Columnists

Interior Health's 310-MHSU number connects callers directly to the closest mental health and substance use centre in their community.

B.C.’s mental health crisis is bad and getting worse

Nearly half of British Columbians polled said their mental health was worse due to COVID-19

  • Nov 18, 2021
Murray Rankin is the MLA for Oak Bay - Gordon Head. (Courtesy of Murray Rankin’s office)

MLA REPORT: Stepping up on climate protection

Murray Rankin MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head This summer, we saw the…

  • Nov 6, 2021
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces new COVID-19 measures for Alberta in Calgary, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

To Have and Have Not: Alberta opens can of worms, but will B.C. bite?

Equalization payments have often been used to incite political anger in Canada

  • Nov 1, 2021
Adam Olsen is the MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. (Submitted by Adam Olsen)

MLA REPORT: Bold changes needed to address affordable housing

In the 2017 election, access to affordable housing was a ballot box…

  • Oct 30, 2021
Adam Olsen is the MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. (Submitted by Adam Olsen)
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

The B.C. Liberal leadership race: Rebirth or reckoning?

The B.C. Liberals have always been an uneasy coalition of conservative and liberal voters,

(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Downtown Victoria Business Association executive director Jeff Bray discusses the resiliency of downtown businesses throughout the pandemic at an event this summer. (Black Press Media file photo)

COLUMN: DVBA celebrates Small Business Month in Victoria

Small businesses, their owners and employees are the lifeblood of downtown Victoria

  • Oct 11, 2021
Downtown Victoria Business Association executive director Jeff Bray discusses the resiliency of downtown businesses throughout the pandemic at an event this summer. (Black Press Media file photo)
Trees burnt by the White Rock Lake wildfire earlier this month are seen in Monte Lake, B.C., on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Analysis: Wildfire and flood disasters are causing ‘climate migration’ within Canada

Polticians need to implement environmental policies or people will go elsewhere

Trees burnt by the White Rock Lake wildfire earlier this month are seen in Monte Lake, B.C., on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Adobe stock

Vaccine Politics: Will COVID-19 affect the outcome of the federal election in B.C.?

Week 3 of federal election analysis by columnist Bruce Cameron focuses on the effects of COVID-19

  • Sep 9, 2021
Adobe stock
<strong>It’s not easy being Green: Erosion of overall support for Paul could impact outcome in many B.C. ridings</strong>Federal Green party leader Annamie Paul cuts the ribbon of her campaign office in Toronto Centre on Thursday, July 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston Federal Green party leader Annamie Paul cuts the ribbon of her campaign office in Toronto Centre on Thursday, July 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

It’s not easy being Green: Erosion of overall support for Paul could impact many B.C. ridings

At the federal level, the Green Party led by Elizabeth May held three of the 42 seats in B.C. not so long ago

  • Aug 30, 2021
<strong>It’s not easy being Green: Erosion of overall support for Paul could impact outcome in many B.C. ridings</strong>Federal Green party leader Annamie Paul cuts the ribbon of her campaign office in Toronto Centre on Thursday, July 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston Federal Green party leader Annamie Paul cuts the ribbon of her campaign office in Toronto Centre on Thursday, July 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
B.C. Premier John Horgan said on June 3 that COVID-19 restrictions won't be eased regionally, “If people want to book arrangements at their favourite place in B.C, you can certainly do that now, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get there,” Horgan said. (NEWS file photo)

FINLAYSON: Time for a ‘health check’ on the tourism industry as summer winds down

To revive the economy, this piece in the strategy is integral, writes Jock Finlayson

  • Aug 26, 2021
B.C. Premier John Horgan said on June 3 that COVID-19 restrictions won't be eased regionally, “If people want to book arrangements at their favourite place in B.C, you can certainly do that now, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get there,” Horgan said. (NEWS file photo)
Federal election campaign stops across Canada in the second week of August 2021. (Canadian Press photos)

Poised for majority or upset? Hopes and fears in 1st week of Canada’s election campaign

First week of this short five-week federal election campaign kicked off with appearances in B.C.

