Dead heat in B.C. referendum on proportional representation: poll
Gordon HOEKSTRA Vancouver Sun
With just days left to get a ballot in the mail for B.C.’s electoral referendum, a Research Co. poll shows a dead heat between those in favour and opposed to proportional representation.
The deadline to have ballots into Elections B.C. is Nov. 30, but the two campaigns are urging voters to mail a ballot no later than this week. Voters also have an option to fill out or drop off completed ballots at referendum centres throughout B.C. but those centres have daytime hours only.
The latest poll results released by Research Co. Thursday show younger voters, 18 to 34, are more likely to be in favour of PR.
A majority of voters over 55 want to stick with the existing first-past-the-post system.
The results show an even split: 40 per cent definitely or probably in favour of FPTP and 40 per cent definitely or probably in favour of PR.
Among the 800 people surveyed from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16, 15 per cent were undecided, including 20 per cent among woman.
“We are feeling the urgency of the impending deadline,” said Maria Dobrinskaya, a leader for the Yes campaign.
“We’re focused on getting out the vote – phoning, texting and carrying out activity on campuses. We are encouraged but we know it’s going to be close.”
Bill Tieleman, a leader for the No side, said their strategy is to have new adver-
We are feeling the urgency of the impending deadline. We’re focused on getting out the vote – phoning, texting and carrying out activity on campuses. We are encouraged but we know it’s going to be close.
— Maria Dobrinskaya
tising on radio and TV in the remaining days of voting.
“We feel confident that voters will look at this and stick with the system they know,” said Tieleman.
In the third such referendum in B.C. in 18 years, British Columbians are being asked to rank three PR choices that use different methods to make the popular vote match the number of seats in the legislature.
Under FPTP, each seat is decided by a winner-take-all vote, often resulting in majority governments where the number of seats won is far greater than the proportion of votes.
Research Co. president Mario Canseco said the poll result that caught his attention was of those in favour of sticking with FPTP, the biggest reason was that they were confused by the options on the ballot. Canseco said it makes it harder for the
Yes side to sell an argument that PR is a fairer system when people are confused about the options.
“That’s a problem,” he said.
The three options include mixed member proportional, where 60 per cent of MLAs will continue to be elected by FPTP with the other 40 per cent distributed to parties to ensure seat totals reflect the popular vote.
Also on the list is a dual-member system where ridings will be combined with a neighbouring riding to form two-MLA ridings.
A few large, rural ridings will continue to be represented by one MLA.
The final system combines two systems.
Urban ridings will use a single transferable vote system where candidates are ranked in large ridings. Rural ridings will use the mixed member system.
Ballot returns – just 24 per cent as of Thursday – has also emerged as an issue that could lead to questions about the legitimacy of a Yes vote, particularly if the results are close.
Premier John Horgan, in favour of PR, has said he won’t set a minimum turnout for the result to be legitimate.
Bryan Breguet, a Langara College economics instructor, has used statistical analysis of the time it has taken ballots to be returned, to forecast that total returns are likely to be in the 30 per cent range unless a late surge in returns materializes.
Also using statistical analysis – incorporating voting ages – Breguet’s best guess is the No side is leading. However, he said it doesn’t mean it will remain that way.
Man suspected of sexually assaulting girls
Citizen staff
A Prince George man is suspected of having committed a string of sexual offences against young and teenaged girls.
Crown counsel has approved seven charges against Kevin Alexander Roberts, 46, after he was arrested in Vancouver on Monday. He remains in custody pending a bail hearing next week.
ROBERTS
The moves were made after a woman filed a complaint with the Vancouver Police Department alleging Roberts sexually assaulted her in Vancouver and in Prince George when she was a “young girl,” according to police. Police believe there may be other possible victims and are asking them to step forward. The VPD said Roberts is a truck driver who has worked routes throughout B.C. and Alberta and has also worked as a school bus driver in the Prince George area. He has also worked as a mover and has a transient lifestyle, police said.
“These types of crimes are extremely traumatic and survivors live with the lifelong impact,” said VPD Sgt. Jason Robillard.
“We are providing this information and a photo of the suspect, with hopes that we will uncover more information and help prevent this from happening to someone else.”
The victims would have been between four and 18 years old at the time he allegedly committed the crimes, according to the VPD.
Anyone with information is asked to call the VPD’s Sex Crime Unit at 604-717-0600 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
Forestry delegation to visit China, Japan, South Korea
Chuck CHIANG Citizen news service
One year after leading B.C.’s largest-ever forestry-sector delegation to Asia, B.C. Forests/Rural Development Minister Doug Donaldson is taking an even larger group to three key Asian countries this winter in a push to expand exports beyond the suddenly slowing American market.
Donaldson, whose portfolio also includes Lands and Natural Resources Operations, will visit South Korea, Japan and China from Dec. 5 through 15 with a group of officials from more than 40 companies, research institutions, unions and trade associations.
The number of entities represented by the delegation in last year’s trade mission (to China and Japan) was around 30.
The key difference, Donaldson says, is that this year’s edition will include a large
First Nations component.
He noted that he realized during last year’s trade visit it behooves the province to put First Nations communities in direct contact with potential customers in East Asia, since most of these communities’ lumber businesses lack the scale to reach Asia by themselves.
“We’ve consistently had conversations with First Nations communities around tenure and processing more wood locally, so it just makes sense for those First Nations who are interested in growing their economies to have representation on this trip,” Donaldson said.
“The major licensees can often establish their own connections – although they do find it worth their while to come along on this trade mission, as well – but there’s a significant contingent of people who represent licensees that aren’t as large, and
this trip helps open doors and and make the connections.”
China, Japan and South Korea are B.C.’s second, third and fifth largest wood-product export markets respectively.
The three markets combine to make up about 29 per cent of B.C.’s current woodproduct exports, although each presents a distinct opportunity for local companies, officials said.
B.C. has been on a major bull market in terms of lumber exports until this summer, when a sudden drop in U.S. lumber prices removed the insulation between B.C.’s forestry industry and the softwood lumber duties imposed by the United States. Prices in the American market for lumber fell from US$600 per 1,000 board feet to US$300 this month.
There are additional factors contributing to a slowdown; officials have cited a shrink-
ing timber supply in B.C. due partially to wildfires.
The downturn has resulted in West Fraser Timber Co. cutting shifts at sawmills in Quesnel and Fraser Lake and laying off 135 workers.
West Fraser estimates the adjustment will take 13 per cent out of the company’s B.C. production.
“There are certain things that government can do to ensure we have jobs in rural communities that depend on forestry, and there are areas where it’s difficult to exert influence on as a government – global markets on lumber prices, for instance,” Donaldson said.
“But this trade mission is one example of something where the B.C. government has a very legitimate and important role, and we are acting on it to make sure that there will continue to be rural jobs in forestry.”
Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday set for downtown
Citizen staff
Downtown businesses will be taking a page out of their American colleagues’ play book when they host a “Small Business Saturday” this weekend.
It will follow Downtown Prince George’s third annual Plaid Friday event and comes at a time when American Thanksgiving has come to mark the start of the holiday shopping season on both sides of the border.
“We just decided to piggyback on that because Saturday is quite a common shopping day, even for our downtown, and we thought that we’d definitely have some fun with that,” said DPG executive director Colleen Van Mook.
According to Wikipedia, Small Business Saturday was first observed during the 2010 American Thanksgiving and was created as a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which are centred on big box retail and e-commerce stores respectively.
“By contrast, Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize small, local brick and mortar businesses,” the web-based encyclopedia says. In Prince George, the event will feature a scavenger hunt with a $500 shopping spree at stake. Contestants must first solve a series of clues DPG will provide to find out which five businesses to visit. From there, they must find the Love
City partially reopens downtown streets
Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca
Downtown Prince George executive director Colleen Van Mook is welcoming a partial reopening of the streets surrounding the parkade and condominium development under construction across from city hall.
“It’s great news,” she said Wednesday.
Traffic can now pass through the intersections at Seventh Avenue and Dominion Street and at Sixth Avenue and George Street, which had been closed to allow workers to upgrade underground services.
Unexpected discoveries of old piping, including a length made out of wood, created some extra work.
The development comes just as DPG is to hold Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday to kick off the holiday shopping season.
“We do understand that the digging up of old infrastructure created some surprises for the city and they’ve been doing their best of late to try to communicate their timeline and in this case, I think they worked really hard to get the intersection opened because it does really make a difference to the businesses in that area,” Van Mook said. While a pedestrian route is in place, Seventh Avenue from the entrance to city hall to where it meets George Street is still closed to motorized traffic. But Van Mook is applauding the progress made so far.
“It just makes everything far more accessible,” she said.
It won’t be enough for the owners of Ohh Chocolat Café to reopen its storefront at Sixth and George.
“At this point we’re going to stay closed,” said general manager Wendy Giannisis. “We’ll relook at it in the spring because that’s officially when more things will kind of be in place.” The venture was closed down at the end of October due to a lack of customers after Sixth Avenue
RCMP probe centres on roles, duties of suspended legislature officials: adviser
Dirk MEISSNER Citizen news service
VICTORIA — A special adviser to the Speaker at British Columbia’s legislature says an ongoing RCMP investigation is focusing on the roles and administrative duties of the clerk of the house and its sergeant-at-arms.
