Wireless Device Alert test scheduled for Wednesday In British Columbia

Tomorrow at just before 2 PM, British Columbians will receive an Emergency alert, while Radio and TV stations will broadcast a similar message, all of it part of a National Alert Ready System test, a process that takes place twice a year.

The November test, is the first of this year, that after a test scheduled for May, was cancelled owing to the COVID situation across the nation.

Tomorrow's testing of the system is designed to assess the system’s readiness for an actual emergency and identify any adjustments that need to be made.

How the Test, set for 1:55 tomorrow afternoon goes is as follows: 

During the test, an alert will be broadcast on radio and television stations, as well as on compatible wireless devices. The test message will read: 

“This is a TEST of the British Columbia Emergency Alerting System, issued by Emergency Management British Columbia. This is ONLY a TEST. If this had been an actual emergency or threat, you would now hear instructions that would assist you to protect you and your family. 

 You can find out if your device is compatible with the Alert Ready program by checking this website for more background.

The province is also reminding British Columbians that they can participate in a survey following the test, to help determine the reach of the Alert Ready program.

Access the survey here.

Further notes on what's ahead for Wednesday can be explored here.

More information on provincial government themes can be found here.

Port Edward LNG launches website to inform area residents of Small scale Terminal plans

The proponents of a proposed Small Scale LNG Facility have launched a new website providing a glimpse into what they have planned and how their LNG facility hopes to add to the local economy.

The opening notes from the website put the scale of the project into perspective noting how the size of the Port Edward plans compare to what most of us probably have in mind when it comes to LNG facilities.

Port Edward LNG is a British Columbia company proposing to build and operate a small-scale Liquefied Natural Gas facility in Port Edward, near Prince Rupert. We will supply LNG for export and domestic customers looking to switch from carbon intensive fuels, such as coal or diesel, to cleaner natural gas. 

This is not LNG as you know it. Port Edward LNG would be just over one-percent of the size of a large LNG project, liquefying gas for export in small quantities via conventional container ship. 

We are excited about the potential to be part of the fabric of the community – providing great, family supporting jobs, and other local benefits while respecting the people and environment of the North Coast.

The site selected for the project is adjacent to the BC Hydro operations site on Highway 16 just past the Galloways Rapids Bridge, the footprint for the Port Edward LNG project will be part of the 37 acre site located five kilometres east of the Port Edward townsite.

The Natural Gas which will be accessed from the existing PNG Pipeline will be chilled and turned into LNG, then shipped by Intermodal LNG ISO containers.

The Containers will be transported from the Port Edward site to the Fairview Container Terminal for shipment to overseas markets.

If successful in gaining the necessary approvals from the BC Oil and Gas Commission, Port Edward LNG hopes to begin construction in 2021 and be in operation by 2023.

The full overview of what they have planned can be reviewed here.

Of note and towards answering many of the questions that residents of the area may have about the proposed project, a Frequently Asked Questions page covers a range of material that may be of interest.

For its part the District of Port Edward has also outlined how it is approaching the zoning issues required for the project, having already given the topic first and second readings, the District notes that owing to COVID, they have put a planned Public Public Hearing on hold, with a promise of an update in the future.

For more notes related to the proposed Port Edward LNG project see our archive page here.

Nisga'a Valley Health advise of potential COVID-19 exposure within the Nass Valley

An update from Nisga'a Valley Health has relayed information of a potential exposure of COVID for the Nass Valley, noting of a confirmed positive case from Northern Health currently being isolated and followed in the Terrace area.

As a result of the confirmation of positive tests and high risk of COVID-19 transmission, the Nisga'a Valley health has requested that all Nisga'a residents restrict travel to essential trips only and self isolate for 14 days when travelling to Terrace and beyond.

In addition to that advisory, the Nisga'a Village Governments announced that they will be reverting back to Phase One of the Nisga'a Pandemic Plan.

Among the measures: the establishment of Checkpoints and a prohibition on travel for the duration of the order which will be in place until December 7th.

The full list of local orders for Nisga'a residents can be reviewed here.

You can access more updates from the Nisga'a Lisims Government Facebook page and Website

Further notes on COVID and the response in the Northwest can be found from our archive page here.

A wider overview of themes from the Nass valley and with the Urban Nisga'a can be explored on our archive page.

And now for some welcome health news ... reports of the flu are few so far!

While we all focus on our work ahead when it comes to COVID, so far in this flu season of 2020-21 there is actually no indication of the arrival of the flu (touch wood as they say)

In an update from the BC CDC today the provincial organization notes:

There is still no indication of seasonal influenza virus in BC, an ongoing absence since July. Since week 40 (September 27) start of the 2020-21 influenza surveillance season, the only sporadic (3) influenza detections have followed live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) receipt, which is not unexpected and likely represents vaccine- rather than wild-type virus.

In their influenza outbreak report the Centre also observes that the last influenza outbreak in BC was in March 2020 (week 12) with no influenza outbreaks reported thus far during the 2020-2021 season (since week 40, starting September 27, 2020). 

By way of comparison, during the same period spanning weeks 40 (from September 29) to 46 (to November 16) of 2019, there were 3 long-term care facility (LTCF) influenza outbreaks reported.

You can review the full suite of information related to the Flu update here. 

The slow arrival of the flu is a good thing considering the scarcity of flu vaccine availability this season, with the first shipment of the flu shot quickly used up and many residents of the Northwest are on waiting lists now awaiting a spot for their jab in the arm.

You can learn more about the 2020 Flu shot program from our notes of October.

