Friday, May 27, 2022

Ottawa Observations: Thursday/Friday, May 26 & 27, 2022



Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for   Thursday/Friday,  May 26-27 , 2022



CBC





Toronto/Vancouver Star




Toronto Sun



National Post




Macleans                           




Global          




Miscellaneous            




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City of Prince Rupert reminds homeowners of change to application process for Homeowner grant

With the mail out of municipal tax notices complete, the City of Prince Rupert has provided for a reminder to the change in how homeowners apply for the homeowner grant, a process which was returned to the province in 2021.

In a Social Media post on Thursday the City made note of the change and how residents can access the opportunity to reduce some of the tax burden that comes with the annual taxes due notifications.

The link to the provincial Home owner grant website can be accessed here.

The information relay also made for part of the home mailing package which came with your tax notice this week, the details on how to pay your taxes as well as the process to apply for the grant is on the flip side of the message to the community from Mayor Lee Brain. 

Also included in the correspondence this week was notice of a State of the City Presentation from the Mayor on June 28th.

click to enlarge

Residents should apply for their Home Owner Grant every year, doing so prior to paying their taxes. 

The Deadline for Tax time this year is July 4th.

More notes related to the City's budget process can be explored here, while civic taxation themes are explored here.

A wider overview of past Council Discussion topics is available here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review. 

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Thursday, May 26, 2022

NDP Museum plans could be long running gift for Opposition



John Horgan's NDP government is feeling some significant heat when it comes their recently announced plans to create a Brand New Royal British Columbia Museum, a project which at an estimated cost of 800 million dollars is proving to be an enticing target for those of the opposition benches.



From those comments above from May 13th has come the Business case(of sorts), which was released yesterday by Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. 

The document has been received with mixed reviews, particularly when it comes to over 100 pages of redacted information that both BC Liberals as well as some of the Victoria press gallery note really don't offer much in the way of information on costing, which is the main focus it seems for most anyone outside of the Horgan cabinet.


The business case comes following last week's surprise announcement of the decision to not only build a new showcase for the provincial capital, but that the current museum would be closed for a significant period of the new build, estimated to be seven year period.

That closure looms fast, with the original notes of May 13th noting that the museum will close it doors on September  6th of this year. The estimated date for the doors to the new facility to reopen comes sometime in 2030.

Minister Melanie 
Mark is feeling the 
heat over the
BC Gov't plans
for the Royal 
BC Museum
The announcement last week, made for much of the focus for the opposition and somewhat of a gift for new Liberal leader Kevin Falcon's debut in the chamber, and while at times he was a little rusty in his legislature skills, the new leader did manage to score some significant political points on Mr. Horgan and Ms. Mark during the Question Period of last week's Legislature sessions.

And while the need for a new facility or extensive renovation for the existing structure is a long overdue proposal, the eye catching cost, disregard for potential cost over runs and delays to construction and complete shutdown of the facility has made for the main points of contention.  

Particularly as the opposition on what has now become a daily basis, recounts ways that the BC Government might better put to use 800 million dollars, an amount that they update notably to 1 billion for effect.




And while they could have chosen any number of areas to target for how that spending could help this region. whether that be in health, transportation or housing; they have put their focus on a long running promise that actually goes back to the party's own time in office that has yet to be delivered.

That of the still to be seen broken ground for the new Prince Rupert Middle School, a project currently languishing somewhere in a bureaucratic limbo it would seem.


As we noted earlier this month, the last update from the School District came at the May 5th School Board Budget meeting. With Secretary-Treasurer Cam McIntyre noting that the project is awaiting approval at the provincial government's Treasury Board level, though there is yet any indication as to what kind of a timeline anyone is working on towards the build.

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice hasn't made note of either the Museum build or taken the bait on the PRMS situation so far through her social media feeds.

However, with an eight year timeline for the Museum project, that topic however will probably be dogging both the MLA and the NDP for the foreseeable future, complete with what could be a daily drip, drip, drip of the many ways that the Premier and his government could be spending money.

While local parents, students in elementary schools and educators probably are hoping that the PRMS build isn't on the same timeline.

More notes on the Legislature can be explored through our archive page here.

