Monday, July 30, 2012

The Shangri-La of the North Coast

It's an island where film producers, novelists, oil barons and such mix together, a shared communion with nature that involves a little fishing, some nature touring and amazing cuisine to name a few of the available options and all for but a 4,900 dollar fee for a three night stay.

It's another season for the King Pacific Lodge on Princess Royal Island and the review from the Globe and Mail makes for the kind of thing that perhaps Robin Leach would have showcased on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

The Special feature provided to the Globe and Mail by Alexandra Gill provides a fascinating look into how those with the disposable income spend their idle time and they're doing it on the door step to Prince Rupert, perhaps passing through the city on their way to what seems to be the ultimate of escapes.

In the midst of the travelogue, there's a bit of a cautionary tale over the environmental risks of development of oil,gas and pipelines and all of that. Perhaps a topic that comes up around the dinner table before the main course or on the deck afterwards when all retire for a fine cigar...

It would be an interesting transcript we imagine from those sessions, considering the investment that the  visitors have made into their three days of nature.

For Rupertites, the feature provides a glimpse into the mechanics of the resort, a place that many here know of, but we're pretty safe in suspecting few have ever really visited.

You can review the article from the Globe and Mail website from this link.

City Council Report, July 30, 2012

City Council Regular session for Monday, July 30, 2012
Home page and archive of sessions can be found here.

Live Broadcast of session can be found here

Agenda for Regular Meting July 30, 2012
Agenda Committee of the Whole Meeting July 30, 2012
Agenda Special Council Meeting July 30 2012

Info to Council July 25, 2012


Mayor Jack Mussallem-- Present
Councillor Anna Ashley-- Absent
Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Present
Councillor Gina Garon-- Present
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present
Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Present
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Absent

Minutes of Regular Meeting July 30, 2012
Minutes of The Committee of the Whole Meeting July 30, 2012

Audio Recording of July 30, 2012

Video Recording of July 30, 2012


Friday, July 27, 2012

A taxation tipping point?

While locals probably won't be heading to Prince Rupert harbour to dump tea into the ocean, there is it seems a growing rumbling of discontent over the increasing tax load that local taxpayers are having to shoulder over municipal government.

The first stirrings came back in March when the topic of the Emergency Services Building first came up for public debate, a forum that provided for a fair bit of anger over City Spending and perhaps offered up the first warning that the taxpayers are weary of the increasing hit, all while the City doesn't look at cost cutting measures.

It's part of growing theme across the province as municipalities try to come to grips with escalating costs, while facing dwindling revenue streams.

The Northern View seemingly has picked up on that theme over the last few weeks with an article and editorial on the costs of labour and services in Prince Rupert compared to Terrace.

City of Prince Rupert payroll $5.6 million higher than neighbouring Terrace
Difference in Prince Rupert's payroll a bit high

The rebuttal if you will from the City outlined the cost of such services as the Airport Ferry, the Golf Course and a Professional salaried Fire Department (as opposed to the mixed, mainly volunteer based service in Terrace).

City payroll so high largely due to ferry service and fire department

That was followed up by an online poll from the paper to gauge further the state of discontent over the issue.

The online forum and letters to the editor pages, have been the fulcrum of some of that conversation, though to suggest there is an overwhelming surge of rebellion in the air would be a stretch.

Northern View On line poll on City Spending

Northern View Letters: Wages show its time for a taxpayer revolt in Prince Rupert
Northern View Letters: Prince Rupert Council needs to see fiscal reality

Still, there perhaps may be further outbursts from local residents over the tax rate and how the monies collected are spent, however, those same residents will eventually have to come to some kind of decision as to what they wish for services.

Giving some thought as to which ones they maybe able to do without, or which they may wish to have sold off, or contracted out to private concerns.

A bit of feedback that might be quite instructive to Council which will then have to make some tough decisions, balancing the level of service to provide, with that for which the taxpayers are willing to pay for.

Previous items on the North Coast Review on this topic.

Pay days are more rewarding in Prince Rupert

Port of Prince Rupert on the American radar (again)

As the American economy continues to struggle, the siren call of protectionism seems to be getting louder and louder from below the 49th, with one of the prime targets of American legislators seemingly the success of the Port of Prince Rupert.

