Gazette NORTH ISLAND
Publications Mail Agreement No. 391275
49th Year No. 36
September 4, 2014
www.northislandgazette.com
Newsstand $1.29 + GST
Hydro outage a shot in the dark Gazette staff PORT HARDY—The power outage that left the North Island dark for nearly 12 hours last week was caused by vandalism, a BC Hydro spokesman said. “Our crews found that someone had shot out an insulator at a trans-
former north of Port McNeill,” said Ted Olynyk. “This isn’t the first time, either; we also had an outage in 2009 as the result of a shot-out insulator.” Local RCMP are asking anyone with information to contact its Crimestoppers hot line or BC
• SMOKIN’
Hydro. The incident occurred at or near BC Hydro’s Keogh substation, near the Highway 19 junction to Port Alice, at about 1:30 p.m. Aug. 26. The outage left more than 7,000 customers across the North Island without power, disrupt-
ing businesses and sending hydro crews scrambling to locate and repair the damage. Residents were initially give an estimate of 3 p.m. for comple-
See page 3 ‘Tips sought’
Wayward smoke from barbecue sets off day care smoke alarm. Page 16
• EARS TO YOU
Bikers serve up toys, food in annual North Island fundraiser. Page 16
• LOADED
Port Hardy’s Load ‘em Up claims Port Alice slo-pitch title. Page 22 OPINION Page 6 LETTERS Page 7 CLASSIFIEDS Page 17-21 SPORTS Page 22
Parents and teachers set up for a rally and picket outside the offices of School District 85 in Port Hardy Tuesday morning. A O’Toole
No deal; strike continues Aidan O’Toole Gazette staff School supplies were put to use crafting picket signs this week as parents joined striking teachers on the line outside the School District 85 office in Port Hardy. While the bell rang on schedule at First Nations band and private schools across the North Island, public schools saw a return to the picket line for teachers after eleventh-hour mediation attempts collapsed over the weekend. The teachers’ union and government representatives have been at an impasse over wage and funding issues since the full strike began June 17, each side blaming the other for the stalled talks. The government’s position is that the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation has made unrealistic demands which are out
of line with other public-sector agreements. Minister of Education Peter Fassbender released a statement on the weekend saying, “The (teachers’) union made no substantive effort to get anywhere near the zone on wages and benefits. Their moves were so small that their compensation demands remain nearly double what 150,000 other B.C. public-sector workers have settled for. They even insist on a special $5,000 signing bonus that no one else received.” BCTF President Jim Iker, meanwhile, accused the government of being unwilling to negotiate. “After two days of work with (mediator) Vince Ready, it has
See page 4 ‘No end in sight” Mum Sarah Puglas takes a snap as Grade 1s Dylan and Dallas Puglas and Grade 5 Louis Walkus prepare for the first day of A O’Toole the new term at Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw School.
SERVING Licensed & Insured, VANCOUVER Work safe certified WBC, ISLAND & 30 years experience REMOTE LOCATIONS 250.702.3968 NEWS: editor@northislandgazette.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS: 250-949-6225
SALES: sales@northislandgazette.com