MLA's Week: October 23-26, 2023

The Members of the Legislature continued on with debate on a number of pieces of Legislation as part of the Fall session, with Housing and Public Safety Bills among the key elements up for review and royal assent on the week.

This week saw both Skeena MLA Ellis Ross and North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice make contributions to the Chamber discussion on Wednesday.

The provincial Short Term Rental Legislation gained Royal Assent this week, a topic on note in Prince Rupert, with Mayor Herb Pond providing a synopsis of the impact to the Legislation for the community.

Short Term Rental legislation from the Province welcomed by Mayor Pond 

The week concluded with a Gala Presentation at Government House to award the Premier's Awards for Excellence in Education, which featured Prince Rupert's Roberta Edzerza among the honourees.

Honours for Roberta Edzerza, named to the Premier's Awards for Excellence in Education 

As for more on the recent week of work from the House, the four days unfolded as follows:

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On the week, Ms Rice was mentioned once for the week in the  Legislature from October 23-26, 2023.

Wednesday afternoon the MLA spoke in the Statements portion of the Legislature day, to share some observations on the recent Totem Pole raising at Galloway Rapids rest area in Prince Rupert.

MLA Rice shares thoughts on Saturday's Galloway Rapids Totem Pole raising with members of BC Legislature.  

The North Coast MLA is also a member of the Following committees:

Select Committee on Children and Youth

Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs

Select Standing Committee on Education

Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills 

The MLA Is also Deputy Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts 

Ms. Rice serves as the Government's Parliamentary Secretary for Rural health.

The North Coast MLA also addressed a range of themes and relayed  a number of government announcements through her Social Media Stream.

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For our readers from the Terrace-Kitimat region, Skeena MLA Ellis Ross  was mentioned three times in the record for the week in the Legislature from October 23-26, 2023.

All of his commentary for the week in the Legislature Chamber came on Wednesday.

The first was through some introductions of visitors in the Gallery, Mr. Ross noting of the presence of a number visitors including the Mayor of Terrace (13:38 PM)

Later in the session the MLA also provided a statement following the passing of Dave LaVallie, with Mr. Ross noting of the important he had for the Haisla in their work on LNG development  (13:50 PM)

The MLA also participated in the debate over Short Term Rentals, speaking in favour of BC United amendments for the Legislation.

Skeena MLA speaks in support of BC United Amendments to BC governments' Short tErm rental legislation 

Mr. Ross serves as the BC United critic on LNG and Energy

The Skeena MLA has not been named to any of the Standing Committees for this session.

The Skeena MLA also addressed a range of themes  featured as part of the MLA's social media work.

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For our readers from the Bulkley Valley area, Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen  was not mentioned once  in the record for the week in the  Legislature from October 23-26, 2023.

The Stikine MLA is not currently assigned to any Parliamentary Committees.  

Mr. Cullen serves as the Government's Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

The MLA did have numerous appearances over the last four days related to the work of his Ministerial duties.

Mr. Cullen has also seen some additions made to his Cabinet Portfolio, with the transfer of a number Provincial Acts now part of his portfolio. 

The Stikine MLA also had comments on a range of themes through his Social Media stream this week

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There is more background on all three Regional MLA's available from our MLA's Week Archive, as well as our constituency archives below. 

North Coast Constituency

Skeena Constituency

Stikine Constituency

Members return to their work on Monday at the Legislature.

A larger overview of provincial issues can be found on our Political portal D'Arcy McGee. 

CIHL's Two top teams go head to head in Showdown at the Jim Saturday

The Ice is clean as is the scoreboard ahead of this weekends
match up between Nechako North Stars and Prince Rupert Rampage 

It's still relatively early in the CIHL season, but this weekend will bring the two teams with hottest start to the 2023-24 campaign to the ice at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre.

The Nechako North Stars with a 3-1 record so far make the trip down the Highway 16 corridor for the Saturday night rendezvous with the Rampage, the home side undefeated since the season launch on September 30th the Rhinos hoping to preserve their status by the time the final whistle blows.

