Columnists

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
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 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

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)
Adam Olsen is MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. (Black Press Media file photo)

MLA REPORT: Committee tackles systemic bias in policing

Adam Olsen is MLA for Saanich North and the Islands

  • Apr 18, 2021
Adam Olsen is MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. (Black Press Media file photo)
A walk for autism awareness. (Black Press Media file photo)

COLUMN: Autism acceptance, not autism awareness

Elizabeth Sparling is the mother of a 24-year-old son with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Apr 10, 2021
A walk for autism awareness. (Black Press Media file photo)
BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau (Cowichan Valley) and Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen. (Janis Jean photo)

MLA REPORT: The brain is part of the body – let’s include it in our health-care system

We have been asking questions of the provincial government about their response…

  • Mar 27, 2021
BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau (Cowichan Valley) and Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen. (Janis Jean photo)
David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. (Photo courtesy of David Suzuki Foundation)

SCIENCE MATTERS: Easy way out for wildlife conservation isn’t what it appears

By David Suzuki H.L. Mencken once wrote that “there is always a…

  • Mar 14, 2021
David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. (Photo courtesy of David Suzuki Foundation)
A nurse prepares to vaccinate healthcare workers at a COVID-19 drive-thru immunization site in Coquitlam in this image supplied to the media by Fraser Health on March 8, 2021. (Fraser Health)

OPINION: Helping a 97-year-old man get his COVID vaccination appointment

Call centre inundated with 1.7 million calls while there are just 50,000 folks over 90 in B.C.

A nurse prepares to vaccinate healthcare workers at a COVID-19 drive-thru immunization site in Coquitlam in this image supplied to the media by Fraser Health on March 8, 2021. (Fraser Health)
FILE - In this Friday, Jan 1, 2021 file photo, a lorry driver's documents are scanned on a phone as he passes a checkpoint for the train through the Eurotunnel link with Europe in Folkestone, England. One month after Britain made a New Year split from the European Union's economic embrace, businesses that once traded freely are getting used to frustrating checks, delays and red tape. Meat exporters say shipments have rotted in trucks awaiting European health checks. Scottish fishermen have protested at Parliament over the catch they can no longer sell to the continent because of byzantine new paperwork. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

FINLAYSON: Government should focus on strengthening B.C.’s leading export industries

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

  • Mar 1, 2021
FILE - In this Friday, Jan 1, 2021 file photo, a lorry driver's documents are scanned on a phone as he passes a checkpoint for the train through the Eurotunnel link with Europe in Folkestone, England. One month after Britain made a New Year split from the European Union's economic embrace, businesses that once traded freely are getting used to frustrating checks, delays and red tape. Meat exporters say shipments have rotted in trucks awaiting European health checks. Scottish fishermen have protested at Parliament over the catch they can no longer sell to the continent because of byzantine new paperwork. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)
Murray Rankin 2020 (Courtesy Murray Rankin)

MLA REPORT: Reflecting on the first 100 days

MLA Murray Rankin looks back on nearly four months in his new job

  • Feb 28, 2021
Murray Rankin 2020 (Courtesy Murray Rankin)
Adam Olsen (Black Press Media file photo)

MLA REPORT: What is systemic discrimination, bias and racism?

A column from MLA Adam Olsen

  • Feb 21, 2021
Adam Olsen (Black Press Media file photo)