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Fundraiser finds feet in shoes
CBC LIVE FROM INVERMERE
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CBC Daybreak South host Chris Walker was in the Columbia Valley on Thursday, March 12th, hosting a live broadcast from The Invermere Bakery as part of an East Kootenay tour. Turn to page 3 for an in-depth look at the local segment of the popular morning show.
BERNIE RAVEN CHRIS RAVEN 1-866-598-7415 TEAMRAVEN.CA Offices in Panorama, Invermere & Fairmont
the Surface on 9 Beneath the benefit of beavers
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Green leading Greens again DAN WALTON dan@invermerevalleyecho.com The Green Party of Canada is looking to make new headway in this year’s federal election and its returning candidate for Kootenay-Columbia, Bill Green, says that, if he wins, constituents’ needs will actually be heard in Ottawa. “(Kootenay-Columbia MP David) Wilks is a spokesperson for the government to this riding,” Green told The Valley Echo. “Not a representative who can speak to our interests.” Green accuses the Conservative Party of whipping it members to vote as a block, even if it goes against the welfare of a member’s constituents. “Green MPs can vote to the interests of their electorate, and David clearly can’t do that — he has to vote to the interest of the government, and that’s a profound breakdown of our democracy.” A recent example of Conservative overbearing is their effort to pass Bill
C–51, he said, which is of concern to many Conservative voters. In regards to Bill C–51, the federal government explains: “The world is a dangerous place and Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism. Terrorist attacks on our own soil demonstrate that our law enforcement and national security agencies require more tools to keep pace with evolving threats, and to better protect Canadians here at home.” In a letter to the editor (see page 7), Wilks says the legislation was designed to “protect Canadians against jihadi terrorists who seek to destroy the very principles that make Canada the best country in the world to live.” The bill has been met with strong opposition, with demonstrations held in over 50 Canadian cities on Saturday, March 14th. Green said his party will diagnose the root causes of Canada’s greatest collective risk, and then build plans that See A3
LOCAL NEWS
Possible boundary expansion eyed by Invermere council STEVE HUBRECHT steve@invermerevalleyecho.com
The idea of Invermere expanding its municipal boundaries in the future garnered some attention during last week’s council meeting. During the Tuesday, March 10th meeting, a group of citizens upset at changes proposed in a draft OCP bylaw debated the pros and cons of boundary expansion with councillors (see the March 13th issue of The Pioneer for the full story), but the discussion also touched on where such expansion might occur. “Why not expand east (to the opposite side of Lake Windermere) where there is a tax base,” said councillor Paul Denchuk. An increased tax base, which would give the district an increased budget, was one reason councillors had put forward as a reason for expanding. “We need to be realistic about expanding to the east side of the lake,” said Invermere mayor Gerry Taft at the meeting. “Do the residents there want it? No. Would the regional district director for the area want it? No. Would there taxes go up? Yes.” Although Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Area F director Wendy Booth — whose jurisdiction includes in the east side of the lake — was not See A2
QuintEssence LIVE at Christ Church, March 21st at 7:30 pm Photography Workshop with Marlene Chabot What does ART & Tracy Connery · Sat March 28 from 9 to 4 pm mean to you? Call for more info 250.342.4423 Visit columbiavalleyarts.com for our current events calendar, or call 250-342-4423.
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