Province seeks to make the most out of the Pacific Gateway

Friday's Daily News featured details of the British Columbia Liberal Government's Speech from the Throne, which provided a few nuggets of information for the Northwest.

As we detailed on Podunk on Tuesday, the government has desires for an increased role for the Port of Prince Rupert with an eye towards expansion to phase two and beyond, as well as plans to develop an energy corridor between Prince Rupert an Prince George.

Friday's paper outlined more of those plans, including the reaction to the governments blue print from local MLA Gary Coons.

Province putting all its energy behind Phase Two
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, February 15, 2008
Pages one and three

The provincial government is promising to focus on developing a new energy corridor between Prince Rupert and Prince George, as well as Phase Two of the Fairview Container Terminal in its upcoming sitting.

In the speech from the throne earlier this week, the Honourable Lieutenant-Governor Steven L. Point spoke about the Liberal priorities for the coming legislative session.

"Working together, we are opening new doors for progress. A new northern energy corridor from Prince Rupert to Prince George will also be pursued. That alone holds the potential for billions of dollars in new investment that will create new high-paying jobs for the North," he said.
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"The Port of Prince Rupert is revitalizing northern and rural economies and creating a powerful platform for future development. The next phase of that port development will be pursued, in co-operation with First Nations and the federal government.

"Working with the federal government, a new integrated Pacific Ports Strategy will also be developed, to make the most of Canada's Pacific Gateway."

Other highlights from the speech include a new climate change action plan and reform of aspects of health care.

North Coast MLA Gary Coons said he is looking forward to hearing more details on the announcements in next week's provincial budget.

"I was very interested in the statement that this government will 'pursue a northern energy corridor' and will 'pursue the next phase of Prince Rupert port'. This promise should show up in the budget speech with as significant commitment to funding it," said Coons.

He noted that for many months a lot of people have questioned the $11 billion Gateway project in the Lower Mainland and how this will benefit those in the North.

"The push for Delta port is not in the best interest of the environment (there will be thousands of additional trucks) and is not wanted by many in the Delta region," he said.

Coons added he still has questions about the premier's statement from 18 months ago, that any First Nations concerns regarding consultation and accommodation are a federal matter.

"I found this unacceptable then and hope there is truth behind the promise in the throne speech. We need immediate meaningful consultation and accommodation so we can fully move forward to be the best port we can be," he said.

There was also a number of issues not dealt with in the speech that were of concern to Coons.
There was no mention of alleviating child poverty, even though B.C. is in first place for the fourth straight year in Canada, "except for some slogans and rhetoric," he said. And there was the talk of downloading the issue of mental health and addictions to local municipalities because communities must address the issue their community plan.

Overall, he said there seemed to be nothing in the throne speech to make life more affordable for average families, with higher hydro rates, higher costs for health care, transit and for ferries all in the future.

Port development and energy among highlights for the Northwest in the Speech from the throne

A new northern energy corridor from Prince Rupert to Prince George will also be pursued. That alone holds the potential for billions of dollars in new investment that will create new high-paying jobs for the North.

The Port of Prince Rupert is revitalizing northern and rural economies and creating a powerful platform for future development. The next phase of that port development will be pursued, in co-operation with First Nations and the federal government.

Working with the federal government, a new integrated Pacific Ports Strategy will also be developed, to make the most of Canada's Pacific Gateway.

--Excerpts from Tuesday's Speech from the Throne

The spring session of the British Columbia Legislature was formally declared underway on Tuesday, as the Liberal Government of Gordon Campbell outlined the path they are charting for the province.
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British Columbia’s First Aboriginal Lieutenant-Governor , Steven Point outlined the government’s agenda which provides for an ambitious and interestng mix of possibilities for Britsh Columbians.

Among some of the challenges placed on the agenda, that the government intends to tackle were:

A proposed ban on smoking in cars, when children are present in the vehicle.

The opportunity for pharmacists to authorize renewals of a patients prescriptions

The development of a three year nursing degree as opposed to the current four year program, allowing nurses to enter the workforce sooner.

Ambulance attendants wll provided with the responsibility of treating and releasing patients when appropriate

A pledge to provide more and better services for the disadvantaged and mentally ill

Communities will be required to include provision for mental health and addiction service facilities in their community plans.

A study on the prospect of introducing a day long pre kindergarten program for three and four year olds in the province.

Restore faith in a battered justice system

And keeping with the Premiers emphasis on the environment of late, provision for an aggressive Green program (including a home monitoring system) designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the province by one third by 2020.

Among some of the prospects on the horizon for Northwestern BC will be an a commitment of support of the expansion of the Port of Prince Rupert, through phase II and on to phase III, which upon completion would add an additional throughput of 4 million containers by 2013. At present the phase one capacity of the port is 500,000 TEU’s.

In addition to seeking to increase the transportation network through the port, energy was on the mind of the Campbell government, with the prospect of a northern energy corridor being developed stretching from Prince Rupert to Prince George, traveling through some 17 different traditional territories.

The Vancouver Sun provided a complete transcript of the speech, which opened with tributes to those that have served both Canada and British Columbia through the military and public service, celebrated the pending arrival of the 2010 Olympics, highlighted a renewed desire for new relationship with First Nations and closed with a call to reach higher and see beyond our lifetimes for a better time.

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A Speech from the throne is always a grandiose occassion, filled with sufficient pomp and ceremony and more than a little wishful thinking by the government, which always tends to spread as much positive thinking as possible into one days work at the legislature. What remains to be seen over time, is if this government can deliver on many of their grand ambitions delivered today.

A number of British Columbia news organizations provided their take on the days' developments, the review is as follows:

Vancouver Sun--Throne speech all about you

Vancouver Sun--First Take: The Newspaper's View

Vancouver Sun--What about crime?

Vancouver Sun--What about health care?

Vancouver Sun--What about the environment?

Vancouver Sun--All day kindergarten for three year olds

Prince George Citizen--Northern energy corridor touted in throne speech

CBC--Throne speech calls on B.C. citizens to halt global warming

Globe and Mail--B.C. Throne Speech focuses on environment

Victoria Times Colonist--Throne speech focuses on health care

Canadian Press--Campbell wants British Columbians to fight climate change, improve health care