Opinion

MP Richard Cannings

Teck and battery recycling leaders make Trail an ideal hub

Opinion: Richard Cannings is MP for the South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding

  • Mar 14, 2023

 

Richard Cannings

West Kootenay MP would like to hear from anyone with concerns about boundary changes.

Next-to-final draft of proposed changes to electoral map, radically differs from the first: MP

  • Feb 28, 2023

 

Certain apps can make users more mindful of their social media use. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

KITTERINGHAM: Why I unfollowed 500 social media accounts this month

Social media was depressing me, so I did something about it

 

Kathi Diewert of Chemainus captures many interesting nature shots around the Island. No matter what it looks like outside, there’s no sense in creating any false sadness on so-called Blue Monday and beyond. (Photo by Kathi Diewert)

BODGER: Blue Monday is bogus, stop looking for reasons to be sad

There’s no evidence one day should be the saddest compared to any other

Kathi Diewert of Chemainus captures many interesting nature shots around the Island. No matter what it looks like outside, there’s no sense in creating any false sadness on so-called Blue Monday and beyond. (Photo by Kathi Diewert)
Two children under 18 held in custody by the Iranian regime that have been sponsored by Federal Canadian MPs to try to help stop their execution. Ali Rakhshani, 17, is endorsed by Fleetwood-Port Kells MP Ken Hardie, and Mohammad Rakhshani, 16, is endorsed by North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson. (Twitter @balo0chgirl)

OPINION: Iranian woman living in Fraser Valley urging MPs to sponsor prisoners to avoid execution

Nine federal Liberal MPs ‘sponsor’ Iranian detainees by sharing their plights on social media

Two children under 18 held in custody by the Iranian regime that have been sponsored by Federal Canadian MPs to try to help stop their execution. Ali Rakhshani, 17, is endorsed by Fleetwood-Port Kells MP Ken Hardie, and Mohammad Rakhshani, 16, is endorsed by North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson. (Twitter @balo0chgirl)
FILE - This undated image provided by the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory shows the NIF Target Bay in Livermore, Calif. The system uses 192 laser beams converging at the center of this giant sphere to make a tiny hydrogen fuel pellet implode. (Damien Jemison/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory via AP, File)

OPINION: Nuclear fusion may change our world but renewable energy sources will save it: experts

Harnessing nuclear fusion could take more than 40 years, while some solutions already exist

  • Jan 8, 2023
FILE - This undated image provided by the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory shows the NIF Target Bay in Livermore, Calif. The system uses 192 laser beams converging at the center of this giant sphere to make a tiny hydrogen fuel pellet implode. (Damien Jemison/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory via AP, File)
Doug Cochrane, chair of the Interior Health board. Photo Credit: Contributed

Interior Health board chair reflects on 2022 challenges

It’s been difficult for many people in the Interior, and especially tough on health-care workers

  • Dec 28, 2022
Doug Cochrane, chair of the Interior Health board. Photo Credit: Contributed
Members of Doctors and Nurses for Planetary Health. Photo: Submitted

West Kootenay election candidates talk climate solutions

Should you bother to vote? Yes, and here’s why we think it’s important …

  • Oct 13, 2022
Members of Doctors and Nurses for Planetary Health. Photo: Submitted
“CRA emails will never have an attachment. CRA will never ask you to reply to an email.”

Tax season or scam season?

Ron Clarke, owner of JBS Business Services in Trail, provides accounting and tax services.

  • Apr 7, 2022
“CRA emails will never have an attachment. CRA will never ask you to reply to an email.”
” Track down the “T” slips regardless of value, and ensure they get entered on your tax return. And if you can’t get the official “T” slip, estimate the value and enter it, at least then you can say you tried.”

Little known tax penalty is no joke

by Ron Clarke Did you know that if a taxpayer fails to…

  • Apr 5, 2022
” Track down the “T” slips regardless of value, and ensure they get entered on your tax return. And if you can’t get the official “T” slip, estimate the value and enter it, at least then you can say you tried.”
Photo: Hannah Busing/Unsplash

‘What does Trail CAT do, anyway?’

