Victoria Viewpoints: Friday, June 28, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for  Friday, June 28, 2019




Globe and Mail 

With deadline looming, charges recommended in Mount Polley mines disaster
BC - Alberta pipeline dispute plays out in Calgary courtroom
A bus to the beach for East Vancouverites is a great idea


CBC

BC First Nation has change of heart, now opposes Trans Mountain pipeline project
Kootenay town with its own time zone hopes BC will say goodbye to changing clocks
BC officials to review records to ensure students vaccinated against measles
BC's most popular parks might surprise you
BC adds $1.46 million to offset costs for athletes at 2020 Indigenous Games
Major rock slide in Fraser River raises serious concerns about spawning salmon
Mechanical problem causes 26 cancellations along Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route


Vancouver Sun

Vancouver Island treaty agreement in principle includes West Coast trail lands
BC teachers and government set to extend collective bargaining into summer
Trying to save caribou in political wilderness tougher than it sounds
BC Premier Horgan visits Alberta, makes no sense on Trans Mountain, leaves
BC officials to review records to ensure students vaccinated against measles


Vancouver Province

--

Victoria Times Colonist

Problem with hydraulics leaves Johnson Street Bridge lowered for 28 hours
Beyond politics, the grim reality of police cuts
Vancouver Island treaty agreement in principle includes West Coast trail lands
Cost of ICBC premiums anyone's guess September 1
Businesses push for regional police force in wake of cuts
Poorly managed forests responsible for mill closures


Victoria News

Johnson Street Bridge will be lifted after receiving repairs for hydraulic issues
Victoria votes to move downtown art installation from Bastion Square
City seeks over $800,000 in funds after first six months of Airbnb regulations
Ditidaht and Pacheedaht First Nations move to final stage of treaty negotiations
Victoria Council offers tax break for Legion's $014,000 property tax bill


Global BC

Victoria to consider rental only zoning protection for over 500 properties
Vancouver facility prepares for arrival of years-old trash from Philippines
Trickle down effect: How Metro Vancouver's real estate slowdown is impacting the broader economy
DFO 'exploring all options' to help salmon impacted by Fraser River rock slide
HIV cases drop to lowest levels since 2003, Vancouver Coastal Health says
Vancouver Park Board to explore 'bench mural' program after threatening memorial removal
BC government set to launch mandatory immunization registration in September
Group campaigning to keep Surrey RCMP denied booth at city's Canada Day celebrations
City of Vancouver votes to demand fossil fuel companies cover climate change costs


Vancouver Courier

Is your house on one of Vancouver's 730 'sensitive archeological sites?
New BC financial services regulator has a new boss
BC adds $1.46 million to offset costs for athletes at 2020 Indigenous Games
Colourful memorial to be replaced with generic Vancouver city park bench
TransLink announces extended hours and service for Canada Day
This is how much TransLink fares will jump on Monday
There's no such thing as a "small widlfire"
City of Vancouver votes to demand fossil fuel companies pay their fair share
When honouring dead white men, consult the community first


Georgia Straight

Vancouver joins other BC municipalities seeking to hold fossil fuel giants accountable for costs of climate change

The Tyee

Lack of competition and gouging to blame for Vancouver's High Gas Prices, says report
With the World burning, will the Canadian Diaspora come home?

Miscellaneous

Ottawa Observations: Friday, June 28, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for   Friday, June 28,  2019 


Canadians held in China / China tensions

Huawei's CEO has a message for Canada: Join us and prosper in the 5G future
Trudeau has 'brief' constructive interactions' with Chinese President Xi Jinping at G20
Outgoing Chinese ambassador to Canada softens tone, says tensions 'only temporary'
Frigo Royal, Quebec company named in pig drug scandal, may be victim of fraud
Trump to discuss Huawei during highly anticipated meeting with Chinese president
What a trade war with China would do to Canada
Want to help free the two Canadians in China? Stop talking about a deal
Case of Canadian accused of spying for China slowed by mysterious secrecy disputes
Trudeau and Xi had 'positive, constructive' talks at G20: PMO
Trudeau cannot just order Huawei's Meng Wanzhou to go free - or can he?
With G20 underway, all eyes are on China and threats to global trade system


