Not to be outdone by the front page tales from Mayor Herb Pond of Prince Rupert’s trip south, Port Ed received equal time in the Friday edition of the Daily News, an opportunity to remind their residents that they too were there to ask a few questions.
The Port Ed representatives in attendance at UBCM use their time to quiz provincial officials on the state of two projects close to the heart of Port Ed residents; the local waterlines and the state of affairs at the North Pacific Fishing Village.
The Daily News provided the details as relayed to them by the council delegation upon their return from Victoria.
‘LITTLE’ PORT ED MAKES THE MOST OF UBCM’S BIG STAGE
Municipality uses the gathering of councils to quiz senior politicians
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Friday, November 3, 2006
Pages one and two
Small communities like Port Edward don’t often get the opportunity to voice their concerns on a grand stage before the province, so whenever the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) takes place, the district of Port Edward goes out of its way to do as much as it can.
Last week, in Victoria was no exception for Port Edward, as the council took the moment to get as much information as they possibly could about situations that directly affect the community.
The two issues at the forefront for Port Edward are the waterlines, and the North Pacific cannery.
For the latter, the North Pacific Fishing Village suffered through one of its toughest tourist seasons ever this past summer following the sinking of the Queen of the North on March 22.
Mayor Dave MacDonald and several of his council members were intent on finding out what could be done to help the tourism destination prior to the 2007 season.
“We met with the Heritage branch, and Patrick Frey (from B. C. Heritage),” said MacDonald. “We were asking about different programs, and whether we could get funding, like for the dock.”
“They don’t have a lot of money, but they gave us suggestions where we could look,”
Those talks also included meetings with John Willow, the director of tourism with Land and Water B. C., regarding economic development and tourism. MacDonald met with the Transportation Minister, with the idea of examining possible future improvements to the road that leads to the Cannery, which currently is quite bumping and could use an upgrade.
But Port Edward was also seeking immediate help with their waterlines, which, according to MacDonald, are in definite need of repair.
“There are new grants out there for waterlines,” he said. “That’s one we were approaching hard, and we met with different people on that subject, it sounds positive on the water thing, but we’ll see what happens with the grants. That’s the one we’re really pushing,”
The North Coast is expecting growth in the near future, especially once the container port officially opens in 2007. With that in mind, MacDonald also met with Glen Thompson regarding crown development “if major industry comes our way,” he said.
That also included meetings with the competitiveness division in regards to skills training, said MacDonald.
“We’re just talking with them to see what can be done, especially with out grads,” he said.
Port Edward also looked at ways the municipality can find additional training for its volunteer fire department.
“Don’t get me wrong, they’re getting trained, but we‘re trying to make it easier for them,” he said.
In addition to specific Port Edward issues, council was also involved in the topic-du-jour: the current mess with EI and welfare, as well as sitting down for various meetings about health issues. “All the issues are the same,” said MacDonald.
Finally, Port Edward also had the chance to sit in along with Prince Rupert in a meeting with Gordon Campbell, about “what’s going on in the North.” he said.
“Port Edward mainly goes for the contact with the ministers,” said MacDonald.
“They’re not going to come to us, so we have to go to them.”
Showing posts with label UBCM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UBCM. Show all posts
Monday, November 06, 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
In their sight and gentle on their minds!
Hmm, they had a Gordon Campbell there to wrap up the week long event, we wonder if they played any Glen Campbell music during the breaks?
The Mayor has returned from the UBCM in Victoria happy with the profile that he was able to create for Prince Rupert issues at the week long convention, The gathering of the provinces' political class, was said to be greatly interested in the developments of the North, all tied into the Pacific Gateway initiative and the Fairview container port project.
During his time at UBCM, the mayor “talked Rupert” explaining where the city is heading and what help it needs to handle its current troubles. He stressed the importance that he put on the current EI and welfare problems facing local residents and touched on some of the other issues that he spoke out on while in Victoria.
The Daily News caught up with the mayor upon his return, providing a Mayor’s review of what it is that a Mayor must do, while on the road at UBCM. All part of a page one story on the convention in Wednesday’s paper.
POND ENSURES UBCM ‘TALKS RUPERT’
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Pages one and three
Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond returned in an upbeat mood Tuesday from a busy week in Victoria at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) gathering.
And for good reason, as Prince Rupert was on everyone’s mind, including premier Gordon Campbell, said Pond.
“(The Premier) made a big deal about the Pacific Gateway,” he said. “And he also mentioned Terrace and Rupert by name, and talked about working pro-actively with us.”
“There’s a lot of excitement about the North. We just need to make sure we have help in the interim.”
