ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A6 | NEWS | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021
MARKET MINDED
TOM SUMMER PHOTOS
The Fort St. John ArtsPost was busy over the weekend, with the Arts Council hosting sales of reused and recycled Christmas decorations, and the Potter’s Guild hosting a market full of mugs and other wares for those looking for an excellent, handcrafted gift for a loved one this holiday season. The Arts Council is accepting donations of lightly used holiday decorations for resale. Holiday shoppers can also pick up decorations for a donation, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays until Dec. 11. Left: Potters’ Guild members Lori Phillips, Sabrina Trobak, and Celina Neurath. Right: Margaret May and Connie Surerus of the Arts Council.
North Peace still feeling the impacts of summer storm Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca North Peace officials are looking for ways to help clear blown down trees and fund emergency power generators for residents still feeling the devastation of a severe storm last summer. MLA Dan Davies is urging the provincial government for a plan to remove trees and other debris left by the tornado-like storm on June 30, while Electoral Director Karen Goodings is investigating ways to provide grants for residents to offset the costs of buying a generator. Davies says the debris left in impacted areas of Red Creek, Coffee Creek, Doig River, Blueberry River, and Prespatou are a potential wildfire “powder keg.” In a letter to forests minister Katrine Conroy last month, he proposed a clean up of Crown land to take place in spring 2022. “We need to manage our forests better, we know that” said Davies. “Prescribed burning is a critical piece of that forest management and it’s something that’s been advocated for, for a number
NORTHERN TORNADOES PROJECT
Aerial image at Red Creek Road showing virtually every tree uprooted or snapped by the downbursts.
of years now, just generally to help clean up our forests.” The storm caused a series of downbursts that destroyed homes and businesses, and left thousands without power for days, with winds reaching estimated maximum speeds of 190 kilometres per hour in some of the impacted areas. BC Hydro said more than 330 spans of wire, 60 cross arms, 30 power poles, and 15 transformers had to be replaced because of the
Barber scholarships awarded A group of indigenous students from Northeast B.C. have received scholarships to support their postsecondary schooling. The Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society announced Thursday more than $2.3 million in Indigenous Student Awards, started in 2007 to remove barriers to higher education. Local students receiving undergraduate awards are: -Summer Supernant of Dawson Creek, who is studying at Okanagan College; -Harlen Bertrand of Fort Nelson, who is studying at Capilano University; -Richard Davis of Pouce Coupe, who is studying at Northern Lights
storm. “The government needs to be looking at trimming back these trees by the power lines,” said Davies. “We had massive outages for weeks during that windstorm and a lot was because these big trees are right beside the power lines.” Goodings says residents are also no longer satisfied waiting for BC Hydro to make repairs during natural disasters, calling it “a serious issue not just an
College; -Stephanie Attachie of Rose Prairie, who is studying at Thompson Rivers University; and -Bailie Copeland of Rose Prairie, who is studying at Thompson Rivers University. There were 663 students awarded across B.C. this year. The Scholarship Society’s Indigenous Awards program is funded from the returns on an endowment fund established by the province. Awards of $1,000 to $5,000 each are issued every year through a competitive process to students studying at all post-secondary levels, from trades training to doctoral programs. “The Society is pleased to be able to remove some funding barriers to post-secondary education by providing awards that are both available at the beginning of a program and renewable for future years of study” said Board Chair Melvin Berg in a release.
