Prince George Citizen August 31, 2018

Exercising her creativity

Eesha Dhanjal, 8, uses

Wildfires to be major issue at UBCM conference

As more than 560 wildfires burn across B.C. and most of the province is blanketed in smoke, local governments in the Interior are appealing to the federal and provincial governments for help to protect their cities from future fires.

The appeals come in the form of resolutions that will be presented at this fall’s Union of B.C. Municipalities conference.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District wants to see the province provide funding to rural and First Nations fire brigades and departments for emergency training, equipment and response capac-

ity with respect to rural-urban wildfires. Regional district chair John Ranta said a number of small fire brigades that have lost their funding in recent years due to provincial policy changes and liability concerns are at risk of shutting down.

These firefighters – sometimes just one person with a hose and a water tank on the back of their pickup truck – are on the ground and can deal with a fire before it gets out of hand.

“It certainly puts houses and people at risk in the rural areas if they do shut down – I hope they don’t,” Ranta said.

“No one is doing bake sales these days to support a fire department.

The province should be funding

the rural brigades because they do provide a valuable service.”

On Aug. 24, during a visit to Prince George, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged that there are gaps in resources for municipalities, which work with the province, and First Nations, which are a federal responsibility. He said more work needs to be done to make sure everyone is equally protected.

“Hopefully, his comments will be taken by the staff representatives in the federal government and result in some liberation of funds, but there’s only so much funds and so much capacity for the taxpayer to accommodate the needs of the public,” said Ranta.

— see ‘MAYBE THE, page 3

Evacuation orders partially rescinded in Bulkley-Nechako

Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitzen.ca

Nine evacuation orders issued by the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District have been partially rescinded over the last week, leaving board chair Bill Miller in more of an upbeat mood.

“It’s so much of a relief that I’m signing rescinds rather than orders,” he said over the phone from Burns Lake.

As of Wednesday, the number of properties under evacuation order stood at 758, down from 1,024 as of April 22. The number of properties on evacuation alert was 1,422 as of Wednesday.

Since Saturday, orders related to the Nadina Lake, Island Lake, Shovel Lake, Purvis Lake, West Babine River, Tezzeron Lake and the Discovery Creek-Germansen Landing wildfires were partially rescinded.

As well, an evacuation alert for the Sakeniche wildfire was partially withdrawn.

Miller credited the cooler weather for much of the turnaround. But he added firefighters’ progress on the Shovel Lake and Island Lake wildfires has also been a major reason.

“Certainly the fire front is significantly smaller but also in the areas that were at risk before, they either got good guards on or they’re burnt out,” Miller said.

As of midday Thursday, the Shovel Lake fire near Fraser Lake measured 92,255 hectares and was 20 per cent contained and the Island Lake fire south of Francois Lake was at 20,468 hectares with no percentage in terms of containment provided. The emphasis has been on getting people back in their homes

as soon as it is safe, Miller said.

“Even if you choose to stay in the evacuation order area, it’s very disruptive to your life,” Miller said. “You can’t come and go freely. You have all kinds of issues.”

He said the sky has been “pretty clear” in Burns Lake over the last couple of days as the wind has moved smoke out of the area, although he added the situation remains not as good south of Francois Lake.

“I think we are on the right trend, we are on the right day,” Miller said. “Pretty much every day we’re seeing change and it’s getting better.”

B.C. Wildfire Service information officer Kevin Skrepnek expressed much the same view for most during a teleconference with provincial media on Thursday, but tempered his comments with respect to the Central Interior.

He said Friday “could be a potentially challenging day in the north” and warned of winds gusting as high as 60 km/h.

“So we could see an increase in fire activity in some of our incidences in Central B.C.,” he said.

And while rain is expected to follow for most of the province, “it looks like that central part of the province is not going to get the same level of relief as elsewhere.”

Relatively dry conditions are expected to return after the weekend, Skrepnek added. He urged campers heading out into the woods for the long weekend to avoid areas where fires are raging and noted campfires remain banned for most of the province.

Jennifer SALTMAN

CP FILE PHOTO

Ash covers the ground in an area burned by the Shovel Lake wildfire near Fort Fraser on Aug. 23.

Youth program offers valuable life skills

Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca

They might have fallen back, or been left behind but instead they were the first.

Twenty Aboriginal teenagers were drummed into the Canfor Theatre at UNBC and took turns waving at their families in celebration and graduation. Instead of a single diploma, they were bestowed with a handful of certificates that mapped out the past six weeks of their lives, living and learning in the wilderness near Prince George.

They were the first ever cohort of the Outland Youth Employment Program (OYEP) West, an Ontario-based youth development agency that has now come to B.C.

“Everyone is going home with this immense stack of paper – real certificates for real work done,” said Hamish Black, OYEP West’s supervisor. He lamented that it’s too bad there was no certificate that could capture the personal growth each of these youth underwent, and that went for the seven program leaders as well.

“We all came feeling alone and no one would like us, and we would miss our families,” said Catherine Thomas, co-valedictorian along with Pauline Tom.

“We found out that we were our own little family.”

They came from a wide range of places and First Nations. The 20 were connected to the Halfway River, Fort Nelson, West Moberly, Tl’azt’en, Nakazdli, Takla, Metis, Nadleh Wuten, Esk’etemc, McLeod Lake, Lake Babine, Wet’soweten and Ts’il Kaz Koh cultures.

They came together due to a persistent effort by Carrier Lumber’s business development manager Derek Orr to bring the OYEP model to this region. Orr first convinced his company to be the first investor in the summer school, and then he set to work attracting other companies and agencies to join the mission. About 30 did so, mostly from the natural resource industrial sector since the learning was focused on landbased trades.

The youth got chainsaw operations training, brush-saw training, WHMIS certification, basic first aid, and tree planting experience, among other modules to prepare them for entry-level work in a range of locally relevant industries. It was an early leg up towards careers in their home ter-

ritories, across Canada, or beyond.

“Derek saw this opportunity to do something important to really help people in a meaningful, long-term way, without having to reinvent the wheel. The model was already up and running, we just had to bring it to B.C.,” said Carrier Lumber company president Bill Kordyban. “We have this need for skilled labour in our industries across the north, and you have these kids available right in our communities, but for a long long time, the way circumstances were for Aboriginal kids, they were going this way (gestures wide to the left) and employment opportunities were going that way (gestures far to the right). How do you bridge that? How do you close that gap for Aboriginal kids and bring people and opportunities together? Derek spotted a way.”

As the camp leaders and the youth took turns expressing their experiences and their breadth of learning, both practically and emotionally, the sponsors of OYEP West admitted to feeling moved beyond their expectations.

“Your hands are sore from clapping, your face is sore from smiling, your heart is two sizes bigger, and I just want to cry – and I just met you all – from feeling so, so proud of you all,” said Enbridge representative Catherine Pennington. “I know this might affect my job, but I’m going to go on record right here and say next year, we are in. Put us down for another year.”

Orr said the plan was to expand OYEP West to include a second year of deeper development for returning students, but in the short term he hoped to have a few of the inaugural class come back

next year as leaders for the new set in 2019. The interest expressed by the sponsor companies and the northern First Nations indicated to him that it is already a program they can repeat next summer.

“What I loved was how everybody who started the program completed the program,” said Orr.

“For many of those kids, it was their first of a lot of things, the first time away from their families, their first time facing challenges on their own, their first time having to form a team with people don’t know, and there is strength in those lessons learned as well as the practical course work.”

These 20 youth are now, whether they realized it or not, leaders in their peer groups all over the north. They are also, whether they realized it or not, ambassadors for the workforce of tomorrow.

Treasure Cove revenue up

Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca

Gamblers generated $57.4 million in revenue at Treasure Cove during the 2017-18 fiscal year, according to a B.C. Lottery Corp. report released this week.

The total represents a $1.6-million or 2.9-per-cent increase over the figure reached the previous year, with $1.1 million of the rise attributed to the slot machines, which brought in $45.4 million. The table games, meanwhile, brought in $2.2 million, up $88,000 or 4.2 per cent. Bingo remained as popular as ever, bringing in $9.9 million, up by $465,000 or 4.9 per cent. Treasure Cove remained the top earner among the 25 venues in the province offering the game. Next highest was Chances Kelowna at $8.7 million. On the casino side, Treasure Cove was the 10th-highest earner among 17 venues. River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond topped the list at $327.7 million. Billy Barker Casino in Quesnel was at the bottom at $8.8 million.

The figures translated into $13.9 million in commission for Treasure Cove, up $507,000 or 3.8 per cent, with $12.5 million coming from slots and tables and $1.4 million from bingo.

According to the report, service providers receive 25 per cent of the net win from slots, 40 per cent of the net win from tables, 75 per cent of the poker rake, 75 per cent of craps and 60 per cent of low limit blackjack (defined as tables with minimum bets of $5 and a maximum bet limit of $50 per hand). As for bingo, they get 60 per cent of sales on the first $20,000 per week, 40 per cent sales on the next $60,000 per week, and 25 per cent on sales greater than $80,000 per week, all after the prizes have been paid out.

Treasure Cove’s overall total remains significantly down from the $77.3 million spent on gambling in the city in 2007-08.

HANDOUT PHOTO

Participants in the Outland Youth Employment Program pose for a photo on a mining truck in an undated handout photo.

‘Maybe the government is finally listening’

— from page 1

Quesnel believes “very little has been done to actually protect rural communities from the threat of wildfires” since the 2003 Filmon Firestorm Report and says communities are at a greater risk every year from “catastrophic” wildfires. It says the fundamental weakness in the current approach to protecting rural communities is the fact that responsibility for managing and treating Crown forest land has been downloaded to local governments. Quesnel said in its resolution that the province should develop community wildfire protection plans, fuel management prescriptions for the wildland-urban areas and fuel management treatments in collaboration with local governments.

“We shouldn’t be waiting for local governments who don’t have expertise or jurisdictional authority or resources to take the lead, only to hand it to (the province)

NEWS IN BRIEF

Civic elections nomination period starts Tuesday

The 10-day nomination period for this year’s civic elections begins Tuesday.

That’s when prospective candidates can submit their nomination packages to city hall, for those running for city council, or the Fraser-Fort George Regional District, which is handling both the regional district board of directors and the school district board of trustee elections. The nomination period ends on Sept. 14. Also starting on Tuesday, candidates can start erecting campaign signs at designated locations throughout the community subject to the city’s new election and political signs bylaw. General voting day is set for Oct. 20.

— Citizen staff

Woman killed in single-vehicle crash

A woman was killed Wednesday evening in a single-vehicle crash in the Hart.

Called to the scene at 5:40 p.m. Prince George RCMP found a grey four-door Chevrolet Malibu sedan in a wooded area over an embankment off North Kelly Road near Hobby Drive. RCMP said the deceased was last seen at about 11 p.m. on Tuesday, about 18 hours before she was located and are asking anyone who may have heard anything unusual in the area or saw the vehicle during that timeframe to contact police at 250-561-3300.

The woman’s name was not provided. — Citizen staff

Gov’t sets goals as kids back to school

VICTORIA (CP) — British Columbia’s education minister said the province’s schools have had a $580 million funding boost that has enabled the government to hire up to 3,700 new teachers and a number of educational assistants. Rob Fleming said Thursday 600,000 students will return to class in September with record levels of funding, smaller class sizes, more teachers and support staff

A Supreme Court of Canada decision in 2016 forced the provincial government to restore staffing to 2002 levels after it ruled a former Liberal government improperly took away the union’s right to bargain class size and the composition of those classes.

