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OCTOBER 30, 2012
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Vol. 60, Issue 209
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Northern B.C. mines not set in stone
Mandarin not required for potential mines, MLA says. But skills to work in underground coal mines are increasingly rare in Canada ANNALEE GR ANT Townsman Staff
Temporary foreign workers are necessary to ensure investment in B.C.’s mining industry, says MLA Bill Bennett.
Bennett, also Minister for Community, Sport and Cultural Development, said temporary foreign workers from China will be brought in to do initial
Cougar spotted in Marysville neighbourhood C AROLYN GR ANT bulletin@cyberlink.ca
A cougar was sighted in Marysville on Sunday evening, and it wasn’t even trying to keep to the shadows and not be seen, says resident Ellie Brouer. Brouer lives on 310th Street in Marysville and her house is surrounded by others. She says she is about four houses down from the Rails to Trails. She says Sunday evening, her 19-year old son was home and watched a cougar try to run into their backyard. “The cougar was chasing prey and ran into the mesh fence around the yard,” she said. “I don’t think he saw it. My son watched it. It looked like it got caught up in the mesh for a bit
and then got out. He took his prey across the street and finished it off.” Brouer says her son thought the prey was a young black dog. She says her son thought of following in his car to keep an eye on the cougar, but lost sight of it. “I called the CO,” Brouer said. “He took a report but that’s all. But my thought was, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s only three days to Halloween, there will be kids everywhere.’” Meanwhile Marilyn Bancks, principal of Marysville Elementary, says there was a report last week of a cougar on Main Street and a message was sent home to parents. She said the school would notify parents again to be cautious.
samples at proposed coal mines in northern B.C. that will utilize longwall mining techniques. Once the sampling has been done and should the mine go ahead, Bennett said the provincial government will look at ensuring Canadian miners can fill
the jobs longterm. “There will be no opportunity, no need to train anyone, unless this bulk sample is taken and a decision made to build the mine — and that can’t happen without these temporary foreign workers,” Bennett said.
The jobs were posted by HD Mining, Canadian Kailuan Dehua Mines, and Canadian Dehua International Mines Group. The United Steelworkers have slammed the provincial government for not ensuring B.C. residents were eligible for the job.
They point to a job application dated October 12 that required workers speak Mandarin. “Never in the history of Canadian mining have we ever seen a requirement to speak Mandarin mentioned in
a posting for a job in a Canadian mine,” said Steve Hunt, the Steelworkers’ Western Canadian director. “A requirement like that automatically eliminates the vast majority of Canadian job applicants
See UNDERGROUND , Page 4
CRANBROOK FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES AND CITY OF CRANBROOK.
Councillor Sharon Cross actions a small blaze during recent Fire Ops 101 training. Cranbrook’s mayor, city councillors and staff took part in the event, hosted by Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services. See more, Page 3.
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