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MERRITT HERALD FREE
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
SHOW OF SUPPORT
About 75 people took part in a march to raise awareness about relationship violence on Thursday organized by Merritt’s Violence Against Women in Relationships committee. For the full story on the event, see page 2. Emily Wessel/Herald
MLA responds to recall campaign threat By Michael Potestio THE HERALD
reporter@merrittherald.com
MLA Jackie Tegart says the biosolids protesters need to end their occupation of Premier Christy Clark’s West Kelowna constituency office before she meets with Friends of the Nicola Valley. About 20 protesters — including the five Nicola Valley chiefs — began a sitin at the office last Wednesday, the day after protesters marched to Tegart’s Merritt office.
Friends of the Nicola Valley, which has been leading the anti-biosolids crusade, gave Tegart a oneweek timeframe from last Tuesday to meet with them before they implement a recall campaign. “I am more than willing to meet with different people and talk about whether they have a solution, but it’s tough when you get ultimatums, also,” Tegart said. The MLA is currently in Victoria sitting in the legislature until end of May.
On Monday, Friends of the Nicola Valley spokesperson Georgia Clement told the Herald she has yet to hear from Tegart, and expects to begin the recall process. Tegart said she was disappointed to hear that people felt she hadn’t done enough regarding biosolids and continues to look for a solution to the issue. “I have taken it to every level I can think of. If there was a simple solution, we would have found it,”
Tegart said. She said she’s looking into what can be done to satisfy concerns while working within the law. The sit-in over in West Kelowna has seen protesters camp out in the office alongside RCMP and members of the legislative assembly protective services staff for about a week now. On Saturday, there was a rally outside the office that saw about 100 people — mostly from the Nicola Valley.
Lower Nicola Band Chief Aaron Sam said the chiefs had dialogue with the provincial government on Sunday, and as of the Herald’s press deadline on Monday, expected more talks to come. He said the chiefs have been seeking mediation with the province in order to move forward. “We’re still having discussions in regards to that,” Sam said. However, Sam did not wish to disclose who in gov-
ernment the chiefs are talking with. Premier Christy Clark has told reporters that the government is “working on it” when it comes to the biosolids sit-in. “It’s not an easy solution, though. That’s why it’s taken some time and I think that’s why they’re frustrated; they don’t want this to happen and they’d like to get a solution as quickly as they can,” Clark said.
See ‘Sit-in’ Page 5