Ok, we voted, so get back to work will ya...

In the end the numbers tell the tale of Tuesday’s election, British Columbians decided that they liked the same seating chart at the Legislature, offering up much the same in returns in 2009 as they did in 2005.

In fact there was little difference in the popular vote numbers of Tuesday as those of four years ago and despite the always present debate that the mainstream parties don’t listen, there is still little hope for the fringe parties to sit at the big boy’s and girls table in the legislature.

But of all the numbers to be crunched from Tuesday’s exercise of democracy it’s the number of British Columbians that bothered to vote that stands out the most.

Once again, the province’s voters did not turn out in resounding numbers, as less than 51 per cent of the eligible voters cast a vote provincewide on Tuesday, below 50 percent in Greater Vancouver, providing for a continuing downward trend that suggests a growing disconnect between the population and those that run for office and our apparent interest in having a says as to who will govern us.

It’s a worrisome trend, leaving the validation of governance of the province to the dwindling number of participants who are willing to make time to ensure that the democratic process remains the key ingredient of our system.

For those that scream out that electoral reform is the answer that quest took a rather serious hit as well on Tuesday.

The electoral reform referendum showed that most British Columbians are more comfortable with the way things are than with the confusing and apparently unwanted mechanism known as the Single Transferable Vote.

The STV vote reflected the impression of the voters that the initiative was never fully explained left many confused as to the process in play and what their vote would mean and more importantly how it would result in a beneficial change to the political spectrum.

With but only 39 per cent of the vote in favour of rewarding the runners up when we go to the polls, British Columbians reinforced the notion that either you win the riding outright or you go home, no need to hang around Victoria looking for a place to set up shop and collect a paycheque.
While the quest for change to the system will no doubt continue to be called for (especially from those that did not reach the Legislature), it would appear that for the short term there is no real appetite among that electorate that votes to change the system.

With the election all but called by 9:10 on Tuesday evening, the prospect of another term of Liberal governance was quickly becoming clear. All that remained to be seen as the vote was counted was who would accompany the Premier in his next term of office and what cabinet material would be arriving in Victoria for assignment.

The coalition of the old Social Credit and Liberal parties has proven to be a rather formidable political force in the province, leaving little in the way of middle ground for the NDP to chip away at unless there is some kind of galvanizing cause that can’t be ignored.

Despite the many challenges that face the province in troubled economic times, from education to health issues, to job creation and beyond, the simple fact from the election results was that the province’s voters felt that they were more comfortable with Mr. Campbell’s agenda and endorsed his third trip to the government side of the Legislature, than they were with Ms. James call to Take back Your BC.

The resounding victory, and with this third consecutive term not even underway yet and already the reporters and commentators were speculating on whether Premier Campbell was up for a fourth term in 2013. A decision rather far down the road one would imagine, but one which would put him in the same league as WAC Bennett when it comes to consecutive electoral success and political legend.

The Premier hinted in one interview that going for four consecutive terms may be on his horizon, depending on whether he is still enjoying his work and feels that the people still would endorse him. It's always a dangerous thing to do when you haven’t even started your third term, but in the euphoria of the moment one suspects that his aspirations got ahead of him.

Politics and running a province always offer up unexpected twists and turns, there will be a lot of political machinations to come over the next four years, before he can contemplate that run for dynasty.

Over on the opposition side of the results, Ms. James fielding the anticipated questions over her timetable and held to the talking points that it was time to reflect on the results but not necessarily leave her post just yet. The NDP which seems to have short shelf space for losing campaigns of late, will no doubt read the polls, check the electoral results and formulate their plans for four years from now.

At the moment there isn’t any real alternative in the wings waiting to take over the leadership if ever Ms. James decides to step aside, or if that possibility is suggested by party officials. But the jockeying for 2013 no doubt will begin in the backrooms sometime after the summer holidays.

As admirable as her campaign was to her supporters, the purpose of political parties for the most part is to take power and effect change, the NDP did not succeed in that mission and there will not doubt be calls from within to seek out a new direction, a new platform and a new approach to campaigns to come.

Likewise, the Green Party while finding some success in assorted ridings and a small increase in the vote in those ridings, still did not place a member in the legislature and their much cherished quest for STV and a way into the debating club in Victoria was quashed by a huge margin.

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The party still appears to be more of a convenient parking spot for some voters and more of a political action committee than bona fide party at the moment, fighting the good fight for the good causes but not collecting enough interested voters to really make a difference to the make up of the Legislature. It will be interesting to see how they progress after this second consecutive shut out of the process, despite the high profile that they gave to their concerns.

The low voter turnout suggests that the process is being taken for granted, those that vote far more engaged in the process than the remainder who found other things to do on election day than take the five or ten minutes required to mark an X and offer their opinion to the province’s direction.

There are clearly roughly fifty percent of those potential voters still looking for a reason to become engaged and issue an opinion, suggesting room for another option, one not yet in place, but one that if it ever finds a voice could change the dynamics of this province in the years to come.

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The quest to corral that missing vote will begin again over the next four years, find a way to bring the missing voters and their votes back into the election booth and our provincial elections may one day prove to offer more than the usual results, from the

NDP holds the North coast and the Northwest..

In the end, the big showdown between incumbent MLA Gary Coons and former Mayor Herb Pond wasn't quite the nail biter that many had hoped for.

In fact, with a rather healthy margin, Mr. Coons will return to Victoria as the MLA for the North Coast for his second consecutive term, though once again he will sit on the opposition bench after a successful run locally, but disappointing turn of events on the provincial scene for the NDP.

The NDP candidate jumped out to a quick lead as the ballots began to be counted and never looked back, never trailed and was in the clear as early as 9:30 as the vote margin between he and Mr. Pond began to grow.

As the last of the 67 of 67 ballots was counted the final tallies would show Mr. Coons with 4940 votes or almost 58 percent of the popular vote, Mr. Pond was second with close to 35 per cent of the vote or 2981 votes and Green Party challenger Lisa Girbav made some inroads for her party with 658 votes or roughly 8 per cent of the vote.

The margin of Mr. Coons victory in 2009 was 1900 votes, an increase of around 300 from his margin of 2005, a definite disappointment for the Liberal party which had trumpeted Mr. Pond as a difference maker should he be voted to office.

Ms. Girbav, one of the youngest candidates in the province, apparently struck a chord with a number of North coast voters as she increased the Green Party's vote total from 2005 by 61 votes.

The numbers between the two elections of course can't be compared for a true reading of the political landscape, redistribution seems to have reduced the number of voters casting ballots for candidates from the last election.

2005 featured 87 ballot locations, compared to 67 this time around. In 2005 10,431 ballots were cast in North coast voting booths, while the 2009 campaign record will check in at 8,579 votes counted.

Still by factoring in the popular voting percentages we can determine that not much really changed in the minds of voters over the last four years, Mr. Coons gained about four per cent from last time around, the Liberals dropping about three percent, while the Green Party picked up about 2 per cent from last year.

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It was a total perhaps aided a bit by the disappearance of fringe parties in the riding, and perhaps with a little bit of creative vote parking for this campaign, a reward for Ms. Girbav for her hard work against rather strong odds.