The help that Coastal Communities are seeking deals specifically with the welfare and EI issue, which has come to the forefront in light of the dismal 2006 fish season. Pond was one of many who received the opportunity to sit down and share concerns with Claude Richmond, the provincial minister responsible for welfare.
“We talked with Claude about the need for financial assistance for our workers,” said Pond.
But councilors from all over the Northwest received the opportunity to speak with various cabinet ministers about issues that affect the North Coast directly.
“We talked about the need for assistance with growth, the transition of the Northwest with the container port, and we talked with the Minister of Finance and Forestry about issues surrounding our forests,” said Pond.
Pond was also satisfied with several topics that came out of Campbell’s speech on Friday, including the public-private partnership (P3’s) issue that has some people in B. C. worried, including North Coast MLA, Gary Coons.
“I’m not concerned about the P3s,” said Pond. “We would ‘ve always run any major project through it anyway, if a P3 was more cost-effective. If P3 is not the right solution, we’ll find another way to do it.”
Pond pointed out a recent example where the P3 system didn’t work for Northern Health.
“Sometimes, it’s tougher in the North to do that,” he said. “Northern health tried that recently regarding Acropolis Manor, but couldn’t find anybody.”
Another aspect of Campbell’s speech, the Spirit Square Program, will also be examined by council, said Pond. The program will provide up to $20 million to help communities create or improve outdoor public meeting spaces.
The initiative is timed to lead up to B. C.’s 150th anniversary in 2008.
“We will be formulating our plan how we tap into that,” he said.
Pond was also once again named a “Director-a-large” for the UBCM executive, which will go a long way in ensuring that Prince Rupert remains on everyone’s mind.
“It’s a good opportunity for our community,” he said.
Finally, Pond also attended a premier’s dinner that included various dignitaries. CN had a table at the event, and Pond accepted an invitation to sit at their table.
“I made sure everybody in the room knew Rupert was there,” he said.
The Mayor has returned from the UBCM in Victoria happy with the profile that he was able to create for Prince Rupert issues at the week long convention, The gathering of the provinces' political class, was said to be greatly interested in the developments of the North, all tied into the Pacific Gateway initiative and the Fairview container port project.
During his time at UBCM, the mayor “talked Rupert” explaining where the city is heading and what help it needs to handle its current troubles. He stressed the importance that he put on the current EI and welfare problems facing local residents and touched on some of the other issues that he spoke out on while in Victoria.
The Daily News caught up with the mayor upon his return, providing a Mayor’s review of what it is that a Mayor must do, while on the road at UBCM. All part of a page one story on the convention in Wednesday’s paper.
POND ENSURES UBCM ‘TALKS RUPERT’
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Pages one and three
Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond returned in an upbeat mood Tuesday from a busy week in Victoria at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) gathering.
And for good reason, as Prince Rupert was on everyone’s mind, including premier Gordon Campbell, said Pond.
“(The Premier) made a big deal about the Pacific Gateway,” he said. “And he also mentioned Terrace and Rupert by name, and talked about working pro-actively with us.”
“There’s a lot of excitement about the North. We just need to make sure we have help in the interim.”
The help that Coastal Communities are seeking deals specifically with the welfare and EI issue, which has come to the forefront in light of the dismal 2006 fish season. Pond was one of many who received the opportunity to sit down and share concerns with Claude Richmond, the provincial minister responsible for welfare.
“We talked with Claude about the need for financial assistance for our workers,” said Pond.
But councilors from all over the Northwest received the opportunity to speak with various cabinet ministers about issues that affect the North Coast directly.
“We talked about the need for assistance with growth, the transition of the Northwest with the container port, and we talked with the Minister of Finance and Forestry about issues surrounding our forests,” said Pond.
Pond was also satisfied with several topics that came out of Campbell’s speech on Friday, including the public-private partnership (P3’s) issue that has some people in B. C. worried, including North Coast MLA, Gary Coons.
“I’m not concerned about the P3s,” said Pond. “We would ‘ve always run any major project through it anyway, if a P3 was more cost-effective. If P3 is not the right solution, we’ll find another way to do it.”
Pond pointed out a recent example where the P3 system didn’t work for Northern Health.
“Sometimes, it’s tougher in the North to do that,” he said. “Northern health tried that recently regarding Acropolis Manor, but couldn’t find anybody.”
Another aspect of Campbell’s speech, the Spirit Square Program, will also be examined by council, said Pond. The program will provide up to $20 million to help communities create or improve outdoor public meeting spaces.
The initiative is timed to lead up to B. C.’s 150th anniversary in 2008.
