S TANDARD TERRACE
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VOL. 27 NO. 47
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
City keeps fluoride By JOSH MASSEY
JOSH MASSEY PHOTO
■■ It’s Coy Cup time HOCKEY MOM Ann Bandstra stands outside Xanders coffee shop with owner Alex Vogel, one of the local merchants helping promote next week’s Coy Cup tournament here. Terrace’s own River Kings are one of the four teams playing for the Coy Cup, the pinnacle of provincial senior men’s AA hockey. Tournament play begins March 22 at the Sportsplex and for more, see inside this issue.
Guides oppose LNG location By JOSH MASSEY THE SKEENA River is one of the last major intact salmon ecosystems in the world, providing more than $110 million annually in related economic benefits to northwest communities, says one of 47 fishing guides, fishing lodge owners and others connected to the angling industry here who do not want the federal government to approve Lelu Island as a site for a planned LNG plant and terminal. The group has made its point known in a letter submitted to
Local biologist adds to concerns. Page A3 the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) which is to submit a report to federal cabinet ministers for a decision on accepting or rejecting the Pacific NorthWest LNG proposal. Andrew Rushton, who has owned Kalum River Lodge for 28 years, says that long before Flora Banks and Lelu Island became common names in the debate over the Pacific NorthWest
LNG terminal location, he knew that the tidal area at the mouth of the Skeena is a crucial nexus of juvenile fish and other aquatic species and thus important to local economies and the greater ecosystem. “We were just surprised it went as far as it did,” he says of the environmental review already completed by the provincial government and nearing its end at the federal level.
“Really, we thought that would be shut down because Lelu Island has been closed for development [in the past]. This is really a jewel of the world, this marine area in front of Lelu Island should be protected.” The letter, released March 9, echoes another one signed by more than 130 aquatic and salmon scientists, also released March 9, stating the location has long been considered a poor spot for large industrial development because of the rare salmon habitat adjacent to it.
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FLUORIDE IN Terrace tap water is here to stay and a call for the city to hold a referendum on the matter has been rejected. Council’s decision was made following a Northern Health Authority presentation by chief medical health officer Dr. Raina Fumerton in which she applauded Terrace’s leadership in being one of just four municipalities still fluoridating water in the province. Fumerton presented fluoride as an indisputable good for public health based on its ability to prevent tooth decay, discounting what she said are emotion-based arguments of those who think that the risks of fluoride are outweighed by the dangers. “The benefits of chlorine or fluoride to our drinking water far outweigh the risk of any adverse affects because the levels are very, very strictly controlled by our water operators,” she said. Mayor Carol Leclerc said afterwards that the issue was settled. “I think the recommendation from our committee of the whole is pretty unanimous that council wishes to remain with fluoridation in the water based on the evidence that has been presented today,” she said. Councillor Stacey Tyers confirmed: “Our decision is to not send this back to referendum under this council,” she said. Tyers was referring to the request, backed by a petition signed by more than 400 local residents, 260 of whom were from Terrace itself, calling on the city to bring the issue back to referendum in light of other communities in Canada having stopped adding fluoride to water supplies in previous years. In particular, Fumerton was echoed by Tyers and fellow councillor Michael Prevost in saying that fluoride is an equity issue that brings increased dental health to the poorer segments of society. Terrace has a high poverty level, added Tyers. First Nations Health Authority representative Coco Miller accompanied Fumerton and added to her presentation. Not only did councillors make it clear they intend to continue the program, but there is also talk of taking a leadership role in the province to advocate for fluoridation.
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Chores and care
It’s settled
Sixth in Canada
Service offers support to enable seniors longer independent living \COMMUNITY A18
Case against previous Terrace RCMP constable settled out of court \NEWS A4
Special Olympic skater considering change as national season ends \SPORTS A25