A TOWN CALLED PODUNK

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Podunk Below the Masthead July 2008

A daily look at the BIG TYPE headline of the Podunkian Daily News.
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We'll list that day's BIG STORY, the one the Daily puts out in the big type just below it's masthead, for all Podunkians to ponder..There will be a link to this feature on the right hand side of the blog.
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On Wednesdays and Friday's you can access all the stories of the Daily News free on their website, on the remaining days you end up at a dead end, asking you to go purchase your paper, for (as Paul Harvey would say) the rest of the story.

JULY 31--

JULY 30--WINTER IN JULY LEAVES MANY FEELING BLUE AS MERCURY DIPS--Summer's uncoperative weather finds itself the talk of the town (see story here)

JULY 29--MILESTONE AS PORT HANDLES WEST COAST'S BIGGEST SHIP--The Port continues to be the focus of the Daily News attention as they examine the arrival of the largest ship to call on Fairview so far (see story here)

JULY 28--PORT SIMPSON FISH PLANT LEADS THE WAY IN PROVINCE-- The Fish plant in Port Simpson finds itself ahead of the curve when it comes to quality standards for food processing in Canada (see story here)

JULY 25--RAMPED-UP PORT MAKING WAVES ON THE WORLD STAGE -- More positive vibes from the principles in the Fairview Container Terminal and its early quarters of operation (see story here)

JULY 24--PEOPLE WARNED 'KEEP OUT OF CN WATERFRONT RAILYARD'--CN Rail once again proclaims its dominion over the waterfront railyards with another warning for wandering Rupertites out for a stroll (see story here)

JULY 23--CURFEW FOR TEENS IS NOT THE ANSWER SAYS MAYOR--The seemingly endless debate over a youth curfew gets one more look see at City council in July (see story here)

JULY 22--PORT IS BUOYED BY STRONG PERFORMANCE FOR 2007--Financial returns paint a portrait of a successful kick off to Rupert's introduction to the world of containerization (see story here)

JULY 21-- SHOREWORKERS’ SHIFTS CUT TO BONE AS SEASON DISAPPOINTS-- The salmon fishery troubles spill over into the canning lines of the city's largest fish plants, leading to concerns over EI claims for the fall (see story here)

JULY 18-- WHOLE CITY URGED TO SHOW PRIDE, HELP RUPERT BLOOM-- Civic Pride makes plans to do rounds around town over the weekend as a prelude to the communities in Bloom judges arrival next week (see story here)

JULY 17-- CRAB SEASON BEGINS WITH HIGH HOPE AND HARD WORK-- The 2008 summer crab season began on Wednesday, with 53 licenced vessels taking to Hecate Strait and environs (see story here)

JULY 16-- EXCITING FUTURE AHEAD FOR BUILDING WITH A LONG PAST -- The long discussed, but seldom acted upon refurbishment of the old CN/VIA Rail station on the waterfront gets closer as the building is turned over to private investors (see story here)

JULY 15--VICTORIA URGED TO PROTECT PROVINCE'S PLANTS, ANIMALS-- The provincial governments legacy is one of near extinct animals and plants suggests a new study from a leading environmental group (see story here)

JULY 14--FISHERMEN URGED TO KEEP WATCH ON B. C.'s FISH FARMS-- Environmentalists ask the province's fishermen to watch over those areas where Fish Farms operate (see story here)

JULY 11--FISHERMEN URGE BAILOUT AS SEASON SINKS OUT OF SIGHT-- The 2008 salmon season projections leave many that depend on the industry disappointed in the governments actions and concerned for the state of their livelihood. (see story here)

JULY 10--MANY PRAISED AS ELDERS GATHERING DRAWS TO CLOSE-- Prince Rupert's hosting duties come to an end as the First Nations Elders Gathering comes to a conculsion (see story here)

JULY 9-- MANY ENJOY SPIRIT POLE'S EMOTIONAL STOP-OFF IN CITY-- A moving ceremony of celebration and commemoration highlights day two of the First Nations Elders Gathering (see story here)

JULY 8--HUGE GATHERING OF ELDERS LAUNCHED IN GRAND STYLE-- The opening ceremonies of the 32nd Elders Gathering featured dancers, singers, First Nations leaders and local politicians (see story here)

JULY 7--EVERYONE INVITED TO HELP CARVE A PIECE OF HISTORY--Prince Rupert residents have the opportunity to help carve a spirit pole as part of the Elders Gathering at the Civic Centre (see story here)

JULY 4--COALBED METHANE WORRIES RAISED AT SHELL METTING-- Shell Canada's Coalbed methan plans become a topic of conversation at a public information session in Prince Rupert. (see story here)

JULY 3--COAST TSIMSHIAN HOPEFUL PORT TALKS MOVING AHEAD--Talks are back on between the Federal Government and the Coast Tsimshian over port development issues in Prince Rupert (see story here)

JULY 2--PORT DELIVERS STRONG YEAR AS TONNAGE HANDLED SOARS-- The Port of Prince Rupert continues to post improving numbers (see story here)

Coalbed methane discussions come to Prince Rupert

Last Thursday saw Shell Canada bring its information sessions to Prince Rupert, where the multi-national oil company explained its plans as far as the development of the Klappen coalbed methane program.

