Infrastructure money arrives for Prince Rupert

Money from both federal and provincial coffers is making its way towards Prince Rupert, with a number of high profile infrastructure projects the recipient.

This week brought a flurry of advisories for the region as both federal and provincial sources outlined their spending plans for the North Coast.

On Thursday, Ed Fast, the Federal Conservative International Trade and Asia-Pacific Gateway Minister, outlined the scope of 650,130 of federal money that is destined for the city to install a secondary sewage pumping station, which will allow the city to relocate a sewer pipeline way from the Hays Creek stream.

The money that is earmarked for this project is to be taken from the Federal Government's Gas Tax Fund.

Northern View-- Ed Fast promises enough money to cover next phase of project...
CFTK-- Fast Rupert Announcement (video)
CFTK-- Government of Canada contributing 15 Million to Gateway development

While he was in Prince Rupert the Minister also outlined the 15 million dollar investment into the Port of Prince Rupert's Railway Corridor project on Ridley Island. It is the Federal Government's share of the project which previously had tallied up 30 million from CN and the Port, while the Province of BC previously committed its share of 15 million to the project.

Construction on the corridor is expected to begin later this year with a completion timetable to have the project complete by 2014.

Northern View-- Trade Minister promises last of needed funding to build Ridley railway corridor
CFTK-- Government of Canada Contributing 15 Million to Gateway Development in Prince Rupert

Earlier in the week the Province of British Columbia delivered its budget with Finance Minister Kevin Falcon outlining the Provinces spending plans for Northern infrastructure, including the extension of a tax initiative designed to provide a fair and competitive environment. First introduced in 2004 it has provided around 1.3 million dollars annually to the City of Prince Rupert between 2004 - 2008, with inflation based increases in the years that followed that period, originally designed to expire in 2009 with this weeks announcement it has been made a permanent fixture.

The Northern View-- Port Authority happy with budget decision to make tax-breaks for ports permanent
CFTK-- Prince Rupert Port Applauds BC Budget

Derailment closes CN line at Telkwa

A derailment on the CN line near Telkwa on Tuesday afternoon has taken 46 coal cars off the tracks and closed the line between Prince Rupert and Prince George until at least midnight tonight.

The train which was bound for the Ridley Terminals, left the tracks around 2 PM on Tuesday, no injuries were reported and there is no environmental risk according to CN.

CN issued this statement to its website outlining the scope of the derailment.

CN Rail workers are currently on the scene of the derailment to determine the cause and effect the clean up, the line closure will affect both freight and container shipments to the Port of Prince Rupert as well as passenger services through Wednesday.

Opinion 250-- CN hopes to re-open line by midnight
CFTK-- Houston Train Derail (video)
CBC Twitter feed-- Major derailment knocks 46 coal cars off the tracks

Update (Feb 23):  CN advised on their website that the site was cleared as of 0330 AM PST on Thursday, with only minimal delays anticipated as service resumed.

Snowpack levels make for concerns for spring floods

It may be a bit too early to tell just yet, but the Northwest may be in for another interesting year of flood levels, perhaps to bring back memories of a few years back when rivers of the Northwest overflowed their banks at record levels.

The Rivers forecast centre posted a look ahead to the spring melt months and with near record amounts of snow currently atop Northwest mountains, the prospect of flooding in the Northwest is something that the centre has its eye on.

The current level of the snowpack is at 139 percent of normal, as a reference for Northwest residents, the snowpack was at 153 percent of normal in 2006-07, which was the year of the major flooding of the Skeena River, leading to major issues along the Highway 16 corridor.

Weather over the next few months will be the determining factor as to the risk of flooding, higher temperatures will speed up the snow melt and precipitation levels through the spring could provide additional concerns for forecasters.

The Terrace Standard explains the various factors being taken into account by the Rivers Forecast Centre as it watches the snowpack and the effect that it may have on communities at ground level.

A town by any other name should smell so sweet...

According to a professor at the University of the Fraser Valley, confusion between the two Princes, George and Rupert is seemingly holding the former back from its destiny.

Simon Gibson an Business Instructor a the U of FV sent an email to the Mayor of Prince George as well as a number of councillors of that city, outlining how their city should seriously consider changing its name, re-branding the place if you will.

To help get any prospective PG think tank in motion, Gibson offered up the less than inspiring options of Capital North, City of the North, and City of Northern Empire.

All interesting choices, but really not featuring much pizazz, nor imagination.

As it is, the suggestion probably won't be high on the agenda for Prince George City council, which has any number of issues to deal with these days.

A name change is more than likely something that won't see much traction, beyond the history of the city and the attachment that residents of the city may have to their name, the cost alone of changing over the name to something new probably won't resonate very well with tax payers.

Still, in the grip of a Prince George winter, a little wishful thinking probably can't hurt, maybe they can grab Honolulu, it may even bring in some additional tourist traffic.

Though we suspect they would be a little annoyed if they arrived anywhere between November and March...

