Wednesday, April 2, 2014
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Volume 94 - No. 14
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www.ldnews.net
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$1.30 GST inc.
BURNS LAKE
LAKES DISTRICT NEWS Pedestrian injured in hit and run ...page 3
Burns Lake mayor makes top 30 Burns Lake mayor Luke Strimbold has been named one of the province’s top business and community leaders under the age of 30.
Story on page 2
Females; the bigger problem for RCMP this week
Petition for Comfor money discussion Comfor Management donation for almost a million dollars up for discussion BLACK PRESS A petition calling on the Village of Burns Lake to earmark nearly a million dollars for equipping an operating room in the new Lakes District Hospital & Health Centre will soon be on its way to municipal council. Paul Jean, one of the campaign’s organizers, said late last week the petition would likely be pulled on Monday (April 1) or Tuesday (April 2). After tabulating the results, organizers will prepare it for submission to the municipality. “We’ll have to get it collated and then arrange to present it to the mayor,” Jean explained. While community reaction to the petition has generally been positive, local elected officials are being a bit more cautious in their responses. Bill Miller, director for Electoral Area B (Burns Lake Rural) of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, said he believes it’s always good to engage the public in discussion of important issues. He added that in his opinion, the $960,000 donation made to the Village of Burns Lake by Comfor Management Services Ltd. (a community-owned corporation) “should benefit the
whole community and not just (the) municipal tax base. The hospital is certainly representative of the greater community.” Jean and Joan McFee, organizers of the petition, believe equipping the hospital’s operating room will help with physician recruitment. Miller isn’t so sure. “It narrows the parameters a bit for Northern Health in what doctors they can bring on board (here),” Miller explained. “According to what they tell us, they must have three physicians that have surgical skills, as well as anesthesiologists. I’m not sure whether that would be a ‘plus’ or a ‘minus’ in their recruiting strategy. I would suspect ‘minus’, but I am not the one to ask.” Miller added that government officials also have to take into consideration the costs associated with adding new health care services. “I believe we have to be cautious when it comes to what the operating budgets of our facilities are, as the health care cost in the province are rising drastically and the tax burden to our small local tax base (in the Stuart-Nechako Regional Hospital District) could become extreme. “I think we need to have a full discussion with all the stakeholders/residents,” he concluded. “Strategic planning for the region is we can best get as much services and efficient use of monies.” Village of Burns Lake council has not yet determined how it will use the $960,000 donation it received from Comfor Management Service Ltd. (CMSL), a community owned corporation. ...see MONEY ▼ P3
Most Trade and Career Programs require a minimum Grade 10 English and Math Skills
ACCESS training that will focus on the skills you need to enter these programs. April 24 to May 22 Mon. and Thurs. 9am to 12pm
Phone 250 692 1735 for more info
Phone: 250.692.1700 • Fax: 250.692.1750 • Toll Free: 1.866.692.1943 545 Highway 16 West • PO Box 5000, Burns Lake, BC • V0J 1E0 Email: lksdist@cnc.bc.ca • Website: www.cnc.bc.ca/lakesdistrict
Police are recommending charges including assault, assault with a weapon and assault of a peace office against a 15 year old young person.
Story on page 5
Locals receive achievement award Two Lakes District residents are among this year’s recipients of the B.C. Community Achievement Award.
Story on page 14