CHRISTMAS CAROLS PULL OUT SECTION B5-B12
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DECEMBER 3, 2015
New IH boss wants to study proposal WRANGLERS BATTLE STORM A19
SWING INTO CHRISTMAS WITH ECLECTICA A18
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On Nov. 23, Chris ciency and quality Mazurkewich, new standards. Interior Health (IH) Meanwhile the chief executive officer, opposition to the announced the deci- project is growing: sion on contracting municipal councils, out hospital laun- including 100 Mile dry services will be House, have passed delayed until March, motions against the so he can have a better privatization scheme, look at the issue. and some 13,000 citiA c c o r d i n g zens signed a petition to Freedom of against the loss of Information docu- in-house laundry serments provided vice and 175 to the Penticton family supHerald last year, porting jobs IH was looking in their comat privatizing munities. the in-house During laundry servicthis time, es at five major the deciBARB IH hospitals sion by IH MATFIN and six smaller on whether communities, to privatize including 100 Mile the service has been District General delayed several times Hospital. – the latest announced There was an imme- by Mazurkewich. diate outcry from the “... I plan to take union members who additional time in were very concerned reviewing the future about the loss of good- of our laundry serpaying local jobs if the vices. Subsequently, a service is privatized, decision on the posincluding four in 100 sibility of outsourcing Mile House. the service will not While many people occur until at least argue the cost sav- March 2016 when ings of outsourcing recommendations are laundry service would presented to the IH be marginal over the board of directors for long term, there are its consideration.” also concerns about Meanwhile, HEUthe integrity of the 100 Mile House chair program – especially and shop steward Barb in terms of laundry Matfin notes local delivery and contami- members are apprenation. hensive about the HEU secretary-busi- announcement. ness manager Jennifer “Obviously, it’s a Whiteside says IH has short term relief for stated in-house laun- the laundry workdry operation has set ers, knowing they still the bar high in terms have jobs into the new of productivity, effiContinued on A3
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WINTER BAZAAR FUN AT MILE 108
Gaven Crites photo
Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School students Jacob Bryan and Larissa Hilstad had a seat with Santa Claus at the Seventh Annual Winter Bazaar at Mile 108 Elementary School on Nov. 28.
Water discharge OK'd
Ken Alexander Free Press
The B.C. Liberal government’s Nov. 30 approval of a short-term discharge permit was music to the ears of the 200 people employed at Mount Polley Mine and provided hope for 170 other former employees who would like to return to work. The permit was needed to treat and then discharge water out of the open-pit copper and gold mine site. In July, Imperial Metals Ltd., which owns Mount Polley, received permission for a restricted re-start the mining operation under a number of conditions
from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Energy and Mines. One of the conditions, was the company, which would store mine waste (tailings) in Springer Pit, had to build a water-treatment system and receive government approval for a short-term water discharge permit. The permit will allow treated water to be discharged in Hazeltine Creek and flow to a sediment pond. From there, the water would flow through a pipeline that will discharge the treated water 30 to 40 metres below the surface of Quesnel Lake. Treated and discharged water must meet Ministry of
Environment water quality guidelines for aquatic and public health. While the ministry thought the pit would reach its permitted capacity in April 2016, under normal precipitation conditions, there were concerns voiced that the permitted level would be reached before that estimated time period. According to a ministry press release, final approval was made by a statutory decision maker from the Ministry of Environment after a 30-day public consultation and comment period and a comprehensive technical review Continued on A6