For Mr. Coons the victory will serve as repudiation of the concept that he was "too negative a force" on the political scene, one of the themes of the Liberal campaign that didn't seem to catch on, as the voters of the North coast were able to separate Mr. Coons requirements as opposition member with his interest and support for his riding.

The reduction in vote totals from the Belsey campaign of 2005 should serve as an indication that the North coast voters didn't take too well to the style of campaigning in the final week or so of the campaign, where the negative vibes seem to be coming from the Liberals as they desperately tried to turn back what clearly was going to be an NDP wave on the North coast.

For Ms. Girbav, her candidacy proved to be a bit of fresh air from the traditional political machines of the two mainstream parties, while few expected her to actually take a seat in Victoria after the election, it would seem that more than a few of the voters felt confident in showing their support if not for her party's policies for the most part, then for her bid for office.

She provided a safe spot to register disappointment with the two main parties, offering up to them the thought that it is time to refocus their attention on the many jobs at hand for the province.

For the NDP, the North coast and Northwest proved to be one of the brighter spots on the electoral map, despite the hopeful declarations of their Take Back your BC campaign, in the end the results tonight are very much the way they were in 2005. A solid Liberal majority, a third time repeat for Premier Campbell and little in the way of an increase in overall support across the province for the NDP.

While they did well on the North coast and in neighbouring Skeena, they couldn't capture either of the two Prince George riding's and fell short in other swing riding's across the province where gains were thought to be had.

With the campaign now at an end, it will be interesting to see what direction the political trail will take the three participants in this campaign, Mr. Coons once again solidly supported by his constituents will surely be given another high profile shadow cabinet position, where he can effectively hold the government of the day to account for their actions.

Ms. Girbav, young as she is, has many years to go before the electorate will consider her to be a cynical, old, manipulative politician, her issues rallied attention to her causes, making for a good launching point for further political action should she desire it.

As for Mr. Pond, he ended his term in municipal office for the chance for the larger stage and was not rewarded for his political risk. Rather than remaining the big fish in the small pond (sorry for the obvious cliche), he took on the prospect of becoming a smaller fish in a bigger ocean and found that the ocean currents in the end weren't moving his way.

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Having been part of the electoral scene on the North coast in one capacity or the other for a number of years, it may be hard to wean himself off of the regular interaction with the voting public.

Then again, there is bound to be a Federal election on the horizon sometime in the next twelve months if not before.... if he gets that itch again... you wonder if Mr. Pond may not want to make one more run for a brass ring.

And the numbers are trickling in

As the polls close and the count begins we'll update this page regularly with the results of the North Coast riding and the province wide trends

A Liberal Majority government was declared by the networks at 9:10 pm

as of 11:50 PM
67 of 67 ballot boxes reporting

North Coast results
8579 votes reported so far

Coons, Gary 4940.......57.58%
Pond, Herb 2981........34.75%
Girbav, Lisa 658...... 7.67%

Province Wide Seat Count

Liberals 48
NDP 37
Green 0
Conservative 0
Other 0

Popular Vote

Liberals ........... 46.2%
NDP..................42.1%
Green................ 8%
Conservative/Other... 4%


Referendum

Single Transferable Vote 39%
First Past the Post 61%

Podunk Below the Masthead, Monday, May 11, 2009

There is such a thing as a free lunch at the SPCA, Enbridge offers up their latest rebuttal in the great pipeline debate and the school district seeks flexibility in budget matters. A few of the items in the Monday edition of the Daily News.

RUPERT SPCA WILL BE 'FED UP' WITH NEW PET FOOD SUPPLIER-- The local branch of the SPCA will benefit from a province wide deal with Hill's Pet Nutrition, which will supply branches of the BC SPCA with two years worth of free meals, some 206,000 pounds of food over the course of those two years.

With that welcome development, the local branch found itself having to move some food this past week, so they donated their existing supplies to the Salvation Army for distribution to those families in need that may have pets. The tale of the free meal deals, was the front page headline story in the Monday paper. (The full story can be found below)

Elsewhere in the Monday edition, Enbridge once again explains its side of the pipeline debate, hoping to rally support for it's plans for a pipeline from Kitimat to Alberta's tar sands. Last week Enbridge's Terrace office was the subject of a protest march, as local residents agings the energy giants plans made their views known.

And while behind the news cycle from last weeks School District deliberations over budget concerns, the Daily News weighed in with their report on the latest developments of School District 52, which is in the final steps of presenting their budget for the 2009-10 school year. The SD also must wait for student numbers to finalize before making any final determinations, residents of Kitkatla are still trying to decide if they wish to follow the lead of Port Simpson and set up their own local school system, or if they will remain under the umbrella of SD52. A decision which could have a major impact on funding expectations and decisions.

The Sports section was a busy place, two pages of local information, including results of the Glory Days run, Prince Rupert Senior Secondary's golf team competition in Smithers and coverage of the Mr. and Mrs. golf tournament held over the weekend.

Total pages in the Monday edition 12

RUPERT SPCA WILL BE 'FED UP' WITH NEW PET FOOD SUPPLIER
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Monday, May 11, 2009
Page one

A Howling great gift was handed to the Salvation Army on Friday.

The Prince Rupert branch of the BC SPCA has handed over a van-full of dog food to the local Sally Ann, as the organization looks to move excessive stock.

In B.C., the provincial animal advocate has signed a two-year deal with Hill's Pet Nutrition Canada, a pet food supplier. The deal is meant to keep the BC SPCA off donations for the foreseeable future while promoting the brand to SPCA pet adopters.

"This is a great opportunity for our animals to stay on a consistent diet," said Prince Rupert branch manager LindsayVincent.

Vmcent, who dropped the food off with a little help from locals having lunch at the Sally Ann, said that having a consistent diet would be the best thing for the animals.

The pet food company's deal will result in 206,000 pounds of dog and cat food dropped off to SPCAs across the province.

Vincent said that the new food that is available now would make the very kind food donations from Rupertites no longer necessary for cats and dogs at the shelter.

The BC SPCA wanted people to know that they have worked and studied the contribution from Hills and 1ft a recent statement the organization said that the new arrangement fit within the non-profit's requirements to prevent cruelty to animals.

"We concluded that their positions on animal testing are consistent with the BC SPCA's own

position, namely that animal research would not be performed on personal care or vanity products and that any research will incorporate leading edge practices to address welfare concerns," said the agency.

"We will still accept the odds and sods like toys, collars, leashes and blankets," said Vincent.

The SPCA will also continue to accept food supplies for rabbits, birds, gerbils, hamsters, and other small animals.

"We want to thank all the people who have donated over the years for their kindness and we do have a list of urgently-needed items for our branch, which we would be happy to supply locals with,' said Vincent.

BC SPCA shelters, adoption centres, storefront locations and branches across the province are currently competing in, The Great BC SPCA Adoption Challenge, an annual event to try and find "forever" homes for as many animals as possible during the month of May.

Sadly, only 17 per cent of cats and 13 per cent of dogs in Canadian households are acquired from shelters and rescue groups like the BC SPCA.

That means the vast majority of pets are acquired from pet stores, breeders, the Internet and newspaper or online classified ads. This is in spite of the fact that pet overpopulation is a tremendous concern in B.c., and unwanted litters of kittens and puppies are surrendered to SPCA shelters almost every day.

