TUESDAY APRIL 9, 2013
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Debate decorum There weren’t a lot of fireworks during first forum of election season JOHN HARDING
editor@pqbnews.com
The three people who want to be the region’s next MLA fielded questions on a wide range of subjects, and verbal fireworks were absent, during an all-candidates forum Thursday attended by more than 200 voters in Qualicum Beach. Questions aimed at candidates Barry Avis (NDP), David Coupland (Conservatives) and Michelle Stilwell (Liberals) touched on almost every provincial-government-related topic, including education, health care, natural resources, the environment and skills training. The forum, sponsored by The NEWS and the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce, was the first is a series for the people who are seeking the MLA’s job for the Parksville Qualicum Beach constituency. The next is at The Gardens in Qualicum Beach on Friday. The seat is currently held by B.C. Liberal Ron Cantelon, who is not seeking a third term. On Thursday, the candidates mostly avoided interaction or cross-talk. Only during responses to questions about resource extraction was there any kind of back-and-forth banter, as Coupland wondered aloud how Avis and the NDP could say they are in favour but are seemingly against moving natural resources to the markets. Avis said he believed resources should be processed here in B.C. and the province should not ship raw logs and other raw materials — and the value-added jobs that go with them — outside the province. After the meeting, Avis was asked if that meant he would be in favour of a refinery in Kitimat, proposed by Black Press owner David Black. See STILWELL, page A4
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SCARY SITUATION: An elderly woman became stuck under a car Friday afternoon, after the car backed over her in a parking lot one block off the Island Highway in downtown Parksville. It happened in the Vancouver Island Health Authority parking lot across from The NEWS office at 1 p.m. News staff heard screaming and those with first-aid training rushed to her aid. First responders arrived shortly after and lifted the car off the elderly woman. She was then transferred to an ambulance and taken to Nanaimo hospital. A police officer at the scene said the woman was talking and breathing and seemed to be in relatively good condition, but sustained a lower-leg injury.
Teacher banned from schools LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
A local teacher has been fired and is not allowed on school property, a source from the local school district has confirmed. The source, who requested anonymity, told The NEWS District 69 administrators explained to staff last week that the teacher has been fired. Administrators further instructed staff not to engage with the teacher if he/she comes on school grounds, but to report it to administration, according to the source.
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The Mount Arrowsmith Teachers Association (MATA) then countered that the district doesn’t have a right to do that and a grievance is being filed, according to the source. Acting superintendent Rollie Koop and board chair Lynette Kershaw called The NEWS on Friday to confirm they are dealing with a personnel matter but are duty bound to handle it confidentially. That call came after The NEWS left messages for the district representatives, following calls and e-mails from the public to The NEWS expressing concern about the situation. See NOTHING PUBLIC, page A4
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