There is a Chinese proverb that says “talk does not cook rice.”  Based on the “communities control “article written by Norm Macdonald there is no substance in his pot apart from his non-nutritional words. According to Macdonald the “provincial government has consistently removed power and resources from local communities and centralized decision making in the [...]

  The spring session of the British Columbia legislature begins soon and will continue through until summer.  The session will focus on the provincial economy as we debate the provincial budget. I will participate in what is called the ‘estimates debate’ where as critic for Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations I will question the [...]

As a former mayor, I fully understand the value of living in a resilient community as a measure against tough times.  A resilient community is one that is able to take intentional action to improve both the personal and collective capacity of its residents and its organizations to respond positively in times of threat. Resilient [...]

Over Christmas and New Years,  many of us will gather with friends and family.  It is an opportunity to enjoy good company, but also a time to reflect on our good fortune. In good times or tough times, Canadians generally are better off than those who live in other parts of the world.  We live [...]

Every once in a while I write something I regret. Last week I took a cheap shot at another journalist who made a mistake reporting on a rumoured death at RMR. I didn’t name him, but he recognized immediately who and what I was referring to. At any rate, my comments wounded him personally and [...]

God knows a lot of people believe our Mayor and Council have done foolish things in the past but there’s no reason to jump the gun and ascribe new and undeserved stupidities to them. I am speaking, of course, of a story that has for the last three days outraged many in our  community. The story [...]

We all remember in 2001, when the BC Liberals came to power, how they promised to outlaw deficits.  But despite balanced budget legislation, British Columbia, under the BC Liberals, now has the largest deficit in our province’s history. We are now about to set a new record: this year BC will have a budget deficit [...]

It’s no secret: some people hate the CBC; others are devoted fans. Personally, I think it makes valuable contributions to Canadian culture and national cohesion. Take it away and we’ll be left with… what? A number of near-clones of American broadcasting corporations. But that’s what some Conservative MPs seem intent on doing, according to a [...]

The fall sitting of the BC Legislature finished this past week.  The government brought forward nearly 20 pieces of legislation, some were well crafted but others were very poorly thought through. Bill 16, the Family Law Act, was an example of good law making, and I was pleased to be able to support it.  In [...]

I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to everyone who voted for me and supported my candidacy for Trustee on the Board of Education. It has been a tremendously rewarding experience to work with the Board of Education but especially with the outstanding education team in School District # 19. My best wishes and [...]

Defeated incumbent School Board Trustee Doug Hamilton is deploring when he says was a plea sent to all Revelstoke Teachers’ Association members asking them to vote against incumbent trustees. I gave 110 % every year — 13 in all. I agree teachers deserve a raise in pay and I supported them on most things. I [...]

Hundreds of Columbia River Basin residents have been gathering in community halls across the region to learn about the Columbia River Treaty. As many of you will know, Canada and the United States signed the Columbia River Treaty in 1964.  Both countries shared an interest in improving flood control and hydro-electric power generation. In British [...]