Vancouverites's topics - tribe.net

Tibetan Freedom Torch and Festival

2008-05-06T00:31:10Z

Light the Passion, Share the Dream: Freedom and Justice for Tibet

***********
The Tibetan Freedom Torch symbolizes the hopes and aspirations of the Tibetan people for freedom and justice and the commitment of people around the world to helping achieve this dream. As the Freedom Torch reaches Vancouver Tibetans and Tibetan supporters will share in the spirit of survival, celebrating the hopes and determination of Tibetan people.

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Rally at the Chinese Consolate -12:00pm- 1:00pm

Lighting Ceremony, speeches, facepainting and rally. Runners will be cheered on as they make their way to the closing ceremonies at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Placards will be available.

***********
Tibetan Freedom Festival- 2pm - Vancouver Art Gallery (North Side)

Speeches and Performances by...

Hayfa Makes Music
ShennPenn Khymsar
Tibetan Childrens Choir
Pepe Danza
+ More

http://www.tibetanfreedomtorch.org/
http://www.tibet.ca/

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

Landing in Vancouver...

2007-10-09T19:53:56Z

Hello everybody!

My hubby Mike (can) and I (est) will be landing in Vancouver on December 30th, to celebrate the New Year's Eve as the beginning of our new life in Canada. We are leaving our wonderful jobs in Estonia behind because of the impending economic doom / kroon inflation / Russian threat, and hoping that Vancouver will satisfy our need for change and permanence.

We're 25 and 30, both working in the postproduction / multimedia industry. I am a video editor / compositor whereas Mike is an audio engineer / DVD programmer (Sonic Scenarist). Links to our demo reels/resumes are http://www.creativefrequencies.com/kristel/ and http://www.creativefrequencies.com/michael/resume.html [in process]. We'd naturally appreciate any career-related suggestions or references that you may have!

Since I am from the middle of the Baltic Sea and Mike's BC residence is limited to a rather short period of time, we kind of need some help.

We work in a relatively noisy industry, so we're looking for a quiet place to rent. When looking for apartments, should we aim for Commercial Dr. or Kits and what are the pros and cons of each place these days? Can you recommend other places to look other than Craigslist?

Is there a coverage package that we should be aiming for when going to job interviews? Is it common to have dental/maternity benefits in multimedia or artsy/techie jobs?

Coming from Europe, I'll probably be feeling a need for a cell phone. What is the company and plan to use in the Vancouver area if one does not make any "national" phone calls and wants to pay as little as possible to call friends? Or is there no such thing?

Which bank would you recommend for everyday banking purposes, provided that one wants to do as much online/simplified/integrated/automated/environmentally friendly banking as possible?

Where does one register for a family physician and do you have to be working to be able to have one?

Can you recommend a good place for a gym/yoga center, that is down to earth and not overly yuppiefied ( :) ) where i could continue my (preferably Ashtanga) yoga practice?

Any suggestions for New Year's Eve 2007/08?

Oh, and do you still like Vancouver?:)

All replies welcome!

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

Trees in our city

2007-06-06T23:27:06Z

Here we go again! City council will be voting in March to have the trees along west Broadway removed so that the sidewalks can be repaved.
Please send an email to Mayor Sullivan and Council if you disagree with this move.
Here is my letter for reference.
Thanks,
S

mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca

Mayor Sullivan and Council Members:

It has come to my attention that the City of Vancouver is planning to remove the mature trees along West Broadway Street. These trees planted in 1976 and have matured and provide shade for pedestrians and shops, absorb carbon and other pollution from the air, absorb stormwater when it rains and provides a visual canopy that beautifies the streetscape.

The suggestion to remove these trees is yet again a shortsighted approach from our city officials. These trees should be considered Heritage trees and the repaving of the sidewalks should incorporate these trees just as they are!

Our city is losing our magnificent 'green' reputation from over zealous development projects, high cost transportation projects, loss of parkland and residential densification. Make the right move and work around these Linden trees.

Sincerely,

posted in Vancouverites - 2 replies

Shpongle?

