MONDAY DECEMBER 15, 2014
KIMBERLEY COMMUNITY
RDEK
FOUNDATION FUNDS
Made In Store
NEW BOARD SWORN IN
Fall grants dispersed. See LOCAL NEWS page 3
Gourmet Gift Baskets Variety to choose from!
See LOCAL NEWS page 4
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THE BULLETIN PROUDLY SERVING KIMBERLEY AND AREA SINCE 1932 | Vol. 82, Issue 241 | www.dailybulletin.ca
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More info sought prior to Jumbo decision NICOLE TRIGG Invermere Valley Echo
CAROLYN GRANT PHOTO
Each year Kimberley students from Marysville and Lindsay Park Schools have a skating party and visit with Santa, hosted by the Mark Creek Lions. The Lions generously donate hot dogs, hot chocolate and goodie bags, as well as ice time.
The province’s decision whether Jumbo Glacier Resort was substantially started by the potential expiry date of its Environmental Assessment Certificate has been delayed as the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) is requesting additional information on the location of Jumbo Glacier Resort’s day lodge. In the letter dated December 11th, 2014 and addressed to Glacier Resorts Ltd. president Oberto Oberti, Manager of Policy and Compliance Autumn Cousins writes: “based on the recent complaints and information reviewed through compliance oversight, Environmental Assessment Office Compliance and Enforcement is assessing whether the Day Lodge and service building locations meet the requirements of condition 36.” Condition 36 of the Environmental Assessment Certificate for the Jumbo Glacier Resort project states that “Resi-
dential and commercial structures will be located completely outside the avalanche hazard area.” As previously reported in The Pioneer, footage and information supplied by RK Heliski suggesting the foundation for the resort’s day lodge was located in the path of a Class 4 avalanched zone were the basis for a NDP attack against Environment Minister Mary Polak in the legislature on November 4th. In the letter, Ms. Cousins references a report indicating that larger avalanches or avalanches with irregular flow direction “could hit the lodge.” As a result, the report concludes avalanche control by explosives must be the method combined with support by trained personnel and a snow safety plan. The letter goes on to say that “given the prolixity of the building sites to historical avalanche paths,” the Environmental Assessment Office is requiring the following: See JUMBO, page 4
Changes coming to hunting allocations Proposed changes could result in 5,000 fewer licenses says BCWF; Guide-outfitters disagree with number C AROLYN GRANT Bulletin Editor
Changes to wildlife allocation policy for hunters and guide-outfitters in British Columbia are being considered, and the BC Wildlife Federation says that could result in
5,000 fewer permits available to resident hunters. Each year, ministry biologists calculate an annual allowable harvest (AAH) for many wildlife populations in B.C. using conservation principles. An established procedure is then used to split the AAH between resident hunters and guided non-resident hunters. These proportions are referred to as ‘the allocation’ and generally apply for fiveyear periods. Among other things, the new policy would change the alloca-
tions for resident hunters and guide outfitters. A press release put out by the BCWF claims that changes to wildlife allocations could result in 5,000 fewer hunting permits going to residents and increase the number of permits sold to foreign big game trophy hunters. “Proposed changes to the Wildlife Allocation Policy are inconsistent with standard practices in other jurisdictions across Canada and in the United States,” said George Wilson, President of the B.C. Wildlife Federation, which
represents 45,000 conservationists. “There is no justification for these changes and they are not supported by B.C.’s resident hunters.” However, Scott Ellis from the Guide-Outfitters Assoc. says there is not a chance that the 5,000 number is anywhere close to accurate. First of all, he says, the split percentages apply only to Category A animals, for which hunters enter a draw for permits, not for species such as mule deer or elk where licenses are sold over the counter. “When you look at the Kootenays, it’s not a significant swing,” he
said. “We used to have regional allocations, which we have lost. In the Kootenays we estimated this to be about a $1 million loss. We are going to be experiencing some pain. To us, the new allocation policy will cost about 3 or 4 million province wide. The only relief is no restricted quotas anymore.” But nonetheless the BC Guide-Outfitters Association supports the move to legislated, fixed shares of Category A (allocated animals). See ALLOCATIONS, page 4