Appointments by the City of Prince Rupert to a pair of Boards grabbed some of the attention when it came to the week's reading on the blog, with much interest expressed in who the City had named to the Prince Rupert Airport Board and the Board at Tourism Prince Rupert.
When our readers weren't focused on topics related to the civic appointments, the latest item of interest regarding the plans of Petronas to build an LNG terminal at Lelu island was of some interest to readers.
Rounding out the five most read items of the week, the discussion on homelessness at City Council on Monday evening and some administrative changes ahead for School District 52.
Leading off the review, the City places four members on the Board of Directors of the Prince Rupert Airport Authority.
Four to be named to Prince Rupert Airport Board-- The announcement by the City of four appointments to the Prince Rupert Airport Authority caught the eye of a large number of readers this week (posted May 25, 2015)
Familiar names return to Tourism Prince Rupert -- More announcements out of Prince Rupert City Hall were of interest to readers, with interest high in who the city has named to the Board of Tourism Prince Rupert(posted May 26, 2015)
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The final week of the Spring session and the start of a summer break for MLA's brings an end to the May work schedule in Victoria.
A week which saw the North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice raise a number of items in both the Legislature and Committee sessions to wrap up the Legislative time table.
The most dramatic note of the week coming at the very end of the Spring session, with the revelations of alleged deleted emails related to the Highway of Tears by staff in the Ministry of Transportation, a topic which gave Ms. Rice opportunity to share her thoughts on the issue late into the week.
As well, she had comments related to a scathing report from the Representative for Children and Youth and raised a number of health care related issues in the Legislature to wind up the Spring session.
As we do at the end of each week of the Legislature session, we outline some of the main notes of interest from the North Coast MLA's work week.
Among her contributions to the Legislature this week, her comments were part of a larger overview of the troubling allegations of the week related to deleted emails from the offices of the Ministry of Transportation.
As part of this weeks work of the Legislature Health Committee proceedings, Ms. Rice outlined her concerns over a recent report of health care services in the Northwest
The week started off with a comprehensive review by the NDP opposition on a report released just before Victoria Day, a document that highlighted a number of concerns with the operations at the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
The North Coast MLA is also a member of the Committee on Children and Youth, that Committee met on May 27th, however, Ms. Rice had no contributions to the discussion other than a few introductions at that session.
Until that call to return to the debate, the MLA's will be returning to their ridings until the fall, the timetable of future sessions to be determined by the Government House Leader.
School District 52 outlined a number of staffing changes yesterday that will shape the year to come for a few of the schools in the district.
The first item of some note, the announcement of the retirement of long time teacher and administrator Sheila Wells, most recently the Principal of Ecole Roosevelt Park Community School.
Ms. Wells who has taught in the School District system for 37 years was previously the long time principal of Prince Rupert Secondary School and was part of the transition during the merger with Charles Hays Secondary.
She has been a fixture on the academic, athletic and administrative side of education in the city over the years, having made many contributions to education in the community through her almost four decades of service.
Her retirement is effective August 31st.
Shifting into the position of Principal at Roosevelt Park will be Ms. Andrée Michaud, who will add those duties at the school to her current position as District Principal of the French Immersion program.
Returning to the School District and taking up the duties of Vice-Principal at Roosevelt will be Ms. Stephanie Coates, she started with School District 52 in 2011 as a Learning Services teacher.
Roosevelt is not the only school that will see some change when September comes around.
Over at Prince Rupert Middle School, Ms. Pamela Groves will be shifting her passions towards the counselling department at the school, leaving her post as vice-principal. Moving into that position at PRMS will be Ms. Sheryl Sadorski who crosses over from her duties at Pineridge.
The School District also announced that Ms. Michelle Cross-Pomponio will become the Associate Principal at Prince Rupert Middle School effective August 1st, filling the principal role as required, with Mr. Ken Minette continuing with his dual roles of Director of Instruction and Principal at the School.
Conrad Elementary also made the highlights page from yesterday's information release, with the announcement that Mr. Paramjit Khaira who stepped into the temporary position of vice-principal at the school will continue on with that position in the fall, working alongside Principal Keri Levelton.
The event has become a much anticipated fixture on the North Coast calendar, an opportunity to celebrate those that have survived cancer, support those that continue to battle the disease and commemorate those that have passed from our lives.
And tomorrow morning will find all of them, as well as a community that is supporting them, taking to the field at Prince Rupert Middle School. As the sports field adjacent to Prince Rupert's Jim Ciccone Civic Centre becomes the centre of activity for this years 2015 Relay for Life.