The B.C. Teachers’ Federation has blamed a shortage of teachers and specialists for causing disruptions in the last school year.

Federation president Glen Hansman said the increase in teachers or funding isn’t something Fleming or the new NDP government has done.

“It’s something that the court ordered because of teachers’ persistence through the court,” he said. “Beyond what the court ordered there hasn’t been any new additional funding on the operational side from the province.”

to become the permitting and approval agency. That doesn’t make any sense at any level,” said Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson.

“It’s Crown land, manage your Crown land.”

Simpson said there is another solution that involves the province issuing licences that would make municipalities tenure holders for Crown land and allow them to do necessary mitigation work. He said they would get revenue from logging and be eligible for funding to manage the forest.

“The resolution speaks to probably the most elegant, simplistic way to deal with the problem,”

Simpson said.

Burns Lake agreed with Quesnel that downloading the cost, responsibility and expertise of wildfire mitigation on Crown land, areas surrounding local governments and land inside local government boundaries creates unnecessary pressure on local government

There’s not enough flexibility in some of the forest practices that allows us to protect our communities.

— Mayor Walt Cobb, Williams Lake

finances and resources.

It said the federal and provincial governments should take responsibility for mitigation costs in those areas.

Williams Lake said the UBCM should lobby the province to make changes to its wildfire mitigation practices that allow for increased spacing of fibrestands, prescribed burning, larger fuel breaks around

residential communities and other methods to lessen susceptibility to “mega-fires” and better protect people and assets.

“There’s not enough flexibility in some of the forest practices that allows us to protect our communities,” said Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb.

“They’ve decided this is the way we manage our forests and we’re trying to get the message out that their practices aren’t working.”

He admitted there have been resolutions endorsed by UBCM in the past calling for more effort on the province’s part to mitigate fire risk with little result, but he hopes this year the province’s response is different.

“Maybe the government is finally listening because of the fires,” he said.

“I would be very surprised, particularly this year when the fires are so horrendous for the second year in a row, that we get any kind

of opposition to them.”

Williams Lake is also proposing that the federal and provincial governments and the Insurance Bureau of Canada provide incentives to property owners and agricultural land owners to reduce the amount of forest fire fuel on their land.

Cobb said removing trees and other flammable brush can cost property owners money and require permits or licences, so there is little motivation to use FireSmart initiatives beyond self preservation.

“If I’m going to make my home and my yard fire smart... the cost is so exorbitant that I can’t afford to do it,” Cobb said.

Other resolutions concern timely reimbursement of firefighting costs, maintaining current inventory listings of local firefighting resources and sending provincial incident commanders to small communities during emergencies.

Horgan steering careful course

The provincial government has delivered its first set of public accounts, and it appears to have avoided both major disaster and startling triumph. Those who were gleefully hoping to see an NDP financial train wreck will be disappointed. Those who were praying to avoid that wreck can breathe again.

The numbers released on Tuesday show a surplus of $301 million, which is not a big number when talking about a budget that spent $52 billion, but is solidly in the black.

It’s $55 million more than was forecast in

Time to ban smoking at B.C. campgrounds

Incredibly, during this summer of runaway wildfires across British Columbia, B.C. Parks still allows cigarette smoking in campgrounds. Recently, we stayed at the Bamberton Provincial Park campsite for two nights. The campground had signs noting a high fire risk and carrying no-fire and no-smoking warnings. The campground, in turn, is situated within the Malahat region, the fire risk of which was rated “extreme.”

Notwithstanding this, people around us were smoking in their campsites. When we asked B.C. Parks staff why, they told us that the no-smoking rule applies only in common campground areas, not individual campsites. They explained that campsites are “like a hotel room” and campers can smoke there as they wish. This approach is troubling and possibly very risky.

The fire risk is the same in individual campsites and common areas. Either cigarette smoking is unsafe due to sparks, ashes and cigarette butts, or it is not. If it is unsafe, as logically it must be, then it must be banned in both individual and common areas.

Furthermore, only weeks ago, the Times Colonist reported on research that shows smokers throw cigarette butts on the ground, as they do not consider it

to be littering. Only one such incident could create more heartache and tragic loss from wildfires in this devastating season.

The B.C. Parks argument for its position – that campsites are “like a hotel room” and that people can therefore smoke in them – makes no sense. Many hotels in Canada (and beyond) forbid people from smoking in rooms and fine them when they do. If hotels can ban smoking, then B.C. Parks most certainly can in tinder-dry campgrounds where children abound; and if B.C. Parks wants to follow hotels’ lead, then it should do likewise.

Beyond the pressing issue of fire risk, protection from secondhand smoke in provincial park campsites appears lower than health protection in B.C.’s municipal parks.

For example, given the close proximity of many sites, the protection at Bamberton falls short of what is provided for in regional bylaws that require a seven-metre no-smoking prohibition around doors and air intakes, and ban public-park smoking altogether. Finally, quite apart from risks of any kind, the idea of camping is to get out of the city and enjoy nature; it is simply not pleasant to have the smell of trees and ocean drowned out by clouds of cigarette smoke.

In declaring a state of emergency this month to support wildfire response, the provincial government asked British Columbians to do their part in preventing human-caused fires.

The same must be asked of B.C. Parks. — Roy Brooke lives in Victoria.

LETTERS WELCOME: The Prince George Citizen welcomes letters to the editor from our readers. Submissions should be sent by email to: letters@pgcitizen.ca. No attachments, please. They can also be faxed to 250-960-2766, or mailed to 201-1777 Third Ave., Prince George, B.C. V2L 3G7. Maximum length is 750 words and writers are limited to one submission every week. We will edit letters only to ensure clarity, good taste, for legal reasons, and occasionally for length. Although we will not include your address and telephone number in the paper, we need both for verification purposes.

the update for this year, so the government has stayed pretty much on budget.

The government says it increased spending on health care, education, housing and social services by about $3 billion.

Revenues took a hit thanks to the problems at ICBC, which suffered a $1.3-billion loss, and a $950-million “adjustment” to reduce B.C. Hydro’s deferral accounts, about which the auditor general frequently complains.

Revenues from natural resources remain sluggish, and are still below the levels they were at before the financial meltdown of 2007-08. This in spite of the fact that the economy overall grew by an estimated 3.9 per cent in 2017, and is expected to continue outperforming most other provinces. Over the past 16 years, the B.C. Liberals have effectively painted past NDP governments as wastrels who ruined the province’s economy.

These accounts show Premier John Horgan’s government steering a careful course.

Twitter trolls are coming for Sweden’s election

Twitter bots are proliferating ahead of Sweden’s election next month – and they are 40 per cent more likely to support the antiimmigrant Sweden Democrats than human users.

That’s the finding of the country’s Defense Research Agency, which says the social media platform has moved to suspend many of these malicious accounts.

Democracies across the world need to prepare for this threat: Radical parties, with or without external help, are using and perfecting this form of digital propaganda – because it appears to work so well.

It’s spreading, too. Sweden didn’t figure in this year’s list of 48 countries where Oxford University’s Computational Propaganda Research Project found evidence of social-media manipulation. In 2017, there were only 28 such countries.

If the U.S. elections threaten to turn into the “World Cup of information warfare,” as Facebook’s former Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos recently warned, the national championships are heating up, too.

In 14 of the countries highlighted in the Oxford report, among them the U.S., U.K., Mexico, Brazil, Austria and Poland, parties hired consultants to spread propaganda online.

Their tools: bots and trolls that amplify fake news, make malicious comments, micro-target political messages and engage in “astroturfing,” the creation of fake evidence of grassroots support.

This activity is expanding beyond its roots on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The Oxford researchers noted attempts to optimize search-engine results as well as the growing use of messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, Telegram, Line, WeChat, and even Tinder, a dating app, to spread propaganda.

The technology is evolving as social media platforms try to shut down obvious bot activity. In a recent article for the MIT Technology Review, Lisa-Maria Neudert, who is also part of the Oxford research project, predicted that artificial intelligence of the kind used to power digital assistants like Amazon’s Alexa will search out susceptible users and guide them toward an extremist viewpoint.

Rather than broadcasting propaganda to everyone, these bots will direct their activity at influential people or political dissidents.

They’ll attack individuals with scripted hate speech, overwhelm them with spam, or get their accounts shut down by reporting their content as abusive.

There’s a reason Neudert mentioned extremist viewpoints. Last year, she published a paper ana-

lyzing computational propaganda in Germany.

There, the majority of the bots supported a far-right agenda. In the U.S., the Oxford researchers found that on both Facebook and on Twitter, Trump voters and “hard conservatives” are responsible for the bulk of traffic sent to “junk news” sites – essentially, propaganda factories. That matches the pattern the Swedish Defense Research Agency found.

The Sweden Democrats, which never garnered the support of more than six per cent of voters before 2014, are heading toward their best electoral performance, with polls predicting support for the grouping could surge to 20 per cent. This isn’t about foreign powers trying to influence the election, though.

Russian troll farms and even intelligence services don’t have enough fluent Swedish speakers to get involved on a massive scale, especially to create fake news resources.

So the Swedish authorities aren’t screaming “Russian interference” – even if the Kremlin has an interest in promoting the success of European far-right parties because of their destabilizing effect.

The political bias of the bots can best be explained as the consequence of the distrust right-wing audiences everywhere have of mainstream media, which they perceive as leftist, internationalist and pro-immigrant.

People who don’t consume mainstream news for these reasons tend to be the most vulnerable to this kind of propaganda because they start off with the belief that the lying media ignore, bury or misreport real news.

Anyone who claims to do otherwise automatically gets their trust. In Sweden, almost one in every five people doesn’t trust the mainstream media.

That 20 per cent likely intersects with the Sweden Democrats’ 20 per cent base.

The radical left hasn’t had much electoral success yet with slogans of resisting their right-wing counterparts. But if it ever does, it will likely be thanks to similar manipulation techniques.

The parts of society not served by professional journalists are the ones on which the propaganda experts from all sides are, and will keep, lab testing their tricks.

Bershidsky is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European politics and business. He was the founding editor of the Russian business daily Vedomosti and founded the opinion website Slon.ru.

— Victoria Times Colonist

B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks to media following a meeting with ministers at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre during day two of the Liberal cabinet retreat in Nanaimo on Aug. 22.

LEONID BERSHIDSKY Bloomberg Opinion

Guest Column

ROY BROOKE Victoria Times Colonist

Guest Column

More land, fewer people affected by B.C. wildfires compared to last year

Amy SMART Citizen news service

The B.C. government says although wildfires have broken last year’s record for the area of land burned, the human impacts have been much lower.

Fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek of the B.C. Wildfire Service said fires have scorched about 12,520 square kilometres this season, compared with 12,160 square kilometres last year.

“We have set that record in terms of total area burned, but definitely not the worst season on record from the broader sense,” he said.

The 2017 and 2003 fire seasons had higher impacts in terms of property, environmental and timber values, he said, although he did not have all of those figures readily available.

Emergency Management B.C. said it has received 155 reports of structures lost, compared with the 310 reported by the same date last

year. However, it noted that figure could change as people return home and report what they find.

In terms of fire suppression costs, Skrepnek said the service has spent $316 million to date this season, compared with $442 million for the same date last year.