While Shell was busy trying to get its message across inside the Civic Centre, local opposition was being raised on the outside as Des Nobels, chairman of the Friends of Wild Salmon society was busy providing a contrarian opinion on the proposed development.

The Daily News featured details of the days developments with a front page story in Friday’s paper.

COALBED METHANE WORRIES RAISED AT SHELL METTING
Environmentalist contends fish habitat under threat but frim defends its practices
By Carla Wintersgill
The Daily News
Friday, July 4, 2008.
Pages one and three

Shell Canada's public information meeting about its proposed Klappen coalbed methane program was met with some opposition yesterday.

Des Nobels, chairman of the Friends of Wild Salmon society stationed himself outside the civic centre where the meeting was being held to hand out information about some of the environmental affects he fears will take place.

"Our major concern is regards to contaminated groundwater and that contamination of groundwater to surface water and the effects on the marine environment and the fish and other wildlife in the environment," said Nobels. "This has happened elsewhere where coalbed methane extraction has taken place."

The Klappen area of the proposed wells is also known as the Sacred Headwaters and is located where three of the Northwest's most important rivers, the Skeena, the Nass and the Stikine, originate.

"This is an extremely sensitive area. It's ludicrous," said Nobels.

"We spend an inordinate amount of money and time protecting our watersheds and our drinking water from these particular types of events and here we are now proposing this sort of opportunity in the headwaters in three of B.C.'s largest salmon-producing waters. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

But according to Shell Canada representative Larry Lalonde, Nobels fears are unfounded.
"We know it won't have any effect on the fish because we won't be discharging the groundwater on the surface or any of the water of the streams or rivers," said Lalonde. "We'll be taking it to a disposal facility in Northeast B.C. which will then be deep-well injected below any type of fresh groundwater."

Lalonde said that Shell will be taking several protected measures to ensure that the groundwater remains uncontaminated as well as continually testing the environmental impacts on the surrounding region.

"We take a very regulated effort to protect that water," said Lalonde.

"Essentially, our commitment is that we will not discharge any water that is produced from coals into any streams, rivers or lades to ensure that fish are protected," said Lalonde.

For now, Shell is still trying to determine if water needs to be pumped out from the ground.

"We've done an environmental assessment of each drill location," said Lalonde. We also have plans to do ground-water sampling as we move on as well to make sure that there is no impact."

Lalonde and other Shell Canada representatives will be in the Eagle room of the civic centre from 2-8 p. m. today to offer information about the proposed project and answer questions from the community.

Kitimat one step closer towards an LNG terminal

A 1.1 billion dollar project that will see Liquefied Natural Gas shipped from Kitimat to near Prince George, has made further progress as Pacific Trail Pipelines Limited Partnership received its environmental certificate last week.

The Daily News outlined how the project is set to move ahead and how Kitimat plays a central role in the plan to import Liquefied Natural Gas into British Columbia.

'Thumbs-up' for Kitimat LNG
Liquefied natural gas pipeline clears the environmental hurdle
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Pages one and two

The company proposing to pipe Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Kitimat to Summit Lake near Prince George is one step closer to making its $1.1 billion project a reality.
Last week, the province announced it has issued an environmental certificate to Pacific Trail Pipelines Limited Partnership, a joint venture between Kitimat LNG and Pacific Northern Gas, for its Kitimat-Summit Lake Pipeline project.

The pipeline will allow Kitimat LNG, which is developing an LNG import terminal in Kitimat, access to the North American natural gas market.

The idea is to liquefy natural gas by super-cooling it and transporting it on specially built ships from areas of the world that have stranded gas supplies. At Kitimat, the liquid would be turned back into gas and sent along the pipeline where it could be sold into the market.

In a news release issued by the province, Environment Minister Barry Penner and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld said they made their decision to grant the EA certificate after considering a comprehensive review led by B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office.

"The Environmental Assessment Office is satisfied that the assessment process has adequately identified and addressed the potential adverse environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects of the project ..." said Robin Junger, executive director of the Environmental Assessment Office.

In addition, public consultation was carried out and the Crown has fulfilled its obligations to consult and accommodate First Nations, said Junger.

The provincial environmental assessment certificate contains numerous commitments, including assessing the erosion potential of soils and implementing adequate erosion controls; mitigating potential loss or degradation of in-stream fish habitat and potential effects to wildlife and managing public access into previously inaccessible areas.

