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SMALL TOWN LOVE FOR FL P. 3 EDITORIAL P. 6
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NEW BUSINESS SIGNS P. 5 CUB CAR RALLY P. 16
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Brooks defeats B.C. Conservative ‘old guard’ Clark era of B.C. Liberal rule. Brooks agrees with Clark’s emBlack Press phasis on liquefied natural gas development, but says there is a “myoDan Brooks says his election to pic” focus on one strategy while replace John Cummins as leader of problems continue in forestry, minthe B.C. Conservative Party repre- ing and regions outside the north. sents a break from the “old guard” Brooks opposes revenue sharing and a new era of stability for a party agreements with aboriginal groups, mainly known for in-fighting. which the B.C. Liberal government Brooks, 38, took 62% of the ap- has extended from forests to mining proximately 1,150 party members and most recently to LNG developwho voted. He defeated Rick Peter- ment. son, a 59-year-old investment bank“I think we have to resolve land er who was endorsed by Cummins. claims definitely, not this indefinite “It was a great blessing to me accommodate and consult that rewhen John Cummins and that crew ally just perpetuates this uncertainty endorsed Rick,” Brooks said Mon- problem that we face,” Brooks said. day. “At that very moment, quite “I know a lot of Conservatives don’t frankly, I thought ‘I’ve just won share this view, but I personally this.’ And I think they misjudged the don’t have a problem with settling depth of feeling in the party.” land claims by giving First Nations A former guide-outfitter, Brooks land.” handed over his resort business near The government’s proposal to Vanderhoof to a partner and relocat- divide the agricultural land reserve ed to Kamloops to pursue his politi- into two zones is a good step, but it cal career. He hopes to appeal to ur- doesn’t go far enough, Brooks said. ban voters by emphasizing the steep The provincial economy suffers increase in B.C.’s debt in the Christy with 95% of all land owned by the province. “Imagine if you opened that up and started selling public land to private individuals, settled land claims with first nations by giving them some land, imagine what it would do for Dan Brooks campaigns for the B.C. Conservative our economy?” Brooks said. leadership in Salmon Arm.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
The first lemonade stand of the year
Tom Fletcher
Celebrating spring and the warm days arriving! It’s nice to see these enthusiastic entrepreneurs selling lemonade again as they did last year.
Kitimat rejects Northern Gateway in plebescite Cameron Orr Black Press Douglas Channel Watch will be hailing a victory after residents in Kitimat voted “No” in the community’s plebiscite. The vote fulfills Kitimat Council’s promise to gauge community support for the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines project. Unofficial results show ‘Yes’ with 1,278 votes and ‘No’ with 1,793. The No vote wins with 58.4 per cent of ballots, Yes vote trails with 41.6 per cent. 3,071 votes were cast. Councillors had at an earlier time committed to gauging support on the project as soon as the Joint Review Panel concluded their process and issued their report on the project.
The Joint Review Panel subsequently concluded in favour of Northern Gateway’s construction, save for 209 conditions that must be met. It has been a fierce fight for public opinion. Signs have sprung up on roadsides and people’s lawns, either encouraging people to vote “no to Enbridge” or “yes to Kitimat.” Both sides of the question launched websites, and began large advertising campaigns in local media. For Douglas Channel Watch, a win meant sending a message to the federal government that such a project is not welcome in the Northwest. For Enbridge, proving public support would have been a coup as the company seeks the general public’s favour in constructing their diluted bitumen pipeline from Alberta.
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