Earlier this year, the Canadian Cancer Society produced a video presentation that explains why Canadians take to the relay each year. It captures the spirit of the event and offers up a sample of what Rupertites will find when they arrive at the field on Saturday.
Events tomorrow start 10 AM at the PRMS field and continue over the next twelve hours, along with the energetic efforts of those that are relaying for someone close to them, there will be entertainment and activities for all in the family orientated event.
While registration for participants is now closed, you can still support those that are participating, as of today they were half way towards the fundraising goal of 80,000 dollars.
The top five fundraisers heading into Saturday's event are:
Ridley Coal Strollers CityWest Tumonators St. Paul's Lutheran Church Fil-Can Association St. Paul's Lutheran 2
Some background on the national event that the Relay has become can be found here.
You can learn more about the Prince Rupert event from their Facebook page here, included in the information provided some inspiring stories from a few of the teams taking to the tack on Saturday.
The transportation system in place to make health care access easier for Northern British Columbians has expanded some of their services to the public, with Northern Health Connections now introducing an online booking system for those that need to make travel arrangements beyond their service area.
Residents who prefer to talk to a reservations clerk in person can still do so, the number for more information on the service is 1-888-647-4997.
The transportation service makes use of a fleet of six coaches and five minibuses, with Prince Rupert residents familiar with the highway coach that regularly travels the route to Terrace, across northern British Columbia into Prince George and on to Vancouver for those with appointments at the larger hospitals to the south.
Access to the service is for non-emergency health care and those that seek to travel (with room for a companion) will have to fill out an appointment verification form before they can seek travel with the service.
Empty now, later tonight the Lester Centre will be filled as CHSS celebrates the 2015 Grad Class
Their high school years are now almost behind them and this evening for the Class of 2015, Graduation ceremonies beckon with a walk down the aisle at the Lester Centre with diplomas and awards to be presented tonight.
The class of 2015 is 146 students strong this year, the countdown to final exams and future plans now underway, this weekend marking the celebration phase of their time with School District 52.
Tonight brings the time honoured tradition of robes, caps, diplomas and speeches to come this evening, the celebrations continue on Saturday night with the Prom at the Civic Centre the party aspect to bring those four years of secondary school to a close.
For some university or college will be the next step, for others the realities of the working world will arrive in short enough time, for all this weekend is one of acknowledging their hard work that led them to these days of May 2015 and the friendships that have come from them.
For those graduating this evening, congratulations on your success, your high school years but a phase of transition to a future that awaits you. The four years of secondary school providing for your foundation for your plans and dreams that mark a passage of time for both you and your families.
As we outlined earlier in the week, CityWest Channel 10 will be broadcasting this evening's ceremony on their community channel, you can learn more about those plans here.
Tonight's ceremony at the Lester Centre starts at 7 PM.
We imagine that when North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice made her first inquiry about the status of some correspondences between residents of Highway 16 and the Ministry of Transportation, the twist of the story that Thursday brought probably wasn't a scenario that might have first come to her mind.
The revelations of a former staffer and with them the accusation of tampering by a political staffer in the Ministry of Transportation Office with what could surely be considered key information on the file, is a fascinating turn of events.
Just the latest chapter in what has become a long running quest for North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, who has been seeking to find out information related to meetings on Highway of Tears issues for months now.
The incident in question is reported to have taken place in November of 2014, when as former Transportation staff member Tom Duncan alleges in a letter to the Privacy Commissioner, a superior ordered him to destroy a number of emails related to the Highway of Tears issue.
As Mr. Duncan alleges, when he hesitated to do so, his superior took his keyboard and deleted a number of files from email correspondences on the theme of Highway of Tears.
Mr. Duncan, who it appears was still troubled by that act in the New Year, then recounts for the Privacy Commissioner of a January 2015 conversation with another political staffer, who called upon the script lines of a popular political television show of the mid 1990's as the apparent guiding principle on the topic ... "It's like in the West Wing. You do what whatever it takes to win".
An interesting, if rather disturbing approach to government and public service, particularly when it comes to an issue that has long dominated the British Columbia news and still requires long overdue action from the provincial government.
Of larger concern however, is the nature of the act and how it took place after a request had been made through the Freedom of Information process, where procedures are in place to protect such information.
Ms. Rice has raised the issue of the missing documentation with Transportation Minister Todd Stone in the past, outlining her frustrations and the need for her eventual use of Freedom of Information process to try and track down the discussion points between Ministry officials and residents along the highway.
Discussion points, which if the timeline of Mr. Duncan is correct, had at the time of her comments in the Legislature been long since deleted.
