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Leaping into 2016 The big headlines in news, art and sports for January to June get a review in this special edition. Pictured are racers at the suprise holding of the national ski cross championship in Smithers in March; a young mutton buster (top left) at the Kispiox Rodeo in May; and 14-yearold Katie Larson performs at the Creative Roots dance showcase in February. See more inside.
Kendra Wong photo
Kendra Wong photo
Test run elections: Cullen LNG deal signed by
By Chris Gareau
Smithers/Interior News
The Liberal federal government was elected this fall on a platform that included changing the way Canadians elect members of Parliament. What that system should look like has been a point of contention among voters and federal parties, but Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen believes there is a way to make sure the best system is chosen: try one out and see if we like it. “I’ve nuanced it a bit and said, just in the experience in B.C., that we should try it for an election or two, and then give people a full vote: Do you like the new system we have, or do you want to revert back?” explained Cullen last week. “There’s a lot of resistance to change when you don’t properly know what change is going to look like. I remember this when STV [single transferable vote] was being debated here, it was really hard for people to grasp in real terms.” Concerns like having a local representative to connect with any concerns or issues was something Cullen said he heard when changing how British Columbians vote was being debated.
“There’s some experiences out there that says you test drive these things; you give it a shot and if it doesn’t work out, you give people a sort of fail-safe where you say ‘we can go back to the old first-past-the-post,” said Cullen. When asked if this trial and error approach was risky, Cullen said the place to start was considering if the current system is working properly. “A lot of the evidence says that it’s not: people’s enthusiasm, voter participation, all those things,” said Cullen. “We’ve had this system for 150 years. If we were to switch over for four to eight years, it’s just a moment in time, really.” The NDP MP added that another way to avoid parties seeking the best system that would help them win is to come up with principles before specifics. “I’m willing to say we have a preferred system, the NDP does, we think it’s a good one. But we’ll step back from that and say ‘come up with the three to five most important tests that a new system must meet. Questions like proportionality or the vote being reflected in the House of Commons, direct representation — that you have somebody there on your behalf directly, and then once those principles are set up, then you come up with the system,’ ” explained Cullen.
Burns Lake Band
By Flavio Nienow Black Press
TransCanada recently announced that its Coastal GasLink pipeline project has signed long-term project agreements with the Burns Lake Band. These agreements outline financial and other benefits and commitments for as long as the pipeline project is in service. However, specific details of the agreement are “confidential,” according to Shela Shapiro, a spokesperson for Coastal GasLink. Burns Lake Band Chief Dan George has also not disclosed how much money
the Burns Lake Band will be making out of this agreement. This was not the first deal signed with Coastal GasLink in the area. In December 2014, Wet’suwet’en First Nation (WFN) signed an agreement with the province to support the Coastal GasLink Pipeline project. Since then, WFN has faced continuous opposition from some Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs. Chief George said he realizes that some people might be against liquefied natural gas (LNG) development in the region, but he says forestry has been “way more devastating.” See QUESTIONS on A8
Q & A WITH B.C. LEADERS Legislative reporter Tom Fletcher sits down with the Premier and Opposition leader.
YEAR-END INTERVIEW WITH MP MP Nathan Cullen talks NDP leadership, LNG, and Bulkley Valley’s futures.
THREE RIVERS IN REVIEW Enter the arena of January to June headlines from the Hazeltons area.
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