Clerk Craig James and sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz were escorted out of the building Tuesday after members of the legislature voted unanimously to place the two top officers on paid administrative leave.
Special adviser Alan Mullen said Wednesday he cannot provide further details about the investigation.
“It’s to do with their roles as clerk and sergeantat-arms and it’s to do with their administrative duties,” he said in an interview. “We’re looking at a lot of different things but I couldn’t comment further because the investigation is ongoing.”
On Tuesday, Mullen said there is a “criminal investigation” in the case.
The RCMP would not confirm it is conducting a criminal investigation. The B.C. Prosecution Service and two special prosecutors overseeing the case declined comment Wednesday when asked if a criminal investigation is being conducted.
Later on Wednesday, Mullen said he was hired in January by Speaker Darryl Plecas to work on issues of concern, which included issues related to the legislature investigation.
“I was brought in for a number of different reasons, including this,” he told a news conference at the legislature.
Mullen said he and Plecas know each other professionally and are friends after working together at federal prisons in B.C.’s Fraser Valley.
Plecas, who has yet to comment on the investigation, is a criminologist. As a federal prison judge he conducted hearings where inmates were charged by prison officials for engaging in behaviours that pose threats to the safety of corrections staff and other inmates.
Mullen said he conducted numerous investigations while employed as the correctional manager at the Kent Institution for a decade.
We do understand that the digging up of old infrastructure created some surprises for the city...
— Colleen Van Mook
and George Street was blocked off. The owners are continuing to operate a catering service out of the location.
Giannisis is optimistic the Park House condominium project will pay off for nearby businesses once completed.
“It’ll really change this downtown area so for that part, really excited,” she said. “But just with everything else that’s going on, it was really hurting the café part.”
With the closure, a handful of employees were laid off.
“The problem is that there was no contingency in place because we were never advised of what the extremities of the road closures would have been... I think they’re a little bit more awake on letting us know and keeping us informed,” Giannisis said.
To be made up of 153 units of one- and two-bedroom housing in four separate buildings, developers behind Park House expect to see the first residents move in during the summer of 2020.
A stretch of Queensway Street at Patricia Boulevard also remains closed as workers install a new sewer line. The city hopes to have it reopened in mid-December.
Downtown PG phrases at each store and then bring their completed forms to Serengeti Northern B.C. at 550 George St. by 4 p.m.
As for Plaid Friday, named in the spirit of “creating a strong fabric that celebrates the diversity and creativity of independent businesses,” there will be giveaways to shoppers who bring to Hubspace their receipts from purchases made at any of 30 participating businesses. Hubspace will also be where crafts and photos with Santa will be found for the kids while the Cantata singers will be performing festive carols as they stroll the downtown streets.
The event runs 4-8 p.m.
Mullen did not provide details of what information has been gathered since last January but he said it was provided to the RCMP in late August.
Neither Lenz nor James could be reached for comment on Wednesday.
As he was leaving the legislature on Tuesday, James said he didn’t know why he was placed on leave.
“I have no idea but I’m sure I’ll find out in due course,” he said. “I think we have a right to know immediately what it is, and I hope that we soon find out what it is and we can go from there.”
Lenz did not comment as he was leaving the building.
The RCMP said in a statement Tuesday an investigation is underway and B.C.’s prosecution service said two special prosecutors were appointed on Oct. 1.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN
Colleen Van Mook and Eoin Foley of Downtown Prince George wear their plaid for Plaid Friday. The downtown shopping event offers a local alternative to Black Friday events happening at big, American chain stores .
Go local on Plaid Friday
The escalation of the Canada Post strike has many Prince George residents worried about ordering gifts online this Christmas and whether those orders will arrive on time for Dec. 25.
Although the federal government made noises about backto-work legislation, it also stressed that it will not pass such legislation immediately, preferring a negotiated settlement between the national post office and its unionized employees.
Texting, emailing and social media have all but destroyed Canada Post’s business model when it comes to person-to-person correspondence. What has saved the post office is the explosion in parcel delivery, brought on by online shopping.
The problem, however, is that the rise of Amazon and other online outlets has caused huge problems for local brick-and-mortar retail operations.
A physical presence through a storefront and employees cost money, meaning they can’t come close to competing on price with Amazon, which also benefits from sales volume.
Everybody loves a bargain and these days, most people are cost-conscious out of necessity. Still, every online sale makes Prince George a little poorer. Those dollars are going into the pockets of individuals in other
cities, other provinces and, mostly, other countries. That’s money not staying in the local economy to benefit local businesses and employees.
The damage of online shopping is like climate change. On the surface and in the here and now, it’s impossible to see. Take a step back, however, and the increasing damage being done to people and places is crystal clear.
An individual or family can’t make the connection between their online shopping and local stores laying off staff or closing up shop, just like they can’t see how warming up their truck for 20 minutes on a morning when it’s 4 C adds more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Multiplied by 25,000 households in Prince George, however, and suddenly it’s easy to see millions of dollars streaming out of the local economy and tons of pollution rising in the air.
There are products that can’t be bought in Prince George and can only be obtained online but that’s actually a pretty short list. For those with more patience than a two-year-
old and who have matured beyond instant gratification, local retailers can bring in just about anything not on their shelves and at a reasonable price.
The benefits of paying more for local goods over getting the amazing online deals are so numerous and obvious that they’re actually hard to see. Buying from a local store (and especially if it’s also a local product) pays massive dividends through the community. The business owners and employees can then spend their income on a home, a vehicle and support other local businesses (like the one you work at or own, for example), as well as sign up their kids for local sports teams or send them to the College of New Caledonia or UNBC.
The sad irony is the same people who often moan about the lack of retail shopping opportunities in Prince George, compared to Kamloops (where’s our Pier One Imports? Where’s our Chapters? Why can’t Safeway come back?) are the first ones seeking online bargains, either tomorrow
YOUR LETTERS
Mall should let Salvation Army sing
It is appalling to learn of the Pine Centre Mall’s recent “allowance” of singing two approved religious holiday Christmas songs in the mall. Good grief! Christmas is shared by all, religious or non-religious. If people do not associate with the religious aspect of Christmas, that is their right. But to take away the Salvation Army’s right to celebrate and sing about it in a way that is congruent with their faith is intolerant and, more strongly put, bigotry. Pine Centre has put a muzzle on a Christian organization and people who come and support them.
“Come ring your bells, but don’t sing or do anything religious without us censoring it first and telling you what you can, and can’t say, through song.”
That’s an attack on freedom of speech and over-policing. What requirements would they place
on a Jewish group or a Sikh group?
This is discrimination by singling out a specific faith group and songs they identify with. This isn’t creating a neutral environment. This is what creates division in the community and between people. We celebrate tolerance in our great country for people of all walks of faith. The Salvation Army has done so many wonderful things for the people of this community. They deserve better. After all, it is Christmas, Mr. Grinch.
Rebecca Worthington Prince George
No happy ending for disabled person at movie theatre
The other night I went to the Cineplex movie theatre at Parkwood.
While I was standing in line to enter the show, a young lady who
was assisting a young fellow in a wheelchair with a tracheotomy and breathing apparatus were about to go to the end of the line which was outside in the cold.
I said to the young lady, “no, come with me,” and I took them to the front of the line and explained to the young lady taking the tickets that these two should be at the front of the line and not outside at the end of the line. Nobody at the front complained and some in the line said “way to go.”
A few minutes later, the young lady and fellow where heading back to the end of the line again. I asked her what happened and she said the Cineplex worker told her she couldn’t be at the front, it was first come, first serve.
I spoke to the manager who said the same thing, then called the guest services and they didn’t care, either.
Shame on you for treating them that way.
Eric Korum Prince George
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. Unsigned or handwritten letters will not be published. The Prince George Citizen is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact Neil Godbout (ngodbout@pgcitizen. ca or 250-960-2759). If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.
Mailing address: 201-1777 Third
for Black Friday or on Cyber Monday. Shopping locally doesn’t just benefit store owners and employers. It is an investment in Prince George and the people who live here. Restricting online shopping to specific goods unavailable from area stores still helps Canada Post and its local employees. Publicly-owned multinational companies are forced to invest in other countries to stay competitive in the global marketplace and to satisfy investors. Individuals and their families, however, need to invest in their communities, their local businesses, the places where they work, where their friends and family members work.
Online shopping can deliver short-term bargains but the long-term costs are much too high.
If you really care about Prince George, put your money where your mouth is. Support local business as much as you can, not just tomorrow but every day.
Speaking of tomorrow, it’s Plaid Friday downtown. Downtown businesses are offering great specials while Downtown Prince George is hosting some fun activities, from family fun and a special jolly fellow at Hubspace to the Cantata Singers strolling about with Christmas carols to put everyone in the holiday spirit.
Amazon can’t come close to a great deal like that.
Editor-in-chief Neil
Canadians support vaping regulations
For the past couple of years,
vaping has become ubiquitous in certain urban areas across Canada. Some of the country’s residents have become enthralled with the idea of inhaling and exhaling vapour produced by e-cigarettes or similar devices.