While Skrepnek says it’s too early to say the worst is over, he’s optimistic that may be the case.

Lower temperatures and higher humidity across most of the province has reduced the likelihood of dry lightning and helped firefighters knock down dozens of fires in recent days. That has brought the total number of active fires down to 512.

Forecasts suggest that will continue into the long weekend.

“What we’re seeing right now weatherwise could be a bit of a temporary reprieve, so we obviously have to stay fairly vigilant. But based on the current outlook and the... prospects for some additional rain, it’s definitely good

news for most of the province right now,” Skrepnek said.

One exception is the area between Smithers and Prince George, which falls under a rain shadow and has seen very little precipitation, he said.

Even in areas where the fire danger may have decreased, Skrepnek said it’s important to obey campfire bans and other restrictions as people head into the long weekend.

“We don’t want people getting complacent out there. It’s still very dry in many areas and of course we do still have a campfire ban in place for almost the entire province, with the exception of the fog zone on the western coast of Vancouver Island and for some parts of northeastern B.C. where they’ve seen a considerable amount of rain,” he said.

Skrepnek also asked that people going into the backcountry obey area restrictions and avoid active wildfire sites.

Decisions made as NAFTA deadline looms

James McCARTEN Citizen news service

WASHINGTON — Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says the time has come for highlevel decisions on the future of NAFTA.

She said Thursday that aroundthe-clock work by officials has armed negotiating teams with the documents they need to start making some concrete calls as the U.S. and Canada accelerate their effort to wrap up the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Freeland has been in meetings in Washington this week with her American counterpart, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Officials worked late into the night and again all day to find areas of common ground and compromise.

“This was another good, constructive, productive conversation with Ambassador Lighthizer and his team,” Freeland told reporters during a pause in Thursday’s talks.

“We’ve moved into a very intense rhythm of the negotiations, where our officials are working hard preparing issues for some high-level ministerial decisions.”

With talks coming to a head, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a conference call Thursday with premiers to discuss tradeoffs. Freeland planned to be on the call, as did Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., David MacNaughton, and Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister responsible for intergovernmental affairs.

After the call, provincial leaders were tight-lipped on the details of the discussion.

“We are at a very delicate moment, obviously, at the negotiations, and the first thing we agreed upon is that we wouldn’t issue any comment on what we discussed and what we heard,” Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard told reporters.

In a statement, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the call was “productive” and that he hoped a deal would be reached soon.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said felt the concerns of all his counterparts were being heard by the prime minister.

CBC apologizes to MP over misconduct allegations

Citizen news service

OTTAWA — The CBC apologized to NDP MP Christine Moore on Thursday for failing to meet all of its editorial standards.

The network said in a story published on its website last May that Moore was the subject of allegations of sexual misconduct involving a former soldier.

CBC’s article was picked up by other media and the Quebecbased MP was then suspended from her caucus duties.

The CBC said in a statement Thursday that Moore was asked in May to respond to the allegations but requested more time, which the broadcaster acknowledged it did not provide but should have.

Moore strongly denied the relationship with Glen Kirkland was anything but fully mutual and consensual, and CBC said it was apologizing to Moore for any inference to the contrary.

In a statement, the MP for the Abitibi-Temiscamingue riding said she was happy CBC had “acknowledged the facts” and offered an apology.

“Here’s another entity that confirms my version of the facts as well as the mutual and consensual nature of my brief relationship with Glen Kirkland in 2013 when I was single,” she said.

Moore told The Canadian Press in a brief phone conversation she has dropped her plans

This week’s new round of U.S.Canada negotiations has generated hopeful signals from both camps that a deal could be struck by the end of the week. But difficult discussions about dairy and dispute settlement remain.

David Weins, vice president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, says his industry won’t accept any more concessions that allow the U.S. access to the Canadian market.

Canada has opened its dairy market in its two previous major trade agreements, with the European Union and in a re-booted Trans-Pacific Partnership. The latter deal offered 10 other Pacific Rim countries access to 3.25 per cent of Canada’s dairy market – and most analysts predict the

U.S. will settle for nothing less in NAFTA.

“We’ve paid the price on two agreements and we don’t think it is right they should be coming back to us for further access,” Weins said in an interview.

Plus, the dairy industry doesn’t want Canada to compromise on potentially getting rid of its twoyear-old Class 7 pricing agreement that has restricted U.S. exports of ultra-filtered milk used to make dairy products, he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has focused many of his anti-dairy tirades on that Canadian policy, which allows processors to buy domestic milk at cheaper world market prices than the higher prices under supply management.

“Class 7 is important to our dairy industry,” said Weins. “We are certainly not prepared to receive those kinds of blows.”

Another obstacle standing in the way of NAFTA’s renegotiation is the deal’s dispute settlement mechanism known as Chapter 19, which has been used over the years in fights against softwood lumber duties.

to sue the CBC for defamation. She said she is still evaluating whether to pursue legal action against Kirkland and two other media outlets that reported on the story.

An investigator’s report absolved Moore last July of any wrongdoing, prompting NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to restore her caucus duties.

On Thursday, Singh said he welcomed the network’s apology but was not surprised by it. “I think (the apology) is appropriate,” he said. “I have full confidence in Christine and I look forward to continue to work with her now that she’s been fully reintegrated into caucus.”

Kirkland, a retired corporal, accused Moore earlier this year of inappropriate behaviour and abusing her power in their relationship in 2013.

The Shovel Lake wildfire burns near the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation in Fort Fraser on Aug. 23.

FREELAND

MOORE

Toronto mall evacuated after shooting

TORONTO — Panic erupted at a sprawling Toronto mall on Thursday afternoon after gunshots fired following an altercation between two groups sent terrified shoppers running for cover.

No one was injured in the incident that took place in the southeast corner of the bustling Yorkdale Shopping Centre just before 3 p.m., and investigators said they were searching for multiple suspects.

“There was an altercation between two groups of men, at some point one of the individuals from one of the groups discharged a firearm at least twice,” said Supt. Rob Johnson. “Thankfully no one was hit in this.”

Police said the suspects fled the mall on foot, noting that the two groups were made up of at least three men each. Police said two of the suspects being sought were men in their 20s and one was believed to have a black handgun. The incident was the latest in a string of high-profile shootings in the city this year. In July two people were killed in a rampage in Toronto’s Greektown, a month earlier two young girls were wounded in a shooting at a playground, and days later a woman on her way home from a funeral died in a drive by-shooting police called indicative of a “street gang subculture.”

Thursday’s mall shooting saw shoppers and store employees scrambling to get to safety once shots rang out.

“We thought something fell, and then we heard it again a second time,” said Donald Mudavanhu, who had been at the mall to buy prescription sunglasses. “Everyone just started running, there was a huge crowd of people.”

The 43-year-old said he rushed into a nearby Holt Renfrew store with dozens of others and went up to the second floor in search of a secure space.

“We really couldn’t find a safe place to hide,” he said.

“Those stores are really wide open so we couldn’t find a corner where we could go.”

Mudavanhu and others then squeezed into a staff hallway at the back of the store. Store staff eventually opened the door to the hallway and people began leaving, he said, adding that he was still processing what happened.

“It is a scary feeling, because the thing is we didn’t know where the shots were coming from,” he said.

“The fear is there, my heart is beating as I repeat the story.”

Alex Banks said he was also still grappling with the incident.

“I saw people running everywhere trying to exit the building,” he said, explaining that he had been sitting on a mall bench when the building alarm went off.

“My heart started to pound so, so, so fast.”

For some mall employees, the incident required them to spring into action.

Michelle, who would only give her first name because employees were told not to speak to reporters, said she first thought a balloon had burst. She said she realized something was amiss when a second shot rang out.

“I was so shocked,” she said. She called her manager who told her to rush customers into a storage room, she said, adding that she and a co-worker then turned off the store lights and locked the door. A little later, when she saw many people running through the mall, she said she told the customers to leave the store right away.

Gabriele ROY, Olivia BOWDEN Citizen news service

What’s new with the Cougars?

Get the latest on trades, injuries, post-game analysis and more in The Citizen

Keepers of the cage

Ted CLARKE Citizen staff tclarke@pgcitizen.ca

The Prince George Cougars have pared their training camp roster down to three goalies.

One of them is firstround draft pick Tyler Brennan, who doesn’t turn 15 until Sept. 27 and is too young to play junior hockey.

That leaves the two incumbents – Taylor Gauthier, 17, and 18-year-old Isaiah DiLaura as the go-to guys in net to begin the season.

It was a foregone conclusion

Gauthier had the role as the starter locked up before camp even began. He made the national under-18 team and helped Canada to the gold medal a few weeks ago at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup international tournament in Edmonton. Gauthier came into the championship game early in the first period with his team down 2-0 to Sweden and he was flawless, making 16 saves as Canada rallied to a 6-2 win.

His performance in that tournament certainly put him on the radar of NHL teams narrowing down the list of prospects in the 2019 draft and Gauthier is well aware the scouts will be watching.

“Being able to represent my country, especially at a tournament that was in Canada, was a life-changing experience,” said Gauthier. “It was just a surreal feeling when that final buzzer went and the crowd was on their feet. It was something I’ve never experienced before.

“Obviously, coming back from that, you have a little more confidence but my approach is still the same. I still have to come in and work hard and fight for every start. Over the summer I really worked on my work ethic – in gym workouts and even on ice in practice. It’s an important year coming up for myself and the team, so I’m just trying to put out 100 per cent effort every time I step on the ice.”

Last season the Cougars carried three goalies and Tavin Grant played 37 games. The 20-year-old Grant was released by the Cougars on Aug. 1. While the Prince George Spruce Kings retain his junior A rights he’s not with the BCHL team and the Kings have made him available for a trade.

Gauthier, the 10th overall pick in the 2016 WHL draft, knows the Cougars have faith in him to become one of the league’s elite goaltenders but he says he can’t afford complacency, no matter what he’s done in the past.

“There was a little bit of uncertainty last year, but this year I think we just have to build off the chemistry me and (DiLaura) created last year and just come out of the gates kicking and keep working hard at getting better every day,” said Gauthier.

Gauthier, DiLaura will backstop Cougars in 2018-19 WHL season

This summer the Cougars hired their first full-time goalie coach, Taylor Dakers, who was with the Red Deer Rebels the four previous seasons, also on a full-time basis. He replaced Sean Murray, the Cats’ goalie consultant, who had been with the team part-time for two seasons.

Dakers’ presence at home, on the bus, and at road games gives the Cougar goalies a permanent sounding board to help them through the peaks and valleys of dealing with the pressure that comes with playing hockey’s most important position. He can break down the technical aspect of stopping pucks in a way the other Cougar coaches can’t and also knows how to keep the emotions of his young keepers on an even keel. Gauthier is already benefiting from Dakers’ feedback.

Dakers, 31, played four years in the WHL with the Kootenay Ice and was drafted by San Jose and went on to play two years as a pro in the AHL with the Worcester Sharks. He began his coaching career with the Everett Silvertips.

“He understands the mental side of it more than anyone else here,” said Gauthier. “If you have an issue you can walk down the hall and talk to him about it instead of trying to make a call or trying to text and it’s nice to have

It’s an important year coming up for myself and the team, so I’m just trying to put out 100 per cent effort every time I step on the ice.”

