It seems that we have been chasing COVID 19 instead of proactively shutting down the risk factors. Our federal and provincial governments have called for and supported closing our borders with the USA to restrict Read more… The post As cases grow, so too do fears that this third wave
Continue readingTag: BC Politics
Cowichan Conversations: Now that the Queen is our largest cannabis dealer, how are things?
Well, here we are in Canada with legalized marijuana. At least far fewer people are being busted. Massive corporate grows supplying expensive weed for the masses and both our federal and provincial governments and some Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Expert sees need for improved viewscape policy in Municipal Forest Reserve
Originally published by sixmountains.ca As North Cowichan embarks on a public consultation on the future of the 5,000-hectare Municipal Forest Reserve — better known as Six Mountains — one of the key issues Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Vancouver journalist Charlie Smith honoured for standing up against bigotry | Ricochet
The long-time Georgia Straight editor was recognized by a South Asian community media outlet for his history of anti-racist advocacy. I had the pleasure of working with Charlie Smith at radio station CJOR in Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Is North Cowichan Staff Advising Council To Maintain The Municipal Forest Status Quo?
By Larry Pynn North Cowichan council has assured the public that it’s no longer business-as-usual in the 5,000-hectare Municipal Forest Reserve and that the municipality plans to undertake meaningful public consultations to determine the “highest Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Denmark’s 41 year old Social Democrat Mette Fredericksen elected to lead new government
Encouraging signs that globally voters are once again supporting Left Centre party’s and rejecting the hard-assed hard-headed right-wing politicians. And that is not all. We are seeing a pronounced gender shift. Voters are supporting Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson Dumps Facebook-Life Now Is More Peaceful and Productive
Hardly a day goes by without hearing stories of Facebook’s wrongdoing on many levels. Privacy issues are exploited, information sold and manipulated and flat out nastiness and misinformation have in many cases become the norm. Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Blame wood-burning stoves for winter air pollution and health threats
My own research shows that in rural British Columbia the main source of winter air pollution is residential wood burning, and that it is mostly being ignored and rarely monitored by government Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Unsung Heroes Deserve Recognition
Peter Rusland There are many local unsung heroes deserving a street, building or park named in their honour. One such person was H. Rider Haggard. Writer and researcher Dean Unger’s discovery of Haggard’s original Read more…
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Pro Rep: Infinity War; or, In Defence of Endless Referendums
Winston Churchill (apocryphally, as it turns out) is believed to have said, “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” In light of British Columbia’s referendum on electoral reform this past fall, one is tempted to agree. But let’s not let the media, politicians, and
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Pro Rep: Infinity War; or, In Defence of Endless Referendums
Winston Churchill (apocryphally, as it turns out) is believed to have said, “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” In light of British Columbia’s referendum on electoral reform this past fall, one is tempted to agree. But let’s not let the media, politicians, and
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Vancouver Sun Letter
I have a letter in today’s Vancouver Sun, not so much supporting proportional representation (although I do support proportional representation) as addressing what I consider to be baseless objections to the current electoral reform referendum. My letter is second from the top, under the (perhaps regrettable) heading “Complexity isn’t a
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Vancouver Sun Letter
I have a letter in today’s Vancouver Sun, not so much supporting proportional representation (although I do support proportional representation) as addressing what I consider to be baseless objections to the current electoral reform referendum. My letter is second from the top, under the (perhaps regrettable) heading “Complexity isn’t a
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: National Post Letter
In today’s National Post, I’ve got another letter to the editor on everyone’s favourite topic: the Trans Mountain pipeline. (I’ll stop repeating myself once people start listening!) My letter appears only in the print edition, so I cannot provide a link. Accordingly, here is the full text: The pipeline crisis
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Of Premiers and Pipelines
In an interview with the National Observer last week, Justin Trudeau raised more than a few eyebrows by comparing B.C. premier John Horgan to former Saskatchewan premier and climate policy obstructionist Brad Wall. “Similarly and frustratingly,” said the prime minister, “John Horgan is actually trying to scuttle our national plan
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Globe and Mail Letter
In today’s Globe and Mail, you will find a letter from me (fourth from the top, under the heading “In the national interest”) relating the present interprovincial pipeline kerfuffle to global efforts efforts to solve the climate crisis. Never hurts to remind ourselves how much is really at stake.
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Political Prediction For BC
The BC Liberals and Greens have been on far more friendly terms with each other – both personally and politically – then the NDP and the Greens. NDP supporters still are attacking Greens as robbing them of winning government when it in fact appears disaffected Liberal voters went to the
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: What Is a Left-Leaning Green to Do?
With less than a week to go before election day and polls tightening across British Columbia, I find myself in the all-too-common predicament of dreading the electoral options before me. The Liberals, naturally, are out of the question. They have governed this province horrendously through 16 years of the wrong
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Vancouver Sun Letter
For what is likely to be my last letter to the editor of 2016, see today’s Vancouver Sun (fourth letter from the top). The gist of my argument is that Kinder Morgan is bad. Fun fact: this ain’t the first time I’ve responded to a pro-Kinder Morgan op-ed by former
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