inconvenience.” At a Nov. 25 committee meeting, electoral directors authorized staff to research the potential of creating a grant fund to assist affected residents with the cost of purchasing and installing generators. “You’re seeing an increase in rural residents purchasing them and installing generators that would kick in when there’s an extended period of time without the power,” said Goodings. “It
Revised orders increase event capacities Northern Health has eased COVID-19 restrictions and increased capacity limits for indoor events, including funeral, weddings, sports, and theatre and arts performances. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday that indoor seated events with greater than 10 people will be allowed to have a 50% capacity limit, effective today, with proof of vaccination still required. “I know some of these were restricted to a much lower number in the past,” Henry said. The North Peace Cultural Society was quick to pivot with the changes, announcing more ticket availability for upcoming local productions including the North Peace Sec-
allows them to keep their water running. In the rural areas of course, if you don’t have power, you don’t have water.” Goodings herself has a generator, costing roughly $17,000 for purchase and installation. If the regional district moves forward with any kind of grant program, the money could come from the regional district. “It’s not cheap to do but a lot of people feel that BC Hydro power is just not reliable enough,” said Goodings. “And if you have to be away for a day or two days, or three days, you want to make sure your deep freezers are still running.” Electoral Director Dan Rose, who chairs the electoral area directors committee, said creating a fund and policy to administer it was worth the discussion. “I think there’s an opportunity here for advocacy,” said Rose, noting he also has a generator and that many rural residents are making sure they are more self-sufficient. “As these storms and these problems get to be more and more widespread, how are we going to help?” -Local Journalism Initiative
ondary’s SpongeBob SquarePants musical, Studio 2 Stage’s Christmas recital, the Community Choir concert, and the Nutcracker. “This is such wonderful news for all the events coming up,” the Society said. The revised COVID-19 health order for the Northern Health region will expire on Jan. 31, 2022, Henry said. Bars and nightclubs remain closed under the order, while restaurants must still end liquor service at 10 p.m. There are still no mass in-person worship services allowed, but Henry said drive-in services are permitted. Outdoor events with more than 25 people will be allowed 50% capacity, she said. Health Minister Adrian Dix says 144 critical care patients from Northern B.C. have been air transported out of the region for care this fall, with 113 of those patients confirmed to have COVID-19. From Nov. 21 to 27, there were 17 non-urgent scheduled surgeries postponed in the region, Dix said.
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021 | OP-ED | A11
What kind of minister threatens municipalities?
T
he sometimes not so Honourable David Eby was recently recently quoted as saying the provincial government “… could withhold funding for programs if a municipality refuses to work on the supply challenge.” He was referencing that some municipalities are not addressing current and future housing supply needs. For those mayors with the intestinal fortitude to respond to yet another threat to their community and their autonomy, here is a draft response: Dear Mr. Eby, and we leave Honourable out as it isn’t very becoming of a Minister to threaten other levels of government, We would be pleased to update our official community plan with one that shows positive growth, population in-migration, and prosperity, but, unfortunately, you and your government have not been so kind to our rural communities that we can look forward to anything that resembles a prosperous future. In the past year, you and your counterparts in Ottawa have ensured that rural B.C. will be hollowed out, and that population migrations will be south and west to the larger cities where most of our hard-earned tax dollars reside. To wit: Wood Products: The lack of response to the initial mountain pine beetle epidemic followed by successive poor responses to the increase of wildfires have decreased the available timber supply. Implementation of the old growth strategy, an increase in parks and protected areas, and transfers of significant portions of timber will further decrease our community’s jobs. The lowering of our communities to observer status for consultative purposes, the full fallout of the Blueberry River B.C. Supreme Court decision, and caribou conservation agreements, will ensure our forest industry does not thrive in our com-
EVAN SAUGSTAD munity. Predict a drop in the need for housing for those working or relying on our wood products. Mining: B.C., with plenty of metals, metallurgic and thermal coal that the rest of the world needs and wants, will soon be off limits. Your government, combined with Trudeau’s objectives, have ensured no major investment in new mines, no new technologies to reduce emissions and environmental impacts, and this before we even begin discussing impacts of caribou management. Under this economic outlook, it’s doubtful whether any of our current coal mines will continue with their investments to ensure our prosperity. Predict a drop in the need for housing for those working or relying on mining. Gas and Oil: COP26, to which both levels of governments overly support and pledge to phase out gas and oil production sooner than later. This, combined with a steady increase in taxes, government’s commitment to reduce fugitive emissions while committing no financial help to accomplish such initiatives, and an overhaul of royalties to ensure government gets whatever profits may be left (recognizing that NDP governments have a history of increasing taxes and royalties), does not bode well for the future. Top this off with the refusal of your government to send the Blueberry River lower court decision to the Supreme Court of Canada for a clear and sober second thought, and a more definitive solution in reducing cumulative effects, could be the death knell to this B.C. cash cow. Predict a drop in the need for housing for those working or relying on oil and gas. Farming and Ranching:
