Blog Watching: Week ending September 5, 2021

The Federal election campaign appears to have captured some of the interest of our readers over the last seven days, with two of our stories related to the campaign in Skeena- Bulkley Valley making for the top of our list of five.

Our look at the somewhat mysterious campaign for the Liberal party in Skeena-Bulkley Valley gained the most note on the week, with the Party finally releasing some notes on the campaign and a photo of their candidate Lakhwinder Jhaj, but little in the way of observations on the riding which she hopes to represent.

Not far behind in interest was the reintroduction of the Northern Gateway Pipeline proposal from Conservative leader Erin O'Toole gained some notice this past week, with a large readership for our notes on the topic.

The concerns over a rise in COVID cases in the Northern Health region resulted in some new measures to be introduced this week, that as Health Officials look to drive down the case count while using those not yet vaccinated to get their vaccinations as soon as possible.

An ambitious event organized by Northern BC Mounties and other Emergency and Law Enforcement responders with the Canadian Cancer Society,   will get underway at mid month and a large volume of readers took in our look at the planning for the Cops For Cancer Tour de North. The Cycling fundraiser which will feature a number of riders from the Prince Rupert area.

The preparation for curbside recycling continues in the Prince Rupert area, our latest look into the topic made note of the introduction of a new weigh scale at the Recycling Centre, though it won't get a lot of use in the short term, with the City of Prince Rupert having suspended the launch of the program until the New Year.

However, the top item of interest for the week takes us to the Election campaign in Skeena Bulkley valley.

Photo and Fealty to Team Trudeau, but little else when it comes to recently acclaimed Skeena-Bulkley Valley candidate  -- With the 2021 Federal election campaign well under way, the Liberal Party of Canada finally shared a few notes on their chosen candidate for Skeena Bulkley valley, With the Party posting a photo of Lakhwinder Jhaj to their Inventory of Candidates, but revealing little else about her or her campaign across the Northwest     (posted August 30, 2021)

That article was followed by: 

Northern Gateway now seems destined to be a narrative for Skeena-Bulkley Valley contest -- It took a bit of of time for a  comment made on a French language television show in Quebec to make it to the Northwest this week. But when it did, an environmental, Indigenous and resource industry issue of the past suddenly vaulted back into the spotlight for the local campaign.    (posted  August 31, 2021) 

Northern Health introduces new COVID related measures fore entire Northern Health Coverage area -- A late Thursday announcement from Northern Health served to reinforce their growing concern over rising cases of COVID in Northern BC, with the Health Authority outlining a range of new measures that will be put in place to work towards reducing those rising counts. The announcement came one day after the BC CDC released the latest local Health data for the Northwest. ( posted September 2 , 2021)

  

Tour de North journey begins in mid September as riders travel from Prince George to Prince Rupert in support of Canadian Cancer Society -- Riders, including a number from Prince Rupert,  hit the road on September 17th as the Tour de North Cops for Cancer journey once again returns to the Prince George to Prince Rupert route.  (posted September 1, 2021) 

Regional District is ready for Curbside recycling ... whenever the City of Prince Rupert is -- A new weigh scale at the Kaien Road Recycling Centre will have to wait to go into its fullest use, that after the City of Prince Rupert postponed the launch of curbside recycling to the start of 2022  (posted September 2, 2021) 

You can find our weekly Blog watching feature posted every Sunday morning by 9AM, making for a handy way to catch up to the week that was, at a leisurely weekend pace.

You can also review the full listings of the week just past, from our Blog Archive index page found on the right hand side of the page.

A note for those that previously used our email alert delivery option, Blogger has discontinued that feature, so we direct you to our CharlesMHays Twitter feed, where we post updates to the blog as we post them.

Our archive of weekly Blog Watching can be found here.   

To view the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.

Provincial Cabinet Ministers have plans for Town Halls for UBCM delegates at 2021 virtual convention

Prince Rupert City Councillors have a week of virtual convention
on the horizon, with the annual UBCM event set for Sept 13-18.
As it was last year, owing to COVID, there will be no travel
required for the Convention which is being held in a virtual format.
(Photo from City of PR info material)

Providing they haven't got virtual convention fatigue by September 17th, the members of Prince Rupert City Council and their Senior staffers, as well as municipal leaders from around the Northwest may want to sit in on some Town Hall events hosted by BC cabinet ministers.

UBCM organizers outlined the project earlier this week, noting of three events of note for community leaders across the province.

The Topic of Supporting resilient Communities is the theme of the first Virtual Town Hall event hosted by Minister of Municipal Affairs Josie Osborne 

She will be joined by Lisa Beare, Minister of Citizen Services Catrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety & Solicitor General and Kelly Greene, Parliamentary Secretary for Environment, with provincial officials looking to hear from delegates as to what is needed to deepen community resiliency.

