Coast Mountain News Thursday, February 16, 2012
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$1.00 + HST Vol. 28 | No. 04 Thursday, February 16, 2012 012 2
Serving the Bella Coola Valley llley lle ey and the Chilcotin
Filmmaker Banchi Hanuse wins award
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Michael Wigle photo
The dragon dances at the SAMS Chinese New Year celebration, brought to the community by Ms. Ignas, along with her hardworking Arts 10-12 class and Foods 10-12 class, her helper Heather Kopas, and the many other helpers (see more photos on page 5).
Interview: Gary Coons, MLA, on Ferries, the NDP leadership race, and Superbowl XLVI CHRISTINA BOUCHER On February 6 and 7, North Coast MLA Gary Coons visited the Bella Coola community. Coons is the Deputy Opposition Critic for Ferries and Coastal Communities, and in addition to his ongoing ferry portfolio, he also follows the Enbridge Joint Review Panel hearings quite closely, and is registered to present Oral
Evidence to the Panel in midFebruary. While in town, Coons drove over the Coast Mountain News office for an interview. Coast Mountain News: How did you first get into this job? Gary Coons: I went to Prince Rupert about 35 years ago. I’m a teacher and I taught for 25 or 26 years, and somehow got into politics. It was not
on my radar to get into politics originally. The key component in that decision was this – I was president of our teachers’ union. And in 2001, the BC Liberals got in, and it was a heyday of ripping up contracts and making cuts. They cut women’s programs and safety networks, and brought in policies that were outrageous. So, we were trying to find someone to run to speak up about
these things, and I didn’t know it was going to be me, but here I am! CMN: Can you discuss your role as the Ferries Critic? GC: I got elected and became the Ferries Critic in 2005. In the late 90s, the NDP government had decided to go with these catamaran ferries that had a few difficulties. They spent about $400 million on
ferries that really didn’t work – they could’ve been revamped with $20 million, but then the election happened, and it was branded as the “Fast Ferries Fiasco,” and the NDP lost the election because of the ferries situation. So, then, the Ferries Critic portfolio was given to me. And what happened was, SEE COONS ON PAGE 3