 

City launches quest for potential tenants for CNR Waterfront building with Expressions of Interest through BC Bid process

The City is moving forward towards a potential redevelopment
of the old CN Rail building with a call for Expressions
of Interest towards potential commercial tenants

Plans appear to be in motion to finally begin development of what could be a showcase feature of the Waterfront park area, with the City of Prince Rupert putting out an 'Expressions of Interest" call for the old CN Rail Station on the waterfront, part of what the city is looking to develop what was once known as the Rupert's Landing project and now awaits another name.

The Rail Station, along with a proposed new Ferry Dock for the Airport Ferry as well as Rotary Waterfront Park would serve as a Gateway into the downtown area of sorts and is part of the Mayor's Vision planning from last year. 

In the prospectus for the Expressions of Interest process posted to the BC Bid portal on Monday, the city describes the site as follows: 

The Canadian National Railway Station Building is a historic railway station located on the City’s waterfront, originally constructed in 1921. The Building is one of the few brick buildings in Prince Rupert, and served as the train passenger terminal for Prince Rupert from 1922 until the late 1990’s. 

The Building came into the City’s possession shortly after passenger operations vacated the building, but has not been occupied since that time. The condition of the Building has degraded in the intervening years, and the Building now requires significant rehabilitation to allow for new occupation. 

The City is in the process of designing the rehabilitation of the Building, and is now searching for a potential commercial tenant to make the highest and best use of the rehabilitated property. 

Towards the expressions of interest the city has five key elements that they will be receiving information on for consideration.
 

The floor plans for both levels of the CN Rail station 

Applications must be received by 2:00 PM on December 4th, 2020, those with an interest in the proposed redevelopment of the building should forward their material to the City of Prince Rupert  424 - 3rd Avenue City of Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1L7. 

The expressions of interest should be directed to the Attention of Paul Vendittelli – Manager of Economic Development & Transportation.

The full package for those looking to explore the opportunities for the CN Station can be found on the BC Bid website.

Some background on the City's past work on the redevelopment of the CN Station/Rupert's Landing can be explored below:

2020

October 5 -- City to seek out Economic Recovery Funding for CN Heritage Rail Station renovation plans

July 22 -- Name change likely for Rupert's Landing project; as City Council approves quest for grand funding for relocation of airport ferry dock

July 20 -- Rupert's Landing grant application up for discussion at Council tonight

2019 and previous

December 18 2019 -- CN Waterfront Building Rehabilitation plans move to design phase

February 2019 -- City to explore plan to move forward on renovation of CNR Heritage building on Waterfront
June 2018 -- Plans for Waterfront eyesore on the mind of Councillor Cunningham
February 2017 -- Waterfront landmark looks for a little TLC and a new chance to serve
February 2017 -- City to hear of grant opportunity related to former VIA/CNR Rail station at Rotary Waterfront Park

More items of note towards the work of Prince Rupert City Council can be reviewed from our archive page.

MLA's Oath week underway in Victoria, as Legislature return set for December

The Green Party members of the BC Legislature began the
week of oath taking on Monday
(Screen shot from the BC Leg video feed)

This is the week that recently elected MLA's will be taking their oaths of Office, with the Green Party launching the ceremonial procedure on Monday as part of the 42nd Parliament for British Columbia.

Today marks the day for NDP members to take their oath of office, with the Liberals scheduled for Friday.

This week also will see Premier John Horgan introduce his cabinet and prepare for the upcoming session of the Legislature which will chart his course over the next four years. 

The BC Legislature is providing video of the oath taking this week through its Social Media feeds you can review the Green Party oath taking here.

Check the Legislature twitter feed and Facebook page for updates as the remaining MLA's  take their oaths and assume their duties in Victoria.

The MLA's will get back to Daily Business in the Legislature on December 7th.

For more notes on the provincial political scene see our archive page here.

A wider overview of provincial issues can be explored through our Victoria Views feature on our political blog D'Arcy McGee.

Northern Health updates LNG Canada COVID-19 outbreak information

LNG Canada site near Kitimat
(screen shot from LNG Canada video)

Northern Health has provided an update on the status of an outbreak of COVID-19 at the LNG Canada worksite near Kitimat,  the first relay of information  on the situation was released on November 19th.

Yesterday, in their update, Northern Health noted that 41 employees associated with this outbreak have tested positive for COVID-19. Thirty four of these cases currently remain active. Sixteen people are in self-isolation at the project site. The remaining individuals are in isolation in their home communities. 

As part of the update, Health Officials observed that all of these cases are considered to be associated with this outbreak and occurred in the same general work location. On-site employees are being screened. Contact management and tracing have gone well, and will continue. Those identified as cases and close contacts have been instructed to self-isolate. 

To reassure residents in the community, they also outlined how there are no public exposures in Kitimat resulting from the event, at this time. Northern Health, LNG Canada, and JGC Fluor continue to work closely together to ensure enhanced control measures are followed, to protect the health of all staff.

The declaration of the outbreak will remain in place for at least 28 days.

You can review the full statement here.

LNG Canada also issued its own statement on Monday related to the outbreak.

The Kitimat outbreak is one of three community/facility outbreaks listed on the Northern Health Exposures/Outbreaks page.

Last week Kitimat Mayor Phil Germuth also spoke to the outbreak, posting a letter to the community on the District of Kitimat website.

More notes related to Northern Health themes can be explored from our archive page here.

A wider overview of COVID related news both provincially and locally can be found from our COVID-19 archive page.