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NOVEMBER 27, 2014
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FAMILIES HAD FUN ON PARADE NIGHT B1
Liquor laws see substantial changes Free Press
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CHILDREN DELIGHTED TO MEET SANTA
Price break for private agencies, liquor at grocers
Carole Rooney
TALENTED YOUTH'S ARTWORK ON DISPLAY A27
Two Sections, 44 pages
Changes to the province’s liquor policies and wholesale pricing will see widespread changes from alcoholic beverages sold in grocery stores to government agencies selling cold beer and wine. While a minimum purchase price will continue to be in place, government touts the change as a move to create a more competitive marketplace by allowing private stores a lower wholesale price. Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says under the current pricing rules, rural agencies and other private liquor outlets get a lesser discount, while the new system means everyone will have the same wholesale costs. “The really good part about the whole thing is that it will be a level playing field.” A government press release states more than 50 industry meetings and many written submissions in the recent Liquor Policy Review called for more equitability, including wholesale pricing. “It will help their bottom line, and probably help those who want to hire another employee
but their margins are so low they couldn’t hire anybody,” explains Barnett. “And, if they want to enhance their store, they’ll hopefully have a little more money in their pocket to do things.” Liquor sales will be allowed in grocery stores as of April 1 with consumer access controlled by a “store within a store.” Barnett says her initial concern during the policy review was ensuring large grocery stores adding liquor and government agencies installing refrigeration do not put smaller beerand-wine stores out of business. However, a onekilometre proximity between all liquor agencies will be in effect, which will mean not every grocery store can get a liquor outlet, she says, adding there is also a “big” capital investment involved. “In our small, rural communities, I don’t believe it will make a difference.” The MLA notes there won’t be any more private liquor agencies in a community than were already licensed. Attorney General Continued on A6
Chris Nickless photo
Ashlynn, left, and Juniper Rutledge got a special hug from Santa Claus during the South Cariboo Health Foundation’s Starry Nights 2 Light-up Celebration at the 100 Mile District General Hospital on Nov. 21. There were several children present at the celebration that kicks off the foundation’s yuletide fundraiser – with proceeds earmarked for an instrument sterilizer.
Gold recovery plant progresses The movement toward a natural resource processing facility in 100 Mile House took a step forward when a zoning amendment was approved on Nov. 12. District of 100 Mile House council adopted the zoning bylaw change after a public hearing held to accept public input. No objections were made and favourable comments were received about the possibility for this new business, which could create up to six jobs. The zoning change allows a potential facility at a Sollows Crescent property owned by local contractor Larry Henderson, which would be leased to Steve Hanson, a partner in IMG Gold Recovery Inc. of Burnaby. Hanson is developing a similar method used in his pilot plant in Burnaby for the recovery of very fine gold, silver and platinum from “black sand” and other tailing materials from former placer mines.
The process is a non-chemical process that uses gravity and a small amount of water to remove the mineral, and then transports any leftover material back out of the community, he explains. Henderson says these may be trucked in from around the province, or even imported. “[IMG] is actually sampling sand from South America, and all over the place. It is interesting stuff, that’s for sure.” The process extracts most of the 90 per cent of minerals left behind by typical placer mining operations, which take only the visible gold, he notes. “These guys’ recovery is phenomenal. Something like 95 per cent ... most people in the placer business usually don’t bother with it.” Henderson says the building is on site, but now that the new zoning is approved, not much will Continued on A4