And the project still requires environmental approval at the federal level.

The project consists of the construction and operation of a 463-kilometre, 91-centimetre diameter buried pipe between Kitimat and Summit Lake, including one new compressor station along the proposed system that will connect with the existing Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. natural gas pipeline and convey natural gas from the proposed Kitimat Liquefied Natural Gas (KLNG) terminal to the Spectra Energy gas transmission system.

While the Pacific Trail Pipeline route will follow the existing Pacific Northern Gas pipeline between Summit Lake, just north of Prince George, and Endako, west of Fraser Lake, from there, the pipeline will take a new, more southern route to Kitimat.

Capital costs for the Kitimat-Summit Lake Pipeline Project are estimated at $1.1 billion.
The project will cross provincial and local government jurisdictions. Once the project is in operation, it is estimated that the proponent will pay at least $74 million in provincial and local government taxes during the anticipated 50-year life of the pipeline.

The project is expected to create approximately 1,200-1,500 jobs during a 24-month clearing and construction phase.

Vancouver meetings set between Coast Tsimshian and Federal Government

Talks over the development of the Fairview Container port are set to resume between the Federal Government and the Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla First Nations, as both sides seek out the common ground over development of the Fairview Container Port.

We outlined the details earlier on our portal, Thursday’s Daily News provided another look at a key story in the community for 2008, with a front page examination of the developments.

COAST TSIMSHIAN HOPEFUL PORT TALKS MOVING AHEAD
Senior representatives in Vancouver to meet with both government and port officials
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Pages one and two

The Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla First Nations, known as the Coast Tsimshian, say they have taken another step forward in the process of consultation around the development of Phase One of the Fairview Container Terminal.

John Helin and Harold Leighton, chief councilors for their respective communities, are in Vancouver this week negotiating with the Government of Canada and the Prince Rupert Port Authority and working toward a summer deadline.

”We have had some frustrations getting to this stage with the Government of Canada,” said Lax Kw’alaams Chief John Helin. “But with the framework finally in place and negotiations underway we are hopeful that Ottawa will move quickly and allow us to reach a settlement that is fair and respectful for our people.”

Although the container terminal opened this past October, the process of consultation and accommodation of the two communities, which have occupied the area for thousands of years, was never completed.

The two bands started litigation over the federal government’s alleged failure to consult back in 2005. Litigation by the Coast Tsimshian over lack of consultation and accommodation on Phase 1 of the Fairview Terminal Expansion is in abeyance pending the results of negotiations.

“Our people want to be able to support the development of the port,” said Metlakatla Chief Harold Leighton, “And we look to these negotiations to resolve our outstanding issues, and that will allow us to support the development of the port.

Both chiefs want to enter into a mutually beneficial agreement with the Government of Canada to establish and maintain a relationship centered on the development of the port and related economic benefits.

They also have concerns about the proposed expansion of Phase Two of the container terminal, due to archeological remains in that area.

“Our ancestors have lived on the very land the port wants to develop for more than 5,000 years,” said Leighton.

“It is important to us that the burial sites and traces of our history that are here are protected and handled with proper care and integrity,” said Leighton. A separate table has also been established to address archeological issues.

Numerous archeologists including Dr. George MacDonald, OC, founding director of the Canadian Museum of Civilization and director of the Bill Reid Centre at Simon Fraser University, said archaeological sites at Prince Rupert harbour are unique on the West Coast of North America in terms of the volume of middens, cultural artifacts, and human remains that are in place,

“We have recovered hundreds of intact artifacts plus more than 5,000 pieces of wood, bone, or other material that show evidence of being worked and shaped by hand,” said Dr. MacDonald. “But of more importance are the human remains to be found in thousands of square metres of shell middens that are on-site.

“These sites are of worldwide archaeological interest,” said Dr. MacDonald, “and losing them to reckless development would be a terrible loss to the Tsimshian people and to world history.”

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Salmon on the run

The debate over the hazards of fish farming will heat up again, with details out of Campbell River of a massive fish farm escape, 30,000 farmed Atlantic salmon escaped yesterday from the Marine Harvest pens in Frederick Arm.

The CBC reports that the fish made the break for the waters of coastal BC when a corner of the pen holding them collapsed, letting the 30,000 free to swim, at least until local anglers in the Campbell River suddently found a bounty at the end of their lines.

The worry at the moment is that those who manage to evade the fishermen of Campbell River may begin to feast on the wild smolts that are common to the area, potentially harming the wild stocks of the region.

While Marine Harvest have said that there is no danger of infections such as sea lice and other parasites, locals aren't particularly reassured that with 30,000 invaders free and on the move that something unwanted may develop.

The mass escape is one of the many things that opponents to fish farming in BC have always been worried about, with yesterday's break out, they now have a pretty good case study to work on...

