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TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013
Proudly serving Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin since 1930
Charges against Gentles approved
VOL. 83. No. 35
WORKING FORWARD Greg Sabatino photo
Close to 40 people gathered at City Hall Sunday morning to participate in the National Day of Mourning ceremony to raise awareness of those killed, injured or disabled in the workplace. Members of the United Steelworkers-Local 1-425, North Central Labour Council, City of Williams Lake officials and MLA candidates were on hand. Here, (from left) Tracy Wilson and son Jesse-John Wilson-Taylor, Verna Fisher, United Steelworkers-Local 1-425 president Paul French and USW member Terry Tate lay flowers and wreaths near the memorial at City Hall. Also discussed at the ceremony was a commitment to continue to make workplace safety a top priority.
Crown has approved seven charges against Martin William Michael Gentles of Williams Lake. They include dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, impaired driving causing death, driving with a blood alcohol content over 80 milligrams and causing an accident that resulted in death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, driving with a blood alcohol content of over 80 milligrams in 100 milliliters of blood and causing an accident that resulted in bodily harm, and for being involved with an accident and leaving the scene. Some of the charges refer to the death of Rayel MacDonald, the 20-year-old nursing student who was killed early April 22, 2012 when she was hit by a truck while crossing Carson Avenue with friends. Gentles’ next appear-
ance in court will be May 8.
Inside the Tribune NEWS Politicians continue debate.
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SPORTS A9 High school rodeo starts Friday. COMMUNITY Students tour Europe.
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Weather outlook: Mainly sunny today, high of 7C. Mix of sun/cloud tomorrow, high of 13C.
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Candidates square off at two forums Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer Two all candidates forums held in Williams Lake Saturday attracted around 30 viewers to each, with some of the viewers attending both sessions. Both forums were fairly tame, not the fiery or heated sessions. Williams Lake is located in two ridings so candidates from Cariboo-Chilcotin and Cariboo North were invited to participate. Cariboo-Chilcotin Green Party candidate Dustin Price was absent, due to a scheduled tour of the west Chilcotin. At the afternoon session Liberal candidates Donna Barnett, Coralee Oakes, Independents Bob Simpson and Gary Young, and NDP candidate Charlie Wyse participated. NDP Duncan Barnett had a previous commitment. When asked about New Prosperity Mine, Barnett reiterated her support of the project, saying the region “cannot wait any longer”
because the jobs are needed to move the economy forward. Oakes said for too long “we’ve allowed our emotions to take over what scientists or folks who know the facts have to say,” adding forest dependent communities need to look for new revenue. Wyse said the NDP suppport the federal review’s decision on the original proposal. Young said if salmon are protected he’ll support the mine. Simpson said the region has to be willing to accept “no” as an answer if that’s what the environmental review determines. When asked if they supported a seniors advocate that would report directly to the legislature, Simpson said he hopes in September the government will pass legislation to make the position an independent officer of the legislature. “When they made the position a function of the Ministry of Health then seniors felt they wouldn’t be represented.” Donna Barnett said the position
is something new. “Let’s give it a chance. It’s a start and nothing says that the seniors advocate position cannot be changed,” she insisted, adding the position is necessary to deal with elder abuse in B.C. Wyse said more people will go to the seniors advocate if the position is independent of government. Young said all MLAs should be seniors advocates, that’s their job, while Oakes said the position is necessary because of the province’s aging demographic. Candidates were also asked about free medical services for seniors. Wyse, Oakes, Barnett and Simpson said free would be nice, however, the money is not there. They agreed services should be free for low-income seniors. Young said free would be “unbelievable” and should not be dismissed as a possibility. “Seniors have paid their whole lives. Let’s see what we can do.”
In the evening session, only the two Independents and two NDP candidates participated, while both Liberal candidates had previous commitments. As a result, a main theme emerged throughout the forum — Independent versus party representation. Simpson said having three Independent MLAs in the legislature has “fundamentally changed the structure of the legislature.” “I think you can be well served by a party MLA as well as an Independent MLA if all MLAs are free to represent. The constraint of the party system is you quickly hear the echo of the leader’s voice,” he said. “The leader’s voice comes back to the constituency, instead of the other way around.” All systems have strengths and weakness, Wyse said. “The strength of a party system is you get a government and a platform.” See INDEPENDENT Page A2