An American federal agency (The Federal Maritime Commission) has been keeping itself busy these last few months investigating concerns of American ports and stakeholders into the business plans and practices of their Canadian and Mexican competitors.

The twin West Coast ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert have been the focus of their investigation, with particular interest expressed into the surge of success from the Northwest Gateway to the Pacific.

On Tuesday, the Five member commission voted in favour of the critical report,  by a total of 3-2 the Commission members found enough items of concern to approve the report that has been rejected by Canadian officials.

Of interest in the current climate of International relations, the Commission voted along party lines, with the Democrats voting in favour of the report, the Republicans against. A growing instance of the Democrats using Canadian issues as items of concern to the government.

The current tempest came to the boil after two Washington State Senators raised the concerns of their local ports regarding Canadian practices, which they suggest include unfair subsidies. In particular, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell expressed their concerns over the success of the Prince Rupert Port.

From that discussion came the current investigation, which beyond the subsidy issues has now raised the always tension packed issue of security. With some Commission members expressing worries that cargo that flows through Prince Rupert isn't as secure to America as that from other Canadian ports, a charge that has been rejected from the Canadian side and in fact was rejected by a member of the Commission.

The simple math of it all suggests that it's the volume of traffic that has started to flow through Prince Rupert that is the real issue for the Americans, all other topics of discussion just the framing of that fact.

And when times get tough anywhere, the first thing that tends to happen is that protectionist practices rear up their head.

Such is the case today and it will be worth watching to see how the Commission's report, to be delivered today resonates in an America that is struggling economically these days and what impact that it could have on the Port of Prince Rupert's growth and plans for further expansion.

The Commission Report can be found below:

Federal Maritime Commission Study of U. S. Inland Containerized Cargo Moving Through Canadian and Mexican Seaport (July 2012)

Some of the background on the Commission report and the issues leading up to it can be found below.

The Tyee-- U. S. Federal Agency accuses Canada of luring cargo away from U. S. Ports
Vancouver Province-- U. S. Agency raises questions about Canadian Port security, especially Prince Rupert
Vancouver Province-- U. S. agency accuses Prince Rupert, Vancouver of luring cargo away...
Vancouver Sun-- U. S. report accuses B. C. Ports of luring American bound cargo
Winnipeg Free Press-- U. S. Commisioner takes issue with her agency's report...
Canadian Logistics-- FMC report to chastise Canadian Ports for diverting traffic...
Canadian Business-- U. S. Federal agency accuses Canada of luring cargo away...

Update:
July 30 Northern View-- US government report challenges Prince Rupert port claims...

Saturday, July 21, 2012

City Council Report, July 9, 2012


City Council Regular session for Monday,  July 9, 2012
Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here


Info to Council July 4, 2012

Attendance (No attendance listings posted to city website)

Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present
Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present
Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Present
Councillor Gina Garon-- Present
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Absent
Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Present
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present



News items of note from July 9, 2012 session

City Council Report June 25, 2012


City Council Regular session for Monday,  June 25, 2012
Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here



Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present
Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present
Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Absent 
Councillor Gina Garon-- Present 
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present
Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Present 
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present


Video Recording of June 25, 2012 


News items of note from June 25, 2012 session

City Council Report June 18, 2012


City Council Special session for Monday,  June 18, 2012
Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here


Info to Council June 13, 2012


Attendance (no Attendance posted to city website)

Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Absent
Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present
Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson--Present
Councillor Gina Garon-- Present
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present
Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Absent
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present

Minutes of June 11, 2012 (no minutes posted to city website)


News items of note from June 18, 2012 session

City Council Report, June 11, 2012


City Council Regular session for Monday,  June 11, 2012
Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here



Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present
Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present
Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Absent (attending School Awards)
Councillor Gina Garon-- Present 
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present
Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Present 
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present



News items of note from June 11, 2012 session

City Council Report, May 28, 2012


City Council Regular session for Monday,  May 28, 2012
Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here



Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present
Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present
Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Absent
Councillor Gina Garon-- Present 
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present
Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Present (attended by phone)
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present



News items of note from May 28, 2012 session

City Council Report May 14, 2012


City Council Regular session for Monday,  May 14, 2012
Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here



Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present
Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present
Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Absent
Councillor Gina Garon-- Present 
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present
Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Present (attended by phone)
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present