— Taylor Gauthier

that kind of comfort in the same dressing room.”

The Cougars start the pre-season with games in Kamloops tonight and in Kelowna on Saturday and Dakers will get to see his goalies continue what they started in training camp.

“Taylor had a big summer and was fortunate to get gold with Canada there, obviously he put in a lot of work to make that team and he came in sharp,” said Dakers. “DiLaura looked good and got better every day in camp, and Brennan, being a first-rounder and signing here (on Sunday) he was full of confidence and did a great job.”

DiLaura played 14 games as a WHL rookie last year. The six-foot-

two, 210-pound Minnesota native sported a 3-3-0-2 record with a 3.94 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage.

“Taylor had a great first year but Isaiah can come in and do more,” said Dakers. “He played 14 games last year and those weren’t all starts but he can do more, he’s capable. If he puts himself in the right mindset and pushes Taylor then he’s going to take games away from him. That’s what Taylor needs too, he can’t just have things handed to him.

“Isaiah is smart and he’s a great team guy, the guys really want to work for him. He’s endeared himself to all his teammates, especially the defencemen. He sees the puck really well and he brings

Poisson boys teaming up for Kings’ cause

Now heading into his third B.C. Hockey League season, Ben Poisson is the inspirational leader of the Prince George Spruce Kings. He’s the guy inside the dressing room to say the right thing at the right time to pick the Kings up and give them a shot of moral courage to do their jobs collectively as hockey players.

On the ice, the 19-year-old centre’s actions speak louder than words. He’s a wolverine on blades, a skillful two-way centre whose booming shot can strike fear into opposing goaltenders. Poisson’s value as a teammate was felt most by the Kings late last season when they didn’t have him around. Seven games before the playoffs began during a game at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena on Feb. 9, he fell at full speed into the end boards chasing down a loose puck, injuring his shoulder and rupturing his spleen.

He avoided surgery but missed 18 playoff games, rejoining his teammates to help finish off Powell River in the Coastal Conference championship. The Kings came close to their ultimate ambition but lost in a five-game final series to the Wenatchee Wild.

While his league title hopes fell short, Poisson did manage to convey his 22-goal, 52-point season into an NCAA scholarship at the University of Maine. The six-footone, 205-pound native of Vancouver is destined to became a Black Bear in the 2019-20 season. He’s one of 14 returning players on the Spruce Kings and he thinks they have what it takes for another extended playoff run.

“I’m really excited after seeing the last few days of camp – we have a fast team this year and we could probably do something

special,” said Poisson. In May, the Spruce Kings confirmed they’d signed Nick Poisson, Ben’s 17-year-old brother, for the upcoming season, giving the Kings their first brother combination since local products Sam and Vinny Muchalla played together from 2007-09. Nick plays a similar style as his brother – he’s hard on the puck and has above-average playmaking skills. He doesn’t have quite the same velocity as Ben with his shot but he’s still growing at fivefoot-11, 173 pounds and he’s got

two years to catch up.

“I’m excited for both of them having a pretty special year playing together,” said Kings head coach Adam Maglio. “Nick was a highly-recruited kid for other programs and they’ve never been on the same team so it will be neat for them to experience a year together.

“Nick’s got really good footspeed for a 17-year-old. Benny is really good thinking inside the box and Nick’s similar, he brings creativity to the game. Nick gets goalies moving east to west while Benny, his shot is elite in our league, and he’ll blow one by them.”

For Ben, the idea of having his only sibling around for the whole season, playing for one of the stronger teams in what rates as the top junior A hockey league in the country, is something he never thought would happen.

“It’s fun for sure, we never got a chance to play together just because of our age gap. It’s two years so I’ve always moved on by the time he catches up,” said Ben. “It’s fun to have that little-brother bond, it’s unique. He plays the same way I do. He’ll be tenacious and he’ll do things right.” — see ‘IT JUST FELT, page 8

added intensity to his games and I like how hard he battles and competes.”

The Cougars plan to keep Brennan around until the end of the exhibition season, then return him to the Winnipeg-based Rink Hockey Academy midget prep team. The six-foot-three, 180-pound Winnipeg native was considered the top goalie available in the WHL bantam draft in April and the Cats used the 21st overall choice to select him. Brennan put up sparkling numbers last season with the RHA bantam prep team in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League, posting a 1.53 goals-against average, .947 save percentage, five shutouts and an 11-3-1 record.

“He’s a big body with lots of tools,” said Dakers. “In junior hockey, size isn’t everything. You’ve got to be able to move and be able to see the puck and have some reflexes and he has all those things as a six-foot-three 14-yearold still.

“It’s a great tool to be big in this league, but you’ve also got to use your body. A lot of big guys can’t use it until they’re 18, 19 or 20. He looks like he’s pretty smooth out there and he’s got his muscles figured out, which is a huge testament to the work he’s already put in.”

UNBC-Victoria game set for Tuesday

Citizen staff

The forecast calls for soccer. That’s the hope for the UNBC Timberwolves men’s soccer team, which was forced to reschedule its season-opening games against the Victoria Vikes last weekend due to poor air quality caused by area wildfires.

The two teams are preparing to meet Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Masich Place Stadium in the first of what was to be a two-game homestand for the T-wolves. That second game against the Vikes will be played at an alternate site to be determined later in the season.

The Timberwolves will be idle this weekend while Victoria begins its Canada West season with road games against Trinity Western and Fraser Valley. The UNBC women get their season started next weekend on the road, visiting UBC Okanagan in Kelowna next Friday and Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops on Saturday. They open their home schedule at Masich on Friday, Sept. 14 against Regina, then host Saskatchewan on Sunday, Sept. 16.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE

Prince George Cougars goaltending prospect Tyler Brennan focuses on the puck during a training camp scrimmage on Aug. 24 at CN Centre. Brennan was a first-round selection in the 2018 WHL bantam draft.

Ted CLARKE Citizen staff

BEN POISSONNICK POISSON

Bouchard bounced in second round of U.S. Open

Citizen news service

NEW YORK — Eugenie Bouchard was blunt when assessing her inconsistent performance in her second-round loss at the U.S. Open on Thursday.

After rolling through three qualifying matches and posting an easy win in the first round, the native of Westmount, Que., lost 6-4, 6-3 to Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic in the second round of the U.S. Open on Thursday.

While Bouchard has earned some praise for a recent improvement in her results after tumbling down the rankings in previous years, the world’s 137th-ranked player struggled against the 103rd-ranked Vondrousova.

“Yeah, on the court, I really didn’t feel like myself,” Bouchard said. “That’s very disappointing, considering how good I felt in my last couple matches. Yeah, I mean, I played like (expletive).”

“I think I’ll have to take a lot of positives from the past couple weeks,” she added. “Although I’m very disappointed with today, I’ve been playing matches, and that’s what I feel like I need.”

The Czech player broke Bouchard six times in the match, including the final game. Bouchard, who was once ranked No. 5 in the world, won just 59 per cent of her points on first serve.

Bouchard made 32 unforced errors, while Vondrousova made 25 and also gave up three breaks to the Canadian.

“Lefties are always tough,” Bouchard said of her opponent. “It’s a different spin. You don’t see it often. She got a lot of balls back, made me feel that pressure kind of. But there were like 10 things I could have done better, so... it’s more about me.”

The 24-year-old Bouchard was the only Canadian in the women’s singles draw.

Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski had a full schedule at the U.S. Open on Thursday, winning both of her first-round doubles matches.

Dabrowski and Mate Pavic of Croatia downed American duo Jamie Loeb and Noah Ruben 6-0, 6-4 in mixed action, then she earned a 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-1 win with

Federer stays cool in victory

NEW YORK (AP) — Roger Federer says his favourite drinks are cold water and a sparkling glass of champagne. Both could be on tap at the U.S. Open: Federer needed a few swigs of water on another steamy day at the Open and he played like a former champion set to uncork a celebratory bottle of bubbly. “I don’t like warm drinks, let’s put it that way,”

Czech Republic in women’s play. Vasek Pospisil of Vancouver and partner Fernando Verdasco of Spain withdrew from

Federer said, laughing. Federer’s coolness on the court belied another day where players needed cooling towels as much as their rackets. Federer, a five-time U.S. Open champion, had steeled himself for the heat by changing up his routine – he made an early trip to New York to prep his game in the sweltering sun. Federer was crisp in a 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 win over

West retires after 15-year NBA career

Citizen news service

OAKLAND, Calif. — David West, a key big man and snazzy passer who had a knack for providing a timely lift off the bench during the Golden State Warriors’ past two championship seasons, retired Thursday.

West’s Twitter announcement – one day after his 38th birthday – wasn’t a surprise as he made it clear he would take some time after the team’s latest title run to contemplate calling it a career.

“I am humbled and thankful for the support of my family, friends, coaches, teammates, organizations, and fans throughout this experience,” said West, the 18th overall

draft pick by the Hornets in 2003 out of Xavier. He left the Spurs following the 2015-16 season for a chance to chase a championship with the Warriors, and wound up winning his first career title and then a second one this past June. “David was a consummate professional throughout his entire career and was a huge presence in our locker room the last two years,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said in a statement. “The respect that he commanded was palpable every single day he walked in the door and the leadership that he provided to our team was critical to our success. He had the unique ability to

Canadians in singles, play thirdround matches today.

Benoit Paire in and made it 18 of 18 lifetime in the second round of the U.S. Open. Up next, Federer plays No. 30 seed Nick Kyrgios on Saturday. “Not a bad performance by any means by me,” Federer said. Paire wilted in the heat – though, Federer’s backhand and slicing serve was more to blame for his downfall.

connect with both the veteran and young players and the mentoring he provided our younger group was invaluable.”

A two-time All-Star, West averaged 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists playing 1,034 games over a 15-year career with New Orleans, Indiana, San Antonio and the Warriors. He was active in the community helping others.

For so long, West had wanted to be part of Gregg Popovich’s storied Spurs franchise, saying it was on his “bucket list,” then the centre landed in the Bay Area on a starstudded roster featuring All-Stars Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson – and he found his perfect

‘It just felt like home here’

— from page 7

Nick, who prefers playing left wing, collected 17 goals and 25 assists for 42 points in 35 games in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League midget prep division.

“I’m a grittier kind of player but at the same time I still have that skill to put the puck in or make that pass,” Nick said.

“I feel I’m a good 200-foot player and I think I’ve become a quicker player that I can beat d-men and really pressure players. I feel the transition will be hard but it will be quick. Right now I’m good because I’ve got that speed to me and this is a next-level speed league.”

Nick played one game for the Spruce Kings at the end of the season as an affili-

ated player and it was the team’s Burnaby Winter Club connections that made his choice to sign with them easier.

His brother and Kings veterans Nolan Welsh, Liam Watson-Brawn and Bradley Cooper are BBW alumni, while rookies Nick Bochen and Tyler Schleppe were Nick’s midget teammates in Burnaby last season.

“It just felt like home here,” said Nick.

“Being with them last year I got a chance to be exposed to the guys and I already felt welcomed into a home environment. I just saw what Adam and P.G. did for Ben and how he became such a great player after he got here. He became a next-level player after he got here and that’s what I want to

become. Just seeing how great this team was last year, and we want to go back and win the last three games and win the league this year.”

Their parents – Julie Chapman and Shawn Poisson – are certainly relieved they get to watch them both playing road games for the Kings close to their Vancouver home in the Mainland Division.

