Columnists

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

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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
<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
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)
Adam Olsen is the Green party candidate for Saanich North and the Islands. (Submitted by Adam Olsen)

MLA REPORT: Adam Olsen encourages all residents to get vaccinated

Adam Olsen is MLA for Saanich North and the Islands

  • May 16, 2021
Adam Olsen is the Green party candidate for Saanich North and the Islands. (Submitted by Adam Olsen)
British Columbia Premier John Horgan highlights a paragraph as Finance Minister Selina Robinson tables the budget in a speech in the legislative assembly at the provincial legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

FINLAYSON: 3 takeaways from the new B.C. budget

‘Perhaps most notable is what’s happened in the labour market since last spring’

  • May 10, 2021
British Columbia Premier John Horgan highlights a paragraph as Finance Minister Selina Robinson tables the budget in a speech in the legislative assembly at the provincial legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Murray Rankin 2020 (Courtesy Murray Rankin)

MLA REPORT: Budget offers investments in community

Murray Rankin is MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head

  • May 7, 2021
Murray Rankin 2020 (Courtesy Murray Rankin)
Medical staff is shown preparing a patient outside a hospital in New Delhi. From the start of the pandemic, there have been 19.9 million cases of COVID-19 reported in India until May 3, 2021. 16.3 million have recovered, and there have been 219,000 deaths. (Photo submitted by Vivek)

Column: Let’s uplift the heroes in India’s battle against COVID-19

India reported over 360,000 infections on Monday, May 3

Medical staff is shown preparing a patient outside a hospital in New Delhi. From the start of the pandemic, there have been 19.9 million cases of COVID-19 reported in India until May 3, 2021. 16.3 million have recovered, and there have been 219,000 deaths. (Photo submitted by Vivek)
Chronicle Editor, Cole Schisler taking part in the ageing senses challenge. (Kara Olson photo)

Schisler: Try actually walking a mile in an elder’s shoes

Workday spent with artificially aged senses a real eye-opener

Chronicle Editor, Cole Schisler taking part in the ageing senses challenge. (Kara Olson photo)
Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor. (Photo by Bernard Thibodeau)

MP REPORT: Budget shows promising initiatives and missed opportunities

Alistair MacGregor is MP for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford

  • Apr 21, 2021
Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor. (Photo by Bernard Thibodeau)