Pirates, Nurses and Rebel Designers

Responsibility to regulate industry should be removed from ministry, finds scathing report. By Andrew MacLeod, Today, TheTyee.ca

Auditor General Blasts 'Major Gaps' in BC's Mining Oversight

http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/05/04/BC-Mining-Oversight-Major-Gaps/

Responsibility to regulate industry should be removed from ministry, finds scathing report.

To avoid more disasters like the 2014 failure of the tailings pond dam at Mount Polley mine, responsibility for regulating mining in British Columbia should be taken away from the ministry that also promotes the industry, concludes a new report from the province's auditor general.

"[The Ministry of Energy and Mines'] role to promote mining development is diametrically opposed to compliance and enforcement," wrote Carol Bellinger in the 109-page report "An Audit of Compliance and Enforcement of the Mining Sector."

"This framework, of having both activities within [Energy and Mines], creates an irreconcilable conflict," she said. "Because compliance and enforcement is the last line of defence against environmental degradation, business as usual cannot continue."

Work on the audit was already underway when the Mount Polley disaster happened, causing the damaging release of some 25 million cubic metres of wastewater and tailings from the Imperial Metals mine 56 kilometres northeast of Williams Lake.

"We noted the same issues in the Mount Polley file as we did throughout the audit," Bellringer said. "That is, too few resources, infrequent inspections, and lack of enforcement."

The ministry failed to "ensure that the tailings dam was being built or operated according to the approved design, nor did it ensure that the mining company rectified design and operational deficiencies," the report found.

Go to the link above to read the complete report.

Mother's Day Hill

One reward for strolling up Mother's Day Hill is a spectacular view of the St. Mary Valley. Others include Calypso Orchids, more Balsam Root, the Talking Tree and stunning Ponderosa Pines.  This trail leads off the St Mary's Lake Road , off the Perry Creek Road. Directions can be found in Janice Strong's book 'Mountain Footsteps' or by searching the net.

Will the American election race lead to the next “invasion” of Canada?

Will the American election race lead to the next “invasion” of Canada?

Is Canada on the verge of an invasion?

This question isn’t as crazy as it sounds as the bizarre primary election race down south increasingly points to a victory for the “Great Vulgarian,” Donald Trump, and if this is the case, recent polling numbers point to an American invasion of the Great White North.

No kidding!

According to Global News, a Vox.com poll conducted in March found that 15 percent of registered American voters said they would “very likely” consider moving to Canada if Trump were to win in November and another 12 per cent said they were “somewhat likely” to consider a Canadian move if the Great Vulgarian became Commander-in-Chief.

The poll surveyed 2,000 registered American voters, asking: “If Donald Trump was elected President of the United States in November how likely are you to consider moving to another country such as Canada?” In a poll of that size, the results are considered accurate within a range of two per cent, plus or minus. Still it was only one poll, but other factors are pointing strongly in the same direction.

 After Trump’s first Super Tuesday win in March, “how to move to Canada” surged as a question on the Internet, according to Google Trends. The question spiked 350 per cent in just four hours on Google and Canada’s immigration website was overrun with traffic at the same time.

But when push comes to shove, many claim Americans, more than half of whom don’t have passports, would never head North. History, however, speaks differently. During the Vietnam War, thousands of young Americans crossed the border legally or illegally and some 40,000 of them remained as permanent residents or citizens, according to a federal government report. And this wasn’t a bad thing according to an archived report by Citizenship and Immigration Canada which called them “the largest and best-educated group this country has ever received.”        

Will history repeat itself after November 2016? Only “The Shadow” knows, as the old radio show used to say, but another interesting aspect of this situation is that polls showing Americans moving to Canada if Trump wins also show a sizable number of conservative Americans considering a northern move if Hillary Clinton wins. Writing in the Huffington Post, Robert Waite says these are the people “that love guns, God and Rush Limbaugh!” Can anyone doubt that we have a deeply troubled and dangerously polarized country on our southern border?

Despite this, I would personally welcome a new influx of young, well-educated immigrants from the Home of the Brave and Land of the Free. It’s nothing new in Canadian history going as far back as the mid-17^th Century when up to 50,000 British United Empire Loyalists fled to Canada after the revolutionary war when  the US won its independence from Great Britain. As for the Vietnam war resisters, draft dodgers, call them what you will, the vast majority of them contributed greatly to this country, becoming productive citizens in the professions, education, the arts, trades and even politics. And all we gave the US was Ted Cruz! But seriously, I can tell you from personal experience that the progressive politics, environmental consciousness and “sunny ways” that Canada is enjoying today was greatly influenced by the young, dynamic and idealistic Americans that poured into places like the Slocan Valley and elsewhere in Canada in the eponymous 1960’s. We are a better country for them

And we have been benefiting ever since the hapless presidency of George W. Bush, the man directly responsible for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and indirectly Syria when American immigration to Canada jumped by 34,000 over the previous decade. This only leads to one conclusion – Canadians don’t like Republicans.

