Inside
u Revolution or revelation P. 4 u Letter from Canfor P. 5
u House concert P. 9 u Court report P. 9
Publications Mail Contract #: 40007759
WEDNESDAY, November 6, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS Fort gets flu clinics ‘Tis the season for flu shots and Northern Health has just announced drop-in dates for flu clinics. There will be drop-in flu clinics at the Northern Interior Health Unit Nov. 5, 7. 8, 12, 14 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Visit www.northernhealth.ca for more information or call 8-1-1 or 250996-7178. Every year, about 1,400 people in BC die from influenza and pneumonia (a serious complication of influenza). During the influenza season, residents who are at risk are advised to get their free vaccine. The influenza vaccine is provided free for many groups of people who are at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications. For a list of eligible groups, check with your local public health unit, family doctor or visit www. northernhealth.ca. Pneumococcal vaccine is also available for highrisk individuals (seniors and those with chronic medical conditions) to protect influenza-related pneumonia.
PHONE: 996-8482 www.caledoniacourier.com
VOL. 36 NO. 36 $1.30 inc. GST
Camp life survey
Haunting All Hallow’s Eve
Three very ghoulish and ghostly girls were hosting and haunting one of the historic site buildings for the pumpkin walk. The spooky singers serenaded their visitors while handing out candy. More photos Page 12. Ruth Lloyd/Caledonia Courier
B.C. to consider booze in food stores Tom Fletcher Black Press The B.C. government’s liquor policy review has heard a ‘loud and clear’ message that people want the convenience of buying alcoholic beverages in grocery stores, says the MLA in charge of the review. With a three-month consultation period ending Oct. 31, Richmond Steveston MLA John Yap said Tuesday that about 80 per cent of respondents want the extra convenience that is routine in U.S. grocery stores. But Yap is proposing a less convenient model, a “store within a store” that would have separate space and staff for alcohol purchases. He said the number of outlets could be restricted to the current level, with some existing private or public liquor stores moved into grocery stores. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario has announced a similar pilot project, with 10 “express” stores to offer limited selection inside or next to grocery stores. Nova Scotia also has government liquor stores located in gro-
OFF -SITE SALE IN
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cery stores. When the B.C. consultation began in September, Yap noted that beer, wine and spirits are already sold in rural grocery stores. He was critical of the U.S. model, saying it could lead to increased health and safety issues from increased consumption, as well as law enforcement problems. B.C.’s medical health officers have called for a freeze or reduction to the number of private retailers, a $3 minimum price for bar drinks and higher prices for drinks with more alcohol content to deter over-consumption. The Alliance of Beverage Licencees, representing pubs, bars and private liquor stores in B.C., isn’t happy with the idea. ABLE BC executive director Ian Baillie said the province already has more than 1,400 government and private liquor stores. “The government also needs to consider what the impact of allowing large grocery chains to sell liquor will be on the thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of income that are provided by the current system,” Baillie said.
Fort St. James residents working at the Mt Milligan mine have the opportunity to participate in a nation-wide study on how camp life and long distance commuting impacts their health and well-being. A new online survey is asking long distance commuting and fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers in mining, and oil and gas across Canada about their experiences. The Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining and the Mining Industry Safety and Health Centre at The University of Queensland is conducting a study to investigate how FIFO work arrangements, long distance commuting, and camp life impact workers’ lives. Researchers are interested in workers’ opinions about the type of camp accommodation they are staying in, how satisfied they are with their job, and their sense of personal well-being. The survey is anonymous, and takes about twenty minutes to complete. This survey was piloted earlier this year in Australia. A key finding from that study was that FIFO workers need personal space and opportunities for private communication with family and friends in order to maximize their sense of well-being while at work. Private rooms and good internet connections were sought-after facilities at work camps. The Canadian study has a second Fort St. James connection. Dr Janis Shandro from UBC Mining is the lead on a local project that is tracking the impacts of the Mt Milligan operation on the health and social services, and overall community health and well-being in Fort St. James, Nak’azdli, and Tl’azt’en over the lifetime of the mine. Dr Shandro is an adjunct professor with the University of Queensland and has helped to develop the Canadian survey into the impacts of long-distance commuting. The local research project is planning to pull out results specific to our communities and follow up on the national survey with a more detailed one focusing on long distance commuting and impacts on families. These Canadian studies can be incorporated by extractive industry companies into their planning and social monitoring programs. The online survey is now active at https://www. surveymonkey.com/s/FIFOinCANADA You can see the Australian pilot study results at: http://www.csrm.uq.edu.au/publications/476factors-linked-to-the-well-being-of-fly-in-fly-outfifo-workers
Westline Ford will be on Location in Fort St James Nov.13-16, 2013 @ Pronto Auto Glass having our
Winter Savings Sale!
Come see us up in the Fort or at our Vanderhoof office to have huge savings.
TOLL FREE: 1-888-449-4029 250-567-4781 1473 Hwy 16 EasT www.westlineford.com DL # 30423