D'Arcy McGee: July 2019

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Victoria Viewpoints: Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for Wednesday, July 301 2019

Northern BC Homicides

With the growing number of RCMP information statements and news reports related to the various case files under investigation, we have shifted our daily archive of notes to this listing.

Globe and Mail

B.C. Ministry of Education says it has fixed a systems issue that flunked thousands of Grade 12 students in error

CBC

Missing Men Mystery: Family wonders if disappearances of 4 men somehow linked
No timeline for opening of natural passage for salmon bottleneck on Fraser River
Granville Street nightclubs disappearing as millennials drawn to pubs and restaurants instead
'Don't kill the bears': 3 charged after obstructing conservation officers searching for bear family
'Not humanly possible': Driving instructor allegedly hacked auto insurance computers
'Exhaustive' review of chiropractic care for children ordered in B.C.
Island Health warns of spike in overdoses in Nanaimo and Parksville

Vancouver Sun

Auditor suggests B.C. more lucky than strategic protecting drinking water
Residents opposed to Vancouver's latest modular-housing project near Nanaimo Station
B.C. education ministry says it has fixed 'insanely low' Grade 12 exam marks
Hong Kong protests tension spills over onto Simon Fraser University campus
Time to redefine priorities for B.C.'s forests

Vancouver Province

B.C.'s ride-hailing fight enters the final rounds

Victoria Times Colonist

Education Ministry says problem with Grade 12 exam marks resolved
William Head prisoner escape warnings being retooled
B.C. Ferries advising passengers to reserve for busy holiday weekend
Give the Macdonald statue a good home as soon as possible

Victoria News

'Stubborn residents' put firefighters at risk in Sooke house fire
Popular unlicensed Victoria cannabis dispensary shut down by province
'Significant changes' expected in Victoria police services, says VicPD chief
BC raising highway maintenance standards for winter driving

Global BC

Granville Street Bridge dropping metal debris agains, says Granville Island businessman
B.C. woman blames provincial red tape for trouble getting Afghan refugee to Canada
West Vancouver police say a home was broken into nearly every day in July
Meet the unsung heroes of the Richter Mountain wildfire
White Rock mayor says pier on track to reopen by end of August
B.C. teacher suspended after showing students inappropriate videos
Watchdog monitoring 'anomaly' that gave students wrong exam grades
Officials may soon install salmon ladders to help fish blocked by B.C. landslide

Vancouver Courier

How do you deliver 24 new Canada Line trains from Korea to Vancouver? Very carefully
Vancouver police face probe after shooting Taser, beanbag gun at man
Vancouver Mural Festival returns bigger and brighter than ever
Vancouver's Trout Lake reopens to swimmers after 13 day closure
Legal battle over Vancouver's Plaza of Nations development rages on
BC Ferries advising passengers to reserve for busy holiday weekend

Georgia Straight

Capilano University's new Lonsdale campus will help shape future of the North Shore
Native Education College rekindles Indigenous adults' interest in schooling and self-improvement
Downtown Eastside social housing included in Vancouver Taoist centre redevelopment
New Vancouver neighbourhood house lined up in long-drawn-out Little Mountain redevelopment
Indigenous-managed lands have the greatest biodiversity, says UBC led study

The Tyee

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Ottawa Observations: Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Wednesday, July31, 2019

Canadians held in China / China tensions

Senior Liberal MP says it's still safe to travel to china as fate of two detained Canadians remains uncertain
China has dropped the gloves. Should Canada turtle or fight back
Trudeau Liberals kill another public inquiry
Beware of rummaging colleagues, spies and foreign visitors: unique FBI document warns academia about China threat

Canada wide Manhunt for BC homicide suspects

We have an archive of stories related to the case files available here.