Globe and Mail

What Canada's top CEOs think of the Trudeau government's performance on the economy
Andrew Scheer presses Trudeau to release details of settlement with Vice-Admiral Mark Norman
Could there be a Donald Trump in Canada?
Carbon-tax court challenge backfires before election
Quebec lobbying firm may have broken Sudan sanctions with deal 'striving' to supply equipment for military
Ontario court upholds federal government's carbon-pricing law


CBC

RCMP launch hate crime probe of leader of nationalist group vying for party status in federal election
Canada's economy shakes off doldrums, expands 0.3% in April


Toronto Star

Ottawa won't say how it will try to get $1.2 million back from private recycling company that shipped garbage to Philippines
Provinces agree on national zero plastic waste plan
Planning to vote? Here's  your  pre-election reading list
SNC-Lavalin opts for corruption trial before judge alone
Carbon-price decision marks the beginning of a national response to climate change
Ottawa pledges $223.5 million to help countries in Latin America and the Caribbean slash emissions
Justin Trudeau needs to show he has the qualities to lead


Toronto Sun

Carbon tax ruled constitutional in split and muddied decision
Scheer and Conservatives running scared
Canada updated its terror list and still hasn't added IRGC
China vs Canada conflict only escalating
Celebrating our great country


Maclean's

Trudeau should try walking the walk on climate change


National Post

In dissent on carbon pricing, a 'traditionalist' judge puts Ottawa in its place
Federal NDP candidate in Nova Scotia ousted for comments comparing Israel to Nazi Germany
In a case that made Canadian legal history. Ontario man convicted of impaired operation of a canoe
'A loaded gun': BC lawyers argue for injunction against Alberta's turn-off-the-taps law
Amid ballooning warship contract, here's eight other times Ottawa spent billions all in one place
Canada was built - and on July 1, we celebrate that inheritance
New 'population clock' shows Canada's demographic changes in real time
BC Premier Horgan visits Alberta, makes no sense on Trans Mountain, leaves


Global

2 provincial courts sided with Trudeau's carbon tax - what happens next?
Feds announce $4.5M in grants for coal transition in Alberta, Saskatchewan
BC to argue for injunction on Alberta's turn off the taps law in Calgary court


Miscellaneous

Andrew Scheer's real bad climate plan
With the World Burning, will the Canadian diaspora come home?
It's time for Canadian political journalists to escape their reality bubble and read Ziya Tong's book

Prince Rupert Council to explore call for help on securing vote for permanent residents

Mr. Rodrigo Samayoa spoke to Council on Monday about the lost voices
 that current  voting regulations that are in place are providing for.
Sseeking voting rights status for Permanent residents of Canada

Monday's Prince Rupert City Council provided for a lesson in Canadian civics, with Council members receiving a presentation from a Prince Rupert resident, Rodrigo Samayoa who is advocating for expanding the right to vote to Permanent Residents of Canada.

As part of his eight minute overview of the current status for permanent residents, he observed as to the lengthy process that immigrants have to take towards that permanent status and how in that period they find that they have no say in decisions that are made that have an impact on their lives.

He observed for Council members how the current political arrangements work, a status where permanent residents do not have the right to vote in any level of political life in Canada and how the lengthy process towards citizenship means that some Residents of the community could go without the opportunity to participate in elections for years.

Putting the focus on the municipal scene, Mr. Samayoa noted that studies have shown that by providing for an opportunity to vote in local elections today, the participation rate in provincial and federal elections would increase as they become permanent residents.

He used his experience as a guideline of sorts as to the challenges facing immigrants.

"I myself have been in Canada living here for eleven years, have witnessed nine elections at all three levels of government, have volunteered in five elections, yet at the age of twenty eight I have never been able to vote in an election whether it be here or in my home country of Guatemala"

He further noted for the Council membership of a large list of countries that allow permanent residents the right to vote, adding that many cities in Canada are looking to move the forward initiative but that it is in the hands of the province.

Towards the initiative, Mr. Samayoa asked for the help of the City of Prince Rupert to become the first community in Northern British Columbia to pass a resolution of support for the right to vote for permanent residents and advocate for the program with the province at UBCM this September.