When Research Co. asked a representative sample of Canadians if they had “vaped” over the past year, only 11 per cent answered affirmatively. The practice is currently more popular among residents aged 18 to 34 (19 per cent), and drops to single digits among those aged 35 to 54 (eight per cent) and those aged 55 and over (six per cent).
While vaping might be perceived as another “millennial thing,” it is not as catching as some would assume. Our survey shows that four in five of Canada’s youngest adults – a sizable majority – did not use an e-cigarette in the past 12 months.
Regionally, vaping is more prevalent in Atlantic Canada (15 per cent) and Alberta (13 per cent), followed by Ontario (11 per cent), Quebec (10 per cent), British Columbia (nine per cent) and Manitoba and Saskatchewan (eight per cent).
Proponents of vaping have been relatively successful in marketing their product as a healthier alternative to tobacco.
Back in 2012, an advertisement featuring actor Stephen Dorff called attention to the long-standing ban on tobacco product commercials in the United States.
Vapers were quick to point out that their product was not tobacco, so it should not face the same restrictions as a regular cigarette.
Almost six years later, there are still some major vaping-related legislative challenges developing across North America.
In the United States, establishing a thorough countrywide legislation has taken years. In most places, a person has to be 18 years old to buy e-cigarettes, but some of the flavours and offerings are extremely tempting to minors.
While the Amercian Food and Drug Administration is studying issues such as age verification for online and retail sales, recently re-elected New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he plans to issue an outright ban on the sale of flavoured e-cigarettes in 2019.
Cuomo may not be the only head of a state government to pursue such a plan.
In Canada, the federal government recently took action to deal with the e-cigarette regulatory limbo, and the decisions proved
very popular with Canadians.
Almost nine in 10 respondents to our survey (88 per cent) favour prohibiting the sale of vaping products to minors. More than seven in 10 Canadians agree with restricting any reference to e-cigarettes as healthier than standard tobacco products (73 per cent) and restricting the use of testimonials and “lifestyle” advertising for vaping products (71 per cent). These two measures effectively ensure that a campaign like the one that featured Dorff never has a presence on Canada’s airwaves. In addition, three in five Canadians (62 per cent) are in favour of banning certain flavours of vaping products, such as “confectionery,” that have proven to be exceptionally attractive to minors in the United States.
Canadians are also almost universal in their wish for vaping products that contain nicotine to display a warning, similar to the one used for tobacco products (91 per cent), and three-in-four (76 per cent) agree with banning the use of e-cigarettes in public places where smoking is currently prohibited.
Aside from the regulatory framework, there is a secondary issue: attractiveness. In our survey, half of Canadians (50 per cent) say they would not consider dating a person who uses e-cigarettes. Women are slightly pickier on the issue of vaping (53 per cent say no, compared with 47 per cent of men).
The proportion of Canadians who appear to be thrown off by vaping is high across all age groups. British Columbians are particularly intolerant when it comes to e-cigarettes: three in five (60 per cent) would not consider dating a vaper – the highest proportion reported in the entire country.
It took decades of lawsuits and legislation to do away with the iconic images of cigarette smokers in magazines. Vaping may be relatively new to the scene compared with humanity’s relationship to tobacco, but Canadians are decidedly welcoming of policies that look at the practice in a similar light: if you want to vape, vape in a place where it doesn’t affect me. And keep the products out of the reach of children.
Mario Canseco is the president of Research Co.
—
Godbout
MARIO CANSECO Research Co.
Special to The Citizen
No such thing as carbon-free power
At a recent conference, one of the speakers asserted nuclear power is the only form of energy we presently have which is carbon free.
Unfortunately, the nature of the event prevented me from standing up and challenging his assertion. Don’t get me wrong – nuclear power is an energy source which I think we should be exploiting much more heavily both in Canada and around the world. But the assertion it has no greenhouse gas impact is patently false.
Ditto the notion wind turbines are carbon-free or tidal power has no impact. All forms of the constructed environment have some sort of impact. Some forms of power generation have lower impact than others but lower doesn’t mean zero.
To understand this, one needs to do a life cycle analysis involving all of the components. This is not easy and often not complete as life cycle analyses sometimes omit the long term impact of waste.
That said, it is possible to consider the components required in building a nuclear power station, for example, although ensuring it is a complete analysis is complicated.
The first question is the land itself. Where is it going to be built? What is the present use of the land? What other values does it have?
Cutting down a forest to make way for a power plant means the trees and other plants need to be removed.
If they are converted to lumber or other products then some of their carbon is stored against future release. If the land is just bulldozed and the vegetation burned then there is the immediate release of carbon dioxide and other gases. Further, the land will have a limited capacity to capture any further gases.
Then there is the question of constructing the facility. Nuclear power plants have massive containment buildings designed to dampen or contain an explosion along with cooling towers, reactor buildings, control rooms, turbine buildings, pump buildings, and a host of other constructed components.
All of these use concrete, steel, wood, and other materials which must be
Construction proceeds on
extracted and refined. Steel comes from iron ore which must be mined. The ore is then crushed and the iron component extracted. It is then smelted, which is a hugely energy intensive proposition requiring the metal to be melted with a flux and the excess carbon to be burned off while the impurities are separated.
Concrete depends on the creation of cement which involves heating limestone in a lime kiln to well over 1,100 C. It, too, is an energy expensive process. And there are all of the electronics components along with fibre optic cables and copper wiring which goes into such a power plant. Huge amounts of metals make up the various sensor, instruments, and equipment used to monitor all aspects of the operation.
The reactor core and turbines are made of steel and other metals which must be refined. Again, significant sunk costs in terms of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
The advantage of nuclear power, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, is that once all of the construction is completed, the power plants run at a fairly low cost, operationally. There are emissions associated with the ongoing mining of uranium and with ongoing maintenance of the facility. Pumps and piping need to be replaced periodically but not at the scale of the capital investment involved in construction.
But after years of service, the power plants will need to be decommissioned
which will again have a massive footprint. Cradle-to-grave thinking requires consideration of all steps in the life cycle of any constructed power plant. Essentially, there is a huge cost in terms of emissions at the front end, minor costs during operation, and a huge cost at the back end.
Having said all this, nuclear power is still a good option. In decreasing order for the production of grams of carbon dioxide equivalents per kilowatt-hour, our energy sources are coal, gas, biomass, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, nuclear, according to the IPCC. And this doesn’t really tell the whole story as coal and gas are 820 g and 740 g of carbon dioxide equivalents per kilowatt-hour, respectively, while hydroelectric, wind, and nuclear are 24 g, 12 g and 12 g.
In terms of their impact on climate change and greenhouse gas emission the latter three are tiny fractions of the big energy suppliers.
After all, over 80 per cent of our electrical energy presently comes for the combustion of fossil fuels.
Changing the ratio to include more hydroelectric and nuclear power will allow us to meet growing energy demands. Including wind power will help to ease the load on hydroelectric and nuclear but they will remain critical components to deal with peak demands.
However, we will never have “zero” impact energy generation. Not as long as it is part of our constructed environment.
Silent aircraft takes flight
NEW YORK — A nearly silent, drone-sized aircraft has shown it can fly, thanks to a scientist who was inspired by watching Star Trek as a kid. With neither propellers nor jets, the airplane gets its thrust by applying a strong electric field to the air. That general idea has been demonstrated at science fairs, but the new work shows it can power a free-flying airplane. So can people look forward to travelling in planes that are almost silent and emit no air pollution?
“Not anytime soon,” says Steven Barrett of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who reported the results in a study released Wednesday by the journal Nature.
It’s not clear whether the technology could work at such a large scale, he said. And even if it can, it would take a few decades to develop such planes, he said.
The Nature paper reports the results of 10 test flights inside an MIT athletic building. With a wingspan of about five metres, the 2.45-kilogram plane sailed along at about 17 km/h. Each flight covered about 55 metres.
The MIT airplane flies using “ionic wind” – a series of thin wires at the front of the plane generate a powerful electric field. The field strips electrons from air molecules, turning the molecules into positively charged particles called ions. Those ions flow toward negatively charged parts of plane, colliding with ordinary air molecules and transferring energy to them. That produces a wind which provides thrust for the plane.
TODD WHITCOMBE
the Plant Vogtle nuclear plant in Waynesboro, Ga., in 2014. Nuclear power has one of the lowest levels of carbon emissions per kilowatt-hour, but it still is not carbon free.
Ottawa responds to U.S. tax reforms with $16B package
Andy BLATCHFORD Citizen news service
OTTAWA — The federal Liberals have come up with a $16-billion answer to Canada’s competitiveness concerns.
Ottawa’s long-awaited plan to help Canada compete with the United States for investment dollars is the centrepiece of its latest fall economic statement, which forecasts slightly deeper annual deficits over the coming years.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau had faced pressure from the business community to take the big step of lowering the corporate tax rate across the board as his response to major tax and regulatory reforms in the U.S.
In Wednesday’s economic
update, Morneau chose a cheaper approach – but one that will still use billions worth of extra federal fiscal space to offer tax incentives for businesses that invest in Canada.
Speaking with reporters, Morneau said Canada is benefiting from “a very good situation” when it comes to the health of the economy and the labour market. After hearing from companies, however, the government decided to do more to encourage investors to open their wallets north of the border.
