NDP school plans will provide test of MLA Rice's ability to steer home Middle School replacement

Any replacement plans for Prince Rupert Middle School will
now cross the desk of NDP Education Minister Rob Fleming

Education it appears will be one of the key elements of forward movement for the new NDP government of John Horgan, as the NDP look to follow up on many of their campaign themes related to education.

The task of delivering on some of the promises made during the campaign will fall to the new education minister Rob Fleming, he was issued his new marching orders in July with his cabinet mandate letter, a document which featured two elements related to physical infrastructure for the province's schools.

Make schools safer by accelerating the seismic upgrade program. 

Work in partnership to build and upgrade schools in every region of the province.

And ever since signing on for the work ahead, Mr. Fleming has been fairly vocal on the need to rebuild the aging infrastructure for the province's public schools.

One file that hopefully crosses his desk sooner, rather than later, will be the need for a replacement building for Prince Rupert Middle School.

That topic was one which she raised frequently as an opposition MLA in the last Legislature sessions, and also made for much of the discussion during the recent election campaign for local candidates, with the NDP's Jennifer Rice making it one of her top talking points.

MLA Rice calls for confidence vote in Legislature; seeks progress on PRMS replacement issue
Radio debates set the scene for Monday's North Coast All Candidates meeting
Middle School replacement hopes become political cudgel for North Coast election campaign
Petition for replacement of PRMS delivered to Legislature by MLA
Jennifer rice renews call for replacement of Prince Rupert Middle School
MLA Rice examines many themes in busy Tuesday session at Legislature

"When can parent's, teachers and children in Prince Rupert expect to see these atrocious health and safety matters addressed, and when can they see a much, much needed middle school" -- Jennifer Rice, in the Legislature in March speaking on the Prince Rupert Middle school replacement quest.

With MLA Jennifer Rice mow on
the government side of the Legislature,
the PRMS replacement plan will be a key
local issue to watch in months to come

Now that Ms. Rice is part of the government, will come the true test as to whether the MLA can deliver on the much anticipated new building.

Having made the local school issue the foundation of much of her campaign for re-election, the next few months will surely offer up some indication as to how much influence the new Parliamentary Secretary for emergency preparedness has with her cabinet colleagues and whether there will be any new announcements, let alone a ribbon cutting ceremony during the course of her new term of office.

With Mr. Fleming seemingly already on top of the file, the task now for the North Coast MLA is to make sure that the Prince Rupert Middle School replacement file is the one that remains at the top of his growing pile.

Over the course of the last few weeks a number of news stories have been generated on the theme of rebuilding and replacing the physical infrastructure of the province's education system, some of the theme can be reviewed below.

Dealing with backlog of school repairs is priority one for new education minister
NDP government to spur school construction
Rob Fleming, BC's new education minister diving, into urgent priorities
A $5 billion Mess: BC's School Maintenance Bills pile up
BC's New Government Pledges Urgent Action on Education - Canada should, too
Seismic upgrades for Vancouver schools on shaky ground

In April, SD52 had outlined some of its Capital funding plans for the year ahead, noting that the Ministry of Education was considering urgent work for Prince Rupert Middle School, the main focus of that work would be to address required repairs for the roof, boilers and electrical system.

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

Cross posted from the North Coast Review

AltaGas/Astomos ink deal on Propane exports out of new Ridley facility

Japan will be the first destination for shipments of liquefied propane out of the Ridley Island Export Terminal, as Calgary based AltaGas and Tokyo's Astomos Energy wrap up the details on an agreement on purchase of propane for shipment starting in 2019.

The deal announced on Tuesday will see the Japanese company take one half of the anticipated 1.2 tonnes of liquefied propane gas that will be produced at the Ridley Terminal once it is up and running.

The Japanese market is one which offers much in the way of potential for the Canadian company,
with over 24 million homes in Japan using propane to heat their homes or for cooking, with limited supplies at home, Astomos is looking to AltaGas to help provide for a stable supply.

Tuesday's announcement was the culmination of discussions with the Japanese energy company which began back in 2016.

In an information release from Astomos Energy, the company highlights the secure source of LPG from Canada, the short timeline for delivery and safety aspects related to the import of the Canadian propane.

As we outlined yesterday, progress is moving swiftly on the construction of the Propane export terminal, with land clearing now complete and the foundation for the giant storage tank for Ridley Island now underway.

