VE
A NEW PERSPECTIVE
The Invermere
ALLEY A CHO alle
April 29 2015
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On the trail of the mysterious wolverine
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Mary O’Brien took her son, Liam Hurst, 4, on the ferris wheel during the opening night of the carnival on April 24th. Much to his mother’s amusement, Liam was astonished by what the bird’s eye perspective from the rising ride revealed: a riot of sights, smells and colours below him. PHOTO BY BREANNE MASSEY
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Federal budget allocates funds for TransCanada upgrades NICOLE TRIGG nicole@invermerevalleyecho.com On Tuesday, April 21st, the Conservative government released its federal budget and Kootenay Columbia MP David Wilks is pleased with what he feels is a budget that has the potential to positively affect those in his riding. “The minister came out with a balanced budget and we said in the 2011 election we’d balance the budget before the next election and we did,” Wilks said, “so I’m very happy with the budget that came out today.” The budget, normally presented in February, was delayed as the government waited to gauge the impact of low oil prices on the Canadian economy. In a phone call to The Valley Echo immediately after the budget was made public, Wilks read directly from the 518page document, highlighting the items he believes “will be good for the area.” He was quick to point out the pro-
posed reduction in the small business try of Environment about to ensure we tax rate from 11 to nine per cent by get our adequate amount to continue 2019, and a one-time investment of $65 to move forward with improvements to million to business and industry asso- the TransCanada Highway within the ciations to help them work with post national parks,” said Wilks. secondary institutions to better align He alluded to a forthcoming ancurricula with the needs of employers, nouncement with regards to Kootenay citing College of the Rockies as an ex- National Park that had not yet been ample, which works made by The Valley with many employThis is a very, very Echo’s press time. ers to provide the “There are other prismall drop in the orities as well,” said training they need. One of the big tick- bucket of what’s needed. Wilks. “I do know there PAT COPE et items in the budwill be an announceFAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE get that will have ment shortly with rean impact on the northern part of the gards to Kootenay National Park and in Kootenay-Columbia riding is the $2.8 specific to improvements to the pool, billion earmarked for improving infra- Radium Hot Springs.” structure to heritage, tourism, waterThe announcement has nothing to way and highway access located within do with the federal government’s pronational historic sites, national parks posed plan to privatize the hot pools. and national marine conservation ar“This has to do with improvements eas across Canada. that will be moving forward from a na“So that’s a significant amount of mon- tional perspective through Parks Caney that I will be speaking to the Minis- ada,” he said. “I’m just not allowed to
say what it is yet but I can tell you it’s coming, very shortly.” Investment in forestry was also high on Wilks’ list. The Forest Innovation Program and the Expanding Market Opportunities Program will receive $86 million over to years starting in 2016-2017. “Canfor has utilized this program in the past to upgrade their technology to better suit the world market and this will give them an opportunity to access that program, to better adapt to world markets as they adjust,” said Wilks. Tourism in the region stands to benefit from the federal government’s plan to promote Canadian tourism . “The Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide additional support to the Canadian Tourism Commission to embark on a new marketing campaign in the United States in partnership with the tourism industry,” Wilks said. “Details will be announced in the upcoming months.” See A4
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