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C Y T I
ENTRE MA L
FRIDAY, December 19, 2014
Volume 9 Issue 24
TMC 20,700
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KITIMAT • 250-632-2433 email: info@citycentremall.ca www.citycentremall.ca
HOLIDAY HOURS December 17 to 19 ... 9:30 am to 9 pm December 20 ............ 9:30 am - 6 pm December 21 ............ Noon to 5 pm December 22 & 23 .... 9:30 am - 9 pm December 24 ............ 9:30 am - 5 pm Christmas Day .......... CLOSED Boxing Day................ Noon to 5 pm December 31 ............ 9:30 am - 5 pm New Years Day ......... CLOSED
PRINCE RUPERT ROTARY CLUB
CHRISTMAS TREE SALE
Dec 6 - Dec 20 or until stock lasts NEW LOCATION At the Tennis Courts on McBride
Times: Mon. -Fri. 4:30 - 6:30 pm Sat. 12:00 - 6:00 pm Sun. 2:00 - 5:00 pm THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE PRINCE RUPERT ROTARY CLUB
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
JOSH MASSEY / THE NORTHERN CONNECTOR
Celebration (left to right): Tahltan elder Nancy McGee with AltaGas environmental manager Loren Kelly, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation John Rustad, Tahltan Central Council President Chad Day and Tahltan performer Shane McGee.
Tahltan buy into hydro-electric project
By JOSH MASSEY
THE NORTHERN CONNECTOR
TERRACE - The provincial government is giving the Tahltan Central Council $500,000 to buy into a small run of river project on the Iskut River owned by Calgary-based energy company AltaGas. The Volcano Creek project, rated at 16 megawatts, has just begun producing power which is then being sold to BC Hydro, entering the provincial grid through the crown corporation’s Northwest Transmission Line. Provincial and Tahltan officials were in Terrace Dec. 12, releasing details of the business deal through the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund which will see the Tahltan earn
a portion of the money being paid by BC Hydro to AltaGas for the power through a 60-year purchase agreement with the company. The ownership stake is in addition to separate deals the Tahltan have signed with the provincial government for a share of the water rentals being paid by AltaGas for all three of its Iskut River run of river projects. In addition to the Volcano Creek project, the 195 megawatt Forrest Kerr project began producing power into the provincial grid through the Northwest Transmission Line in the summer and the McLymont Creek project of between 50 and 75 megawatts is still under construction. The Forrest Kerr project rep-
resents $1.1 million to the Tahltan annually from water rentals and the Volcano Creek project represents $3,000 per year. When finished and in operation, McLymont Creek will represent approximately $10,000 a year in payments to the Tahltan. As well, the Tahltan have also signed separate economic benefits agreements with AltaGas for its three projects. Tahltan Central Council president Chad Day was in Terrace along with vice president Heather Hawkins, Iskut band manager Feddie Louie and Iskut band councillor Paul Louie. Day exchanged gifts with Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation minister John Rustad at an event held in the Best Western Hotel. The $500,000 being provided
by the province is the maximum any First Nation can receive per project from the clean energy fund. It is being used to exercise an option the Tahltan Central Council has with AltaGas for a one-time investment of between $500,000 and $2 million in the Volcano Creek project. The Volcano Creek and McLymont Creek projects will cost approximately $250 million and when added to the cost of the Forrest Kerr project is part of nearly $1 billion AltaGas will have spent on the three hydroelectric projects on Tahltan traditional territory. The Tahltan Central Council also has other benefits agreements with other companies local on its traditional territory.
Check out today’s paper back page for full details!
SALE STARTS ON FRIDAY, DEC.26, 12-5 PM 4710 Keith Avenue, Terrace, B.C. 250-635-7767
PRICES IN EFFECT DECEMBER 26 TO DECEMBER 29