Inside
u Big year for business P. 5 u Must be Santa P. 8
u Canada Day 2013 P. 2 u Hot August nights P. 3
Publications Mail Contract #: 40007759
PHONE: 996-8482 www.caledoniacourier.com
WEDNESDAY, January 1, 2014
VOL. 36 NO. 44 $1.30 inc. GST
NEWS BRIEFS Have your two cents You can have your say on highway safety and speed limits in British Columbia, as the public consultation component of the Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review gets underway. From Nov. 29, 2013 to Jan. 24, 2014, the Government of B.C. is conducting a provincewide consultation and engagement to seek input about safety and speed limits on B.C.’s rural highways. Through a series of open houses and online engagement, the public can have their say on safety issues facing drivers on these highways. Speed limits on longer stretches of rural highways between communities are being reviewed to ensure that appropriate speed limits are in place, encouraging safe driver behaviour. At the same time, the public will be asked to provide input related to reducing the risk of wildlife-related crashes and improving the safe and efficient movement of slower vehicles. This review will also include public consultation on the use of winter tires in an effort to ensure that tire requirements address safety and reflect current technology. Public input will form an important part of the Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review and will be considered in conjunction with the technical review, which is already underway.
Enbridge pipeline will hit wall in B.C., critics say By Jeff Nagel Black Press Environmental groups and First Nations quickly condemned the National Energy Board’s recommendation to approve the Northern Gateway oil pipeline project and predicted it will never be built. Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs president Grand Chief Stewart Philip said the battle will likely move into the courtrooms as First Nations mount legal challenges to Enbridge’s project – assuming it is approved in the months ahead by the federal government. “This is about the environmental integrity of the watersheds we all share and we are willing to go to any lengths to defend our watersheds,” he said. “We are prepared to go to the wall against this project. We have no choice.” Wilderness Committee policy director Gwen Barlee called it a reckless, foolish, disappointing decision that will run into a wall of opposition in B.C. “It’s going to be tied up in courts for many, many, many years,” Barlee said.
❄
Rapping reindeer
“Environmental organizations will be standing with First Nations and standing with the hundreds of thousands of other British Columbians who oppose this project and don’t want to see it proceed.” Barlee said the recommendation of approval Some adorable but frustrated reindeer were voicing their displeasure at being flies in the face of a newly underappreciated during the Nakalbun Christmas concert on Dec. 17 at Kwah released federal report that Hall. More photos on the Caledonia Courier Facebook page. flagged an insufficient caRuth Lloyd/Caledonia Courier pability to respond to an oil spill on the coast. heavy bitumen from northern Alberta B.C.’s environment, citing its 2010 spill “This is a project that’s dangerous to Kitimat and condensate used to of diluted bitumen into the Kalamazoo to our climate, dangerous to our coast dliute the heavy oil in the opposite di- River in Michigan. and dangerous to our rivers and our rection, would carve across hundreds Most environmental campaigners salmon,” she said. of creeks and rivers and send oil tank- said they were not surprised, citing “We vow to stand shoulder to ers out through the narrow passages of federal government moves to weaken shoulder with First Nations, and the B.C.’s north coast. environmental standards and gut prothousands of others who oppose this Ecojustice staff lawyer Barry Rob- tections for habitat in the Fisheries Act. project,” said Murray Minchin of Kit- inson said the NEB ignored a huge volNinety-six per cent of written comimat-based Douglas Channel Watch, ume of evidence indicating Northern ments to the Joint Review Panel, inwhich was an intervenor in the hear- Gateway is unsafe, unsustainable and cluding the submissions of the provings. “We are determined to keep the unnecessary. ince, opposed the Northern Gateway north coast of B.C. bitumen-free.” Others argued Enbrige has not prov- pipeline. The twin pipelines, carrying diluted en itself competent to be trusted with
Westline would like to wish everyone a ...
❄
Come celebrate with us and get all the New 2013 Models discounted! As well as tons of 2014 models already available on the lot!
Come up and see us to start your New year right!
❄
TOLL FREE: 1-888-449-4029 250-567-4781 1473 HWY 16 EAST www.westlineford.com DL # 30423
❄