News items of note from May 14, 2012 session

City Council Report May 7 2012


City Council Special session for Monday,  May 7, 2012
Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here



Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present
Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present
Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Present
Councillor Gina Garon-- Present 
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Absent
Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Present 
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present



News items of note from May 7, 2012 session

City Council Report April 30, 2012


City Council Special session for Monday,  April 30, 2012
Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here



Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present
Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present
Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Present
Councillor Gina Garon-- Present 
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present
Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Present (attended by phone)
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present



News items of note from April 30, 2012 session

City Council Report April 23, 2012


City Council session for Monday,  April 23, 2012
Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here


Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present
Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present
Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Present
Councillor Gina Garon-- Present 
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present
Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Absent
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present



News items of note from April 23, 2012 session

City Council Report April 10,2012


City Council session for Monday,  April 10, 2012
Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here




Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present
Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present
Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Absent
Councillor Gina Garon-- Absent 
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Absent
Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Present
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present



News items of note from April 10, 2012 session

City Council Report March 26, 2012


City Council session for Monday,  March 26, 2012
Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here




Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present
Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present
Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Present 
Councillor Gina Garon-- Present 
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present
Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Present
Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present



News items of note from March 26, 2012 session

Friday, July 20, 2012

LNG plans dusted off for Prince Rupert



Back in the mid 1980's Dome Petroleum had grand designs for shipping Liquefied Natural Gas to Asian markets, plans that were rendered historical with the demise of that energy player.

Now, some thirty years later the prospect of LNG tankers calling in at Prince Rupert may yet see the light of day.

Two proposed developments for Prince Rupert are getting more and more attention these days, the latest one involving one of Asia's largest players in the energy world.

Petronas, Malaysia's state owned oil and gas company recently struck a deal to acquire a Calgary Energy company, Progress Energy Resources Corporation, with that announcement Petronas also indicated that it would seek to ship Natural Gas out of a shipment terminal in Prince Rupert.

Petronas would build and use a terminal on Lelu Island near Ridley Island, with an anticipated completion date of 2018.

The Petronas announcement comes after the British Gas Group announced its own desire to ship liquified natural gas out of Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert is facing stiff competition for industrial development from Kitimat, which has also seen a string of LNG related developments proposed over the last year.


The Northern View-- Energy critic says LNG industry could help Prince Rupert...
The Northern View-- Second International energy company looking at LNG terminal ...
The Northern View-- Prince Rupert Port Authority working with International LNG group...
CFTK TV 7-- Shell Picks Pipeline Builder
CFTK TV 7-- Shell LNG Presentation (Video)
CFTK TV 7-- Shell Partners for LNG Project in Kitimat
Vancouver Sun-- Port is an economic driver for B. C.
Vancouver Sun-- B. C.'s LNG exports a good news story
Vancouver Sun-- New Ideas needed to serve LNG plants and ratepayers
Vancouver Province-- B. C.'s population figures reflect resource boom-and-bust cycles
Globe and Mail-- Malaysia makes big bet on natural gas from Canada
Globe and Mail-- Energy regulator approves export licence for BC LNG
Globe and Mail-- In Kitimat, hopes for the establishment of a regional export hub
Globe and Mail-- A West Coast LNG plant possible for Imperial, CEO says
Globe and Mail-- U. K. firm joins race to export gas from B. C.
Globe and Mail-- Shell urges quick action to secure LNG markets for Kitimat terminal
Globe and Mail-- Projected LNG sites
Globe and Mail-- Liquefied Natural gas producers turn to Asia
Globe and Mail-- Shell eyes LNG terminal in B. C. that would overshadow Kitimat
National Post-- Canada's natural gas dreams closer to reality after Petronas moves
National Post-- Malaysia's Petronas to buy Progress Energy in deal worth $5.5 billion
National Post-- LNG trying to dock
CBC-- Shell moves closer to Kitimat LNG terminal
CBC-- Prince Rupert wants to be natural gas hub
CBC-- LNG to amp up northwest (audio)
Western Investor-- Prince in waiting
Northwest Coast Energy News-- Three new powerful players said to join the BC West Coast...
Alaska Arctic gas.gov-- Malaysia oil and gas company picks Prince Rupert BC, for LNG site
Petroleum News-- Shell eyes Canadian LNG; to spend US$10B on world's biggest carrier