Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene from Friday, December 30, 2016.
With less than a month to go before North Coast Liberals decide on their candidate for the 2017 British Columbia Provincial election, one candidate is taking a multi media approach to seek the support of the party membership.
Rodney Proskiw made his case for their confidence through a post to the North Coast Liberal Facebook page this week, as well as with a full page ad in the Northern View, with his introduction to the Liberal faithful highlighting some of his background in the community.
In his call for the support of North Coast Liberals, Mr. Proskiw also outlines a brief history of his family's twelve years in the region, noting his efforts to start a Charter Boat business here, as well as through his work with the Prince Rupert Lions Club and on the Board of Tourism Prince Rupert,.
He also offers up some thoughts on how he approaches the issues of the North Coast.
Among his themes:
A long time member of UFCW-1518, who is hard working, dedicated and committed to helping our community. An active community volunteer and leader who is approachable and eager to listen and to advocate for. He also notes that he is free thinking, inclusive and innovative, motivated to improve our lives with fresh and new ideas, with no attachments to a specific special interest group.
As part of his presentation to local Liberals he also outlines that for supporters to be able to vote for him at the nomination in late January they must register, asking them to call or email him prior to the deadline of January 4th.
He can be reached at 250-627-1853 or by email at rodneyproskiw@gmail.com
Those that are hoping to see a once popular east side trail put back into public use will find some welcome news in a public notice from the City of Prince Rupert.
Tucked way in the back pages of the weekly newspaper from Wednesday is an announcement from the City noting that the city intends to enter a Licence Agreement with Prince Rupert Trail Enhancement and Recreation Society for a portion of the land known as the Rushbrook Trail.
The stretch in question would start at the Bob's on the Rocks location at Rushbrook Floats and run from parallel to Overlook Street on the cliffs above the trail .
The City of Prince Rupert is setting in motion plans to turn over a stretch of Rushbrook Trail parallel to Overlook Street to the Prince Rupert Trail Enhancement Society for development for a period of up to ten years
According to the Notice, the nature of the arrangement is for the purpose of public redevelopment over the course of a five year term, with an option of a renewal for another five year period. The fee for the term will be one dollar per year.
The Rushbrook trail is currently listed as Closed to the Public, owing to concerns about safety along the waterfront pathways, remediation work on the trail has been a frequent topic of interest around the community in recent years, with much talk directed to finding a way to reopen it to the public.
While there has been no discussion of the trail plans in public session of Council this year, the prospect of turning it over to the Society does bode well for outdoor enthusiasts who have hoped to see the trail reopened to public use.
With that Tall Trees renovation project complete, the Society noted at the time that they hoped to turn their attention to other challenges when it comes to trail remediation, with recent fundraising efforts launched to help move some of their plans forward.
While no plans have been outlined as of yet from the Society as to what they have in mind, bringing back even a portion of the once popular Rushbrook Trail will be a welcome addition to the network of trails that they hope to one day deliver to the North Coast area.
The project would also appear to be one that could be attractive to local groups, organizations or industries looking to give back to the community and help in bringing the popular east side trail back to a safe and usable status.
Should you have an any inquiries related to the proposed license arrangement you are asked to contact Rory Mandryk, the city's Corporate Administrator at rory.mandryk@princerupert.ca, the deadline for comments or inquiries is no later than 4 PM on January 6th of 2017.
Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene from Thursday, December 29, 2016.
With a new Administration set to take power in Washington DC the National Post has put a focus on the dispute over the Alaska Marine Highway Terminal in Prince Rupert
As 2016 comes to an end and the dawn of a seismic shift in US politics about to take place, the National Post is taking a look at the long running issue on the North Coast of the Alaska Marine Highway Terminal.
In an item published today, the National newspaper puts a renewed focus on the fate of the transportation link to the north and how pressures to bend to the Buy America process from the United States may increase with the start of the Administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
John Ivison, one of the Post's main political columnists puts the AMHS terminal at the start of a list of what could be a larger problem for Canadian trade officials. He calls attention to the potential shift in Canada/US relations as the U. S. embraces a more pronounced Buy America approach, with the Post columnist calling the small ferry terminal at Fairview Bay one of the first potential flash points on the new bilateral universe between the two nations.