Attorney General David Eby speaks during a press conference in the press theatre at Legislature in Victoria. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Who is willing to invest in raising more cattle that produce more methane and require more Crown lands for grazing, or increasing crop production using fertilizers extracted from natural gas? And this is without contemplating what an everincreasing carbon tax and the cost of fuels will do. With no all-electric solutions to replace current equipment, this will ensure farmers are stuck buying fossil fuels at exorbitant costs. At best, farming will hold its own and won’t not need new housing. Ranching to be determined. Commercial and Farm Fisheries: Dwindling fish stocks, no new fish hatcheries, transfer of commercial salmon licenses to aboriginal-only fisheries, and the banning of fish farms will reduce the need for fish processing facilities. Predict a drop in the need for housing for those working or relying of the fishing industry Electrical Generation and Transmission: The addition of Site C, combined with the unused and oversupply of capacity from private producers, are forecast to meet our needs for years to come. Note, we do struggle with this forecast
given your commitments to everything electric. Predict a drop in the need for housing for those working or relying on Site C as construction finishes. At best stable for the housing needs of our long-term electrical generation and transmission workers. Should government lose the pending court case on Site C, there may be a whole lot of new housing as Site C is deconstructed. Guide Outfitting: The closing of the grizzly bear hunt and the demands of ENGOs to further restrict hunting and predator control, combined with government commitments for greater involvement of aboriginal peoples in wildlife management, will, at best, maintain the status quo. Predict no need for increased housing for those working or relying on guide outfitting. Tourism: B.C. residents are the largest users of B.C.based tourism operators. With the steady decline of well-paying B.C. jobs, an increase in tourism remains doubtful. A possible increase in foreign adventure tourism when they realize rural B.C. is truly silent. Predict a slight increase in the need for seasonal housing
for those working or relying on tourism. Mink Farming: You want it gone, then it is gone, despite domestic cats and dogs and other animals having the ability to carry and transmit COVID. Sends a powerful message that government does not value its industries. Predict a slight decrease in the need for housing for those working or relying on mink farming. Government Services: The one bright spot, if you and your counterparts wish to move thousands upon thousands of government workers from our major metropolitan areas to fill the void that the loss of our industrial workers has created. At best, may fill up the empty houses left by the departing industrial workers. P.S. – Hope your offer and promise of “retraining” rural residents isn’t the program you will cut. Signed, Evan, a former Mayor, one who empathizes with those who are now responsible to explain the mess that Victoria and Ottawa are creating. Evan Saugstad lives and writes in Fort St. John.
Meet your Prosperity Goals
M
y work is all about helping people to make smart decisions that are consistent with their financial objectives. To that end, we have just released a financial planning app, called Prosperity Goals. This app will help people identify what is really important to them, encourage them to make decisions that are consistent with their financial objectives, and introduce some accountability for their decisions. Why another financial app? There is already an abundance of apps that will help with budgeting or will perform simple financial calculations. Some apps even have a go at full financial planning. But Prosperity Goals is not a budgeting app. To be honest, the world does not need yet another budgeting app. In my 27 years as a professional financial planner, I can attest that budgeting apps will work fantastically well for a small segment of the population, and not so well at all for the majority of users that approach budgets like they approach New Year’s Resolutions: Great intentions, but really hard to stick to. Prosperity Goals is not trying to be a full financial planning suite either. This app is not intended to be a substitute for
BRAD BRAIN financial planning, whether that is done in collaboration with a professional financial planner, or even if you do your own. Rather, the app will focus on a guided process that will help people to make decisions that are consistent with reaching their Great Goals in Life. Prosperity Goals will help people to clarify what is important to them and it will provide knowledge and insight on their specific goals. To be used successfully, the app will require people to accept accountability for their own role in achieving their financial objectives; identifying what is important to them and working towards it. Think of Prosperity Goals as a personal trainer for your finances. It provides information and resources, but also the encouragement and gentle reminders to help people to consistently do the things that will help them reach their financial objectives. A personal trainer can provide the information and motivation to you get into shape, but they don’t lift the weights for you. Pros-
perity Goals won’t replace your own thinking, but it will complement it and it will remind you about what you are working towards. The intention of Prosperity Goals is to provide a guided transformation. To provide a sound intellectual framework to make smart decisions, to help people to stay the course, and consequently to help people achieve their financial objectives. The key is that if you identify certain things as being important to you, but you then you find yourself distracted or making decisions that are not consistent with your objectives, Prosperity Goals can be an important reminder to stay on track. You can download Prosperity Goals for free from your favourite app store, available for both Android and Apple devices. Please let us know if there are any features you think should be included in Prosperity Goals 2.0. Brad Brain, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, TEP is a Certified Financial Planner in Fort St John, BC. This material is prepared for general circulation and may not reflect your individual financial circumstances. Brad can be reached at www.bradbrainfinancial.com.