"It's time for local governments to start counting these lost voices and Prince Rupert can contribute by passing a resolution in support of voting rights for permanent residents. And a vote in favour of the upcoming resolution at the upcoming UBCM in September"

As part of his review for Council, Mr. Samayoa pointed to the work of Fresh Voices a Vancouver based community action group that advocates for a number of issues on behalf of Canada's immigrant  and refugee communities, they are one of the leading groups in seeking the right to vote for permanent residents.

You can review their focus on the issue here and here




Following the presentation some of the council members spoke to the topic and indicated their support for the initiative and offered observations as to how the City could move forward on the topic.

"Having spent thirty years trying to encourage young people to become involved in politics, but most particularly to become voters, because that's where you get a strong democracy from. The notion of reducing the barriers to people participating in a democracy that affects their lives it seems to me to be a really positive initiative" -- Councillor Nick Adey

As for Prince Rupert Council, in the regular Council session Mayor Lee Brain moved the prospect of review of the request for support forward at the end of Monday's meeting, with Council members to consider the issue further at their next Council session in July.

For a look at the presentation to Council see the Video Archive from Monday's Council session starting at the one minute mark.





For a look at some of the other items of note from Monday's City Council session see our Council Timeline Feature here, a wider overview of City Council discussion themes can be explored from our Council Discussion page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Conservative candidate Claire Rattée gets some national ink ...

Conservative candidate Claire Rattée
with party leader Andrew Scheer
in May

While she continues to work her way across the expanse of the Skeena-Bulkley Valley riding, Conservative candidate Claire Rattée is starting to attract some national attention for her bid to wrestle the riding from the NDP which has long held the seat in Parliament.

The Kitimat tattoo artist who secured the Conservative nomination in February has gained  some ink and valuable political exposure in a feature story in the National Press this week that looks at breaking stereotypes in politics.

With her candidacy part of an expansive article from Marie-Danielle Smith which takes a look at the growing number of women candidates that are testing the political waters as Conservative candidates.

The National Post article recounts Ms. Rattées past experience as a Kitimat councillor and her hopes to write a new narrative for Skeena-Bulkley Valley when the votes are counted on election day later this fall.

The focus on Ms. Rattée explores how she approached the Conservatives on her own initiative, inspired in part by the work of longtime Conservative MP Michelle Rempel, the Alberta MP who has become somewhat of a mentor for a number of young women looking to enter the political stage.

And the campaign that Ms. Rattée has launched has captured the attention of Ms. Rempel makes note of the work ethic of the Kitimat based candidate who has done much of the heavy lifting as she puts it, towards pushing her campaign forward

As we noted earlier this Spring, the Alberta MP was in Kitimat to help out in spreading the Conservative message and to offer some guidance and support for the Skeena-Bulkley Valley candidate.

You can review the full National Post article here.

For more notes related to the summer long campaigning in Skeena-Bulkley Valley see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Nathan Cullen's Summer of Farewells

With the House of Commons now on vacation and an election on the way in the fall, Nathan Cullen the outgoing MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley can look ahead to a busy schedule of farewell appearances across the Northwest, as the fifteen year MP prepares to step out of the Ottawa spotlight.

The list of farewell social engagements began earlier this month with an Open House in Bell Coola.

The soon to be former MP, may have to put in a side trip to Kitimat, after he had to bow out of an appearance at his BBQ last week in that community, the absence owing to a sudden Ottawa commitment.

With Mr. Cullen representing one of the largest ridings to send a member to Parliament, his summer itinerary could require some impressive logistics if he's to try and bid farewell to as many constituents as possible before he moves on to the next chapter of his story.

There's no word yet as to when he may be hosting a Prince Rupert get together, or if a journey across Hecate Strait is part of the tour of farewell for the summer of 2019.

You can however, keep track of the travel plans and where the burgers and hot dogs can be found from his Facebook page

For more notes from the House of Commons and the constituency office see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

New Associate Dean for Coast Mountain College Prince Rupert campus to arrive in July

Studies may be over for many of the students at Coast Mountain College as summer moves forward, but when the various programs resume in the fall, students, staff and faculty at the Prince Rupert campus will have a new Associate Dean on hand.