“They’ll be seeing lots of us,” said Ben.

fit as a reliable role player for Kerr . With West, Zaza Pachulia and JaVale McGee, Golden State had a distinct trio of centres to keep opponents guessing.

West said he is grateful and thanked everyone for the support while saying, “I have been fortunate enough to live out my childhood dream of playing in the NBA.”

“There should be a picture in the dictionary of David under ‘pro’s pro,”’ Warriors general manager Bob Myers said. “He’s one of the most decent people I’ve ever met. His depth of character is unmatched. We are all better for having spent the last two years with him. There is no doubt the best is ahead of him.”

The Maine connection to the Spruce Kings extends to another brother act –Prince George natives John and Keenan Hopson – who had brilliant junior careers in the BCHL and played together in their last year of college eligibility with the Black Bears, helping Maine reach the Frozen Four in 2006.

So what are the chances Nick might follow in big brother’s footsteps to the NCAA? It’s certainly an intriguing possibility.

• The Kings continue their preseason tonight in Merritt against the Cents, who beat Prince George 3-2 in overtime Wednesday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. They start their 23rd BCHL season next Friday at home against Chilliwack.

• Jack Hooey, a 20-year-old forward from Connecticut who has been recruited to Colgate University, attended the Kings’ camp but re-aggravated an injury from last season and flew back home on Saturday. He played high school hockey in Connecticut last season for Choate Rosemary Hall.

Chinese partner Yifan Xu over Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena and Renata Voracova of the

a men’s doubles match later Thursday. Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., the two remaining

AP PHOTO

Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard returns a shot against Marketa Vondrousova during the second round of the U.S. Open on Thursday in New York.

Pacioretty denies trade request

Citizen news service

MONTREAL — Max Pacioretty’s agent has denied a report saying his client has asked to be traded.

Agent Allan Walsh said Tuesday on his verified account on Twitter that the Canadiens captain has repeatedly expressed his wish to stay in Montreal.

A report on Radio-Canada said three reliable sources confirmed that Pacioretty asked out of Montreal several times. It said he first requested a trade in 2013-14, two years before he was named captain.

“Max Pacioretty has stated repeatedly that he loves Montreal and wants to remain in Montreal,” said Walsh. “To this date, he’s never received any offer from Montreal. You can have 3 sources or 10 sources, how many times does Max have to state that he wants to remain in Montreal long term?”

In another Tweet, Walsh said: “Obvious these ‘sources’ are coming from the club. Max will always take the high road and repeats again, he is ready to sign an extension with Montreal TODAY. It was Montreal that traded Max to LA at the draft and it was a DONE DEAL subject to Max signing an extension with LA.”

There were reports in June that a deal to send Pacioretty to the Los Angeles Kings fell through when the two sides did not agree on a contract.

Pacioretty is entering the final year of a teamfriendly six-year deal worth US$4.5 million per season and can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

There have been no negotiations on a contract extension, which suggests the Canadiens will try to trade him.

Pacioretty has scored 30 or more goals in five of the last six full NHL seasons, although he slumped to 17 last season.

Henderson hovering near leader

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Marina Alex matched the course record with a 10-under 62 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead over Canadian Brooke Henderson and Minjee Lee in the Cambia Portland Classic.

With Stacy Lewis unable to defend her title as she prepares for the birth of her first child, Alex is using her friend’s caddie, Travis Wilson, at Columbia Edgewater.

“It’s been a blast,” Alex said. “The timing was great. He wanted to work a couple more events before the season ended and I was looking. Trav is awesome. So much fun, really lighthearted.”

They had a lot of fun Thursday morning on the tree-lined layout.

“The course is in perfect shape,” Alex said. “So, if you’re hitting your lines, you’re going to make a ton of putts.... I’m going to have to come out and make as many birdies as I can the next three days.”

Winless on the tour, the 28-year-old former Vanderbilt player birdied the last four holes and five of the last six in a back-nine 30.

“Got my ball-striking together and it was

awesome,” Alex said.

Henderson, the 2015 and 2016 winner from Smiths Falls, Ont., birdied five of the last six holes for a 64. The 20-year-old star is coming off a victory Sunday in the CP Women’s Open on home soil in Regina.

“I could see the scores were really low today, so I wanted to go low on the back nine,” Henderson said. “And I was able to get five birdies. I’m really happy with this round.”

Lee closed with a bogey on the par-4 ninth.

The Australian birdied her first five holes and six of the first seven.

“I think it was a combination of everything,”

Lee said. “Most of the day I struck it pretty well with my iron shots. I had pretty good control of the yardages and I hit some solid putts.”

Robynn Ree was at 65 after a closing bogey.

After a last-minute putter change, the 21-yearold former Southern California player played the first 10 holes in seven under. She had 10 birdies – five in a row on Nos. 2-6 – and two bogeys.

“I was like maybe I’ll get the new putter vibes,” Ree said. “Luckily, that worked out today and my shots were so much better. I was

really fortunate that I was hitting well and putting well.”

Women’s British Open champion Georgia Hall matched Su Oh at 66.

“It’s an amazing golf course,” Hall said. “It’s in great condition.”

Anna Nordqvist, Brittany Lincicome, Angela Stanford and Mariah Stackhouse topped the group at 67.

Lexi Thompson eagled the par-5 seventh in a 68. She missed the cut last week in Canada after tying for 12th in Indianapolis following a three-week break for emotional and mental fatigue.

Inbee Park, playing for the first time since the Women’s British Open, opened with a 69 playing alongside Thompson and Shanshan Feng (72).

There are five other Canadians in the field.

Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., opened with a 3-under 69. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp and Quebec City’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay (72) are even while Charlottetown’s Lori Kane (76) and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., (78) are well back.

SPORTS IN BRIEF

Flames ink Hanifin

CALGARY (CP) — The Calgary Flames have locked up defenceman Noah Hanifin. The club announced Thursday evening that they have signed the restricted free agent to a six-year contract with an annual average salary of US$4.95 million.

The 21-year-old was acquired by the Flames, along with forward Elias Lindholm, from the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this summer in exchange for defenceman Dougie Hamilton, forward Micheal Ferland and prospect Adam Fox.

The Boston, native was drafted fifth overall by the Hurricanes in the 2015 NHL Draft. He scored 18 goals and 83 points in 239 games in his three seasons with Carolina –including career highs with 10 goals and 32 points last season. Hanifin played for new Flames head coach Bill Peters when he was in Carolina.

Yankees closing in on McCutchen

NEW YORK (AP) — The playoffcontending New York Yankees are close to completing a trade for San Francisco Giants outfielder Andrew McCutchen. A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Thursday night the Yankees would send infielder Abiatal Avelino and another minor leaguer to San Francisco for McCutchen. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal wasn’t finalized.

Trades must be done by today in order for players to be eligible for the post-season. McCutchen is hitting .255 with 15 home runs, 55 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in his first season with the Giants. He was a fivetime All-Star with Pittsburgh and the 2013 NL MVP. The 31-year-old McCutchen has been the Giants’ regular right fielder. He could fill that spot for the Yankees, who have been missing slugger Aaron Judge since his wrist was broken by a pitch in late July. The Yankees began the day 7 1/2 games behind Boston in the AL East and 4 1/2 games in front of Oakland for the top wild-card spot.

Heyward hurt

ATLANTA (AP) — Chicago Cubs centre fielder Jason Heyward had to leave a game against the Atlanta Braves after diving for a liner by Freddie Freeman . Heyward went out with tightness in his right hamstring. The team said he is still being evaluated. Heyward was able to walk off the field.

Montreal Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty looks on from the bench during a Jan. 2 home game against the San Jose Sharks.

Mayfield on the mark for Browns

Citizen news service

DETROIT — Baker Mayfield threw for 138 yards in a dominant first half for Cleveland, and the Browns wrapped up the preseason with a 35-17 victory over the Detroit Lions on Thursday night.

Mayfield completed a 41-yard pass to Devon Cajuste on the first play from scrimmage, and the top overall pick in this year’s draft looked sharp throughout his two quarters directing Cleveland’s offence.

With Tyrod Taylor atop the depth chart at quarterback, the Browns are likely to bring Mayfield along slowly. But if the rookie doesn’t play again for a while, this was a nice note to finish on before the start of the regular season.

Nick Chubb and Matthew Dayes ran for touchdowns for Cleveland in what was generally a battle of backups.

The Lions closed out an uninspiring preseason under new coach Matt Patricia. They were booed off the field at halftime by the sparse crowd at Ford Field with the score 25-0.

Colts 27 Bengals 26

CINCINNATI (AP) — Matt Barkley’s left knee was injured by a low hit after he threw a pass, giving Jeff Driskel the inside track for the Bengals’ backup quarterback role.

For the second year in a row, the Bengals (3-1) lost a quarterback to injury in the final preseason game.

Last year, Driskel broke the thumb on his passing hand in Indianapolis, ending his season. Cincinnati also has seventh-round pick Logan Woodside.

It was the most high-profile job up for grabs in a game that featured few starters. The Colts’ Andrew Luck and the Bengals’ Andy Dalton watched as reserves competed for roster spots.

The No. 2 quarterback job hadn’t been an issue for the Bengals since they drafted AJ McCarron in 2014. He led them to the playoffs the following year when Dalton broke the thumb on his passing hand.

The Bengals asserted McCarron was still under contract for 2018 because he was hurt during his rookie season, but McCarron won a grievance and became a free agent, going to Buffalo. The Bengals then signed Barkley.

On Cincinnati’s second possession, Kemoko Turay hit Barkley in the legs after he threw a pass, drawing a roughing-the-passer penalty. Barkley came to the sideline to have the knee examined and walked to the locker room. He didn’t return.

Dolphins 34 Falcons 7

ATLANTA (AP) — Brock Osweiler made a strong final bid for Miami’s backup quarterback job, leading three first-quarter touchdown drives. Osweiler is competing with David Fales to be Ryan Tannehill’s backup. Osweiler completed each of his first six passes for 65 yards, including a one-yard scoring pass to Buddy Howell on Miami’s opening drive. He added a 14-yard scoring pass to Francis Owusu on the final play of the third quarter.

Osweiler completed 16 of 25 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns for the Dolphins (1-3). Fales completed 13 of 20 passes for 94 yards and one interception.

The Falcons (0-4) had little offence with its stars, including quarterback Matt Ryan, running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin

Coleman and wide receiver Julio Jones, watching on the sideline. Atlanta was held to nine first downs and 185 yards.

Eagles 10 Jets 9

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Christian Hackenberg had a rough audition for an NFL roster spot, tossing two interceptions, but the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles rallied.

Joe Callahan threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Matt Jones with 18 seconds left to lift Philadelphia (1-3).

Jason Myers kicked field goals of 58 and 43 yards for the Jets (1-3). New York’s defence didn’t allow a touchdown in August until the final drive.

Eagles quarterbacks Carson Wentz, Nick Foles and Nate Sudfeld watched from the sideline, while Jets rookie Sam Darnold also was a spectator. Darnold is expected to be New York’s starting quarterback in Week 1 at Detroit. Wentz is still recovering from knee surgery last December and is waiting for medical clearance to play. Foles, the Super Bowl MVP, would start the opener next Thursday night if Wentz can’t go.