In the wake of the revelations of Thursday afternoon, the North Coast MLA called the situation a complete slap in the face for the families of the missing and murdered women of the Highway of Tears.
Adding that British Columbians deserve a government that is open and honest, a government that does not sweep its mess under the rug.
"I am utterly appalled that the BC Liberals would go to such lengths to hide information about the Highway of Tears. This has huge implications as to the government’s failure to address the real life safety issues for women who are traveling on Highway 16. This blatantly shows how the BC Liberals are disrespecting the memory of each woman who has gone missing or been murdered along the Highway of Tears.” -- North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice on learning of the deletion of information that had been requested through the Freedom on Information process.
With MLA's now finished with their Legislature duties for the summer, most of the inquiries and background requests on the deleted e mails will play out through the media and not through the usual platform of Question Period, a place where Ministers and the Government are held accountable.
Still, it would seem it will be hard for the Liberal government to duck and deflect this issue, the shocking accounts of alleged pre-meditated destruction of information will make for the theme for much of the summer.
While the mystery the of status of the missing information is now apparently solved, larger issues clearly remain.
As it always is when someone takes moves to hide information (in this case allegedly destroying it) has made for a situation that now leads to many, many more questions.
One imagines that at the top of that list might be the question of "What else have government or public service officials deleted over the years"?
Or perhaps a wider ranging concern of, "Is there a culture of such behaviour entrenched with the Government's ministries"?
“On May 27 my Office received a letter outlining serious allegations of destruction of records by individuals within the Office of the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. The letter outlines an account where records responsive to an access-to- information request were willfully and deliberately deleted. “My Office has been in touch with the individual who raised these allegations, and I am now determining next steps in an investigation under section 42 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.” -- Part of a statement from Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham on Thursday regarding alleged destruction of records
The Commissioner's findings related to the deleted emails when delivered, will land at the doors of Transportation Minister Todd Stone and Premier Clark.
Making for yet another situation that requires immediate action on the part of a Liberal government that has for far too long looked to deflect the need for action when it comes to the Highway of Tears.
The House may not be sitting through the summer, but the political temperature it would appear is only going to get hotter for the Premier and her Minister.
Something that won't go away with the stroke of the delete key.
Same location, new name for support and program options in Prince Rupert
For over thirty five years, a range of social and community services have been provided through the Fraser Street offices of the Community Enrichment Society.
A tradition of service that will continue on into the future, but with a new name, designed to reflect a new era of support and programs.
The Society which has been instrumental in providing services to the North Coast over the decades has been reviewing their approach to the delivery of their program options in the region, with some internal restructuring currently taking place.
One of the first moves in that shift in focus was recently revealed by the Board of Directors, when they announced that the Society will now be known as North Coast Community Services, with plans ahead to increase programming in the area and expand the service area that the organization serves.
Among the current programs and services that residents can access through the Fraser Street location:
Community Based Victim Services Children who witness Abuse program Empowerment Program Family Skills Program Fraser Street Literacy Infant Development Program Pregnancy Outreach Program Supported Child Development Program Youth at Risk Program Cooking with NCCS Incredible Years Parenting Program Nobody's Perfect Parenting Program
You can learn more about their services and support options by contacting them at 250-627-7166, North Coast Community Services is located at 710 Fraser Street.
The Mayor will log some more travel miles in the month ahead, as Mayor Brain sets his compass for Edmonton and the June gathering of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
The Mayor shared his plans with Council on Monday evening, noting how it will be the first time in seven years that a representative from Prince Rupert has attended the annual gathering.
The Mayor has had a fairly busy travel agenda since taking office in December.
As for the Edmonton conference, the three day conference and trade show will take place from June 5th to 8th, with more than thirty workshops and industry led seminars and study tours to take part in.
In his comments to Council of Monday, the Mayor noted the opportunity that the conference will provide him to re-connect with the national network of municipalities, as well as to meet with ministers and other officials that the city does business with.
Health care in rural and coastal communities was the focus of discussion on Monday, with North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice raising a number of issues of interest on the theme, all as part of the afternoon session of the Health Committee at the Legislature.
With Health Minister Terry Lake in attendance at the session, Ms. Rice explored a range of topics related to health care and access in rural and coastal communities. Items up for discussion and review on the afternoon included travel assistance, Operational aspects of the Northern Connections transportation system, midwifery issues and maternity issues to name a few.
One topic of some note for the Northwest that came up for discussion during the Monday session, was the nature of a review by Northern Health on the delivery of surgical services across Northern British Columbia.