Mr. Matt Adolphe will be taking on the duties of Associate Dean of Business, Access Education and Fine Arts at the Prince Rupert campus as of July 15th, with Sarah Zimmerman from Coast Mountain College providing the North Coast Review with a thumbnail sketch of the newest member of the college administration ranks.

Mr. Adolphe arrives in Prince Rupert with a combined B. A. in History and Indigenous studies from Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario and M.A. in Communication Management from the University of South Australia in Adelaide.

He has been working in post-secondary education for almost 20 years and in that time has been an instructor, a coordinator and an academic chair.

Away from his academic work he is also an author and speaker with a number of his published works related to career development, a topic that he is very passionate about.

Some of the titles that provide a glimpse at his interest in the genre include:

Would You Hire You?
Canadian Workplace Culture: Mastering the Unspoken Rules

A sample of some of his presentation skills can also be found from this webinar session.

In addition to his writing and speaking activities, Mr. Adolphe is also a founding member of the Metis Nation of Ontario, which should catch the eye of Prince Rupert's expanding Metis community, he also is looking forward to the opportunity to work with the Indigenous Nations that are across the Northwest and on Haida Gwaii.

Mr. Matt Adolphe will join the
Prince Rupert campus of Coast
Mountain College as an Associate
Dean next month
(photo from LinkedIn)

He most recently held positions at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary and Mount Royal University in the Alberta city as well.

He has had extensive travels and employment previously in a number of countries in Asia and his resume also includes work as a course facilitator, with experience in the development of courses for newcomers to Canada.

That's something that may just may find a few visitors from Prince Rupert's Multicultural community stopping by the Prince Rupert Campus to explore the prospect of some shared opportunities.

He arrives on campus on July 15th and he and his family will be settling into Prince Rupert life through the summer.

As Mr. Adolphe takes up his duties, he will be filling one of the recently vacated positions at the Prince Rupert Campus, which recently saw Mr. Jose Areekadan depart for Thomson Rivers University after a fifteen month stay in the city.

As well long time educator and former Dean of Instruction,  Mr. Pouyan Maboubi has also relocated, leaving earlier this spring for the Lower Mainland.

Like his predecessors,  the new Associate Dean will also find that he becomes somewhat of a liaison between the community and the main campus of Terrace, with a number of local items of interest sure to be brought to his attention once he has settled in to his office.

Among them, an ongoing desire for expanded course options at the Prince Rupert campus, as well as the often mentioned hopes for some form of campus housing; a need that would seem to be growing as Coast Mountain College expands its focus towards attracting more and more international students.

The topic of developing campus housing for Prince Rupert is a theme that goes back to the days of Mayor Jack Mussallem who raised the need often with both college and provincial officials, all in hopes of moving both towards a housing plan for this community.

That call for housing seems to have been less of a priority for the current City Council membership, which rarely has called attention to the topic over the last four years and for the most part rarely speaks to many notes of interest when it comes to the College.

At the moment, Campus housing is currently available at the Terrace campus and in May of last year, Coast Mountain College opened housing options for the growing number of International students at the Smithers campus.

Coast Mountain Accommodation

Considering how Prince Rupert is still facing somewhat of an affordable housing crunch, it would seem that the issue is still one which should make it towards some form or progress sooner rather than later.

For more items of note on Coast Mountain College see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Victoria Viewpoints: Thursday, June 27, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for  Thursday, June 27, 2019




Globe and Mail 

BC allows SNC-Lavalin to bid on new Vancouver SkyTrain extension
Surrey mayor Doug McCallum under fire after second caucus departure
Enderby wins Participaction challenge


CBC

'We won't tolerate it around our kids': Rutland residents oppose social housing
28 storey West Broadway development stirs debate among area residents
BC city crowned most physically active community in Canada
24 special claims struck from lawsuit that names BC Premier John Horgan
The birds and the beads: BC tweens get explicit accidental sex education
Second councillor quits Surrey mayor's alliance within a month
Lightning storm sparks several wildfires in Northern BC


