ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A2 | NEWS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2020
Safe drug sites go to public hearing Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
year, 12 of those deaths linked to the potent opioid fentanyl. Northern Health says it is looking to start community consultations in September to address the crisis and find solutions. It will first meet with the city on Aug. 14. “The number of Northerners, including in Fort St. John, dying from overdoses stands out and requires an urgent and joint effort,” Medical Health Officer Dr. Rakel King wrote in a July 28 letter to the city. “Together we need to address the factors that lead to those unfortunate deaths. As important, while we work as partners to address those core issues, we must also work together to prevent further deaths attributable to an opioid overdose.” The province says it will spend $10.5 million to open 29 new supervised consumption or inhalation services, while 42 nurses, social workers and peer support workers will join 14 new or existing outreach teams. The Northern Health region continues to have one of the highest rates of illicit drug toxicity deaths in B.C., at 32 deaths per 100,000 people. There had been 48 fatal overdoses through the end of June, the majority of them, 27, in Prince George and elsewhere in the northern interior. Harm reduction services and supplies are offered at the Fort St. John public health unit and through social service agencies. However, the nearest supervised and safe consumption site is in Prince George, opened in 2016. The public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. in council chambers.
Key dates • All Peace Region grant applicants must submit a mandatory notice of intent. This short project overview is due Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, 5 p.m. PDT. • Grant applications are due Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, 5 p.m. PDT.
New zoning rules for supervised drug consumption sites in Fort St. John will go to a public hearing on Aug. 24. City council reviewed proposed amendments to the zoning bylaw at their Aug. 10 meeting after Mayor Lori Ackerman raised the matter in June. The city has yet to receive any proposals for a consumption site, and council is wanting regulations that would allow it to consider and permit them on a case-by-case basis, similar to how it considers proposals for cannabis production facilities. Provincial health authorities are responsible for managing harm reduction services in B.C., which include overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites. However, health authorities don’t need local government land use approval to open and operate one, notes an Aug. 10 report to council. “Any future development of an Overdose Prevention and Consumption Site in the City would be prohibited unless approved by Council through a Zoning Bylaw amendment,” planning director Clayton Kittlitz writes in the report. “The intention is to ensure an adequate level of discussion and engagement occurs before a suitable site location is supported.” Fort St. John has seen a record high number of fatal drug overdoses through the first six months of 2020 — 11 people had died at the end of June, up from the previous high of 10 recorded in all of 2018. Across northeast B.C, 16 people have died so far this
Join us online • Notice of intent info session: Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. PDT. • Grant info session: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, 1 p.m.–2:30 p.m. PDT. • RSVP at fwcp@bchydro.com.
Ends Site C claim
TOM SUMMER PHOTO
Phil Bernert practices his short game on a windy day at Lone Wolf Golf, August 7, 2020.
Apply now: grants available for fish & wildlife projects The FWCP’s annual grant intake is now open. We’re interested in grant applications for projects to help conserve and enhance fish and wildlife in our Peace Region. Grant applicants need to align their proposed projects with our new, updated 2020 Peace Region action plans.
fwcp.ca The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program is a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations, and public stakeholders to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife in watersheds impacted by BC Hydro dams.
Peace River closure begins in June As part of the Site C project, BC Hydro will be installing debris management structures across the Peace River in advance of river diversion this fall. For safety reasons, starting mid-June, a 4 km section of the Peace River near Fort St. John will be permanently closed to boaters. Portage program: To move boaters around the construction area, a Portage Program for nonmotorized boats will operate between the Halfway River boat launch and the Peace Island Park boat launch from June 15 to September 15. Reservations are required seven days in advance of pickup. For more information visit sitecproject.com/boating or call 1 877 217 0777
The province says two agreements have been reached with the Prophet River First Nation to end its treaty rights infringement claims over the Site C dam. In a release, the province says it will work with Prophet River to improve land management and restore traditional place names in certain areas of cultural significance. Prophet River will also receive ongoing payments during the operation of the Site C project and the transfer of provincial Crown lands, as well as a woodland licence for community forest management, the province said. “Site C has painfully impacted Prophet River and other Treaty 8 Nations. These agreements cannot undo the past, but we are ready for a new future,” Prophet River Coun. Beverly Stager said in a statement.
“We accept the promise of a better relationship with B.C. and BC Hydro and have faith that these agreements will help to protect what remains of the Treaty 8 lands and waters cherished so deeply by our people.” The deal includes an impact benefits agreement between BC Hydro and Prophet River, and a tripartite land agreement between BC Hydro, the provincial government, and Prophet River. The province says the next steps include identifying specific parcels of Crown land to propose for potential transfer to Prophet River. The province says both it and Prophet River will engage local governments, stakeholders and neighbouring First Nations during land management discussions and prior to any Crown lands being transferred.
Drive-thru brekkie
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The Rotary Club of Fort St. John will host the fourth annual Drive Thru Breakfast on Thursday, Sept. 10, to raise funds for children and youth programming in Fort St. John. Rotarians will be serving up hot, made-to-order breakfast sandwiches with fruit and coffee in the Safeway parking lot from 7 to 10 a.m. Minimum donations are $10. With the help of hungry residents, Rotary has raised more than $30,000 since 2017. That money has supported seniors projects,
the Rotary Spray Park, and school breakfast programs in the city. “Your contributions allow us to respond to issues affecting our youth in Fort St. John,” says Rotarian and Club Vice-President Vince van Wieringen. “Let us feed you to help support our children’s future.” Businesses and residents can pre-order their breakfasts now and have them delivered that day (minimum order of 10), or have them ready for pick up. To place an order, contact Patricia Budgell at 403-793-0485.