  • Aug 23, 2021
Federal election campaign stops across Canada in the second week of August 2021. (Canadian Press photos)
A tasty breakfast treat. (Philip Wolf photo)

COLUMN: Does your guilty pleasure involve a captain, a tiger or a cartoon monster?

WOLF: The siren song of sugary breakfast cereals remains hard to resist

A tasty breakfast treat. (Philip Wolf photo)
Murray Rankin is the MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. (Courtesy of Murray Rankin)

MLA REPORT: Building a health-care system that works for everyone

By Murray Rankin MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head As your MLA for…

  • Aug 8, 2021
Murray Rankin is the MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. (Courtesy of Murray Rankin)
Randall Garrison is the MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. (Photo courtesy of Randall Garrison)

MP REPORT: Canada needs a renewable energy Crown corporation

By Randall Garrison MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke The climate crisis is here. We…

  • Aug 7, 2021
Randall Garrison is the MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. (Photo courtesy of Randall Garrison)
Randall Garrison is the MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. (Photo courtesy of Randall Garrison)

MP REPORT: Government must fund searches for graves at residential schools

By Randall Garrison Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP As the parliamentary session comes to an…

  • Jul 17, 2021
Randall Garrison is the MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. (Photo courtesy of Randall Garrison)
A motorhome sits amid the burnt debris in the Village of Lytton, B.C. on Friday, July 9, 2021 following a massive wildfire that tore through the town destroying 90 per cent of it. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press Media)

OPINION: The Village of Lytton turned to ashes in moments

‘We drive by piles of ash and crumbled brick. What used to be there?’ writes Jenna Hauck

A motorhome sits amid the burnt debris in the Village of Lytton, B.C. on Friday, July 9, 2021 following a massive wildfire that tore through the town destroying 90 per cent of it. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press Media)
A map created by the Ministry of Forests shows the activity of the Bea Fire in Beaverdell, B.C. in 1989, including one house in particular (at bottom right) that was nearly completely surrounded by flames. (Ministry of Forests)

COLUMN: Looking back on historic fire that nearly destroyed a B.C. town

Enormous firefighting effort saved Beaverdell from destruction in 1989

A map created by the Ministry of Forests shows the activity of the Bea Fire in Beaverdell, B.C. in 1989, including one house in particular (at bottom right) that was nearly completely surrounded by flames. (Ministry of Forests)
Murray Rankin is the MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. (Courtesy of Murray Rankin)

MLA REPORT: Working to protect our ancient forests

Murray Rankin MLA for Oak Bay–Gordon Head As a passionate environmentalist, I…

  • Jun 20, 2021
Murray Rankin is the MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. (Courtesy of Murray Rankin)
Smoke from wildfires burning in the U.S. fills the air as the Grouse Mountain tram transports people down the mountain, in North Vancouver, B.C,, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. The World Air Quality Index, a non-profit that tracks air quality from monitoring stations around the world, rated Vancouver’s air quality as the second worst in the world Saturday. Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Metro Vancouver, showing a very high risk to health due to wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prepare for the worst: 10 steps to get ready for wildfire smoke

The summer of 2021 has the potential to be worse than any wildfire season before it

Smoke from wildfires burning in the U.S. fills the air as the Grouse Mountain tram transports people down the mountain, in North Vancouver, B.C,, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. The World Air Quality Index, a non-profit that tracks air quality from monitoring stations around the world, rated Vancouver’s air quality as the second worst in the world Saturday. Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Metro Vancouver, showing a very high risk to health due to wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Jeff Bray is the executive director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association. (rickcollinsphotography.com)

DOWNTOWN DISCUSSION: Time has come for complex care mental health facility in Victoria

Jeff Bray Downtown Victoria Business Association A few weeks ago, Julian Daly,…

  • May 23, 2021
Jeff Bray is the executive director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association. (rickcollinsphotography.com)