Broadband in Castlegar explained
This is the first of a four-part series that will describe what broadband is, what the potential is for rural communities as well as how and why Castlegar is exploring options around the development of high speed fibre optics broadband. Part One: The Columbia Basin Trust, the Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation (CBBC) and...
Trail says 'no' to Castlegar-funded examination of acute health care priorities in the region
Trail has chosen to opt out of a process initiated by the City of Castlegar to create a region-wide strategic plan for health care in the region. Castlegar contracted, at the cost of about $20,000, the services of consultant Jim Gustafson (formerly the CAO of the RDCK and, before that, Castlegar) to gather information from ...
Ootischenia meeting clarifies Castlegar boundary extension issues
Around 90 people showed up to a meeting at the Ootischenia Hall last night to discuss concerns about a proposed boundary expansion by the City of Castlegar. As explained by meeting chair and RDCK Area J director Gordon Zaitsoff, there were two separate issues causing Ootischenia residents concern, the first being the city's...
GF hosts open house to answer water metre questions
More than 100 residents came to the City of Grand Fork's informational open house, thirsty to learn more about the upcoming expansion of water metre to all residential homes in city limits. “On behalf of council and our staff, we’d like to say thank you to everyone who was able to attend. We were extremely pleased with the...
Judge Chides Harper Government's 'paternalistic, self serving, arbitrary and disrespectful' approach to First Nations
On January 17, 2014, Justice Patrick Smith of the Specific Claims Tribunal issued his decision in Aundeck Omni Kaning v. Canada, finding that Canada's unilateral, take-it-or-Ieave-it approach to the resolution of specific claims represents a blatant refusal to negotiate and undermines the Honour of the Crown in its dealings...
Stephen Harper’s Disservice to Israel
The dictionary definition of perverse says (of a person or their actions) “...showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often in spite of the consequences.” Well, that just about sums up Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s disturbing trip to Israel. If anyone knows why this...
Implications of City of Castlegar wrong-doing refuted
Implications that the City of Castlegar failed to exercise due diligence in its bid to expand its boundaries have proven to be unfounded. The contention first arose when the city announced its intent to expand its boundaries to include Ootischenia gravel pit lands, which are currently owned by the Ministry of Transportation...
COMMENT: Government subterfuge on local campaign spending limits
When you compare prices at the supermarket you usually look at comparable products, for instance you don't compare the price of a head of lettuce with a can of baked beans. It should be the same way with government consultations. Case in point: when you're trying to figure out how many people live in an electoral district for...
Is Canada a nation adrift?
My reading consists primarily of books on history and political philosophy, and does not include memoirs of has-been politicians. I would not have read Joe Clark’s How We Lead: Canada in a Century of Change had it not been a Christmas gift from my daughter. Had I relied on my prejudices, I would have deprived myself of an...
Controversy brewing over Castlegar bid to take over Ootischenia gravel pit land
A group of concerned Ootischenia residents is holding a public meeting Monday to discuss the City of Castlegar's interest in extending its boundaries to include a parcel of land currently owned by the Ministry of Transportation (MoT). (Click here to read the city's public notice on the matter). A press release issued this...