Globe and Mail

Supreme Court restores conviction of man despite errors in application of rape-shield law
Tories best Liberals with record $8.5 million in second-quarter fundraising
Canada Research Chairs program taking new measures to close equity gaps among prestigious academic positions
The long-term care system failed to prevent eight murders. The Wettlaufer inquiry failed by not holding anyone accountable

CBC

Shortages feared as U.S. looks to Canada for cheaper prescription drugs
Trudeau to make marine conservation announcement in Iqaluit
Russian forces tested NATO's 'resolve' during recent Black Sea exercises, says Canadian commander
English election debate hosted by new media group set for week of October 7th
Kelly Craft confirmed as U.S. ambassador to United Nations
Five Eyes to collect better battlefield evidence on foreign fighters: Goodale
U.S. plans to allow importing prescription drugs from Canada
Supreme Court convicts man barred from cross-examining victim by rape shield law

Toronto Star

Federal leaders' debates set for second week of October
Trudeau tells Liberal candidates average Canadians 'cannot afford another Doug Ford'
Trump's new plan could see Americans raiding Canada's drug supply
A lot at stake in the federal election
What will it take for Canada to address the water crises in Indigenous communities?

Toronto Sun

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Maclean's

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National Post

Trudeau uses Doug Ford to attack federal Conservatives in rally speech to Liberal candidates
"We walked into a buzzsaw": How the most image-conscious prime minister in Canadian history made himself look foolish in India
'A tremendous opportunity': Canadian officer becomes first woman to command standing NATO fleet
Canada 'concerned' by allegations of misconduct at UN agency for Palestinian refugees

Global

'Solve the problem at home': U.S. plan to import cheaper drugs from Canada draws criticism
Tories, Liberals boast new fundraising records; Greens raise more than NDP
Why cheap Canadian drugs are part of Donald Trump's re-election strategy
Trudeau again invokes specter of Doug Ford in speech to Liberal candidates
Equipment dealer blames farm trade wars as plans for aggressive growth stall
Supreme Court restores conviction of man who challenged rape shield law
Trump administration says Americans will be allowed to buy cheaper drugs from Canada
Saskatchewan wants Supreme Court of Canada to push back carbon tax appeal

Miscellaneous

Scheer Says He Knows What It's Like to Worry about Bills. On $264,400 a Year

Skeena Bulkley Valley MP calls for federal support for BC's forestry workers

The ongoing crisis in forestry communities across the province has brought Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen into the conversation, with the NDP MP calling on the Federal government to become involved and provide support for those affected by a string of job losses.

“What we need now is swift action from the federal government to support workers, starting with help to carry over the gap from these shutdowns”

The job losses have been piling up across the Northwest and Northern BC in recent months, with Fort St. James the latest community to impacted by mill closures, with Mr. Cullen making note of their situation as part of his call for Federal action today.

The BC Forest industry is
facing some challenging
times this summer

“These are tough times for folks and the closure of the mill in Fort St. James will be a big loss to the community. Unfortunately, we just haven’t seen help for forestry workers from the Liberal government. Mr. Trudeau promised to solve the ongoing softwood lumber dispute but didn’t even bother mentioning it when he recently met with the US President and Congress”

You can review his full statement on the dire straits of forestry workers here.

Doug Donaldson
Minister of Forests, Lands,
Natural Resources &
Rural Development

Last week Premier John Horgan named a new parliamentary secretary to provide assistance to current Forests Minister Doug Donaldson, with the Premier appointing Ravi Kahlon to the position of Parliamentary secretary for forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development.

Mr. Donaldson has been feeling some heat in recent months as the litany of bad news on the provincial forestry continues to roll on, with many impacted by the closures wondering what assistance the province is set to provide and what planning is in mind towards securing a viable forestry industry in British Columbia.

For more items of note on Mr. Cullen's work out of Ottawa see our House of Commons archive here.

Provincial notes from the Legislature can be explored here, while some background on the forestry industry can be reviewed here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

For Grade 12 final exams the math didn't make sense and now a re-tabulation is in order before final grades will be final grades

2019 Graduates from Charles Hays and others from across the province
are awaiting more details on the fate of their final mark transcripts

Update: Minster Rob Fleming issued a statement on the situation at 3:20 PM on Wednesday, advising that the situation had been resolved and outlined the steps taken by the Ministry.

You can review that information here.