AltaGas highlighted the Prince Rupert project as part of their second quarter update in late July, providing an update on the timeline of construction, as well as the involvement in the project of the Dutch company Royal Vopak.

At RIPET, crews are currently working to pour the foundation for the propane tank and have assembled the two tower cranes that will be used in the civil construction works. Over the next few months, the propane tank will start to take shape. This involves eight concrete pours with the final pour scheduled near the end of 2017. RIPET is expected to be in service by the first quarter of 2019. 

On May 5, 2017, AltaGas announced a joint venture with Royal Vopak, a leading independent tank storage company with a global network of terminals located at strategic locations along major trade routes, pursuant to which Royal Vopak obtained a 30 percent interest in RIPET. As part of the formation of the joint venture, AltaGas will provide construction and operating services to the joint venture. AltaGas has entered into negotiations with a number of producers and suppliers and expects to underpin at least 40 percent of RIPET's annual expected capacity under tolling arrangements with producers and other suppliers. 

 "We are excited to see all of the development and logistics surrounding our northeast B.C. strategy start to take shape. We are building strong relationships with producers and suppliers that will provide sustainable growth opportunities and benefits for all parties," said Mr. Harris. "We are also excited about our joint venture with Vopak as they are a very strategic global tank storage company and bring significant experience in terminals worldwide. We look forward to working with them on RIPET as well as considering future opportunities to build out our joint venture."

The agreement between Astomos and AltaGas captured the attention of the financial papers, some of their reviews can be found below:

As LNG project stalls, AltaGas signs propane export deal with Japanese firm

Altagas touts propane export deal with Japanese firm

For more items related to the AltaGas project see our archive page here.  

Cross posted from the North Coast Review

Victoria Viewpoints Archive: August 2017

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene.

August 31
August 30
August 29
August 28
August 26 & 27
August 25
August 24
August 23
August 22
August 21
August 19 & 20
August 18
August 17
August 16
August 15
August 14
August 12 and 13
August 11
August 10
August 9
August 8
August 5-7
August 4
August 3
August 2
August 1

Ottawa Observations Archive: August 2017

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments
from the Federal scene for August  2017.

August 31
August 30
August 29
August 28
August 26 & 27
August 25
August 24
August 23
August 22
August 21
August 19 & 20
August 18
August 17
August 16
August 15
August 14
August 12 & 13
August 11
August 10
August 9
August 8
August 5-7
August 4
August 3
August 2
August 1

Victoria Viewpoints: Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene:

BC Wildfire emergency in Cariboo/Interior

An archive of notes from the BC wildfires 


Trudeau, Robertson mum on Trans Mountain during meeting
NDP fires ex-Liberal leader from job as B.C.'s LNG advocate
Cattle ranchers take stock of losses from British Columbia wildfires
Thick smoke hinders fight against B.C. wildfire
Heat wave on South Coast could rival temperatures of deadly summer of 2009
NDP fires B.C. LNG advocate Gordon Wilson
Anti-poverty activist Jean Swanson seeks seat on Vancouver city council
B.C. Ferries fast tracks new vessel to avoid travel mayhem
Pipeline, opioid crisis likely on agenda as Trudeau meets Vancouver mayor
MLA Andrew Wilkinson weighs B.C. Liberal leadership bid
Fault lines show as B.C. Liberals slag own potential leaders
Gordon Wilson defends his job performance after being fired by NDP
Trudeau, Robertson talk transit, opioids ... not a peep about pipelines
Christy Clark's former deputy minister agrees to help NDP government
Ex Liberal leader Gordon Wilson fired from LNG job
Clark gives the NDP some breathing room
BC Hydro ready for customers to break summer record for power usage amid heat wave
Jean Swanson, Vancouver anti-poverty activist, announces city council run
Mexican and U.S. firefighters to assist in fighting B.C. wildfires
BC Liberal appointed LNG advocate fired by NDP
Justin Trudeau defends Ottawa's decision not to match donations
Another Vancouver housing activist eyes vacant council seat
Mayor avoids pipeline talk with Trudeau
In face of obvious failure, city resets its housing policy
Five guiding principles for the next B.C. Liberal leader
NDP government fires Gordon Wilson as province's Buy B.C. LNG advocate
Environmental Protection Act review could strengthen human rights
Justin Trudeau maintains that the fentanyl crisis is still no reason to regulate hard drugs
Justin Trudeau will meet Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson to discuss housing issues