2007-06-06T22:09:00Z

My friend and I are going to Praxis, an electronic indoor show of epic proportions, in Seattle on June 16. We will take the bus but we would rather go with YOU :) If you are planning on heading to see this, or are going to Seattle on this day, and would like to share costs, we'd be happy to join you.

Here's the link for the event if you'd like to come, and me thinks you should :)
http://www.infiniteconnections.org/praxis061607

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

CALL TO ACTION: SAVE West Broadway’s Trees

2007-03-29T21:43:27Z

LARGE TREES: Good for the Environment, Good for Business, Good for People

The City of Vancouver is systematically removing a large number of high canopy shade trees from its neighbourhood business districts. Of immediate concern is the removal of approximately 50 – 60 large Lindens along West Broadway in Kitsilano – the city’s short sighted response to buckling sidewalks. Demolition of tree roots has already started.

Removing these trees would be an irrevocable backward step. Safe sidewalks and large trees CAN coexist and DO in many jurisdictions. Design professionals, engineers, and arborists from across North America and Europe have worked together to cost-effectively integrate street infrastructure and mature trees in their cities. Their research was provided to City of Vancouver staff and Council at several meetings during 2006.

However, the City of Vancouver has not yet been willing to commit to a paving system that accommodates large trees. Planted in 1976, the Lindens define West Broadway by creating a high umbrella-like canopy along the street. These healthy, large-stature trees provide immediate benefits: they absorb carbon, provide shade, clean the air, cool buildings, absorb stormwater and reduce the phenomenon known as the heat island effect. Merchants prefer the high canopy as it allows good visibility to the storefronts and signs. People like the leafy corridor – a green shopping strip unique in this city.

Given global warming and the recent devastation of Stanley Park’s trees, it is time for the City of Vancouver to recognize the value and commit to preserving our Heritage trees. Vancouver’s streets are not just for conveying cars and sewage.

Please write and tell Mayor and Council that West Broadway’s trees must stay. Ask them to implement one of the several paving options that would accommodate mature trees and provide safe sidewalks. Address and emails for Mayor and Councillors:

City of Vancouver, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver BC V5Y 1V4

sam.sullivan@vancouver.ca Mayor Sam Sullivan

clranton@vancouver.ca Suzanne Anton

clrball@vancouver.ca Elizabeth Ball

clrcadman@vancouver.ca David Cadman

clrcapri@vancouver.ca Kim Capri

clrchow@vancouver.ca George Chow

clrdeal@vancouver.ca Heather Deal

clrladner@vancouver.ca Peter Ladner

clrlee@vancouver.ca B.C. Lee

clrlouie@vancouver.ca Raymond Louie

clrstevenson@vancouver.ca Tim Stevenson

Please also write letters to editor, the Sun, Province, Courier, G+M. Info, please contact:

Upper Kitsilano Residents Association, upperkitsilanoresidentsassociation@hotmail.com

West Kitsilano Residents Assoc. westkits@hotmail.com, Jean Gordon, 604-730-4695

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

Budget Priorities Presented to City Council

2007-02-21T23:55:59Z

Think City supporters told us loud and clear you want your council to maintain and even expand city services. According to the city's own public consultation on this year's budget, the majority of the 2,700 people surveyed were "in favour of increasing property taxes to maintain services."

However, senior city staff have instead recommended city council slash $7.3 million from existing civic commitments. This service reduction comes either as direct program cuts or increased user fees. The proposed program cuts include parks and recreation ($453,800), libraries ($90,000), action on climate change ($100,000), greenways ($307,000), the revitalization of Chinatown ($212,600), and heritage preservation ($50,000).

You told Think City you also want council to take action on increasing affordable housing, improving public transit and reducing homelessness and poverty. However, new spending recommended by city staff does little to address these top three citizen priorities. Instead, staff are asking council to devote the lion's share of any new money in 2007 – almost $2-million or 55 per cent of new unfunded spending – on more money for policing. That's the wrong priority.

Over the next few weeks, Think City will keep the pressure on our elected officials to better reflect the priorities you have identified for the city. Our mayor and council will make a final budget decision on March 13 – that's when we will learn their priorities for Vancouver.

