Nathan Cullen announces dates of his "Let's Talk LNG" sessions

Following on the format of his Renewal Northwest tour of February, Nathan Cullen, the NDP MP for Skeena-BulkleyValley is making preparations for a similar style of forum for the region.

This one  to address the topic of LNG development in the Northwest.

Mr. Cullen outlined the dates so far and a bit of background on his tour of the Northwest, which will see him hold sessions in a number of locations in November.

Marked on the calendar so far, are the following dates and locations for the LNG forums.

Smithers, November 12, 7 PM, Della Herman Theatre

Terrace, November 13, 7 PM, R E M Lee Theatre

Kitimat, November 14, 7 PM, Mount Elizabeth Theatre

Prince Rupert, November 15, 7 PM, Highliner Hotel

Among some of the topics that the MP will be offering up for discussion, the kind of opportunity that LNG might bring to the local economy and workforce. What if any impact that the industry may have on the environment and whether companies involved in the industry will act upon what they hear from First Nations and communities during consultations.

The announcement for the planned sessions advises that a number of other participants will be joining the MP as he travels across the Northwest.

With contributions to be made from the environmental group Friends of Wild Salmon, as well as proponents of LNG development and local First Nations of the Northwest.

Also on the itinerary for the discussions, will be the participation of economic development groups and other partners.

The information sharing sessions are described as seeking to provide for open and educational conversation about what LNG development could mean for Northwest communities.

Also on tap for the tour,  an examination as to what kind of legacy that LNG development may leave for the region.

You can learn more about the November forums from the NDP MP's website.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Ferry Advisory Committee calls Ferry funding issue an "unnecessary crisis"

With the British Columbia Government collecting opinion and observations as part of its 2014 Budget consultation process, the advocates for coastal ferry transportation have offered up their thoughts on the current status of the ferry system.

The main takeaway of their presentation being a request, that the provincial government adjust its plans for the coastal ferry service and increase funding towards it.

Their overview of the current situation facing the coastal ferry system, comes following a review of the consultation and engagement process which was released  in the fall of 2012.

Those conversations and findings, in part were steered by the January 2012 report from the BC Ferry Commissioner.

A document which has made for much in the way of discussion, as well as a fair amount of concern for those in smaller coastal communities that are served by the ferry system.

Reflecting much of that background on the issue, the Chairs of the Ferry Advisory Committee have provided a fifteen page submission for the Budget consultation.

A review which calls the current scenario facing the ferry system as an "unnecessary crisis" and delivers a number of points towards making the Ferry Services along the British Columbia coast sustainable.

Key among those items:

Sustainability starts with affordability, highlighting the current level of fares to travel on the ferry system and how it provides for an "affordability death spiral". They also outlined how in their opinion, the user fee principle is working against higher traffic levels on the system.

The Committee offered up three scenarios to stimulate more traffic for the Ferry fleet, calling for a freeze or even a roll back on Ferry fares, which they believe will deliver more traffic and more revenues to the system.

They recommended that the province provide more capital funding for the Ferry system, particularly for those vessels that serve the minor routes of the coastal system.  Towards that funding, they suggested that the province should go over its history and learn some useful lessons on funding gaps that have been building through the decades.

They also highlighted the theme, that if the province were to treat coastal ferries like other forms of provincial transportation, then the crisis in the system would be eliminated.

Towards that theme they draw comparisons to other infrastructure in the province, such as roads, bridges, airports, transit and inland ferries all of which require government support. Asking why there is a distinction between the coastal ferries and that provincial infrastructure.

The conclusion to their presentation to the government highlights how they believe the ferry system is a deal for taxpayers and that any vision moving forward for the Ferry system should involve a vision for coastal communities.

The closing points perhaps designed to remind the government of the integral role that the Ferry system plays in many communities up and down the British Columbia coast.

The final line of the summation, providing what appears to have been the guiding principle of their presentation.

"In order to develop a long-term vision for that service, we need to hear what is the provincial government's vision for our communities and their needs, and whether our communities have a place in the government's vision for jobs and growth."

You can review their participation in the Budget consultation process from this link to their submission.

A full review of the past work and items of interest from the Ferry Advisory Committee Chairs is available on their website.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review

The Senators strike back...

On most days, the tone of debate or discussion in the Senate of Canada can be described as sedate, sleepy (at times literally), or leisurely.

A Chamber given to supposed thoughtful discussion on the bills and issues delivered to their desks from their compatriots of the House of Commons.