Ottawa Observations: Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for Saturday/Sunday, July 29 & 30, 2017


BC Wildfires

Our archive of notes can be found here

Departure of Christy Clark 

Our archive of notes is available here


Human-rights lawyer calls for end to Canadian arms sales to Saudi Arabia
On Saudi arms sale; Ottawa must be prepared to say no
Ottawa approved for-profit plasma clinic despite warning from Canadian Blood Services
CBC names Arsenault, Barton, Chang and Hanomansing new hosts of The National
Trudeau cites 'regret' over Brazeau comments in Rolling Stone
After Air Transat saga, passenger bill of rights aims to punish airlines into being good
If the U.S. is alarmed about North Korea, 'we should be alarmed,' says MacKay
Canada 'firmly condemns' detention of 2 Venezuelan opposition leaders
Trudeau 'regrets' comments in Rolling Stone about Senator Patrick Brazeau
Jagmeet Singh's challenge: Can a turban-wearing Sikh win in Quebec?
The big holdup in a Canada-U.S. lumber deal? Russian, German Brazilian wood
CBC's The National needed a shakeup - but this one?
Indigenous advocate wants Trudeau to express remorse in letter to Rolling Stone
Reforming child welfare first step towards reconciliation
Let the Warkentin family stay
Russia will send 100,000 soldiers to NATO border
Inspiration for summer blockbuster Dunkirk an unsung Montreal hero
Arsenault, Barton, Chang and Hanomansing new hosts of The National on CBC
A not-so-happy 100th birthday to income tax in Canada
How a smallpox epidemic forged modern British Columbia
Prime Minister Trudeau and Vancouver's mayor meet
Justin Trudeau defends Ottawa's decision not to match donations
Environmental Protection Act review could strengthen human rights

AltaGas shares project update through newsletter presentation

AltaGas has issued their first update on the work
taking place at Ridley Island for the Propane
Export Terminal under construction
(photos from AltaGas newsletter)

Work is going strong on Ridley Island these days as AltaGas continues to make progress on their Propane Export Terminal for the Ridley Industrial site.

The first newsletter from the Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal project provides a glimpse into some of the construction to this point of the project timeline as well as what comes next as the propane takes shape and rises from its concrete foundation.

AltaGas is making use of what they call a self-perform model,  with AltaGas taking the lead as manager and general contractor, making use of supporting services from affiliate contractors to bring the project to its completion.

Over the course of the next few months the propane tank will begin to take shape, with eight concrete pours planned between now and the end of the year, with the final pour scheduled towards the end of 2017.

Following final pour, work will then shift towards the installation of the roof, which will take place in the first quarter of 2018. Once the structure is complete it will feature a dome that is 45 metres high to the top of the dome.

The newsletter also reviews some of the environmental work and monitoring that is taking place as the project moves forward, as well as the operations of the LandSea Camp located just outside of Port Edward that is housing workers that are bringing the project together at Ridley.

As the newsletter rolled out, AltaGas noted that there are currently 40 workers staying in the camp, bussed to and from the project site daily.

While relatively new to the region, AltaGas has already given back to the Port Edward community, providing a 250,000 donation to the District to go towards the installation of controlled railway crossings across the length of Port Edward.

That was an initiative that was welcomed by Port Edward Mayor Dave MacDonald.

“Thanks to the financial and moral support from AltaGas, Ridley Terminals, the Federal Ministry of Transportation and our Federal Port Authority, Council is very pleased that all four rail crossings in Port Edward will be upgraded this summer,”  ... “This has been a significant quality of life issue for our community. Once the work is complete, the District will pass a resolution that will reduce the train whistling to emergencies only and the public crossings will be upgraded to meet the new federal regulations.”

With the work on the site moving at its current pace, AltaGas has already turned its attention to the need to staffing positions at the plant, noting in their newsletter that they are currently accepting applications for entry-level to senior level plant operators for the Terminal,  with the need to staff positions for work commencing in September.

Currently those positions require a High School Diploma, GED and Gas Processing Operations certification as minimum requirements.

Those with an interest in positions available at the Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal can email their resume to RIPETCareers@altagas.ca

Once the Terminal is up and running, it's anticipated that between 40 to 50 permanent jobs will be created for the shipping facility at Ridley.

You can review the full AltaGas update on the progress of the terminal here.

More photos of the work that is underway and notes related to the project can be found on the Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal website.

For more items related to the Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review