“We will be formulating our plan how we tap into that,” he said.
Pond was also once again named a “Director-a-large” for the UBCM executive, which will go a long way in ensuring that Prince Rupert remains on everyone’s mind.
“It’s a good opportunity for our community,” he said.
Finally, Pond also attended a premier’s dinner that included various dignitaries. CN had a table at the event, and Pond accepted an invitation to sit at their table.
“I made sure everybody in the room knew Rupert was there,” he said.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
We’ll get by with a little help from our 'friends'
The Mayor and his crew are down in Victoria at the UBCM meetings and they are spending their time in the big city priming the province for the great things to come in the Northwest. However, for those great things to come on stream the city says they will need some help and that has been the recurring theme of their discussion while they work the rooms.
The mayor is apparently in a full court PR press as he tells all who will listen that the city is going places and that we are destined to be the next ‘great port city’.
The UBCM is almost like a giant lobbying convention in some ways, each participant trying to sell the other on the need to sample their plans, each municipality trying to paint itself as the up and coming locale in the province.
Normally it’s the province’s municipalities seeking out the federal representatives or provincial cabinet members and looking for support for a project or two. The week long meetings offer up other things like workshops and one on one sessions, but make no doubt about it, it’s all about positioning your plans as the must support ones. It's the one on one sessions and the sidebar conversations that are the currency of the convention.
And while it doesn't appear anywhere in the ambitious agenda of these meetings, in the end it’s about money, it’s always about money. Like a cross between an Amway convention and a revival meeting, it's all about how you get your message across.
The Daily provided coverage of the Mayor’s selling job on the front page of the Wednesday edition of the paper.
‘HELP UP REACH POTENTIAL,’ Pond
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Pages One and Two
In order for Prince Rupert to achieve its full potential as one of B. C’s great port cities, we are going to need some help from the province, said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.
That is the message Pond and members of council are bringing to the provincial and federal representatives during the union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention in Victoria this week.
“The convention is markedly different than three years ago. Three years ago, there was a possibility of a container port. We were still trying to be very positive in the message we were bringing but it certainly wasn’t the positive message we have today,” said Pond.
“Now, when we walk through the door and talk to a minister, they don’t have to be convinced that Prince Rupert is going some place.
“They get it, they understand we will become one of B. C.’s next great port cities, so there’s a greater engagement in the discussion. But for us to be that great port city we are going to need some assistance. You can’t leave it all up to the local taxpayers.”
The convention, which takes place all week, will include opportunities for council members to meet one-on-one with the Minister of Forests, Minister of Health, the Premier, Solicitor General, Minister of Finance and the Minister of Environment.
“The core message is all around the Gateway initiative and the port expansion and what we need to do to become British Columbia’s next great port city,” said Pond.
In addition to all the other meetings, early in the week, the city also met with the Minister of Community Services Ida Chong.
The city has been working with her ministry in the Communities in Transition program for the past several years.
“We are still in discussions around whether there might be some way they could assist,” said Pond.
“There were no commitments but it was a good discussion.”
The program provides provincial funds to assess the city’s finances, which was done two years ago, and then the province looks at ways to assist communities suffering from extenuating circumstances – in this case the loss of millions of dollars of the Watson Island Pulp mill municipal taxes.
“We spoke about the challenge Northwest municipalities are facing, both in terms of finances and infrastructure and really just laying out some options and possibilities of ways we could see some help coming,” said Pond.
It was also an opportunity to explain the economy of the city that isn’t burning quite as much yet as people think.
“When you are away from Prince Rupert based on media coverage in some of the national press you would think that we are booming like Fort St. John. We are not their yet, so we’ve been making people understand we still need some help,” he said.
The mayor is apparently in a full court PR press as he tells all who will listen that the city is going places and that we are destined to be the next ‘great port city’.
The UBCM is almost like a giant lobbying convention in some ways, each participant trying to sell the other on the need to sample their plans, each municipality trying to paint itself as the up and coming locale in the province.
Normally it’s the province’s municipalities seeking out the federal representatives or provincial cabinet members and looking for support for a project or two. The week long meetings offer up other things like workshops and one on one sessions, but make no doubt about it, it’s all about positioning your plans as the must support ones. It's the one on one sessions and the sidebar conversations that are the currency of the convention.
And while it doesn't appear anywhere in the ambitious agenda of these meetings, in the end it’s about money, it’s always about money. Like a cross between an Amway convention and a revival meeting, it's all about how you get your message across.
The Daily provided coverage of the Mayor’s selling job on the front page of the Wednesday edition of the paper.
