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www.northernsentinel.com
Volume 61 No. 25
Canada Day back on track
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
1.30 INCLUDES TAX
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Most usual attractions to return for festivities Cameron Orr First there was almost nothing, then the Kinsmen promised to follow-through on the parade, and now most of the usual Canada Day festivities should be taking place after a quick turn-around as municipal staff went back to work. Kitimat Council approved the insurance liabilities for the usual events as the Leisure Services department tries to lock down confirmations, but as it stands food vendors should be out at the Riverlodge following the parade that afternoon, and fireworks will be set off. This comes after the Hill Climb will take place the weekend prior, on June 27. The only thing missing this year is the stage shows, which just couldn’t be put together in the time that was left before July 1, said Leisure Services Director Martin Gould. And by the time of the council meeting on June 15, he wasn’t sure if there were going to be helicopter rides either, but even so Festivals Kitimat did put in for an insurance policy to cover helicopters, should they happen. A final schedule of events is anticipated to be released today by Festivals Kitimat. Local businesses have also reportedly gotten together to hold a “can-struction” exhibit during Canada Day — that is, the companies will provide sculptures made from non-perishable food cans for display, with the food ultimately going to the food bank once the day is done. Gould said all of the arrangements for Canada Day came together very quickly following the resolution of the labour dispute.
Earthquake study underway in Kitimat.
/page 3 Event in Kitamaat Village tackles elder abuse /page 9 PM477761
Relay for Life The 2015 Relay for Life in Kitimat begins with the survivors’ lap at 11 a.m., shown above. This year’s relay theme was Carnival for a Cure, and ultimately organizers handily cleared the $100,000 mark in fundraising for the Canadian Cancer Society. The full amount revealed on page 8.
LNG Canada gets enviro certificate LNG Canada has received an environmental assessment certificate which gives them the environmental OK to build their plant. This decision doesn’t mean the company will definitely move ahead to a construction phase — that would happen only after the company issues a positive Final Investment Decision (FID). Even so, the awarding of the certificate is a major milestone for the project. The certificate from BC does come with 24 conditions, including environmental monitoring, developing a greenhouse gas emissions management plan, and mitigating and monitoring impacts to marine mammals during construction and shipping. A unique aspect of this particular environmental review is that it’s the first to be given a certificate under a “substituted environmental assessment” meaning that a single process, lead by British Columbia, provided the review actions on behalf of both the province and the federal government. The federal government shortly after B.C.’s announcement also formalized their approval of the process, and added 50 conditions as well for LNG Canada to follow. From here the company will still need federal approvals from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Transport Canada and Environment Canada, and a number of regulatory approvals at the provincial level at different stages of the project. Within the executive director’s list of recommendations in
the Reasons for Ministers’ Decision document, a number of concerns were laid out relating to the project. In a subject known well to people in Kitimat, the environmental assessment office noted concerns regarding cumulative emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The report says that “the assessment predicted that cumulative SO2 ground level concentrations would be above the Ministry of Environment’s interim Ambient Air Quality Objectives,” but added that “the project on its own did not exceed any objectives or guidance, but predicted exceedances were the result of future cumulative emissions, particularly the emissions from the Rio Tinto Alcan facility.” The EAO report on reasons for decisions notes that they’re aware of government action to study the cumulative impacts to air quality in the Kitimat air shed and efforts to put in place programs to monitor and mitigate those effects. “We are satisfied that the EA Certificate conditions and other regulatory requirements, particularly under the Environmental Management Act, will effectively manage air emissions,” the report states. Other considerations will be the need by the company to offset any impacts to fish habitat, and for the company to deal with the wake from their tankers and take steps to avoid collisions with marine mammals. LNG Canada issued a statement from its CEO Andy Calitz shortly after the announcement. Continued on page 5