PRINCE RUPERT VOL. 10 NO. 03
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
FREE
BREAKING THROUGH Feature
Fairview expansion expected soon Port CEO anticipates announcement in the very near future
Heart of our City: Wade Wilkins Page A5
BY SHAUN THOMAS PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View
“Anticipate some type of very postive announcement some time in the first quarter.”
News Flu season mild in the Northwest Page A9
Kevin Campbell / The Northern View
Brett Fudger of the Prince Rupert Seawolves looks to carry the puck past two members of the Smithers Storm during Bantam Rep action last weekend. For more on the games, see Page 18.
Security concerns raised in Port Edward
Arts
BY SHAUN THOMAS
Pirates coming to the Lester Centre Page A11
Sports Halibut Kings founders honoured Page A16
SO
The long-rumoured Phase II expansion of Fairview Terminal could be coming sooner rather than later. “I think one can anticipate some type of very positive announcement some time in the first quarter of 2015,” said Prince Rupert Port Authority - Don Krusel president and CEO Don Krusel in a yearend interview with the Northern View. “It’s inevitable, you just have to look at the numbers.” See FAIRVIEW on Page A2
LD
620 6th Ave East $235,000
PORT EDWARD / The Northern View
How prepared is Port Edward to handle an influx of camp workers and potential social issues related to work camps? That was the concern raised by councillors James Brown and Grant Moore during the Jan. 13 meeting of council, pointing to their own experience with work camps. “I want to make sure Port Edward will be involved in policing and monitoring and have solutions before it happens ... in Nass Camp, some things got out of hand,” said Brown, noting drug and alcohol use and an increase in crime can accompany an influx of transient workers. “I have a brother who goes from camp to camp. They are always supposed to be ‘zero tolerance’ camps, but it never happens,” added Moore. Both Moore and Brown said the solution for
“They are always supposed to be ‘zero tolerance’ camps, but it never happens.” - Grant Moore Port Edward could be private security to help patrol the community. “I think we should be hitting up the big companies coming in to put a private security company in place to patrol the community in the evening hours so we don’t have to rely on the RCMP,” said Moore, adding security at the camp site is simply not adequate. “If we wait for a camp to come and bring security, that security doesn’t cover our town because it is on-site only.”
Noting that private security firms don’t have the authority to patrol the town, which rests with the RCMP, Mayor Dave MacDonald said this type of discussion has been taking place with camp proponents for years on end. “We have had ongoing talks because we care about Port Edward ... we have been bringing this up to companies all the time. We have been going to police to seek better service for Port Edward even the last time you were on council three years ago. We have not just been sitting in the dark for three years,” he said to Brown, adding he doesn’t believe work camps are as bad as some believe. “I don’t believe everyone who comes here will be a drug addict or alcoholic. They are here to get money, just as you [Brown] did when you went up north ... you can’t blame everything on people who are coming to town for a job.” Council will be inviting Civeo and Black Diamond Camps to a future meeting to discuss their plans for security.
Gordon Kobza
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