TUESDAY OCTOBER 21, 2014
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STICKING TO HER KNITTING
RUNNING AWAY FROM THE LEAGUE
A23
A33
The rushing attack of Coltin Laplante and the Whalers has Ballenas on a roll
Our business profile today features Let’s Knit in Qualicum
RAVEN COAL MINE
Expecting round two Gov’t says it has been told application is on its way CANDACE WU news@pqbnews.com
Stephen Ellis said he’s “confident” his company will re-submit another application by the end of 2014 to open a coal mine. Ellis is the CEO of Compliance Energy, a company looking to open Raven Coal mine near Buckley Bay, less than 50 kilometres from downtown Qualicum Beach. In May of 2013, the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) rejected the company’s application for the proposed mine saying “the application does not contain the required information and (the EAO) has decided not to accept the application for detailed review.” After the rejection Compliance officials periodically vowed to re-submit another application, however, the company repeatedly missed all of their self-imposed deadlines. In an interview last week Ellis said another application will be made “by the end of the year.” Kim Franklin, communications officer with the Ministry of Environment, confirmed by email Friday that “Compliance Coal Corp. has indicated to the EAO that they intend to re-submit their application for an environmental assessment certificate for the Raven Underground Coal Mine project in the next few weeks.” Once Compliance has re-submitted its application for an environmental assessment certificate, the EAO will evaluate it within 30 days to determine whether or not it meets the criteria set out in the application information requirements. If the EAO determines that the application meets the requirements, it will be accepted for review. The 180-day review will be initiated and a public comment period on the application will be scheduled.
RANDY FINDLAY PHOTO
WINDY FUN: Windsurfers and kiteboarders, as many as 16 of them, were having an excellent time riding in the strong winds at Columbia Beach on the weekend, a popular spot for windsurfers from all around Vancouver Island.
BOWSER/DEEP BAY ELECTION RACE
Incumbent passes on debate
CANDACE WU
news@pqbnews.com
An all-candidates debate in Bowser might be a one-man show. Incumbent Bill Veenhof said he will not attend an all-candidates debate hosted by an organization he’s calling “non-neutral.” Veenhof has been the regional district director representing Deep Bay/
Bowser for the past three years. He’s declined Mapleguard Ratepayers’ Association’s (MRA) invitation to an all-candidates debate slated for Nov. 4. “I think an all-candidates meeting is a great idea,” Veenhof told The NEWS. “But I think we would all be better served if an all-candidates
See SUPPORT LEVELS, page A4
meeting was sponsored and organized by neutral community organizers.” Veenhof said MRA has not “demonstrated neutrality.” He alleges senior members of the organization have sent e-mail correspondence suggesting they want Veenhof out of office. See ONE CANDIDATE, page A4
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