The whole issue of the housing bubble, its extent and whether there will be a soft landing as predicted by many wishful thinkers has resulted in many interesting headlines in recent weeks – including some high on the delusional scale. One suggested that house prices are a mere 20% overvalued (if you believe that, I have a...

At a time when public confidence in government is at historical lows, the B.C. government should follow Ontario's lead and have the expense claims of senior government employees reviewed by an independent office to ensure they meet both the government's guidelines and the public's smell test, according to IntegrityBC. IntegrityBC...

From the outside Blueberry Creek Community School (BCCS) looks like any typical small older rural elementary school but BCCS is anything but typical. BCCS is a Ministry of Education designated Neighbourhood of Learning and a Ministry of Children and Family Development designated Community HUB. Both ministerial designations ...

Increased costs at the Aquatic Center and a new regional park among reasons for a 7.95 per cent tax increase to Regional District Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) Area D property owners in 2013. A $200,000 property can expect to pay $606.06 – or $44.61 more than they did in 2012 to help offset some changes coming for the area, if the...

While nominations are not yet closed, Grand Forks mayor Brian Taylor is one of three candidates confirmed for the New Democratic Party (NDP) provincial race in the Boundary Similkameen riding. The three nominees accepted to seek the NDP nomination for the 2013 election include Rhonda Bruce of Oliver, Sam Hancheroff of Kaleden...

Grand Forks City council is doing something new this week to try and get people talking. Those wanting to have a say in a less formal setting than the regular public council meeting can now do so at a newly created Committee of the Whole meeting, which will be held for the first time at City Hall on Monday, March 4 from 9...

Reports about the behaviour of some Senators have once again unleashed a flurry of demands to either abandon or at least reform that venerable institution. Defenders refer to the Senate as the “Chamber of Sober Second Thought.” It is not how the Constitution defines it, although sobriety may have been a consideration in the...

The West’s hypocrisy and oil-greed are coming home to roost with a vengeance in Libya as the Arab spring in that country turns into a nightmarish winter characterized by armed gangs, economic collapse, a decline in services by an incompetent government and increasing political domination by radical Islamists. Whether or not...

Independent MLAs say the current government is putting a stranglehold on the post-election government by deliberately cutting short funding supply for operations. In a statement released this week, the four independents say that no government in the past has taken this approach in advance of an election. "We are calling on ...

A new graduated ticketing system will bring about stiffer penalties for bylaw infractions including deer feeding within the City of Grand Forks. The bylaw for a new ticketing system and the details surrounding that system, including prices, will be ironed out over the next few months. Doug Allin, the city’s chief administrative...