‘Orange Crush’ MPs heading to Kootenays

Posted on 26. Oct, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Federal Politics

Some of the “Orange Crush” wave of newly-elected, young Quebec MPs will be in the West Kootenays at the end of October, joining in on local events.

Atamanenko supports Julian for federal NDP leadership

Posted on 27. Sep, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Federal Politics

Alex Atamanenko, MP (BC Southern Interior) is encouraging Peter Julian MP for Burnaby New Westminster, to run for the federal NDP leadership.

“I have worked with Peter for the past five years and feel that he is more than qualified to lead our party. Although he is from British Columbia, he has lived in Quebec and other parts of Canada and has a distinct vision for our country. He would make an excellent Prime Minister,” stated Atamanenko.

Mungall casts support for federal NDP leadership candidate

Posted on 21. Sep, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Federal Politics, Provincial Politics

Michelle Mungall has thrown her support behind Brian Topp, president of the federal NDP, reports Megan Cole for the Nelson Star.

Topp was one of the first to declare his intention to replace former leader Jack Layton as the federal party’s leader. Mungall got to know Topp when he worked with the provincial NDP this summer.

U.S. tax policy an affront to Canadian sovereignty

Posted on 12. Jul, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Federal Politics, Opinion

B.C. Southern Interior MP Alex Atamanenko is outraged at the proposed U.S. tax crackdown recently announced by the American government.

By law, all individuals holding U.S. citizenship are required to file annual income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In addition, the new U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) obliges Canadian financial institutions starting in 2013 to report to the IRS all accounts held by U.S. citizens.

Back to work legislation an ‘affront to democracy’: Atamanenko

Posted on 27. Jun, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Federal Politics

Alex Atamanenko, MP, (BC Southern Interior) says that the lock-out imposed by Canada Post management was a draconian tactic designed to trample the rights of Canadian workers. Although the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) had initiated rotating strikes, postal workers agreed to keep the mail moving. Once the lock-out was announced, the Conservatives immediately tabled back-to-work legislation.

Atamanenko energized despite loss of critic role

Posted on 27. May, 2011 by Colin Payne in Federal Politics

Alex Atamanenko is returning to Ottawa to join a bolstered NDP that is now the official opposition to the Conservative government, but the B.C. Southern Interior MP will no longer hold his former position of agriculture critic. NDP leader Jack Layton announced his shadow cabinet earlier this week and gave the agriculture and agri-foods portfolio, [...]

Kootenay-Columbia elects Wilks

Posted on 04. May, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Federal Politics

David Wilks, the Conservative candidate in the Kootenay-Columbia riding, took the province’s eastern-most region in a decisive victory last night, reports Bonnie Bryan for the Kimberley Bulletin. Wilks, mayor of Sparwood, won with 55 per cent of the vote, defeating Mark Shmigelsky of the NDP who received 33 per cent of the vote. “I am [...]

Independent candidate drops out

Posted on 29. Apr, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Federal Politics

Brent Bush, the Independent candidate in the Kootenay-Columbia riding, has dropped out of the race, reports Carolyn Grant for the Cranbrook Townsman. Bush threw his support behind the NDP candidate, Mark Shmigelsky. “More important than being an independent voice during this campaign is the threat to Canadian democracy posed by a Harper majority government,” he said, [...]

Stephen Hill peddling a fantasy

Posted on 28. Apr, 2011 by admin in Federal Politics, Opinion

Dear editor: Conservative candidate Stephen Hill has been peddling the fantasy, that singlehanded he would revive the forest industry in this riding. The Prime Minister’s Office would soon disabuse Mr. Hill of that notion, should Harper win a majority. Such a majority would mean ‘sink or swim’ for the local forest industry. Here is why: [...]

Voting station returned to Crescent Valley

Posted on 28. Apr, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Federal Politics

Crescent Valley voters no longer have to drive 30 minutes to vote after Elections Canada moved their polling station back to the West Kootenay community. Susan Friend, spokeswoman for Elections Canada, says the 400 voters in Crescent Valley can vote at the Crescent Valley Hall, 1385 Highway 6, the same location they used in the [...]