The Great BC SPCA Adoption Challenge is an opportunity to celebrate the many ways these animals enrich our lives, and to highlight the important role we playas the guardians entrusted with their care.

The top branches in the challenge will win a cash prize of $2,500 to be used locally and will vie for the coveted Be SPCA Adoption Award (and of course, bragging rights for their community!).

It's election Day

The speeches, debates, knocks on your door and phone calls (robo and human) have all come to an end and now it's all up to you.

It's Election Day in British Columbia and time for your to have your say, Polling hours are from8 am to 8 pm at Jim Ciccone Civic Centre. The Elections BC website has all you will ever need to know (except who to vote for) about this 2009 election.

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We elect a local MLA for our North Coast riding and make a decision on whether we wish to adopt the Single Transferable Vote option for future elections

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For those still undecided, you can refresh your memory with some campaign material from the three main party websites, Green Party, Liberal Party of BC, New Democratic Party.

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We have followed the campaign on the local front on the blog as well and some past material can be found here.

If you haven't already voted, it's Go time, bring a friend, Democracy is infectious...

Ah the first indication that the long weekend is on the way...

The Victoria Day weekend, while not quite the first day of summer, the unofficial start of the season, a time for hitting the road and seeking out new adventures...

And like the return of the hummingbirds, your dandelions and the need to mow the grass, it heralds the start of the suddenly fast paced days of gas price increases.

Petro Can at Hays Cove was first that we noticed off the starting blocks today, upping the price of regular unleaded to 98.9 this morning.

Other across town that have also increased their price to the pre Victoria Day benchmark of 98.9 are Petro Can in the Industrial Park and Chevron downtown.

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Holding the line today at 95.9 were Husky and Esso also in the downtown core.

Seeking a little 411 on the subject of Citywest forgiveable debt

When council does get down to work this evening, perhaps they could turn their attention toward pages 33 and 34 of the official agenda for tonight’s deliberations.

An interesting bit of number crunching takes place on these pages, as the city audit pages outline an intriguing explanation of fiscal accounting for CityWest. In among all the numbers and financial mumble jumble that is part and parcel of thses statements is one line that will be raising the radar of those that are interested in the financials at the city owned phone, cable and internet provider.

Right after the financial status of our Solid Waste capital fund (page 32) comes Statement P of page 33, the statement of Financial Position for the Telephone operating fund, Page thirty four features Statement Q, which highlights a Loan of $23,156,563 and then Underneath the neat little columns of numerical wonder of Liabilities and Equity, in the middle of the page is a simple item simply listed as Loan forgiveness at a total of $20,000,000.

We’re sure it’s some form of accounting practice common at this time of the year, but for the casual reader of City council agendas and financial statistics, forgiveness probably comes across as meaning aw shucks, forget about that ole debt…

It might be helfpful for council to walk the taxpayers through this one a little, just so we all have a better understanding of the financial happenings of our civic owned communications outlet.

If nothing else, it couldn’t help but to explain what the term forgiveness means, outline what it is for and what it’s all about.
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We imagine a few folks might have oh lets say a million, or make that about twenty million questions to ask on that item…

Council set to look over some numbers on Monday night

Prince Rupert City Council returns to the work of municipal discussion this Monday night, the first meeting for May and apparently an important one considering the length of the agenda for the session ahead this evening.

Posted on the city website for this evening is a seventy five page preview of what is ahead for council, among the items for discussion and review this evening are some reports from the General Manager over planned Public Works projects; among the key topics of discussion are the expansion of the landfill site, the Duncan road pump station and sewer project and the introduction of pay parking to Atlin Terminal (save your Loonies they are soon to be of use)

Council will also look over some appointments to local boards and review a number of bylaw recommendations.

But the bulk of those seventy five pages of reading material prior to tonight's council meeting are taken up by the City's audited financial statement and five year plan, all of which runs from page 13 on to page 64 of the on line agenda.
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Those that are truly dedicated to their understanding of the machinations of civic government will no doubt find much to discuss among all the different entries required in the running of a city, from the fire department, to protective services and communications, the financial statement provides for much of interest for the inquisitive policy nerds of Podunk.

In the end though, these statements all come down to one thing, what's it going to cost...

For those wishing to get a more in depth look at the anticipated impact on households by the projected 3.8 tax increase, page 67 offers up a spread sheet that shows what you will pay according to the value of your home, for those looking for nightmare scenarios just move your finger to the right...

Of course in among all of that information will come one more item of interest to local residents, the attendance list.

The Mayor's chair has had fill in hosts for the last three sessions, with a string of public appearances over the last week, it's anticipated that Mayor Jack Mussallem will be back at the gavel as tonight's deliberations begin.

No doubt more than ready to guide council and the city through the process of making sense of the finances and soothing the taxpayers for whom the tax bill will soon need paying.

Catching up to the Liberal side of the campaign with the Northern Connector

If ever the current government of BC was to look for a print version to resemble the legendary days of Pravda, then perhaps the Northern Connector might wish to offer up its services.

The Friday edition of the weekly flyer wrap and capsule of sporadic regional news, arrived at local doorsteps chock full of advertisements declaring that the Liberal party of BC was seemingly the only offering available to save the province from the hordes...

And by far the most attention and benefit from the world of paid political advertising went to the Liberal candidate for the North Coast campaign, Herb Pond. The May 8th edition featured both ads from the Liberal party and others from clearly on board support groups, offering up the latest word on what the voter should consider on election day.

Page two featured an ad advising that Mr. Pond was "instrumental" in securing funding for the cruise ship and container facilities (a tad creative in description) stressing the job angle, though in six years of the last two councils, there were a good number of jobs that went out of town and with them the folks that lived here.

Page ten had a generic ad suggesting that not voting for Liberals leaves the provinces' jobs potential at risk, though there wasn't much to back up that suggestion.

Page eleven is a declaration from the Independent Power Producers that the NDP would freeze investment and continue to import dirty coal power from the US, though they don't outline if and where this process currently takes place

Page thirteen has the save the cost of beer ad we made note of earlier this weekend, enough said on the silliness of that addition to the electoral debate...

Page fourteen is a full page ad for Mr. Pond detailing that the future for Prince Rupert is in port development, this of course despite the fact that the current Liberals are spending much more on Delta Port than Fairview, it again stresses how Mr. Pond "delivered" phase one though it doesn't outline his involvement other than speaking in favour of it..

Page twenty four offered up a more humble request for votes from Donny Van Dyk in Terrace, no bold declarations in that one just your standard Liberal stump speech, not negative just informative.

We're not sure who decided that the Pond campaign had to go all thermo nuclear in these final days, outlining how the competition (Mr. Coons) is all negative you know, by er, ah, going negative, but it seems a foolish gambit that may annoy more voters than it attracts.

We suspect that most voters on the North coast would rather have had Mr Pond outline what he believed he could offer to the riding; what he feels he could achieve for our long term success. Instead we mainly get generalities, with little detail or declaration of his core beliefs on many of the current topics.

He may not ever actually achieve any of his plans or wishes should he be elected on Tuesday, but at least we would know what and where he stands, rather than these somewhat goofy and sometimes outright shaded declarations featuring less than thorough documentation to back up the rhetoric...