CBC Northern British Columbia-- A New Name for Prince George?
Opinion 250 -- Business Teacher Suggests P. G. Change it's name

Gateway Pipeline controversy receives an airing in Prince Rupert

The proposed Northern Gateway pipeline project, subject of a bit of discontent for some segments of the North coast population base was the main focus of a two day session of the Enbridge Northern Gateway Joint Review Panel held at Prince Rupert's Chances convention centre.

Coming a week after a high profile protest march through the city by opponents to the Northern Gateway project, an event that has now become  a viral event on YouTube, if nothing else the Enbridge corporation would learn after the weekend sessions that their opponents on the north coast are well organized and have recruited a sizable collective to express their determination to block any prospect of a pipeline across Northern British Columbia

The two days of session on Friday and Saturday provided for a number of presentations on the project, the vast majority of them against the plan by Enbridge energy to ship bitumen through Kitimat, via a pipeline from Alberta's tar sands to the coastal community.

The main thrust of the Prince Rupert interventions was the prospect of oil tankers plying the north coast, whether calling in Kitimat or,  as in an idea floated earlier in the week by Enbridge through Prince Rupert, with a good number of the presentations provided by members of the local fishing union UFAWU, led by city councillor Joy Thorkelson.

As well as the city councillor, presentations were made by local NDP politicians, Gary Coons the local provincial MLA and Nathan Cullen, the federal NDP Member of Parliament and current NDP leadership contender. The latter making good use of the forum to reinforce his environmental profile on the larger stage.

Enbridge's participation for the most part was limited to observation and to receiving the oral presentations against their plan, which by the end of the first day alone, probably left their team to more than likely realize that they weren't going to win over their audience on their talking points.

Controversy seemed to dog these sessions even before they began, Mr. Cullen made much about the attempts to limit the participation in the debate, a theme that some took up as an attempt to muzzle the MP, which probably is not quite correct owing more to the need for time management of the panel review, but the impression that he somehow had seen his participation reduced seems to have become the conventional theme post discussion.

Even before the sessions opened up a microphone, one would be participating group had pulled out of the proceedings, with the Lax Kw'alaams Band announcing that they would not participate in the proceedings.

Once the actual two day sessions were underway, more controversy arrived, this time in the form of a mis-step by the moderators of the discussion, who made a rather serious error in having a First Nations participant, a drummer dressed in traditional regalia from Metlakatla barred from the proceedings, that after the participant had objected to the the course of discussion on Mr. Cullen's speaking time, reportedly shouting in frustration before leaving.

Over a period of time in the proceedings the drummer was allowed to return, but that original expulsion seemed to taint the remainder of the proceedings, with many of the participants making reference to it prior to their own presentations on the theme of the sessions.

As the session came to an end on Saturday, it would be an understatement that the general impression of the presentations was that there was no support for the project among those who had lined up to speak over the two days.

Something that one imagines should not come as a huge surprise to Enbridge, which if it didn't know by now, will have quickly learned after this weekend that the hill to push that rock up is going to be a rather steep one.

After but one session of the tour of protest, Enbridge is already hearing echoes of a debate from the past, that of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline, which in name was approved but in reality has still yet to ever actually make it past much of the planning stage, some three decades later.

It's perhaps a similar battle ahead for the folks at Enbridge, as outlined in the Globe and Mail by Tom Flannagan, who once was a power broker within the old Reform party and now sits in Calgary as an observer, commentator and educator on Western Canadian issues.

On the topic of the Northern Gateway, Flanagan sees many similarities between the Mackenzie Valley debate and the current topic of concern across northern British Columbia.

Flanagan was not alone in his observations of the current state of debate, the Los Angeles Times featured this article in its weekend edition, with a prominent spot on its opening page to the paper's website.  The article looks at the Northern Gateway as a form of defiance against the U. S. and its foot dragging over the Keystone pipeline, it touches on the controversial nature of the Northern Gateway in British Columbia, but it's not the full focus of the article, which offers up more than a few controversial themes of its own.

As for the local and national reviews, for the most part the sense of controversy and strong opposition to the project was the main thrust of the majority of the articles and media contributions, the majority of which you can examine below.


