A4 Hope Standard Thursday, January 30, 2014
News
Saturday, March 1st
B.C. economy rebound forecast
9 am – 4 pm at Hemlock Resort
Tom Fletcher Black Press
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INTERIOR TO LOWER MAINLAND TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT Public Safety Notice – Snowmobiler and Winter Recreation Users Winter recreationalists and snowmobilers should be aware that construction of the Interior to Lower Mainland (ILM) Transmission Line continues. On-site activities include clearing of the right-of-way; construction of access roads and tower foundations; and tower assembly and erection. The ILM right-of-way continues to be a construction zone with restricted access. Restricted access is required for worker and public safety to avoid risks associated with such things as guy lines, partially constructed foundations, construction materials, or other potential hazards that may be hidden or partially hidden by the snow.
A lower Canadian dollar and a slow recovery in the U.S. and around the world bode well for the B.C. economy in the next two years, a new report from the Business Council of B.C. says. “The U.S. economy is gaining ground, the Eurozone is out of recession, and Asia, particularly China, continues to expand at a robust clip,” said executive vice president Jock Finlayson as he released the BCBC economic outlook report last Tuesday. “The weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar will also help lift B.C.’s export of goods and services to the U.S., prompt more U.S. travellers to come to B.C., and serve as a headwind to crossborder shopping.” The report forecasts improvement in U.S. demand for lumber and other building materials, wood pulp and even natural gas, which has fallen to historic lows with a surge of shale gas production around North America. Recovery of the struggling B.C. coastal forest industry was echoed at the recent Truck Loggers’ Association convention. “I’ve got a desk cov-
TRUCK LOGGERS' ASSOCIATION PHOTO
Rick Parcher worked on gas drilling rigs in northern B.C. and Alberta for 15 years before returning to B.C. last fall to carry on a family tradition as a charge hand at Alternative Forest Operations in Chemainus.
ered with resumes of people who work in the oil patch,” said Don Banasky, operations manager at CopCan Contracting Ltd. and FallTech Logging in Nanaimo and vicepresident of the TLA. Banasky said there are openings for road building, driller-blaster, grader and excavator operators in his operations, and some employees at remote
oil and gas developments are anxious to work closer to home. The BCBC report holds out hope for a B.C. government that has seen its muchadvertised jobs plan fizzle in the past two years. “Following essentially no net employment growth in 2013, we see the B.C. job market recovering in the coming year,” the
report says. “Growing exports, higher nonresidential construction outlays and some increase in consumer spending will translate into greater demand for working and more hiring by B.C. businesses.” The report forecasts that two liquefied natural gas processing plants and pipelines to supply them will begin in 2015.
ICBC chair steps down from position Paul Taylor, former president of the Insurance Corporation of B.C., has resigned as chair of the ICBC board after a year and a half in that position. ICBC issued a brief statement saying Jatinder Rai, a member of the board of directors since 2008, has been ap-
Please avoid using the right-of-way for your activities. If you are in the area, use extra care when traveling around the right-of-way. The ILM project is a new 247 kilometre 500 kilovolt transmission line between Merritt and Coquitlam that will expand the electrical system so that BC Hydro can continue to deliver clean and reliable energy to homes and businesses in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
pointed interim chair. A spokesman declined further comment on the reason for Taylor’s departure. “Mr. Taylor was appointed chair in July 2012 and his leadership has helped guide the corporation through challenging times, including the downsizing
and restructuring of the company in late 2012,” the ICBC statement said. ICBC imposed a 4.9 per cent rate increase for basic vehicle insurance in November, citing increasing injury claims and higher payouts. That followed an 11 per cent increase in
basic insurance rates in 2012. ICBC cut 260 positions in 2012 after an audit of its operations showed its management ranks had increased 41 per cent between 2007 and 2011. Taylor resigned as president of ICBC in May of 2008.
BC NDP will announce new leader in September
For more information on the project please visit: bchydro.com/ilm.
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If you have any questions, please contact BC Hydro Stakeholder Engagement: 1 866 647 3334 or 604 623 4472 or send an email to stakeholderengagement@bchydro.com.
The BC NDP will select and announce its new leader this September, about a four-day day voting period. Voting will take place within the party from Sept. 24-27, 2014 and a new leader will be announced on September 28 in Vancouver. Votes will be cast over the telephone and an Internet voting system. “We have set in place rules for a modern, fair, one-member one-vote leadership election,”
said Craig Keating, president of the BC NDP. “I’m looking forward to an exciting leadership election with great candidates presenting a positive vision for our province.” In September, 2013, Adrian Dix said he would be stepping down as leader in 2014, once his party voted to replace him. In last May’s provincial election, Dix and the NDP lost to Christy Clark and the BC Liberals, despite an overwhelm-
ing number of predictors and analysts forecasting an orange victory. “It has become clear to me that the best interests of our party mean that I need to step aside for a new leader who can lead us to victory in 2017,” Dix said in September. “It is my hope that a leadership vote can be held by mid2014 at the latest, though of course any final decision on timing will be made by the NDP.”