CeLebRATInG eARTh week A19-24
APRIL 24, 2013
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MIRROR, MIRROR
ken Alexander Free Press
Five members of the public showed up in council chambers, where the District of 100 Mile House council released it 2013-2017 Financial Plan on April 16. Mayor Mitch Campsall led off the presentation before turning the floor over to Councillors Bill Hadden, Dave Mingo, Ralph Fossum and Spence Henderson who talked about capital projects, sewer and water respectively. After noting this year’s average property assessment for a single-family home was around $1,000 less than it was last year, Campsall said council will be increasing all mill rates by one per cent this year. This means if your assessment went up, your taxes would increase a bit, but if it went down, you would be paying less municipal taxes. On average, residential assessments were from zero to minus 10 per cent in 2013, so most homeowners will be paying around the same or a little less than they did last year. Because of a “large decrease” in the major industry category, the District is collecting around $45,000 less tax than it did in 2012. However, the District received a $1,096,745 Continued on A5
Chris Nickless photo
Little Kiera McKenna seemed in awe when she inspected her painted face in a mirror at the 108 Mile Supermarket’s Fifth Anniversary Sale on April 20. The final day of a week-long event, it also provided free hamburgers and hotdogs, sausage and wine tasting, entertainment and door prizes.
Candidates volley issues for voters Platform planks laid out for constituency Carole Rooney Free Press
The all-candidates forum attracted 60 people to the Valley Room in 100 Mile House on April 18 to hear local politicians vying to be the constituency’s MLA after the May 14 provincial election. Cariboo-Chilcotin candidates Donna Barnett (B.C. Liberal), Charlie Wyse (NDP), Dustin Price (Green Party of B.C.) and Gary Young (Independent) spoke on the hot topics and answered questions. Several people said moderator Ralph Fossum did a good job in keeping the forum orderly and respectful.
While it was not a debate, the candidates had opportunities to point out key differences in their respective party platforms, and also throw in a few opinions of their own. A main point volleyed was the overall economy of the region - narrowed down to several forestry, mining, agriculture and small business issues. After Fossum drew the candidates’ names from a hat, Wyse spoke first. He said the constituency faces many important issues, adding many of its constituents make their living in, or from the forest industry. “Over the past 10 years, good-paying forestry jobs
have disappeared from this region and the province. “The NDP have committed to invest in restoring the health of our forests. We will update forest inventories; double the number of seedlings planted each year; and increase the province’s research capacity.” Wyse noted the NDP will also work with local tourism sector, as well as promoting tourism across the province. Price spoke next and he explained the Green Party stands for a balance of economics, environmental and social values. More specific to the riding, he said keeping raw logs in B.C would bring more local employment. “Let’s keep the raw logs
here. Let’s keep some valueadded industry here that will create jobs for us ... the mills are [a] huge piece of our economy.” Price added the Green Party wants to create local markets for agriculture, including local meat, vegetables and raw milk, while lowering the carbon footprint for transporting food. “We have the capacity to grow our own food and most of the stuff we see in the grocery stores is trucked up the highway.” Young was third up and he spoke on issues the independent candidate said “none of us can say for sure it’s going to happen, but it’s things we Continued on A4