“We know that we have to consider investments in the future,” he said Wednesday shortly before tabling the fall update in the House of Commons. “That’s why we listened to and heard the anxieties of the business sector.”
As part of the announcement, a government backgrounder warned the American reforms could significantly erode Canada’s overall business-tax advantage compared to the United States.
By far, the biggest-ticket items among the proposed tax measures are changes that would enable businesses to immediately write off the full cost of some types of machinery and equipment, and allow companies of all sizes and in all sectors to expense a larger share of newly acquired assets.
The new write-offs alone are expected to lower federal revenues by about $14 billion over the next half-decade.
As part of its competitiveness plan, the government also proposed about $1.1 billion over the coming years towards efforts to open new markets for Canadian exporters. The amount includes a re-allocation of close to $800 million in infrastructure funds towards improving transportation capacity – at marine ports, in par-
ticular – to boost overseas trade. Ottawa also plans to add another $800 million over five years to its strategic innovation fund, which supports “innovative” investments in all sectors.
A stronger economy has given the government about $22 billion in extra fiscal room over the coming years, compared to what federal forecasters projected in last February’s budget. But the new initiatives will also contribute to slightly larger-than-expected annual shortfalls, beginning next year.
The government is now projecting deficits of $18.1 billion in 2018-19, $19.6 billion in 2019-20 and $18.1 billion in 2020-21. After 2020-21, the annual shortfalls are expected to shrink each year to $11.4 billion in 2023-24.
Liberals to support media with tax cuts
OTTAWA — The federal government is stepping in to help the struggling Canadian media industry with new tax credits and incentives valued at nearly $600 million over the next five years.
“To protect the vital role that independent news media play in our democracy and in our communities, we will be introducing measures to help support journalism in Canada,” Finance Minister Bill Morneau said in his speech to the House of Commons.
The full details of the program won’t be available until the next federal budget, after the government receives advice from an independent panel from the news industry. The goal is for the program to be funded by the government but have no role for politicians to decide what constitutes a media outlet or who would be eligible. That way, the government hopes to avoid the appearance of conflict between a free press and government influence.
The program will likely cost the federal treasury about $45 million in 2019-20, rising to $165 million in 2023-24. It’s expected most of the expense will be for a new tax credit for media organizations to support the labour costs of producing original news content, but finance officials said specific amounts won’t be available until eligibility details have been decided.
Another temporary tax credit will be created for subscribers to digital news media sites.
Plus, the government will allow non-profit media organizations to apply for charitable status, enabling them to seek donations for which they could issue tax receipts. Non-profit media with such status would also be eligible to receive funding from other registered charities. La Presse, Canada’s largest French daily newspaper, moved to become a non-profit entity earlier this year, severing ties with Power Corp.
Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre said his party would never endorse assistance for journalism. The Conservatives believe government help for journalists interferes with press freedom and Poilievre said the government is choosing who gets to sit on a panel that will ultimately decide which news organizations survive and which don’t.
“We should not have a situation where the government picks a panel that then decides who gets to report the news,” Poilievre said. Morneau dismissed the idea the government is buying journalists.
Phillip Crawley, publisher of The Globe and Mail, which owns a share of The Canadian Press, said he welcomes all three of the initiatives as well as the government’s stated commitment to the value of independent journalism.
“I think it will help give some confidence to media owners that there is something here they can work with,” said Crawley.
MORNEAU
Kings feed loss to Smoke Eaters
Ben Poisson leads way with pair of goals
Ted CLARKE Citizen staff tclarke@pgcitizen.ca
Ben Poisson offered up a reminder Wednesday night why nobody in the B.C. Hockey League likes standing in front of the net when he lets the puck go.
That top-shelf roof shot he filed away into the corner of the Trail Smoke Eaters’ net over the glove of goalie Adam Marcoux, 3:18 into the third period, would have stopped a charging elephant dead in its tracks.
It certainly jeopardized the Smoke Eaters’ chances of mounting a comeback in their one and only regular-season visit to Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. They fell 4-1 to the Kings, and Poisson’s two goals, his 11th and 12th this season, proved the difference.
“Earlier on in the game I was coming up the middle and Max (Kings defenceman Coyle) was on that wall with the puck and he probably could have hit me for the same kind of play and he came in the room and said ‘Sorry, I should have hit you there,’” said Poisson.
“That time he actually hit me and it worked out well. I got all of it for sure.”
After holding the visitors to just two shots in a scoreless first period, the Spruce Kings fell behind by a goal when Chase Stevenson converted a Smoke Eaters’ power play 4:53 into the second period. Carter Jones nailed the post squarely and had a crack at the rebound before Stevenson dumped the puck in for his 11th of the season. It was the first goal for Stevenson in two games since arriving in a trade from Surrey.
The Kings’ Prince George connection – Cory Cunningham and Craig MacDonald – came up with a couple of quick moves in tight to the Trail net to score the tying goal 13 minutes into the second period.
MacDonald took a pass from linemate Tyler Schleppe and fed the puck to Cunningham, who showed his soft hands dragging the puck across the crease to find a better
shooting angle and he buried it. It was the first action for Cunningham since he suffered a concussion when hit by a shot in a game against Penticton Nov. 3, which sidelined the 18-yearold Prince George native for four games.
Less than two minutes later, Poisson capped off a dominant shift of extended pressure in the Trail end of the rink by firing off a low wrist shot from the left side that slipped into the net behind Marcoux for a 2-1 lead.
“We were getting a lot of shots and (Marcoux) was playing well and finally when Cory got one that opened up the floodgates,” said Poisson.
The Kings dominated the play,
Meise, MacRitchie roll to zone titles
Citizen staff
MEISE
Local five-pin bowlers Paige Meise and Iain MacRitchie will lead players from the northern region into the B.C. Open Championships this spring in Nanaimo. Meise – fresh out of the youth ranks – and the veteran MacRitchie emerged as the top finishers at the north zone trials, held this past weekend at Nechako Lanes and Black Diamond Lanes. In 16 games, Meise had a total pinfall of 4,143 for an average of 258. She finished 145 pins ahead of Prince George’s Kim Chadwick and 263 in front of Morgan Burdock of Fort St. John. Meise, Chadwick – a member of the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame – and Burdock will be part of the singles competition at the B.C. Open Championships, April 19-21 in Nanaimo. — see RICHTER, page 8
outshooting the Smokies 35-19.
According to Tyler Lund, the Smoke Eaters’ analytics observer, Prince George had puck possession for 73 per cent of the game.
“It always makes it tough when
you’re chasing it,” said Smoke Eaters head coach Jeff Tambellini.
“We had a young lineup tonight and didn’t find a way to take advantage of our chances. We had a 1-0 lead and chances to make it 2-0 and didn’t capitalize.
“You never want to give top players time and space in the middle of the ice. That’s a pretty simple rule in any league you play in. That’s a very structured team and they’re going to have a chance to win because of that.”
Dylan Anhorn netted the Kings’ fourth goal late on a power play, deflecting in a point shot from fellow defenceman Nick Bochen.
Logan Neaton made 17 saves for his 14th win in goal for the Spruce Kings, improving his
league-leading goals-against average to 1.93.
The Kings (18-7-1-1) will board the bus this morning for the trek to Chilliwack, where they face the league-leading Chiefs Friday and Saturday. The Kings are two points behind the Chiefs (20-80-0), who defeated the visiting Langley Rivermen 2-1 Wednesday night.
In the only other meetings between the teams this season, the Spruce Kings swept the seasonopening weekend series with the Chiefs at RMCA Sept. 7-8, winning 5-1 and 2-1.
“We’re chasing Chilliwack and this gets us close so this weekend is kind of for first place now,” said Poisson.
Fourth-quarter push eliminates Cougars
Ted CLARKE Citizen staff
After 10 wins and no losses, all that stood between the College Heights Cougars double-A junior varsity football team and a trip to the provincial final was the Windsor Dukes.
The Cougars and Dukes met Wednesday afternoon in a sudden-death semifinal playoff at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops and for three quarters College Heights had the lead.
The fourth quarter was a killer for the Cougars. Windsor – from North Vancouver – scored touchdowns in its first two drives of the final quarter and hung on to win 34-24.
“They’re a good team, they fought really hard in the second half and we kind of got unfortunate on the short kicks,” said Cougars tailback/cornerback Austin Adams, who scored all four of the Cougars’ touchdowns.
“We had good competition and that was our best game so far. It hurts but you’ve got to move on. It was back-andforth all game long. I guess they got lucky in the end.”
Leading 24-21, on their opening drive of the third quarter the Cougars got the
ball down to the Windsor first-and-goal on the two-yard line but could not punch it in.
In the fourth quarter the Dukes marched the length of the field and scored on a five-yard quarterback sneak from Alex Giragosian to take a 27-24 lead. Right after that, Windsor recovered a short kickoff and scored another touchdown on a 12-yard pass up the middle to Simon Capobianco. The Dukes tried the short kick again and got the ball back but didn’t score. The Windsor defence came up big and shut down the Cougars’ running game and they ran out the clock.
Windsor advances to the B.C. Secondary Schools Football Association doubleA junior varsity Subway Bowl, Dec. 2 at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver against the winner of Wednesday’s John Barsby (Nanaimo)-G.W. Graham (Chilliwack) playoff.
