Workshop to get more women into local government

Posted on 10. Aug, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Politics

Women interested in getting into municipal government have a chance to learn how to overcome any obstacles they face in running for local office at a free workshop in Nelson this month.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, Aug. 27 and Sunday, Aug. 28 at the Regional District of Central Kootenay office, 202 Lakeside Dr., Nelson, B.C.

NDP’s Macdonald most expensive Kootenay MLA

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

How much does a MLA cost? The province has just released the tab run up by politicians and among Kootenay politicians, the NDP’s Norm MacDonald tops the list.

The main difference between MacDonald, MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke, and the other Members of the Legislative Assembly are his expenses: $41,482 for travel and; $19,418 for capital city living allowance.

Conroy re-nominated as NDP candidate for Kootenay West

Posted on 20. Jul, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Provincial Politics

On July 12th members of the BC NDP Kootenay West Constituency Association held its nomination meeting at the Castlegar Community Complex. A large and enthusiastic crowd of supporters acclaimed Katrine Conroy as the NDP candidate for the next provincial election.

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.

Dix says Nelson hospital should have more services

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

Adrian Dix, leader of the NDP, told a small group of Kootenay residents he wants to restore many services at Nelson’s hospital, reports Greg Nesteroff for the Nelson Star.

Surgery and 24-hour service for the CT scanner were some of the items Dix told the crowd, but there were some concerns from a Trail doctor about what that would mean for his city’s service. Dix said Trail didn’t have to lose out.

Dix talks health in Nelson

Posted on 08. Jul, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Nelson, Provincial Politics

Adrian Dix, leader of the B.C. NDP, will take part in a Nelson health care forum, reports the Nelson Star.

The forum is organized by the Health Task Force and Nelson and Area Society for Health.

“[Dix] is going to put forth his health care initiative for the Kootenays and the province,” says city councillor and society member Robin Cherbo.

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.

Mungall witnessed Vancouver riots firsthand

Posted on 16. Jun, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Provincial Politics

“Originally, I went to join the live site, but you could feel the tension by the second intermission. Some fans were proud of their team’s showings, others were taking it too personally. That’s when I decided that I’d get my errands done before the game ended. Good thing I did because both the Bay and Sears were later looted,” says Mungall.

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, [...]

Christy Clark headed to Cranbrook

Posted on 24. May, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Provincial Politics

Premiere Christy Clark is headed to Cranbrook this week for an open house reports Barry Coulter for the Cranbrook Townsman. The event is not meant to address the HST but rather is part of a series of open houses Clark is doing across the province. Bill Bennett, recently welcomed back into the B.C. Liberals, will [...]