To shut down the North Stars, the Rampage will have to keep Tyler Turgeon  and Landon Kitchen in check they lead the team with Turgeon the goal scorer and Kitchen the most proficient helper after four games.

On the home bench, Judd Repole and Tyler Halliday will be looking to stay hot the two have a combined 12 points so far followed by a solid cast just below them on the scoring table.

When it comes to stopping the puck, the Rampage have the edge, with Kieran Sharpe second overall in the Legion of Goaltenders, boasting a 2.67 Goals Against Average and a save percentage of .893.

The night could be a long one, with both teams far and away ahead of others in the league on penalty time served, the Rampage to this weekend have spent 123 minutes in a penalty box, the North Stars 116, suggesting that neither team will be letting any liberties be taken during play or after the whistle.

The North Stars will go into Saturday night looking to get a jump into their weekend play, they also have a stop in Terrace on Sunday afternoon, making their visit to the Jim that much more important towards a successful Northwest swing.

Game Time Saturday is 7PM.

As they do before each home game, the Rampage have made the call to the ranks of the PRMHA, with Rylan Williams the prospect set to take to the ice with the team on Saturday night.

Keep up with the latest news from the Rampage room from their social media stream.

A wider overview of CIHL Notes and our Rampage themes can be explored through our archive page.

Honours for Roberta Edzerza, named to the Premier's Awards for Excellence in Education

Roberta Edzerza, District Principal of Indigenous Education with SD 52
with North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice at the Premier's Awards for 
Excellence in Education last night in Victoria
(from MLA Rice's FB)

A long time educator and mentor with the Prince Rupert School District has been honoured by the Province of British Columbia this week. 

At an event last night at Government House in the provincial capital, Roberta Edzerza, District Principal of Indigenous Education with School District 52 was  celebrated  by the Premiers Award of Excellence in Education.

Ms. Edzerza joined 33 other recipients in education honoured for their work.

Each recipient received a $2,000 personal bursary for professional learning, a $1,000 contribution to their school for professional learning, and a commemorative trophy. 

The Premier's recognition program was launched in 2018, the awards honour public, independent and First Nations school teachers, support staff, principals, vice-principals, as well as school and district leaders, who all go above and beyond to make life better for K-12 students throughout the province.

Leading off the local salutes towards her achievement on the provincial scene was North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice and the City of Prince Rupert, both sharing their congratulations through social media.

Councillor Reid Skelton Morven also noted of the achievement.

As more notes of congratulation come in, we will add them to the rolls here.

More on the Premier's Awards for Excellence in Education can be reviewed here.

The full list of the Class of 2023 can be reviewed from the statement today saluting their achievement

You can learn more on some of the work of Ms. Edzerza from the SD52 website here and here.

Additional notes on education in Prince Rupert can be reviewed here.

Prince Rupert RCMP have some Halloween Safety tips as the weekend lead up to Halloween gets underway

Some helpful tips for Goblins, ghouls and all other entities of Halloween trick or treaters is available through the Prince Rupert RCMP Social Media stream, 

That as the members of the Prince Rupert Detachment getsready for a busy Tuesday night ahead as the Big night arrives for the youth of the Region.

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The Halloween period is a busy one for the community with a growing number of spooktacular events taking place through the weekend on the way to Tuesday's trick or treating. 

The first event goes this evening at the Nisga'a Hall and the much anticipated Haunted House courtesy of the youth of the Gitmaxmak'ay Nisga'a Society in Prince Rupert and Port Edward.

That event gets underway at 6 PM, you can review some of the other events we took note of from our notes of earlier this week.

More notes on community events can be reviewed here.

A look at the work of Emergency Responders across the Northwest is available here. 

With colder weather ahead, PNG outlines Furnace Replacement program

The frost on the car windows each morning is another sign that winter weather is not that far off in the future now, and as we get into the colder months of December through March, the pressure will be on your home furnace to keep you in the heated comfort you desire. 