This week however, the Senate is taking on some of the trappings of Animal House, a wild fraternity with no borders, no guidelines and a fair amount of shocking revelations that may shake the entire campus on Parliament Hill.
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Tuesday, Senator Mike Duffy outlined his case to his fellow Senators, offering up a string of allegations that paint events in the Prime Minister's Office (and with the PM for that matter)  as possible plot lines that might be helpful to Netflix and their House of Cards script writing for season two.

Duffy's recollections and observations have of course sent Ottawa into somewhat of a meltdown mode, the Senate, now a nuclear reactor that would seem to be losing it's cooling water quite quickly.

Reviews of the Senator from Prince Edward Island's (well sometime resident we guess) revelations and missile strikes directed at the PMO can be found below.

A most fascinating collection of commentary and reporting that serve to highlight the sense of the moment in the second chamber.

National Post-- Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau turn up as Senate debates suspeding them
National Post-- Harper's presidential guard finally ticked off one too many loyal Tories
National Post-- Duffy and his co-accused fail to go along quietly, much to the chagrin of the PMO
National Post-- Just the three of us: Mike Duffy tells Senate that Stephen Harper told him to repay expenses
National Post-- Duffy's lawyer didn't pull his client out of the muck, but he certainly dragged the Tories into it

Globe and Mail-- Duffy's quest for revenge: A threat to the government
Globe and Mail-- Duffy says PM ordered him to repay expenses at meeting with Wright
Globe and Mail--  Duffy, Harper and the expenses: Who knew what when?

Toronto Star-- Stephen Harper could have avoided Mike Duffy woes by obeying the law
Toronto Star-- Harper should come clean on Senate spending scandal
Toronto Star-- Duffy claims cover-up by PMO

Toronto Sun-- Duffy says he is victim of extortion by PMO
Toronto Sun-- Mike Duffy a victim of political with hunt: lawyer

CBC-- Mike Duffy Senate scandal 'directly implicates' PM, Mulcair says 
CBC-- Mike Duffy claims Harper told him to repay expense money
CBC-- The Mike Duffy-Stephen Harper credibility war

The Tyee-- Mike Duffy Implicates PMO in Expense Scandal

Two things that stand out after all of this, beyond the stench and unfalterring optics of this latest controversy.

One, that the Prime Minister's Office, always thought of as a micro managing operation, clearly now suffers from the weight of all that control, and certainly it and the Prime Minister for that matter, have not been cast in the most flattering of light.

As for the Senate, a forum that hasn't resonated with Canadians in a long, long time, it  once again has been laid bare for what it is, a parking spot for political appointees, water carriers who sometimes bite back when their existence is threatened.

The latest of high dudgeon over the move to remove the three Conservative Senators at the centre of the  latest tempest, serves to remind us of one omni-present theme from Parliament Hill.  Whether it be the chambers of the Senate and Commons, or all the committees, commissions and such, after a while, all it seem tend to take on a sense of entitlement.

The focus of service to the nation seems very, very lost in all the per diems, housing allowances and the juggling of expenses, items of self reward, that seem to take up a lot of the efforts of those in Ottawa.

The Senate scandal is but a barometer of how the public believes the wind blows in the nation's capital.

The unfortunate thing for those of outside of the club, is that for all their theatrical outrage, none of those that represent us seem willing to tackle the many issues that scream out for attention.

Northwest MLA's want action on Missing Women's Commission recommendations

There may not be much happening at the Legislature these days, the fall session being a non session if you will, but for opposition MLA's the work continues, as they seek to raise issues of concern with the government.

Last week the three Northwest NDP MLA's, outlined their concern over the lack of  attention provided by the Liberal Government on the recommendations from the Missing Women's Commission.

With Jennifer Rice, Robyn Austin and Doug Donaldson all observing that the Liberals are not moving fast enough on the report, one that was delivered in November of 2012.

And while, in their press release, the NDP may be employing a bit of  hyperbole in their claim that the Liberals are burying the Commission's report, "pulling down the Commission's website" as they put it, (the report itself and the recommendations from it, are still fairly easy to find with a simple google search see here), they are correct on the rather glacial pace of the Liberals attention to it.

When the Commission, led by Justice Wally Oppal crossed the province seeking out information and possible answers, the prospect of action seemed fairly high.

However as the months slip by, the report it seems runs the danger of finding space on a dusty shelf, like many other reports, on any number of topics before it.

That is a fate that should not arrive for the Missing Women's Commission report.

Learning where the Government stands on the recommendations and whether they agree, or disagree with the point by point recommendations that came from the findings is something that the public should hear.

