Port Edward optimistic over funding for waterlines, hopeful for education.

The representatives of The District of Port Edward who recently returned from the UBCM convention in Penticton, are hopeful that two of their main issues will have found receptive ears from their presentations.

A desire to keep the Port Ed School and to replacing their aging infrastructure were the two main points that they introduced to those that they spoke with, the Daily News outlined their impressions in a front page story in Friday's paper.

PORT ED HOPES MONEY WILL SOON FLOW FOR WATERLINES
Delegates to UBCM convention came away feeling funding for upgrades will follow
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Friday, October 03, 2008

Pages one and five

Port Edward's representatives had a lot on their minds at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention last week and water and education dominated discussions in Penticton.
"The two big ones (are) keeping our school open, and two - our waterlines," said Port Edward's Mayor Dave MacDonald.

Ever since becoming mayor in 2005, MacDonald has said that his primary goal has been to replace the aging waterlines, and the district has been aggressively seeking various avenues of funding for the project ever since.

With that in mind, the district met with various levels of government in an effort to get some direction and an idea about where to go to get help with the project. Port Edward is currently applying for a federal grant. Provincial representatives offered some suggestions about how Port Edward might get that done, said MacDonald.

"I think we're on the right path in trying to get money for our waterworks," he said.

Port Edward was awarded a $20,000 grant that specifically looks at infrastructure, said MacDonald. But after securing several grants earlier this decade for projects including the water treatment plant, recent provincial grants have gone elsewhere during MacDonald's watch.

However, he is confident the powers that be will once again consider Port Edward when it comes to offering funding for the waterlines.

"I'm positive we'll get something in the next year," he said.

"I think it's going to come down; I just don't know when."

The other issue is the status of the Port Edward Elementary school.

There has been talk with the school district during the past two years about the possibility of closing the school due to declining enrolment, an issue that is a cause for concern with the district.

MacDonald, in the past, has gone on record as saying that if the school were to close, it was unlikely it would reopen.

So, Port Edward sat down the education minister Shirley Bond to discuss the concerns.

"I felt positive (coming away from that) she would try in every way to help us keep our school open," said MacDonald.

Other issues included Port Edward joining other northern communities along Highway 16 in complaining about the Skeena River view.

The district had been concerned that the growth along Highway 16 was spoiling the view, which the municipality feared could impact tourism.

"Other communities feel the same way," said MacDonald.

Port Edward also met with representatives from B.C. Parks and thanked them for work they had done on Diana Lake. Port Ed representatives were pleased to hear that the province was looking at doing some more work to the provincial park.

"They're looking at more funding for doing a little more out there," said MacDonald.

Port Edward also met with the heritage minister to enquire about potential funding for the North Pacific Fishing Village.

Finally, Port Edward joined Prince Rupert and other remote communities in the discussion regarding the shortage of physicians, specifically here in Prince Rupert.

"That was more of a broader issue," said MacDonald.