If however your furnace may be on its way out ... Pacific Northern Gas has some notes on a Furnace Replacement Program with rebates of up to 5,000 dollars  for those who are Income Qualified to participate in it.

The program began on September 1st and will come to an end by December 31st 2024 or until the funding available has been fully allocated.

Some of the details towards the program are explained below:

click to enlarge 

The Income Qualification table that they note of is as follows:

click to enlarge 

More information on the program can be reviewed here.

You can contact PNG For more information call toll free at 1-800-667-2297 or email them at savingenergy@png.ca

MOre notes related to Natural Gas service in the Northwest see our archive page here.

City update on Canfisco Warehouse work notes of how roofing work to be paid for

There's an update today towards a story we noted on Thursday that of ongoing work at the City leased property of the Canfisco Warehouse  on George Hills Way, with the city noting that there has been a change towards how the work has been taken on.

In their statement from the city's website this morning the city observes that the cost item from the 2023 Budget is now being covered by the building owners, which would be the Pattison Group which also owns the now closed Canadian Fish Plant.

The notice also observes as to the critical nature of the repairs, as well as to salute the work done inside the facility by Prince Rupert Gymnastics and their corporate sponsors. 

More notes on civic operations can be reviewed through our archive page.

City Council's Conversation Piece in clear view ... but no conversation on water issues sparked by it on Monday night

The giant piece of rusted out water pipe that serves as the centrepiece for the City Council chamber desk is supposed to represent the singular focus for Council members on the city's water infrastructure woes.

Though on Monday evening it was mainly just another piece of furniture and hardly made for the thing of a conversation starter.

At the October 10th Council session, Mayor Herb Pond pointed to the pipe and highlighted what it represents for Council and how it would serve as their guiding star until the water issues in the community were resolved.

"That's why we put that pipe in the middle of that table, we want to be reminded at every single meeting, every time staff gather around this table, they are talking to each other over that piece of pipe. 

Because there is nothing that we are working on that comes close to the importance of getting that piece of infrastructure replaced". -- Mayor Herb Pond at City Council on October 10th

Yet just two weeks later, you'd be hard pressed to think that there was anything to talk about, that despite a rather concerning situation  on October 17th that had Mayor Pond proclaiming near Armageddon in media reports.

Mayor Pond explains Tuesday night water issue to CBC Vancouver as 'Armageddon like"
Prince Rupert still awaiting federal funds after major water main break
Prince Rupert Water System Collapsing (video)
Boil Water Notice issued in Prince Rupert as crews work tirelessly overnight to patch new water main breaks

On Monday, in the period of thirty minutes where the Council members spoke on civic matters, they took a pass on any kind of update from the Operations Director, his report on the progress for Major Projects including the city's water issues, passing through the session with nary a word.

In the free form conversation period that wraps up the council night, they spoke to items such as road safety, the city's potential rekindling of relations with a twin city in China and recounted the community event from last weekend of the totem pole raising at Galloway Rapids.

The only nod to the events of October 17th a mention in passing, that the city workers had been celebrated by the Mayor earlier that same day at a long service ceremony and how they had then taken up their tools to head for Montreal Circle to tend to what the Mayor described as the "event'

"In the same day, the same day that afternoon our fire fighters went to a call where they were able to save two lives and our public works employees went to that event that took place on Montreal Circle and worked their buns off all night long and got water back on with the help of contractors. 

You know so ... at lunch time I'm thanking them and before the days out they've done more  heroic service ... we work with a great group of people here and they deserve to be recognized"

Considering the list of items since their last session  that the Council members felt deserved our attention on Monday ...  they left the one significant item from the last seven days that many in the community were talking about, off of their talking points list.

An important topic that if they are truly inclined to keeping the community informed  towards, proved to be another missed opportunity for more expansive information sharing.

What has been shared to date on the city's infrastructure work can be reviewed through our archive page.

A review of what was discussed on Monday at the Council session can be reviewed here.