Artists: No joking around about Cow High’s artistic talent page 21 Good Life: Duncan man decides that carving really floats his boat page 17 For all the news of the Cowichan region as it happens, plus stories from around British Columbia, go to our website www.cowichannewsleader.com Your news leader since 1905
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Premier Clark gives North Cowichan and Catalyst her ear
Sabrina Ward of 4Cats Arts Studio adds her artistic expression to the mural on a wall put up by Rock Steady Restoration around The Red Balloon Toy Store on Craig and Station Street on Monday, May 21.
Calling Christy: Lefebure upbeat after summit to address how province can help beleaguered firm Catalyst’s mills. Those lifelines were also suggested last week by Paul Zarry of Crofton mill’s 380-member orth Cowichan Pulp, Paper, and Woodworkers of Mayor Jon LefeCanada union. bure was upbeat A complex bid to help the ¿rm about Crofton pulp meet its pension payments to remill’s future after tired workers was also discussed, Tuesday’s meeting in Victoria the mayor said. with the premier and “The premier was Catalyst Paper brass. listening,” Lefebure “It’s absolutely great,” said. Lefebure told the News Kevin Clarke was Leader Pictorial after also slated to visit the brainstorming huddle the Crofton mill this with Premier Christy afternoon, his staff Clark, Catalyst CEO said. Neither he, nor a Kevin Clarke, and rrepresentative of the deputy-¿nance minister Christy Clark: ppremier’s of¿ce was direct contact Peter Milburn. available for comment “Catalyst is a large part bby press time. of our provincial economy, andd it Catalyst is now undergoing would be crazy for the province what’s called a SISP, or Sales and and Catalyst not to have a good Investor Solicitation Procedures working relationship. concerning prospective buyers. “I’d say there’s been more diKeeping jobs, pensions and rect contact between the province taxes alive in Crofton is the goal and Catalyst than ever before.” of valley MLA Doug Routley That’s good news to Lefebure who demanded Monday in the if it helps keep the 700-worker Crofton mill alive as North Cow- legislative question period that the province get to the table with ichan’s biggest taxpayer. Catalyst and the province to help It paid the municipality about the struggling company. $5.4 million in taxes last year. Routley stopped short today of Also present were union agents, suggesting a provincial bailout as well as Port Alberni Mayor John Douglas of Port Alberni, and for Catalyst. “I can’t prescribe what the comMayor Dave Formosa of Powell pany needs, but I’m sure we’d in the stabbing case of Cowichanian Leon River — two other B.C. towns have been at the table,” Routley where the ¿nancially troubled Jack. said of the opposition NDP. Thomas was arrested by North Cowichan paper giant runs mills. He noted Crofton’s workers Lefebure stressed there was no /Duncan RCMP March 6 after Jack, 48, have taken a hit in wages and request by Catalyst boss Clarke was stabbed multiple times in the chest bene¿ts to help Catalyst’s bottom and abdomen beside the Cowichan River’s for a bailout of his Àoundering line while North Cowichan homcompany. black bridge, police have said. eowners face an average of $275 Instead, ideas were mulled A suspected carving-type knife was later in tax uplifts come July, through about ways for reducing hydro found in the river by Mountie divers, the rates and provincial sales taxes at council’s tax shift from the mill. RCMP said. Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
Andrew Leong
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Woman elects jury trial in Cowichan River knife attack
A
ttempted-murder suspect Terri-Lynn Thomas elected trial by judge and jury during her appearance in Duncan criminal court Tuesday, court registry staff say. A ban on publication prevents full details about what was said during Thomas’ court appearance with lawyer Scott Sheets, before Judge Adrian Brooks.
Duncanite Thomas, 43, will next appear in court June 12 for a pre-trial conference, then again on June 19 to ¿x a date for a preliminary inquiry, staff said. Thomas was released Tuesday on various conditions. Staff noted Thomas pleaded guilty to breach of previous conditions of her release. She is charged with attempted murder
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