As part of that overview, Ms. Rice noted that while the paper hasn't been implemented as of yet, some of the recommendations, if put in place, would have an impact on the delivery of services at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital and are of concern to surrounding communities that rely on the hospital for their health care
Among some of her key observations as taken from the report:
The paper, which hasn't been implemented — and I've now been assured that there will be public consultation, should those recommendations be implemented — proposed some pretty dramatic changes on how surgeries would be performed in the northwest. Specifically, it talks about a hub and spoke model, essentially removing a lot of services from Prince Rupert and centralizing them in Terrace, Prince Rupert now being one of the spokes. The same thing for the northeast — the same hub and spoke model is proposed.
I guess I would just like to put on the record that I as well as many people feel that Prince Rupert is its own hub in its own way, in the sense that it does service a lot of outlying communities, including Haida Gwaii and a lot of aboriginal communities. I just wanted to put on the record that some of the aboriginal communities listed in the rural policy framework that we were just speaking of…. It doesn't even list all the communities within the northwest. The actual catchment area of Prince Rupert is larger than is even documented in the ministry's own records. Again, those constituents that raised the issue of this internal report have expressed strong needs, that they would like the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital to remain as such, a regional hospital providing surgical services. I just wanted to make sure that that was identified here now.
For his part, the Health Minister outlined that the review was an external report, with Northern Health taking it under advice for consideration, he advised the Committee that Northern Health would not be implementing any of the findings or recommendations without first assessing if they make sense to the whole health care delivery system.
As well, the Minister noted that Northern Health would also be reviewing the report to determine what is acceptable to the communities affected.
Ms. Rice begins her line of questions of the Health Minister at the 17:00 mark, continuing on through the session until its conclusion at 18:30
A video review of the Committee session is also available through the Legislature's Video Archive (Monday Afternoon Committee C), the North Coast MLA's contributions begin at 17:00
For more items related to discussion points at the British Columbia Legislature see our archive page here.
No decision yet on Rent Reduction Requests for Civic Centre use
One event is over, the other set to take place this weekend, but as of Monday's Prince Rupert City Council session, no indication has been given yet, whether the City will provide the rental breaks requested by two groups in the city.
The issue came up earlier in April, when the organizers of the 2015 Homecoming appeared at Prince Rupert council to outline their thoughts on the cost of rental for the Civic Centre facility and inquired as to the prospect of break on the rent.
Their appearance it seems caught the eye of organizers of the 2015 Charles Hays Prom, with a representative from the organizing committee also making an appearance in front of Council, this time to suggest free rent for this years Grads, as well as for those in the future.
Rent Reduction request update from City Council on Monday
On Monday, Mayor Brain in response to an inquiry from Councillor Randhawa, that no decision has been made in relation to either of those requests, with the issue to be addressed at some future point.
You can review the short discussion on the topic from the City's Video archive, it starts at the thirty three minute mark.
The Homecoming celebration took over the Civic Centre facility on May 16th, the Charles Hays Prom will be held on Saturday evening.
Some background on the two requests can be found below.
Simon Fraser University's popular Beedie School of Business program will focus an MBA program on the North Coast this fall, with the university offering its Executive MBA program in Northwestern B. C. through a class room experience at the Prince Rupert campus of Northwest Community College.
Program director Mark Selman notes that "Prince Rupert's economy is a key hub of global trade networks", highlighting how the MBA program will be tailored for students facing global competition for jobs and to provide workers in Northwest British Columbia with the management skills required for a changing business environment.
“There are whole communities who need the right management training to become outstanding, competitive employees ... We’re delighted to bring the business expertise of a Top Ten Canadian business school to the Northwestern region.” -- Blaize Horner Reich, dean of the Beedie School of Busness, on what the MBA program can deliver to the Northwest
The Prince Rupert program will feature a course load that is held in two three day sessions at NWCC, with some sessions also to be delivered through virtual classrooms.
The Beedie School of Business will be hosting an Executive MBA program at NWCC this fall
The program will start in September of this year, applications are being accepted for the Executive MBA program until August.
You can learn more about what the program has to offer with an information session to take place tomorrow evening at 5:30 PM at NWCC on 5th Street
Councillor Thorkelson outlined her growing frustration with BC Housing on homelessness in Prince Rupert
A good portion of Monday evening's thirty five minute City Council session was used by Council members to examine ongoing housing issues in the community.
With City Councillor Joy Thorkelson using her time to review some of her frustrations with BC Housing, upper levels of Government and the housing situation in the community, in particular the fate of some residents who once lived at the Neptune Inn.
