http://www.straight.com/content/rss/news-and-views en http://www.straight.com/article-238242/stephanie-ryan-democratic-deficit-calls-wards-system-surrey In Canada and in British Columbia, we often take having a free and fair democratic system for granted. 238242 at http://www.straight.com/article-238242/stephanie-ryan-democratic-deficit-calls-wards-system-surrey Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:15:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-238242/stephanie-ryan-democratic-deficit-calls-wards-system-surrey#comments http://www.straight.com/article-238222/peter-fricker-cbc-shouldnt-celebrate-inauthentic-and-inhumane-calgary-stampede In fact, the Stampede has almost nothing “authentic” about it and has little to do with western heritage. 238222 at http://www.straight.com/article-238222/peter-fricker-cbc-shouldnt-celebrate-inauthentic-and-inhumane-calgary-stampede Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:20:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-238222/peter-fricker-cbc-shouldnt-celebrate-inauthentic-and-inhumane-calgary-stampede#comments http://www.straight.com/article-238214/tanya-fink-why-did-canada-day-turn-military-celebration The Canada Day party I just came from was a sham! 238214 at http://www.straight.com/article-238214/tanya-fink-why-did-canada-day-turn-military-celebration Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:50:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-238214/tanya-fink-why-did-canada-day-turn-military-celebration#comments http://www.straight.com/article-238205/samantha-charlton-nature-can-heal-vancouvers-sick-society Humans have a history of linking themselves to plants for food, clothing, textiles, art, and medicine. Today’s urban environments deprive most of us from experiencing this connection. 238205 at http://www.straight.com/article-238205/samantha-charlton-nature-can-heal-vancouvers-sick-society Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:15:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-238205/samantha-charlton-nature-can-heal-vancouvers-sick-society#comments http://www.straight.com/article-238186/public-distracted-campbell-government-consults-driver-distraction The Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles deserves credit for launching a consultation process on June 30 on distracted driving. Nobody wants to be in front of the guy who’s text-messagin 238186 at http://www.straight.com/article-238186/public-distracted-campbell-government-consults-driver-distraction Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:21:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-238186/public-distracted-campbell-government-consults-driver-distraction#comments http://www.straight.com/article-237587/adaptable-predators-thrive-across-city Raccoons, skunks, coyotes, bears, eagles, and hawks are thriving in Vancouver, but at what cost? 237587 at http://www.straight.com/article-237587/adaptable-predators-thrive-across-city Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:40:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-237587/adaptable-predators-thrive-across-city#comments http://www.straight.com/article-237589/so-far-it%3F%3Fs-been-good-year-bears Bear conservationists on the North Shore and in Whistler are cautiously optimistic. So far this year, no black bears have been destroyed for coming too close to people and property in either of these places while rummaging for food. 237589 at http://www.straight.com/article-237589/so-far-it??s-been-good-year-bears Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:30:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-237589/so-far-it??s-been-good-year-bears#comments http://www.straight.com/article-237654/ndp-insists-it-wont-neglect-peak-oil NDP energy critic John Horgan has mentioned the phrase “peak oil” on three dates in the legislature. 237654 at http://www.straight.com/article-237654/ndp-insists-it-wont-neglect-peak-oil Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:20:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-237654/ndp-insists-it-wont-neglect-peak-oil#comments http://www.straight.com/article-237638/bill-targets-foreign-workers A bill that makes it tougher to hire foreign exotic dancers will also make it harder for live-in caregivers and other temporary workers to come to Canada. 237638 at http://www.straight.com/article-237638/bill-targets-foreign-workers Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:10:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-237638/bill-targets-foreign-workers#comments http://www.straight.com/article-237582/kwakwaka%3F%3Fwakw-chief-bill-wilson-says-experience-counts-afn-election Kwakwaka’wakw chief Bill Wilson claims that he was the first Native leader to sit on a float in Vancouver’s Pride parade, and he also says he is a passionate defender of gay rights. 237582 at http://www.straight.com/article-237582/kwakwaka??wakw-chief-bill-wilson-says-experience-counts-afn-election Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-237582/kwakwaka??wakw-chief-bill-wilson-says-experience-counts-afn-election#comments http://www.straight.com/article-237639/laws-enable-olympic-evictions-advocate The cofounder of a West End renters group has said Vancouverites will continue to be evicted in the lead-up to the 2010 Olympics if the provincial government doesn’t amend its rental-housing laws. 237639 at http://www.straight.com/article-237639/laws-enable-olympic-evictions-advocate Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:50:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-237639/laws-enable-olympic-evictions-advocate#comments http://www.straight.com/article-237640/constance-barnes-getting-paid-while-leave It’s not known how long Vision Vancouver park-board commissioner Constance Barnes will remain on leave, but she continues to receive pay from the city 237640 at http://www.straight.com/article-237640/constance-barnes-getting-paid-while-leave Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:40:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-237640/constance-barnes-getting-paid-while-leave#comments http://www.straight.com/article-237641/k12-pass-depends-translink-funding TransLink is open to providing Metro Vancouver’s K-12 students with affordable group passes to use during educational trips, according to spokesperson Ken Hardie. 237641 at http://www.straight.com/article-237641/k12-pass-depends-translink-funding Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:30:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-237641/k12-pass-depends-translink-funding#comments http://www.straight.com/article-237642/more-metro-staff-collect-six-figures Almost twice as many Metro Vancouver staff were paid more than $100,000 compared with the previous year. 237642 at http://www.straight.com/article-237642/more-metro-staff-collect-six-figures Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:20:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-237642/more-metro-staff-collect-six-figures#comments http://www.straight.com/article-237609/firsttimers-rates Government programs tend to be stable, but an escalating interest rate can mean instant poverty for homeowners at the end of a fixed term. 237609 at http://www.straight.com/article-237609/firsttimers-rates Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:10:00 -0700 http://www.straight.com/article-237609/firsttimers-rates#comments