The Dukes had a 7-0 lead in the first quarter but the Cougars answered right away when Adams scored his first major of the day on a 75-yard kickoff return to pull his team to within a point. Not long after that, Adams found the end zone on a short run for a 12-7 College
Heights lead. In the second quarter, Adams hooked up with quarterback Jerome Erickson for a 60-yard catch and run. The Dukes scored two more TDs before the 15-yearold Adams made it a 24-21 count on another running play late in the second quarter. Adams and Hayden Matheson each intercepted Giragosian passes in the first half.
“It was close man, they’re a passing team with a good mobile quarterback (Giragosian) and we took away the pass and made them go to the run,” said Cougars assistant coach Tommy Heinzelman.
“We couldn’t keep him in the pocket, he was keeping the ball and he scored a couple touchdowns.
“I’m very proud of the team, we played a good game. We had a great season and the boys made a lot of plays but we didn’t execute towards the end of the second half and they did and we came up short.”
College Heights advanced to the semifinal with a 33-19 win over South Kamloops two weekends ago at Masich Place Stadium.
Prince George Spruce Kings defenceman Dylan Anhorn looks
Owen Ozar on Wednesday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
Richter, Florell win
B.C. youth roll-off
from page 7
They’ll also form one half of a women’s team that will include Coralee Szilagyi of Fort St. John, Tiana Tecson of Prince George and Michelle Hruby of Smithers. That trio finished fourth through sixth at the north zone trials.
MacRitchie, meanwhile, won the men’s north zone title with a total pinfall of 4,219. Over the course of 16 games, he averaged 263. MacRitchie was 42 pins up on secondplace finisher Kyle Parker and 71 ahead of third-place bowler Larry Richet, both of whom are Prince George residents. MacRitchie, Parker and Richet will compete in singles at provincials and will also take part in the team event with Williams Lake players Brent Morrison, Morgan Mailhiot and Kevin McAlpine, who placed fourth, fifth and sixth at the north trials.
There will also be a mixed team division at the B.C. finals. The north squad will feature Lisa McAlpine (Williams Lake), Lorraine Sharyk (Terrace), Lee Sheppard (Prince George), Chris Arnett (Prince George), Tyler MacLean (Williams Lake) and Chris Conley (Prince George).
The mixed team members placed seventh through ninth (women and men respectively) at the north zone competition.
Winners at the B.C. Open Championships will advance to nationals, May 29 to June 2 in Surrey and Langley.
• Earlier this month, five-pin bowlers from across B.C. competed in the Youth Challenge Provincial Finals. Northern bowlers gathered at Black Diamond Lanes and claimed four of the six spots for nationals, which will be held March 27-31 in Ottawa.
The top three finishers and national qualifiers for the girls were Madison Richter of Smithers (269.25 average in eight games), Mikayla Eby of Nanaimo (253.75) and Jesslyn Arnett of Prince George (227.25).
On the boys side, Dean Florell of Prince George won with an eightgame average of 269.88. He was followed closely by Corbin Taylor of Quesnel (269.75) and Daniel Dooley of Abbotsford (269.38). Taylor was just one pin back of Florell and Dooley was four pins off the winning pace.
Alternates for nationals are fourth-place finishers Brittany Cornford of Vancouver (226.00) and Will Peters of Prince George (251.50).
Rogers a go for Stamps
(CP) — The Calgary Stampeders’ beleaguered receiving corps got a bit of good news Wednesday as receiver Eric Rogers suggested he’ll be good to go against Ottawa on Grey Cup Sunday.
Rogers caught three touchdown passes Sunday in the Stamps’ 2214 West Division final victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, even though he missed part of the game with a knee injury.
Rogers has missed time already this season due to injury.
Ten-year-old Rielle Hamilton of the Prince George Barracudas cuts through the water on Sunday morning at the Aquatic Centre while competing in a mixed 10-and-under 100-metre backstroke heat during the Barracudas’ Medical Northern
Vertue virtually unstoppable in pool
Citizen staff
Jordan Vertue rewrote the Prince George Barracudas’ swim club record book this past weekend.
Given the chance to compete with her 11- and 12-year-old girls peers in the pool at the Aquatic Centre, Vertue annihilated five individual club records and helped her relay teammates establish two new high-water marks.
While winning the aggregate title at the three-day meet, Vertue set new club standards in the 200-metre backstroke, 50m back, 200m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 200m fly. Then in the 4x50m freestyle relay Vertue teamed up with her sister Chloe, Masha Wood
and Liberty Vaughan to break the club record.
As a team, the 79-swimmer Barracuda contingent rose to the occasion, winning the aggregate title with 5,085 points. Points North (Kitimat, Terrace, Prince Rupert) was next in line with 3,310, followed by the third-place Williams Lake Bluefins (2,293).
Other Barracudas aggregate winners were Katya Wood (15-and-older girls) and Mackenzie Lewington (15-and-older boys). Josiah Wilkinson was second overall in 11-12-yearold boys, Sam Marchand placed second in 15-and-older boys, Chloe Vertue was third among 11-12-year-old girls, Claire Brown was third in 13-14-year-old girls, and Eryn Isaac placed third overall in the 15-and-over girls aggregate standings.
It wasn’t just the usual suspects in the Barracudas club who stood out among the crowd. Twenty-six Barracudas posted all best times in their events, including: Vaughan, Isaac, Amira Begum, Naveah Bellerive, Isaac Bennett, Sophie Bolton, Tomar Branco, Anna Callaway, Addison Chadwick, Piper Flynn, Zephyr Flynn, Eric Haseldine, Taylor Kelly, Elina Kim, Madison Link, Michelle Luo, Josip Meldrum, Thomas Meldrum, Gabriel Monai, Jocelyn Murguly, Regin Olson-Gray, Caden Reddekopp, Jiya Shergill, Hailey Thomson, Josiah Binnema and Valerie Wood. Wilkinson, Kim and Amira Begum posted their first age-group championship times, while Isaac became a first-time provincial championship qualifier.
Gordon a top NFL running back in own right
Joe REEDY Citizen news service
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Melvin Gordon of the Chargers is quietly stating his case that there is more than one elite all-purpose running back in Los Angeles.
Even though the Rams’ Todd Gurley has commanded most of the attention when it comes to discussing the league’s top running backs, Gordon is showing that he should be in that conversation as well.
Going into Sunday’s game against Arizona, the fourth-year back has six straight games where he has had 120 yards or more from scrimmage. He is averaging 132.1 yards from scrimmage per game, which is second to Gurley. He is also averaging 6.4 yards per touch, which is fourth, while Gurley is averaging 5.9 yards, which is tied for sixth.
Gordon has 42 receptions and is on track to surpass last year’s career high of 58. The increased receptions are fine with Gordon as long as he gets the ball.
“Coach (Anthony) Lynn especially told me this year, ‘Don’t really focus on the carries. Let’s just worry about the touches.’ He made
that big this year,” Gordon said. “I knew when I heard that, it’s just an opportunity for me –whether it’s catching or running (the ball). As long as I’m getting the opportunity, I can take that.”
When Gordon has caught the ball out of the backfield, he has made the most of it. He is the only back in the league that has more than 40 receptions and 100 rushing attempts to average over 10.5 (10.7) yards per catch. He is also tied for second in the league with four catches of 25 or more yards.
The receptions have also taken less of a toll on Gordon’s body instead of running between the tackles 20-25 times a game.
“It can definitely help keep a back fresh, but their touches are just like carries to him. Check-downs, swing passes, those are just extended runs. We’re doing a good job of finding him in those situations,” Lynn said.
Gordon missed the Week 7 game against Tennessee because of a hamstring injury, but says he feels good for this point of the season.
“I’m just trying to lift heavy on the legs still and trying to get my extra conditioning in when I can,” he said. “I’m banged up like ev-
erybody else. I have little nicks here and there. I’ll probably be good on Saturday. I’ll probably be back to where I need to be and then, obviously, the next day you’re back at war.”
When Gordon has carried the ball, he’s still been one of the tougher backs to take down. According to SportRadar, Gordon is fourth in rushing yards after contact (399) and second in broken tackles with 27.
Gordon could have a prime opportunity for his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season on Sunday. Arizona (2-8) comes into the game with the fourth-worst run defence in the league.
Cardinals coach Steve Wilks faced Gurley in Week 2 and said that both Gordon and Gurley are similar backs.
“I say similar because they both are what I consider very potent receivers out of the backfield,” Wilks said. “You know they can move them around well out of space as well as making you miss and have the capability to take it all the way.” Wilks said Gordon does take less hits when catching more than compared to running the ball.
LeBron feels love in return to Cleveland
CLEVELAND — LeBron James felt only love at home.
Making his first trip back to Cleveland since leaving for the second time as a free agent, James was welcomed like a hero on Wednesday night and rallied the Los Angeles Lakers to a 109-105 win over the Cavaliers, who played an inspired game against their former teammate but couldn’t stop him when it mattered most.
James finished with 32 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. He also scored or assisted on 11 straight points as the Lakers overcame a 99-91 deficit in the fourth quarter.
The Cavs had a chance to tie late, but Kyle Korver missed a wide-open threepointer with 17 seconds left and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made four free throws in the final 15 to seal it for Los Angeles.