Then Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Shirley Bond pledged at the time of the report's delivery to immediately begin the process of implementing his recommendations. Though it would seem that the term immediate perhaps has a different timeline in Victoria.

Reviewing the many issues that the Commission raised is something that should be addressed sooner, rather than later.

As Doug Donaldson, the NDP's critic for Aboriginal Affairs rightly points out, "What is the point of having a commission if the government isn't going to act on the recommendations in a timely manner?"

A very good question, and one that deserves an answer, quickly from the Provincial government.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review

Scratching Mr. Cullen off the BC NDP Leadership Depth Chart?

Time, NDP style it seems, will wait for no one.

Not even a popular NDP MP, who has recently been taking to a little toe testing into changing his political focus to the provincial scene.

The BC NDP announced on Monday, that the most likely date of a leadership convention to replace Adrian Dix will be in May 25, 2014.

A timeline that perhaps won't be much to the liking, or helpful for planning for the Skenna-Bulkley Valley MP.

As we outlined on the blog last week, Mr. Cullen had outlined that his prospects of running in a leadership campaign would be better for a long range target of 2015, as opposed to a short track campaign in 2014.

His is an opinion that has been shared by a number of other potential NDP leadership hopefuls, the consensus being that the BC branch of the NDP may wish to take the long view, not the short one when it comes to a convention date.

That however, would appear to have been a talking point that didn't get much time on the agenda for the upper ranks of the provincial party.

In a media release on Monday, NDP officials announced their preference for the timeline of replacing Mr. Dix. The recommendation of a May 2014 convention apparently coming after consultations with the legislative caucus, local constituency presidents and Mr. Dix himself.

It appears that the thinking for the provincial NDP officials is one of the sooner the better, when it comes to launching the leadership campaign.  Putting that future face of the NDP into the Legislature, as soon as possible to face Premier Christy Clark.

Political observers in Victoria believe that should the BC NDP go with the 2014 option, the current wish list of Federal MP's looking to come home, may soon find names dropping off in quick order. That as the Federal members weigh their best personal and political options.

In the case of Mr. Cullen, as he outlines for Gary Mason of the Globe and Mail, an early leadership date for the convention could be the sign off point for him, indicating his intention to step aside from a provincial competition once again.

Spring date too soon for B. C. NDP leadership convention, Cullen says

Should he decide not to seek the provincial leadership, it will mark the second time that he has given consideration to a switch to provincial politics and then decided to remain in Ottawa instead.

The final answer answer from NDP officials as to the timeline of a leadership convention is expected to be delivered by the end of the week.

The potential of a May 2014 leadership date, one which sideswipes a number of high profile potential candidates, may soon prove to be the next controversial thing for the party to deal with.

A decision which may divide the party even more between party insiders and the larger collective of NDP supporters. One which goes against their wishes for a leadership race that offers as large a pool of talent as possible, with perhaps a larger discussion on the NDP future, one with a few new ideas and plans for the party faithful to consider for the path ahead.

Some of the views on the NDP dilemma can be found below.

Vancouver Province-- B. C. NDP's May 2014 leadership date works against MP Nathan Cullen
Straight.com-- B. C. NDP executive disses MPs and local politicians in recommending May 2014 leadership convention
Victoria Times Colonist-- NDP win won't come from a computer
Victoria News-- May vote proposed to replace Dix
Globe and Mail-- B. C. New Democrat's date for leadership elections could rule out promising candidates


Cross posted from the North Coast Review

State of Emergency declared after OIl and Gas train derailment in western Alberta

Portions of a small town located halfway between Edmonton and Edson were evacuated on Saturday, that as fire fighters battled a blaze from the derailment of thirteen train cars carrying liquid propane gas and petroleum crude oil.

The derailment, which took place in the early hours of Saturday morning near Gainford Alberta, produced a fireball which shot into the sky, closing the Yellowhead highway the main east - west route through the northern portion of Alberta and British Columbia.

The train operated by Canadian National consisted of 158 cars and was destined for Vancouver. It was travelling westbound through Gainford, when the thirteen cars jumped the tracks around 1 AM.

The most recent reports from the scene had three of the cars containing gas leaking and on fire, with concerns of a larger explosion and fire still feared.

The area was placed under a state of emergency shortly after the derailment, with an evacuation order issued for those in a two-kilomtre radius of the derailment scene.

The Transportation Safety Board has been dispatched to the scene to begin their investigation.

The Gainford incident, calls to mind the tragedy in Lac Megantic, Quebec earlier this year, that derailment and explosion claimed 47 lives and created a wide swath of destruction in the scenic Quebec community.

