100 Mile House
Battison updates New Prosperity project plans
100 Mile rugby players learning as they go
100 Mile’s first mountie visits community
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OCTOBER 17, 2012
Bantam hockey action
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• 52 Pages • Two Sections
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Small slaughterhouses considered by new agriculture minister Carole Rooney
mandate now. “We discussed the lack of slaughterhousAfter a lengthy spate es, what’s happening, of local lobbying for a and we are continuing new abattoir in the South to pursue what we purCariboo spanning several sued with the minister years, smaller meat pro- of health [Mike de Jong] ducers here and across the that was turned down, province may on veterinary catch a break inspection.” when it comes Letnick says to slaughter small abattoirs capacity. that were shut N e w l y down under appointed the tight rules Agriculture may rise again Minister Norm in regional Letnick says it slaughterhouses, may be time to and potentially take another new licences, look at the strict to rejuvenate Norm Letnick slaughterhouse the industry. regulations in Barnett and British Columbia. the local duo of lobby C a r i b o o - C h i l c o t i n leaders have put togethMLA Donna Barnett says er a new case that also she “won’t take her foot encompasses other comout of the door” when munities in the Okanagan it comes to pursuing red and Peace Country strugmeat slaughter capacity gling with the same lack for the South Cariboo. of red meat abattoirs. Barnett adds she met “This is a British with Letnick recently to Columbia issue and I am discuss the issues, along not going to let it rest until with an area rancher and we get some resolve.” a local food security advoTheir new proposal cate who remain active has “lots of new informalobbyists toward regain- tion” that shows where ing a local abattoir. the industry sat 10 years “The new minis- ago, where it is now and ter does have meat “the hardships that are processing under his being created” for producers. Otherwise, there will The Voice of the be no local beef producSouth Cariboo Since ers left, she explains. “You cannot be success1960 ful [in ranching] without How to reach us: Ph: 250-395-2219 having an affordable facilFax: 250-395-3939 ity – slaughterhouse – and www.100milefreepress.net mail@100milefreepress.net a processor to deal with PM 40021189 your meat.” She adds controlling meat safety with vet Free Press
See ABATTOIR… page A7
Chris Nickless photo
Prestigious cinnamon buns... Volunteer Brooke Evans handed Ted Pincott a basket of fresh cinnamon buns from BJ’s Donuts & Eatery, after he successfully outbid others at the Ducks Unlimited dinner auction fundraiser at the 108 Community Hall on Oct. 13. The auction is always a big highlight at the annual event.
Post-beetle forestry plan released Carole Rooney Free Press
The B.C. Liberal government has released its plan for managing mid-term timber supply in the wake of a decade of mountain pine beetle infestation. Beyond the Beetle: A Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan addresses how the province will respond to the recommendations of its select standing committee, with numerous new or “sus-
“
It really frustrates me the true facts don’t get [portrayed]. It’s all about an election and it’s all about scaring the hell out of communities and workers.”
tained” actions. One new action will see the revisitation of sensitive areas and land-use plans under a sciencebased framework and consultation with First Nations, local governments and stakeholders. The B.C. Council of Forest Industries
Donna Barnett applauds the report, and says it puts “a sharper focus” on increasing the mid-term timber supply, and provides for better utilization of non-saw log timber for bioenergy and other purposes. Critics of the plan describe it as threatening old-growth forests, but
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says that is not true. “The Opposition is stating that ... we’re going to go and slash and burn into sensitive areas, the old growth. We are not; that is incorrect.” Barnett was a member of the all-party Special Committee on Mid-term Timber Supply, and says the committee agrees there is a need to go into these sensitive areas to See TIMBER… page A3