*********************************************************************

Original item

As things turn out, the graduating class for 2019 at Charles Hays Secondary and other schools across the province may not be done with their high school years just yet!

That after anomalies found from the final marks for Grade 12 June exams, the results of which contribute towards the final mark transcripts from the Ministry, may yet provide for some slight modification; a situation leaving a large volume of students awaiting further guidance from the province as to any impact it all may have on the post secondary plans.

The exams make for a significant element in the overall grading process and for many students the difference between accessing scholarships or potential acceptance at an institution could be determined by the fate of their marks.

Towards that concern, the province noted in a notice posted to the Ministry of Education's Transcripts page this week, that they are working on the issue and hope to have it resolved shortly.

The Ministry has begun the process of reviewing every June 2019 exam result, with the focus to ensure that student grades are reflected in an accurate fashion on their transcripts, the documentation that is among the criteria for admission to post secondary education.

The timeline is tight for the Province to fix the issue, many post secondary institutions have a deadline in August for the submission of final marks as part of the application process.

The situation is providing for some stress for students who thought that their high school days might be behind them as they make their plans for their post secondary years.

The first indication there was a problem with the transcripts came through a range of media reports on Tuesday, as parents expressed their concern and confusion over the situation.

BC Graduating students worried after computer problems force province to review Grade 12 English exams
Grade 12 students in BC issued incorrect transcripts after 'anomaly' in tabulation of provincial exams
'Tabulation anomaly' forces BC to review all 2019 provincial exam grades
Failing Grades: B.C. reviewing every Grade 12 exam result after system error found

There has not been much in the way of public information on the situation coming from the Ministry at the provincial level; or from SD52 locally, with no notes posted to their social media feeds (Rupert Schools) (CHSS) and those seeking guidance from the District's website finding the site down at the moment.

For its part the ministry has advised that it hopes to have updated transcripts posted later today.

For more items of note related to education in the Northwest see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Gitga'at outline plans for Harbourfront development and Trail construction at Hartley Bay

Some significant change to the community of Hartley Bay may soon be seen, should grant funding come through for a pair of ambitious development programs that would change the nature of the Gitga'at community's Harbourfront area and create an expanded trail system.

As part of a request for support of North Coast Regional District, the Gitga'at Development Corporation provided a prospectus of Phase One of a development plan that would see a 28 room hotel facility, 52 seat restaurant and nearby market style retail space developed along the harbour area.

The design as described for Regional Directors would see up to 6 mini-longhouses built to house the three elements, with an estimated cost of close to 90,000 dollars.

The Gitga'at highlighted the current level of interest in their community from visitors by way of cultural and ecological tourism which brings people to the area via ferry, cruise ship and private boat.

As well, they made note as to how Indigenous Tourism is growing rapidly throughout the region and the Nation wants to diversify into the tourism economy to capitalize on these opportunities.

In their briefing for Regional District, the Gitga'at also noted the growing industrial and economic activity in the region, along with Hartley Bay's placement as the site for an Emergency Response station and from all of that activity the potential for increasing the numbers of visitors to the community that could be realized.

Noting that many skip by the community owing to a lack of amenities such as a hotel, restaurant or market. The project should it prove to be feasible, is described as providing for a venue to incubate local entrepreneurs and jobs for some of the 200 Hartley Bay residents.

The Gitga'at Development Corporation anticipates that the planning and construction phase of the project would generate work for approximately 28 full time positions and a further 60 jobs would be created for Gitga'at members from ongoing operations.

The Nation has long wanted a hotel and restaurant in the community. The proposed Hartley Bay Harbourfront Development Project will increase community resilience and support economic diversification into the tourism and retail sectors. The hotel, restaurant and longhouse waterfront development will combine to bring more traffic into the community, and keep visitors for longer periods of time.

This will have a positive economic multiplier effect for community-owned businesses and positive influence on fuel sales and docking revenues, both of which benefit the Nation. Hartley Bay is well known as a spot in which boats can fuel up, and also safely tie up for the night on the docks behind the breakwater.

