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Morice timber review delayed By Jackie Lieuwen Houston Today
DIRECTING Traffic
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Nine students took a hands-on exam in traffic control on 12th Street last Thursday. The students are part of the Heavy Equipment Operator ACE-IT training with the Northwest Community College. Traffic Control Instructor Donna Andres (right) ran a two-day training course to give students basic certification as part of the equipment operator course.
Houston’s forest industry is gearing up for the announcement of the Morice Timber Supply Review (TSR) this month. The review will determine how much timber can be harvested in the Morice Timber Supply Area, which runs from Babine Lake to Ootsa and Whitesail Lakes. By setting the annual allowable cut (AAC), it has the potential to significantly impact the forest industry in Houston. “This is probably one of the more important TSR decisions the Morice has had. It will set the harvest level for the next five years,” said Houston Councillor Jonathan Van Barneveld. “Since the mountain pine beetle, the dead pine could potentially limit the
amount of timber available in the future, which could drop our annual harvest levels… “It’s been projected that if the cut does have to drop, it may only decrease by 20 percent, but we have to wait to find out.” The review process started January 2013. That data package was released July 2013 and the public discussion paper went out April 2014. The final Morice TSR announcement was expected last week Monday, but delayed for up to ten days. Vivian Thomas, Communications Director for Ministry of Forests, says they expect the annual allowable cut decision before the end of the month. Houston Canfor is hosting a Public Advisory Group meeting on April 2 to discuss the Timber Supply Inventory Updates and Canfor’s shadow analysis.
Houston 24/7 health care still a District priority By Jackie Lieuwen Houston Today
Houston council will continue pursuing 24/7 health care for Houston. “It’s still a priority,” said Mayor Shane Brienen. “We’re an industrial community, so a lot of people are
working at night in the backcountry. We did lose some jobs… but [24/7 health care] is still something we want. It’s just a matter of what form it will be in.” Brienen says council is still discussing what 24/7 care might look like, whether
it’s partnering with paramedics and giving them better training, or getting a nurse practitioner, or something else. “We’ll see if there’s something in other communities our size that’s working,” Brienen said. On February 6, Northern Health
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released a review of Houston services which said that 24/7 health care was not feasible for Houston. Asked what he thought of the review, Brienen says he wasn’t sure. “They sort of say in there that Houston people don’t want [24/7 care], but that’s
not the feeling I get when I talk to people… I’ve had a lot of people talk to me who say that it’s still a priority for them.” Brienen says “it’s important for everybody, but especially for the industry people and seniors.”
Houston council is meeting with Northern Health in April to go over the review and ask questions.
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GETTING DOCTORS Mayor Shane Brienen says the obvious key issue for
Houston is the need for doctors. “The doctor shortage needs to be addressed. We’re going to look at a better program between the District and Northern Health for doctor recruitment,” Brienen said. See HEALTH on Page 3
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