Thoughts on BC Politics and More

  I noted three things in news stories, in recent days, regarding our Indigenous neighbours, and they had me asking questions that I think at least some of us should be considering. The first thing was a Global News story from Friday : First Nations people continue to be disproportionately and devastatingly affected by B.C.’s toxic drug crisis, with 2022 being the deadliest year on record, according to the First Nations Health Authority. Data released by the FNHA on Friday shows that First Nations people died at 5.9 times the rate of other residents last year, with 373 toxic drug-poisoning deaths in total. It’s a 6.3-per-cent increase from 2021. The second was a April 20th media announcement from the Assembly of First Nations , and the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC), which in part stated: First Nations have inherent rights and jurisdiction to govern the cultivation, processing, sale, and consumption of cannabis in their territories. Despite persistent advocacy, Fi

  A RISE IN THE CARBON TAX was no April Fools joke for the people of BC. Carbon taxes imposed by the Provincial and Federal governments will go from a current rate of $50 per tonne ... to $65 per tonne ... a THIRTY percent increase. According to a Global News story , from today forward over the next 365 days we’ll be paying an extra 3 cents per litre of gas ... 17 cents for diesel ... and heating our home with natural gas will cost an extra 12 cents per cubic metre. Now maybe we can drive less, so as to keep the increased cost of the carbon tax on fuel to a minimal amount – MAYBE – but what about those of us in the Interior and Northern BC that would appreciate the heat of our natural gas furnaces? From the start, I have NEVER understood why a necessity like home heating fuel gets hit with the carbon tax. Heating our home isn’t some frivolous thing ... it’s not a luxury ... it’s a NECESSITY! Of course, the Carbon Tax is just one small part of the costs associated with heating our