The Sierra Club BC and environmentalist Josette Wier filed a petition for judicial review in B.C. Supreme Court July 20, asking the court to rule on whether the province broke the law by granting BC Hydro a Wildlife Act exemption to expedite construction on the Site C dam. The environmental group says the ministry allowed […]
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Tumbler Ridge man fined $2,400 for selling elk meat
A Tumbler Ridge man pled guilty to two counts of trafficking wildlife meat earlier this month, receiving a $2,400 fine and an 18-month ban on holding a hunting or fishing license. David Sanders was selling elk meat in 2015, when a complaint was filed with the Conservation Officer Service (COS). COS officers met with Sanders […]
Paddle for the Peace takes on new political urgency
Green leader Elizabeth May calls Site C ‘a monstrosity,’ says Trudeau must seek new advice on damDipping a paddle in the Peace River, the red-orange canoe glides down the water. Hundreds of other boats float beside, behind and ahead towards Bear Flat, where BC Hydro is working to purchase farmland to realign Highway 29 in preparation for the Site C reservoir.It’s cold and quiet, this peaceful river, but powerful currents boil from under the surface, rushing from the Rocky Mountains all the way e
11th annual Paddle for the Peace to launch as Site C construction nears one year
The 11th annual Paddle for the Peace will take to the waters Saturday, July 9, and organizers are expecting it to be the largest yet. As dam construction continues near the confluence of the Peace and Moberly Rivers, paddlers will launch from the confluence of the Halfway River at noon for a 90-minute trip down […]
Q&A: Dr. Harry Swain, former Site C panel chair becomes outspoken opponent
Dr. Harry Swain knows more than most about the Site C dam. With a Ph.D. in economic geography and 22 years of federal civil service under his belt, Swain spent two years as chair of the federal-provincial joint review panel tasked with evaluating the environmental, economic, and First Nations impacts of the largest public works […]
Bringing an equal voice to Parliament with Daughters of the Vote
Partway through a double major in political science and history, Casey Toews realized she really loves working with her hands. So, the 22-year-old left college in 2013 to become a carpenter, exchanging the theories of Aristotle for an apprenticeship in Fort Nelson. It hasn’t meant the end of her political interests though—Toews is one […]
Mexico lifts Canadian beef restrictions
Move could mean $100 million a year in new exports: Cattlemen’s Assoc. More than a decade after the fallout of mad cow disease, Mexico is lifting restrictions on Canadian beef imports. The news was announced June 28 during a visit by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to Ottawa, ending restrictions on Canadian cattle after a […]
BC Hydro, Site C contractor dinged for environmental infractions
The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) is ordering BC Hydro and one of its Site C dam contractors to tighten up environmental procedures regarding oil leaks and the disposal of hazardous waste materials. In inspection visits in March and April 2016, Chris Parks, the office’s senior compliance and enforcement officer, observed oil leaks from equipment […]
Northern Lights College receives $75K to support aboriginal students, enrolment
Northern Lights College has received a one-time $75,000 provincial grant to support the success and increase enrolment of aboriginal students. Thirteen other post-secondary institutions in B.C. also received funds, part of a government plan to increase the number of credentials earned by aboriginal learners by 75 per cent within the next four years. This equals […]
Fort St. John celebrates first ever Pride parade
The size and success of Fort St. John’s first Pride parade surprised many. The parade, held on June 25, attracted around 200 people, most of them dressed up in rainbows and sparkles. “I was a bit nervous about getting involved. Fort St. John gets a reputation for being a bit of a redneck community,” Heather […]