“Stigma is a major barrier to people seeking out help when they need it.”

  • Apr 3, 2022
Photo: Hannah Busing/Unsplash
Alternative minimum tax (AMT) is a separate method of tax calculation made by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that runs in parallel with a taxpayer’s regular income tax calculation.

Looking at the alternative minimum tax calculation

An AMT amount paid can be carried forward and credited up to seven years …

  • Mar 24, 2022
Alternative minimum tax (AMT) is a separate method of tax calculation made by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that runs in parallel with a taxpayer’s regular income tax calculation.
“You may even be confident that you know the definition of “non-arm’s length.” However, what you may not appreciate is this, depending on who is defining that term, the inclusion or exclusion of certain people as “non-arms length” person may vary.”

Rules of the taxman when transferring assets to a relative

“As usual with CRA rules, there are exceptions.”

  • Mar 17, 2022
“You may even be confident that you know the definition of “non-arm’s length.” However, what you may not appreciate is this, depending on who is defining that term, the inclusion or exclusion of certain people as “non-arms length” person may vary.”
Tax Tips & Pits: “If you have ever completed a medical claim on your personal tax return you likely know that it’s not a straightforward process.”

Attendant care, nursing home, and the disability tax credit

This type of claim involves many rules, and many variations on those rules.

  • Mar 10, 2022
Tax Tips & Pits: “If you have ever completed a medical claim on your personal tax return you likely know that it’s not a straightforward process.”
“Who the heck is Spicoli?” I ask. “He’s off a movie,” he says and mumbles something about Ridgemont High and fast times. Photo: File

Top Shelf Stories: “Who’s Spicoli?”

Many friends and readers may have heard a version of this one.

  • Feb 21, 2022
“Who the heck is Spicoli?” I ask. “He’s off a movie,” he says and mumbles something about Ridgemont High and fast times. Photo: File
Ron Clarke is owner of JBS Business Services in Trail, providing accounting and tax services.

Are you a B.C. contractor? Brushing up on contractor income reporting

Tax Tips & Pits with Ron Clarke, Trail business owner

  • Jan 27, 2022
Ron Clarke is owner of JBS Business Services in Trail, providing accounting and tax services.
Respect Connect: A Better Community for Us All is an online educational series available to everyone in the community. There is no charge. Image: Submitted

Trail CAT encourages locals to take part in anti-stigma learning opportunity

Series addresses stigma surrounding issues such as homelessness, mental illness and substance use

  • Dec 27, 2021
Respect Connect: A Better Community for Us All is an online educational series available to everyone in the community. There is no charge. Image: Submitted
The family used to play charades every holiday. Until a fight over someone cheating ruined it. Photo: Unsplash

Top Shelf Stories: The Christmas Chronicles

It’s Christmas Eve in 2007, we have some family and friends over for dinner at our place …

  • Dec 27, 2021
The family used to play charades every holiday. Until a fight over someone cheating ruined it. Photo: Unsplash
Kootenay Lake is one of the bodies of water re-surveyed by Living Lakes Canada this summer, in a study of ecological and urban development changes to Basin shorelines. Photo: Kelsey Yates

Empowering B.C. communities to protect their local watersheds

The time is now to create a Watershed Security Fund.

  • Dec 21, 2021
Kootenay Lake is one of the bodies of water re-surveyed by Living Lakes Canada this summer, in a study of ecological and urban development changes to Basin shorelines. Photo: Kelsey Yates
Debris from receding flood waters is pictured along a road as heavy rains form an atmospheric river in Abbotsford, Nov. 30. Photo: Canadian Press

B.C. needs a province-wide public bus network — especially now

There should be frequent and affordable buses on routes connecting destinations in the Interior

  • Dec 13, 2021
Debris from receding flood waters is pictured along a road as heavy rains form an atmospheric river in Abbotsford, Nov. 30. Photo: Canadian Press