As leaders in your communities, the work you do every day is critical to supporting resilient communities in an ever-changing world. 

The ministers participating in this session will speak to resiliency from their ministry’s perspective – be it planning for emergencies by becoming a FireSmart community; improving connectivity to broaden educational and economic opportunities; or evolving forestry management practices and learning how to adapt to climate change.

Planning And Building for Growth is the theme for Session Two, lead by Rob Fleming the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

His Cabinet team will consist of David Eby, Attorney General and Minister responsible for Housing Adrian Dix, Minister of Health Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education.

Their discussion with delegates  will focus on  the following theme:

Over the next year, Government will take steps to protect people’s health through the pandemic, while making investments to support a strong recovery and a better future for everyone. 

Together with the direction of local governments, the plan is to support reginal growth planning by building more livable communities with affordable housing options, green transportation infrastructure that saves people time, health care buildings that support locals and an educational system that give our youth a good start in life. 

The conversations of local government leaders with Provincial Ministers and the work we do together will be a critical part in growing local economies and supporting British Columbians.

The final of the three Cabinet Town Halls will explore the topic of a Stronger BC for Everyone, led by Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation.

His panel of ministers will include Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Andrew Mercier, Parliamentary Secretary for Skills Training.

The session will review how the pandemic has challenged the province and will seek out some thoughts on how to help BC's communities thrive post COVID.

The pandemic has challenged B.C. in ways we never imagined and shone a light on the work needed to build a better future for everyone. The ministers and parliamentary secretary participating in this session will highlight the Government’s efforts to build a long-term economic plan that will steer the province through the post-pandemic era. 

The panel will discuss efforts that are underway to improve the economic and social fabric of B.C. - such as expanding a skilled workforce; and creating jobs by reducing climate pollution through CleanBC. 

The panelists will also outline the province’s efforts to provide inclusive, affordable universal childcare. This session provides delegates with an opportunity to share perspectives on what will help your communities thrive in a post-COVID world and to inquire about B.C.’s economic recovery pathway.

The Sessions of the 17th will start at 9:30 AM and run concurrently, which will mean that the City Councillors will have to divide up the list and take in the session that most interests them.

The full week of Convention starts on September 13th, more notes on the run up to UBCM can be found from our Talking Points archive here.

British Columbia Government seeks your feedback on Budget planning for 2022

Through the month of September the British Columbia government will be seeking our views, opinions and feedback on what we believe should be the focus for Premier John Horgan and Finance Minister Selina Robinson when it comes to budget planning for 2022.

Towards this years round of public consultation the Minister of Finance has provided some background notes on the budget planning, which you can review here.

Ms. Robinson's Office has also offered up a few hints on how to deliver your presentation during the consultation period.

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The process also includes a short survey to take if you wish, there are five questions to review with some of the focus on affordable housing and the economic recovery during COVID times.

You can submit your online presentation from this page.

The Deadline to participate in the consultation is Thursday, September 30th at 5PM

Find out more about the process here.

The Select Standing Committee on Finace and Government Services has been meeting through the summer, most recently on Thursday, you can review their sessions from the Legislature Archive page here.

For more notes on the work of MLA's and Government officials from the Legislature see our Archive page.

A September employment search features two options from the City of Prince Rupert

If your plans for the post Labour Day weekend period involves a search for a new career path, the City of Prince Rupert may be able to help your job search out. 

With the City listing two postings on their Help Wanted board as we move into September.

The first is a posting for a position with city's RCMP detachment as a Clerical assistant. 

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The full posting can be reviewed here, deadline for applications is September 10th.

The second job opportunity is that of an After School Program Leader part of the City's after school program planned for the Civic Centre, which will take place between the hours of 3 to 6 PM.

click to enlarge

The full posting for that position can be reviewed here, it's listed as available until filled.

More notes on past City of Prince Rupert job opportunities and labour themes can be reviewed from our archive page here.

Prince Rupert Community Arts Council looks for nominations for Arts Awards program, shares news of involvement with Toronto International Film Festival

An opportunity for two North Coast Artists to receive a financial award of 1,000 dollars is currently in motion, with the Prince Rupert Community Arts Council looking for nominations for their 2021 Arts Award Program.

Two awards are available for the successful nominees to cash in on.

The Outstanding Artist Award for those who put their full time into their arts endeavours and a second Outstanding Artis Award for those who don't rely on the arts for their sole source of Income

The competition is open to residents of Prince Rupert or nearby surrounding communities. (Port Edward, Villages of Lax Kwa’alaams, Kitkatla, Metlakatla and Hartley Bay) though the geographic area stops there, with the competition not open to those in Terrace or beyond or those living on Haida Gwaii.

Up to six finalists will make the shortlist of the nominated entries with the Awards Jury panel then to make the final decisions.