Think City Citizen Budget Priorities 2007

Think CIty surveyed nearly 10,000 event participants, supporters and Think City Minute email bulletin subscribers between Jan. 16 and Feb. 19 and gathered in 336 submissions. The priorities for city council are outlined below with the percentage support and the total numbers of individuals surveyed who are supporting the priority in brackets:

more affordable housing – this includes both social housing and middle-income housing (69.2%, 229 individuals support this priority/336 total number of individuals who completed survey)
better public transit (41.1%, 136/336)
a reduction in homelessness and poverty (32.9%, 109/336)
more parks and recreation services (21.8%, 72/336)
action on climate change by the city (20.5%, 68/336)
more childcare and daycare services (19.6%, 65/336)
continued support for the Owen/Campbell Four Pillars Drug strategy (19.3%, 64/336)
no additional civic funding for 2010 Olympics (19.0%, 63/336)
more resources for public libraries (10.6%, 35/336)
no additional civic funding for police department (10.3%, 34/336)
more public input on growth and development (9.1%, 30/336)
other - e.g., improve healthcare system, improve schools, cancel/expand specific city programs, job creation, reduce property taxes, increase spending on police, remove social housing, etc. (7.9%, 26/336)
more spending on public works with an emphasis on improving roads (5.7%, 19/336)

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

Climate Change Valentines!

2007-02-10T18:08:38Z

Apologies for the late notice... (but, even if you miss this event, there are easy ways to send your own anytime... for free!)

Concerned citizens organize a climate change Valentine "sign-in" at Granville Island February 10th

Nothing says "reduce greenhouse gas emissions now!" quite like a Valentine. That's the reasoning behind a mass signing of Valentines for Ottawa leaders and MP's happening this Saturday, February the 10th between 10:30 and Noon at Granville Island. The signing will take place in the open plaza between Johnston and Duranleau streets, in front of the Public Market . Organizers expect hundreds of Valentines will be signed and mailed out.

The event has been organized by VTACC, Voters Taking Action on Climate Change, as part of their national "Send a Climate Change Valentine to Ottawa" campaign. The group, formed by Kitsilano community members concerned about climate change and government inaction on the issue, wanted to send a message to Ottawa calling for immediate and deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change Valentines seemed like a timely, unique and enjoyable way to get that message across.

The group has been encouraging citizens across the country to send Valentines in, and support for the effort has been particularly strong here in Vancouver. "In just one hour on a sunny afternoon last week people signed and sent in 325 on 4th Avenue," said Quincy Young, VTACC member. "People really got into the idea, and had a bit of fun while expressing their concerns to Ottawa." Other signings have been happening across the city.

People signing Valentines on Saturday can send messages to Prime Minster Stephen Harper, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, Environment Minister John Baird and their own local MP, and they can choose between eight different classic Valentines with climate change sentiments. The Valentines can be previewed at http://vtacc.org .

Other ways to get involved:

1. Send in your own Valentines or distribute them in your community.
We want to make sure that every MP knows that action on climate change is an issue which their constituents will be considering next election. The Valentine Campaign Kit is available as a Pdf download at http://vtacc.org/ . Printing a few sheets double sided on stiff card stock at home will give you enough Valentines for family, friends and coworkers. If you want to get into serious production, two sided printing (one colour, one B&W) on 80lb (~12pt) glossy-one-side card stock runs about $35, including cutting, for 25 sheets (100 Valentines) at your friendly local print/copy shop.

Don't forget: by law all Valentines go postage free to the House of Commons, so once you've got your stack, you're just left with the pleasure of giving them away and knowing that the federal government is getting a unique call to action. If you send in or distribute Valentines in the next few days, please send us a quick message at climate_action@yahoo.ca to let us know where you live and the name of your local MP.

