FAMILY FUN AT STRONGSTART EVENT B1 JUNE 25, 2014
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Teachers' strike draws nearer to year end
COLOURFUL RIDER
NEW RCMP BUILDING MOVING FORWARD A3
Carole Rooney Free Press
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Ken Alexander photo
Heidi Read (aka Bird Lady) certainly dressed up for the Canadian Mental Health AssociationSouth Cariboo Branch’s Third Annual Community Bike Ride at the 108 Heritage Site on June 22. It was a hot, sunny day that attracted a lot of cyclists for the successful Ride Don’t Hide event. Read also supplied the organic fruit for the riders, volunteers and organizers.
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Decision contingent on conditions
Carole Rooney
The voice of the South Cariboo since 1960 How to reach us: Ph: 250-395-2219 Fax: 250-395-3939 www.100milefreepress.net mail@100milefreepress.net
A request by the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) to have a mediator assigned to find a resolution in the ongoing labour dispute has run into a snag. Education Minister Peter Fassbender agreed on June 20 to accept mediation from Vince Ready who recently helped resolve the ongoing dispute between truck drivers and Port Metro Vancouver. “Whatever it’s going to take to get an agreement, our negotiating team and this government is prepared to do what we can,” says Fassbender. However, it soon became clear Ready is not available, so a collective breath is being held by teachers, students, administrators and parents this week to see what happens next. This move toward mediation follows the June 18 presentation of the BCTF’s updated package, cutting its wage demands to eight per cent over five years from their earlier offer of 13.5 per cent over three years. However, it also asks the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) for a $5,000 signing bonus (government had offered $1,200),
Free Press
The federal government’s approval of the Northern Gateway pipeline project has stirred up a well of controversy in British Columbia, and with the federal opposition parties. Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod says the NDP came out “pretty negatively on almost every resource project I can think of,” but have made clear statements on
oil sands, and want more increased funding transfers for health care, education, infrastructure and housing to the provinces. “We made our decision based on an independent environmental review process, not like the Opposition members, who think they should make decisions just on a whim of whether they like a project or don’t like one.” However, Premier Christy Clark and environment minister Mary Polak insist their answer to the
project is still a “no” pending four remaining conditions that have yet to be met – the fifth being fulfilled by last December’s completion of the federal environmental assessment. “We understand the economic benefits the Northern Gateway project may bring. But it will not be at the cost of our environment,” says Polak. McLeod notes the Stephen Harper government’s approval is contingent on Enbridge’s pipeline project meeting the 209 conditions recommended
by the independent National Energy Board (NEB), and imposed in the federal review. “There’s 209 other hurdles to meet, and so to me, this is one hurdle in a very extended process that’s still before this initiative.” Estimates indicate two-thirds of the province are against the project or want it postponed until further plans can be made, such as refining the bitumen into a much less toxic Continued on A5