From the moment he stepped back onto Quicken Loans Arena floor, his home court for 11 seasons, James was treated like a returning champion.
On the night before Thanksgiving, Cleveland said thanks to the Northeast Ohio son, the one who ended the city’s 52year championship drought.
“We recognize the fact that certainly this is a big night for the city of Cleveland,” Cavs coach Larry Drew said before tipoff, “because a hero has come back.”
The Cavs, who came in an NBA-worst 2-13, didn’t roll over against James and played one of their best games this season. They seemed in control up 99-91 before James, as he did some many times for Cleveland, took over and scored or assisted on 11 straight points to give the
Lakers the lead.
Jordan Clarkson had 20 points and Tristan Thompson 14 and 15 rebounds for Cleveland.
James was the last Lakers player introduced before the game, presented with a line familiar to all Cavs fans: “A 6-foot-8 forward from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School,” said arena announcer Sean Peebles. “Welcome home! LeBron James.” The crowd roared and stood as James walked out and huddled with his new teammates.
Unlike that ugly night of Dec. 2, 2010, when James returned with the Miami Heat and was subjected to non-stop booing, profane chants and a toxic, charged atmosphere of hatred unlike anything seen before or since, this was a night for celebration – and maybe more closure. James has moved on. Cleveland, too.
Lowry leads Raptors
ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Lowry scored 21 points during his first triple-double of the season and the Toronto Raptors never trailed while beating the reeling Atlanta Hawks 124-108 on Wednesday night despite a career milestone from Vince Carter. Lowry had 17 assists and 12 rebounds for his 13th career triple-double.
A jam by Carter with less than a second remaining pushed him past 25,000 career points. He became the 22nd NBA player to reach the milestone. Carter began the night 13 points shy of the mark. The Hawks were pulling for Carter, in his 21st season, to reach the milestone against his former Toronto team.
Citizen news service
Crosby’s return sparks Penguins
Citizen news service
PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby’s been around long enough to realize the issues currently plaguing the Pittsburgh Penguins can’t be solved in one shift, one period or even one game.
That sure didn’t stop the Pittsburgh captain from trying. Crosby scored a spectacular goal and set up two others during a 5-1 victory over Dallas on Wednesday night in his return to the lineup after missing three games with an upperbody injury.
“I think our team gets a foot taller when he’s in our lineup because of the inspiration that he is for our group,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.
For a night, it looked like it.
The Penguins began the day at the bottom of the Eastern Conference thanks to a 1-7-2 slide, unfamiliar territory for a team less than 18 months removed from back to back championships. The defence has been shaky at best and the goaltending not much better. Sullivan preached patience and on Tuesday stressed the team had no plans to abandon the frenetic style of play that has become its trademark during his hugely successful three-year tenure.
It’s a style that hardly looks out of place when Crosby’s familiar No. 87 is on the ice.
Desperately needing a spark two days removed from a nightmarish loss to Buffalo in which the Penguins gave away a three-goal lead over the final 30 minutes, Crosby provided one. He set up Jake Guentzel for a goal less than four minutes into the game and provided a highlight-reel marker later in the opening period when he raced down the right side, held off Dallas defenceman Esa Lindell and flicked a rebound past Anton Khudobin
to give Pittsburgh a 3-0 advantage just 10:04 into the game.
“I had some room to take it to the net,” Crosby said. “Sometimes they go in. Sometimes you get a save sometimes you draw a penalty. It was good to see it go in.”
Evgeni Malkin, Patric Hornqvist and Tanner Pearson also scored for the Penguins. Creating offence, however, is rarely an issue for Pittsburgh. The biggest development against Dallas may have been the play in front of Casey DeSmith. Pittsburgh surrendered three shots in the first period, a season-low 19 in all and didn’t get sloppy after staking him to a massive lead. DeSmith finished with 18 saves, his shutout attempt
ending 7:55 into the third period when Mattias Janmark scored. It was the lone highlight for the Stars. Khudobin, starting in place of injured Ben Bishop, stopped just 11 of 16 shots and was removed when Pearson beat him with a slap shot on a breakaway to make it 5-0. Rookie Landon Bow played well in his NHL debut, stopping all 14 shots he faced.
“Pretty embarrassing tonight,” Dallas forward Jamie Benn said. “I think we let our goalie down, and we let each other down.”
It tends to happen when Crosby is at the top of his game. He slid a backhand pass across the ice to Guentzel for a one-timer that slipped between Khudobin’s pads to
give the Penguins the lead 3:58 into the first period. Malkin’s wrist shot on the power play just over two minutes later doubled Pittsburgh’s advantage, the Russian star flexing as the red goal light came on.
Crosby’s ninth of the season wrapped a frantic three-goal first-period outburst by Pittsburgh against a team that had allowed just 10 goals in the first period all season.
“I don’t think I prepared our team well enough,” Dallas coach Jim Montgomery said. “We weren’t ready to dig in. We weren’t ready to win faceoffs. Ultimately that preparation falls on the head coach.”
It would get no better for Dallas
Curler Fry to take leave from Team Jacobs
Citizen news service
After reflecting on his actions at the Red Deer Curling Classic, curler Ryan Fry said Wednesday that he’ll be taking an indefinite leave from Team Brad Jacobs to focus on his “growth and self-improvement.”
Fry, who played at the World Curling Tour event as a substitute, was disqualified along with teammates Jamie Koe, Chris Schille and DJ Kidby for what organizers called unsportsmanlike behaviour resulting from excessive drinking. All four players later issued statements to apologize for their actions.
Organizers said Fry broke three brooms and that the team used foul language and was disruptive to other players on the ice.
“I have spent the last few days reflecting on what happened during the Red Deer Curling Classic,” Fry said in a statement on Twitter. “It has made me take a hard look in the mirror to understand what fuelled my unprofessional actions. I am committed to taking every step possible to ensure that this never happens again, and to make amends to those who have been negatively impacted.” Fry, 40, normally plays on a team with
Jacobs, E.J. Harnden and Ryan Harnden. They won the Tim Hortons Brier in 2013 and won Olympic gold in 2014.
“Due to recent events, I have decided to take a leave from Team Jacobs,” Fry said.
“As hard as this is, I need to focus my full energy on my growth and self-improvement as this goes beyond last weekend’s events. I wish the team nothing but success while they compete in my absence.
“There is no confirmed time for my return, but I am extremely committed to doing everything possible to rebound.”
Team Jacobs issued its own statement later in the day.
“We support Ryan’s decision to take the necessary time right now to focus on himself – this is more important than sport. Our focus is what is best for Ryan personally as he is not just our teammate, but also one of our good friends. We believe how Ryan is handling everything is a true reflection of his character.
“We will miss Ryan not being on the ice with us for at least the next two upcoming events, but we will be in communication with him throughout this time, supporting him personally and we will take it one day at a time.”
Arm at Merritt, 7 p.m. Nanaimo at Victoria, 7 p.m.
Kelowna at Wenatchee, 7:05 p.m. WEDNESDAY’S SUMMARY
SMOKE EATERS 1 AT SPRUCE KINGS 4 First Period No scoring. Penalties – None. Second Period 1. Trail, Stevenson 11 (Jones, Tuck) 4:53 (pp) 2. Prince George, Cunningham 6 (MacDonald, Schleppe) 13:13 3. Prince George, B.Poisson 11 (Welsh) 15:10 Penalties – N.Poisson PG (holding) 4:21, O’Hearny TR (tripping) 7:38, Budvarson TR (holding) 1:04, Schleppe PG (holding) 15:19. Third Period 4. B.Poisson 12 (Coyle, Ahac) 3:18 5. Prince George, Anhorn 4 (Bochen) 15:59 Penalties – Chernenkoff TR (checking to the head, misconduct) 7:16, Manz PG (boarding) 9:56, Byers TR (roughing) 14:53, Lee PG (cross-checking) 17:56. Shots on goal by Trail 2 12 5 -19 Prince George 6 17 12 -35 Goal – Trail, Marcoux (L,8-12-2)
The Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.-based team said it will announce its lineup for the upcoming Canada Cup and Grand Slam events in the coming days.
Wade Thurber, the manager at the Red Deer Curling Centre, said that bar staff had to cut off Fry, Koe, Schille and Kidby before their game on Saturday afternoon. He added that with Koe sitting out, Schille and Kidby tried their best to control Fry, but to no avail.
“He just got past that point of being able to tell him anything,” Thurber said earlier in the week. “There was some damage in the locker room and some broom bags kicked around. It was just conduct that was unacceptable.”
Fry, a Winnipeg native, reached out to the club to apologize and offered to pay for any damage. In his statement, he thanked his family, Team Jacobs, and others for their support, adding he would be making a donation to the Red Deer Curling Centre’s junior curling program.
The World Curling Tour said Wednesday that it had completed its investigation into the matter. In a statement, the WCT said Koe was intoxicated to a degree where he was unable to play one of the games, while Schille and Kidby were found to be involved
in the second. DeSmith denied Tyler Seguin on a breakaway and moments later Hornqvist flipped in a rebound to push it to 4-0. The sequence repeated itself when DeSmith got a pad on a shot by Janmark, leading to a breakout that ended with Pearson – acquired in a trade with Los Angeles last week – ripping a slap shot for his second goal in as many games.
