Parliament of Canada – time for online reporting of expenses? If the recent Senate expense scandals have taught Canadians anything, it’s that Parliament of Canada officials will take advantage of the rules to pad their pockets if they can. Senator Mike Duffy has become the poster boy for Parliament of Canada abuse of expense guidelines but [...]
BC NDP share of popular vote declining since 1979 By Dermod Travis The great thing about political punditry is the ability to be right and wrong at the same time and get away with it, which is why the pundits who were no better at predicting the outcome of the BC election shouldn’t be expected [...]
Many indicators of Canadian environment pollutants have dropped By Ben Eisen and Romy Yourex Canadians care deeply about their natural environment and view the prevention of environmental pollution as one of the most important functions of their governments. Multiple polls taken over the years have shown that large numbers of Canadians view the preservation of [...]
Scandal surrounding Senator Mike Duffy’s expenses takes down PM chief of staff Surely the wrong man has quit! Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chief of staff, resigned yesterday in the imbroglio that followed the revelation he gave disgraced Senator Mike Duffy $90,172 to pay back the Parliamentary expenses the supposed representative for Prince Edward Island in the [...]
Canadian politics promises to be turbulent as voters disgruntled For citizens from coast to coast to coast, this summer promises to be a time of discontent with Canadian politics. What most of us want, most of the time, is simply that our governments be competent: display a sense of where they’re going, and that as [...]
BC gasoline taxes among highest in North America By Jordan Bateman As Canadians, we have become conditioned to paying higher prices than our American neighbours for pretty much everything. Milk, cheese, clothes, electronics, books, airfares, sporting goods, cars, liquor: we know we’re being gouged, but we don’t know what to do about it. “Tax [...]
More evidence needed before convicting Rob Ford in court of public opinion Schadenfreude is all very well, but this whole Rob Ford video scandal has me feeling just the tiniest bit hinky. It’s a due-process thing, and I recognize that there can be no due process in politics, as unjust as that may seem. No, realpolitik demands that [...]
BC Conservatives says their proposal will lower prices, increase choice The BC Conservatives made the announcement Tuesday. Leader John Cummins says a BC Conservative government would give British Columbians more choice to buy beer and wine and “take the special interests out of liquor sales.” “We believe in getting BC back to basics, and that means [...]
Canada should concentrate on training its own citizens, not using temporary foreign workers Canada has become too dependent on the temporary foreign workers program and has failed to address the lack of skilled workers through domestic-made solutions, says a new report into foreign workers in Canada. Kevin McQuillan, the author of All The Workers We [...]
Expert suggests investing income tax refund in RESP With the average income tax refund at approximately $1,700 according to the Canada Revenue Agency, families with young children ought to be looking at making contributions to a Registered Education Savings Plan to secure their education. Parents with young children can defer paying down the mortgage, springing [...]
Same-sex marriage – does love really conquer all? By Douglas Allen ABC’s television show Modern Family is amazing entertainment. It is brilliantly written and acted, and well-deserving of its numerous Emmy and Golden Globe awards. It is also post-modern propaganda. The show is centered around Jay Pritchett and his immediate family members. Jay is a 60-something wealthy [...]
Site C dam projected to cost $7.9 billion By Erik Andersen Dear Ms. Clark, Mr. Dix, Ms. Sterk and Mr. Cummins, I am writing to all of you political party leaders in the midst of the B.C. provincial campaign, as a senior economist who is very concerned that the proposed construction of Site C dam [...]
CBC TV is a mess and no longer fulfills original mandate The CBC popped back on Canadians’ radar last week. A Harper Government bill to give it more control over crown corporations has upset defenders of public broadcasting. Infographics exhorting me to join the fight to “save” the CBC are flooding my social media networks. [...]
Platforms for BC Election 2013 offer little to those under 40 By Paul Kershaw and Lynell Anderson BC Election 2013 – British Columbians want their politicians to work for all generations and not inflame intergenerational tension. Problem is, that’s just what the B.C. Liberal and NDP platforms are doing this election. Take, for example, the [...]
BC Conservatives leader John Cummins making headway, but not ahead of Liberal Mary Polak Being a party leader — and being in the debate — does help. But perhaps not enough to get BC Conservatives leader John Cummins a seat in the legislature. John Cummins, a 17-year veteran of federal politics who represented parts of Richmond [...]
Sharkwater director Rob Stewart launches latest film ‘Revolution’
‘Revolution’ documentary is anticipated follow-up to Rob Stewart’s ‘Sharkwater’ Canadian filmmaker Rob Stewart was in Calgary yesterday promoting a follow-up film to his award-winning documentary Sharkwater. Stewart spoke to The Beacon News about his latest film Revolution. Stewart’s mission is simple, if a little ambitious – save humanity. The Canadian conservationist has expanded the scope of his [...]
The Arts must innovate to survive in today’s world
Giving value to the arts and culture By Shawna Stirrett Traditional arts groups such as orchestras, ballets, operas and theatres that neglect to think about how they fit into the broader social context and respond accordingly will fail. This might not happen today or the next day, but the writing is on the wall. While [...]
Historic Barkerville exhibit to tour British Columbia and China
Barkerville exhibit captures Chinese experience during Cariboo Gold Rush An exhibit depicting the lives of Chinese immigrants during the Cariboo Gold Rush will travel to China next year thanks to a $20,000 grant from the B.C. government. The Barkerville exhibit is put together from archives kept in the historic gold rush town, which capture the [...]