So when Nov. 8 rolls around, it won’t just be Americans on tenterhooks over the results. Canadians have a great stake in this election too about the “Great Vulgarian” becoming the 45^th President of the United States. And in this Canadian’s opinion there will also be cause for concern if Clinton, the candidate that 55 per cent of Americans say they don’t trust, is elevated to the Oval Office instead.

One thing is for sure. There’s no “winner” in this one.

    

Gerry Warner is a retired journalist and hasn’t given up on the US yet.

Cranbrook Community Forest and Trap Trees

First it was the Pine Beetle causing havoc in many parts of the province and now an outbreak of Fir Beetle is attacking many Douglas Forest trees. The beetle will choose freshly fallen trees in which to lay its eggs and so a plan is in place in the Community Forest to help control this infestation.

Don't be alarmed if you find one of these 'trap trees'.

pictured to the left:  Forestry workers preparing to cut down some capture trees for the fir beetle.

This fall after the beetles have laid their eggs, the trees will be cut up and burned. This will help diminish the spread of this beetle in the CCF.

What's Happening....

The Gallery, Baker St
'Welcome to My World Exhibit' concludes Saturday, April 30th
The Work of Cranbrook Junior High students' Exhibit  begins Tuesday, May 3rd

April 29th

Key City Theatre
Jason Collett and Zeus with Kalle Matson
$25
7:30pm

Saturday April 30th

Giant Garage Sale
Friends of the Cranbrook Library
Manual Training Building
9:00am - 3:00pm
Drop off Friday April 29th

Go Go Grannies, Garage Sale
8:30 - 2;00pm
710, 12th Av S.

Sun Valley Song
Baroque to Broadway
7:30pm
Knox Presbyterian Church, Victoria and 3rd
$10
also Sunday May 1st at 2:30pm

Thursday May 5th
1:30pm
Join the Garden Club for the Dutch Canadian Friendship Tulip Garden Bloom Celebration at the old Elko Train Station

May 5th, 6th, 7th

Mt Baker School presents
'Mary Poppins'

Turtle Day

Contributed by Stewart Wilson

More than 220 students from TM Roberts, Amy Woodland, Gordon Terrace, St. Mary’s Catholic School, (Kootenay Christian Academy?) and Parkland Middle School participated in Turtle Day at Elizabeth Lake on April 27. They discovered what type of food western painted turtles eat by identifying the various insects and creatures caught in their dipnets; examined the remains of a turtle nest and its contents; and had an opportunity to handle young turtles while learning interesting facts about them.

Sturgeon Release

Students from several Cranbrook schools including Amy Woodland, Gordon Terrace, Pinewood and TM Roberts travelled to Creston to release year old white sturgeon into the Kootenay River as part of a program to help regenerate this endangered species of ancient fish dating back to before the dinosaurs.

 Students learned that the largest sturgeon caught in the Kootenay River/Kootenay Lake area since being released was over 3 metres about the same length as 3 adults with outstretched arms.

 After being quizzed on their knowledge about the sturgeon, the children were shown how to hold the fish by members of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho. before each released her/his own sturgeon.

 Thanks to all who made this occasion such a memorable day for all participating students and adults.

The Fashion Statement of Mr Wood Duck

Thank you Stewart Wilson for the photos

Why Christy Clark Shouldn't Talk to Kids about Trees, Vanessa Scott, The Tyee

Why Christy Clark Shouldn't Talk to Kids about Trees

http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2016/04/26/Clark-Shouldnt-Talk-About-Trees/

Urban premier doesn't know the wrong logging brings big costs to 'moms and dads.'

When I read Premier Christy Clark's simplistic -- OK, dumbfounding -- comments about how she talks to children about the forest industry, I was really offended.

Then it struck me that Clark was just another urban office-dweller with no real understanding of the industry, or forest communities.

And no understanding that our relationship with forests, and the rest of the world around us, is complex and multidimensional, not foolishly simplistic.
In case you missed it, here's Clark's grasp of forestry and environmental issues. In a speech to an industry conference, she said whenever she visited schools, no matter where she went, there was always one child who said, "We should stop cutting down trees."
"I'm glad they say it, because it's a chance for education," Clark said. "I get a chance to say to them, 'You know, if we don't cut down trees in British Columbia, we have to take more money from your mom and dad."
Clark should visit the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. She would learn that if you do cut down trees -- too many, in the wrong places -- then moms and dads and all taxpayers have to pay more to government.

Not for better schools, or health care. To make up for the damage done when people like the premier don't think seriously or rigorously about the full effects of cutting down trees -- or developing mines or pipelines.
For decades, Comox Lake provided clean drinking water for some 50,000 people in Courtenay and Comox.
Now we face regular boil water advisories because of turbidity in the lake. Water taxes are already set to increase more than nine per cent over the next three years.
And problems with declining water quality in Comox Lake have created the need for a treatment and filtration plant costing $50 to $75 million.
To cover the filtration plant's costs, the City of Courtenay will have to increase taxes and long-term debt. Or as, Christy Clark would say, "take money from moms and dads."
Trees used to store and filter our water for "free." Until very recently, we were known for the quality of our drinking water from Comox Lake.
What went wrong? Our water crisis is part of a bigger picture. We're not the only Vancouver Island community with water trouble.

To read the entire article go to the link above.