TUESDAY MARCH 19, 2013
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PROPOSED COAL MINE
Candidates weigh in Company behind Raven project expected to submit this month JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
NDP candidate Barry Avis says the provincial government is giving “non-answers” about the proposed Raven coal mine and he says that is not giving the people of Parksville Qualicum Beach confidence in the approval process. “There is growing concern that the Liberal government wants to force through the proposed Raven coal mine,” Avis said following an exchange in the provincial Legislature Wednesday afternoon. “The Liberal government did not give any confidence to the people of our region with their nonanswers about the coal mine. This is very disappointing given how much is at stake – including water quality, road safety, and hundreds of longterm, sustainable jobs in the shellfish industry.” Scott Fraser, NDP MLA for Alberni-Pacific Rim, tabled a petition in the legislature on Wednesday signed by more than 5,000 people. “The controversial Raven underground coal mine project highlights serious holes in this government’s gutted environmental assessment process,” Fraser said in the Legislature. Fraser pointed to resolutions expressing concern about the assessment from local governments in the region, including the town of Qualicum Beach. Parksville-Qualicum Liberal candidate Michelle Stilwell said Thursday she “wouldn’t be in favour of any project if it wasn’t going to improve the quality of life for our constituents.” Stilwell wouldn’t directly respond to the NDP’s comments about the process but she did say it’s important to wait until environmental reports are in. See PETITION, page A8
LISSA ALEXANDER PHOTO
There was heavy smoke and water damage to this home on Pearce Place in Qualicum Bay after a fire on Friday.
QUALICUM BAY FIRE
Electrical component suspected LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
A house fire Friday in Qualicum Bay tore through the two-story home and left it destroyed. Fire departments Bow Horne Bay, Dashwood and Qualicum Beach attended the scene on Pearce Place at around 1 p.m. The blaze quickly spread to the second story of the house and into the attic, which is a difficult area to approach, said Bow Horne Bay Fire Chief Steve Anderosov. “We eventually got the fire out before it burned the en-
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tire roof off, but there is heavy smoke and water damage to both floors on the one side,” he said. “And the carport, and a bedroom above the carport, were pretty well gone.” Anderosov said there wasn’t anyone in the house at the time of the fire, apparently the occupants of the home had left shortly before the fire was reported. The fire is believed to have started from an electrical component plugged into a workbench in the carport, Anderosov said, but the cause is still being investigated. Pearce Place is near Horne Lake Road.
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