The development will be seen from a great distance and together with the retail market will help to draw visitors into the docks in Hartley Bay, which will in turn help to develop other needed services such as a grocery store. -- From a background letter on Hartley Bay Harbourfront development for Regional District

An overhead look at the Hartley Bay waterfront area
(google images)

The Harbourfront development is one of two projects that the Gitga'at Nation is working on, also outlining plans to develop a 1.5 km trail with 3 bridges that would connect Hartley Bay to Malsey Bay Campground, which would serve to realize their goal of expanding into the ecotourism and cultural tourism markets.

In their notes for Regional District the Gitga'at highlighted the features the development would provide for:

The existing trail will be widened and covered with geotechnical fabric to limit vegetation regrowth and then resurfaced with gravel and compacted in layers. Based on a ground truthing of the land, there are several new sections proposed for construction that in order to reduce the grade and make the trail as user friendly for all age groups and abilities as possible.

A trail sign is proposed at the trailhead in Hartley Bay that draws people’s attention to the trail use rules and map. A second trail sign is proposed at Malsey Bay Campground that tells visitors about the unique coastal ecosystem and history of the Tsimshian people. The project includes development of the forestry campground with 4 tent sites and a picnic shelter.

The estimated cost for the development of the Trail is $440,000 and with it comes the opportunity provide for a valuable training opportunity for the youth of the community.

The training component of the project would see such programs as Chainsaw Certification, Level 1 First Aid, WHIMIS and WorkSafe BC knowledge. The in-class instruction will be followed by a work experience component.

Once completed the Trail would consist of the three bridges, along with picnic tables and shelter which are proposed to be built of yellow cedar from the territorial land of the Tsimshian.

The Gitga'at note that as the trail will have two ocean front access points to allow boaters the flexibility of staying overnight at the campground, or in the comfort of a Bed and Breakfast.

Trail development is among the items proposed for
the Hartley Bay area should funding be approved
(Map from Gitga'at Development Corporation)

The request from Regional District was for letters of support for their request of $10,000 dollars in grant money to complete the business analysis and site selection for the Harbourfront Development plan, as well as for support on the Trail construction funding request.

The RD Board of Directors approved both letters of support at their mid July meeting, the Gitga'at will now take their application (and letters of support) to the BC Rural Dividend Fund Project Development for consideration of the current call for submissions.

For more items of note on the Gitga'at First Nation see our archive page here.

An overview of past Regional District items can be explored here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Victoria Viewpoints: Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Northern BC Homicides

With the growing number of RCMP information statements and news reports related to the various case files under investigation, we have shifted our daily archive of notes to this listing.

Globe and Mail

BC graduating students worried after computer problem forces Ministry of Education to review final marks for Grade 12 English exams
BC woman who posed as 'Dr. Lipjob' jailed for defying court order, repeatedly administering Botox
Three rescued from float plane crash off BC's Sunshine Coast
BC not sufficiently protecting drinking water: Auditor-General
Vancouver's Kater ready to launch ride-hailing service as soon as BC regulations permit

CBC

'A community in crisis: 400 workers off the job as 3 mills go down in Northern BC lumber town
'Dr. Lipjob' sent to jail for illegally injecting Botox
Grade 12 students in B.C. issued incorrect transcripts after 'anomaly' in tabulation of provincial exams
Vancouver Island politician wants compensation for colleagues who bike to board meetings
Amid a climate crisis, it it time for Vancouver to ditch inefficient glass towers?
Passengers killed in floatplane crash were from U.S. and Germany, coroner says
3 people rescued after floatplane crash on Sunshine Coast
Auditor General has 'grave concerns' about protection of drinking water in BC

Vancouver Sun

Conservative view of accounting rules a hallmark of B.C. governments
Surrey's population explosion leaves the city looking for answers
Three people pulled from water after float plane crashes near Sechelt
'Grave concern': B.C. not sufficiently protecting drinking water, says auditor general
ICBC ready to offer 'fitbit for cars' pilot to 7,000 youth to improve driving
Mark Goodman and Cynthia Jagger a sea storm of political absurdity over rental housing

