COMMENT: Linda Larson talks road construction, tourism, budget and sports
With spring comes road construction and I’m pleased to see the walkway on Lakehill Road in Kaleden underway. While many great people in the community have supported the project, I want to personally thank volunteer Kim Dennis for all her help and collaboration in getting this project to the top of the list for the Ministry ...
Fire department deals with dramatic increase in demands for service
The Castlegar Fire Department is being kept busy with almost half again as many calls this year-to-date as over the same time frame in 2014, according to an emergency services report presented to city council at its regular meeting Monday night. The report indicated that the CFD responded to 104 calls this year so far, as...
Castlegar squares off against Bill C-51
Castlegar residents took to the street last weekend to protest the Harper government’s proposed Bill C-51, a controversial piece of potential legislation garnering negative reactions across the country, even from life-long Neo-Conservatives such as Conrad Black. In Castlegar, upwards of 125 people gathered in Spirit Square ...
Letter: Bill C-51 — more than a chill on back of neck
To the Editor: Got that chill running down the back of your neck? It could already be Bill C-51. Bill C-51, the so-called “secret police act” could already be putting a serious chill on public debate and democracy in Canada. Here in Nelson, BC, I went to a protest of the bill on (Saturday) March 14th with over 150 other people....
Council to create connections with kids
City councillors Florio Vassilakakis and Bruno Tassone met with SD 20 school board representatives last Monday during the board’s regular meeting to pitch an idea designed, not to bring youth into civic politics, but rather to bring civic politics to our youth. “I thought Florio’s idea was an excellent one, and I thought it...
LETTER: Join Castlegar and area in opposing C-51 - and here's why it matters so much:
To the Editor: As an ex-South African who was affected by and had friends scarred and killed by “The Terrorism Act” and its spy network during the anti-Apartheid days, I’m so alarmed by the doors of abuse opened by Prime Minister Harper’s Bill C-51 that I’ve committed to co-organizing – with local childcare worker Michelle ...
Minimum wage earners in BC get a slight bump up with government announcement
The B.C. government increased the minimum wage to $10.45 per hour effect September 15 of this year said Minister for Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, and Minister Responsible for Labour, Shirley Bond Thursday. At the same time, Bond said the wage for liquor server will get bumped up from $9.00 to $9.20 per hour. “Raising ...
New finance ministry fact sheet omits a bit
When something changes from one week to the next for no apparent reason, it sparks some curiosity, as is the case with the B.C. finance ministry's “Keeping taxes low for B.C. families” fact sheet posted to its website only a week after the provincial budget. It favours spin right from the top. The first two lines, classic. ...
West Arm Provinical Park to grow by 1,219 hectares — Caribou population benefits
Environment Minister Mary Polak has announced that the West Arm Provincial Park is one of six BC parks to be expanded under Bill 8 which was introduced on March 2. The park will gain 1,219 hectares on the south eastern edge directly behind Ymir peak. The land is owned by the Crown, which acquired two parcels of land totaling...
$50,000 buys city new revenue stream/saves 'critical' service
A new agreement with the Southeast Fire Centre will see the city spending roughly $50,000 initially – but recouping the loss over the term of the agreement and creating a new revenue stream for the city while ensuring the city's continuing role as the operations base for an important regional service. City director of...