Then again the Liberals seem to have spent a lot of energy on a newspaper that most people toss into the recycling box the moment that they get it. So that perhaps shows their basic knowledge of how best to get the message out and with it will come the applicable results when the votes get counted Tuesday evening.

The wall to wall Liberal advertorials took up a fair amount of lineage in the twenty four pages of the Connector, interestingly enough there was not one ad for either of the other two parties competing in this North Coast election campaign.

When it comes to fiscal sensibility and best bang for your advertising buck, we wonder if perhaps they don't know something that the Liberals didn't?

They all had something on their mind...

Friday was letters day at the Daily News, as a number of the politically aware locals weighed in with their opinions on the candidates and parties seeking our vote on Tuesday.

Among the full page of editorial comment were two letters from city councillors, who offered up their opinions on the campaign and the candidates. Some were in favour of the incumbent MLA to hold onto his job, while others found hope and value in the Liberal challenger for the position.

The weekend primer of political opinion was published on page four of the Friday paper, we offer up some of the more intriguing of offerings from that edition.


Two good candidates…
Letter to the Editor
The Daily News
Friday, May 8, 2009
Page 4

To the Editor,

Well it's election time again. Unlike other election years I feel compelled to write this letter with respect to our North Coast riding. I find the election, ~is year, to be interesting because we have two friends, as candidates, seeking the MLA seat for the North Coast riding.

Our incumbent Gary Coons, who by the way, has done an excellent job of representing issues, with respect to Coastal First Nations and in particular with us, the people of Gitxaala.

Then we have Herb Pond, known more commonly as our past Mayor, who is attempting to represent the North Coast riding as a Liberal? The interesting part in this, is these two candidates have accumulated, as far as First Nations goes, a lot of similarities; both as our MLA and as our Mayor in the past.

Together these two complimented each other quite well, very powerful! To top that off, the two along with our MP Nathan Cullen and

Skeena MLA Robin Austin, it was quite amazing. However, now: the past Mayor is attempting, as a Liberal, to top that? IMPOSSIBLE! Why?

History has proven time and time again that this riding is best held by the "NDP" period! First Nations have always had a long time relationship with them. Gordon Campbell: and the Liberal party now say they want to have this "new relationship with First Nations"?

I say the relationship is not new, the relationship has always existed within the other parties concerned; it's just that Gordon Campbell now feels compelled to finally jump on board, not because he wants to, but because he has to.

Our Premier wants access to First Nations land and resources so he can transport raw resources to a container port and ship them out, unprocessed, to an overseas destination. Gordon Campbell does not want a new relationship with First Nations, he wants to manipulate it, and is attempting to do this with the few First Nation Liberal supporters he has.

Why would I say something as crude as that? Simple, we had a huge issue, dear to our hearts here in the North; we had a small group of our people wanting to set up something all the rest of us were dead set against. We lobbied Gordon Campbell, Micheal De Jong and Pat Bell. Not one of the three would meet with us, not one. However they shamefully flew to Rupert, and then to the village, to see and speak to the "few" that wore Liberal t-shirts during the last election.

Arrogantly flying right over us, so to speak, because our concerns clashed with what they ultimately wanted and hoped to attain.

Gordon Campbell is now attempting to use our ex Mayor and all that he has learned from us, to get what he needs from the North! If Herb is successful, Gordon will only allow him, what Gordon wants to allow for the North, and impede the rest.

Back benching and other shameful tactics come to mind as ways to ensure this. We have an incumbent that has diligently represented the North, our MLA Gary Coons. Gary has kept and will continue to keep, Gordon Campbell well aware that the North is not for sale.

Our land, our forest and our bountiful resources from the sea, will remain free from the harm, like that of dirty oil and oil tankers.

Together along with our incumbent, we will protect our Rivers, from its headwaters to its estuaries; selling our rivers is pure and utter non-sense, and will be stopped!

People, on Election Day it is truly time to start making a move to take back "our beautiful British Columbia" with the NDP by our side.

Conrad B. Lewis
First Nations descent

Concern for the Fishermen…
Letter to the Editor
The Daily News
Friday, May 8, 2009
Page 4

To the editor,

The DFO's 2009 proposed salmon fishing plan is a 33% cut from last year and a 40% cut from the harvest rates prior to 2003. Cuts of this magnitude are not scientifically substantiated. Even so, the American funded

Skeena Wild Conservation 'I'rust wants even larger reductions.

The DFO plans to allow a marine harvest of 20% of Skeena sockeye. The Enviro-bullies want us to catch only 15%.

The DFO predicts a return of 2.2 million of which they will allow Canadian fishermen to harvest only 400,000. Alaskans will catch 250,000. This leaves 1.6 million sockeye spawners - 500,000 too many. Of the excess sockeye, 365,000 will be caught in the Babine River and Lake; it is unlikely these fish will be processed in Prince Rupert.

Last year the Skeena steelhead run was twice the Ministry of Environment escapement target. Even so, the Provincial Government wants gillnets to further decrease their accidental steelhead bycatch mortality.

They are demanding that gillnet fishermen fish the whole season with half nets which will double fishermen's fuel costs at a time when their sockeye catches are almost halved.

It is the Provincial Liberals stated policy that they want as much steelhead up country as possible - in order to assist the tourist! sports fishing economies of Terrace, Smithers and Houston.

This Provincial Government dissolved the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that looked after the interests of the coastal fishing sector.

And then the Federal and Provincial Governments want to know why north coast fishermen and shoreworkers are bankrupt!

Joy Thorkelson


Giving BC away…
Letter to the Editor
Prince Rupert Daily News
Friday, May 8, 2009
Page 4

To the editor,

Gordon Campbell, the arrogant autocrat, has been giving away BC' waterways to American corporations after taking care of environmental and consultation processes in the following manner: Bill 30 took away the right of local governments to zone for these projects.

Part of a resolution from the BC Union on Indian Chiefs reads "the Chiefs' council call for an moratorium on all private power facility development on rivers and streams until such time as there is an assurance for transparent consultation on any private power development agreement."

The only way a BC government Will Comply is if that government is not Liberal.

Environmental lawyer David Boyd states, "whereas BC once had Canada's strongest environmental assessment act, we now have its weakest".

Foreign fish farm companies have benefited from the Campbell government's generosity, and he from theirs _ in donations.

The Liberals have continued to issue permits, in spite of the undeniable threat of environmental catastrophe in the Broughton Archipelago and beyond. Liberal candidate, Herb Pond, is on record as being a supporter of setting up fish farms on the North Coast.

This election, I will vote for the candidate who will represent people, not corporations: Gary Coons, NDP.

Ian Dobson

Herb Ponds abilities…
Letter to the Editor
The Daily News
Friday, May 8, 2009
Page 4

To the Editor,

A Leader for Today. As a long time resident, I have had the opportunity to meet many of the committed leaders in our community, particularly during my time on City Council.

In the upcoming election, I fully support Herb Pond, the Liberal Candidate. This support is not blind support because of a party; it is thoughtful and determined support because I believe he will hugely benefit our community.

Herb Pond has the ability to build consensus.

Herb Pond has to ability to look beyond problems to find solutions.

Herb Pond thinks for himself.

Herb Pond has an approach which opens doors.