Ivison recounts some of the history of the dispute between the USA and Canada, a cross border spat that has seen a significant delay for the plans dating back to 2014 to overhaul the ferry terminal in Prince Rupert.
In October, Mayor Lee Brain provided a review of his September trip to Alaska for the Southeast Conference in Petersburg, offering both a current update to the AMHS situation, along with his longer term vision for transportation between the North Coast and Alaska.
You can review that item from the blog here, our October blog post also provides some background to the long trail of delays related to the AMHS facilities in Prince Rupert.
According to the National Post story, a threat to cut the service to Prince Rupert was delivered to Mayor Lee Brain through a letter provided by the State Deputy Commission of Transport Michael Neussel, with the Alaskan official noting that with Alaska considering reductions in its fleet and route structure, the lack of a suitable dock in Prince Rupert would be a factor when it comes to consideration of those changes.
The review of events from the Post also notes that the Alaskans still are holding to a goal of having the Prince Rupert dock to be rebuilt at a cost of 10 to 20 million dollars, calling on Mayor Brain to lobby both the Provincial and Federal Government to revoke or amend the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act which was put in place last January.
The Post states that they had attempted to seek clarification on how the Alaskan plan would work around the current Buy American rules (let alone any new push from a Trump administration we imagine) but could not reach either Mayor Brain, or the Alaska representatives for comment prior to the publishing of their article.
While the Alaskan official seems to indicate that there is some form of movement in play to address the issue of the AMHS terminal, according to the Post, Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland has stated that the Federal government is unaware of any formal proposal to move the project forward.
The remainder of the Post article explores how the Federal government is making plans on trade when it comes to the approaching new Trump administration, with the prospect of potential trade flare ups among the main concern when it comes to a new mantra of America First from the USA.
Should the US Government turn its focus on delivering on the new President's declaration to put American interests first, the Alaska Ferry Terminal may not be the only Prince Rupert facility to become a flash point between the two nations.
With much of the movement of arriving cargo through the Port of Prince Rupert destined for American destinations, cross border transit could also be on the radar for a more insular United States that is determined to protect American jobs.
That could be another issue that the National Post may want to keep an eye on for any follow up articles when it comes to the impact on the Canadian economy of the approaching Trump years.
The Port of Prince Rupert is a shipment point that delivers product deep into the United States through the CN Rail network
While we might think that we are far from any potential International political fray tucked up as we are just under the Alaska panhandle, the arrival of the new President and his four year term could provide for a range of trade concerns that may have a significant impact on the Northwest in any number of ways.
Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene from Wednesday, December 28 2016.
A new book on the sinking of the Queen of the North became somewhat of a North Coast best seller this holiday season, with the local book store Eddie's News having to bring in numerous shipments to keep up with demand for the account of March 21st and 22nd of 2006.
The book, The Queen of the North Disaster is authored by Colin Henthorne who was captain of the vessel on what would be its final journey.
Through the 224 pages, Henthorne explores the events of the transit from Prince Rupert towards Port Hardy, a journey which was interrupted during the course of that early morning off of Gil Island when the vessel struck an underwater reef and sank. A tragedy which claimed the lives of Shirley Rosette and Gerald Foisy who were among the 101 listed as aboard the vessel when it departed from the Fairview Ferry Terminal.
As we have since discovered through the many news articles dedicated to the story and the subsequent court testimony of trial, it was in the early hours of March 22nd that the vessel struck those underwater rocks near Gil Island and began to sink, launching an extensive rescue mission which featured the response of many of the residents of Hartley Bay, as well as through the work from the Canadian Coast Guard.
When that operation had come to its end the rescuers had safely retrieved 99 of the 101 on board the vessel, with neither Mr. Foisy and Ms. Rosette ever found and still listed as presumed drowned and now officially declared dead.
From his view of events Captain Henthorne recounts much of journey with a significant amount of his attention directed towards the early morning period, while at the same time offering his own thoughts on what may have happened during that trip, discounting many of the rumours that came out of the sinking, while making note of equipment changes that had been put in place on the vessel.
As well, Henthorne challenges much of the way that BC Ferries handled the sinking and is particularly strong in opinion when it comes to how the Ferry Corporation treated both himself and the employees who had been on watch that night.
