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Sentinel
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Northern
Years est. 1954
www.northernsentinel.com
Volume 60 No. 23
Capacity for civil disobedience Cameron Orr Is Kitimat Council preparing for potential surges in civil disobedience? That’s what Douglas Channel Watch wants to know, ahead of a decision by the federal government on the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines proposal. DCW’s Murray Minchin asked councillors at the May 26 committee of the whole meeting whether the town has planned for protests. “Twenty-thousand people have already pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Yinka Dene Alliance against Enbridge. Those numbers will surely grow if Prime Minister Harper approves this project and if Premier Clark rubber stamps the project’s permits,” he said. Minchin drew parallels to the protests at Clayoquot Sound on west Vancouver Island in the 90s, which drew out thousands of protesters and led to hundreds of arrests. That, said Minchin, was in the days before Internet even, and is sure the potential is there for even larger protests in the Kitimat area. “Kitimat is uniquely designed to accommodate thousands of tents in the many large green spaces throughout the community,” he said. He said citizens have even begun preparing, with the BC Civil Liberties Association holding a recent “Know Your Rights” tour informing people about their rights in dealing with law enforcement. Douglas Channel Watch knows as much as anyone else as far as when the federal government may or may not approve the Gateway project but such a decision is anticipated this month. A few days from the meeting when the Sentinel asked for response on the presentation, Mayor Joanne Monaghan simply said that any issue around preparation for protests in Kitimat is a police matter and they would hand over consideration to the local detachment. Staff Sergeant Phil Harrison said that it’s an issue that is on their radar, but even so they have no indication so far as to whether protests on the project will be large scale or smaller ‘mom and pop’ kinds. “We certainly realize, especially in the northwest here...once this Enbridge thing starts up again there’s going to be protests and it’s probably going to go throughout the whole summer,” he said. “But large scale protests? I don’t know how large they’re going to be.” When they do hear more he said they will dialogue with protest leaders to ensure safety. “We’re a neutral party, we don’t take one side or the other. We’re just there to make sure that the people are safe and property is safe,” said Harrison. “As long as those are looked after, protest to your heart’s content.”
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
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1.30 INCLUDES TAX
School teachers stand in front of Mount Elizabeth Middle Secondary School on May 26, part of rotating strikes across the province. Teachers in our school district will be back on the picket lines on June 6 as rotating strikes continue.
Keeping the foot down on walkways Cameron Orr The Kitimat Heritage Group is looking for answers about what will happen to Kitimat’s walkways and where they fit in to the town’s newest neighbourhoods. Speaking for the group, Walter Thorne sat before Kitimat Council with his questions, following a letter he sent on the same issue. The Heritage Group at least annually comes to council to press questions and ensure the continuation of the iconic walking path system in Kitimat. “That defining walkway, greenbelt system is a model that is looked at from afar, and we really, really treasure it,” said Thorne. Specifically he asked about the future of the Gander/Gannet, Osprey/Oriole and Kechika/Columbia walkways. He didn’t receive specific answers on those at his presentation. But Director of Engineering Tim Gleig said there is no immediate plans for decommissioning any of Kitimat’s walkways.
“This is our pet project, as you know. This is our pet city...We really want that system to be as good as it can be.” As the Heritage group reminded councillors and staff, a February 2012 motion sets in policy that the District of Kitimat must advertise planned sidewalk decommissioning in this newspaper. “We might do a survey later this year,” said Gleig, referring to the initial stage of setting out a decommissioning. “But the only reason you haven’t heard from us is we don’t have any on the list [for removal].” Thorne also questioned Kitimat’s newest developments, such as Strawberry Meadows, and encouraged Kitimat to stick to its walkway plans for those neighbourhoods. Town planners said there are plans
for walkways in that neighbourhood. Meanwhile staff also said they are expecting tenders for this year’s walkways restructuring plan. Last year’s plan, which would have focused on the downtown core of Kitimat, didn’t go through due to no bids being received. Staff was directed to redirect that budget towards 2014’s plan, which is the walkways around Kingfisher Avenue. Last year’s walkway plan was around $400,000, while this year’s is estimated around $700,000. Thorne also noted that the Official Community Plan considered a new walkway, one along the Viewpoint, could have been built by this time, but he did understand such an undertaking would be pricey, but was hopeful better times were ahead for the town. “This is our pet project, as you know. This is our pet city...We really want that system to be as good as it can be,” said Thorne. “We kind of like that vision to go on.”
PM477761
Ellis Ross receives Order of BC ... page 7