The Lax Kw'alaams Band Council is making a list and checking it twice, with registered Band Members set to receive a One time gift of 500 dollars, a notice for the First Nation community located at the north end of Tuck Inlet that has their Facebook page alive with discussion.
The financial distribution will include all those that have been registered as members of the Band as of October 22, 2018 and could begin as early as December 1st as the Band office works its way through the list.
To apply, members must fill out a form available online and to drop it off either at the Lax Kw'alaams Band Office in the community, or at the Lax Kw'alaams Business Development Office in Prince Rupert at 100 First Avenue East.
While the distribution of money is described as a Christmas Gift, residents have until February 28, 2019 to submit their forms.
Last week The Prince Rupert Court House heard the opening remarks on chargesrelated to the Fairview Expansion project from 2014 and 2015
Two of Prince Rupert's largest industrial groups and largest employers spent part of last week at the Prince Rupert Court House, the two among a number of port expansion stakeholders making their first appearance on charges related to work done as part of the Fairview Terminal expansion project.
The charges were introduced at the Prince Rupert courthouse last week, setting in motion a court case that will explore the impact on the environment and fish habitat near the expansion site.
The Prince Rupert Port Authority, DP World, and contractors Fraser River Pile and Dredge and Bel Pacific Excavating and Shoring and Bel Contracting were all listed in court documents for a range of charges which include failure to comply to the Fisheries Act and harmful alteration of fish habitat.
Planning and Construction of the Port expansion took place from 2014-2017
The charges are a result of a Department of Fisheries and Oceans investigation into the work that took place on the Fairview expansion site starting in 2014.
In an email reply to the North Coast Review, Port officials provided the following short note related to the court case.
The Prince Rupert Port Authority is aware of the charges filed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada relating to the construction activity during the Fairview Terminal expansion. Throughout the investigation PRPA has been fully cooperative with all relevant agencies. As this matter is before the courts we cannot provide any further comment at this time.
The next court date for the Port and it's partners is December 19th.
North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice celebrating Apprenticeship Recognition Week at the Legislature on Tuesday
The range of trades training opportunities across BC made for the theme for North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice's commentary for the Legislature on Tuesday, with Ms. Rice making note of this week as Apprenticeship Recognition Week, which is taking place from November 4th through to the 10th.
This week honours the thousands of hard-working apprentices throughout B.C. That's 35,000 adult apprentices, 5,000 youth and 4,000 foundation students waiting to join the workforce. Apprentices are training for over 100 diverse trades, from automotive technicians and welders to chefs and funeral directors. On top of the 45,000 apprentices and students ready to go right now, it's expected that there will be about 71,000 new job openings in the trades over the next decade. The high-demand trades include millwrights, heavy-duty mechanics and carpenters. Skilled tradespeople will be needed throughout the province in industries like construction, manufacturing and forestry
Speaking as part of the statements period of Tuesday's morning session, the North Coast MLA observed as to how the province has seen seven new trades training facilities open across BC including facilities for the north and northwest.
Just this year, seven new trades training facilities were opened at post-secondary institutions throughout B.C. Students in Vernon, Cranbrook, Terrace, Prince George, Kamloops, Nanaimo and Dawson Creek are enjoying state-of-the-art facilities with world-class instructors.
As part of the recognition of Apprenticeship week, the BC government has offered up a look at some of the programs which offer training across Northern and Northwestern BC
The funding will be used to buy new and replace aging trades and technology equipment. Examples of trades training equipment purchased by various post-secondary institutions last year include a used hybrid car for automotive programs, various types of saws for construction trades programs and equipment for culinary programs. Technology equipment purchased last year included iPads, 3D printers and new servers, as well as wind and solar energy training equipment.
Coast Mountain College President Ken Burt noted how the funding will be put towards programs
offered at the Terrace facility.
“Adding more modern equipment to our new trades training facility in Terrace helps us connect our students with the skills they’ll need when they enter the workforce,” ... “This is especially important in our trades programs, which are helping train the skilled professionals our local businesses need, such as welders, carpenters and professional cooks.”
Wednesday's investment of close to 22 million dollars into port infrastructure in the region has been greeted with enthusiasm from local leaders, with representatives from some area First Nations, as well as the City of Prince Rupert on hand to share their thoughts on the latest announcement from the Port of Prince Rupert.
As part of the morning event, Port CEO and President Shaun Stevenson called on Lax Kw'alaams Mayor John Helin, Metlakatla Chief Councillor Harold Leighton and Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain to come to the podium to speak to the announcement of the day.
Lax Kw'alaams Mayor John Helin
Mayor Helin led of the delegation, noting how he had recently attended a Northern Chiefs conference on energy in Vancouver and how the how ports and getting product to tidewater made for much of the discussion of the session.
