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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013
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RCMP targets prolific offenders By Jackie Lieuwen Houston Today
SUNNY Stroll
Jackie Lieuwen/Houston Today
Friends Candis Stumpf, Airiyel Sjoden and Cardella Carroll take their youngsters out strolling to enjoy the sunny weather last week Thursday. Eager for spring, much of the Houston public was drawn outside to enjoy last weeks beautiful sunshine.
Local RCMP and Houston council have identified the policing priorities for 2013. RCMP Sgt. Rose says their primary concern is traffic, specifically speeding at the east end of town, distracted driving and seat belts. He says Houston council identified those concerns and RCMP is enforcing them to try to deter those problems. Houston council also asked RCMP to look at crime reduction, but Sgt. Rose says they can’t really do that because of the low numbers. Instead, he says they are focusing attention on prolific offenders, because there is a small group, about six to 12 people, that generate the vast majority of RCMP calls. “So what we do is we identify an offender each week, and then
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“Abide by the law, leave town, or go to jail.” - RCMP Sgt. Rose
the members basically diligently babysit, for lack of a better phrase, that offender for seven days straight,” Sgt. Rose said. He says they check prolific offenders’ curfew, check conditions, make sure they’re not drunk or somewhere they’re not supposed to be, and make sure they are where they should be. Because of this focus, they have already arrested a number of the prolific offenders several times for breaches and some are getting fairly long jail sentences as a result, said Sgt. Rose. See JAIL on Page 3
Premier Christy Clark endorses Kitimat Clean oil refinery By Tom Fletcher Black Press
Premier Christy Clark surprised the opposition Thursday with a statement in the B.C. legislature endorsing a proposed heavy oil refinery near Kitimat. Clark emphasized that the project
would be subject to the five conditions about environmental safety and aboriginal consultation that she has demanded for heavy oil pipelines. But she praised the job creation potential and added that a refinery would help supply the “fair share” of benefits
for B.C. that is her most controversial condition. David Black, owner of the Black Press newspaper group in B.C., Alberta and the U.S., set up a separate company called Kitimat Clean Ltd. last year to develop the refinery plan and
seek permits from the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office. Black announced this week that he is finalizing details for $25 billion in financing and purchase agreements for the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel that the plant would produce.
“Our government takes the view that we should work together to address legitimate environmental and safety concerns and find a way to get to yes on projects that will grow our economy,” Clark said, adding that the B.C. government has been working
with Black’s team to secure a suitable site. Energy Minister Rich Coleman said there is Crown land in the Kitimat area held in an industrial reserve that could be leased or sold to the company for use of the land. Black’s proposal specifies a
3,000-hectare site 25 km north of Kitimat that is on the proposed route of the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline. With capacity to process all the pipeline carries, it would be one of the largest refineries in the world. See OIL on Page 3