In the period that followed the sinking, BC Ferries helmswoman Karen Briker was fired, while Fourth Mate Karl Lilgert was charged with criminal negligence causing death and sentenced to four years in prison.
Captain Henthorne, who was not on watch at the time of the incident, engaged in a lengthy fight to keep his job with BC Ferries but subsequently was dismissed, in a preview to his book he notes that it took him six years to recover his career.
His account of March 22nd highlights how many of the questions related to the disaster still remain unanswered and from his point of view, notes that BC Ferries had for the most part abandoned their on-board employees and how management has not examined its role in the events both prior to and following the sinking of the ship.
The former BC Ferries captain remains involved in the maritime world, currently employed at the Coast Guard Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria BC.
You can stop in at Eddie's to put your name on the list for the next shipment, or make use of any number of online shopping options to secure a copy of a book that seems to have captured the imagination of the North Coast.
A look at how Captain Henthorne put together his book as well as some reviews of the work can be found below:
An item first published yesterday and updated today on the Financial News site Bloomberg Markets is suggesting that Petronas, the parent company for Pacific NorthWest is giving some consideration to shifting the shipment point for it's proposed Lelu Island terminal complex.
According to the Bloomberg report the Pacific NorthWest LNG project would still build its liquefaction plant at Lelu Island, however the actual shipment of the LNG would take place from a docking facility at the former Canpotex property located on Ridley Island, making use of a pipeline to the site recently opened up by the departure of the Saskatchewan based potash company.
A report in Bloomberg Markets is suggesting that Pacific NorthWest LNG is considering use of the former site allocated to Canpotex for a shipment dock while its main liquefaction plant would remain on Lelu Island
The Bloomberg report also notes that the new proposal could save Petronas as much as 1 billion dollars through the elimination of the suspension bridge proposed for Lelu Island and would shift the focus of the Lelu Island project away from the Flora Bank and any impact on the eel grass beds and other environmentally sensitive conditions in the estuary.
The need for a costly suspension bridge over Flora Bank would be eliminated should Pacific NorthWest's LNG project make use of a shipment dock at Ridley Island as suggested in a recent Bloomberg article
Petronas is reported to be in talks with government and stakeholders to determine if the proposed modification to its plans could take place without sparking any fresh regulatory delays.
The plans however appear to be more in the exploratory phase than those of any firm commitment, with the CEAA noting for Bloomberg Markets that they have not received any information to this point related to any proposed changes to the project.
Petronas is currently conducting a total project review on the proposed 27 billion dollar development with indications to this point suggesting a decision by the summer of 2017 on the fate of the proposed development.
The change to the project as it has been described, is seen as one way that the company could reduce its costs on the development, while addressing some of the issues raised by opponents to the Terminal project.
Whether the proposed shift of shipment facilities to Ridley Island will quell some of the controversy related to the project with its opponents remains to be seen.
Of particular note will be how both view any kind of hybrid version of the project when it comes to their past concerns over the project and whether the split concept of a plant on Lelu Island and shipment facilities at Ridley would be acceptable to both.
Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene from Saturday, December 24 to Tuesday, December 27, 2016.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to readers of our daily digest, our compilation of events of the British Columbia scene will return on December 27th.
Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Friday, December 23, 2016.
For those that couldn't make it in for a chat with their Federal MP at the Prince Rupert Open House hosted by Nathan Cullen and Jennifer Rice earlier this week, the Federal NDP politician has been taking his good cheer and favourite talking points to a number of Northwest media outlets this week.
As part of his media tour, the MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley delivered a wide range of observations on politics whether it be locally across the Northwest, on the federal scene in Ottawa or even across the border in the United States.
It was a media tour week for MP Nathan Cullen, here he takes questions at CFNR Radio in Terrace
For CFNR Radio Mr. Cullen was focused on Electoral Reform and some of his disappointment in how the Liberal party has handled the issue and in particular the government's response to the findings of the committee that Mr. Cullen was involved with over the summer.
Environmental issues were also a feature of his review for CFNR, with Mr. Cullen looking at the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline project, the end of the Northern Gateway process and LNG issues across the Northwest.
He also had harsh words for how the Liberal Government is approaching environmental themes, including the proposed North Coast Tanker Ban, while also raising his concerns over the environmental response that both the Federal and Provincial government currently has in place.