Capitals hold down Blackhawks
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tom Wilson, Andre Burakovsky and Michal Kempny scored to give Washington an early lead, and the Capitals held on to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 on Wednesday night.
Devante Smith-Pelly also scored for Washington, which won its third straight. The Caps’ previous two victories came in overtime. Braden Holtby stopped 37 shots for the Capitals. Brandon Saad and Erik Gustafsson scored for Chicago. Wilson, playing in just his fifth game after sitting out the first 16 because of a suspension, scored his second goal of the season just 54 seconds in after upending Chicago goalie Corey Crawford. Burakovsky scored his third goal of the season at 6:36, and Kempny, playing against his former team, added his first goal of the season midway in the second period to give Washington a 3-0 lead.
Saad scored in his third straight game at 11:37 of the second period, and Gustafsson scored his second goal of the season at 5:23 of the third period to cut Washington’s lead to 3-2.
Smith-Pelly scored his fourth goal at 7:12 in the third.
in trying to keep the situation under control rather than causing an additional nuisance.
“Ryan Fry’s behaviour, however, was the reason for the team’s dismissal from the event, both on the ice resulting in broken brooms, as well as actions in the clubhouse where his behaviour was deemed inappropriate leading to the team being asked to not return,” the statement said. “As a result of these actions, Fry will be issued a $1,000 fine, which will be directed to Red Deer Junior Curling.”
Thurber said it was the first time in the competition’s 20-year history that a team had been kicked out. The $35,000 event is a level below the top-flight Grand Slams but the field still included a few big names in addition to up-and-coming players and regional competitors.
“While we don’t condone the events that took place in Red Deer, we are very supportive of Ryan Fry and his decision to step away from curling for the time being to focus on getting better,” Curling Canada said on Twitter.
Team Jacobs, which holds the No. 4 position in the men’s world rankings, won a Grand Slam title earlier this month in Thunder Bay, Ont.
AP PHOTO
Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins collects a rebound off Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin before scoring a first-period goal during Wednesday’s game in Pittsburgh.
A delicious, vicious acting feast
The Favourite is caustic, clever and worth price of admission
Jake COYLE Citizen news service
Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite, a wicked blast of nasty fun, gleefully dispenses with the usual decorum of the period drama to free its powerhouse trio of actresses – Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz – in a deliciously performed romp through the wigs and corsets of 18th century British aristocracy.
That the acting – and that includes the spectacular supporting player Nicolas Hoult, too, as Tory leader Robert Harley – should be such a feast in Lanthimos’ latest is a surprise. His earlier films (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Dogtooth) were intentionally performed in a flat, emotionless manner that seldom rose above an awkward monotone.
But the brisker The Favourite is, to a degree, a departure for Lanthimos who this time is working from a script by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara instead of his usual collaborator, Efthimis Filippou. The Favourite is no less vicious or pitiless than their previous films, nor does Lanthimos (surprise, surprise) find the customs of early 1700s English royals any less grotesque than the contemporary norms he’s so savagely satirized before.
Yet The Favourite, a kind of All About Eve translated into a triangular power struggle in Queen Anne’s court, is indeed a riot, albeit a frigid and disquieting one. And it’s not just because Lanthi-
mos favours anachronism over historical accuracy. (Both modernday slang and dance moves make cameos.) It’s the pleasure of seeing three of the finest actresses weave between one another in ever more absurd acts of seduction and betrayal.
In a rickety and crowded carriage, we arrive in Queen Anne’s court with Abigail (Stone), a distant relative of the queen who, having been lost by her father in a game of cards, has slipped out of the nobility. She’s desperate to re-
store her standing with a position in the royal household, and after initially being sent to scrub floors, the Duchess of Marlborough, Sarah Churchill (Weisz), takes her on as a chambermaid.
Our glimpses of Abigail’s socalled “diminished circumstances” (including more than one facefirst push into the mud) are vivid enough to earn our sympathies and warrant her increasingly cold-blooded tactics for elevation. In one of many such transactional exchanges, Abigail allows a more
high-born man into her chamber at night and asks if he’s there to rape her or seduce her.
“I’m a gentleman,” he defensively protests. “Rape then,” she matter-of-factly replies. Through cunning, blackmail and flattery, Abigail soon has the ear of Queen Anne (Colman), not to mention her bed, a newfound status at odds with the queen’s previous confidante and lover, Sarah. Weisz’s duchess is using her position with the queen to extend the war with France, and
her methods of manipulation are far more aggressively controlling. But they are also more straightforward than Abigail’s hollow appeasements. In one scene, Sarah deters Anne from a meeting with the prime minister by holding up a mirror to her make-up-caked face: “You look like a badger.” As Abigail emerges as a rival, Sarah, icy and formidable, doesn’t shy away from the fight. “I have a thing for the weak,” she says. Through wide-angled and fish-eye lenses Lanthimos tracks the three-sided drama, pulling it toward its most primal expressions. These characters may live in lavish opulence but beneath their powdered faces they are primitive and power hungry. So Lanthimos lingers on a surreal slow-motion duck race down a palace hall and the agony of Anne’s gout, scored with an eerie single piano note and a scratchy violin.
Much of The Favourite is caustically clever but it’s Colman who elevates it to something magnificent. Her Anne is a glorious and sad ruin of a queen, a woman wrecked by time and heartache. (She keeps 18 bunnies, one for each child that didn’t live.) Her interest in keeping up with her royal duties has comically disintegrated. In her flowing gowns, she’s like a puddle. Weepy and lonely, she’s torn between her suitors. With its spurts of violence, splashes of blood and cynical sexual encounters, The Favourite is, oddly enough, about love. In their opposite ways, Sarah and Abigail offer a melancholy dichotomy: love is either flattery and false, or honest and abusive. In other words, the only true love is telling someone they look like a badger. — Three and a half stars out of four
Dogs doc highlights human-animal bond
Leanne ITALIE Citizen news service
NEW YORK — In these heated and oft-difficult times, do we need dogs more than ever?
Do we need to rescue them, let them run free, accept their precious help with our most trying physical challenges and revel in their licks and loving nudges?
Filmmakers Glen Zipper and Amy Berg think absolutely yes. They worked together on the new Netflix Original docu-series Dogs, which dropped last week.
“We’re in undeniably divisive times right now. We’re all searching for something that everyone can agree on and dogs are probably about as close to that as we get,” said Zipper, who executive produced the six-part project with Berg.
“My brother and I are on completely opposite sides of the political spectrum,” he explained, “but he’s got five dogs and I’ve got my dog, Anthony. We start talking about the dogs and start feeling the love again.”
The series is set around the globe, from suburban Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Lower East of Manhattan to Italy’s Lake Como region and the dangerous streets of Damascus in Syria. There are human heroes, to be sure, but it’s the howl of Zeus and the watchful diligence of Ice, the commitment of curly-haired Rory and the undying loyalty of Max that drive these stories.
The dogs themselves take you to the brink, serving to inspire and uniquely frame the nearly hour-long chunks of storytelling set in locations and around circumstances chosen with the help of a casting team, said Berg.
“We wanted to illustrate the connection between all cultures with dogs and humans, and the doghuman love story,” Berg said.
There’s plenty of love, and none of something in particular that’s more often than not a standard in dog film fare through time: death. I repeat. NOBODY DIES. To heck with spoilers. No dog protagonists and no humans, either. That isn’t to say that tears won’t be shed, including by you if you’re truly human, and that people and dogs aren’t in danger or sick or depressed.
Berg directed two of the episodes, including one focused on Zeus, a Siberian husky with the mournful cry of the breed. He’s trapped in Syria after his master flees military service to Germany and that’s where their story begins. She was also at the helm of an episode that follows a devoted Manhattan animal rescuer on a mission to provide second chances to 31 dogs from a Texas shelter, finding them homes around her city. The dogs have the names of famous singers: Jimmy Buffett, Jay Z and Justin Timberlake, to name a few.
The other episodes were directed by a variety of award-winning filmmakers, including one that uses drone footage to show us from above what it looks like to watch hundreds of former street dogs race happily along lush green hillsides at a 300-acre sanctuary in Costa Rica, and the financial struggles involved to provide them better lives.
PHOTO
This image released by Fox Searchlight shows Rachel Weisz in a scene from The Favourite.
Ikea may trim workforce
Citizen news service
TORONTO — Swedish home furnishings gi-
ant Ikea says about 150 jobs in Canada could be impacted over two years as it adjusts to changing customer behaviour.
The retailer expects to cut 7,500 jobs worldwide as it addresses urbanization, new technology and digitalization that are changing the way customers live and shop.
Ikea says the cutbacks will allow it to focus “on its e-commerce platform, to better meet the needs of its customers and be more convenient and affordable to many more people.”
“In addition, to ensure we are fit for long-term growth, we’re looking closely at all areas of the business, including how we are structured as a company,” the company said in a news release.
While new roles will be created across the Canadian network, it says some jobs will be “relocated, changed or removed.”
Of the 150 employees to be impacted, up to 50 at its Canadian national service office may be redundant, it said.
The retailer says it will explore new store formats, enhance the in-store experience, invest in its digital experience, improve its service and optimize its distribution networks.