‘HELP UP REACH POTENTIAL,’ Pond
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Pages One and Two
In order for Prince Rupert to achieve its full potential as one of B. C’s great port cities, we are going to need some help from the province, said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.
That is the message Pond and members of council are bringing to the provincial and federal representatives during the union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention in Victoria this week.
“The convention is markedly different than three years ago. Three years ago, there was a possibility of a container port. We were still trying to be very positive in the message we were bringing but it certainly wasn’t the positive message we have today,” said Pond.
“Now, when we walk through the door and talk to a minister, they don’t have to be convinced that Prince Rupert is going some place.
“They get it, they understand we will become one of B. C.’s next great port cities, so there’s a greater engagement in the discussion. But for us to be that great port city we are going to need some assistance. You can’t leave it all up to the local taxpayers.”
The convention, which takes place all week, will include opportunities for council members to meet one-on-one with the Minister of Forests, Minister of Health, the Premier, Solicitor General, Minister of Finance and the Minister of Environment.
“The core message is all around the Gateway initiative and the port expansion and what we need to do to become British Columbia’s next great port city,” said Pond.
In addition to all the other meetings, early in the week, the city also met with the Minister of Community Services Ida Chong.
The city has been working with her ministry in the Communities in Transition program for the past several years.
“We are still in discussions around whether there might be some way they could assist,” said Pond.
“There were no commitments but it was a good discussion.”
The program provides provincial funds to assess the city’s finances, which was done two years ago, and then the province looks at ways to assist communities suffering from extenuating circumstances – in this case the loss of millions of dollars of the Watson Island Pulp mill municipal taxes.
“We spoke about the challenge Northwest municipalities are facing, both in terms of finances and infrastructure and really just laying out some options and possibilities of ways we could see some help coming,” said Pond.
It was also an opportunity to explain the economy of the city that isn’t burning quite as much yet as people think.
“When you are away from Prince Rupert based on media coverage in some of the national press you would think that we are booming like Fort St. John. We are not their yet, so we’ve been making people understand we still need some help,” he said.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
He was born a ramblin’ man
Ah, you can almost hear the Allman Brothers in the background, warming up with the snippets of some road music.
The ramblin’ man of Prince Rupert returned to town last week, just in time for a photo shoot with the Daily News. In successive days of our daily paper, we’ve been treated to pictures of Mayor Herb Pond at the Fire Hall on the shiny fire truck, at the new Charles Hays track, at the new Charles Hays track and there again at the new Charles Hays track.
The pictures came just after he had completed a trip down to Vancouver to take part in the Premier’s Provincial Congress on Health and then to sit in on the Pacific Gateway funding announcement, where he got to rub elbows with the Prime Minister and other luminaries. He also had the opportunity to attend a formal dinner with Cabinet Ministers, MP’s and MLA’s where he heard many good things about Prince Rupert.
It was all part of the job of “waving the flag for Prince Rupert” as he put it, in an interview with the Northern View. The Mayor stressed how important it is that the city be represented at these events to make sure we’re on the radar.
So to make sure that those blips continue to scope, He’ll be back on the road again shortly, this time taking some city councilors and city officials with him to head off to the annual UBCM bunfest this year in Victoria from October 23-27. A five day gathering of networking and hand shaking that will be used to keep Prince Rupert on the minds of Provincial officials.
Last years UBCM took the Rupert contingent to Vancouver, the year before that it was down to the Okanagan for the hard work of lobbying for the Northwest, all while dealing with the distractions of the surroundings. They were evacuations of the city that left more than a few observers at the time questioning why such a large number of councillors and city staff had to make the trek annually.
For each gathering the work load was described as sufficient to require all hands on deck, so we imagine that next weeks trip to Victoria will likewise require a few hotel rooms. Though for a city that is pinching pennies these days, we’re hoping that its economy class surroundings for the gang while in the capital.
So if Gregg and the boys are ready a little music please, the bus is loaded and it’s time for a city council road trip, with the music to make the miles melt away…
“Lord, I was born a ramblin' man Tryin' to make a livin' and doin' the best I can And when it's time for leavin' I hope you'll understand ...”
Mayor, council set for UBCM meeting
By Shaun Thomas
The Northern View
Oct 18 2006
Mayor Herb Pond was in Vancouver last week participating in a number of meetings and events with provincial and federal representatives covering issues such as health and the development occurring in the Northwest.
Pond said he was invited to the meeting of the Premier's Provincial Congress on Health, attended the Pacific Gateway funding announcement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and was able to talk with the Prime Minister, and also attended a formal dinner with a number of MLA's, MPs and cabinet ministers, and was pleased with what he heard.
