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OPINION: About the Squamish people and Squamish language

How much do you know about the Squamish people on whose land we reside? The Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw, (Squamish people and Nation) are Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast.…

Modernize Canada’s privacy laws: UK information commissioner

Don’t pay data ransoms, former B.C. privacy commissioner says

Britain’s information commissioner Tuesday added her voice to those of Canadian privacy commissioners in calling for modernization of the country’s privacy laws to bring them into the 21st century. “Canadian law has slipped behind,” Elizabeth Denham said, noting a main issue is how political parties use voter information.…

Whistler’s Sharpe scores gold in World Cup return

Halfpipe skier back in action after concussion

In the right circumstances, even an Olympic gold medallist can still get nervous getting set to drop in. That was the case for Whistler resident Cassie Sharpe, who claimed top spot in PyeongChang in 2018, has eight FIS World Cup victories and a pair of Crystal Globes to her name.…

7 things you should know about potential teacher job action

Teachers have been in talks to reach a settlement for a year and recently publicized their job action plan — here’s why

This week the BC Teachers’ Federation released its job action plan to members but stated it is committed to ongoing mediated talks to reach a settlement. The Coquitlam Teachers’ Association, meanwhile, reminds parents they need not worry as the plan is just an exeercise in being prepared and every step requires a vote — and lots of notice.…

Whistler police want info on hit-and-run to parked car in Alpine

Complainant saw a dark-coloured SUV backing out the driveway before heading south

The Whistler RCMP is asking the public for any information on a hit-and-run to a parked vehicle in Alpine last week, according to a release. At about 3:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28, officers responded to a report of a collision in the 8000 block of Rainbow Drive.…

BC NDP tops voter polling as provincial election rumours percolate

At this stage, the BC NDP would head to an election campaign with the biggest “voter pool” in the province

Rumours about the possibility of the first early election of the 21st century in British Columbia have been rampant for the past few weeks. The retirement of BC Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver has led to a race to find his full-time replacement.…

Trial for assault on Squamish trans woman ends

Lawyers debate if accused’s punches were in self-defence

Editor’s warning: This story contains offensive language. Does pulling down a man’s pants amount to consent to a fight?…

Whistler teams up with neighbouring police agencies to nab fleeing suspects at Park Royal

Four Lower Mainland men in their 20s were safely taken into custody

Whistler RCMP credits a coordinated effort between four neighbouring police agencies, as well as the keen eyes of the public for helping track down a car full of fleeing suspects in West Vancouver last week. At about 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28, Whistler police noticed a car in the Marketplace parking lot with licence plates that weren’t registered to the vehicle.…

Most Canadian households will get more than they pay from carbon tax: PBO

OTTAWA — A new analysis by Parliament’s budget watchdog has found that most households in provinces where the federal carbon tax applies will receive more money back in rebates than they will pay through the scheme — just not as much as projected last year. “Under the federal government’s current rebate structure, most households will still receive more than what they pay in fuel charges,” parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux said Tuesday.…

DFO says land-based fish farms commercially ‘ready’

DFO study of alternatives to open-net salmon farms finds RAS and hybrid systems most viable

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has concluded a study of alternative technologies to open-net salmon farms in B.C., and concludes only two are commercially “ready.” Those two systems are land-based RAS (recirculating aquaculture systems) and hybrid systems.…

Tourism Whistler expects impact of coronavirus on resort to be ‘minimal’

Risk to public remains low; WB installs additional sanitation stations

Although B.C. health officials stress that the public health risk of the global coronavirus outbreak remains low, tourism operators across the province are bracing for a possible slowdown. With one confirmed case of coronavirus 2019-nCoV in B.C.…

Federal Court dismisses First Nations’ challenges to TMX pipeline project

The decision paves the way for construction to continue on the project

OTTAWA-The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed the legal challenge to Ottawa’s decision to approve the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion a second time. In a unanimous, 3-0 decision, the court dismissed four challenges to the approval filed last summer by First Nations in British Columbia, saying in the 95-page decision that “we conclude that there is no basis for interfering” with the decision.…

First-time buyer incentive ‘a flop,’ says economist

Federal program used by only 29 homebuyers in Metro Vancouver

The federal First Time Home Buyer Incentive (FTHBI), introduced in September 2019, was used by only 29 buyers in Metro Vancouver and fewer than 3,000 buyers across Canada in the last four months of last year. Calling the program “a flop,” Sherry Cooper, chief economist at Dominion Lending Centres, noted that total funding of $55 million was “less than a stellar start” given the FTHBI’s $1.25 billion three-year target.…

UVic study aims to reduce risk of fire with forest management

A $1-million research project hosted by the University of Victoria is looking for ways to manage forests to reduce the risk of wildfires. The four-year project, called Wildfire and Carbon, was announced by the UVic-based Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, which was established in 2008 with an endowment from the B.C. government and other partners.…

Retired meteorologist is putting out daily forecasts for ‘powder hounds’

David Jones wants to be your source for Whistler Blackcomb weather

Skiers and boarders know the drill: When you’re not riding, you’re checking conditions and forecasts, trying to figure out when the next epic day is going to be. Yet most of the go-to forecasting resources are pretty basic, providing a broad overview of what to expect, without in-depth analysis of how specific weather patterns will impact Whistler Blackcomb (WB).…