2. Contact your local MP and ask them to raise the issue when the House is sitting next week.
We are going to encourage our local MP, Stephen Owen, and the Liberal Environment Critic, David McGuinty, to ask Prime Minister Harper and Environment Minister Baird how many Valentines they have received from Canadians. We want them to state before the House that their constituents want real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions starting this year, and that they are not satisfied with vague promises of long term reductions in emission intensity. We encourage you to contact your local MP by phone, fax or email next week to ask them to raise this issue before the House as well.

3. Contact us directly and we'll mail you Valentines which you can to send to your MP.
While Messrs Dion, Baird and Harper are getting their share of Valentines, we are deeply concerned that some MP's are missing out on Valentines from their own constituents. It just wouldn't be right if some of those members looked into their Valentines holders on the 14th and found them empty! If you are unable to print up your own Valentine, send us a quick message at climate_action@yahoo.ca with your name and street address and the name of your MP. If we're not sure that your MP has received any yet, we'll mail you out several right away so that you and a few others can sign them and send them in. (They may not arrive by Valentines day, but better late then never!)

Thank you to everyone who has participated so far!
Over a thousand Valentines have been sent in from Greater Vancouver in the past week just by sharing them out among family, friends, coworkers, parents at school and community members on the street. SPUD, our friendly Organics-To-You delivery service, distributed 2200 to is customers in Victoria, on Vancouver Island, in Greater Vancouver and in Calgary -- the location of Stephen Harper's home riding. Folks in the Similkameen Valley, site of a proposed coal powered generating plant, have sent in 200 more. Students in New Brunswick have been sending them in from school

Together we have been able to send Prime Minster Harper, Environment Minister Baird and Liberal Leader Dion each hundreds of Valentines asking for immediate, deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions -- and more are on the way. Valentines have been distributed from Nunavut to Newfoundland, and from the Yukon to Southwestern Ontario, so we know that many local MP's are also receiving Valentines and getting the message that Canadians are paying attention and expecting action on the most important environmental, moral and human rights issue of our time.

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

looking for occasional lift to whistler on weekends..

2007-02-10T03:27:23Z

hi, are any of you an occassional traveller to whistler? on the weekend?
i will be travelling in march and parts of april..would love to save on bus money and catch a lift with some great vangrooover people..

any help??

thanks

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

A slant of light in Vancity Council

2007-02-04T05:26:53Z

Hi everyone,
Check out the link, second to last page under Section: Inquiries and Other Matters, section 4 regarding TILMA.

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20070116/documents/minutes.pdf

Please make an effort to contact Councillor Cadman and give him support for bringing this to the table within Vancouver City Council.

If you need more info on this, check out the TILMA tribe. Enjoy!

Ryan

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

The Carnival Band looks to expand...

2006-12-21T01:05:54Z

You may remember the Carnival Band from Parade of the Lost Souls, Illuminares, the Car-Free festival on Commercial Drive, Komasket Music festival, Starbelly Jam, the Orange Party, the Gay Pride parade, Under the Volcano, a Work Less Party Party, or from a wedding we've played. We're a twentyish to thirtyish group of horns, percussionists, and strings (bass, fiddle, banjo) who dress in costume and play funky, jazzy, world groove.

We're looking to build a perminent section of dancers and flag bearers (or jugglers or poi spinners). You'd be a part of the group, but instead of playing music you'd bring good vibes.

Honk! Fest in Massachusetts was inspiring, because various groups had their performers, dancers, and vibe-adding friends travelling with them to be part of the show (some from as far as California)- you can check out pictures of us and all the others bands and performers at http://www.flickr.com/groups/honk2006/pool/

The musical style of the wild marching band is growing around the world, and is embodied by groups such as the Hungry March Band of New York (the band at the end of Shortbus), Tonic Tonic Tonic Brass Band of Paris, Tuten und Blasen of Hamburg, Pink Puffers of Rome, and Rhythms of Resistance in London. (We have links to the increasing number of street bands like this on our website: http://www.thecarnivalband.com/links.html )

Contact me if you'd like to learn more!

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

Post effects everyone in BC

2006-12-15T05:18:48Z

Ok. The following effects everyone working and living and paying taxes in BC so i am posting everywhere I can. please read. and then email and talk to everyone you know about it and what to do about it.