30,000 escaped farmed salmon raise concerns in B.C.

Last Updated: Thursday, July 3, 2008 5:46 PM ET Comments15 Recommend31
CBC News

Some of the 30,000 farmed Atlantic salmon that escaped yesterday near Campbell River have already been caught by anglers in the area, according to at least one experienced fishing guide working in the region.

The salmon swam away from a fish farm in Fredrick Arm, northeast of Campbell River, after one corner of an underwater pen collapsed, CBCNews.ca learned through a tip from a reader Wednesday.

Officials with Marine Harvest Canada, which operates the farm, confirmed an underwater anchor holding down a corner of the pen had slipped, pulled down the netting and opened an easy avenue for escape.

Clare Backman, the company's director of environmental compliance and community relations, said the company has only managed to recover a few hundred fish.

"It's a period of large tides right now, and a lot of the fish will have dispersed through the area, and we might not get them all back," Backman said Wednesday.

Vancouver Island fishing guide Henry Spit said the salmon began biting on the hooks of anglers within a few hours of their escape.

"Within hours of the release, Atlantics are biting the hooks. … A few have been angled so far.

They've been caught, and they're 13- to 14-pound Atlantics," said Spit.
Spit says he does not believe the company's statements that the escaped fish will not harm native salmon stocks.

"These predators identify Pacific smolts as feed. There's a huge danger of [them] being a massive threat to the local indigenous stocks," he said.

Atlantic salmon a concern for many Environmentalists and local First Nations leaders are also worried that the escape will have a negative impact on B.C.'s native Pacific salmon stocks.

The Georgia Strait Alliance has received a number of reports of Atlantic salmon jumping and travelling in large schools some distance from the farm.

"Now 30,000 hungry farmed fish have been unleashed in the pathway of the Fraser River juvenile fish that are currently passing by on their way to the ocean …They eat wild salmon fry, which are already in great danger from the sea lice from the fish farms," said Ruby Berry, a campaign coordinator of the Georgia Strait Alliance, in a written statement released Thursday.
Backman maintains that since the fish did not have any disease or sea lice, there is no danger to native salmon.

"There's no ability for these fish to spread anything to the wild salmon. First of all, they are quite healthy. They haven't needed any antibiotics. They haven't contracted any diseases at all. They are perfectly healthy fish that were scheduled to go to market within the next two to six months," Backman said.

But Berry is not convinced.

"These are adult fish and we know that they compete with the Pacific salmon for food, habitat and spawning opportunities … This is a completely preventable occurrence," she said.

"If the government had acted on its own committee's recommendation and required [salmon] farms to be in closed containment, we wouldn't be seeing repeated escapes of this invasive salmon species into the marine environment," said Berry, referring to a 2007 report by a legislative committee that recommended B.C. phase out underwater net pen salmon farms and develop closed containment land-based systems within five years.

Atlantic salmon have no business in the Pacific Ocean where they could out-compete and wipe out B.C.'s native salmon species, said Living Ocean Society executive director Jennifer Lash, who pointed to a 2001 study that found young Atlantic salmon in small B.C. streams.

"We do know that they can reproduce in these waters and that the young do compete with the other wild salmon that are in these waters," Lash said.

Local First Nation leaders also expressed their dismay with the recent escape.

"Escapes are inevitable with open net cages," said Chief Darren Blaney of the Homalco First Nation, in a written statement released Thursday morning. "How many other farms are like that and how many escapes have gone unreported?"

Marine Harvest Canada has been working with environmental groups to try to persuade the BC government to fund a pilot project to investigate the viability of closed containment aquaculture pens.

Gary Coons to once again seek nomination for NDP in North Coast riding

Perhaps Nathan Cullen’s heart skipped a beat with a Daily News story in Monday’s paper, as they suggested that a new face may soon be seeking his place on the federal scene.

The Daily made a slight error in identification on Monday, as they reported that Gary Coons, would be seeking to run again in the next federal election…

Coons of course, is the provincial NDP MLA for the North Coast and apparently plans to try and remain so, as he seeks out the nomination for the provincial NDP in the North coast riding, leaving the federal scene to the Smithers’ based Cullen.

While they had the level of government wrong, the Daily did have more details in the Monday paper, on Coons’ plans as he works to continue his representation of the North coast in Victoria.

Perhaps a refresher course for the Daily News, regarding the separation of federal and provincial politics might be a handy way to launch his campaign for re-election…

MLA throws hat back in ring

BY LEANNE RITCHIE

The Daily News

Monday, June 30, 2008

Pages one and five

North Coast MLA Gary Coons said he will be seeking the nomination from the local NDP Constituency Association to run again in the next federal election.

"Yes, I'll be putting my name forward ... and I'll be letting the membership decide if they want me to represent them for another four years," said Coons.

