RELAY FOR LIFE SATURDAY 23
JUNE 5, 2013
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100milefreepress.net
Council gives itself a raise
HEAVE-HO
Ken Alexander Free Press
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Arlene Jongbloets photo
Owen Ross gives it his best effort in the shot put event at the 100 Mile House Elementary School Track & Field Meet on May 29. The young athletes were blessed with sunny skies and warm temperatures.
District of 100 Mile House councillors voted to give themselves and the mayor a pay raise at their May 21 council meeting. Noting the remuneration and expense reimbursement package was included in the 2013-17 five-year financial plan, council unanimously passed the Council Remuneration & Expense Bylaw, which will bring this council’s annual remuneration and travel and meeting per diems more in line with communities of a similar size. As of June 1, Mayor Mitch Campsall’s annual remuneration is pegged at $15,000 – of which, $5,000 is an allowance for expenses. Councillors will get annual payout of $7,500, and $2,500 of that will be an allowance for expenses. The package also Continued on 4
B.C. rejects Northern Gateway pipeline Carole Rooney Free Press
Many First Nations, environmental groups and others are applauding the provincial government for stating in its final written submission to Ottawa that it does not support the Northern Gateway (NG) Pipeline Project. Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA-elect Donna Barnett notes that as it now stands, she won’t personally support proposed twin pipeline either until her government’s five “stringent” conditions have been met. These stipulations were set down to address environmental concerns, she notes, in order for British Columbia to consider allowing the pipelines into and across the province carrying hazardous bitumen.
Conditions not met, environmental risk cited In its submissions and at panel hearings, NG did not satisfactorily answer B.C.’s substantive questions about the project route, spill response capacity and financial structure, Barnett adds. “The big concern as I understand it – and I think we all should be concerned – is the marine oil response, the prevention and recovery system for B.C.’s coastlines. That is so important to be put in place.” Some of the other key issues are legalities around Aboriginal and treaty rights, she explains, as well as monetary compensation for the province.
“To me, the financial package is always important, but the most important part of the whole thing is to prove that you have mitigation in place in case of oil spills.” However, NDP Leader Adrian Dix says the B.C. Liberal government’s argument carries no weight because it signed away decision-making authority to Ottawa in 2010. “We know Ottawa continues to support the project, so saying ‘No’ today is a toothless gesture and the B.C. Liberals know it.” While his party doesn’t support the pipeline either, Dix notes that if the government intends to stop the pipeline from being built, it should withdraw from the agreement for federal final approval of the project. Continued on 3