Here is some information about the unheard of Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement between BC and Alberta.

I want to make two points and then a plee before you read the article.

1)"The Agricultural Land Commission, the
Island Trusts, regional districts and land use restrictions in
provincial parks will all be vulnerable to a TILMA challenge as of next
April (2007)." - This is for any evironmentalist on the culture jamming list and beyond.

2 )"They could then be challenged for
regulating the size and location of commercial signs and billboards,
imposing height restrictions on buildings, or requiring green space
allocations from developers." - For all you cultural jammers out there, you are going to have a lot of work on your hands. all those new billboards, popping up everywhere.

My plee: I don't know of any actions/campaigns against this agreement, yet. I hope i will find some to inform you all of. But from where I stand, we need to do something. What? Don't know that part yet. But I think we might be able to angle it from the illegitimacy of the agreement (" no legislation introduced to give it legitimacy")
I just really want to get a discussion on this going. So any thoughts would be great.
I will attach the original article as well on the bottom.

fighting till my last breath,
jax

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

December 13, 2006

Murray Dobbin

Last April the governments of B.C. and Alberta signed an agreement
called the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA).
There was no public notice, little media coverage, no legislation
introduced to give it legitimacy and no debate in the legislature. The
Alberta-based think tank, the Canada West Foundation, says TILMA will
rid the provinces of barriers that "frustrate business".

The most draconian aspect of TILMA is its investment provisions. Once
the agreement enters into force on April 1, 2007, individuals and
businesses will gain the right to launch complaints and get up to $5
million in awards against governments just because they “restrict”
investment. Since pretty much everything a government does in some way
restricts investment, the two provinces are in for a wild ride.

TILMA claims will be decided by NAFTA-like panels.

What are some examples of government restrictions on investment that
could be challenged under TILMA? TILMA has some exceptions, but land use
planning is not one of them. The Agricultural Land Commission, the
Island Trusts, regional districts and land use restrictions in
provincial parks will all be vulnerable to a TILMA challenge as of next
April. Municipalities will have a two-year grace period before the
government extends TILMA to them. They could then be challenged for
regulating the size and location of commercial signs and billboards,
imposing height restrictions on buildings, or requiring green space
allocations from developers. And they can be challenged starting in
April if they introduce bylaws that are stricter than their existing ones.

We can get some idea of what we might be in for by looking at Oregon. A
ballot measure approved in 2004 gives property owners there the right to
sue for compensation for anything the state or local governments do that
restricts the value of their property. The result is the effective end
of land use planning. According to Sheila Martin, Director of the
Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies, the ballot measure has
resulted in over 6,000 claims totalling over $6 billion.

“The biggest impact of the measure,” says Martin, “has been on Oregon’s
land use regulations which seek to protect farm and forest land.” Land
use deregulation outside the cities has Martin especially worried: “The
urban growth boundary will become ‘leaky,’ releasing pressure for higher
density in the cities.” Many challenges have been filed against “sign
ordinances” regulating the size and location of commercial signs.

Like the dilemma BC and Alberta will face under TILMA, Oregon is now
having to decide whether to pay compensation to keep their regulations,
or waive them for the complainant. The trouble is, there is no limit to
the number of claims that can be made against a single regulation - so
if you want to keep it, you have to keep paying.

How many claims will BC get? Oregon allows anyone with property in the
state to sue over land use regulation. TILMA gives Albertans the right
to sue BC over restrictions on their BC investments, and vice versa. But
Gordon Campbell is hocking TILMA to all the other provinces to get them
to sign on, which would expand the potential number of complaints
against BC. And under TILMA complaints can be made against a wide range
of government regulations or programs, not just land use planning.

TILMA allows for a limited number of “Legitimate Objectives” so
governments can try to defend themselves before a dispute panel, arguing
their regulations were "necessary." But nothing in TILMA recognizes the
kind of quality of life objectives served by land use planning.
Moreover, a government would also have to demonstrate that its measure
is not more restrictive to business than necessary to achieve its
objectives.

