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Sentinel
Northern
www.northernsentinel.com
Volume 58 No. 47
Chief Coucillor Ross talks development Cameron Orr In the face of immense development, unemployment and poverty is not an issue to ignore, according to Haisla Chief Councillor Ellis Ross. Ross spoke after posting a statement to Facebook, speaking to issues relating to poverty and economic development. If poverty is the only lifestyle you know, it is very difficult to know there is a way out,” he wrote. He said he had published his statement more as a conversation starter and to seek feedback as he solidifies his positions. “I’m trying to bring us right back to basics in terms of what we’re trying to achieve over here, and I just didn’t want anyone to lose sight of the fact that, amongst all these high level, important issues — we have to address emissions, we have to address fracking, we have to address shipping issues — but on that same level we should also be considering the impact it has on my people,” he said. “We’ve been dealing with a 60 per cent unemployment level for God knows how long. When you’re living in poverty, no one really appreciates a high level political speech about employment but does nothing about it. It’s that person that’s stuck on welfare that really wants an opportunity to get a job I can’t lose sight of. I’ve got to do something.”
He added, “I’ve also got to address that person who needs a future.” He said he’s aware that the issues he talks about and that the Haisla are working on under economic development, are issues that impact non-Haisla people as well, from here to Alberta. But as the elected Chief Councillor his mandate is of course to take care of Haisla people. “It’s tough to address unemployment, it’s tough to address poverty under federal programming dollars. It’s impossible,” he added. “If you really want to address it to affect that average person, you’ve got to look at economic development.” He said he speaks broadly of economic development, and covers areas such as forestry, mining and natural gas. Given a recent visit by David Black, speaking to his oil refinery proposal, we asked Ross where that proposal sat among everything being considered by the Haisla. “I have no idea what my people would think about that. I know what they think about crude oil, but a refinery brings up a whole different level of issues and questions that need to be addressed and we haven’t even begun to think about those issues and questions because our plate is pretty full,” he said.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
1.30 INCLUDES TAX
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A member of the Kitimat Royal Canadian Mounted Police pays respects after placing a wreath on the cenotaph. More photos on page 8. Photo by Sarah Campbell
Finding help for affordable housing in Kitimat Cameron Orr As the community continues to work on housing solutions, the existing Kitimat Housing Committee is seeking keen volunteers to establish a non-profit housing society. Margaret Warcup, who chairs the housing committee, said that such a society needs to be established for some potential projects waiting in the wings. “We do know that we’ve been told there is interest out there from a couple of developers to work with a board that way but we’ve
“We needed the scope of subsidized housing all the way up.” got to get it going, we’ve got to find the people that are interested in housing,” she said. The society, as she envisions it, would be a board of people who are willing to advocate for housing projects and dollars from
other levels of government. “It is a working board, it needs to initially be a working board that’s willing to advocate, willing to talk to the minister of housing, that kind of stuff,” she said. The challenge she said is finding people to put on to this proposed society, but she’s hopeful there are people out there. There have been community information sessions hosted by the Kitimat Housing Resource Project with Anne Moyls and they’ve found some people from
that process. Kitimat’s housing needs are all-encompassing and no single style of housing is in much abundance in the community. “When we did the housing needs study it showed that we didn’t just need one type of housing, we needed housing that you and I can afford to live in, somebody that can live in a bigger house, somebody that has 20 kids, whatever,” said Warcup. “We needed the scope of subsidized housing all the way up.” She added, “We also know
we don’t have the stats in terms of populations like other communities would have, but we also know every day it’s changing, everyday we’re getting different housing problems coming up.” People who are interested in helping develop new housing in the community are encouraged to call those involved with the Housing Committee. Call Trish at the Chamber of Commerce at 250-632-6294, Warcup at the Child Development Centre at 250-632-3144, ex. 202, or Anne Moyls at 250-639-6065.
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Kitimat General Hospital renovations ... page 3