On Thursday, the North Coast NDP held its founding meeting for the election of officers. All political constituency associations have to go through the process because of the change to the electoral boundaries for the 2009 provincial elections.

"I'm sure we will look at a nomination period for the North Coast riding and I will be putting my name in for that nomination," said Coons.

Coons has already indicated his interest to NDP Leader Carole James.

"I said I was interested and there are lots of issues out there and I hope to be a voice for the constituents of the North Coast," he said.

“There are lots of issues looking at the future of the North Coast region, as far as port development and balancing that the with the environmental concerns, coal bed methane, the Independent Power Projects that the Skeena Science Panel had concerns about, the effects of mining. It’s vital that the resources on the North Coast are properly put to use.” This includes a continued focus on sustainable aquaculture, like shellfish, and good use of forestry and fishery resources.

The new North Coast riding no longer includes Stewart and the Nass Valley, as these areas have been included in the same electoral district as Terrace, the new Skeena – Stikine riding. However, the North Coast riding has been extended further south along the coast to include all of the Central Coast Regional District, essentially stretching the North Coast riding to cover half of coastal B. C.

Alice Arm and Kitsault have also been moved into the same riding as Terrace, given their connection to the city via road.

With the new boundaries in place across the province, NDP leader Carole James launched her 2009 election campaign in Kelowna this month.

James said the initial stage of the campaign will focus on traditional NDP issues: health care, forestry and affordability for average families, specifically a campaign against the carbon tax on fuel.

James also pledged to restrict raw log exports and provide assistance to forestry-based communities in crisis.

Port Volumes increase by 237 per cent over two years

"We've turned a corner and we've got a much brighter future and hopefully there will be many more bright things to come," -- Joe Rektor, vice-president of finance and administration for the Prince Rupert Port Authority, responding to financial reports that show a sizeable increase in shipments through the port's facilities.

The opening of the Fairview Container Port combined with increased volumes through Prince Rupert Grain and Ridley Terminals are proving to be a fairly solid recipe for transportation success on the North coast.

Wednesday's Daily News featured details on the surge of shipments that have passed through the Port of Prince Rupert since 2005, the positive financial performance was highlighted as the papers' front page story.

PORT DELIVERS STRONG YEAR AS TONNAGE HANDLED SOARS

Volumes rise in 2007 by 237 per cent over quantities shipped through Rupert in '05
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, July 02, 2008

The opening of the Fairview Container Terminal and strong performances by Ridley Terminals and Prince Rupert Grain resulted in tonnage volumes through the Port of Prince Rupert increasing by 35 per cent in 2007.

At the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) annual general meeting last week, Joe Rektor, vice-president of finance and administration, said tonnage was up by more than 11 million as the port continued to recover from the economic slowdown that happened between 2002 and 2005. The 2007 tonnage was 237 per cent up on the 2005 level.

The driving numbers behind the port's finances is the amount of traffic that moves through its facilities.

"We've turned a corner and we've got a much brighter future and hopefully there will be many more bright things to come," said Rektor.

Revenues increased from $5.7 million in 2006 to $7.689 million in 2007. However, expenses also increased - from $5.562 million to $7.767 million - as the port authority continued to plan for the development of Phase Two of the Fairview Container terminal. The PRPA also took on $22-million in long-term debt in order to finance the construction of Phase One of Fairview. This debt will be paid off by 2016.

The $170-million Fairview Container Terminal project was financed for $25-million by the PRPA, with the remaining amount coming from CN Rail and Maher Terminals.

The port came out of 2007 with a loss of $219,000. It remains in good overall financial health, with more than $9 million in assets and $104 million in property, plants and equipment.

"The year 2007 really is the year we became a leading trade corridor gateway," said Don Krusel, president and CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

"It was about bringing that container facility into action. It's something we have been talking about in this community for what seems like decades," said Krusel.

There were 17,000 container movements through Fairview between Oct. 31 and Dec. 31, 2007, and the facility has repeatedly proven itself as a successful business model, said Krusel.

"What we were selling was speed and efficiency. We said we were going to create the fastest express gateway from Asian markets into the North American," he said.

"The industry is now talking about the fact that containers moving through this gateway are reaching their destination ... three days faster than the fastest alternative."

Ridley Terminals showed a continued rebound in 2007, shipping 5.09 million tonnes.

Prince Rupert Grain had another good year, shipping in excess of five million tonnes.

Two thousand and seven was also the best year yet for cruise ship activity since the opening of the Northland cruise ship terminal in 2004. The year saw almost 100,000 passengers.

In Hong Kong, Kevin Falcon outlines transportation and Prince Rupert Port plans

According to an Asian shipping industry trade paper, Seatrade Asia Online, there are moves in the works to dramatically expand the Rupert container port.