Vancouver Sun

Another Safe Surrey Coalition Councillor steps down
Lead in Vancouver playing fields raises concerns about children's health
Gordon Wilson defamation suit: BC court strikes out damage claims
B.C.'s new employer health tax leads to cuts at Victoria police
Late night SkyTrain service on weekends not an option: TransLink
BC teen overdose inquest recommends improvements in substance abuse treatment


Vancouver Province

NDP was warned before cutting electric-vehicle rebate


Victoria Times Colonist

Victoria High School gets $77.1 million from province for seismic upgrades, expansion
Coast Guard celebrates first new ship in decades
Victoria council mulls changes to encourage more garden suites
Politicians need to do a better job spending our money


Victoria News

Jury makes recommendations following inquest into overdose death of Oak Bay teen
Saanich councillor calls for comprehensive review to change 'out of date' bylaws
Coast Guard unveils state-of-the-art ship in North Saanich
Province announces $80 million upgrades to Victoria High


Global BC

Lightning strikes Kelowna natural gas line, sparking grass fire
Special claims struck down in lawsuit that names BC Premier John Horgan
Coroner's inquest releases recommendations for Victoria teen's fatal drug overdose
Swimming in plastic: How Metro Vancouver handles its own recycling
BC man spotted carrying fawn through liquor store fined by conservation officer
Western premiers emerge from annual meeting in Edmonton with smiles despite pipeline disputes
FortisBC moving from two-tiered residential rate to single, flat rate


Vancouver Courier

Coroner's inquest recommends more treatment beds for drug-addicted youth
School superintendent says 'unbelievable mistake' to give kids graphic sex guide
Vancouver Coastal Health says number of new HIV cases down by 52 per cent
'Surgical density' may transform single-family lot into home for 29 unit condo
Not even Vancouver's biggest speed bump can slow Union/Adanac 'bike highway'


Georgia Straight

Time for the City of Vancouver to declare a housing emergency
Are Indigenous people especially vulnerable to racism by police? Tribunal to consider issue in Vancouver case
Speakers left hanging for hours as clock runs out on input on council motion seeking to recover costs of climate change
TransLink rolls out 24 hour bus service to UBC, but no all-night SkyTrain on Fridays and Saturdays

The Tyee

Urban British Columbia no longer safe from Wildfire threat
The Charter of Right Can protect homeless campers. Is that enough?


Miscellaneous

Ottawa Observations: Thursday, June 27, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for   Thursday, June 27,  2019 


Canadians held in China / China tensions

Chinese jets buzzed Canadian naval ships in East China Sea

Trudeau seeks support from allies at G20 amid China-Canada tensions

Why China has a beef with Canadian meat exports
Time to remind the G20 there's more to Canada's economy that trade with China
Chinese jets 'buzz' Canadian ships in Taiwan Strait, adding new layer to tensions as G20 gets underway
Canada-China tensions: Why they began and what's happened since
Canadian warships buzzed by Chinese fighter jets in International waters


Globe and Mail

Canadian lobbying firm hired for US$6 million to polish image of Sudan's military regime
Caravan of American parents, patients seeking cheaper insulin to arrive in Canada this weekend
Canadian filmmakers decry reappointment of National Film Board commissioner Claude Joli-Coeur
2019 Order of Canada appointees have made their mark on all aspects of Canadian society
Transat agrees to be bought by Air Canada for $520 million; shares slide
Canadian War Museum displays  51 of George W. Bush's propagandist paintings
George W. Bush exhibit at Canadian War Museum captures sadness of veterans, loss
Western Canada premiers express unity on resources, but appear no closer on a pipeline resolution
People older than 65 outnumber children under five, putting burden on younger generation
Ottawa area recycling company closes operations, citing lack of waster buyer
Canadian defence minister urges 'de-escalation' of US-Iran dispute
Joint letter urges Canada to international legal action on Rohingya genocide
Federal government signs first-ever Métis self-governance agreements