Following a short review by the Mayor on the upcoming Go Plan survey, Councillor Thorkelson noted that the City will also be conducting an affordable housing survey at that time, in order to gauge the nature of the housing situation in the community.
She offered up some observations regarding the regional situation that has found other communities of the Northwest sending their homeless residents to Prince Rupert to try and find accommodation as housing options dwindle in those communities.
She then turned her attention towards a review of the status of some of the former residents of the Neptune Inn who were forced to leave their accommodations when that housing location closed. Expressing a great amount of frustration at their situation, as they are soon to be moved from their temporary accommodation and have no location to be moved to.
She noted that in the weeks since the Neptune closed, some of those former tenants have been sleeping outdoors in areas of the city, with the police coming to move them on from where they have set up.
She also expressed her disappointment with BC Housing, which she says has not been of any help to those relocated out of the Neptune.
At one point, she observed that one option for those that have been forced onto the streets might before them to perhaps stay in the lobby of the hospital as a last recourse, in order to engage Northern Health into the issue.
She urged Council to push BC Housing, as well as the upper levels of government on the need to step up and address the ongoing issues of housing in the community.
Recounting for Council a recent appearance by BC Housing officials, noting that they had stated that they would not be adding to the housing stock. Adding that in her opinion, that there is clearly a problem with the grant and subsidy program that they mentioned at that time.
She also passed along concerns she has heard of other apartment buildings and hotels in the city planning to close for renovations, putting those tenants out on the streets.
She spoke to the issue further, stating that it's something that Council has to address, offering up a motion that would have the City write to the Province and Federal ministers involved with housing, offering an outline of the current situation and to seek the assistance of the upper levels government on the issue of housing in the community.
The Mayor noted that the Go Plan initiative that the City is about to move forward, is designed to provide some information on the issue to better address the problems that have developed, adding that if there is any economic development related to LNG the situation may become amplified significantly.
Council then voted in favour of Councillor Thorkelson's motion to write to the provincial and federal officials.
You can review her notes on the situation through the City's Video Archive it runs from the 17 minute mark until the 31 minute point.
The City's housing review will start with a knock at your door in June, as the City launches its data collection survey process on housing issues.
The much discussed community engagement campaign is set to take place between June 8th and the 18th, as the City looks for some hard data when it comes to assessing the level of the need for Housing in the community
At Monday evening's Council session, Mayor Brain provided the thumb nail sketch of the path of the Go Plan ahead, noting that the City will be providing the training for the volunteer force that will be going through the community to determine what kind of housing is required.
Called the Go Plan Survey, it will see a number of enumerators taking to the streets to collect data on the issues of housing. Those that sign up to conduct the survey on behalf of the city, will be compensated for their efforts as well as have the opportunity to win a prize for the most surveys collected as part of their time with the project.
The Mayor did not outline the level of the compensation that enumerators will receive, nor provide any background on the cost of the ten day survey to the City as part of his overview of Monday evening.
Calling it a very unique project, the Mayor explained that once the data is collected it will be "plugged into the LNG GO Plan" to help the city prepare for any LNG related developments.
From the project, the City believes it will be able to provide information to the province and federal governments on housing issues related to rapid economic growth.
Further background on the Go Plan Survey will be made available shortly, by way of video and social media. There is also a plan to develop a website that will be also launched once the City is ready to introduce the surveys to the public.
You can review the City's plans for their housing surveys by way of the City's Video Archive the discussion on the Go Plan survey runs from the fifteen minute point to the twenty minute mark.
Monday night, the City's CFO Corinne Bomben outlined the background of the decision from 2014, to take out the loan for $338,904 for the Truck, which is to be repaid over a period of five years.
Following her presentation, Council reviewed the request for the authorization for the loan, but not before Council gave consideration to a request from Councillor Barry Cunningham over his concerns related to borrowing for the truck and a suggestion to instead make use of the City's Legacy Fund to make the purchase.
Councillor Cunningham was on vacation this week and not in attendance at the Monday session, so his request was relayed by way of Councillor Thorkelson who outlined his concerns.
Though Councillor Thorkelson took time to distance herself from Mr. Cunningham's observations, noting that she was not in favour of using the Legacy Corp Funding for items such as this.
She outlined that in her opinion, that items such as equipment replacement should not be utilizing funds through Legacy Corporation, noting that at the moment there is rock bottom pricing for borrowing and that the City has always had a policy of borrowing over a time period for capital purchases.
As well, she noted that the City is not very heavily in debt, that at the moment the City is at the bottom end of borrowing in the province.
