Dermod Travis

Executive Director, IntegrityBC

Over 35 years, the NDP has seen its share of the popular vote decline and its actual vote stall, despite an electorate that has nearly doubled in size over the same period. Parties that don't grow their base lose and risk withering away. The message for the NDP in all these numbers is ominous and it's not just about Adrian Dix. It may have more to do with the brand.

Leanne Simpson

Writer, Academic

I know intimately the importance of standing in one's territory, freely practicing our ceremonies at our sacred places, harvesting our foods, and telling our children their stories of creation in the exact spot creation happened and is happening. I know that living as Anishinaabe is one of the most important things we can do, on reserve, off reserve, in the middle of the bush or in the middle of the city. So I know that the reclamation of PKOLS is an extraordinarily important act for the SȾÁUTW, Songhees and the WSÁNEĆ because it physically connects them to a powerful place, alive with story, and breathing with history.

Scott E. Bernstein

Lawyer, Pivot Legal Society

Imagine if your city government decided to take a public vote to determine whether you and your family members should have access to health care. Based on what the public decides about your mother and her illness, and not what her doctors think, your city government says it will pass a bylaw that prevents her and others in her situation from receiving that treatment in their home community. Preposterous and unreasonable? Absolutely.

Mark Hasiuk

Contributing Columnist, The Province

Tweets are brief. I get that. But Robyn Doolittle's response to my earlier blog post is telling. She failed to address the widespread concerns about her reportage, and opted instead for a straw man strategy starring yours truly. It's a familiar defense aimed at ending debate. Call someone a sexist, a racist, a homophobe. I've heard them all. But I've never used them.

Joshua Ostroff

Senior editor, Huffington Post Canada

It may not be "classy" to pay $200,000 for video that allegedly shows the mayor inhaling from a crack pipe, but it's not unethical to do so. The press buys photos and videos all the time. We live in a society where people are legally allowed to sell things that they own which have some sort of market value.

masalamommas

masalamommas

Lately I've been thinking a lot about how people in general (and women themselves) judge each other based on body image. I've read various posts that are saying that Jessica Alba is a horrible role model for new mothers, and is pressuring moms to lose weight fast -- I disagree. Reading statements like that online break my heart, because women and especially moms should play on the same team.

Brent Toderian

City Planner + Urbanist, TODERIAN UrbanWORKS, Former Vancouver Chief Planner

It's hard to have a conversation about gentrification, with all the baggage around the word. As long as many argue that any level of gentrification is to be absolutely avoided, positive and responsible change remains virtually impossible. Recently urbanist Richard Florida joined others in suggesting we need a new word to replace gentrification, asking "if all economic development and neighbourhood revitalization is gentrification, how do we grow and improve our urban areas?"

Dana Larsen

Director of the Sensible BC campaign for a marijuana referendum. Director of Vancouver's Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary.

All bongs, pipes and vaporizers have been banned in Canada by the Conservative government. Selling these items is punishable with jail terms and some of the highest fines in the Criminal Code.Books that describe how to grow marijuana are also banned, as is any other written or video material used to "promote, encourage or advocate, the production, preparation or consumption of illicit drugs." Surprised about this harsh law? Don't be, it's 25 years old.

David Dodge

Producer/Host, Green Energy Futures.ca

When it comes to net-zero homes it too is an idea that seems more science fiction than anything, especially in the cold climes of Edmonton, Alberta. A home that produces as much energy as it consumes -- well that's just crazy.

Julie Blais Comeau

Canada's Etiquette Expert, Workshop Leader, Media Contributor

Do you sometimes lay awake at night, or daydream on the job, about what to do and say to a co-worker about a recurring sticky situation? Here is a cheat sheet, of the right things to do and say, for when your colleague does the wrong thing.

Nick Fillmore

Award-Winning Journalist

The global warming deniers are at it again, and it is high time that the environmental movement launched a campaign to expose them. We may not see effective action concerning climate change until many more business executives are convinced the changes are hurting both business and society.

Vincent Gogolek

Executive Director, BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association

Since 2009, the Liberals have shuffled ministers in and out of the Ministers of Citizens' Services and Open Government role so quickly that there's hardly been a chance to make any meaningful progress.

Melissa Carr

TheThirtiesGrind.com

We're almost halfway across Canada in out 'Absurd Vancouver Properties' series. This week we're focused on three Toronto houses and what domestic perks they hold against f*%king ridiculously priced properties sprinkled throughout Vancouver.

Rachel Décoste

Motivational Speaker & Software Engineer / Conférencière et Ingénieure en informatique

The BC election results flew in the face of pollsters and pundits alike, with Christy Clark pulling off the win many said was all but a pipe dream. But should federal Liberals pause to ponder before breaking out the bubbly?