Herb Pond has an ability to discuss local opportunities and put our community positively on the map which is unequalled by anyone I have yet to meet.

Herb Pond has the determination and skills needed for the job. On May 12, put Herb Pond to work for Prince Rupert on a provincial level.

Sheila Gordon-Payne

Changing paces…
Letter to the Editor
The Daily News
Friday, May 8, 2009
Page four

To the editor,

This letter will come as a surprise to people who are familiar with my political position in the last provincial election.

I have, in the past, been a staunch supporter of the NDP party but I can no longer support anyone party as I feel that all have lost focus and direction. All are out of touch with the people of this province and this country.

So what am I left with?

My vote will go to the person that I feel is best qualified and most likely to represent me regardless of their party affiliation. In this election I feel that person is former mayor Herb Pond.

I believe that Herb did an outstanding job of pulling a council and a city together under absolutely disastrous circumstances.

Tough decisions were made when they had to be made. His representation of Prince Rupert provincially, nationally and internationally have gone a long way to improve the lot of Prince Rupert's citizens and business community.

Unlike most, Herb's focus is to a great extent on the future and not just the present. He is willing to work hard on long term goals and I believe that will serve us all well down the road.

Through knowing him for many years, I believe Herb Pond to be very knowledgeable and a man of integrity and transparency.

Herb Pond gets my vote.

Bill MacGregor


In response to wondering…
Letter to the EditorPrince Rupert Daily News
Friday, May 8, 2009
Page 4

To the editor,

In regards to Richard Wright's May 6th letter "Do you Wonder ... "

In his letter Mr Wright wondered if Prince Rupert and the Northwest would have received more support if we had not sent opposition MLA's and MP's to Victoria and Ottawa.

Mr Wright questions why our community hasn't moved forward faster and asks, "Could it be that we should not expect support from those we refuse to support in turn?"

Any party that would punish communities for electing opposition MLA's or MP's does not deserve the support of any Canadian.

Christina Nelson

Daily News Pressing Questions May 8, 2009

As part of their Election Coverage, the Daily News is asking questions of the candidates and printing their replies in the Wednesday and Friday editions of the paper.

The following was the "Pressing Question" for Friday, May 8, 2009, the last we would gather of the question and answer sessions for this campaign.

"What needs to be done to encourage doctors to move to the riding?"

Gary Coons -- New Democratic Party

People throughout BC do not nave regular access to a doctor, and we have a real shortage on the North Coast. To increase the number of rural physicians we need to increase medical school enrollment, the number of foreign-trained MDs and create financial incentives.

A strong rural health strategy that focuses on local needs with local input is needed. Physicians need to practise in modern rural health care facilities supported by a referral network that functions well.

The BC NDP will establish a Health Quality Council to look at best-practices that move toward affordable health care through innovation, not privatization.


Lisa Girbav – Green Party

The best way to keep people in a region is to train people from that region. As well, we could entice doctors to come by providing pay back incentives for graduating doctors willing to staff rural facilities where recruitment is currently a problem. Then we could establish 2417 clinics in rural areas (such as Haida Gwaii) staffed by salaried doctors and nurses able to perform emergency surgical services.

Thank you for reading my responses during this election campaign. I hope you will vote for me (after all, I would vote for you).


Herb Pond – Liberal Party of British Columbia

In the first place community leaders must present a positive image of the region. Negativity drives people away.

The province and Northern Health playa role in attracting professionals to British Columbia.

As MLA I will work to entrench our region within the provincial recruitment program.

A strong local economy is important. We must find the resources to maintain and improve recreational, social and cultural facilities and programs. Doctors and other profes ionals consider their families when deciding on a new home. We must be able to sell our communities to potential recruits. The communities must close the deal.

Podunk Below the Masthead, Friday, May 8, 2009

Perfection at the Lester Centre, a cash crunch for Biotoxin program and electoral letters, letters, letters to the Editor, all part of the Friday edition of the Daily News.

DANCER RECEIVES A PERFECT SCORE IN LOCAL COMPETITION-- The front page, headline story in the Friday paper featured the achievement of Prince George dancer, Matthew Cluff, who received a perfect score at the BC Annual Dance competition at the Lester Centre. The Daily outlined his work regiment and competitive spirt as part of the front page story. (see full story below)

Elsewhere in the Friday paper, the local North Coast Water Quality and Biotoxin program is in need of funding to keep it's operations in place, without a quick turnaround of their financial fortunes it is feared that the entire program will come to an end. Sounding the alarm, Pat Lawson expressed concerns over health issues for First Nations villages and aquaculture interests could be a risk.

The election feature Pressing Questions once again offered up a talking point to the debate, that of what needs to be done to attract doctors to move to the riding, we'll outline the responses later in the blog.

The final days of the provincial election campaign have brought out the letter writers, with a number of tributes to the local favourites, we'll also outline those letters further along in the blog.

High School girls soccer highlighted the Friday edition of the sports page with a review of the recent PRSS/CHSS match up.

Total pages in the Friday edition (20)

DANCER RECEIVES A PERFECT SCORE IN LOCAL COMPETITION
By Monica Lamb-Yorski
The Daily News
Friday, May 8, 2009
Page one

Prince George resident's amazing performance wows judges at this year's B.C. Annual Dance Competition.

When Matthew Cluff received a mark of 100 from the adjudicators at the BC Annual Dance Competition for his lyrical solo on Tuesday afternoon, he was surprised.

In fact, the 16-year-old Prince George dancer said, "I was pretty stunned. Dancing is an art form and it's tough to be judged like that because there's always room to improve."

Cluff has been coming to the BC Annual Dance Competition since he was lZ years old, the age he said he became serious about dance.

"We were doing the Nutcracker and I decided that dance was what I wanted to do," he recalled.

Part of that decision involved committing himself to training year round.

''I'd lose the splits over summer so over the last couple of years I've worked hard in the summers."

In Z008, he attended a summer intensive in Kelowna for five weeks and this summer he will be in Seattle taking a five-week ballet course where he has been offered a full scholarship.

"I'm possibly planning to become a professional ballet dancer," Cluff said. "It's important to have solid technique and at the summer school I'll be put into a place with so many kids working toward the same goal."

This time around Cluff has prepared six solos, some duos and several group pieces for festivals and competitions.

In addition, he choreographed six solos and one duo for other students at the studio and a senior piece he performed in with three other dancers on Wednesday evening.

Cluff has been dancing since he was two. His older brother wanted to take dance at Enchainement Dance Studio because he liked a girl and Cluff tagged along to watch.

"I was dancing around the room while my brother was in the class and someone told my mom she should sign me up," Cluff said.

His brother quit after three years, returning to take song & dance and jazz one year, but Cluff stayed with it.

"He's attending the Vancouver Film School now," Cluff said of his older brother.

Each day of the week Cluff leaves for school at 8:30 a.m. and after school heads to the studio, where he does not take a break until he goes home at 9 or 9:30 p.m.

When asked what he does outside of dance he smiled and said, "sleep and do homework."

He will be going into grade 11 next September but plans to graduate in 2010. He'll be able to do that because he is two grades ahead in math, has never had spares, and his dance exams have helped him gain additional academic credits.

Injury-free for the most part, Cluff has had minor bumps and bruises from dance but said he has never had to stay away.