National Post-- First Nations reject alternate Northern Gateway route
CFTK-- Joint Review Panel Day 2 (Video)
CFTK-- Joint Review Panel Day 1 (Video)
CFTK-- Local speakers Take the panel at Saturday's JRP Hearings
The Northern View-- What was said at the Rupert Enbridge hearings
CFTK-- Conservative MP Slams Cullen, RD Rejects Enbridge
Vancouver Observer-- Oil Executive son's testimony at Prince Rupert Northern Gateway ...
Opinion 250-- Joint Review Panel Invited to Taste and Experience Coastal Life
Opinion 250-- Queen Charlotte Regional District Opposes Enbridge Pipeline Project
CBC Northern BC-- Enbridge hearings resume in Prince Rupert
CFTK-- Terrace Council and Enbridge Opposition (Video)
The Northern View--intervenors 'muzzled' at Enbridge hearings in Prince Rupert
CFTK-- Cullen, Enbridge Spar at JRP Hearings in Prince Rupert
CFTK-- First Nation Boycotts JRP Hearings in Prince Rupert
Queen Charlotte Islands Observer-- MP Cullen talks about the land at Enbridge panel hearing
The Northern View-- Run down of 1st day of Prince Rupert hearings on Enbridge pipeline
Marketwire-- Pipeline tensions: Frustration mounts at Review hearings...
Opinion 250-- Enbridge hearings tense in Prince Rupert
CBC Northern BC-- Municipalities consider position on Enbridge pipeline
The Republic-- Enbridge re-examining options on Northern Gateway pipeline route
The Northern View-- Joint Review Panel won't limit speaker's time at Prince Rupert hearings
The Northern View-- Lax Kw'alaams is boycotting Enbridge hearings in Prince Rupert
Vancouver Observer-- Enbridge trying to "silence" speakers at oil sands pipeline hearings: MLA
The Northern View-- MP calls Enbridge request 'suspicious and shameful'
The Northern View-- Enbridge seeking time limit on non-Aboriginal speakers at Prince Rupert hearings
Vancouver Observer-- Nation building: how the Enbridge pipeline issue unified Northern B. C.

Layoffs loom for NWCC

Facing a budget deficit of up to two million dollars, the region's community college has begun the process of determining where to cut costs and save money, taking suggestions from college employees, students and the community, while at the same time seemingly contemplating a plan to embark on a round of layoffs that could affect all campus locations across the Northwest.

The internal discussion on how best to address the budget deficit and  achieve the provincially mandated balanced budget began in January, when word of the need to address the college finances was first released.

From there the college opened up a suggestion box of sorts online, accepting ideas on how the college could achieve its financial goals, a process which brought a wide variety of thoughts, some practical others probably a little out there.

Regardless, as those suggestions were still arriving, the college began the process of what will be layoffs across the Northwest.

While little has been heard in Prince Rupert from the media on the pending layoffs, the story has become one of the top trending ones elsewhere, with the bulk of the reporting on the looming layoffs and cost cutting projects  coming out of the Terrace area, with both the Terrace Standard and CFTK TV providing much in the way of background on the issue.

Some of their findings, as well as other items from other media outlets in the Northwest can be found below.

Terrace Standard-- MLA questions college cuts
Terrace Standard-- College plans to axe more than 30 jobs
Terrace Standard-- College determines laayoff numbers
Terrace Standard-- Union wants college layoff plans stopped
Terrace Standard-- College cuts: Layoffs happening to restore college's financial health
Terrace Standard-- Students rallying against cuts at the college
Terrace Standard-- College layoff notices coming this month
Terrace Standard-- Union, students want gov't to protect college
Terrace Standard-- College layoffs on the horizon
Terrace Standard-- College deficit could now be $2 million
Terrace Standard-- College faces budget crunch

CFTK-- Emotions Run High at NWCC Education Council Meeting
CFTK-- College Cuts Meeting (February 10) (video)
CFTK-- NWCC Says 31.5 Positions need to be Cut to Balance Budget
CFTK-- College Cuts (February 9) (video)
CFTK-- NWCC Students Rally Against tuition hikes
CFTK-- NWCC Student Rally (video)
CFTK-- College Students to Rally Today
CFTK-- NWCC President Warns of Tough Decisions Ahead
CFTK-- NWCC Layoffs (January 27) (video)
CFTK-- Union Leader Visits Terrace to Discuss NWCC Budget Crisis

The Northern View-- Prince Rupert's NWCC campus to host student rally
CBC Radio Daybreak North-- Northern Colleges struggle with budgets
Opinion 250-- More than 30 jobs on the cutting block at NWCC
Opinion 2500- Job cuts looming at NWCC

53rd All Native Tournament comes to an end

Edition number 53 of the All Native Tournament wrapped up over the weekend, the final results providing for some entertaining basketball, with Intermediate final going up to the final shot of the game to decide a winner.

Results and local media coverage of the tournament can be found below.


Masters Division Final

Prince Rupert Coast Trojans  82 -- Greenville 71

Seniors Division Final


Skidegate 107 -- Ahousat 81


Women's Division Final

Nanaimo 69 -- Kitamaat 47

Intermediate Division Final

Ahousat   66 --- Lax Kwa'laams 65

CFNR-- All Native Results All Categories
CFTK-- All Native Winners (February 13)
CFTK-- All Native Competition (February10)
CFTK-- All Native Competition (February 9)
CFTK-- All Native Competition (February 7)
CFTK-- All Native Competition (February 6)
Northern View-- 53rd All-Native Basketball Tournament wraps up in Prince Rupert
Northern View-- Prince Rupert Masters and Nanaimo Women win at All Native Tournament
Northern View-- Nanaimo wins Women's Division
Northern View-- All Native Tournament starts Sunday in Prince Rupert