Quesnel Cariboo Observer
www.quesnelobserver.com A17
Friday, November 30, 2012
REGIONAL NEWS
Quesnel & District Hospice Palliative Care Association
thanks all our wonderful volunteers, local merchants, artists, donors and supporters for helping us support ongoing Hospice Palliative Care services in Quesnel by raising $19,811.00 at our Taste of Quesnel, Variety Dinner and Artisan Auction Please show your appreciation to them by shopping local. Winner of Pat Hartley’s watercolour “Blackwater Country” framed by “Carrie’s Custom Picture Framing” is Cindy Osip.The VIP table raffle was won by Linda Olsen.
This year our annual event sponsors are:
The Novak Family Foundation • Quesnel Cariboo Observer • Service Electric Ltd. Our THANKS to the amazing artists, donors, merchants and supporters for their contributions.
Finance minister Mike de Jong delivers a bleak deficit forecast. Black Press photo
B.C. deficit forecast grows again TOM FLETCHER Black Press
The B.C. government has increased its deficit forecast for the second time this fiscal year, citing lower revenues from coal sales and continuing low price and sales volume of natural gas. A slow real estate market has also reduced provincial revenues from the property purchase tax and provincial property tax for schools, Finance Minister Mike de Jong said Wednesday. De Jong released the finance ministry’s second-quarter update, forecasting that the deficit will reach $1.47 billion by the time the fiscal year ends March 31. That’s an increase of $328 million from the first-quarter forecast released in September. The September deficit forecast was up $173 million from last February’s budget, attributed mostly to a drop in natural gas prices and sales volume due to oversupply in the North American market. The finance ministry says natural gas prices and revenues have been flat since September, but coal and property tax revenue are driving a drop of $202 million in expected revenues to the provincial treasury since then. De Jong said despite the slide in revenues, he is still on track to balance the 2013 budget when he presents it in the legislature on Feb. 19. That promise is also featured in the government’s current round of advertising to promote its jobs plan. Speaking for the NDP opposition, MLA Carole James said she does not believe the next budget will be truly balanced, despite a plan to sell government assets that she likened to “selling the family farm.” James noted that the forecast deficit has grown by about 50 per cent since the last budget and the B.C. Liberal claims of strict spending control are contradicted by spending $15 million on ads that mainly promote the B.C. Liberal party in the run-up to the May election. In September, De Jong announced a government-wide hiring freeze and restrictions on travel and other discretionary government spending. Wednesday he said $176 million in savings have been identified.
• Lise Aaslie • Achievement Enterprises(Judy Coe) • Colleen Armstrong • Jim Benson • Becker’s Lodge • Big Country Printers • Blumko Flower Art • Sandra Borgun • Grace Boudreau • Murray & Mary Braithwaite • Henry Braun • Audrey Broughton • Sandy Brunt • Canada Safeway • Cariboo Keepsakes Nancy Cawood • Clayton Funeral Directors(1981) Ltd. • Correlieu Secondary School • Pat Crerar • Custom Polishing & Wax • Dandelion Bucket (Jodi Ballinger) • Maria DeJong • Marg & Jeff Dinsdale • Faye & Don Dredge • Percy Flegel • Sandy Fontaine • Fowler Moving • Lisa Frees • Don & Jean George • Georgina Gordon