"I've been really lucky," he added.

He also feels fortunate to be part of the dance community in Prince George.

"It's a big enough community to really get support and have enough kids to keep you driving but it's not a mega town. Things are much more personalized and one-on-one. If you were in Vancouver you might not get that."

On Wednesday evening, Cluff performed in four pieces during the first category and afterwards looked completely content as he chatted in the lobby.

"Right before I go on stage I actually get pretty nervous which is kind of sad because I've been doing this for a while but I then, I push it to the side. When I'm in a group or duo I'm not nervous but am totally comfortable. I guess it is the nervousness of your routine."

Think of them as floating petri dishes

Well there may be an upside to our decline in cruise ship traffic this year, there will be less chance of those of us shore bound residents coming into contact with unwitting carriers of the A H1N1 virus.

The Seattle Post Intelligencer has an article posted to its website today that has traced the path of H1N1 to Alaska, after a crew member on the Serenade of the Seas cruise ship came down with the virus while in transit to Alaskan waters.

The female crew member of the Royal Caribbean ship, became ill May 2 while sailing from San Francisco northward. The woman was isolated two days later and was treated with antiviral medication, subsequent testing while docked in Ketchikan provided a negative result, attributed to the quick response of ship board doctors who isolated her and began treatment with Tamiflu immediately.

With that negative being reported by the Alaska health agencies, state tourism officials found no reason to keep tourists from coming ashore on the various ports of call that the vessel is scheduled to make.

Though they do suggest that it highlights the challenges to the tourism industry when these sudden outbreaks of flu show up.

The Serenade of the Seas makes her first and only port call of the year in Prince Rupert, on Wednesday, May 13, from 10 am to 6 pm.

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Keep an ear out for the sniffles and sneezes...

Northern Adventure to be sidelined again for repairs

Three weeks out of refit and it's back to the repair dock for the Northern Adventure. Having spent a good portion of the winter months in dry dock getting a complete refit, it probably had been hoped that the Northern routes would now see some smooth sailing through the summer months, but as things turn out, that isn't to be.

The BC Ferry servicing the Rupert to Queen Charlottes run has been rendered inoperative due to bearing problems suffered this past week on one of its regularly schedule crossings to the Queen Charlotte Islands.

BC Ferries has posted this service notice on its website outlining the details of the service interruptions, with the Northern Adventure expected back in service with the scheduled 6:30 pm sailing on Tuesday, May 12th from Prince Rupert-Bella Bella-Port Hardy.

The first time it will return to the Charlottes will not be until Thursday evening May 14th.

The Queen Charlotte Islands Observer provided a review of the details regarding the latest troubles and how it will impact and inconvenience residents on Haida Gwaii.


No ferry service until Thursday, May 14
Queen Charlotte Islands Observer
Friday, May 8, 2009

If you're planning to leave the islands by ferry, forget about it until Thursday.BC Ferries says the Northern Adventure won't be back on schedule until Tuesday evening, and then it heads to Port Hardy, not Skidegate.

The ferry limped across Hecate Strait Thursday afternoon and evening, arriving in Skidegate many hours late. Engineers confirmed that the shaft bearing on the port shaft had seized."

The bearing disintegrated," said BC Ferries vice-president of communications Mark Stefanson. "That's what I'm told by the engineers... Basically, it broke into pieces."

The bearing is a component of the shaft that drives one of the propellers, he said.The vessel sat in Skidegate much of the day Friday, then headed back to Rupert for repairs, on one engine only and with no passengers.

All sailings are cancelled until 6:30 pm Tuesday, when the vessel sails from Rupert to Port Hardy.It will arrive back on the islands on Thursday evening, then depart for Prince Rupert (for the first time in more than a week) at 11:59 pm Thursday May 14.

Ferries has made arrangements to fly passengers with medical appointments off-island, and those confirmed passengers left stranded are asked to call Ferries' customer service department, which will deal with enquiries on a case by case basis.

BC Ferries is setting up a tug and barge sailing for Sunday night to carry groceries and other crucial supplies.The Northern Adventure just returned to service three weeks ago after a lengthy refit over the winter.

Herb Pond can’t buy us all a beer… But…

Back in the day of the old school politics of the North Coast, legend had it that a long time (and now deceased) Mayor once made a regular election habit of making sure that the vote got out, including those that may wish to spend more of their time at a beverage room than a voting booth.

There never has been any confirmation of this urban myth, of the nocturnal voter being returned to their more familiar environment after marking an X, to be compensated for their civic duty, but it does make for a wonderful story.

Today of course, any self respecting candidate would never think of providing that kind of door to door service to the voting public, but if an advertisement in this week’s Northern Connector, the spirit of that strategy may live on…

The Liberals (or rather one of their support groups) feature a rather fascinating bit of political theatre in the Connector this week, a half page ad that suggests that the NDP intends to jack up the price of the working man and woman’s beer and apparently only candidate Pond stands between you, I and the gouging of the socialists…

From page thirteen of the Friday edition of the connector (right above the Mother's Day dining options ads)


Gary Coons and the NDP want to raise the price of a six pack of beer by $3.00.

HERB POND AND THE BC LIBERALS OPPOSE THIS TAX ON WORKING PEOPLE.


On May 12th Vote HERB POND and the BC Liberals

Paid for by Northerners for Economic Developement

Now while we like our beer to be as inexpensive as possible, we have to wonder first off if this is really where the Liberals wish to make their stand in the campaign, on the price of beer?

Besides the point that there really is no hard fast proof that the NDP have a secret agenda of soaking those that like their suds, the simple fact is, that with the myriad of problems facing the Northcoast, you have to wonder how high on the political radar that the price of a six pack really is.

The Liberals in much of their advertising so far have stayed away from offering much in the way of constructive evidence as to how they plan to tackle such issues as the doctor’s shortage in Prince Rupert and how they plan to stop the erosion of our medical system. There have been no answers or solutions offered to the state of education in the Northwest, how to improve the graduation rate, increase the pace of needed repairs to infrastructure and ensure that class ratio sizes return to a more intelligent level.

On employment, other than the always popular promise of Port jobs, they haven’t provided much in direction as to where they wish to find jobs for the over 12 per cent (and rising) unemployed citizens that currently reside here. And we are sure that there are even more issues that residents are concerned about, beyond the price of beer with or without a phantom threat of increase allocated to the NDP.
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Surely the Liberals can come up with something far more frightening for the electorate, than the price of beer... in the world of scare mongering, six pack increases just don't have the same impact as stealing your savings through taxes, driving away all investment, or turning the province over to the trades unions.

We’re not sure of the upside of a campaign ad that features the price of beer, a rather transparent attempt at tossing some mud, with or without solid proof that what they say will happen, may actually come to pass.

It’s a strange little strategy for the campaign to have latched onto, perhaps they should just offer to buy us all a round of beer and hope that all our troubles will go away?

School Board set to sharpen the pencils in bid to zero out deficit..

School District 52's preliminary budget with its declared deficit of $62,375 thus far, shows that there still is the need for some budgetary accounting to be done, as the school district moves towards providing its final document of a balanced budget as mandated by the province.

