The Northern View, March 26, 2014

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PRINCE RUPERT VOL. 9 NO. 13

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

FREE

City pitching double-digit tax hike

LES MISÉRABLES Feature

BY SHAUN THOMAS

Heart of Our City: Making music Page A7

PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View

“Needless to say the port and the city do not agree on the value of the assessment.”

News Cullen named NDP finance critic Page A8

Martina Perry / The Northern View

The cast of Les Misérables prepare for opening night tomorrow. The community musical will take to the stage of the Lester Centre from March 27-29 .

Sports Skating club ready for year-end gala Page A13

BC Ferries makes final decision on cuts Tourism chair says impact of cuts to be far reaching BY MARTINA PERRY PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View

Haida Gwaii Saints defend Junior ANT title Page B1

D

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190 Alpine Drive $339,000

The City of Prince Rupert’s finance department is recommending council approve a 10.2 per cent tax increase for the coming year as it struggles to cover a $1.55 million shortfall. In a report to council, which was to be discussed at the March 24 meeting, chief financial officer Corinne Bomben outlines four options to cover the shortfall in light of potential issues arising from the payment-inlieu of taxes (PILT) coming from the Prince Rupert Port Authority. The first option - Corinne Bomben does not recognize the full PILT from the port, only $1 million over next five years, and no reduction in services. In this case, taxes would need to rise 10.2 per cent this year, 6.54 per cent next year and 8.16 per cent the following year. See TAX on Page A2

Despite BC Ferries’ attempt to lessen the repercussions of sailing cuts to the Inside Passage and Prince Rupert/Skidegate routes, opponents say impacts to the North Coast’s tourism sector will still be substantial. The new schedules for the Inside Passage, or Route 10, and the Prince Rupert/Skidegate run, Route 11, were posted on BC Ferries’ website last week following a number of meetings. The Inside Passage will see one less sailing per week during the off-season, which is October to May. The voyage leaving Prince Rupert on Tuesday and returning from Port Hardy on

“I don’t think urban British Columbians understand the impacts of this on small towns. ” - Scott Farwell Wednesday has been eliminated, with the Friday, Saturday and Sunday sailings still in place. While the number of summer sailings hasn’t changed, the length of the trip and its summer schedule has. Instead of starting in May and ending in September, the summer schedule will now be from June 11 to Sept. 8, with north and

southbound trips always stopping in either Bella Bella of Klemtu to pick up passengers. Before there were a number of direct sailings. Route 11 between Prince Rupert and Skidegate will see one less round trip per week in the fall-to-spring schedule. Prior to cuts there would be three round trips each week, with the Monday sailing being cut. After coming from Prince Rupert on Sunday, the ship will remain in Skidegate until Tuesday before it heads back. The Thursday sailing was not affected by changes. During its peak season from June 28 to Sept. 7, Route 11 will have five sailings instead of six, with the Wednesday trip being eliminated. See FERRIES on Page A2

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