The NDP MP also looked at some of the infrastructure money that has come into the Skeena-Bulkley Valley riding in the last year, noting some of the areas that federal money was put to use in 2016. Mr. Cullen also had much to say about the need for a new hospital in the Terrace region, noting the importance of Terrace as a hub for the Northwest.
The Federal MP also weighs into the provincial scene, noting that its an election year and offering up his thoughts on how the provincial government's LNG plans haven't delivered quite the same results as the Liberal government had been touting for the region.
A quick jog to the CFTK Studios found the MP ready for his TV close up for the week
Mr. Cullen also stopped in at the studios at CFTK Television where many of the same themes were delivered, with environmental notes related to the Northern Gateway decision and related pipeline projects made for a good portion of the discussion.
For CFTK Mr. Cullen outlined his thoughts on the path ahead for the Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry that will get underway in 2017, as well as he recounted some of the background on the issue from a Northwest perspective.
The theme of LNG also made for a fair bit of the television interview, with the MP reviewing the status of projects in both Kitimat and Prince Rupert.
Of note for those living in Prince Rupert Mr. Cullen had a number of comments related to the Pacific NorthWest LNG project, holding to his long held commentary that the project would find better momentum if it were to change locations.
Mr. Cullen also offered up some thoughts on how the City of Prince Rupert has approached the issue of the proposed regional shuttle bus, suggesting that the city's approach was one designed as a response to local issues of concern along the Highway 16 corridor.
He observes that every community has different needs and different priorities, suggesting that the city's worry is that some of the local interests may be forgotten and that the region is trying to do two things at once.
The Full interview can be viewed below:
Mr. Cullen also made some time to appear on the Northern View podcast for December 21st, where he featured a wardrobe change but provided for many of the same talking points. Among those themes he reviewed were a look at the Tanker Ban for the North Coast, as for what he would like to see for the North Coast he talked looking for a more positive situation after having removed some of the threats to the region.
The MP noted that he would like to see fish processing returned to the North Coast, another topic of concern for him once again was the approach to LNG development, with Mr. Cullen noting his desire to have LNG done properly and to see that the Lelu Island project is relocated away from the current location, suggesting that was the best way to avoid threats to wild salmon and reduce the prospect of court cases, or further conflict in the region.
Overall, as he closed out his time with the podcast hosts, he remained positive about the prospects for the future for Prince Rupert, explaining how he sees the community continuing to move forward.
The MP's portion of the podcast arrives from the 7 minute thirty second mark to just past the eleven minute point. You can view the conversation here.
Mr. Cullen also took part on the Northern View podcast for the week
More on the electoral review tour and associated items that came out of it can be found from our political portal of D'Arcy McGee on the archive page here, while that blog also hosts an archive page related to the Missing Indigenous Women's Inquiry which you can find here.
You can also hold your own year end review of sorts, by checking out our archive of notes accumulated through the year. Our House of Commons page features a look at many of the items of note from the federal scene through the year.
There have not been many developments of note to report on since the September launch of the Murdered and Missing Women Commission, with the first three months of the commission's work seemingly dedicated to planning for when the public engagement process gets underway in the Spring of 2017.
That delay in getting down to the task at hand is making for some concerns for many that were looking to the Commission to jump into their work after the first announcements of August and as a way of answering some of those concerns, the Commission of Inquiry has expanded on its information delivery process over the last month.
One key element of the Commission plans for greater engagement comes with the launch of a new website for the upcoming Commission work. The main focus for that portal at the moment is the eventual plan to provide an area of the website for families to register.
Until that registration page is introduced, the website is serving the role of providing some background to the Commission plans and employment opportunities to work with Inquiry.
Commission members are also suggesting that those that wish to keep up to date on the Inquiry plans make use of their e mail system, when those interested in the process can sign up to receive the latest notes on the progress to date.
The Commission of Inquiry has also made a crisis line available for family members, or friends who may require support that number is 1-844-413-6649.
While the Inquiry may not be taking testimony or exploring the range of issues involved in the Missing and Murdered cases at the moment, the interest continues to build when it comes to how the Commissioners intend to handle the list of topics that will form the discussions to come in 2017.
Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Thursday, December 22, 2016.
