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Future government contract costs jump 50% in one year
Although it has received some coverage in the media it is worth noting the eye-popping jump in the cost of long term contracts signed by the BC government in the last year. These contracts don’t go on the books as debt, but just like debt we will be responsible for…
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Fast Facts: Sustainable health care begins with the social determinants of health
It’s time to get it right On May 13, 2011 the Conference Board of Canada announced the formation of the Canadian Alliance for Sustainable Health Care (CASHC) to “provide Canadian business leaders and policy makers with insightful, forward-looking, quantitative analysis of the sustainability of the Canadian health-care system and all…
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About Fracking Time: BC’s Independent MLAs Call on Premier to Investigate Hydraulic Fracturing
As British Columbia Premier Christy Clark makes her debut in the provincial legislature this coming week, the media spotlight will likely be on the predictable verbal sparring between her and Adrian Dix, the NDP’s recently minted leader, over Clark’s alleged “fix” of the Harmonized Sales Tax. Meaning that Independent MLAs…
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On the Forest Fire Front Line: One Ecologist’s Take on What it Will Take to Safeguard Communities
With one of the colder springs on record, many British Columbians quite naturally yearn for a good stretch of warm, dry weather. But for many people in the province, prolonged periods of hotter and drier weather are often far from welcome. That’s because when things get hot and dry they…
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Lessons for Ottawa from Victoria, Lessons for Victoria from Ottawa
Many Canadians have expressed fear about what our new national government, a majority elected by a 39% minority, will do now that it has four years of real power. For those concerned Canadians, British Columbia offers a lesson. BC’s government has discovered from an independent study that their HST is…
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The Middle East Revolution (Part III)
The Empire strikes back: Libya attacked by the U.S. and NATO No sooner had the popular revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia overthrown corrupt and repressive U.S.-backed dictatorships than Washington and NATO (led by a Canadian general) attacked Libya on March 19 with jet fighters and hundreds of missiles and bombs.…
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A billion dollars of bogus carbon credits
A story in today’s Vancouver Sun is disturbing, arguing that BC could make $1 billion from selling carbon offsets once the Western Climate Initiative gets underway. The projects are mostly in forest management and conservation, meaning less cutting and more sequestration of carbon in the forests themselves. The conservation part…
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A Call to Action on the Forest Front
Does the provincial government have a coherent plan to address the exponentially deepening forest health crisis in our province? Evidently not, as outlined by two scientists in a sobering critique of provincial government forest policy (or the lack thereof) published in today’s Vancouver Sun. Penned by Suzanne Simard, a professor…
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The Middle East Revolution (Part 1)
Uprisings a stunning blow to U.S. control of the Middle East “Fight like an Egyptian!” was the cry echoed by supporters of the Egyptian Revolution around the world when in 17 days the people of that country overthrew its 30-year-old dictatorship on February 11. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was forced…
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Health Act Inquiry Into Threats Posed by Sour Gas A Step Closer?
A local citizens initiative aimed at highlighting the health threats posed by sour gas wells in B.C.’s energy-rich Peace River region appears to be gaining momentum, but whether or not it will result in a public inquiry remains to be seen. Last week, the Alaska Highway News reported that during…
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Look to Europe for Next Phase of BC’s Carbon Tax
When it comes to good urban planning, transportation and taking action on climate change, Europe has a lot to teach us. BC took important baby steps with its Climate Action Plan of 2008. Three years later, however, baby is still clinging to the coffee table. The centrepiece of BC’s plan…
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Harmonization of drug standards may put private profit before public health
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL REPORT OTTAWA—As Health Canada begins its final consultations on proposals to “modernize” standards on prescription drugs, a study released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) finds Health Canada’s harmonizing initiatives to date, part of the modernization initiative, have been putting private…