CBC

Canada's reputation as a safe pork supplier could make it a prime target for food fraud
Ottawa signs self-government agreements with Métis Nation in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan
Canadian news site The Post Millennial blurs line between journalism and conservative 'pamphleteering'
Mark Norman's defence fund may be donated to charity, organizer says
Provinces, federal government bringing in first step of 'action plan' for plastics recycling
Actor Donald Sutherland and Canadian war artist among honoured in Order of Canada list
Liberals look at short-term changes to expand rural broadband
Twitter says some posts by politicians could get tagged with a warning


Toronto Star

Michigan sues Canada's Enbridge to shut down Great Lakes oil pipelines
We've a long way to go, but Canada shows the U.S. how to get more women into the workplace
Low-wage workers have less access to EI benefits than higher earners, report says
Liberals hold draw for $3,000 campaign jaunt with Trudeau


Toronto Sun

Trudeau plays politics with terrorism again
Chinese fighters buzz Canadian sailors
Why Multiculturalism Day is likely last thing on our minds
Bombardier cashes out while taxpayers get stiffed


Maclean's

What to watch for as Trudeau heads to G20


National Post

There's a debate over Canada's new definition of anti-Semitism, and it might sound strangely familiar
Alberta and BC put on positive front amid Trans Mountain spat, but remain fundamentally divided
Leader of India's Punjab calls for sanctions against Canada if it does not crack down on Sikh extremists
Canada needs to recognize Iran's Revolutionary Guard, in its entirety, as a terror group
Canada's anti racism strategy needs to redefine Islamophobia
Ottawa signs first self-government agreements with Métis Nation in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan


Global

Western premiers emerge from meeting in Edmonton with smiles despite pipeline disputes
Canada wants to see 'de-escalation' between US and Iran: Defence Minister
Mark Norman GoFundMe legal fund could go to veterans' charities
US pushing to downgrade climate issue - angering others at G20 summit
Mexican president says Canadian pipeline contracts were 'abusive'


Miscellaneous

First past the post system requires federal Greens to rethink electoral strategy in Canada

As School year ends, Fraser Institute Report card is released for BC Secondary schools

Much like the students leaving school this week, administrators and school officials across the province have been given their grades by the Fraser Institute, which has released its annual findings for Secondary Schools in the province.

And this year, for School District 52, the Coast Mountain District in Terrace/Kitimat and the Bulkley Valley the results are showing an improved level of success from the Fraser Institutes findings.

The highest level of success from the findings for 2019 goes to Caledonia in Terrace which received a 7.1 rating, ranking 59th out 251 schools surveyed.

In the press release that comes with the roll out of data, the Fraser Institute made note of the 10 fastest improving schools from this years review, with Kitimat, Prince Rupert and Terrace all hailed for their improvement.

Angela McLeod, a Senior Policy analyst with the Fraser Institute noted that the annual report highlights both areas where improvement are needed and how improvement is possible regardless of where the schools are geographically located.

“This Report Card proves that improvement is possible in every corner of the province, in every type of school serving every type of student,”

The annual report is compiled by Ms. MacLeod and Mr. Peter Cowley and as the Fraser Institute describes it, provides the key academic indicators to help parents and guardians determine a schools performance.

As for the list of results, for Charles Hays Secondary the data review saw the Prince Rupert High school gain a 5.4 rating, listed at 167th out of 251, making for a slight dip from last year's mark of 6.0, and a listing of 121 out of 253.

But still high enough to merit the mention from the Fraser Institute analysts.

Among the areas of note from the report, an upward trend in Average exam marks and a drop in those exams which are failed.

The remainder of the findings for the Northwest can be found below:

The full report card for 2019 can be reviewed here.

Earlier this year, the Fraser Institute released its findings for elementary schools, which you can review here.

While the numbers show positive results for the Northwest, there probably won't be much mention of the findings from School District officials across the region.

As has been the case in the past, administrators and teachers prefer to take a wider overview of the spectrum of education in the region.

With the one shot data release from the Fraser Institute something which they tend to ignore for the most part, while the BCTF takes a more public push back against the annual results. Frequently noting that the limited scope of the Fraser Institute numbers does not provide a complete picture of school performance and disregards some of the challenges to education that are found.

For more information related to education in the region see our archive page here.


Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

More challenges ahead for the Alaska Marine Highway Service

Taking the winter off ... the Alaska Transportation Agency will
be tying up the Alaska Ferry MV Columbia for the winter

The financial challenges facing the Alaska Marine Highway System are about to take another bite out of the fleet, with the State of Alaska transportation department making plans to mothball the largest vessel in the fleet for the upcoming fall and winter.

According to a report from public radio station KRBD, The MV Columbia which includes Prince Rupert among the communities that it has called on in the past, will be taken out of service on September 4th with its fate unknown as the Marine Service assess any future use for the ship.

Replacing the vessel on its routing will be the MV Malaspina and MV Matanuska, which are smaller vessels and considered less expensive to operate.

Though by reducing the fleet by yet another vessel, there is less of a margin for emergency replacement, should operational issues affect those ships that remain in service.

Once the Columbia is tied for the winter, the main long journey fleet will consist of but four ferries.

Beyond the fleet reduction, a reduced budget for the Alaska Marine Highway could see a number of other routes curtailed during the winter season as AMHS official try to address their funding shortfalls.

The Alaska Transportation Agency and AMHS will reassess their plans once the summer season comes to an end, as they look to continue to keep the ships afloat amid uncertainty in Juneau as to the fate of the service.

The Alaska Marine Highway System continues to look at ways to reduce costs
the latest plan that of taking the largest vessel out of service for the winter

Last year, service to Prince Rupert was suspended for much of the winter months, with the first sailing for 2019 not taking place until late February.

In May, Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain in response to inquiries on the fate of the local terminal from Councillor Gurvinder Randhawa, offered up a few notes on the level of service to the North Coast port, advising as to how he has been "actively working on the topic" promising a further update  once he had assembled more information.

However, since that May 13th session, the Mayor has yet to follow up on that promised update for those on the North Coast wondering about the fate of the AMHS service and its impact on the local terminal.

On Monday, KRBD provided some further background to the fate of the Columbia and the fall plans from the AMHS.

For more notes related to Marine transportation on the North Coast and beyond see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Five Corners area property plans to be part of Community Information meeting July 4th

A public information meeting has been set for July as part of a request
for rezoning of a number of lots along Biggar Place near Five Corners

Residents with an interest in the plans ahead for a number of lots at Biggar Place and Third Avenue West can find out more next month, when Marogna Enterprises host a Community Information Meeting at the Crest hotel.

The Public session is set for Thursday, July 4th in the British Columbia Room at the Crest, the schedule for the Information engagement looks as follows:

5:00 to 5:30 PM -- Introduction and Presentation
5:30 to 6 PM -- Question and Answer Period
6:00 to 6:30 PM -- Open House

The Information session is designed to provide more information about the application to amend the current zoning of the property, with the proponents looking to have the lots in question rezoned to permit commercial use on the entire property.

The area in question for potential rezoning from residential to commercial
(from City of Prince Rupert )

Currently the lots in question along Biggar Place are zoned for residential, though the buildings that were once in use for housing have long since been taken down after having fallen into disrepair.

We outlined the path ahead for Marogna Enterprises earlier this month, following the June 11th council session, with Council putting in motion the call for the public information meeting after reviewing a report from City Planner Zeno Krekic.

At that time, there were some concerns raised by Councillor Cunningham at how the city might be sending mixed messages on wanting housing developed in the downtown core, while at the same time rezoning land that was allocated for such housing.

It's not the first time that the fate of the Biggar Place lots has come up before council , the theme of future development was also considered back in 2015.

City staff will be monitoring the results of the Public Information meeting of July 4th and providing feedback for City Council when the rezoning request returns to City Hall for further action.

For more items of note related to Prince Rupert City Council see our Council Discussion page here, while our notes on themes of housing in the city can be explored here.


Cross posted from the North Coast Review

Rumblings of Green planning on road towards the Fall election

The profile for the Federal Green party in the Northwest is kind of a hit and miss thing of late and mostly it takes a bit of digging through a stream of Facebook pages to find some notes on their plans.

Social media  at the moment is the best way to get an indication as to where the Federal party is at when it comes to a challenge for the seat in Skeena-Bulkley Valley.

So far, near as we can determine, the Greens had taken in some nominations for the party candidacy in Skeena-Bulkley Valley for the fall vote and a testing of the organizational waters came to pass last week, with much of the focus for the party found in the Smithers, Bulkley Valley region for the most part.

