibility and I...
Mutual agreement reached with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and the RCMP
The importance of finding a path forward has been a priority for the RCMP. The BC RCMP are pleased to confirm that discussions with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs have led to an agreement on Wednesday, February 26th which supports their upcoming meetings with government representatives this week. Deputy Commissioner...
Cease and Desist Letter Issued to B.C. Government for Controversial Wolf Cull for Contravention of Provincial Law
Pacific Wild has released a Cease and Desist letter to B.C.’s FLNROD Minister Doug Donaldson for the province’s ongoing wolf cull on the grounds that aerial gunning is unlawful. The B.C. government has stated it intends to continue killing wolves from helicopters in 2020. In response, Pacific Wild retained legal counsel and...
Letter: We need patient centred care, province-wide
Dear Editor, As I write this, patients are travelling long distances for consultations with specialists. Many of these journeys, for simple face to face meetings are made even though the required workup has been completed and the results forwarded. BUT - What if you could visit a GP, have the referral and information forwarded...
Changes coming for ICBC
The BC Government has announced changes in the works for ICBC, claiming these will remove lawyers and legal costs from the system “to reduce rates and substantially increase care benefits, making public auto insurance work for British Columbians again.” The new system is referred to as a “care-based” system. Here’s what ...
Column: From the Hill -- The new NAFTA -- CUSMA
This week in the House of Commons we are debating the new NAFTA agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico, known by the acronym CUSMA. The original NAFTA was negotiated by Conservatives and signed by Liberals in 1994 with promises of more jobs and secure access to the largest market in the world. Supporters of ...
Letter: The people of the world say: NO war on Iran
In support of the January 25th Global Day of Action calling for No War on Iran, approximately 80 people who gathered at Castlegar United Church urged all Federal party leaders to work to avoid a catastrophic war. They wrote: Whereas the USA may launch a war on Iran; Whereas such a war will involve Canada; Whereas such a war...