Smithers Interior News, March 20, 2013

Page 1

106th Year - Week 12 PM 40007014

UNDER THE SEA Smithers Figure Slating Club arnival a spinning success.

SPORTS/A13

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Bulk of funds go to biomass heating system Telkwa to provide jobs for local contractors. “Today’s investment will allow the Village of Telkwa to reduce The Village of Telkwa its carbon dioxide footprint by community plan got a big shot in almost 140 tonnes a year, that’s the arm last Tuesday thanks to a very significant,” Zimmer, speaking $680,230 fund transfer from the on behalf of the Honourable Denis Government of Canada Tax Fund. Lebel, Minister of Transport, “This is a very Infrastructure and proud day for Communities, said. me as Mayor of As with many Telkwa,” Carman communities across Graf said after the Canada, Telkwa is announcement by faced with upgrading Prince George-Peace its facilities. River MP Bob “We know in our Zimmer. northern communities “This is huge, huge infrastructure is huge.” in need of repair,” Carman Graf Zimmer said. The funds are Mayor of Telkwa earmarked for Art Kaehn, Chair improvements to the of Fraser Fort George Telkwa municipal Regional District building, a biomass and UBCM board heating system member, speaking and a sustainable on behalf of UBCM subdivision development plan. president Quesnel Mayor Mary “We will become a leader Sjostrom, agreed, adding tending in green energy in the north,” to infrastructure upgrades is made Graf said of the upgrades to more difficult for communities, the insulation of the municipal such as Telkwa, which have a building together with the biomass smaller tax base. heating system. “Everyone agrees that the “This will take us a long way communities across B.C. should toward being carbon neutral.” have high quality and dependable Upgrades to the insulation and infrastructure,” Kaehn said. exterior covering of the municipal “This project demonstrates why building are expected to be programs such as the Gas Tax complete this year. Fund are so important to local Work on the biomass heating B.C. governments. system is expected to begin this “As a result local governments year as well, Graf said, but a are able to accelerate their capital completion date has yet to be plans so needed improvement established. happen sooner than later and that’s Graf also noted the Gas good for the economy.” Tax funds allow the Village of See GAS on p. A2 Smithers/Interior News

COMMUNITY/A17

RAILROAD TALES Harry Kruisselbrink recalls the early days of trains in Smithers.

OUR TOWN/A19

INSIDE LETTERS A7 SPORTS A10 COMMUNITY A17 OUR TOWN A19 THREE RIVERS B1 CLASSIFIEDS B4

Single Copy • $1.34 ($1.20 + 14¢ HST)

Telkwa pockets $680k for infrastructure

By Percy N. Hébert

CRIMESTOPPERS APP Smithers Crimestoppers now has an app to report crimes.

www.interior-news.com

“This is a very proud day for me as Mayor of Telkwa.”

Closed for business? Some business people in Smithers argue the town is closed to new business and should do more to help business or attract new business.

Ryan Jensen photo

Businesses, residents expect more from Town Council and Economic Development office By Ryan Jensen Smithers/Interior News

Smithers’ business community was out in full force at last week’s council meeting to encourage the town to be more open for commerce. The turnout was in response to a Letter to the Editor in the March 13 edition of The Interior News, written by businessman Dennis Groves about what he

sees as a lack of support from Town Council in encouraging new business and supporting established businesses. “There was a large turnout of people with similar concerns,” Groves said. “Really my concern is about increasing our tax base. “My real desire is to see smaller-type businesses that employ five to 10 people where somebody puts up a building, bricks and

mortar, and pays property taxes. “Their employees all pay taxes and buy a house. “It’s the spin-off — the town gets a couple hundred thousand worth of tax revenue. Groves also brought up concerns about some of the town’s priorities, namely the new arena project, and said the Town needs to get its priorities straight. See BUSINESS on A3

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