Richard Hughes-Political Blogger SIA has apparently shut down their operations and may be out of business. At first look this is encouraging news to residents justifiably worried about SIA’s government approved plans to bring in 5 million tonnes of contaminated soil to their Stebbings Road operation into the Shawnigan Watershed.
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Cowichan Conversations: The Change Within: The Obstacles We Face Are Not Just External-Naomi Kline
Naomi Kline once again shares her eloquence and understanding of the challenges facing us on what is the threatened condition of ‘Planet Earth’ The climate crisis has such bad timing, confronting it not only requires a new economy but a new way of thinking. “If the ideas that rule our
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: ‘Straight from the Horse’s Mouth’: Former Oil Exec Says Fracking Not Safe
The pressure is mounting as it well should be. The unconventional pursuit of gas and oil is a crime against nature and humanity. Water is more valuable than gas or oil! Here a former insider speaks out in the piece from Common Dreams Straight from the Horse’s Mouth’: Former Oil
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Defiant Northern Chief Galvanizes BC First Nations Against Premier’s LNG Plans
A new leadership figure has emerged in the politics of LNG, Enbridge, pipelines and native rights. Fort Nelson Chief Sharleen Gail has blown Christy Clark and her MLA’s into major damage control mode. It could however be too late. Chief Gail’s stand might well have spelled the turning point in
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: McDonalds Treating Foreign Workers Like Slaves
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger McDonalds, and several other Canadian firms are being investigated following reports of exploitation and abuse from victimized foreign workers. I have often wondered about the staff at many different fast food outlets who might have been brought in on the foreign worker program, but did not know
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Ukraine, Through the US Looking Glass
Robert Parry-Consortium News by Robert Parry The acting president of the coup regime in Kiev announces that he is ordering an “anti-terrorist” operation against pro-Russian protesters in eastern Ukraine, while his national security chief says he has dispatched right-wing ultranationalist fighters who spearheaded the Feb. 22 coup that ousted elected
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: CVRD Recycling and Waste Manager Bob McDonald Has Been Dismissed
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger Longtime CVRD Recycling Manager Bob McDonald has been dismissed as the restructuring shakeup at the CVRD continues. Restructuring seems to be well underway. The CVRD Chair and Directors must share the blame for allowing the organizations rampant growth and high management salaries that brought the CVRD much
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: North Cowichan Council Faceoff Against Echo Heights Preservationists
By Don Maroc With the public seating area of the North Cowichan Municipal council chambers filled with Chemainus residents wanting to leave the fifty- plus acres of Echo Heights forest land undisturbed, the council voted four to two for first and second reading of bylaw No. 3542, to start the
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Our Coast-Our Choice
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Continue readingCowichan Conversations: No Guarantee P3 Financing For Community Centre Will Save Money
Rob Douglas Built almost 40 years ago, the Cowichan Community Centre (now known as the Island Savings Centre) provides Cowichan residents with a swimming pool, hockey arena, gymnasium, library, art gallery, and a performing arts theatre. Local officials anticipate the facility will require significant renovations or replacement within the next
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Six pieces of ID and still not allowed to vote-Elizabeth May
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger The controversy swirling around the democratic right to vote has been increasing in its velocity. Canadians are recognizing that this plan targets voters who are unlikely to vote for the Conservatives. This abomination is right out of US Republican Karl Rove’s playbook and has no place in
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: The Vanishing Kinder Morgan Hearings
A lawyer representing the City of Burnaby says the National Energy Board (NEB) has turned its review of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline into a “mere paperwork exercise” by cutting all cross-examination from the process. “We were expecting that there would be public hearings and cross-examination of the evidence,”Gregory McDade said at
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: More Maroc Messaging For BC NDP’s John Horgan
An Addendum to A Public Letter to John Horgan, MLA, Next Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition Don Maroc You’re right John. the original letter was loaded with enough responsibilities without adding more but a couple of your potential friends pointed out omissions. Alexandra Morton, the indomitable champion of B.C.’s
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Maroc’s Public Letter to John Horgan Probably The New Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition
Don Maroc-Cowichan Conversations Contributor It looks like the power brokers have decided that you are the NDP’s last hope for revival. Of course no one is saying anything like that John, but that’s what’s being bantered back and forth out here among what was once the NDP backbone. Don’t be
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Cowichan Gets Funding for Elder Care Co-op
Good news for valley seniors. Recognizing the need for a cooperative approach to Elder Care funding has been received to kick the project into play. We are pleased to announce that Cowichan Co-operative Connections and Volunteer Cowichan will receive a $35,000 grant to build an elder care co-op in the
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Horgan Leading A One Man Race-Farnworth Pulls Out!
Horgan leading a one person race Following the amazing election victory for Christy Clark and the BC Liberals it was pretty obvious that Adrian Dix blew the election and would have to step down. John Horgan-Juan de Fuca’s MLA and NDP House leader was a clear leader in this latest
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Child Arthritis Cases Spike As Lyme Disease Pushes Further Into Canada
As the ticks that spread Lyme disease push ever further into Canada, doctors are starting to notice an unusual fallout from the growing threat: a spike in the number of people seeking help for arthritis triggered by the bacteria. A new study from Halifax , to be presented at an
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: The so-called “Fair Elections Act” is so bad for democracy in so many ways it’s hard to wrap your head around it all.
All Canadians concerned with democratic elections and all political parties must cooperate in the next election. Canada’s future trumps short term political ambitions. Thomas Mulcair, Justin Trudeau and Elizabeth May must structure a cooperative model to defeat Steve Harper in the public interest. It can be done. There is too
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