Wednesday, November 25, 2015
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Volume 95 - No. 47
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www.ldnews.net
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$1.30 GST inc.
BURNS LAKE
LAKES DISTRICT NEWS
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Trudeau orders tanker ban on B.C.’s north coast
Northern Gateway remains committed to building their pipeline despite the ban
FLAVIO NIENOW
Prime minister Justin Trudeau has asked his ministers to formalize a moratorium on crude oil tanker traffic on B.C.’s north coast, a ban that could jeopardize the Northern Gateway Pipeline project. The Coastal First Nations (CFN), an alliance of First Nations on B.C.’s north coast, has commended Trudeau’s directive for the moratorium. “It is another strong signal that Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline will not go forward,” said CFN President Marilyn Slett. “We hope that this finally puts an end to Northern Gateway Pipeline.” However, Northern Gateway and project proponents said they remain committed to building the proposed pipeline despite the ban, according to Northern Gateway’s Communications Manager Ivan Giesbrecht. “We are looking forward to an opportunity to sit down with the new prime minister and his cabinet to provide an update on the progress of our project and our partnerships with First Nations and Métis people in Alberta and B.C.,” said Giesbrecht. “We share the vision of the Trudeau government that energy projects must incorporate ...see ENBRIDGE ▼ P7
Walk on passengers Local resident and Francois Forester employee Lyle Phillips captured this photo at 3 a.m. during an emergency call out. The ferry crew was just getting ready for the call out when these two decided to walk on.
Resurfacing of airport means tax increase ANDREA CURRIE Burns Lake residents will soon be asked whether they approve raising the tax limit of the Village of Burns Lake and electoral areas B and E to resurface the runway at Burns Lake’s Baker Airport. Last week, the board of the directors of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) received a report from financial administrator Hans Berndorff describing how the airport runway has deteriorated to the point where a complete resurfacing is required with a projected total cost of $1,585,619.
In order to meet the costs of repaying any debt accrued, it is proposed that the tax limit of the Village of Burns Lake and electoral areas B and E would be increased from $93,750 to $190,000 on improvements only. Berndorff clarified that the current $93,750 tax limit is equivalent to a residential tax rate of $20 on a $100,000 property, and the proposed tax increase to $190,000 would be equivalent to a residential tax rate of $41 for a $100,000 property. A public referendum is planned for Feb. 27, 2016, in order to vote on whether to approve raising the tax limit.
The Lakes District Airport Society (LDAS) has applied for a number of grants to supplement this cost. The LDAS has also submitted to the RDBN’s board of directors a proposed financial plan, which outlines potential financing for the project including federal gas tax funds from electoral areas B and E, capital reserves, GST rebates, and potentially debt funding from the RDBN. The memo notes that when the total cost of the project is added to the RDBN’s existing annual budget for the airport, it would require an annual taxation of $188,949 starting in ...see AIRPORT ▼ P5
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Phone: 250.692.1700 • Fax: 250.692.1750 • Toll Free: 1.866.692.1943 545 Highway 16 West • PO Box 5000, Burns Lake, BC • V0J 1E0 Email: lksdist@cnc.bc.ca • Website: www.cnc.bc.ca/lakesdistrict