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VOL. 27 NO. 18
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Alliance focuses on the premier By JOSH MASSEY NORTHWESTERN LOCAL governments are hoping to negotiate an industrial tax revenue sharing deal with the provincial government and will be taking their cause directly to Premier Christy Clark. They’re hoping for a meeting with her next month when local governments from around the province gather in Vancouver for their annual convention, an occasion which will draw Clark and other senior provincial officials.
The Northwest B.C. Resource Benefits Alliance includes 21 northwestern local governments, who signed a memorandum here Aug. 15 affirming the alliance’s goals. What they want is a share of the expected tax revenues that will flow should major economic developers proceed. They argue that under the current taxation provisions, those projects will increase local government costs without providing funds to offset those costs. Alliance chair Stacey Tyers is also a City of Terrace
councillor and the chair of the Kitimat-Stikine regional district. She said Clark was invited to attend the Terrace signing. “The invitations went out late; they all had about three week notice and everyone is on vacation,” said Tyers. The Aug. 15 memorandum signing was the first time all 21 local governments were able to gather. First announced a year ago, the alliance’s core members were Terrace and the Kitimat-Stikine regional district but it then expanded
and now takes in the area from Haida Gwaii to Vanderhoof. The alliance also hopes to meet and start working towards an agreement with Peter Fassbender, who, as of the end of July, is the new provincial cabinet minister responsible for local governments. Tyers said Fassbender’s predecessor, Coralee Oakes from Quesnel, had been a fairly active participant in discussions. “We don’t have an agreement, but I think she did the best she could,” said Tyers.
“I think Coralee has created a rapport with the communities and relationships with the people in the communities. She’s a northern MLA so she really understands the smaller communities better than a southern MLA.” Fassbender comes to the position with a reputation for having driven a hard bargain during a dispute with the teacher’s union last year when he presided over the education ministry. “We have a road ahead of us,” said Tyers. “I’m trying really hard to
work with them, we really need this for the communities,” she continued. The alliance seeks an agreement similar to one between the province and local governments in northeastern B.C. which is based on oil and gas tax revenues. The province earlier this year turned down an alliance request for just over $1.1 million to help it negotiate a revenue sharing agreement. At the time the province said it would be premature to provide revenues from a future industrial base.
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City finances traffic study THE CITY of Terrace is laying out $40,000 for a transportation master plan which will provide a blueprint for the construction of roads and transportation networks. With the prospect of increased industrial development, the study will also look at the predicted effects of “anticipated growth,” according to a city document outlining the study’s intent. The study focus includes “current capacity and traffic loading of arterial and collector roadways; recommendations or confirmation of locations for future vehicle and pedestrian grade separations for crossing the railway,” the city document continues. Those latter two focus areas are in direct reference to the city’s long-held desire for a second vehicle route over the CN tracks which now divide the town, and another wish – that of a pedestrian overpass to better connect the south side with the north side of the city. At the moment the Sande Overpass is the only way for traffic to cross over the CN tracks. There are level crossings at Kenney St. and at Frank St. The study list includes consideration for improvements to both Lanfear and Kalum hills (the road up Kalum hill is called Skeenaview Drive), two of the three routes leading up to the bench area. The road on Lanfear Hill in particular has become a topic of discussion and debate about its ability to handle more traffic based on increased residential construction on the bench. The study will also take into account the city’s parks plan, currently being updated, as well as the city’s desire to increase bicycle routes and the plan for a mix of residential and commercial development on Keith Ave. west of the Sande Overpass.
JACKIE LIEUWEN PHOTO
■■ Helping Annabelle BRIANA SIMMS and Jalynn Gibson are doing their part to raise money and support the family of Annabelle Demedeiros, a four-year-old Terrace girl who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Simms and Gibson are familyfriends of the Demedeiros, who left home and jobs Aug. 12 and are living in Vancouver while Annabelle undergoes chemotherapy at the B.C. Children’s Hospital.
Cycling the north
Apology given
Hoop time
A local conservation officer is taking part in the annual Tour de North. \COMMUNITY A12
As it turns out, Rob Hart should have been screened at airport. \NEWS A9
Locals hone their basketball skills. \SPORTS A29