InteriorNEWS THE
108th Year - Week 39
•
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
•
www.interior-news.com
•
PM 40007014
$1.30 (gst included)
Muheim Elementary School students take turns boring into a tree for a core sample during National Forest Week last Tuesday. Industry and government job vacancies in forestry are high. Story, page A3. Chris Gareau
Recall proposal passed By Chris Gareau Smithers/Interior News
A proposal to create a recall mechanism for elected municipal officials put forward by Telkwa council was passed by delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities in Vancouver last week. If the provincial government agrees to create such a law, voters could recant on their choice of councillors, directors and mayors after they held office for 18 months. A 50 per cent threshold of signatures would have to be met to trigger a new election, higher than the 40 per cent the province now has for MLAs. B.C. is the only province with a system in place to remove elected representatives from office between elections.
“I’m very excited and proud of the delegates and proud of our council for bringing it forward. I think it was time. Power to the people,” said Telkwa Mayor Darcy Repen. “I think it was passed because our politicians are realizing that it’s time we actually give people an opportunity to have input, especially if their politicians are not leading them in the direction they want to go, more frequently than every four years.” The waiting period and 50 per cent threshold avoids abuse of a recall according to Repen, who pointed to the provincial recall legislation as a success. “It’s not something that’s used for single issues or things that are not really critical,” said Repen. Also at the convention, Smithers Coun. Phil Brienesse was elected as a director at large for the UBCM.
Lack of support turfs Smithers sportsplex By Chris Gareau Smithers/Interior News
A lack of financial backers means there will be no indoor turf sportsplex in Smithers any time soon. Bulkley Valley School District 54 trustees voted to table the proposal last Tuesday, essentially killing the project. The school board had committed to spend $1.5 million,
with an option to spend up to $2 million. The total cost of the sportsplex was estimated at $3.54 million, meaning half of the money needed to come from other community partners. “We don’t have any partners financially. So if there were people or organizations or the Town of Smithers, whoever that would want to be partnered, we could work on this,” said trustee and community relations chair Frank Farrell. See FACILITY on A2
GREEN CANDIDATE ENTERS RACE Jeannie Parnell outlines her stance on resource development.
ACCOLADES GALORE Alex Cuba celebrates two Latin Grammy nominations.
A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE Hazelton teens feel older and wiser after military experience.
NEWS/A9
A&E/A17
THREE RIVERS/A27
Friday Sept 25 to Tuesday October 4 see last page in A
With every purchase of $100 (minimum purchase before turkey) or more get your Grade A Turkey any size for .99 per lb.(2.18 per kg)
Limit 1 turkey / $100 minimum purchase while quantities last!