BC officials are making extravagant claims about trade barriers between
the provinces, suggesting that TILMA could “save” BC $4.8 billion - an
eye-popping figure, equivalent to what BC earns annually from its
softwood exports to the US. In October, federal officials told a Senate
committee that reliable studies have estimated inter-provincial trade
barriers to be about one tenth the amount BC is claiming, and vary
depending on what is defined as a trade barrier. Is the removal of land
use restrictions part of the "benefits" to be gained by TILMA? What
about the drop in property values that could result from uncontrolled
development?

Alberta cabinet minister Gary Mar told a Richmond business audience the
easy process TILMA provides for complaints to be taken against
governments is "everything Canadian business asked for." He was right
about that. But what about everyone else?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

www.winnipegfreepress.com/westv...c.html

Agreement cuts provincial powers to govern

Winnipeg Free Press

Fri Nov 3 2006

By Murray Dobbin

WHAT if a provincial government signed an agreement forcing it to make
most of its regulations identical to those of another province? What if
this government voluntarily made itself, and every municipality within
its borders, open to lawsuits over virtually anything it did that
restricted investment? What if it tied its own hands so that, no matter
how much a region was suffering economically, it could not provide
assistance that might "distort investment decisions?"

Well, there are no "what ifs" about it. This past spring, B.C.'s Gordon
Campbell and Alberta's Ralph Klein signed an agreement with exactly
these sweeping constraints on the ability to govern. It is called the
Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement. B.C. and Alberta trade
officials are now shopping it around to other provinces to get them to
sign on. The agreement comes into effect next April.

According to Todd Hirsch of the Canada West Foundation, the agreement
could erase the borders between B.C. and Alberta so that the only
differences between them will be "voting and the colour of the licence
plate."

Except, once the agreement comes into full force, voting provincially in
B.C. and Alberta could be a waste of time.

Under the agreement, the B.C. or Alberta government will be barred from
doing anything that could "impair or restrict" trade, not only between
the provinces but also through them to another province or country. One
article just flatly decrees that there shall be "No Obstacles" to this
trade.

Governments will be prohibited from providing subsidies that either
directly or indirectly "distort investment decisions."
Click here to find out more!
Some exceptions, such as for water, are permitted but even these are to
be reviewed annually to get them reduced.

The agreement also requires B.C. and Alberta to "mutually recognize or
otherwise reconcile their existing standards and regulations" if these
"impair or restrict" trade, investment or labour mobility. Then it
prohibits new regulations from being introduced that would have these
effects. Since regulation always restricts investment in some way, the
result will be that all future B.C. and Alberta governments will be
prevented from strengthening their regulations.

How exactly is this going to work? What would happen, for example, if
B.C. voters decided they had had enough of leaky condos and voted for a
party committed to tougher construction regulations? A government
elected on such a commitment would quickly find it had to betray its
promise or be vulnerable to a trade investment challenge.

Plus if either province considers any new initiatives, it has to give
the other party to the agreement the right to comment in advance and is
then obligated to "take the other province's comments into
consideration." In sharp contrast, citizens in B.C. and Alberta were
never consulted by their own governments on this astonishing agreement.

As part of their sales job, Alberta's Gary Mar and B.C.'s Colin Hansen
have claimed the agreement will not result in lower provincial standards
-- just ones that are "appropriate." In reality, however, the agreement
can only lead to deregulation because businesses are only likely to sue
governments over regulations they think are too high, not ones that are
too weak. In a vastly expanded version of provisions in NAFTA, any
resident of B.C. or Alberta will gain extensive new grounds to sue
government. A dispute panel will be empowered to make binding decisions
and grant compensation of up to $5 million for any government action
that violates the agreement. Repeated complaints can be taken about the
same government policy or regulation.

Governments can go on bended knee to trade investment panels and argue
that their regulations were "necessary," but trade dispute panels rarely
accept such arguments. Plus, this agreement only recognizes a limited
list of regulatory objectives as "legitimate."

For example, a city's desire to prevent urban blight is not on the list
of legitimate objectives, so municipal bans on billboards would likely
be a violation.

