100 Mile House
Seedy Saturday
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Another South Cariboo grow-op busted
Local wrestlers do well at Smackdown
Shirley Canning knows all about the Royal Family
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MARCH 14, 2012
• 40 Pages • One Section
$1.34 includes HST
Gateway water concerns voiced
explains, but a 15 per cent increase over five years. “That is three per cent a year, which just barely covers the cost of inflation. “The [B.C. Liberal government] is providing some of the facts, but not providing all of them ... it is leaving the public no other option but to form a biased opinion based on what it said.” Regarding the three days teachers were off the job on strike action last week, Erb confirms those teachers lost three
Mixed feelings were evident at a March 7 meeting held for residents of Gateway to determine the level of interest in the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) replacing the community’s private water system. While most current customers of the aging system slated to be shut down this year are expressing interest in a CRD takeover, several area residents continue to voice concerns about potential financial liabilities. Brenda Beebe says she’s unhappy with lack of a vote in the decision for her and others in Gateway not interested in being a water customer (present or future). CRD staff has confirmed any residents who don’t sign on won’t have to pay for the system, but Beebe says she is dissatisfied she can’t get that assurance in writing. “Their verbal assurances that we will not be charged for the new system are meaningless. What worth is that? They intend to make us pay.” One reason she’s concerned about this happening, Beebe explains, is her belief a new system will cost far more than the potential 15 or 20 water customers can pay for. CRD Area L Director Margo Wagner says there are three public steps for moving forward with the plans for a CRD system, if residents choose to pursue that option.
See BCTF… page 5
See WATER… page 3
Chris Nickless photo
Tight squeeze... Central RV Ramblers Novice hockey team members Nicholas Smith, left, Treyden Christopher, Max Holzapfel and Florian Holzapfel had fun at the Chevrolet Sonic Cram event during the 100 Mile House Novice Hockey Tournament at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre, March 9-11. Each of the eight participating teams were challenged by Central GM to stuff at least 14 of their players, dressed in hockey gear, into the Sonic.
Teachers rebut government’s rebuttal Carole Rooney Free Press
Cariboo-Chilcotin Teachers’ Association president Joan Erb discredits the recent Ministry of Education Information
The Voice of the South Cariboo Since 1960 How to reach us: Ph: 250-395-2219 Fax: 250-395-3939 www.100milefreepress.net mail@100milefreepress.net
Bulletin: BCTF Claims and facts, as “a manipulation of information to gain support.” One of the items of contention listed on the bulletin pertains to the issue of wage increases for teachers. The ministry’s bulletin states the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) claims its “contract demands are reasonable,” while the “fact” is “a 15 per cent wage increase at a cost of $2 billion is completely unreasonable, given the current economic reality.” The $2-billion figure
was already stated by the government and its bargaining agent as its estimate for wages plus all the various benefits BCTF asked for, Erb says, adding it is five times the earlier estimates for wage increases at $431 million. The bulletin statement is also a change from Education Minister George Abbott’s March 6 statement on the financial impact of the total cost of all demands: “... government has clearly and consistently stated the BCTF’s demands for a $2-billion increase to wages and benefits are
completely unreasonable given the current economic reality.” Erb adds these issues “never even made it into discussions” at the bargaining table, due to the province’s net-zero cost increase mandate. “I think they are starting to scramble and say things that are halftruths. The $2 billion is a perfect example; our wage increase would not be $2 billion, but they’re making it sound like it would.” Teachers are not asking for a 15 per cent annual wage increase, she