"This has been a very concentrated time of waving the flag for Prince Rupert at the right time in the right settings. What was of note to me was that Prime Minister Harper spoke specifically of Prince Rupert and the Premier spoke specifically of Prince Rupert in almost every speech he made," said Pond from Vancouver.
"It has been a very busy couple of days-I think it is important the city always makes sure to have representation at these functions to ensure that we are always on the radar."
And while Pond will be back in town this week, he and a number of councillors and city officials will be preparing for the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) meeting taking place in Victoria from October 23 to 27.
"We have a list of items that we will certainly talk about at the meeting, like where Prince Rupert sits in the Pacific Gateway Strategy, and we will be talking to key Ministers like Transportation and Finance about how to make sure we have the resources in place to meet the demands that are coming. Even though it is a federal issue we will be talking about concerns around EI and what we can do with the province to work together to influence the Federal Government to create a fairer system, and we will talk to key ministries about some key infrastructure developments," he said, noting that council will be meeting this week to finalize their priorities for the trip.
The ramblin’ man of Prince Rupert returned to town last week, just in time for a photo shoot with the Daily News. In successive days of our daily paper, we’ve been treated to pictures of Mayor Herb Pond at the Fire Hall on the shiny fire truck, at the new Charles Hays track, at the new Charles Hays track and there again at the new Charles Hays track.
The pictures came just after he had completed a trip down to Vancouver to take part in the Premier’s Provincial Congress on Health and then to sit in on the Pacific Gateway funding announcement, where he got to rub elbows with the Prime Minister and other luminaries. He also had the opportunity to attend a formal dinner with Cabinet Ministers, MP’s and MLA’s where he heard many good things about Prince Rupert.
It was all part of the job of “waving the flag for Prince Rupert” as he put it, in an interview with the Northern View. The Mayor stressed how important it is that the city be represented at these events to make sure we’re on the radar.
So to make sure that those blips continue to scope, He’ll be back on the road again shortly, this time taking some city councilors and city officials with him to head off to the annual UBCM bunfest this year in Victoria from October 23-27. A five day gathering of networking and hand shaking that will be used to keep Prince Rupert on the minds of Provincial officials.
Last years UBCM took the Rupert contingent to Vancouver, the year before that it was down to the Okanagan for the hard work of lobbying for the Northwest, all while dealing with the distractions of the surroundings. They were evacuations of the city that left more than a few observers at the time questioning why such a large number of councillors and city staff had to make the trek annually.
For each gathering the work load was described as sufficient to require all hands on deck, so we imagine that next weeks trip to Victoria will likewise require a few hotel rooms. Though for a city that is pinching pennies these days, we’re hoping that its economy class surroundings for the gang while in the capital.
So if Gregg and the boys are ready a little music please, the bus is loaded and it’s time for a city council road trip, with the music to make the miles melt away…
“Lord, I was born a ramblin' man Tryin' to make a livin' and doin' the best I can And when it's time for leavin' I hope you'll understand ...”
Mayor, council set for UBCM meeting
By Shaun Thomas
The Northern View
Oct 18 2006
Mayor Herb Pond was in Vancouver last week participating in a number of meetings and events with provincial and federal representatives covering issues such as health and the development occurring in the Northwest.
Pond said he was invited to the meeting of the Premier's Provincial Congress on Health, attended the Pacific Gateway funding announcement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and was able to talk with the Prime Minister, and also attended a formal dinner with a number of MLA's, MPs and cabinet ministers, and was pleased with what he heard.
"This has been a very concentrated time of waving the flag for Prince Rupert at the right time in the right settings. What was of note to me was that Prime Minister Harper spoke specifically of Prince Rupert and the Premier spoke specifically of Prince Rupert in almost every speech he made," said Pond from Vancouver.
"It has been a very busy couple of days-I think it is important the city always makes sure to have representation at these functions to ensure that we are always on the radar."
And while Pond will be back in town this week, he and a number of councillors and city officials will be preparing for the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) meeting taking place in Victoria from October 23 to 27.
"We have a list of items that we will certainly talk about at the meeting, like where Prince Rupert sits in the Pacific Gateway Strategy, and we will be talking to key Ministers like Transportation and Finance about how to make sure we have the resources in place to meet the demands that are coming. Even though it is a federal issue we will be talking about concerns around EI and what we can do with the province to work together to influence the Federal Government to create a fairer system, and we will talk to key ministries about some key infrastructure developments," he said, noting that council will be meeting this week to finalize their priorities for the trip.
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