The issue of oil shipments by rail has become a controversial discussion point since that Lac Megantic incident, with many communities seeking better safety measures and the desire to learn more about the  increase in numbers of those shipments.

The topic of increased rail safety measures was recently raised by The Federation of Canadian Municipalaities and was mentioned as part of the Conservative Government's Speech from the Throne. The mention of rail safety can be found from the speech document on pages 15 and 16.

The subject of rail safety is one of note for Northern British Columbia, as there has been an increase in the interest in the Oil by rail prospects to the North Coast,  part of the ongoing dialogue over the

controversial Enbridge Northern Gateway proposal.

In the past, Prince Rupert has been mentioned as a possible terminus for both a liquid propane terminal and an oil terminal that would be served by oil by rail options.

This latest incident involving the shipment of both of those commodities through Gainford, should serve to reintroduce those discussions and the impact that those plans may have on communities, not only on the North Coast,  but across Northern British Columbia.

Some background on the State of Emergency in Gainford can be found below.

Edmonton Journal-- Huge fireball streaks across Yellowhead after train derailment west of Edmonton
CBC-- CN Fuel cars derail, explode west of Edmonton
CTV News-- 'Major risk' after train derailment of cars carrying liquid petroleum gas, crude oil
Globe and Mail-- Train carrying oil, propane derails west of Edmonton
National Post-- Alberta community evacuated after train carrying oil and gas derails
Edmonton Sun-- CN Train carrying crude oil derails near Edmonton

Cross Posted from the North Coast Review

MLA Rice sends out first "household mailer" of new political adventure

For many a new MLA or MP, the occasion of the first of the "household mailers" is one for the memory books.

The pamphlets delivered direct to our doors, serve as their introduction to the riding and offers a chance to update constituents as to what they have been doing on behalf of the riding they represent.

NDP MLA Jennifer Rice delivers her first of these household updates this week, as her debut pamphlet arrives in local mailboxes around the North Coast.

In it along with a bounty of photographs, she recounts her busy summer of events, a pole raising for Gwaii Haanas, and her efforts to collect books for the library at Bella Bella; destroyed by fire earlier this year.

As well she recounts some of the other items of her summer calendar such things as helping out at Tim Horton's Camp Day and at Prince Rupert's Canada Day celebration.

In the mailer, she introduces the staff of her 3rd Avenue West, North Coast Constituency office, with James and Pauline in place to answer any questions and/or concerns of the North Coast.

And of course the pamphlet offers her up one more chance to thank the voters of the North Coast, outlining some of her thoughts on the trust that they have put in her to represent them in Victoria.

For the most part though, the bulk of the publication provides for a review from the MLA as to her main concerns during the recent, all be it short, session of the Legislature.

Highlighting her role as Rural and Northern Health Critic, Ms. Rice offers up the checklist of some of the items she raised in the Legislature this spring. Questions about the Budget, First Nations Health Care, Addictions and Mental Health services to name a few.

One key issue that receives a bit more attention than the rest in the mailer, is the ongoing quest for a shuttle bus service to serve all of the communities along Highway16, dubbed by some as the Highway of Tears.

That would seem to be a cause she intends to continue to raise in the Legislature in the future (whenever the Legislature may meet next Madam Premier).

Seeking to ensure that the Government follows through on past recommendations to provide safer access to transportation to those that may have in the past relied on hitch hiking, or continue to use that as a mode of transportation in the region.

You can review some of the main discussion points  from the images below (click to enlarge):

If the full mailer somehow doesn't make it to your door, perhaps a trip down to the constituency office might secure you one.  Providing you with a keepsake version, complete with the photo array and keeping you up to date on the discussion points from the MLA for the fall season.

The Mailer isn't the first introduction to the North Coast MLA however, the BC NDP Caucus has been fairly active in promoting the North Coast's representative on it's You Tube portal, some of those profiles can be found below:

July 10 2013-- Meet Jennifer Rice, the New NDP MLA for North Coast
July 23 2013-- Jennifer Rice speaks about northern resource development
July 22 2013-- Jennifer Rice talks about the challenges of cancer care in the north
July 22 2013-- Jennifer Rice acknowledges memorials at Shearwater
July 17 2013-- Jennifer Rice speaks about the Fire in Bella Bella
July 12 2013-- Jennifer Rice supports a shuttle for Highway of Tears
July 10 2013-- Meet Jennifer Rice, the New NDP MLA for North Coast
July 4 2013-- Jennifer Rice makes her first speech in the legislature

As for developments and news from the Legislature,  you can access more from our Legislature Archive page.

Cross Posted from the North Coast Review