Vancouver Province

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Victoria Times Colonist

Education Ministry looking into 'insanely low' Grade 12 exam marks posted online
VicPD mulls hiring unarmed officers for low risk tasks
Two Americans and a German killed in B.C. float plane crash last week
Former Island prosecutor cited for suppressing information

Victoria News

North Saanich laments loss of Douglas Fir that once housed eagles
ICBC starts sign-up for new driver smartphone pilot project
BC's rural water systems need work to be safe, auditor says

Global BC

Future of Templeton, Lord Byng pools in question as Park Board reviews Aquatic strategy
Staffing shortages blamed for North Okanagan recycling problems
'Tabulation anomaly' forces B.C. to review all 2019 provincial exam grades
ICBC launching telematics pilot project to improve driving behaviour
BC Government not sufficiently protecting province's drinking water, auditor general says

Vancouver Courier

Vancouver police fire beanbag rounds in arrest outside Patrician Hotel
'Dr. Lipjob' jailed for contempt
Trans Mountain opponents are spreading a debunked conspiracy theory
Assaults against Vancouver cops up 39 percent
Vancouver film and TV productions focus on emissions cuts
BC ponders permitting cannabis seedling sales
Want to increase Vancouver's rental supply? Lift restrictions on duplexes
Marpole housing co-op partners with developer on large rental project

Georgia Straight

Vancouver Islands' first B.C. Cannabis Store opening later this week
Report on BC drinking water hard on the government and doesn't mention corporations

The Tyee

The tragedy of Oppenheimer Park
Dogs of Downtown Eastside

Ottawa Observations: Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Tuesday, July30, 2019

Canadians held in China / China tensions

Ottawa likely won't make a decision on banning Huawei equipment until after fall election
Canada's passive playbook on China takes too many pages from Beijing
Liberals quash probe into government's call to ex-ambassadors to China
Liberals block committee probe into claims of inappropriate pressure on ex-China diplomats
Freeland called ex-China diplomat to assure him government wasn't trying to muzzle him
No decision on Huawei and 5G before fall federal election: Goodale
Trudeau Liberals block another attempt to hold them to account
Trudeau, the ambassadors or the bureaucrat - somebody has their story wrong
As Freeland privately apologizes to ex-ambassador to China, Liberals quash investigation into alleged 'muzzling'
Liberals reject bid to study reports of pressure on former diplomats over China

Canada wide Manhunt for BC homicide suspects

We have an archive of stories related to the case files available here.

Globe and Mail

How researchers are preparing for Canada's next major oil spill
Canada infrastructure Bank executive Nicholas Hann resigns amid growing industry frustration with pace of project approvals
Ontario and Quebec pushed back against Ottawa proposal to crackdown on drug price
Independent MP Hunter Tootoo won't seek re-election
Max grounding starting to take a big hit out of Air Canada

CBC

Scheer says 'noting can happen' on Canada-U.K. trade deal for now
F-35 demo team returns to Canada this fall as fighter jet makers jockey for position
People's Party of Canada candidate in Saskatchewan slammed over call for more 'hate speech'
Feds spent $17.7 million on advertising in lead up to election moratorium
Why Andrew Schher's climate plan won't hit Canada's Paris targets
Carbon tax challenge will cost 'hundreds' of thousands' of dollars, says Saskatchewan justice minister
Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo won't seek re-election
What's in your file? Federal political parties don't have to tell you

Toronto Star

Warren Kinsella's Green Party work is done, Elizabeth May says
Liberals and Conservatives neck-and-neck nationally, poll says
Inquiry report seeks to prevent a repeat of the Wettlaufer case in Canadian nursing homes
Canada due for big drop in home prices, according to housing bubble index
Ottawa finally challenging Ford government's plan to cancel out-of-country medical coverage
Campaign tactics and political messaging top agenda as Liberals gather for election boot camp
Canadians feel they lack control over their personal information, poll suggests

