New Democratic Party deputy leader Libby Davies, described Wednesday as the "heart" of the party's left flank, has decided she won't be a candidate in the contest to replace Jack Layton. Davies, a key player in an attempt, a decade ago, to replace the NDP with a new party, said she had cross-Canada support, but concluded that her inability to speak French was too great a barrier to overcome…Davies said that in the past, she focused on a candidate's policy views, but she'll now back a candidate with strong leadership skills who can follow in Layton's "pragmatic" footsteps.

In time for International Women’s Day, Capilano Students’ Union is hosting a women-in-politics panel tonight, from 5:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaite, North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma, District of North Vancouver Coun. Megan Curren, and former longtime MP Libby Davies will discuss some of the challenges and unique opportunities that come with being a woman in B.C. politics. The free event is taking place at CapU’s Lonsdale campus at 125 Victory Ship Way.

NANAIMO, BC – Residents along Hammond Bay are lobbying city council members to create new regulations to restrict cellular phone towers from being erected within 500 metres of any schools…Several parents vowed to pull their students from the school if the RDN reached an agreement with Telus because of their fear of the possible negative effects of long-term exposure to high-frequency radiation waves. Studies have shown health implications for long-term close-range exposure, but a large part of the scientific community disagrees with the research. Council questioned its ability to regulate where towers can be erected, considering the federal government's jurisdiction over this issue. Vancouver East MP Libby Davies has a private members bill that urges Ottawa to take more of an active role in determining where the towers are installed. She also calls for more consultation with municipal governments.