Inside
◆ Mischief at Tache P. 9 ◆ Grad & motherhood P. 5
PHONE: 996-8482 www.caledoniacourier.com
WEDNESDAY, June 27, 2012
NEWS BRIEFS
◆ Mini Soccer Tournament P. 12 ◆ Rally against the budget P. 8
VOL. 35 NO. 17 $1.34 inc. GST
National Aboriginal Day
Aboriginal scholarships announced KPMG’s Aboriginal Services team announced the Aboriginal Scholarship Program for the 2012 / 13 academic year. The scholarship opportunity was announced on National Aboriginal Day in Canada. KPMG will award five scholarships valued at $1,500 each to Aboriginal students across Canada enrolled in a postsecondary institute. Applications are now being accepted until August 2, 2012. Visit www.kpmg. com and look under What we do for further details and to download the application.
Principal McCormick set to retire Sowchea Elementary Principal Cam McCormick is set to retire. At the annual yearend assembly next week, when students and teachers are recognized, McCormick will be saying goodbye to the school as he passes the torch to Margaret Mattes, who will be taking over for him in the fall. The assembly starts at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 28.
A young Nadleh Whut’en dancer looks up to her balloon while waiting for performance time. The dancers from Fraser Lake were one of the many highlights of the day of fun and informative activities, including incredible fireworks. For more photos see Page 6. Ruth Lloyd Photo
No easy answers Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier It became clear from the presentations to the Special Committee on Timber Supply on June 20, the committee has a tough job ahead. The committee heard from community leaders, industry and forest professionals in a packed Music Makers Hall last week. The committee is travelling around the province getting input on options put forward to help mitigate the impacts of the upcoming decline in the supply of wood fiber available to the interior of British Columbia’s forest industry. The committee was struck to attempt to address the upcoming decline in timber supply in the province after the Pine Beetle epidemic. They will be asking for input on options to mitigate the loss of about 10 million cubic metres of wood a year, which is about 20 per cent of the interior’s wood supply. This represents the wood needed to supply approximately eight sawmills and the reduction in supply is expected to take place
within two to 10 years. The decline is a result of the rapid increase in the annual allowable cut to harvest the dead standing pine which had been damaged by the beetle infestation but if left would be unsalvageable for any economic benefits. Seven MLAs from both the Liberals and the NDP make up the committee and the group is traveling around the province to conduct a series of formal meetings where local governments, First Nations, industry and public can present. The committee was asking for input on a number of recommendations which could increase the timber supply and if they were to be implemented, which areas require changes to legislation. The recommendations included allowing harvest in some protected areas including reducing some of the Visual Quality Objectives, which prevented logging of the views around towns, parks or along highways to protect tourism and other aesthetic values. Mayor Rob MacDougall said a few words before turning over the presentation to Ross Hamilton of
KDL, the company managingthe community forest for the community. Hamilton gave a very thorough response to the points being looked at by the committee as potential sources of increased timber supply. Overall, Hamilton said the opportunity to increase timber supply by changes to allow harvesting in protected areas are limited and could impact certifications of wood products which may then impact the producers ability to sell their end products. He also expressed concern over the actual inventory numbers of available wood, which he suggested should be assessed in order to properly plan the harvest of the mid-term timber. Many of the presenters mentioned keeping the resource within the area, to ensure the local community is sustainable, with the notable exception of both the Sinclar Group and Dunkley Lumber, which would like to be able to ensure their ability to continue to move logs to their mills in other communities. Continued on Page 3
One more pipeline? Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier A delegation from TransCanada Corporation and the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd.will be attending a council meeting on June 27 at 6 p.m.. The director of project planning and the community relations advisor for the company are expected to speak. The company said the meeting is to try and get to know the mayor and council and learn how to best communicate with the community. The pair will provide information on a proposed natural gas pipeline through the area which is in its preliminary stages of planning. The Coastal GasLink Pipeline would carry liquified natural gas from Dawson Creek, B.C. to Kitimat, B.C. and would be part of the proposed liquified natural gas project which includes a liquified natural gas facility near Kitimat, B.C. by LNG Canada. The company’s website said it does not yet have a specific route determined, but environmental field studies are planned to begin in either 2012 or early 2013.