"I don't particularly want to whittle away the Legacy Fund for things that are, what I would just consider are the normal bread and butter of what a municipality should do. It's not because we have LNG that we're doing this, it's just normal business of the City and I don't think we should be looking at the Legacy Fund coming up with this money " --Councillor Thorkelson providing her opinions on the nature of use of the Legacy Fund by the City
Councillor Kinney also spoke in favour of the borrowing plan for the Fire Department equipment, as opposed to using the Legacy funds for it.
The Mayor also offered up some thoughts on the issue of what sort of items or initiativies should or should not be used for Legacy Fund options.
"I agree with that ... I think that there is a clear mandate for Legacy, we could get into a situation where we are always picking and choosing and I'm not sure we want to go down that road"-- Mayor Brain on the issue of Legacy Fund money for the Fire Department apparatus purchase.
You can review the discussion as it relates to the Fire Department purchase through the City's Video Archive, it runs from the nine minute mark until twelve and a half minute mark.
In its recent planning for Major Projects overview the city also moved 1 million dollars of funds from the Legacy Fund towards infrastructure items as outlined in their Spring update to Council.
The Vancouver Sun recently completed a look at a side of life on the waterfront that few probably think of, as award winning reporter Kim Bolan explored the impact that a number of criminal groups are having on the Vancouver waterfront.
A week long review of events and incidents that remind one of the HBO program The Wire and the season two focus on the waterfront and the reach of criminal organizations.
The Sun series goes back over twenty years, with Bolan accessing court documents, government reports and police files and explored the reach of some of the criminal organizations and how they have penetrated into the four terminals serviced through the Vancouver gateway.
While the majority of the focus of the report looks at Vancouver, Prince Rupert gains a mention owing to its growing presence in the marine shipping world.
With some concerns expressed that Prince Rupert may become a port of entry for what are called precursor chemicals used in the production of illegal drugs, as criminal groups look to direct some shipments north in order to avoid increased enforcement efforts in Vancouver.
It was back in 2012 that the CBSA outlined the scope of a seizure of such chemicals that had been found coming through the Port of Prince Rupert.
There are differences in place however, between the operations of the ports in Vancouver and the one in Prince Rupert. The main aspect being that the Rupert gateway features a more seamless transit between ship and rail, with less reliance on truck movements as those down south, a key ingredient for the most part when it comes to the criminal activity of the south.
Still, as traffic increases through Prince Rupert, so too one imagines will be the prospect of increased interest from those who may believe it offers an opportunity for their activities.
The Sun series makes for a thorough investigation into one of the few down sides of increased trade through Canada's ports and what efforts will be required to not only keep a watch on the current situation, but the need to put forward programs that will increase the enforcement of laws at all of British Columbia's ports of call.
The full series can be reviewed below, including a pair of video presentations related to the topic.
September 1st is the target date for completion of phase one of the City's Fraser Street Rehabilitation Project, that according to the City's Engineering Coordinator Richard Pucci, who provided City Council with a timeline for the project on Monday evening.
Mr. Pucci, provided some background on the long delayed project, noting that it is at the top of the City's Ten Year Capital plan and that the infrastructure of the street is in poor condition and in need of major work.
He then offered up some notes on the two bids received for the work for Phase One, with a recommendation to Council that Adventure Paving be awarded the contract for the work to be done, at a bid of 1,185,228.56 dollars.
An amount which will result in an 80,000 dollar budget shortfall for the project, something that Mr. Pucci recommended be absorbed through the use of the Gas Tax Fund.
He noted that the City would seek to work with the proponent to find cost saving opportunities related to the work to be done.
After a short discussion, Council moved to adopt the motion and award the contract to Adventure Paving.
The project is scheduled start by June, with a completion date of September 1st.
Phase one is to take place in the section near the Salvation Army area of the Fraser Street neighbourhood.
Phase One of the Fraser Street Rehabilitation project will take place near the Salvation Army, work will start in June ending in September
When the time to consider Phase Two comes around, that area of work will take place at the western end of Fraser Street near the Fishermen's Hall.
You can review the Engineering Coordinator's presentation to Council through the City's Video Archive, his review runs from the three minute mark to the five minute mark
Another short night for Council, with the stop watch recording 35 minutes from start to finish for Monday evenings City Council session.
While Monday was listed as a Committee of the Whole night, with no members of the public in the audience to raise concerns or ask questions about Civic functions, that portion of Council's business was but a formality, with Council quickly moving on to the Regular Agenda for the evening, which for the most part provided for few items for discussion.