The Northern View outlined some of the troublesome issues that the school district is facing in its quest to balance that budget, with an estimated overall enrollment decline of 198 students there will be a funding shortfall from this current year and with 31 project proposals received by May 6th there will be the need to factor in over 1.5 million dollars in costing to run those proposals.

The announcement of the deficit and the continuing examination of how to get closer to that balanced budget, will no doubt increase the anxiety for some of those residents who have been concerned over recent happenings at the School District.

The recent departure of former Superintendent Eric Mercer appears likely to once again become a lightning rod for those concerned about the School Districts recent moves, the cost of his departure, combined with the need to hire a replacement for the remainder of the school term may seem like an expense that in light of current fiscal troubles, might have been handled differently.

Likewise, the start up costs of the Pacific Coast School may once again be put under the microscope, with residents wondering about the need to lease a building in the downtown core, as opposed to utilizing one of the recently closed elementary schools of the east end as the home for the former alternative school.

Both are issues that in times of financial concern, may once again flare up as requiring a bit more accounting for than has been recently provided by the School District board.

The next step in the process for the School District comes up at the May 25th meeting of the Advisory Budget Committee meeting, at which time the District will bring along its thoughts on such issues as what the priorities and cost all of the projects will be, as well as the determinations of final staffing levels and class size and composition for the upcoming year.

The School District must have its final budget plans in place and deliver its balanced budget by the June 9th meeting. We suspect that there will be much in the way of public debate to come over how they reach their final numbers for 2009-10.

Will the Port's phase two plans end up as only an illusion?

The Public Relations and Investment departments at the Port of Prince Rupert may soon find that the work load increases, that as a recent article in the Globe and Mail offers up the contrary opinion that Phase Two development may not be as sure a thing as all in Prince Rupert may wish to believe.

The article printed in the Globe and posted on their website on Friday, outlines some concerns over how the Port will be able to push ahead with development plans, especially in light of a declining economic situation and considering the current under capacity usage of the existing terminal at Fairview.

Patrick Brethour, who examined the Ports reported figures as part of his research for his article calls into question some of the interpretations of the numbers by the Port and offers up some stark assessments of his own on the immediate future for the port and perhaps how those factors may change the ambitious expansion plans for the future.

Brethour offers up his interpretation of the decline in traffic through all west coast ports, pointing out that at a 48 percent decline in the first quarter, the Port of Prince Rupert has suffered the steepest decline of all ports on the coast from Vancouver to Los Angeles.

It's the mos recent shipping values that seem to have raised the most alarm bells for the Globe writer, who suggests that despite the spin put on the recent statistics from the port, the overall situation isn't particularly happy.

Officials from the Port quoted in the article continue with the more positive timeline of the expansion project, looking forward to 2014 and beyond as their horizon, not the current levels of shipping, or any reversal of shipping fortunes brought on by the recession of late.

Brethour suggests that the trumpeting of the expansion plans will continue on, as will the environmental assessments and financing quests. His question though seems to be one of how the Port will hope to find success in their plans for expansion, if their current platform of phase one is currently running at nowhere near the expected capacity.

Add on to that the ongoing and future planned expansion of Vancouver's Deltaport complex and one wonders just how much of this available transportation grid will actually be needed in the future.

It will be interesting to note how the Port of Prince Rupert interprets and responds to the less than positive observations, information that the article provides to a national and international audience.

The article might also be of interest to a couple of guys who recently toured the local facility, as both Premier Campbell and candidate Herb Pond used the Port and its potential development as a background to the current election campaign. Both have made much of the potential of the port to create jobs with the subsequent expansion, about the only economic planning that they seem to have provided for in the current campaign.

If Mr. Brethour's article is an indication of the climate of the shipping world and of the mood of potential investors, the delivery of those much anticipated jobs may be a little further away than even they optimisitically might see.

Podunk Below the Masthead, Thursday, May 7, 2009

The Premier comes a calling, Lax Kw'alaams makes a decision and the Queen of the North may just stay where she is, some of the items of note in the Thursday edition of the Daily News.

CAMPBELL MAKES A PIT-STOP IN PRINCE RUPERT-- As we outlined on this very blog on Wednesday afternoon, Premier Campbell made a pit stop in Podunk, in a hopeful bid to boost the chances of his candidate in Tuesday's Provincial election.

With Liberal candidate Herb Pond by his side the Premier made a number of appearances around the city highlighting his support for phase two of the Fairview container port, and as though to compliment his interest in the north, he could conveniently point towards the harbour and focus our gaze on the new BC Ferry the Northern Expedition.

Both of those talking points provided for a wonderful photo backdrop for candidate and Premier, the Daily provided some details on the morning visit as their front page, headline story in Thursday's paper. (Full headline article can be found below)

Elsewhere in the Thursday paper, the folks in Lax Kw'alaams have come to a decision on their place in the great Northern Gateway debate, with the band council of that community rejecting any support for the proposal which would ship oil from the Alberta tar sands, through a terminal at Kitimat and on to markets in the USA and Asia.

The Lax Kw'alaams taking a cue from the Exxon Valdez incident of years ago, decided that they could not lend their support to the project as it has been outlined, expressing many concerns over environmental matters, they join a small but growing list of First Nation communities that have also expressed opposition to the project. Enbridge has reached agreements with a number of First Nation communities along the pipeline path, but seem to be running into the most opposition the further west they go.

Zero chance of removal, that seems to be the opinion of BC Ferries CEO and President David Hahn, who outlined his thoughts of the fate of the ill fated Queen of the North currently resting at the bottom of the ocean off the shores of Hartley Bay.

It's an opinion, if not a decision, that won't sit well with the residents of the isolated community, who fear that fuel and other chemicals from the wreck will have long term consequences of the environment of that area of the BC coast.

Two young basketball talents from the local high schools were featured in the sports page on Thursday, as the Daily News outlined the path ahead for Celina Guadagni and Brittany Moore who both will represent Prince Rupert on a Northwest basketball team for under 14 girls.

The Daily also took a look at the upcoming KISL softball season which recently got under way.

Total pages in Thursday's paper (14)

Front page, headline story:

CAMPBELL MAKES A PIT-STOP IN PRINCE RUPERT
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Page one


The demolition of the Inlander hotel wasn't the only thing - or person - drawing attention in Prince Rupert Wednesday.

British Columbia incumbent premier Gordon Campbell paid a visit to the City of Rainbows in to talk to tour local facilities and drum up support for his candidate on the North Coast, former Mayor Herb Pond.

Campbell, on the campaign trail as he pushes toward a third-term in B.C., was looking to make the North Coast riding a key battle ground for Tuesday as voters head to the poll.

“We simply cannot take a chance on the NDP,” said Campbell.

Campbell spoke about how business leaders have said that 20'09 was not the year to take a risk in the province, that in a time of economic recession his party was the only party that could lead the province to better times.

"We are going through a real challenging time and you have already gone through that time in Prince Rupert," said Campbell.

Campbell made his comments at the Museum of Northern B.C. where the party had fastened a large Herb Pond sign to the front of the building and had parked a ferry in nearby Atlin terminals a reminder to Rupertites of the success the B.C. Liberals have brought to Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert is also home to one of the, province's highest level of unemployment at 12.9 per cent compared to the provincial average of six per cent. Both candidates in the riding have used such facts to lever an advantage, as Pond has suggested he'll bring jobs to Prince Rupert, while incumbent BC NDP Gary Coons said the, numbers show that the provincial government has failed Rupertites.

