Inside
BEST ◆ NEWS Shelter needs volunteers, P. 2 Now Available inPRICES ARE ◆ NEWS Training office opens doors, P. 3 BACK AT Northwest BC nor•burd rv
◆ SPORTS Kitimat skaters take trophy, P. 26 ◆ CLASSIFIEDS, P. 18-25
Free
AT NOR-BURD179 RV! • Full Awning • Sleeps up to 6 • Only $14,995.00 Stk. # 3390
$1169O • Light Spacious PER&MONTH • Functional Kitchen • Comfort 210& Style
• Bunk Beds 48 • Full Galley Kitchen Kitchen • Only $17,299.00 • Amazing PER MONTH
$133
FRIDAY, February 14, 2014
• Large Master Suites 260 • Next Generation Entertainment • Jack & Jill Bunk Beds • Queen Beds 41 • ½ Ton Towable $ PER MONTH • Only 17,995.00
Stk. # 3397
Volume 8 Issue 32
TMC 20,700
$139 WE INVITE YOU TO COME Stk. # 3694 CHECK OUT OUR 212 ENTIRE • Queen Bed SELECTION FROM $14641 • Booth Dining Area PER MONTH • Only $18,995.00
Stk. # 3767
nor•burd rv 250-635-6882
Contact us at:
sales@nor-burdrv.ca View our catalouge online and order 24/7 - 365 days a year!
250-635-6945
www.nor-burdrv.ca
“All payments quoted include HST & admin fee” Downpayment required OAC See Dealer for details. Rate subkect to change without notice.
www.nor-burdrv.ca
Kitimat Realty
www.kitimatrealty.com
Shannon Dos Santos 3-528 Mountainview Sq. 250-632-7000 office 250-639-7005 cell sdossantos@ kitimatrealty.com
I need your lIStIngS!
Considering selling your home? Supply is down, so prices are up! Contact me today for a home evaluation! Whether buying or selling I’m here to help you!
Call Shannon at 250-632-7005 (cell)
SHAUN THOMAS / THE NORTHERN CONNECTOR
The Northern Adventure, lifeline from the mainland to Haida Gwaii, glides into its dock. Residents of the islands and others are upset over plans by BC Ferries to trim sailings.
Gov’t admits ferry cuts will have impacts By Shaun Thomas THE NORTHERN CONNECTOR
PRINCE RUPERT - Despite extensive opposition from people throughout the North Coast, ferry cuts are coming to the region later this year. B.C. Minister of Transportation Todd Stone announced on Feb. 5 the province was moving ahead with $14 million worth of service reductions on northern and minor routes, reductions that will take place effective April 28. But what exactly those reductions will look like remains unclear as the Ministry and BC Ferries will be working with community leaders and BC Ferries to finalize the schedule before publicly releasing them in March. “The decision to go ahead
Save $30/month on a Watch-Talk-Surf bundle New WTS customers only.
with service reductions was a tough one, one of the toughest I have had to make, but it is one piece of a strategy ... we need to align service levels with demand,” said Stone. “There will be impacts in every coastal community, no question about it, but fees cannot continue to rise. Taxpayers ... have contributed $200 million to the coastal ferry service, so there is no more room there.” The initial proposal for ferry cuts for the North Coast called for the Prince Rupert to Port Hardy Inside Passage to have 39 fewer sailings in 2014, a reduction of 32 per cent, while there would be one less sailing per week between Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii, a reduction of 27.2 per cent. Between the two routes, BC Ferries expected to save more
Great February deals!
than $2 million per year. Following the release of the proposed schedules, the government undertook a major consultation process that included hearing from more than 3,700 people and receiving more than 2,700 feedback forms. While the cuts are going ahead, Stone said that information will be incorporated. “There will be a number of dramatic changes made to the schedules released back in November as we work on finalizing the schedules in the coming month. Those changes will all be based on the feedback from the consultation process,” he said. Prince Rupert Mayor Jack Mussallem said he was concerned about the cuts, but was going to take a wait-and-see approach before responding to the
Second-room digibox on sale for $50 While supplies last Limit 1 per household
province. “I am going to suggest to council that we wait and see what BC Ferries devises in terms of the schedule, look at it, look at the impacts and then talk to community groups to see what those impacts will be on them,” he said, listing hotels, restaurants, charter operators and several other businesses as those being affected. “To be prudent, we should wait for all of the information and go from there.” Mussallem said if the impacts are looking “disastrous”, he would be making calls to other mayors along the Northern Circle Route to bring a united voice to Victoria. “It’s not just in Prince Rupert, this is impacting every community along the way in some way,” he said.
Call 1-800-442-8664 for full details like us on Facebook facebook.com/CityWest.BC