Council reviewed a report from the City's Financial Officer related to the purchase of the new support apparatus truck for the Prince Rupert Fire Department.
As well, the City's Engineering Coordinator outlined the timeline for work to be done as part of the Fraser Street Rehabilitation Project.
The Mayor provided a short update on the plans ahead for the City's housing data survey to be held in the community in the coming weeks ahead.
Council also heard a review from Councillor Thorkelson of the current housing situation for those at risk of homelessness in the community, with a particular concern expressed for those recently moved out of the Neptune Inn after that housing option closed its doors.
Further information from our overview and placement in the video archive can be found below, with the permanent record of the minutes added as they are posted to the city website.
In attendance May 25, 2015
Mayor Lee Brain-- Present
Councillor Barry Cunningham-- Absent
Councillor Blair Mirau -- Present
Councillor Wade Niesh -- Present
Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present
Councillor Gurvinder Randhawa-- Present
Councillor Joy Thorkelson -- Present
Video Archive for May 25, 2015
( 0:00 -- 1:00 ) Introduction of the Committee of the Whole Session -- The Mayor opened the evening session by moving into the Committee of the Whole proceedings, however with no members of the public in attendance in the gallery to offer comment, Council declared the Session closed and moved on to its regular business of the night.
( 1:00 --2:30 ) Introduction of the Regular Council Session for Monday evening -- The Mayor provided the listing of Agenda and past Minutes of council sessions for approval by Council members.
( 2:30 -- 8:30 ) Report from the City's Engineering Coordinator on the Fraser Street Rehabilitation Project -- Mr. Richard Pucci, outlined the timeline ahead for the long delayed project and provided background on the bids received for the work for Phase One, in addition to the timeline of work ahead Mr. Pucci made a recommendation that Council award the work to Adventure Paving which submitted a bid of 1,185,228.56 dollars..
The 80,000 dollar budget shortfall for the project would be absorbed through the use of the Gas Tax Fund. After a short discussion, Council moved to adopt the motion and award the contract to Adventure Paving.
The project is scheduled start by June, with a completion date of September 1st.
Councillor Thorkelson had questions related to the location of the work of Phase One (which will be near the Salvation Army) and any impact that the shortfall payment would have on the Gas Tax Fund. ( 8:30 --12:30 ) Report from the City's Financial Officer on Borrowing authority for the new Apparatus Support Vehicle for the Prince Rupert Fire Department -- CFO Corinne Bomben outlined the nature of the request as it relates to the purchase of the new vehicle for the Fire Department. The cost of the new vehicle, which has been built and delivered to the City, is $338.904 with repayment to be made over five years.
Council reviewed a suggestion to use the Legacy Fund to make the purchase, a recommendation offered up by the absent on the night Councillor Barry Cunningham, as relayed through Councillor Thorkelson.
However, following that discussion, the decision of Council was to go ahead with the borrowing plan to finance the purchase of the vehicle.
Correspondences for Action
( 12:30 - 14:00 ) Proclamation Request from the Community Action Network -- The Mayor outlined the nature of the request that would see June 15th proclaimed as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in the city of Prince Rupert, adding that there is an event on June 15th from Noon to 4 PM at the Moose Hall.
Council then voted to approve the motion
( 14:00 -- 14:30 ) Request for support from the Friendship House -- The Mayor outlined the nature of the request that would see the City provide a letter of support for the efforts of the Friendship House, who are looking to approach the BC Heart and Stroke Foundation, seeking to access an onsite defibrillator.
Council then voted to approve the motion
( 14:30 -- 14:45 ) Resolution from Closed Meeting -- Announcement of the names of those selected for the Board of the Prince Rupert Airport Authority. -- The City's Corporate Administrator, Mr. Mandryk released the names of Dave Smith, Michael Cote, Erminio Pucci and Judy Fraser who were named to their positions as members of the Prince Rupert Airport authority effective Monday, with terms expiring in 2017.
( 14:45 -- 15:00 ) Resolution from Closed Meeting -- Announcement of the names of those selected for the Board of Tourism Prince Rupert -- The City's Corporate Administrator, Mr. Mandryk released the names of Scott Farwell and Jack Payne who were named to their positions as members of the Board of Directors effective Monday, with terms expiring in 2017.
( 15:00 --17:00 ) An update on the Go Plan survey -- The Mayor provided some background to the upcoming Housing survey to be conducted in the city. Between June 8 and 18, the City will be launching a community campaign to collect information for the City to help them determine the need for affordable housing in the community.
He advised that a video would be released over the next few days to explain the project, with the City looking for volunteers to help with the survey process.