In an article dated July 3rd, the on line edition claims that the province of BC is set to dedicate 15 billion dollars to expand the Port of Prince Rupert, in a bid to become the preferred gateway to the Pacific between North America and Asia.

The article outlines how a Danish shipping conglomerate AP Moller-Maersk Group has been selected as the preferred bidder for the job to invest 650 million into the expansion plan for the facility. The estimated time of development is 2012 when the throughput will quadruple the ports capacity.

Falcon recently concluded a two week trip to Asia to highlight among many issues, the opportunities available in British Columbia for those wishing to ship their goods through the ports of the Pacific Gateway.
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While his Ministerial website promised much in the way of details of his trip with frequent reports and photos to accompany his visit, little of actual newsworthiness seems to have been posted there in recent weeks.

The story as reported by the Asian trade paper makes for an interesting development, in that the expansion plans seem to be moving ahead quickly, while locally there has been little heard on the subject in the last few months.

What remains to be seen is whether these details as reported from an international trade newspaper turn out to be correct and a blue print of sorts, or if they were just an outline from the Minister, of what could one day come on the horizon for the Rupert port.

There is no mention of the pending project developments on the BC Transportation Ministry website or on the Port of Prince Rupert website.

As always, those of us on the shoreline wait for further details, hopefully not to have the first word of developments come from the trade papers of the world...

Targeting Asian traffic, Prince Rupert expands
Seatrade Asia Online
July 3, 2008

Vancouver: The Canadian province of British Columbia is spending C$15 billion (HK$114.74 billion) to expand its Prince Rupert port facilities in a bid to become the preferred Pacific gateway for ships travelling between Asia and North America, reports the South China Morning Post.

Using Prince Rupert can trim two days off the 12-day trip for a ship sailing from Shanghai to Long Beach. That, together with a fast and efficient rail network across the continent to Chicago, offers quicker delivery than United States ports, the British Columbia government says.

"The all-in transport time is unmatched by ports on the west coast, even the ports in Long Beach and Los Angeles," the province's Transport Minister Kelvin Falcon said. Mr Falcon was in Hong Kong last week to meet shipping companies and the Airport Authority to tell them about the expansion of airport, port, road and railway infrastructure in British Columbia.

Danish shipping conglomerate AP Moller-Maersk Group had been picked as the preferred bidder by the provincial government to invest in a C$650 million expansion plan in Prince Rupert, the minister said.

The new facility will quadruple the port's capacity to two million 20-foot equivalent units when it opens in 2012.

In the next two to three years, British Columbia is also planning a C$1.2 billion new terminal in Prince Rupert, which will double the capacity of the whole port area to more than four million teu by 2020.Currently Cosco is the port's main customer. [3/7/08]

Diversification the key to rejuvenation

A study from the Chartered Accountants of British Columbia the northwest economy is beginning to see some results from a bid to diversify, leaving behind the troubles of the forestry sector for new opportunities in mining and transportation.

The BC Check Up also highlighted the increase in business start ups in the Northwest in the last year an increase of 17.8 per cent while fewer existing businesses were failing with bankruptcies in the region declining by 66 per cent.

The Daily News featured a review of the results in Monday’s paper.

Northern economy is finding strength in diversity
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, June 30, 2008
Pages one and five

Diversification is helping the North Coast deal with another year of forestry sector woes, according a senior Prince Rupert accountant.

Praveen Vohora, a small business owner and CA who has lived in Prince Rupert for 30 years, said he has seen first-hand the ups and downs that the regional economy has gone through.

”While our region is feeling the impacts of a forestry sector in trouble, Prince Rupert and the North Coast have become more diversified in recent years, particularly with increased opportunities in transportation and mining,” he said.

According to the BC Check-Up Regional Edition, published by the Chartered Accountants of B. C., the Northwest region of B. C. accounted for 41 percent of the provinces’ total mineral exploration last year.

“Several new mining projects are now in the proposal or early-development phase, as are a number of power generation projects scattered throughout our region, and several massive pipelines designed to transport liquid natural gas and oil to and from the Port of Kitimat,” he said.

“We’re seeing that virtually all major project development, whether proposed or underway, is private-sector investment in mining, utilities, or transportation and warehousing. These significant capital investments are laying the groundwork for future jobs and economic diversification.

Altogether, total estimated capital costs as of December 2007 were $25 billion, up 52 per cent from 2006.

The CA report also showed strong yearly growth in business incorporations, which were up 17.8 per cent. This was the highest level of in corporations in the past decade, and indicates that people and companies have confidence in the North Coast economy, and are continuing to invest in the communities.

“And more importantly, fewer businesses are failing. The total number of bankruptcies in the region declined by two-thirds (66.7 per cent) last year to the lowest level in at least a decade,” he said.

The troubles in the forestry sector were responsible for a decline in business establishments (-8.5 per cent).