Mr Helin observed how the North Coast was being recognized for its importance for global shipping and how Prince Rupert is the safest port from which to ship product from.
Calling today's announcement another step forward, he noted how the eyes of the world were on this region and how it takes everyone working together from all levels of government and local officials to bring it all together.
"The eyes of the world are on us to see if we can get business done, and it's about time that we were listening to good announcements in this region. So it's important that we can have our differences but work together" --Lax Kw'alaams Mayor John Helin at Wednesday's Port announcement
Metlakatla Chief Councillor Harold Leighton
Chief Councillor Harold Leighton reflected on the ongoing challenges of development and how his community has been involved with Port developments over the years and how that relationship has provided for a number of benefits to Metlakatla.
"Metlakatla has always been supportive of projects developed by the port, we have our challenges, but on this one we have all come together to agree to move ahead. And that's what makes it more successful where all First nations can work together with the Port and DP World to make things happen. We have some of the economic benefits to our communities, we get to build infrastructure in our community, we get to build the recreation facilities that we need, we get to put our children to school and that'w what it does for our communities and why its so important" -- Metlakatla Chief Councillor Harold Leighton on port development
Mayor Brain Speaking at the Port announcement
Mayor Lee Brain observed on how the news of the connector road will be well received in Prince Rupert, as well as to note that the rail improvements could provide better access to Watson Island.
"Today's announcement shows hand in hand how the community and the port can grow together, we've heard nothing but complaints about the downtown core, about the truck traffic, the safety concerns, everyone's been hearing that. This is going to completely redirect the traffic and be able to have new development opportunities for downtown" --Mayor Lee Brain speaking to how today's announcement will impact on the city
He also made note of the upgrade to the rail bridge at the entrance to the Port, observing for the audience how it also is located close to the Watson Island site, which the city is redeveloping as a trade and logistics park and how the city is hoping to achieve financial benefits from that intiative to put towards the city's own development plans.
Mayor Brain also made note of the shared goals of all stakeholders in the region with all levels of government working together with the port.
"As Mayor Helin said earlier, when we're all going to Ottawa, were all with one message now, the Port, the First Nations the City, we're all bringing a common message and it's being heard loud and clear by the Federal government"
The morning conference ended with Chief Clifford White of the Gitxaala territory asking for a moment to speak, providing a welcome to Minister Beech and outlining for the audience how that community wished to be recognized in this process moving forward.
You can review their comments from the event through the Port's video archive of the announcement, Mr. Helin leads off the trio of local officials at the twenty minute mark.
Terry Beech, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Transportation Minister was in Prince Rupert to announce sone significant investment into Port infrastructure in Prince Rupert
It was announcement day at the Port of Prince Rupert as Port officials welcomed Terry Beech, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport in town, with Mr. Beech bringing the greetings of the federal government, as well to announce the investment of 21.9 million dollars into three projects at the Port.
The three initiatives include work on rail and road infrastructure that will help to ensure that the Port of Prince Rupert continues to build on its reputation as one of Canada's gateways to the world.
Among the projects to be tackled with the Federal funding:
3.2 million dollars for the replacement of a rail bridge at the north end of Ridley Island at the rail entrance to the Port properties. Once constructed the new bridge will reduce delays and improve trade opportunities.
3.7 million dollars will be directed towards the design of new rail tracks to serve new terminals and a new logistics park that is being proposed by the Port of Prince Rupert. The project will look to expand on the existing Road Rail and Utility Corridor platform on Ridley Island.
The Federal government is also committing money towards the construction of a new two lane connector road for the Fairview terminal, which will run along the shoreline of the harbour connecting Fairview in the North to Ridley Island in the south.
That investment will bring 15 million dollars towards the project which comes with a price tag of 85 million dollars, the much anticipated development will reduce much of the heavy container traffic that travels through the downtown core at the moment.
The Port has received federal funding for a range of infrastructure proejcts including the construction of the connector road from Ridley to Fairview Terminal, as well as to put in motion plans for the Port to develop a logistics park as part of the Ridley Island, Road and Rail corridor
In his comments for those assembled at the Port Authority offices on Wednesday, the Minister shared his enthusiasm for what he had seen from his tour of the Port and how the Federal government recognizes the importance of the Port's facilities as part of Canada's global trade ambitions.
In his comments he outlined how Prince Rupert fits into the Federal government's trade strategy and how the investments of today will help the nation to attain its trade goals.
Shaun Stevenson, the CEO and President of the Port of Prince Rupert also spoke at the announcement and noted how the investment of today will continue to build on the Ports gateway strategy and highlights the partnerships that the Port has built from industrial partnerships and those of government and local First Nations.