Some of the commentary and observations from the provincial media in Victoria on the theme can be reviewed through our political blog D'Arcy McGee.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Victoria Viewpoints: Tuesday/Wednesday, May 24 & 25, 2022




Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for  Tuesday/Wednesday, May 24-25, 2022



Globe and Mail




CBC




Vancouver Sun 




Victoria Times-Colonist 



Victoria News



Global
Georgia Straight

The Tyee



Miscellaneous

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Ottawa Observations: Tuesday-Wednesday, May 24-25, 2022



Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for   Saturday-Monday,  May 24-25 , 2022



CBC




Toronto/Vancouver Star


Toronto Sun



National Post



Macleans                           

--


Global          




Miscellaneous            






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North Coast rolls snake-eyes in Provincial gaming grant announcement from Tuesday

Municipal Affairs Minister Nathan Cullen was 
sharing word of some gambling revenue funding for communities 
across the province on Tuesday
(BC Gov't photo)

The British Columbia government celebrated its distribution of gaming grant funding to communities across the province on Tuesday, with Municipal Affairs Minister Nathan Cullen rolling out the announcement for the near 430,000 dollars destined for Northern BC.

“These investments in northern B.C. will improve services from emergency response to arts and culture spaces to child care. Not-for-profit organizations are at the heart of fostering healthy, connected and safe communities in all corners of the province." -- Nathan Cullen, Minister of Municipal Affairs and MLA for Stikine.

The latest round of gambling funding marks the end of the 2021-22 cycle, though when it comes to this go round the Prince Rupert area won't be sharing in the Northern allotment, with only two communities noted on the list for the Northwest.

The Houston Search And Rescue Group have accessed a new truck through the funding, while the Terrace Art Association has used their funding towards renovated gallery space to allow for more community participation in their programs.

Overall 51 organizations across the province shared in the 3.8 million dollars in funding from the roll out from yesterday.

Earlier this year, the province provided funding for Prince Rupert Marine Rescue as part of the January announcement and distribution.


A wider overview of items of note from the Legislature can be reviewed here.

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Tax Bills arrive in mail, State of the City presentation invites as well; with Mayor to host public forum June 28th at Lester Centre

Well rested after the first long weekend for the soon to be summer of 2022, Rupertites returned to their daily routines on Tuesday, many to find a greeting from the City of Prince Rupert in their mailboxes by the end of the day.

The annual spring migration for the 2022 City Tax Bills has begun the journey across the city. 

This years tax notice providing a significant jump for many residents, as increased home valuations and a tax increase of 3.63% for 2022, delivered what will be a dip into the savings accounts for many for the 4th of July deadline for payment.

Also included in the tax notices was the annual Letter from the Mayor, the last of the correspondences for the incumbent Lee Brain, who will be stepping down from his post following the October municipal vote.

Among some of the themes from the Mayor's final tax time address were a review of the Budget Highlights of the tax increase, which included a note on inflationary costs,  an increase to policing costs due to a negotiated increase in pay from the RCMP union and allocation to reserves for emergency water repairs.

Mr. Brain also shared a few items of note from the year as the Council works to 'forge a new path forward for Prince Rupert'

Among the overview from the Mayor's list: 

The transformation of Watson Island from the city's largest liability to that of a revenue generator 

Investments made to critical infrastructure through the access of grant funding

Replacement of the Water Dam and progress towards a new water treatment system

Construction of the new landfill cell and launch of the curbside recycling program

Increase to paving budget, start of the replacement of the RCMP detachment and the introduction of a innovative wastewater treatment process, which if successful will save the City 100 million from original estimates.

The Mayor also noted how the City has built upon the ReDesign Rupert 2030 Vision plan, observing as to the development of a new Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaws.

As well he outlines the new incentives towards renewal of the downtown, speaks of the partnerships for the Cow Bay Marina and Rushbrook Trail and put some focus on the new Seal Cove Salt Marsh recreation area and the plans for CN Heritage building.

Housing also gets a short overview, noting of the new housing policy, the recent move to allow for more secondary suites and the ongoing sale of public land for housing use.

It being his last message at tax time, he also provides for a farewell with hopes for the direction the city is moving towards.

"While we can be proud of how far we have come as a community, we all know there's so much more to do. 

Although I am resigning my post this election, I'm confident in our community's direction moving Prince Rupert forward - into 2022 and beyond. 

Thank you for all of your support over the years. It has fuelled us to do the heavy lifting required for this community to reach new heights" -- Mayor Lee Brain


click to enlarge

Residents of the city will have a chance to hear those themes reviewed in person, with the Mayor to host a State of the City Presentation on Tuesday, June 28th at the Lester Centre.


The Tax Notices were issued following the work of City staff in the finance department through the Budget Process of earlier this year, the final tax amount secured in the Tax Bylaw by Council's Vote earlier this month.

You can track the full Budget process through our archive page here.

A review of some of the work of Council can be explored through our Council Discussion archives.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

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