Reports and Recommendations from Council
( 17:00 -- 31:00 ) Councillor Thorkelson expanded on a current housing situation in the community and how the survey might provide more information regarding those who are homeless. She observed a regional situation that has found other communities of the Northwest sending their homeless residents to Prince Rupert to try and find accommodation as housing options dwindle in those communities.
She then provided a review of the status of some of the former residents of the Neptune Inn who were forced to leave their accommodations when that housing location closed. Expressing a great amount of frustration at their situation as they are soon to be moved from their temporary accommodation and have no location to be moved to.
She noted that in the weeks since the Neptune closed, some of those former tenants have been sleeping outdoors in areas of the city, with the police coming to move them on from where they have set up.
She also focused her attention towards BC Housing, which she says has not been of any help to those relocated out of the Neptune.
At one point, she observed that perhaps those residents should just stay in the lobby of the hospital as a last recourse, in order to engage Northern Health into the issue.
She urged Council to push BC Housing, as well as the upper levels of government on the need to step up and address the ongoing issues of housing in the community, recounting for Council a recent appearance by BC Housing officials, noting that there is clearly a problem with the grant and subsidy program that they mentioned at that time.
She also passed along concerns she has heard of other apartment buildings and hotels planning to close for renovations, putting those tenants out on the streets.
She spoke to the issue further, stating that it's something that Council has to address, she then asked that the City write to the Province and Federal ministers involved with housing, offering an outline of the current situation and to seek the assistance of the upper levels government on the issue of housing in the community.
The Mayor noted that with the City about to move the Go Plan initiative forward, the project is designed to provide some information on the issue to better address the problems that have developed, adding that if there is any economic development related to LNG the situation may become amplified significantly.
Council then voted in favour of Councillor Thorkelson's motion to write to the provincial and federal officials.
Reports and Recommendations from Council
( 31:00 -- 35:00 ) Councillor Mirau outlined for Council the background to his attendance at a pair of local events. Providing a review of the recent celebration of the last spike at the Rail, Road and Utility Corridor project and at Saturday's SalmonFest at the Civic Centre.
Councillor Randhawa asked the Mayor if any decisions had been reached regarding the requests for rental reductions at the Civic Centre, Mayor Brain advised that those requests are still being considered would be addressed in a future Council session.
Mayor Brain outlined that he will be out of town in early June, attending the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Edmonton. Noting that it was the first time in seven years that the City has sent a representative to that conference and that he will be reconnecting with the national network of municipalities and that he has plans to meet with a number of ministers, he will provide a report on his trip when he returns to the City.
And with that, the Monday night session came to an end.
You can access the City Council Review for May 25 here, where a number of items regarding the council session, including links to media coverage of it can be found.
As always, our Council Timeline is only a reflection of our observations from the Council session of the night. Be sure to consult with the official minutes from the City, when posted to their website for further review.
When we last left the Legislature prior to their week long break of last week, the MLA's had been left with a scathing report to review.
A 76 page examination of the issues related to care of youth who have transitioned out of the care of the Ministry of Child and Family Development.
The main focus of the review was a look at the life of one young woman in Vancouver's downtown east side, who had clearly been failed by the system designed to protect her.
With Monday the first session back for the Legislature since the report's release, the topic of Paige's Story made for much of the discussion for the day in Victoria.
North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, was among those from the NDP who had a number of questions for Minister Stephanie Cadieux during Monday's afternoon question period.
"In February of 2013 the Minister of Children and Families pledged that she would "strengthen safe living options and life skills education for youth in care who are transitioning into adulthood." A month later Paige was forced out of her foster care at age 19. She died soon after.
My question is to the Minister of Children and Families. How could this government have failed Paige so badly?
Less than a year after Paige died, the current minister was asked about providing extended supports to children after age 19. She responded by saying the government provides sufficient services for youth who have aged out of care. Having read about Paige's life and death, does the minister still believe that's true?"
Minister Cadieux spoke to the concerns related to the work of the Ministry, outlining a number of initiatives that the Ministry has engaged in to try to address the issue, noting how the government continues to look to form partnerships with community groups to address the challenges that the shift from Ministry care to life on their own can provide.
You can review Ms. Rice's question period session related to the topic of the report below:
A thorough review of the case was also provided by the weekly Shaw Cable public affairs program Voice of British Columbia.
During the course of the May 21st program, host Vaughn Palmer discussed the issue with Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and explored other concerns related to the work of the Ministry of Child and Family services.
For more background on the work of the North Coast MLA at the Legislature and other items of a provincial nature can be found on our archive page here.
