EAGLE VALLEY
NEWS
CSRD directors persist with noise bylaw Page 7
Local poll to assist with strategic voting Page 12
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015 PM40008236
Vol. 60 No. 40 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Candidates tackle issues of the day By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
A diverse, topical mix of local and national issues were tackled by the North Shuswap Okanagan riding’s electoral hopefuls during an all-candidates forum held in Sicamous Monday night. Organized by the Sicamous chamber, the forum offered Eagle Valley residents an opportunity to hear the candidates – Conservative Mel Arnold, Liberal Cindy Derkaz, Green Chris George and the NDP’s Jacqui Gingras – respond to pre-written questions in a non-debate format. That, however, didn’t stop the contenders from taking shots at their competitors’ parties. The gauntlet was dropped with opening remarks and Arnold’s touting of the TransPacific Partnership, which he said opens a partnership with 11 other countries and some 800 million new customers, in turn creating a stronger economy for Canada and more jobs. “That trade agreement will open up those doors to expand markets, not just for our dairy producers and our fruit producers, but for our manufacturers, for our innovative technology people that can actually now trade across those borders… by expanding our markets, those are what’s
In closing: Conservative candidate Mel Arnold defends his statement that dairy producers are happy with the Trans-Pacific Trade agreement during closing statements of the Oct. 5 all-candidates forum in Sicamous. Photo by Lachlan Labere going to enable an area like this to grow and expand,” Arnold later explained when asked how to improve the local economy. On that topic, Gingras was critical of trade deals conducted in secret, stating the NDP would cut the small business tax by two per cent, work to protect local agriculture establish a national childcare program. Derkaz touted the need for investment and infrastructure, noting the Liberals will run a deficit to do this, and put the money in the hands of local governments who she said are best suited to decide where spending is needed. She also supported affordable housing and creating more opportunities for agriculture. George said the Greens
too would support infrastructure spending, committing one per cent of GST to it and, like the Liberals, assuring the money would go to local government. He also championed youth employment with the Greens establishing a Community and Environment Service Corps. Asked for their vision of the CBC, George, Derkaz and Gingras each championed restoration of funding to the national broadcaster, and establishing a management board that’s at arm’s length from government. Arnold, however, argued the CBC needs to become more self-sustaining so that it’s not reliant on government funding, and is “accountable to their viewers and
their advertisers.” “The programming and the advertising needs to be upgraded to today’s world standards,” said Arnold. Asked whether or not they would support the dredging of the Sicamous channel, Arnold was first to reply, noting how both his experience as a conservationist and marine business operator equips him well to consider a balanced approach, using science from Fisheries and Oceans Canada to mitigate changes to fish habitat while dredging the channel. This response was met with criticism from the other candidates, who chasSee Bill C-51 on page 3
Family made to bear with troublesome bruin and cubs By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
A Sicamous woman is resigned to the fact she and her family must co-exist with a menacing bear sow and her cubs. Living on Old Town Road, Jennifer Dunlop says it’s not unusual to see bears in her neighbourhood, and her yard, especially at this time of year. While she knows
better than to leave attractants on her property, the abundance of wild fruit in the area, as well as salmon in the nearby Eagle River, make Old Town Road properties part of prime bear habitat. “We’ve had bears here for years,” said Dunlop. “We probably have seven of them here this year. When they’re not a nuisance, you don’t really care.
They do their thing, you do your thing and everybody goes on their way.” For the past monthand-a-half, however, Dunlop says a mother bear and her cubs have been crossing through her yard daily, damaging her property and posing a risk to her family and neighbours. “I have a son that goes back and forth to school and I’ve been
driving him,” said Dunlop, well aware of what can happen when one comes between a mother bear and her cubs. “My neighbour has seen the cub across the street and it’s been crying, and then the mom will come across from another section of the street and get it. Well, if you’re going down the middle of the road, she thinks you’re a threat – See Conservation on page 3
Property damage: Jennifer Dunlop stands next to a stairway on her property torn up by a visiting bear sow. Photo by Lachlan Labere