Lax Kw'alaams Mayor John Helin, Meltaktla Chief Councillor Harold Leighton and Mayor Lee Brain all offered up comments this morning as well as part of the announcement event.
More on the investment announcement from today can be reviewed from the video below which streamed through the Port of Prince Rupert Facebook page.
With the new City Council now in place following a 5 PM ceremony in the Council chambers, the newly elected members got to work with some housekeeping as their first duties as part of their debut 7PM regular council session, making a range of appointments to cover off Council and Regional responsibilities for the year ahead.
The first of the roll call of appointments was to set up the schedule for the position of Acting Mayor for the year ahead, with a Council member designated each month to fill in for the Mayor should he not be available.
The list for the year ahead looks as follows:
January -- Councillor Niesh February --Councillor Adey March -- Councillor Skelton-Morven April / May --Councillor Randhawa June / July --Councillor Mirau August / September --Councillor Cunningham October --Councillor Adey November -- Councillor Skelton-Morven December -- Councillor Niesh
To finish off 2018, Councillor Cunningham will serve as Acting Mayor for the months of November and December.
The Council membership also approved the schedule of Council meetings for 2019, with twenty regular council sessions set to take place in the year ahead.
The 2019 City Council Schedule click on image to enlarge
As for appointments, council members selected those who will serve on the Regional District Board and Northwest Regional Hospital Board for the year ahead.
Northcoast Regional District
Councillor Mirau nominated Mayor Lee Brain and Councillor Barry Cunningham as the two representatives for the City.
With the City allocated 7 votes on Regional District, it was recommended that Mayor Brain receive four of those votes, with Councillor Cunningham to hold four.
Alternate members for Regional District will be Councillors Niesh (primary) and Randhawa (secondary).
Northwest Regional Hospital Board
Councillor Mirau recommended that both Mayor Brain and Councillor Cunningham hold those posts as well, noting how the Regional District and Hospital District provide for synergies between the two boards. Mayor Brain noted that both groups generally meet on the same day.
For Alternates Councillors Adey and Randhawa were selected by the Council members.
Both Boards come with additional compensation for those that have been selected to serve on them and are in attendance for those respective meetings.
Further notes on Monday's debut session can be explored on our Council Session archive, while a wider overview of City Council Discussion themes can be found on our Council Discussion Archive page.
To return to the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.
City Council members took their oath of office at a Special 5 PM ceremony Monday evening at City Hall
(photo from Mayor Lee Brain's Facebook page)
They opened up the entrance way to City Hall on Monday evening, the glass doors at the top of the steps at City Hall that have been in perpetual lock down since November of 2017, swung open wide for family and friends to make their way into the City Council chamber at 5 PM for the installation of the new Council.
And while the Mayor noted later in the evening at the first Council session that the official ceremonies had been open to the public, not many probably knew of the ceremonial event, as it was not widely promoted through the city's website, or through any of the city's various social media streams.
As for the inauguration event, Council members were administered their oath of office from Judge Stewart, while a welcome to the newly elected membership was provided by Tsimshian Elder Murray Smith.
Mayor Brain and Tsimshian Elder Murray Smith at Monday City Council inauguration ceremony at 5 PM
(photo from Mayor Lee Brain's Facebook page)
For his opening remarks, the Mayor called on the guiding document of the last Council that of the Hays 2.0 blue print to serve as the road map for the four years ahead.
In his opening comments for council, Mayor Brain observed how he was looking forward to working collaboratively as a team, as they continue to execute many of the items that have been outlined from the Hays 2.0 blue print presentation.
He noted how those elements remain the top priority for the council particularly the infrastructure deficit that the city is tackling. He outlined how Phase One had been completed, with Phase Two now underway and the city looking to raise funds for Phase Three which is the submarine lines and the water treatment.
He flagged the water treatment plans as Council's flagship rebuild Rupert project moving forward as they look to secure the water supply, and noted that there were a variety of other infrastructure issues that the council will be addressing, as well as to create new revenue and getting Watson Island looking towards new proponents for that industrial site.
Mr. Brain observed how the Council would be sticking to the plan, with a good trajectory in place and some momentum to move forward to bring the community into the 21st century as they look to tackle some the past issues and get on top of them. The Mayor wrapped up his comments by noting that he was looking forward to tackling those challenges and continuing on with the good work that they have been doing.
The meeting also offered up the chance for the newly elected council membership to offer up a few of their own thoughts as the new term gets underway, you can explore those comments further through our Council Timeline feature.
You can review the Mayor's comments from his inaugural address, as well as the council members follow up contributions from the City's Video archive starting at the eight minute mark.
Mayor Brain also offered up some opening night thoughts through his social media stream on his Facebook page.
For more items of note related to Monday's City Council session see our archive page here.
