Richard Hughes-Political Blogger We have all seen some pretty amazing stunts from the brain trust at the CVRD but this latest manoeuvre takes the cake. Following the Boards refusal to back the Balme’s efforts to move to full processing at their proposed gravel pit on the Cobble Hill-Cowichan Bay border
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Cowichan Conversations: Shawnigan’s Fight Against Contaminated Soil“ This is Crazy!”
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger Shawnigan resident Sonia Furstenau has been following the South Island Aggregates (SIA) efforts to import 5 million tonnes of contaminated soils to their Stebbings Road property in the Shawnigan Watershed from the outset. She attended the Ministry of Environment-Environmental Appeal Board hearings and has written this account
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: ‘Cowichan Taxbusters’ Should Change Their Name to ‘Confused Taxbusters’
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger of the left persuasion. Seems as the so-called ‘Cowichan Taxbusters’ are beating up the tight-fisted rightwingers on North Cowichan Council. Now I could find plenty to argue about with my friend Al Siebring but I had to laugh reading his latest posting. Yes folks fall elections are
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: iPolitics–Is Mulcair Just Another Harper With a Beard?
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger In the quest for power Federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair has abandoned previously held NDP principles and beliefs and that is causing heartburn on the left, and centre-left. The shift to the right that has taken place has left many NDP supporters wondering if the NDP is
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Rafe: With fracking, tankers “world-class safety” is a weasel word
It is great to read more from Rafe Mair once again. He is still on the mend but has come a long way and is reading and writing once again. I had believed every word from our Premier but Rafe has set me straight! I feel so much better now.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Colonist Editorial Nails It-Provide Homes for the Homeless
It is encouraging to read commonsense and compassionate words from the mainstream media. The Victoria Times Colonist Editorial Department is one of the most progressive and responsible in the country. Well done. In 2008, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled the bylaw deprived the homeless of life, liberty and security in
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Opinion: Compromise is a two-way street. BCTF has moved a mile, the government not one inch
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger The BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark embraces the anti education, anti academic, anti-intellectual posture of a true Philistine. Let’s not beat around the bush. This attack is a part of a larger plan to continue dismantling our civil society and commonwealth. It is all about wealth transfer
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: CVRD Acting CAO Raimondo’s Oral Report About Legal Opinion On Balme Gravel Application
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger Exclusive audio report that the CVRD did not want you to hear. Cowichan media coverage of local government affairs is scanty, when covered at all. Both the Cowichan News Leader and the Cowichan Citizen corporate owners have stripped proper staff complements, especially in the newsrooms. Shaw Cable
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: It’s the Climate, Stupid!
Not two weeks since the federal government’s long-anticipated approval of the Northern Gateway pipeline, the magnitude of the obstacles faced by the project are becoming clearer by the day. There is widespread public hostility — both in Kitimat, envisioned as the pipeline’s end location, as well as across British Columbia
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: CCPA Looks at BC Liberals Claims That Teachers Would Benefit With Better Economy
Here is Iglika Ivanova’s look at the BC Liberals economic rationale. The disconnect between economic growth and teachers’ wages We are being governed by an anti public education Premier Christy Clark, who it seems has embraced her pique at being caught cheating in SFU Student elections.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Rafe Mair: Why I’m for Massive Civil Disobedience
We are indeed in for the struggle of our lives.The Enbridge pipeline proposal is just one arm of the current energy frenzy that has gripped Alberta and British Columbia, but even alone it could cause irreperable harm on an unimaginale scale. Rafe Mair is as knowledgable as any in BC
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Christy Clark and Peter Fassbender On a BCTF Union Busting Mission
Maggie HughesTeacher Guest Post by Maggie Hughes All Union Members and indeed all people who value democracy should be very upset at one of the proposals in the ongoing dispute between BC teachers and BC Public School Employers Association (BCPSEA)which is appointed and controlled by the Provincial Government. Back in
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: LNG -Through a Gas Darkly
Richard HughesPolitical Blogger Here is an excellent assessment of the BC LNG reality that, like it or not, is the dominant theme, damn near the only theme of today’s BC Government. Peter Ewart links in the LNG influenced decision to reduced protection for the ALR, exploitation of natural resources
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Guest Speaker on Canadian Health Care System
The Cowichan BC NDP has invited Guest Speaker Dr.Damien Contandriopoulos to speak on the Canadian Health Care System today. Dr. Contandriopoulos is an associate professor at the University of Montreal Nursing Faculty and researcher at the University of Montreal Public Health Research Institute will address the sustainability of the Canadian
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: At Convergence 2014: Protecting Our Sacred Waters march, Grand Chief says Harper may delay pipeline decision
The clock is ticking as British Columbians countdown the time for a decision from of PM Steve Harper, but wait there is more, or perhaps less. Photo by Valentina Ruiz LeotaudSpeaking in front of a large crowd gathered for the Convergence 2014: Protecting Our Sacred Waters rally on Sunday afternoon, Grand Chief
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Control Freak PM Steve Harper Is Monitoring Anti Fracking Protesters
Richard Hughes With our paranoid PM Steve Harper it is all about control and with this reality in mind we head into what promises to be a hot summer of discontent. He has empowered his ‘Government Operations Centre’ to monitor all anti fracking protests. Monitoring is really just a
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: CVRD Finally Approves Increased Compostables For The Fisher Road Recycling Facility
Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes- Recycled, Reliable, Rejuvinated Cowichan Citizen Editor Andrea Rondeau’s front page story in Friday’s Citizen regarding Fisher Road Recycling (FRR) being allowed increased capacity to accept feedstock may or may not mark the end of a long drawn out struggle between Owner Dave Laing and CVRD’s Cobble Hill
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: BC LNG: Promised Land of Prosperity or Gas Fueled Race to the Bottom?
Kevin Logan-Cowichan Conversations Contributor On this the first day of BC’s much ballyhooed International LNG conference, it is worth noting, comparing and contrasting BC’s LNG “model” and that of competing Nations around the world in the natural gas industry. Particularly noteworthy is today’s announcement that Russia and China have signed
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: The BC Liberal Government Is Foolishly Moving To Allow Fracking On Farmland-Videos
Long time Cowichan activist Bill Woollam has offered this guest post critical of fracking and David Black’s refinery proposal. Bill has his own blog that covers wide-ranging issues. It can be found here. Bill Woollam Guest Post I recently wrote to David Black, newspaper owner/manager, in response to his support
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: BC Premier Clark’s LNG Dream is Turning into a Nightmare!
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger The bubble is about to burst for BC Premier Christy Clark who will be unable to sustain the colossal con job that was the BC Liberal’s election campaign of just one year ago. Riches for all they proclaimed, trillions to be made just as easy as pie!
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