Patriots 17 Giants 12

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)

— Third-stringer Danny Etling tossed a one-yard touchdown pass to Ralph Webb early in the second half and iced the game with an 86yard run late.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning chatted with receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the first half, while Tom Brady sat next to the New England water coolers and relaxed. There wasn’t much action on the field, with the biggest play coming late after an Alex Tanney-led drive from the New York one stalled at the Patriots 14 with New England ahead 10-6. Etling faked a handoff and ran an option around right end and scored untouched to give the Patriots a 3-1 preseason record. The Giants finished their first preseason under new coach Pat Shurmur at 2-2.

Vikings 13 Titans 3

Hackenberg didn’t take a snap in two seasons with the Jets after he was selected in the second round of the 2016 draft. He signed with the Eagles earlier in the month as the fifth quarterback and has no chance to make the roster so he was playing for his next job.

Jaguars 25 Bucs 10

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Fourthstringer Tim Cook ran for a pair of second-half touchdowns, and Carroll Phillips returned a fumble for another TD to help Jacksonville. Cook scored on runs of one and three yards, while Phillips picked up a fumble by rookie quarterback Austin Allen and ran it back 28 yards during a 19-point third quarter that turned a 10-3 halftime deficit into a 12-point lead. Regulars for both teams sat out the finale in mostly empty Raymond James Stadium. A total of 34 players did not dress for the Jaguars, including every starter on offence and defence.

Tampa Bay’s starters had the night off, too, as did suspended quarterback Jameis Winston, who must sit out the first three games of the regular season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Rookie Daniel Carlson kicked field goals of 39 and 22 yards, and Kyle Sloter added a 24-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Carlson rebounded from missing a pair of 42-yarders wide left a week ago after beating out Kai Forbath for the job. Carlson connected from 39 yards late in the first half, tying it 3-3. He added a 22-yarder midway through the third quarter, giving the Vikings (3-1) a 6-3 lead. The Titans finished first-year coach Mike Vrabel’s first preseason winless, though he made clear protecting starters for the regular season mattered more than notching an exhibition victory.

Ravens 30 Redskins 20

BALTIMORE (AP) — Ravens rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson ran for a touchdown while backup Robert Griffin III spent the entire game on the sideline as Baltimore completed its third consecutive unbeaten preseason. Jackson played the first half and led Baltimore (5-0) on three scoring drives. The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner and first-round draft pick is sure to make the team, but coach John Harbaugh has not yet revealed whether he will keep Griffin, who’s currently No. 2 on the depth chart behind starter Joe Flacco.

Loss drops Canada into bronze game at World Cup

Citizen news service

VIERA, Fla. — Taiwan erased an early four-run deficit to defeat Canada 6-4 on Thursday in the super-round finale for both teams at the women’s baseball World Cup.

The result means Canada, the defending silver medallists at the biennial tournament, will play the United States for bronze today while Taiwan advanced to the gold-medal game against Japan.

Canada, ranked No. 2 in the world behind the powerhouse Japanese, had opened the game with a four-run first inning on an error and RBIs from Amanda Asay (two) and Kate Psota.

Asay grew up in Prince George and is currently attending the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

But Taiwan replied with three runs in the bottom of the first, and three more in the third as the Canadians committed two errors.

Elizabeth Gilder started for Canada but didn’t record an out. She allowed three runs, three hits, one walk and hit a batter before being replaced by Hannah Martensen.

Martensen went three innings, allowing three more runs, and Claire Eccles closed out the game with three shutout frames.

Japan, which has won 29 straight games

Asay grew up in Prince George and is currently attending the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

en route to five consecutive World Cups titles, beat Venezuela 10-0 earlier Thursday. The No. 3 U.S. played No. 13 Dominican Republic in the late game.

The Americans won the first two installments of the tournament in 2004 and 2006 before giving way to Japan’s dominance. Canada has five medals from the previous seven tournaments – three bronze and two silvers.

The U.S. beat Canada 5-1 on Wednesday night in second-round action, handing the Canadians their second loss at the tournament. They also lost 2-1 to Japan in the opening round last week.

This is the last World Cup for Canadian manager Andre Lachance, who has skipped the team in each of the eight tournaments since its inception in 2004 in Edmonton. Veterans Ashley Stephenson of Mississauga, Ont., and Psota of Burlington, Ont., could also leave the team after eight World Cup appearances each.

Redblacks QB has high standards

Citizen news service

Ottawa quarterback Trevor Harris says the Redblacks have the ability and the motivation to be an elite CFL team.

The Redblacks (6-3) have been the class of the East Division so far in 2018 heading into today’s game against the Montreal Alouettes (2-8) at TD Place. But Harris says the team has to maintain its focus in the second half of the season if it wants to make the jump to league powerhouse.

“I think our guys really want to be great,” Harris said. “We have a good locker room full of guys that really love football and they understand the process of the season and we know we’ve got to be better to be one of the great teams throughout the rest of the season.

“And we want to be an elite team, so if we lose that focus or stop climbing the mountain to try and play our best football that’s where we’ll start to see our downfall, so we’ve got guys that are motivated.”

At the midway point Ottawa has a fourpoint lead over Hamilton (4-5) for first

in the East, but the Redblacks goal is to maintain the momentum it built leading up to the halfway mark when they enjoyed its second of three bye weeks.

Ottawa will be looking to sweep the Alouettes as they meet for the third and final time this regular season. The Redblacks picked up 28-18 and 24-17 victories while facing a different QB both times and this week will be no different as Antonio Pipkin is slated to get the start.

Pipkin, who looked solid in the Alouettes’ 25-22 victory over Toronto last week, has shown poise and confidence. The Redblacks know they will need to challenge Pipkin and not give him too much time in the pocket.

“He’s done a phenomenal job of decision making,” said Alouettes coach Mike Sherman. “He stays in the pocket with a lot of confidence. When he has to run he has the ability to move and run and make plays with his feet.

“For a young quarterback to come into the situation he came in under it’s pretty impressive.”

AP PHOTO

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield throws to a receiver during the first half of an NFL football preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Thursday in Detroit.

MONEY IN BRIEF

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TORONTO (CP) — Canada’s main stock index joined other North American markets in closing lower Thursday on the possibility of new U.S. tariffs on China and unresolved NAFTA talks.

Reports that U.S. President Donald Trump could impose tariffs on US$200 billion in Chinese goods as early as next week caused investors to take a little breather, said Kash Pashootan, CEO and chief investment officer at First Avenue Investment Counsel.

“For awhile now it seemed like regardless of what peripheral concerns or short-term risks were on the radar, the market just shrugged them all off,” he said. Pashootan said the slight pullback is healthy.

“You are seeing selective profit taking on isolated trading sessions or specific days but overall if you look at the market behaviour on a broader basis... the clear conclusion has been meaningful appetite for risk assets and an avoidance or really a lack of concern for the peripheral risks ranging from geopolitical to trade wars.”

The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 18.74 points at 16,371.55 after hitting a low of 16,349.55 on 216.6 million shares traded.

Gold and energy stocks were down on the day after a Federal Court of Appeal decision to quash the approval of the contentious Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Materials, cannabis-heavy health care and base metals were off, along with real estate, telecom, utilities and financials. Information technology stocks led, gaining less than one per cent, followed by industrials, consumer staples and consumer discretionary stocks.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 137.65 points at 25,986.92. The S&P 500 index was down 12.91 points at 2,901.13, while the Nasdaq composite was off 21.32 points at 8,088.36. The Canadian dollar closed lower at 77.04 cents US compared with an average of 77.33 cents US on Wednesday. The October crude contract was up 74 cents at US$70.25 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up 1.1 cents at US$2.87 per mmBTU.

Economy soars in second quarter

Citizen news service

OTTAWA — A surge in exports of energy, aircraft and pharmaceutical products helped propel Canada’s economy higher in the second quarter of this year, Statistics Canada said Thursday.

The economy rocketed to an annualized pace of 2.9 per cent in the period from April 1 through June 30, compared with a slightly revised annual pace of 1.4 per cent in the first three months of 2018, the agency said.

Economists had expected an annualized pace of 3.0 per cent for the second quarter, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon.

CIBC senior economist Royce Mendes said the economy sped ahead in the second quarter, but noted there was little momentum headed into the third. “The acceleration in growth is unlikely to be sustained in the second half of the year,” he said.

Mendes expected the Bank of Canada to keep its key interest rate target on hold when it makes its next rate announcement next week, but likely look to raise it at the following meeting in October.

The Bank of Canada last raised its benchmark interest rate in July to set its target for the overnight rate at 1.5 per cent.

Lululemon profits almost double in Q2

Citizen news service

Mendes expected the Bank of Canada to keep its key interest rate target on hold when it makes its next rate announcement next week, but likely look to raise it at the following meeting in October.

“If a NAFTA deal comes to fruition or at least negotiations are progressing in a positive manner, it still looks like the economy will warrant another rate hike come October,” Mendes said.

The increase in growth was mainly the result of higher exports, which saw an increase of 2.9 per cent in the quarter.

That was the highest growth rate for that category in four years, led by energy exports, which accelerated at a rate of 5.6 per cent.

Exports of goods were 6.3 per cent higher in the second quarter, driven particularly by pharmaceuticals while exports of aircraft, aircraft parts and engines grew by 13.4 per cent.

Service exports edged 0.2 per cent lower.

Imports, meanwhile, were higher by 1.6 per cent, faster than the 1.0 per cent growth rate recorded in the first quarter. Statistics Canada said much of that growth was a result of higher refined energy imports to offset an

Lululemon Athletica Inc. raised its guidance just two weeks after its new chief executive officer joined the company.

The Vancouver-based athletic apparel brand said it expects to earn $3.45 to $3.53 per share for the full year on revenues between $3.18 billion to $3.23 billion. That’s up from $3.10 to $3.18 per share on $3.04 billion to $3.07 billion of revenues forecast three months ago.

The new outlook comes as Calvin McDonald announced that Lululemon beat expectations as its profits had nearly doubled in its second quarter.

The company said its net income rose to $95.8 million or 71 cents per share for the period ended July 29. That’s up from $48.7 million or 36 cents per share a year earlier.

Revenues were up 25 per cent to $723.5 million.

Lululemon was expected to earn 49 cents per share on $667.9 million of revenues, according to analysts polled by Thomson Reuters Eikon.

Executives at the company attributed the increases to the strong demand for women’s yoga pants, a 10 per cent increase in same-store sales and a 47 per cent jump in e-commerce sales.

Those conditions come as the brand and McDonald are being closely watched by analysts, following the departure of former CEO Laurent Potdevin, who abruptly resigned in January after the company said he “fell short” of its standards of conduct.

expected shutdown of four Canadian refineries in April and May.

Household spending was also higher, up 0.6 per cent in the second quarter, compared with the 0.3 per cent growth seen in the first three months of the year. The increase was mainly a result of higher bills for utilities including water, electricity and gas, and because households were spending more for services such as renovations, up 0.8 per cent.

Housing investment rebounded in the second quarter, up 0.3 per cent compared with a revised 2.7 per cent drop in the previous three-month period. But spending on home ownership transfer costs and new construction was lower.

Business capital investment was higher by 0.4 per cent, but that was the slowest pace of growth in the segment since the fourth quarter of 2016 and largely the result of a slowdown in purchases of machinery and equipment.

The Bombardier Global 7000 aircraft mock-up sits in Toronto in November 2015.