Toronto Sun

Liberals boast of fundraising success while Conservatives surpass them
Full accountability needs to be held in Wettlaufer report
Team Trudeau woos, or is that scares, voters to cast ballot for them
It's time to stamp out immigrant bashing

Maclean's

Conservatives should pitch radical changes to Liberals' weed plan

National Post

Canadian Forces mission in Latvia dogged by problems with harassment, unprofessional behaviour: report
'A unified message': Provinces move to synchronize battle plans against carbon tax'
'It seems to be getting worse": Cancer doctors scramble amid shortage of three essential drugs
Federal subsidies to steel and aluminum companies from 'innovation' fund near $200M mark

Global

Ontario and Quebec argued against federal plan to reduce drug prices, documents show

Miscellaneous

Green New Deal could help Liberals reconnect with BC Voters

Auditor General's report explores state of British Columbia's drinking water

The importance of safe drinking water, a topic that should catch the eye of many in Prince Rupert considering the events of earlier this year, was the guiding focus for a report released today by Carol Bellringer, the Auditor General for British Columbia, who reviewed the oversight related to the drinking water of the province and in some cases found much room for improvement.

Oversight of drinking water is very complex, involving 23 pieces of legislation and many ministries and agencies. To ensure clear accountability, government stated that the Ministry of Health (Health) would provide the leadership and coordination of the many ministries involved. However, over time, Health’s leadership has waned.

As a result, most coordinating bodies have disbanded, there is no strategic plan to guide the direction of drinking water protection, and efforts to protect small water systems have been limited. Health has undertaken some action but more needs to be done.

Given the complexity of drinking water protection and the challenges faced by the Ministry of Health, it is time for government to clearly articulate roles and ensure that ministries and agencies are held accountable. -- From the Executive Summary of the Auditor General's Report on the protection of Drinking water.

For the 2019 Audit, the Auditor-General's office focused on three pillars that the government has established to protect drinking water:

1. Leadership and coordination by Health

2. Actions by Health and the PHO

3. Accountability of Health and the PHO

From the Report the Auditor General notes:

We concluded that Health and the PHO are not taking the needed actions to protect drinking water for all British Columbians. However, Health had taken a number of actions, including developing guidance documents and working with some of its partners to advance an approach to identifying and mitigating risks.

The PHO had not demonstrated adequate oversight of drinking water officers, nor had the Office of the PHO been able to show the tracking and resolution of significant impediments to drinking water protection.

Overall, the accountability to government by Health and the PHO for the protection of drinking water was of concern. Health provided no information on drinking water in its annual service plan reports, and the PHO has reported sporadically on drinking water and potential issues over the years, but not annually, as required in the Drinking Water Protection Act.

The report reviews the leadership of the Ministry of Health when it comes to legislation to protect drinking water as well as the actions of the Public Health Officer, providing for eight recommendations, which both bodies delivered responses towards.

The eight recommendations
from the Auditor General's report
(click to enlarge)

The report outlines how the risks to drinking water are increasing whether it be the demand of a growing population, industrial practices or proximity to agricultural areas of the province, it also explores how climate change is expected to impact the province and could impact on the quality and quantity of drinking water available to the public.

The majority of the report is focused on the smaller water systems of the province those which serve fewer than 500 people in a twenty four hour period. It's estimated that 480,000 residents rely on those small water systems.

The report however notes that attention to all of the province's water systems is required to ensure that all proper safety measures are being followed up on regularly.

Much of the data reviewed was taken up to the year 2017, with the good news delivered that no known outbreak of water borne illness has been recorded in BC since 2004.

However as the Auditor General has found there's much to be done when it comes to accountability from both the Ministry and Public Health officer, with few of the recommendations from a string of previous reports over a number of years yet to be acted on.

The report which you can read here, comes with a video presentation from the Auditor General's Office which condenses the report and makes use of graphics to deliver the key elements.

The largest takeaway from the report, is the need for more oversight and accountability on all of the province's water systems and the need for more improved communication with residents.

Themes that the City of Prince Rupert may find helpful as they address local concerns.

