Inside
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MIDNIGHT MADNESS P. 2, 9, 10, 11, 12 EDITORIAL P. 6
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POLICE UPDATE P. 3 PRO D DAY FUN P. 15
E xpress OMINECA
Publications Mail Contract # 40007840 Published by Black Press Ltd., 150 West Columbia Street, Vanderhoof, BC
$1.30 Inc. GST Vol. 38 No. 40
Serving Vanderhoof ● Fort Fraser ● Fraser Lake & Area www.ominecaexpress.com
Court: District vs former staff
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Celebrating National Child Day with creativity in Vanderhoof
Vivian Chui Omineca Express The District of Vanderhoof is in a dispute with Erin Siemens, the district’s former economic development coordinator, over the reason for her termination. In her wrongful dismissal suit filed March 25 in the Supreme Court of B.C., and her complaint filed to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, Siemens argues that she was suddenly dismissed for her perceived political beliefs, rather than simply due to the closure of her department as she was told. On Nov. 13, the tribunal denied the district’s application to dismiss the case, as the district had not submitted evidence that disproves the allegations, states the tribunal in its decision. The onus is now on Siemens to prove her allegations to the Human Rights Tribunal. “In my view, on the basis of all the materials filed, Ms. Siemens’ complaint rises well above speculation or conjecture,” states Bernd Walter, chair of the tribunal. Walter adds that as an assessment of all the evidence submitted by both parties, the tribunal’s decision for the case to remain in court did not require factual findings. The burden lay on the district to show that Siemens has no reasonable prospect of success in establishing her case of political discrimination. According to the tribunal, the district argues a legitimate business or reorganization decision for Siemens’s dismissal, but the mayor and its councillors did not provide a document trail for the tribunal “to clearly conclude when the District’s restructuring strategy was planned or implemented.” The district also “did not file any evidence or affidavits from the District’s [former] CAO denying his conversations with Ms. Siemens,” the tribunal states in its decision. According to Siemens’ file of civil claim, in her termination meeting, the district’s former chief administrative officer Evan Parliament allegedly alluded to her that she was fired due to her friendship and association with former mayoral candidate Jessi Wilson. Siemens appeared at public events leading up to the 2014 civic election with Wilson, who ran unsuccessfully against incumbent mayor Gerry Thiessen. See FORMER STAFF, page 3
e m o c Welestline! to W
SUBMITTED photo
With easel and paint, Abby Dykstra (left) and Alley Bukert celebrates National Child Day at Vanderhoof’s YMCA of Northern BC branch on Nov. 21.
Vanderhoof air quality advisory Nov. 30: The Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Northern Health Authority have continued an Air Quality Advisory for Vanderhoof due to highconcentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This advisory is in effect until further notice. Avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Staying indoors with windows and doors
closed helps to reduce exposure. Persons with chronic underlying medical conditions should postpone strenuous exercise until the advisory is lifted. Exposure is particularly a concern for infants, the elderly and those who have diabetes, and lung or heart disease. For more information on current air quality and air particulate levels, see:
www.bcairquality.ca Surface winds remain calm or light in Vanderhoof and are expected to do so until Nov. 30 night, when the high pressure ridge is expected to finally break down. It is expected that air quality will improve with incoming westerly winds. See TIPs, page 3
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