The deadline to submit a nomination is September 30th, with the shortlist to be finalized by November 30th.

The Awards will be announced at and event to be held sometime in January or February of 2022.

More information on the Arts Awards and a link to the nomination form can be reviewed here.

The Prince Rupert Arts Council also shared some exciting news for film goers this week. 

Noting that Prince Rupert has been chosen as one of six Canadians Cities to be part of the Toronto Film Festival this year, with Prince Rupert to host a screening at the Famous Players Prince Rupert Cinemas  of the Spanish/Argentinian entry to this years festival "Official Competition"

You can learn more about the Prince Rupert Community Arts Council's involvement with TIFF and find out more on how to purchase tickets to the Prince Rupert showing here.

To learn more about the Prince Rupert Community Arts Council see their website or Facebook page.

More items of interest on the Arts and Community events on the North Coast can be reviewed from our archive page.

BC Conservation Officers and Tahltan Nation to work together this fall on Wildlife stewardship

Members of the BC Conservation Officer Service and
Department of Fisheries during a Northwest patrol this week
(Photo from BCOS twitter feed)

Travellers in and around the Tahltan Nation will see an increased presence of BC Conservation Officers this fall throughout the territory; that as the provincial agency and Tahltan Guardians work towards a cooperative approach to wildlife stewardship.

An announcement today from the British Columbia government noted how the joint effort is part of a further reconciliation process. As well as to how it respects and supports the Thaltan Nation's work of wildlife population, food security and community safety, while also ensuring hunting access for licensed hunters visiting the Territory this hunting season.

“Wildlife and wildlife management is critically important to the Tahltan way of life. The B.C. and Tahltan governments are committed to working together on wildlife management for the benefit of the Tahltan and all British Columbians. This is part of the reconciliation path that we all walk together in support of prosperity for future generations.” -- Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

Some of the controversy of the past and how a unified approach may provide solutions also made for some of the narrative towards today's relay of information. 

Safety within the Tahltan Territory is of high concern going into the 2021 hunting season. After a contentious hunting season last year, both governments hope that a unified approach, which is respectful of Tahltan traditional and cultural practices on the land, will support a better experience for all hunters in the region, including visitors and Tahltan members as they exercise their constitutionally protected Aboriginal hunting rights.

Chad Day, President of the Tahltan Central Government.  provided the view on how the Tahltan Nation views the initiative and how it will work towards its relationship with the provincial government.

“From birth, Tahltans are taught of their responsibility to steward our land,” said Chad Day, President of the Tahltan Central Government. The Tahltan Central Government will continue working with the province to improve wildlife management in Tahltan Territory grounded in the principles of respect and recognition of Tahltan rights and title. The Tahltan Nation is committed to building a world-class wildlife management regime to help ensure there are plentiful wildlife populations that are properly managed using Tahltan knowledge and modern-day science. I am proud of our accomplishments and excited for what the future holds as we work to evolve and strengthen our relationship with the Province of British Columbia.”

You can review the full statement here.

The BC Conservation Officer Service was recently in the Northwest region working with Department of Fisheries and Oceans  Officers on joint enforcement patrols of area rivers.

More notes on items from the provincial government can be reviewed through our Legislature Archive pages.

Items of interest on Emergency Responders and law enforcement in the region can be reviewed here.

Back to School Tuesday will bring city wide migration for many school administrators

SD52 Superintendent Andrew Samoil has announced
a number of staff movements for the start of the school year

If officials at School District 52 are looking for an anthem for the first week of the 2021-22 school year, they probably can't go wrong with the David Bowie classic, Changes.

When students return to their schools across the city on Tuesday, more than a few changes will have taken place in the administrative offices. 

An announcement from the Prince Rupert School District from this week made note of a number of staff movements to start the year off.

Every school in Prince Rupert and the Port Edward School with the exception of Pacific Coast School will be part of the shuffle, which features eight different administrative assignments, you can review the details from Superintendent of Schools Andrew Samoil below:

Click above to enlarge

Also released this week was the School District 52 Return to School Plan, the document noting of the COVID related measures in place for 2021-22, a return for field trips and school sports and a review of the daily cleaning and disinfecting protocols.

You can review the full document here.

On Monday we noted of a consultation that the School District has launched to learn the preferences of students, staff and parents for information sharing.

Also included in our Monday review, was a link to the Back to School COVID protocol document, that collection of information is described as a living document and will be updated through the year.

You can review it here.

The Back to School Schedule was posted to the SD52 website last month, you can also find out more from the District schools from this link to their individual websites.

For notes on Back to School for the city's Independent School Annunciation, including themes of staff changes for 2021-22 and COVID related items of note see their information flow here.

For more notes related to School District 52, Annunciation School and Schools across the northwest see our archive page here.