While not noted in the AG report today, Prince Rupert has seen some past water issues of note, earlier this year a false-positive report on the city's drinking water had residents boiling their water for close to six weeks much of it over the holiday period, before the all clear was finally issued in March.

In May, the City of Prince Rupert and Northern Health issued a call for volunteers to test the quality of their home water.

The survey which was hosted by the Rupert Talks program is now listed as CLOSED, however so far, no details related to the findings have been released.

In 2016, School District 52 sent out advisories to the parents related to elevated levels of lead in the water found at a number of local schools, at the time North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice issued a statement calling for increased testing for lead exposure in other schools across the region.

And while the school issue took place under the watch of the previous Liberal government, as the Attorney General's report indicates, there is still much work ahead for the NDP government towards keeping a watch on the province's water systems.

For more items of note related to the Provincial government see our archive page here, other notes on the larger provincial scene see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Impact of increased trade through Port of Prince Rupert creating jobs, driving economic activity

The latest report from the Port of Prince Rupert
takes note of increase in jobs that have
been delivered in just the last two years

1,000 new workers have taken up employment with the Port of Prince Rupert since 2016, many of the new jobs created on the North Coast, though a growing number of employment opportunities are being realized across the northern corridor.

That is just one of a number of key takeaways from a new report released by the Port of Prince Rupert today which highlights the impact of Port Development not only on the City of Prince Rupert but all of Northern British Columbia.

The surge in jobs comes as the Port of Prince Rupert reports that 6200 jobs are now to be found through the movement of trade through the province to the shipping terminals at Prince Rupert.

The report was compiled by InterVistas and studied a range of factors to determine the role that the port plays in the development of Western Canada's economy.

The 2018 totals indicate some of the factors that have led to the significant economic and employment benefits for the region, based on the 26.7 million tonnes of product that were shipped last year.

The value of that trade was set at approximately $50 Billion and created 1.5 Billion dollars of economic activity in the region.

The report makes note of how that trade has created jobs stating:

The businesses and organizations involved in marine, terminal, rail, truck logistics and other activities required to safely move goods through the region employed 3600 full time equivalent jobs, and the contracted services and supplies required by those businesses (i.e. indirect employment), generated another 2600 jobs. Although many of the total 6200 jobs are located in the Prince Rupert area, thousands of women and men find employment as residents of communities throughout northern BC.

Annual wages associated with that employment totalled $481 million and the average annual wage rose to $87,200 in 2018.

As the charts below indicate, the majority of the jobs are permanent in nature, providing for stable, year round employment .

The bulk of the job opportunities come through rail and trucking operations as well as the work taking place through terminal and stevedoring operations on the Prince Rupert waterfront.

For government at all levels the port's success is also translating into financial benefits, with 125 million dollars in annual tax revenues delivered through stipends, personal tax, corporate tax and property tax revenues.

The Canadian and BC governments were the largest recipients, but property taxes generated from PRPA lands increased to $9.3 million in revenues for local government as well.

“The Port of Prince Rupert’s success is built on the hard work of the women and men that contribute to moving cargo efficiently and safely through the gateway every day, building our global reputation for innovation and reliability. Northern BC is our home. We’re proud of the economic benefits we’ve been able to cultivate with all of our partners over the last decade.

As we look to the future, we are optimistic that we will collectively continue to deliver a globally competitive trade corridor for BC and Canadian exporters, and reap the economic benefits from it, given the Prince Rupert Gateway’s strategic advantages and demonstrated track record.” -- Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority. “

The Direct impact of growing trade opportunities and employment increases is highlighted by the following graph which charts the increases found since 2009.

Compared to the most recent economic impact study compiled in 2016, the economic indicators across the board show a significant upward trend, which reflects for a 40 percent increase in port volumes during that two year period.

The report digs deep into the data, providing a very comprehensive glimpse into the both the growth of the port and its operations, as well as the impact that it is delivering, both in employment, injection into the local economy and financial benefit provided to all levels of government.

You can review the full report on the economic impact here.

For more items of note about the Port of Prince Rupert see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.