Grandma solves python problem

Citizen news service

BRISBANE

– There was no question that what Jackson Wright and his father had spotted in their backyard Sunday was a snake.

Wright had watched as it slithered along a wall, then up the side of a large barbecue grill on their patio. The snake – a python, to be exact – then slipped through a gap in the grill and disappeared under its oversize black lid. Fortunately, the pair knew just who to call for help: 81-year-old Faye Morgan, better known to Wright as “Ga,” or “Grandma.”

Technically, she was his brother’s wife’s grandmother, but the most important tie binding her to the family in that moment was that she had once wrangled a snake from that very same backyard, less than two years before.

On Monday, Morgan arrived at Wright’s home in Brisbane, Australia, wearing a pink shirt, gray sweatpants and tennis shoes. She walked over to the grill and lifted the cover. Wright’s father stood guard on the left, clutching the clear lid to a plastic tub that

It’s not often a grandma battles a snake over a barbecue.

— Jackson Wright

would hold the snake as it emerged.

Wright began filming.

“Dad told me to get the camera,” Wright told The Washington Post. “It’s not often a grandma battles a snake over a barbecue.”

Grandma appeared to take a moment to try to identify where the snake’s head and tail were. Wright’s father kept a safe distance to the side, in a sort of half-crouched stance. (“He didn’t do much,” Wright said jokingly.)

At last, Morgan grabbed two ends of the snake and hoisted it up and off the grill, shoving it quickly into the plastic bin on the ground. Wright’s father slammed the

lid closed.

To their surprise, what they had thought had been one long snake on the grill had actually been two snakes. They quickly realized that the other python remained loose, resting atop the barbecue.

“You’re kidding me!” Morgan said.

She then returned to the grill and deftly removed the second snake, just as she had the first. Into the same plastic tub it went.

“Perfect!” Wright’s father shouted.

“Two of them!” Morgan exclaimed, laughing.

According to Wright, the python wrangling was all in a day’s work for Morgan, who lives on a farm about 20 minutes away from Brisbane and has handled snakes in the past.

“She’s done it before. She just came straight over and was very careful about what she was doing,” he said. “She was just saying: ‘Oh yeah, I’m not scared of them. Everyone’s got to be brave about it.’ She was great.”

Wright said snake sightings are not

Chinese scroll could sell for record amount

An extremely rare, 11th-century Chinese scroll could set an auction price record for an Asian artwork when it goes on the block at Christie’s November Hong Kong sale.

Estimated in excess of $51 million, the work is one of only two known scrolls produced by Song dynasty artist Su Shi, and the first to ever appear at auction, Christie’s said. The other resides in the Na-

tional Palace Museum in Taiwan.

“This is simply the best Chinese painting you could possibly get,” said Jonathan Stone, co-chairman of Christie’s Asian Art department, who likened the piece’s significance and rarity to that of Salvator Mundi by Leonardo Da Vinci.

“In the purely market sense, there is comparability.”

Su Shi, a household name in China, was an 11th-century scholar, statesman, poet, writer,

calligrapher and artist whose painting style has influenced virtually every Chinese painter ever since, according to Kim Yu, Christie’s international senior specialist of Chinese paintings.

He began an “aesthetic revolution” that departed from the highly detailed and meticulous academic Song dynasty works, which required months to complete. Su Shi’s Wood and Rock is a simple and spontaneous work created for the artist’s personal

unusual, even in their residential neighborhood in Brisbane, though they’re typically much smaller.

“Every snake season here we get about two or three, usually really small ones just on the road,” Wright said. “Nothing usually on the house.”

The pythons in Wright’s barbecue appeared to be about two metres long each, and skinny enough for Morgan to have completely closed her hands around their heads and tails. However, some giant pythons in other parts of the world can grow to more than seven metres long, and have been known to swallow adult humans whole.

Meanwhile, professional snake handlers in Australia warned other residents to leave their grandmothers – and themselves – out of it if they spot snakes on their property.

“Leave the snake alone and it should hopefully move away by itself,” professional snake handler Stuart McKenzie told 7 News. “If (a snake is) in a backyard, take your pets and kids away and always maintain a safe distance from the snake.”

pleasure and painted in one sitting, Yu said.

Measuring nearly 28 centimetres high, and almost 51 centimetres wide, the original ink-onpaper work depicts a gnarled, leafless tree and a rock behind from which a few young bamboo shoots emerge.

Between the 11th and 16th centuries, four colophons, or commentaries by famous calligraphers, were added to the scroll, which now is more than

two metres long. The scroll also contains 41 collector’s seals that provide an unimpeachable record of its ownership provenance.

Like Da Vinci, Su Shi was a “renaissance man” long before the Western concept came into existence several centuries later, Stone said.

“I like to think of Leonardo as a Western Su Shi, rather than Su Shi as a Chinese Leonardo. We shouldn’t look at things through an Atlantic lens,” he said.

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Tonya Danine Mayhew

Bradley John Newman September 20th, 1975 to June 4th, 2018

On June 1st, 2018 Bradley left this earth in mind and soul. On June 4th, 2018 Brad became a hero! The family walked Bradley down the corridor as his body left this world. That night he saved 4 other lives through organ donation. Brad leaves behind his beautiful wife, Shayla, and their two adorable children, McKinley and Robert. Also left mourning his passing are his beloved parents, Ron and Joyce Newman, sister, Virginia Welsh and husband Wayne, brother, Gardie Newman and wife Leslie, brother, Shane Newman and wife Michelle. His many Uncles, Aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and lots of friends are also left mourning his loss.

On September 2nd, 2018 we will be celebrating Brad’s life at the Eagles Hall on the Hart Highway, 6742 Dagg Road, Prince George, between 2 and 5 pm. There will be a cash bar, refreshments, and snacks. Come and raise a glass to his life. Bring your stories and memories, we would love to hear them. Please register to be an organ donor. You too can be someone’s hero.

Gordon Mooney

March 28, 1936 - August 26, 2018

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gordon Mooney. He passed away peacefully in his own home surrounded by his entire family. He will be missed by so many. Gordon is survived by his wife of 59 years Margaret, his daughter Cheryl (Bud), and son Brad. He is also survived by two granddaughters Robynne (Adam) and Rachelle (Levi) and their sons Hayden, Linden, Tyson and Rowan. Gordon also leaves behind brothers Glen (Lilian) and Wayne as well as many other extended family members and friends. He was predeceased by his mother Ruby, his father Harold, as well as his brother Russell.

A celebration of life and luncheon will be held at the Hart Pioneer Center (6986 Hart Hwy) at 11:00 AM on Saturday September 1st. The family would like to thank all of his care givers as well as the Kidney Foundation. In lieu of flowers, donations to the kidney Foundation will be greatly appreciated.

Keep on truckin’ Dad!!!

Passed away August 5, 2018 at the age of 50, survived by husband Blair Proctor, daughter Megan Mayhew (Jarred Brown) of Prince George, son Mitchell Mayhew (Julie Remple) of Prince George, sisters Tara Miller (Randy) also Rick Mayhew and many close friends and family. Predeceased by her parents James & Meone Hawychuk. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

Kirkland James Hollier passed away August 24th 2018 at the age of 65 years. He is predeceased by his wife Louise and is survived by his two son’s Mark and Neil Hollier, three brothers Jim, Brad and Jon Hollier and sister Deborah Hollier. A graveside interment service will be held Saturday September 1st at 1:00pm at Prince George Memorial Park Cemetery with a Celebration of Life party to follow. Assman’s Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements

Hans Dresen, 80, passed away August 16, 2018 at his home in Prince George, B.C. Hans was born January 2, 1938 in Guerzenich, Germany. He moved to Canada with his wife Eike in 1974 and settled near Hamilton, Ontario. They moved to Prince George in 1975 where he worked in the Logging Industry until 1998. Hans enjoyed reading, gardening, playing cards and spending time with Family and Friends. He is survived by his wife Eike, sons Mark (Sandra), Roy (Keri), daughters Elke (Klaus), and Dagmar in Germany, brothers Hartmut (Christa), Horst (Marlene), sister in law Marlies in Germany. Predeceased by sister Marlies and brother Manfred. He also leaves behind 7 Grandchildren, Malanie, Niklas and Jonas in Germany, as well as Darian, Aedan, Lucas and Logan in Prince George. We welcome all Family and Friends to come to celebrate his life on Sunday, September 2nd, between 2 and 5pm at 15880 East Perry Road in Prince George

Joanne Beatrice Bott August 2, 1948August 20, 2018

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother. After a lengthy battle with cancer Joanne passed away peacefully on August 20th at Vernon Jubilee Hospital at age 70. Joanne was predeceased by her beautiful daughter Susan Moore. She will be deeply missed by her son Rick Bott, daughter-in-law Stacey Bott, grandchildren Hannah Moore, Emma Moore, Danielle Bott and Brennan Bott. Joanne will also will be remembered and missed by her sister Jean (John) and brother Bill (Phylis) and other family and friends.

Special thanks to all the doctors, nurses, friends and family who were always there to help her. As per her wishes there will be no service. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the BC Cancer Foundation. Joanne was a very special lady and will always be in our hearts.

We love you!

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Court overturns approval of Trans Mountain expansion

Feds pledge to continue with pipeline buyout

Laura KANE Citizen news service

VANCOUVER — A court has overturned Ottawa’s approval of the contentious Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, halting construction on the project and sending the government back to the review phase to examine the impacts of tanker traffic and consult more deeply with First Nations.

The decision from the Federal Court of Appeal came on the same day that Kinder Morgan Canada Ltd. shareholders voted 99 per cent in favour of selling the pipeline and expansion project to the Canadian government for $4.5 billion, not including construction costs that could be as high as $9.3 billion.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau pledged to push ahead with his government’s purchase and said the decisions from the court and Kinder Morgan shareholders are important steps in getting the project built in “the right way for the benefit of all Canadians.”

“Our government remains committed to ensuring the project proceeds in a manner that protects the public interest,” he said.

“It means upholding our commitments with Indigenous Peoples and it means responsibly protecting Canada’s and Canadians’ investment.”

In a unanimous decision by a panel of three judges released Thursday, the court said the National Energy Board’s review of the proposal was so flawed that the federal government could not rely on it as a basis for its decision to approve the expansion.

The fatal flaw, the court said, was that it excluded the project’s impact on marine shipping. That, in turn, meant that the energy board did not assess the potential impact of increased tanker traffic on the endangered southern resident orca population.

The court also found that during the final phase of Indigenous consultation, the government’s representatives limited their mandate to listening to and recording the concerns of the Indigenous applicants and then transmitting those concerns to the decision-makers.

“There was no meaningful two-way dialogue,” Justice Eleanor Dawson wrote on behalf of the panel.

The ruling requires the energy board to conduct a new review including the impacts of tanker traffic and means the government will have to redo part of its consultation with Indigenous groups.

Morneau did not rule out seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, but

he suggested the government would comply with the Federal Court’s requirements, saying it had given the government good direction on next steps.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter that he had spoken with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and reassured her that the federal government stands by the project and will ensure it moves forward in the right way.

The federal government will now have to consult with First Nations in a way that seriously considers their concerns and provides a response and even an accommodation in some cases, said Gordon Christie, a University of British Columbia law professor.

For example, the Coldwater Indian Band in south-central B.C. raised concerns about the pipeline route passing through an aquifer that is the sole supply of drinking water for its main reserve. The government may consider re-routing or providing a new drinking water source, said Christie.

