TUESDAY
S I N C E
1 8 9 5
Angels hoist Golden Boot
SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 Vol. 117, Issue 175
110
$
Page 11
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF
Kootenay unemployment rate higher than provincial figures
ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALM SALMO
TRIKE TREK
Teck admits to downstream pollution BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
The Kootenay region’s unemployment is growing while the rest of the province is dropping, according to recent figures released by Statistics Canada for August. The jobless rate for the Kootenays has risen to 7.8 per cent in the last month, up one percentage point from its 6.8 per cent mark in July. According to Stats Can there are 6,200 people out of work in the Kootenays. However, on the other side of the coin, the province itself gained almost 15,000 jobs in August, dropping the jobless rate to 6.7 per cent—markedly down from the 9.5 per cent position the province held one year ago— as result of higher part-time employment. The August rate was also down from the July rate of seven per cent. B.C. ranks first in job growth since August 2011 compared to other provinces, followed by Alberta, Quebec and Ontario. July saw an increase of 51,700 jobs compared with August 2011. In August there were a further 14,900 jobs created and part-time employment increased by 18,600, despite a decline of 3,700 in full-time positions. Overall, B.C.’s labour force increased by 8,200 people in August and now stands at 2,488,300. Compared with one year ago, B.C.’s labour force has increased by 34,600 people. But the province still has some work to do to get people some work to do. B.C. has the highest jobless rate in Western Canada. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.3 per cent. Vancouver’s unemployment figure was unchanged at 6.8 per cent, Victoria’s jumped to 5.9 per cent from 5.6, and Kelowna’s figure tumbled to 4.1 per cent from 6.1 in July.
Piazza Day this Saturday
BREANNE MASSEY PHOTO
Fay McLintock, 68, took advantage of Monday’s blue sky to get out on her trike. McLintok peddles her bike roughly three kilometres in Fruitvale three times per week.
BY BREANNE MASSEY Times Staff
The Sisters of Colombo and the Men’s Lodge are hosting the third annual Colombo Piazza Day this Saturday. The community is invited to the piazza between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to celebrate the area’s abun-
dant Italian community. The event starts off with classic Italian snacks, like sausages, polenta, gelato and pizza. For the first time ever, the Wiley family will be selling food from Woodstove Rustic Pizza. Tickets for food items are $1 each.
Teck has admitted in a U.S. court that more than 100 years of historic effluent from its mining and smelting operations in Trail have polluted the Columbia River in Washington. Teck Metals made the “admission of fact” in a lawsuit brought by Colville Confederated Tribes over environmental damage caused by the effluent discharges dating back to 1896. As a result, the company has entered into an agreement regarding certain facts with the plaintiffs—in Pakootas et al versus Teck Metals Ltd.—in civil court proceedings under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Under the agreement Teck stated some hazardous substances in the slag and effluent discharged from the Teck Trail Operations between 1896 and 1995 ended up in the Upper Columbia River in the U.S. Teck communications manager Richard Deane said the court proceedings are one more step in the process of righting the alleged wrong. “The hurdle for establishing (discharge) is very low,” said Deane. “It takes only a molecule of a hazardous substance to be released to meet that requirement.” The litigation will ultimately establish what level of restoration, if any, is needed to restore natural resources that may have been injured by historic Trail Operations releases, and determine if any monetary compensation is due to the Colville Tribes or the State of Washington for their response costs. Deane says the agreement prevents what could have been a long and costly trial on the matters of fact, one that was expected to commence Monday if the agreement had not been made. “This agreement on these facts will preclude the requirement to have a legal proceeding to in effect determine these exact set of facts,” said Deane.
There will be tables in the park, but event organizers have urged everyone to come equipped with lawn-chairs and some sunscreen. There will be music, face painting and many more children’s activities. In addition, the archives room
See OTHER, Page 3 in the Colombo Lodge will be open from noon until 2 p.m. Long time members of the Colombo, Tony Morelli and Victoria Bisaro will be on-site to show guests around and answer questions. Colombo Piazza Day takes place at 584 Rossland Ave. between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Contact the Times: Phone: 250-368-8551 Fax: 250-368-8550 Newsroom: 250-364-1242
7ANETA 0LAZA IS HERE FOR ALL YOUR SHOPPING NEEDS • Ardene • Athlete’s World • Bogie & Bacall Hair Salon • Bootlegger • Crockett Book Company • Dollarama • McAuley’s No Frills • No Frills Pharmacy
• Pro Vision Optical • Red Cross Loan Cupboard • Reitmans • Ricki’s • Suzanne’s • The Source • Waneta Gas Bar • Waneta Plaza Lottery Ticket Centre
• Warehouse One The Jean Store • Your Vitamin Store • Zellers • Zellers Pharmacy Financial • Kootenay Savings Credit Union ATM • Scotiabank
Restaurants / Food Court • Clive’s Coffee Bar • Colander Express • Eastern Wok • Sushiyo • Tim Horton’s
2nd Floor Professional Offices • Dr. DeGreef, Plastic Surgeon • Dr. Le Moel, Chiropractor • Dr. Morency, Ophthalmologist • Septen Financial Ltd • Waneta Primay Care Clinic
Free parking • Free kids playroom and ball pit • Late Night Shoppng Thurs. & Fri. to 9pm
250.368.5202 250 368 5202
Canada Post, Contract number 42068012
5 min. east of Trail on Hwy 3B