Companies with fewer than 20 employees accounted for virtually all of the reduction in the last year.

An unsettled wood products sector was undoubtedly the major contributor to these falling numbers.

“While forestry is going through another tough year, our region has done a good job at diversifying the economy through mining and transportation – with state-of-the-art facilities at the Port of Prince Rupert – and we have only just begun to reap the benefits,” he said.

“The expectation that growth would appear immediately after the opening was obviously wishful thinking. Similar to a start-up business, progress is being made. And now with the addition of the second ship, and completion of the Quick Load facility, we will start seeing the growth that we anticipated. The global economic slowdown has not deterred our port, and we should soon see volumes double and triple.”

Overall, the BC Check-Up report concludes that both Prince Rupert and the North Coast are still improving as a place to live, work and invest, he said.

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

The Coast Tsimshian and the federal government begin port negotiations towards a summer deadline.

“…with the framework finally in place and negotiations underway we are hopeful that Ottawa will move quickly and allow us to reach a settlement that is fair and respectful for our people.”-- Lax Kw'Alaams Chief John Helin commenting on the resumption of negotiations towards a settlement on issues related to Port development in Prince Rupert.

A press release issued today announced that the First Nations of the Coast Tsimshian and the Federal Government are working towards resolving their differences on key issues related to the development of the Container Port in Prince Rupert.

With a framework on discussion in place, the opportunity to resolve the issue is once again on the table and ready to move forward. The first result of the new spirit of cooperation was the announcement today to put in abeyance the current litigation over the development of Phase one, leaving the two sides better able to reach an agreement that both will find satisfactory.

The Coast Tsimshian are hopeful that these new negotiations will help to resolve the past concerns and allow them to support further development of the Port, which has ambitious plans to expand to take advantage of the new connection to China.

The resumption of talks will prove to be a welcome move on the North Coast, which is anxious to see the Fairview Container Port move ahead, while ensuring that the concerns of the First Nations are addressed as best as they can on the many issues that have arisen from the development.

The full press release outlines their concerns of the past and points the way they hope that the negotiations will take them into the future.

Lax Kw'Alaams, Metlakatla Negotiating With Canada and the Prince Rupert Port Authority Over Port Expansion Issues; Separate Archaeological Table Also Underway

PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - July 2, 2008) -

The Lax Kw'Alaams and Metlakatla First Nations, known as the Coast Tsimshian, are pleased to have taken another step towards resolution of their concerns over expansion of the Port of Prince Rupert by negotiating with the Government of Canada and the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

Negotiations between the Coast Tsimshian and the federal government are underway in Vancouver and working towards a summer deadline. Litigation by the Coast Tsimshian over lack of consultation and accommodation on Phase 1 of the Fairview Terminal Expansion is in abeyance pending the results of negotiations.

"We have had some frustrations getting to this stage with the Government of Canada," says Lax Kw'Alaams Chief John Helin, "but with the framework finally in place and negotiations underway we are hopeful that Ottawa will move quickly and allow us to reach a settlement that is fair and respectful for our people."

"Our people want to be able to support the development of the Port," says Metlakatla Chief Harold Leighton, "and we look to these negotiations to resolve our outstanding issues, and that will allow us to support the development of the Port.

"Our ancestors have lived on the very land the Port wants to develop for more than 5000 years," says Leighton. "It is important to us that the burial sites and traces of our history that are here are protected and handled with proper care and integrity."Both Chiefs want to enter into a mutually beneficial agreement with the Government of Canada to establish and maintain a relationship centered on the development of the Port and related economic benefits.

A separate table has also been established to address archaeological issues.Numerous archaeologists including Dr. George MacDonald, OC, founding Director of the Canadian Museum of Civilization and Director of the Bill Reid Centre at Simon Fraser University, says archaeological sites at Prince Rupert harbour are unique on the west coast of North America in terms of the volume of middens, cultural artifacts, and human remains that are in place.

"We have recovered hundreds of intact artifacts plus more than 5000 pieces of wood, bone, or other materials that show evidence of being worked and shaped by hand," says Dr. MacDonald. "But of more importance are the human remains to be found in thousands of square meters of shell middens that are on-site."

These sites are of worldwide archaeological interest," says Dr. MacDonald, "and losing them to reckless development would be a terrible loss to the Tsimshian people and to world history."

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Carbon dating the taxes for Canada Day

Canadians took time out on Tuesday to celebrate the 141st Birthday of the nation and to receive the glad tidings of the British Columbia government in the form of a 2.3 cent carbon tax on fuel.

The much discussed Carbon tax took effect today less than a week after British Columbians rushed off to the bank to cash their rebate cheques designed to make today’s increase “revenue neutral”.

Originally conceived as a way to “shock” British Columbians into a more conservation oriented lifestyle, the best intentions of the tough love Liberals of BC have been overtaken by world events.

