Wednesday March 23, 2016 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST INCLUDED
Canoe spill impacting tourism By Barb Brouwer
OBSERVER STAFF
The results may not be in, but the region is already feeling the effects of last week’s spill of toxic glue and fuel into the lake at Canoe Forest Products. Robyn Cyr, Shuswap Tourism manager and Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s economic development officer, voiced her concerns in an email to the Observer on Monday. “We have had cancellations for summer visitation from our tourism operators just because of this spill,” she wrote. “I know that seems extreme, but people are always concerned about this type of thing.” Interior Health says its concerns are from a human health risk perspective because the glue used in the plywood plant contains phenol formaldehyde resin. “The principle concern with formaldehyde is that it will be inhaled, either directly from the spill site or through subsequent use of the water (e.g. during showering),” notes an email from the health authority. “Early test results support that there is no risk from exposure to formaldehyde outside 100 metres of the log booms at this portion of the lake.” Mill officials have disputed Interior Health’s initial notice that thousands of litres of glue and fuel product washed into the lake, but an IH rep says that report was based on information provided by the Ministry of Environment last Tuesday afternoon. Environment and Climate Change Canada is now the lead investigator and mill officials say they are working with investigators. No updates have been forthcoming over the past week. Nor has the health authority received any information since it issued an update on March 16 advising the City of Salmon Arm was again drawing water from the lake intake two kilometres away from the mill. But Interior Health says people should continue to avoid recreational use within 100 metres of the log booms until sample results are available confirming there is no risk to public health. “Residents who have private water sources that draw from the affected area are advised to not use the water,” reads the post at www.interiorhealth. ca. The health authority will update its website as more information becomes available.
EVAN BUHLER/OBSERVER
Facing the fire
CSRD firefighters in training, Brodie Hartford and Jennifer Russell practise attacking a fire through an open window as trainer Ryan Gray looks on at the fire training centre on Sunday, March 20.
Cash transfer angers parents School District #83: Millions re-directed from services into capital. By Tracy Hughes OBSERVER STAFF
School District #83 is defending its budget practices after questions from parents revealed the school district has used $10.5 million in surplus operating funds over the past five years to fund capital projects – including the new $9 million District Education Support Centre. The consistent message from the school district during the construction of the new administration building was that capital and operating budgets are kept separate. Capital budgets are used for tangible assets like buildings, computers and furniture. Operating budgets are used to allocate funds for school services, in-
This week A group of Salmon Arm seniors proved talent has no age limit with a variety show. See more on A10. Three women take their fight against Parkinson’s to a local boxing club. Check out A13.
cluding wages for teachers and support staff as well as programs for students. Each year for at least the past five years, the school district has been cutting its operational budget – impacting programs for students – citing budget pressures due to declining enrolment, increasing costs and a lack of appropriate funding from the province. But surplus amounts generated in School District #83 over the past few years have ranged from $700,000 to $2.9 million annually. So news that every year for at least the past five years, the school district has been transferring the surplus money into the capital account has outraged parents and members of the Parents Advisory Councils.
In a statement, the District Parent Advisory Council calls the practice deeply disappointing. “This practice is absolutely disheartening at a time when our district has been facing multiple years of operating fund cuts in the millions of dollars – including the loss of programs, student supports and school closures,” it says. “As it appears the funds transferred to the capital account have been used to finance the new district office, it is a sad irony a portion of that building was built with funds originally directed for the education of our children.” There is nothing illegal about the See Process on page A2
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............. A10 Sports................A13-A14 Arts & Events ... A15-A17 Time Out................... A18 Vol. 109, No. 12, 40 pages