• Glenda Graham • Merna Hardie • Edna McCauley-Harris • Pat Hartley • Helen Dixon • Muriel Hong • Integris Credit Union • Cheryl Jefferson • Betty Johannesen • Kim Kolenchuk • Christine Kraayvanger • Carol & David Law • Julie Law • Roy Lecomte • Michelle Lessard • Jan L’Heureux • Magnetic Creations & Gemstone Jewellery (Laura Hills) • Larry & Vi Martens • Bonnie May • Lisa McCarger • Lorraine McClelland • Bobbi McCulloch • McDonalds Restaurant • Nora McMuldroch • Joe Megyesi • Helen Mickey • Judy Monych • Moose Meadow Farm(Heloise Dixon-Warren) • Pat Morton • Jean Muir • Sybille Muschik
• Louise Scott • New Technology Collision • Northern Flowers Greenhouses • Sally Service • The Shark Club Bar & Grill • Northern Health • Rosemarie Shopa • Novak Family Foundation • Bob Simpson • Our Baby Impressions • Jenna Singleton • Ron Paull • The Sign Stop • Elsy Pawluk • Mary Sjostrom • Pat Peeke-Vout • Pat and Dave Smith • Personal Touch Esthetics • Ted Stahl • Pat Pethick • Margaret Steines • Petro Canada Downtown • Pete Swanson • Marty Put • Telus Communications • Q-Brew • Verna Teichroeb • Quesnel Bakery • Sandy Unger • Quesnel Cariboo Observer • Sheryl Urquhart • Quesnel & District. Seniors • Vancouver Marriott Centre • Quesnel Junior Secondary School Pinnacle Downtown Hotel • Rick Wager • Quesnel Quilters’ Guild • Cathy Walsh • Quilted Accents • Betty Watson • Joan Ramsey-Harker • Carol Weremy • RBC Financial, Quesnel • Keith & Wilma Wick • Joe Regts • Meriel Wild • Mary Ries • Willis Harper • Laurie Rippon in memory of • Mel and Carol Winthrope “Marie Houston” • Wooden Wheel’s and What Knot • Marilyn Rollo • Lynne Wright • Rona Revy • Ed Zaruk • Ruby’s Nursery • Paul & Cathy Zeegers • Eileen Salmons • The Sandman Signature, Prince George • Sandman Hotels Inns & Suites
Restaurants of Quesnel
Billy Barker Casino Hotel • Boston Pizza • The Cariboo Hotel • J.D. Meats Jean’s Side Door Catering • Savalas Steakhouse • Tokyo Sushi Please show your appreciation of this great night by shopping local.
An evening such as this would not be possible without our:
M.C: David Law Auctioneer: Wayne Wark assisted by Julie Wark Spotters: Ron Paull and Rob Weremy Entertainment: Kim Kolenchuk Your Hosts: Rob & Carol Weremy, Miss Quesnel Royalty: Parveen Pannu, Katey Generoux, Cassie Knorr & chaperone Kara Purdue The Planning Committee: Eileen Cindric, Pat Crerar, Carol Law, Percy Flegel, Judy Monych, Louise Scott, Sally Service, Carol Weremy and Vicki West Decorating Committee: Carol Law with help from Colleen Armstrong, Margaret Gale, Glen Good, Maureen Harrington, Edna McCauley-Harris, Pat Hartley, Jennifer Hay, Cheryl Jefferson, David Law and Julie Law Reindeer Decorations: Designed and constructed by David Law and painted by New Tech Collision V.I.P. Table: Pat Hartley The Artisan Donation Committee: Louise Scott with help from Ralph Scott The Food Committee: Percy Flegel and Eileen Cindric Helpers: Marissa Holley, Brigette Kollner, Colleen Traue & Vicki West Caterer: Jean’s Side Door Catering The Bar: 123 Bartending Service Centrepieces: Blumko Flower Art Program: Judy Monych Art Cards: Julie Law Gift Basket Wrapping: Leah Jawanda Front of House: Pat Crerar and Pat Morton Cashiers: Sandy Brunt, Nancy Cawood Integris Cashiers: Loretta Cameron, Julie Carlson, Lisa Frees & Macky Pierce Interac Machine: Bumblebee Boutique & Barkerville Fudge Raffle Sellers: Faye Dredge, Diane Kotzer & Miss Quesnel Royalty Door Prizes: Poinsettias from Northern Flowers Refreshments: Kay Redden, McDonald’s Restaurants, Carol Weremy Work Crew: Set Up and Take Down: Sandy Brunt, Nancy Cawood, Pat Crerar, Eileen Cindric, Percy Flegel, Beverley Klassen, Megan Knorr, Diane Kotzer, David and Carol Law, Julie Law, Adrian and Judy Monych, Pat Morton, Ron Paull, Russ Pomeroy, Louise Scott, Doug and Sally Service, Vicki West , Carol Weremy.