One project that would help alleviate the unemployment concerns is phase two of the Fairview Container Terminal.

The B.C. Liberals have come under criticism for not prioritizing the planned growth, but Campbell said his party is fully committed.

"The port will be one of the fastest growing ports in North America," said Campbell to a supportive crowd.

"We are going to build phase two and get this port to two million TEU."

When asked about the money spent on South Delta Port compared to the Port of Prince Rupert ($2.5 billion versus $30 million) Campbell said he didn't know who was raising the questions.

"The fact of the matter is the vast majority of investments being made in the port are being made by the port," said Campbell.

"They are not provincial investments, they are port investments. I don't think there are very many people here - who know about the history of the container port - that would say that I haven't been one of the strongest advocates of that."

He added that phase two financing would not get underway until there was a business model in place, but that he expected growth in the Chinese market would deliver four million TEU's by 2015.

Daily News Pressing Questions May 6, 2009

As part of their Election Coverage, the Daily News is asking questions of the candidates and printing their replies in the Wednesday and Friday editions of the paper.
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The following was the "Pressing Question" for Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Does the North Coast or Northwest region need a detox and rehabilitation centre?

Gary Coons—New Democratic Party

Mental health and addiction services are vital to us on the North Coast. Gordon Campbell eliminated the Mental Health Advocate and cut staffing in the Mental Health Division by 70%! A detox and rehabilitation centre is a necessary component to addressing what we know is missing and I will work as hard as possible to make this happen.

The BC NDP will enhance community-based outreach services, will build supportive housing and will increase community mental health and addiction treatment programs. We will improve public accountability and coordination of mental health services by working with consumers, providers, families and communities .

Lisa Girbov -- Green Party

Unfortunately it seems like we do need a detox and rehabilitation centre, but having one wouldn't solve the underlying issues like poverty, alcoholism and homelessness.

We need to go to the root of the problem by reversing the trend towards the greater gap between rich and poor.

We need to build cost effective housing to ensure British Columbians can live in a safe and affordable homes.

We need to solve the problems, not simply find a place for the victims.

Herb Pond – Liberal Party of BC

The Northwest does need facilities and programs aimed at helping individuals and families who are struggling with addictions. Accessible detox and rehabilitation facilities are important parts of a regional strategy.

The "Community to Community Forum" involving leaders from Port Edward, Prince Rupert, Kitkatla, Metlakatla and Lax Kw' alaams declared a detox facility as one their highest priorities.

I was one of the leaders who took part in the forum and I will work within the government to win support for the goals of the "Community to Community Forum". I will work in Victoria with all who can help us succeed.

Podunk Below the Masthead, Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Boarding the bus to protest in Terrace, adding up the numbers at the Port and the pressing questions of the campaign show up once again in the Wednesday Daily News.

RUPERT CITIZENS SUPPORT RALLY AGAINST PIPELINES-- Wednesday's front page headline story outlines the local residents who took a bus to Terrace to protest against a planned pipeline through the Skeena riding near Terrace and Kitimat. A bus load of Rupertites arrived in Terrace to offer their support to the Wet'suwe'ten protest outside the Enbridge offices on Tuesday. (full article can be found below)

Elsewhere in the paper, the latest shipment numbers from the Port corporation were examined, numbers which see a rise in shipments from the first quarter of 2008 to 2009 in container traffic, but decreases in the commodity shipments at Ridley Island as coal in particular took a heavy hit in shipments in the first four months of 2009.

The pressing question of the campaign for Wednesday asked local candidates if the North coast or Northwest region needs a detox and rehabilitation centre. We outline their responses elsewhere on this blog.

On the sports page the track and field season is underway with training taking place for the upcoming Panhandle Games, details on those preparations as well as a preview of the Mr. and Mrs. Golf tournament were featured in the sports section.

Total pages in Wednesday's edition (18)

Front page, headline story:

RUPERT CITIZENS SUPPORT RALLY AGAINST PIPELINES
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Pages one and three

A bus of forty Rupertites made their way to Terrace to have their voices -heard on a large issue that looms over the Skeena riding battle.

The doors to Enbridge's office across the street from the rally Tuesday remained closed as a rally, organized by the Wet'suwe'ten, protested the Calgary-based oil pipeline company's proposed $4.5 billion project for the northern energy corridor.

The closing of the doors was odd - given that on the door the office said it was open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

But while Enbridge staff perhaps forgot to show up Tuesday to work. the company's Northern Gateway project has not been forgotten during the provincial election, as evidenced by its mention here on the North Coast and yesterday at a rally in Terrace.

For the political contestants, there can be no doubt that having a position of some sort will be important as voters in the Skeena head to the voting polls on Tuesday.

It is clear that Skeena NDP incumbent, Robin Austin, stands behind the BC NDP platform on backing the unwritten moratorium on tanker traffic.

"There has been a crude oil tanker moratorium for 25 years and its been referred to in the parliament of Canada, by many different prime ministers, from many {different parties;" said Austin, who attended the rally at George little Park, near the downtown district in Terrace.

In 1972 the Federal Government did impose a moratorium to prevent crude oil tankers traveling through Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait, and Queen Charlotte Sound en route from the Trans Alaska pipeline terminal at Valdez Alaska.

This moratorium was directed at Alaskan oil, and a Provincial moratorium on BC offshore oil and Gas exploration and drilling soon followed.

While there will be thousands of jobs created during the 30 month construction period, few permanent jobs will be created, perhaps 50 in Kitimat and a handful of workers along the route in a few communities.

The 1,170 kilometre pipeline is proposed to carry oil from the Alberta oil sands to Kitimat where it will be exported to Asia and California.

Austin told the Daily News that he opposed the pipeline project because of the risks it held for local salmon fishing on both the Skeena river and Douglas channel, two major bodies of water that reside in his riding.

Austin said support for the moratorium on tanker traffic would pretty much squash bitumen oil pipeline proposals, as it would prohibit the transportation of oil from Alberta to either Asian or Californian markets, the two proposed targets for Canada's controversial oil.

As the incumbent, Austin has a decided advantage of knowing what issues play in the riding but he does have a challenger in BC liberal Donny van Dyk

Van Dyk opted to not take part in the rally but did share his thoughts with the Daily News on the project and the economic future of the Northwest.

"I would be definitely in favour of any economic development as long as it is environmentally friendly and it can be shown to be environmentally friendly, which is one of the key reasons to the community consultation and environmental assessment process," said van Dyk.

Joining the two Skeena candidates, two North Coast candidates weren't far behind on the platform theatrics, as both incumbent MLA Gary Coons and Green party candidate Lisa Girbav showed up for the rally.

Coons said he was concerned because members of his riding worried about the impact the project would have on their lives.

"I find that just because Gordon Campbell coffers are filled by oil corporate donors, he still has to follow the mandate set towards him by Northern British Columbians," said Coons.

Girbav said for her the rally represented a more personal issue and that she was not there only as a Green Party member but as a member of the North Coast.

"There are better ways to stimulate the economy," said Girbav, who then echoed her speech at the all-candidates forum last week. "The price of oil is going- to go up, so we should sit on it."