Since the Carbon tax concept was first thought up, British Columbians have watched the price of gasoline rise to inconceivable levels a year ago, with many locations hitting the 1.45 level even before the Campbell tax kicked in on Tuesday, almost fifty cents more than what a litre of gas cost on the day that the Liberals announced their tough love approach to conservation.

Now the idea of a conscience tax such as this one seems a tad ill conceived, if not redundant considering recent events in the world of oil and energy production.

Needless to say the Liberals have been taking a fair amount of heat over their addition to the tax load of the British Columbia tax payer these days, with all the tax rebates and tax cuts that come with the project all but forgotten or disregarded.

Numerous sites on facebook have sprung up to sign up the discontented to fight the power, likewise petitions have been popping up around town urging residents to sign up to stop the tax (now to revoke we suspect).

The opposition has made a little bit of disingenuous political hay out of the tax, urging that it be eliminated, though calling for a tax at the source of the energy chain, somehow thinking that those producers wouldn’t pass the increased cost on to consumers somehow.

For the NDP it’s more of a case of pure politics, trying to position themselves between the Campbell Liberals and the surging Green party in BC, as to how best attract the attention and affections of a population getting a little tired of the nickel and diming of government. The idea that Carole James is out there defending the rights of the British Columbian driver seems a little hard to believe, rather they see a chance to make some political hay out of a controversial issue and so far have massaged that message to their favour.

Lost in all of the rhetoric over the carbon tax, is the simple fact that it really isn’t going to do much to reduce the consumption of gasoline in the province, instead residents who rely on their cars for transportation will still pull up to the pump, fill up their tanks and perhaps seek out a bank loan from the friendly bank manager for the privilege.

Instead of moving the tax rate upwards as this plan does, one wonders why measures to make alternative forms of transportation more attractive were not considered. Perhaps an end to the provincial and federal sales taxes on hybrids and other energy efficient vehicles and options for instance might produce the desired result of a more energy conscious population. Also working to increase the availability and quality of mass transportation across the province and not just in Vancouver and Victoria, could wean the motorized public from their cars and into a more collective outlook than currently exists.

The original idea was a laudable idea, gaining the attention of the public that there is a need to change our wasteful ways. However, as always events sometimes overtake the best laid plans and now the tax is just another move by government that is perceived as adding on to our burdens for day to day living.

For many it’s the prospect of a big stick to shake out a few more pennies that is supposed to do the trick, an approach which judging by the backlash of late over what many consider just another tax grab, isn’t going to have the desired effect and may prove to be a costly political move by the always calculating Premier.

All in all, you have to wonder if perhaps the Royal Canadian Air Farce didn’t hit the nail on the head with this tribute to Carbon reduction in B. C.

Globe and Mail-- Carbon dating the taxes for Canada Day
Globe and Mail-- A Canada Day resolution: Don't let the politicians do your thinking for you
Vancouver Sun-- New 2.3¢ carbon tax sends gas price up a dime in places
Vancouver Province-- High gas prices fuel gov't windfall
CBC News-- B.C. carbon tax kicks in on Canada Day
Georgia Straight-- Let’s clear the air on carbon taxes

The Bust, was uh, er, a Bust…

When it comes to fighting crime, sometimes you break a few egss and sometimes you’re going to squeeze a few tomatoes!
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Perhaps the intelligence was a little bit lacking on this one, as reports begin to filter out about a major operation last week in Prince Rupert that didn’t exactly turn out as envisioned we suspect.

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Canwest News out of Vancouver has details on the operation that might have left a few folks with faces the same colour as the cash crop they found.

'Grow-op' nothing but tomatoes
Canwest News Service
Tuesday, July 01, 2008

VANCOUVER - Red-faced police officers in Prince Rupert on B.C.'s north coast were looking for a marijuana grow-op came up with a tomato-grow-op instead.

Commercial fisherman Bruce Aleksich said Tuesday that about 15 RCMP officers burst into his business last Thursday, only to find 400 tomato plants in various stages of growth.

After a bleak spring, Aleksich said he decided to grow the tomatoes under lights.

When RCMP arrived at about 9 p.m., Aleksich told them he was a gardener with nothing but tasty tomatoes in the building.

Nevertheless, Aleksich, two employees and two visitors were forced to the ground.

"They had us on the floor for over an hour," he said. "All of us were cuffed. I don't know how it got to the point where guns were drawn."

Aleksich said he has heard nothing from the RCMP about their mistake.

"You'd think they would be embarrassed," he said. "I just wanted them to say it was a mistake. People now assume I was growing marijuana."

Aleksich said his two visitors, a friend from Victoria and his girlfriend, were looking at real estate.
"I don't think he's going to buy land here after that," said Aleksich.

An RCMP spokesman could not be reached.