Two would-be candidates, Mike Sawyer and Edward Quinlan have the highest profiles of those indicating an interest in representing the Greens in the upcoming election

Both Mr. Sawyer and  Mr. Quinlan are from the Smithers/Telkwa area and their opening themes as they prepare for the nomination process can be reviewed below:

Mike Sawyer
Edward Quinlan

Of the two, Mr. Sawyer's name may ring a bell for Northwest residents, known most recently for his involvement in a legal challenge related to the Coastal GasLink pipeline to feed the LNG Canada terminal in Kitimat.

As they both make note of, those wishing to be part of the voting on the nominee for the party in Skeena-Buklley Valley must be members of the party in good standing for thirty days prior to whenever the party gets around to holding the vote.

Which would seem to suggest that those interested in joining up with the Greens, probably should sign on sooner, rather than later if they wish to have a say in who will represent in the fall vote.

The Skeena-Bulkley Valley page from the National Green Party site can be found here.

You can follow some of the themes of discussion from the Green Party through their website, Facebook page and twitter feed.

Like the Greens, the Liberals at the moment seem somewhat off the political radar in Skeena-Bulkley Valley with few indications yet as to when they will be hosting a nomination process for the fall electoral season.

As it is at the moment, so far there are declared candidates for the NDP, Conservatives, Christian Heritage Party and People's Party of Canada

You can find the latest notes on these early days of the Election 2019 campaign from our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Victoria Viewpoints: Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for  Wednesday, June 26, 2019




Globe and Mail 

The foreign students who say they were lured to Canada by a lie
Vancouver City Council rejects controversial Shaughnessy townhouse project
BC has 10 year road map to guide seamless mental health, addiction care, Judy Darcy says
Youth overdose is grounds for secure-care treatment, pediatrician tells inquest


CBC

Veteran with PTSD says BC rules are a barrier for the service dog he depends on
New BC care plan for mental health and addictions aimed at young people
Vancouver man gets surprise $17K bill for empty homes tax on live-work townhouse
'Disappointing': BC meat producers react to Chinese ban on Canadian exports


Vancouver Sun

Vancouver city council's rejection of a 21 unit rental project draws fire
Hurry up inquiry will feature duo of petroleum industry critics
Seaspan a hive of shipbuilding activity on heels of first delivery to Canadian Coast Guard
Surrey RCMP members told they will get 'priority placements'
BC's reduced electric vehicle subsidy should last rest of this year


Vancouver Province

NDP was warned before cutting electric-vehicle rebate


Victoria Times Colonist

VicPD says it's short staffed and struggling to respond to 911 calls promptly
Camosun College eyes film studio for interurban campus
Teacher contract up for renegotiation; let's do it right


Victoria News

BC commits $3.7M to replace Children's Development Centre in Saanich
BC Ferries vessel breaks down right before long weekend
RCMP across Canada to soon unionize, according to BC mayor


Global BC

Supportive housing opponents vow to increase pressure on Kelowna City Council
North Shore to SkyTrain express bus service could hit the road next year
BC Ferries pulls vessel from service on eve of Canada Day long weekend
Major rock slide in Fraser River sparks fears of blocking migrating salmon
Real estate prices are dropping, but will Metro Vancouver ever really be affordable?


Vancouver Courier

Applicant 'disappointed' by Vancouver council's rejection of townhouse development
Provincial government buys $5.6 hectares to expand Garibaldi Provincial Park
Metro Vancouver gas prices may affect travel, other consumers behaviours this summer: Report
Metro urged to densify housing developments in Coquitlam
Nanaimo passenger ferry launch delayed at least another year


Georgia Straight

Petition aims to cap rent hikes in BC housing units after tenants move out
New BC program aims at improving access to mental health and addictions care
Giant "For Lease" sign plastered across Molson Coors Brewery building in Vancouver
Vancouver hospice wins fight against townhouse project, eyes purchase of lot for seniors' care
Vancouver explores new forms of hospitality and housing tenure as hotel rooms disappear

The Tyee

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Miscellaneous