Delta Optimist January 9 2015

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Industrial shortage

3

Port sounding alarm over scarcity of land

Bittersweet year High and lows for Fraser delta wildlife

10

Amazon adventure

New book details trip to the jungle

New Year’s Party

13

South Delta Hockey tourney once again a big success

Optimist

Songs of hope

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

PM draws crowd on Delta visit

Harper vows action to combat terrorists BY

SANDOR GYARMATI

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

SCAN WITH TO REVEAL PHOTOS

Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with student mechanics while visiting BCIT’s Annacis Island vocational campus yesterday morning.

PHOTO BY

GORD GOBLE

Harper announces apprentice loan program during tour of BCIT’s Annacis Island campus BY

SANDOR GYARMATI

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Delta yesterday morning to announce an apprentice loan program aimed at getting more young people into trades. The prime minister made the announcement at BCIT’s Annacis Island vocational campus, where Harper, standing in front of a

large group of truck mechanic students, noted the country needs many more skilled tradespersons if infrastructure projects are to be built and the economy is to grow. “Apprenticeships play an important role in Canada’s postsecondary education system and are a key provider of the vital skills and knowledge necessary to power and grow the Canadian economy,” he said.

“The Canada Apprentice Loan initiative will allow young people from across the country to access jobs in the skilled trades that are in-demand in different sectors and regions — from shipbuilding in the east, to mining in the north, to oil and gas projects in the west.” The program will provide access to interest-free loans to help apprentices address the costs they encounter during technical

training, including educational fees, tools and equipment, living expenses and forgone wages. It is estimated that at least 26,000 apprentices a year will benefit from over $100 million in loans. Some of those on hand for Thursday’s event included DeltaRichmond East MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who said Delta is a vital link in the national economy.

Additional security measures will be taken as international jihadists have declared war on Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper vowed yesterday during a stop in Delta. Harper, who was at BCIT’s Annacis Island campus to announce an apprentice loan program, faced a myriad of questions from the media about what the government will “The reality of do about the terror- the world is the ist threat following: ... the to this international country following jihadist the mass movement has shooting at the French declared war.” satirical Prime Minister newspaper Stephen Harper Charlie Hebdo, a massacre that’s drawn international condemnation. “Let me just say this with reference, obviously, to the attack yesterday to all the questions you’re asking. The reality of the world is the following: ... the international jihadist movement has declared war. They have declared war on anybody who doesn’t think and act exactly as they wish and think and act. “We may not like this and wish it will go away, but it is not going to go away.” Harper said the government has introduced measures in Bill C-44, which is making its way through the legislative process.

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