No wonder Gary Mar could tell a business audience in Richmond that the
dispute process is "everything Canadian business asked for."
The pact creates endless potential for litigation against government
right down to the school board level, without any demonstrable benefit.
A 1998 study done for the B.C. government found that: "efforts to
liberalize interprovincial trade will have almost no effect on trade
flows. The reality is that interprovincial trade barriers are already
very low."

As for labour mobility, all of provisions for increased labour mobility
will already be covered in Premier Gary Doer's initiative to see
professional requirements harmonized across Canada.

To sum up, the agreement pretty much bans new regulation and government
assistance for economic development. Perhaps in anticipation of the
pact, the B.C. legislature's fall sitting was cancelled with the
government claiming there was not enough to do. When asked about the
constitutionality of the agreement, Steven Shrybman, a partner in the
law firm of Sack, Goldblatt, and Mitchell, commented that "a basic
principle of constitutional law is that a government cannot fetter its
own legislative prerogatives by abandoning its authority to govern."

Sounds like what the Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement is
all about.

Murray Dobbin is a Vancouver-based writer.

fighting till my last breath,
jax (jaxfitzgibbon@yahoo.ca)

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

just joining, also

2006-12-04T02:14:16Z

Aside from travelling, I've lived in Vancouver my entire life... always within several block of Britannia, in fact.

So, hi.

Remember when the apartment complex that houses Turk's and Sophie's was a gas station, then a vacant lot? Or when there was that used bookstore at Broadway and Commercial? Or when Parade of the Lost Souls or Illuminares was composed pretty much of participants?

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

just joining.

2006-12-01T04:56:31Z

hey, Ive been in van all my life. Grew up in north van and moved to the east side right outa high school. Im 41 and seen this town go through lost of changes, some good some bad. But thats life. Up down, good bad, dark light, yin yang. Its all gotta be there. I love this city, its my home, and though I have traveled and lived in other countrys, toured across this country from one end to the other, as a musian, I always come home. I am not political at all, I have no use for it. I believe in karma, and keeping my own lawn moed. Well I joined this tribe "cause its small and new. I am also new to tribe. net. come and say hi. dont worry the state has filed my teeth.

posted in Vancouverites - 2 replies

Shame

2006-10-31T20:18:11Z

Greenhouse gas emissions up in B.C.
Last updated Jun 5 2006 08:39 AM PDT
CBC News

The latest report from Environment Canada shows greenhouse gas emissions in B.C. have increased by nearly 30 per cent since 1990 — the base year in the Kyoto agreement on climate change.

Eighty-three per cent of those emissions come from the oil and gas industry and the use of cars, trucks and outboard motors in the province.

The B.C. emissions numbers are contained in a report issued last month by Environment Canada to the United Nations convention on climate change.

Matt Price of the Conservation Voters of B.C. said the report shows the province is "heading in entirely the wrong direction in terms of our Kyoto commitments."

The Campbell government unveiled its own climate change plan a year and a half ago. It includes measures to encourage clean energy and alternative fuels.

The government also cites the fact that B.C. has the third lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions per capita in Canada.

But Price questions the government's commitment, given its support for major highway and energy projects that will increase emissions.

Price added that the increase in B.C.'s emissions isn't likely to be found on any government news release.

"Not only has Canada at the national level begun to abdicate its Kyoto commitments, but B.C. is also leading the way in breaking our international commitments."

http://www.cbc.ca/bc/story/bc_greenhouse-gas20060605.html

posted in Vancouverites - 10 replies

thats it ?

2006-10-30T04:39:57Z

green house gas, thats it, thats all anyone on here has to say.

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

Thanks for starting this tribe

2004-12-08T19:04:57Z

But I am not even in Vancouver yet! I will be back in Vancouver next week after 4 years of being away. Really wonder what has changed and if people are still as nice and friendly as ever.

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies

Welcome!

2003-11-26T01:34:47Z

To all new Vancouverite members:

Thanks for joining!

I hope this "tribe" will come in handy!

Got a question? Message me.

BTW, I'm still new to this Tribe.net!

-Jennifer

posted in Vancouverites - 0 replies