The additional consultation with Indigenous groups might only take a few months, but the tanker traffic review is likely to be more complex and take longer, he added.

Christie said the court decision on consultation was based on established law, but another expert said the ruling appeared to shift the requirements for governments.

“We had a pretty good understanding of what the courts meant when they said that governments need to consult and accommodate but that First Nations don’t have a veto,” said George Hoberg, a public policy professor at the University of British Columbia.

“What seems to me is happening in this case is the court is drifting a little more towards saying, ‘We’re really going to take a hard look at how you engage in that consultation and sometimes we’re going to be so demanding that it’s pretty much equivalent to a consent type of rule.’ ”

The court combined into one case nearly two dozen lawsuits filed by First Nations, environmental groups and the cities of Vancouver and Burnaby calling for the energy board’s review to be overturned.

Members of the Indigenous groups that challenged the project gathered on the shore of the Burrard Inlet in Vancouver to celebrate their victory.

Scott Smith, a lawyer for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, said the group viewed “free, prior and informed consent” to be a critical part of the consultation process moving forward.

Further consultation will have to include serious examination of the community’s 1,200 page environmental assessment and

studies on spill potential and air quality, said Rueben George, a representative of the Tsleil-Waututh.

“A long time ago, we said they could do this the easy way or the hard way. Now they choose the hard way or the harder way,” he said.

The environmental groups involved in the case also cheered the ruling, with Ecojustice, the Living Oceans Society and the Raincoast Conservation Foundation calling it a “critical win” for the climate and coastal ecosystems.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said the decision validates his city’s concerns about marine impacts and Indigenous consultation.

The B.C. government acted as an intervener in the case and also filed a separate reference case to the B.C. Court of Appeal to determine if it has the right to restrict bitumen shipments from Alberta. Premier John Horgan said Thursday the province will continue to pursue the reference case.

The decision also triggered dismay from business groups and supporters of the pipeline expansion, with Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer calling it “devastating news for energy workers across Canada and for Canadian taxpayers.”

— With files from Joan Bryden in Ottawa

Pipeline ruling shakes central pillar of Liberals’ agenda

Joan BRYDEN Citizen news service

OTTAWA — On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau painstakingly explained to students in Kapuskasing, Ont., how the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project is a central pillar of his government’s agenda. Less than 24 hours later, the Federal Court of Appeal quashed the government’s approval of the project, imperilling the pillar holding up Trudeau’s signature promise to tackle climate change by balancing economic growth and environmental protection.

Moreover, it underscored a gap between rhetoric and action when it comes to Trudeau’s oftstated vow to make reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples his top priority.

The court found that the National Energy Board’s environmental assessment of the project was fatally flawed because it ignored the potential impact of increased tanker traffic off British Columbia’s coast. It also ruled that the federal government had not fulfilled its duty to meaningfully consult with affected Indigenous groups.

“For over a year and a half, Canadians have waited for Trudeau to come up with a concrete plan

to ensure this pipeline project is completed,” said Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer.

“Instead, he offered one delay after another, and the ruling today shows that he couldn’t even carry out his own government’s consultation process. He has now left Canadian taxpayers on the

hook for a pipeline that he isn’t allowed to build, jeopardizing jobs and investment at the same time as our economy faces the uncertainty of NAFTA re-negotiations, tax hikes, and Liberal deficits.”

Finance Minister Bill Morneau insisted the government is still “absolutely committed” to

completing the $4.5-billion purchase of the project from Kinder Morgan – as early as Friday – and ensuring that the expansion is eventually built to carry Alberta’s oilsands bitumen to tidewater. He did not rule out appealing the court ruling. But he appeared inclined to accept the court’s sug-

gested remedy: order the energy board to redo its environmental assessment and redo the government’s own consultations with Indigenous Peoples, both of which the court said could be tightly focused and completed relatively quickly.

At a minimum, however, that would mean more delay and increased uncertainty about whether the project will ever actually be built.

“They just don’t know what they’re doing. They have no idea how they’re actually going to get this project built,” said Scheer.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce president Perrin Beatty said the ruling “sends a profoundly negative message to investors both here at home and around the world about Canada’s regulatory system and our ability to get things done even after the federal government has declared them to be in the national interest.”

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and a host of environmental and aboriginal groups all called on the federal government to admit defeat and cancel the project.

“Climate leaders don’t buy or expand pipelines,” said Singh, adding that the government should “consider all legal options” to cancel the pipeline purchase.

Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain marine terminal in Burnaby is seen from the air on May 29. The Federal Court of Appeal overturned the federal government’s approval of a project to expand the pipeline.

CP PHOTO

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to students at Ecole Secondaire Catholique Cite des Jeunes in Kapuskasing, Ont., on Wednesday.

Cool finale of Kin can’t overcome earlier cliches

Jane HORWITZ Citizen news service

Kin opens with starkly beautiful images of abandoned, crumbling Detroit factories. These images seem to promise a blend of visual artistry and dramatic tension that could become a truly satisfying thriller.

That hope lives on for a while after we meet smart, sad-eyed Eli (excellent newcomer Myles Truitt), a 14-year-old who scavenges in those buildings for junk to sell. He hears strange noises in one and happens upon the remains of a mysterious battle, complete with robotic suits of armour, which faintly echo medieval jousting gear, and a boxy metallic weapon that beeps and buzzes and appears to possess big, destructive power. Eli, who seems to have an instinct for operating it, eventually throws the uber gun in a sack and heads home.

All this bodes well at first. The filmmakers are apparently riffing on the legend of King Arthur, of the boy who would rule extracting the sword Excalibur from the stone. But the entire middle section of Kin turns that golden introductory idea into dross. Nor does the cool finale make up for the artlessness of all that happens in between.

Cinematographer Larkin Seiple’s fine camera work and Eli’s mystery weapon just don’t keep the thunking, derivative script afloat.

Screenwriter Daniel Casey adapted and expanded Kin from a 2014 short film, Bag Man, by siblings Jonathan and Josh Baker. The

brothers, who come from the world of advertising, make their co-directing debut with Kin. But somehow they haven’t expanded their source material to fill the space. Eli is motherless and having issues at school. His adoptive dad (Dennis Quaid) is a gruff, blue-col-

lar guy who sees his son’s factoryscavenging as theft and worries that Eli could be at a danger point in his young life. But Hal can only bark stern advice, and from there, the film falls into one kitchen-sink drama trope after another.

When Eli’s older brother, Jimmy

(Jack Reynor of TV’s Strange Angel), comes home from a stint in prison, the cliches rain down even harder in dialogue and situations. Jimmy, who is Hal’s biological son with his late wife, needs $60,000 to pay off a local gangster (James Franco, armed, tattooed and chewing on the scenery).

When an attempt to get the money goes south, Jimmy grabs Eli and takes him on an impromptu road trip to Nevada, with stops at strip clubs – tame, PG-13-ish strip clubs – and more illegal activity. A violent scuffle with a club owner (Romano Orzari) and his bouncers triggers the need for Eli to use the weapon, but also alerts Jimmy’s pursuers and the mysterious, perhaps alien, owners of Eli’s gun. The chase is on. The brothers acquire a fellow traveler, Milly (Zoë Kravitz), a club dancer with a heart of gold in a role that feels utterly tacked-on. The climactic shootout, even with the CGI fireworks from Eli’s superweapon, feels like every other cops-andcreeps battle ever made.

Although Kin doesn’t cut it, some of its ideas are worthy of further development. The film ends with a hint at a potential sequel, so here’s hoping the Bakers can hone their narrative chops and expand their young hero’s journey to greater effect – if they get a chance.

Two stars

Franklin farewells continue

Errin HAINES WHACK Citizen news service

DETROIT — Before the world marks the end of Aretha Franklin’s life at her funeral today, fans gathered a day early to celebrate her in the place where her faith was forged and her voice was first discovered, singing signature gospel classics like Amazing Grace and Precious Lord.

The line for the public viewing at New Bethel Baptist Church stretched several blocks – almost a kilometre – Thursday afternoon. Fans wearing a variety of T-shirts bearing Franklin’s image mourned her loss with a smile. There were spontaneous bursts into song, and cheers for the Queen of Soul as they waited to enter the sanctuary.

Shouts of “We love you!”

“Ree Ree!” and “Let the Queen through!” could be heard as the white 1940s Cadillac hearse drove down Linwood Street and pulled up to the front of New Bethel. The crowd jockeyed to snap photographs and cellphone videos of Franklin’s bronze casket as it was taken into the church just before noon.

“I had to be here,” said Joyce E. Stroud, who travelled from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to say goodbye to the icon she first met at a concert in California many years ago.

“I met Aretha when I was 23-years-old in San Francisco at the Fillmore West when she did that historic three-day concert,” Stroud said. “That was the first time I was introduced to her and I’ve been a lifelong fan.”

Several dignitaries were also expected to pay their respects at Thursday’s viewing, which was opened to the public after the tremendous outpouring of support throughout the week. Thousands attended the two days of public viewings at The Wright Museum.

Depardieu subject of rape complaint

The sight would’ve been truly humbling, even for a diva, said Michael Eric Dyson, a friend of Franklin’s who attended the New Bethel viewing and will deliver remarks at her service.

“She would be deeply honoured and appreciative of the fact that people, for three days, have poured out of every vestibule and crevice of this city and country to travel long miles to recognize her genius.”

Linda Swanson, executive vicepresident of Swanson Funeral Home, echoed the sentiment. The funeral home, which has been in Detroit for 60 years, also handled the arrangements for Franklin’s father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin, who preached at New Bethel from 1946 to 1979.

“We, the Swanson family, also love the citizens of Detroit, and so it just swells our hearts with pride and joy to see the city turning out to honour this queen eternal,” she said.

Inside New Bethel, the scene was reverent, with gospel music softly playing as a sea of ushers

PARIS (AP) — A French judicial official says rape and sexual assault accusations against actor Gerard Depardieu are the subject of a preliminary investigation. The French film star denies the allegations. The official said a woman filed a complaint on Monday near the southern city

guided mourners into the redcarpeted inner sanctum, decorated with pictures of Franklin and more lavender and pink roses, which also surrounded her at the public viewing earlier this week at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American history. Ever the performer, Franklin gave viewers yet a third outfit change – this time, a sparkling rose gold gown. Matching earrings complemented short cropped curls, and the ensemble was completed with gold-sequined Christian Louboutin heels. She has also worn head-to-toe red in honour of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, and baby blue. Upon exiting the church, fans were able to write notes of support and condolence on posters taped to the wall.

The Swanson Funeral Home has declined to say what Franklin’s final outfit will be for today’s service, but it will almost certainly be different. The funeral is expected to begin at 10 a.m. ET at Greater Grace Temple and will last at least five hours.

of Aix-en-Provence and the case was assigned to Paris prosecutors Wednesday. French newspaper Le Parisien said the woman, a 22-year-old comedian and dancer, reported that the 69-year-old Depardieu assaulted her on Aug. 7 and Aug. 13 at his Parisian home.

AP PHOTO People gather outside New Bethel Baptist Church before a viewing for Aretha Franklin on Thursday in Detroit. Franklin died Aug. 16 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76.

PHOTO BY ALAN MARKFIELD/ SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

Zoe Kravitz, as Milly, joins the road trip in Kin.