That includes opening stores in city centres to complement its larger locations. The company is opening stores in 30 major city centres around the world to diversify its reach, but Canadian plans aren’t yet available, said spokeswoman Kristin Newbigging.
Pot supply shortage in Alberta leads to halt in retail licences
Citizen news service
EDMONTON — Alberta’s cannabis Crown corporation has stopped issuing any new pot retail licences after only receiving 20 per cent of the stock it ordered amid a Canada-wide supply shortage.
The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission had ordered enough cannabis product to stock up to 250 recreational pot shops for the first six months of legalization.
“While some licensed producers have fulfilled their commitments, not all have,” said AGLC president and chief executive Alain Maisonneuve in a statement on Wednesday.
“We continue to work with them to fill stock. Unfortunately, regardless of our efforts, we are seeing the supply of most products run out.”
The commission has also contacted all cannabis growers with federal licences to sell cannabis but has had “no success” due to the shortage, he added.
Since Canada legalized cannabis for recreational use Oct. 17, several provincial government entities tasked with the sale and distribution of pot have said they are receiving less product than expected and warned that shortages could last for months. Late
last month, Quebec’s cannabis Crown corporation slashed its operating hours due to scarce pot products.
Licensed producer Canopy Growth Corp. said last week it remained “on track to meet all commitments on an annualized basis” and it was working with all its provincial and territorial partners to address supply shortages. Aurora Cannabis Inc. said last week it was able to meet “just about all” of its supply obligations leading up to and after legalization day. The Edmonton-based pot producer said it was ramping up production in the coming quarters, but expected consumer appetite to outstrip supply for “some time.”
B.C.-based cannabis producer Tilray Inc. said last week it has explored buying wholesale to bridge the supply gap, but there was “far less” pot available than expected.
The lingering supply shortage has prompted the AGLC to stop accepting new applications for cannabis retail licences until further notice as well.
Applicants already in the queue will receive a full refund of all fees if they want to withdraw their requests, Maisonneuve said.
Alberta’s priority is on stocking private retailers so they will get the majority of “our scarce inventory,” he added.
Quebec paint manufacturers seize on Sico’s exit to grab market share
MONTREAL (CP) — Quebec paint manufacturers are seizing on the American-owned Sico paint company’s move to Ontario from Quebec by launching marketing campaigns and tapping into renewed sensitivity around local ownership after a string of clo-
sures and layoffs.
Sico, which was bought in 2013 by Pittsburgh-based giant PPG Industries Inc., said last week it plans to close its plant in Quebec City and distribution centre in the Montreal area next September, eliminating 125 jobs.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume have both reacted to the news by invoking the idea of a Sico boycott.
Denalt Paints, whose 60 employees make products under various brand names in Montreal, has bought ad slots on five radio stations around the province in addition to a web and billboard campaign.
Sales director Nicholas Le Marchand said pride in regional wares and “a perfect storm” of foreign purchases and local shutdowns is fostering more demand for Quebec products.
“We’ve booked a lot of new retailers since last Thursday,” he said. His customers, which include home supply chains Reno-Depot, Rona and Canac, turned to him for promotional help after opting to lower their Sico stock, he said.
Marijuana plants are shown at a cultivation facility in Olds, Alta.
“Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.” — Mark Twain Call 250-562-2441 to go large
Homicide rate hits 10-year high, Stats Can says
Lee BERTHIAUME Citizen news service
OTTAWA — Canada’s national homicide rate last year was the highest it’s been in a decade, Statistics Canada says, because of a spike in gang-related violence and shootings.
In a report released Wednesday, the agency said there were 660 reported homicides in Canada last year.
Not only was that an increase of nearly eight per cent from 2016, it also pushed up the homicide rate to 1.8 victims for every 100,000 people – the highest since 2009.
Much of the increase was linked to a dramatic rise in the number of gun-related killings, which itself was driven by more gang-related violence.
“Gang-related homicides committed with a firearm represented 12 per cent of all homicides in 2015,” Statistics Canada said.
“By 2017, this proportion had grown to 21 per cent.”
The federal Liberals and Conservatives earlier this month presented competing plans for tackling guns and gangs, which had emerged as significant public-safety concerns even before Statistics Canada’s findings were released on Wednesday.
The Trudeau government announced on Nov. 7 a plan to spend $86 million on expanded intelligence and border-security measures for the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency – part of a five-year, $327-million funding promise made earlier this year to stop criminal gun and gang activities.
The same day, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer laid out his own proposal. It would include more punitive measures for gang members, including longer jail sentences and limited parole and bail opportunities for repeat and violent offenders.
The moves and promises came after a rash of shootings this year, including a mass attack on Toronto’s Danforth Avenue in July that killed an 18-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl and injured 13 others.
Statistics Canada reported that Toronto accounted for the most firearms-related homicides of all cities last year, but British Columbia and Quebec were largely responsible for pushing up the national homicide rate.
“With 2.45 homicides per 100,000 population, the homicide rate in British Columbia was up 32 per cent, making it the province’s highest rate since 2009,” the agency said. “This increase occurred in both urban and rural areas and can be partly explained by more gang- and firearm-related homicides.”
Handguns accounted for 60 per cent of gun-related homicides last year, the agency added, which continued a trend that has seen a steady decline in the number of deaths from rifles and shotguns.
The Danforth shooting led to calls for Ottawa to ban handguns and assault weapons, including from both Montreal and Toronto city councils. Federal consultations on a possible ban are ongoing.
While the increase in the national homicide rate may be troubling, Statistics Canada noted that it remains much lower than the peak of three per 100,000 people in 1975 and accounted for less than 0.2 per cent of all violent crimes reported to police last year. But the agency said the rates of other serious offences, including attempted murder, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault were all up last year, as was the use of guns in violent crimes.
Gov’t ready to legislate end to postal strike
Citizen news service
OTTAWA — The federal government has given notice that it’s prepared to legislate Canada Post employees back to work as the postal service and union spar over the scale of the backlog the rotating strikes have created.
Labour Minister Patty Hajdu said that 48 hours notice is required before introducing back-towork legislation, but insisted that having done so doesn’t mean the government will make the move to end rotating strikes by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
“We have complete flexibility about when we’ll introduce that legislation,” Hajdu told reporters before the Liberal caucus meeting Wednesday morning.
The potential of forcing postal employees back to work comes in the fifth week of rotating strikes by thousands of unionized workers as the union and postal service remain divided in contract negotiations.
Canada Post said Tuesday that Canadians can expect delays of parcel and mail delivery into 2019 as a result of the strikes, especially in southwestern Ontario because of a backlog of hundreds of transport trailers sitting idle at its main Toronto sorting facility.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has, however, challenged the claims of major backlogs, saying they have been highly exaggerated. The union said Wednesday that it counted about 70 trailers at the main Toronto facility, which
could be cleared in a matter of days, along with a smattering of trailers elsewhere in Ontario and on the East Coast.
“It would appear that they’re up to their same old game, which is to try to provoke back-to-work legislation,” said Mike Palecek, CUPW national president in an interview.
“This is what Canada Post does again and again and again. They create a crisis, in this case a fictional one, and then wait for the government to bail them out. So we’re incredibly concerned that the government may be moving
forward with legislation based on information that isn’t true.”
Canada Post said it has made a dent in backlog that hit a record last week, but it is still well behind as it goes into the busiest three weeks of the year.
“Normally at this time of year we would have about 100 trailers to work through across our facilities as we brace for the Black Friday rush,” said spokesman Jon Hamilton in an email.
“With our operations impacted by the ongoing strikes, we are five times that, with additional trailers
of mail and parcels being held by customers and by international posts waiting for us to clear space for them to send.”
He said Canada Post has had to rent space off site to store trailers while they wait for processing, which the union may not be aware of. Disputes on the scale of the backlog come as the two sides sat down with special mediator Morton Mitchnick Wednesday, who was reappointed by the federal Liberals.
Palecek said he was hopeful that Mitchnick could help with
negotiations, but was concerned the federal Liberals had moved forward on back-to-work legislation at the same time.
“Our negotiators will do their best to reach a negotiated settlement, but the government’s announcement pulls the rug out from under us,” he said.
Hajdu said she’ll let Mitchnick take the time he needs to push forward the protracted negotiations.
“We’ve given notice to the House, we are extremely serious, (but) I really don’t want to have to use back-to-work legislation,” said Hajdu. “But having said that, this is a really busy time of year, people are relying on Canada Post to deliver packages, small and medium-size businesses are relying on Canada Post to have a profitable season and our economy needs Canada Post to be able to function in a smooth way.”
Hajdu said the parties have already had a very long time to work out a deal but she expects them to work hard over the next couple of days to reach an agreement.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers on Monday turned down an offer for a holiday cooling-off period and a possible $1,000 bonus for its 50,000 members, saying it would only mean postal employees continuing to work under the same conditions the union is trying to have changed.
When asked if she worries about potential criticism from New Democrats for ending the strikes with a law, Hajdu said she has to do what’s right for the country.
A new Statistics Canada report says the national murder rate reached its highest point in a decade last year thanks to a spike in the number of deaths from guns and gangs. Seized firearms are seen on display during a Toronto Police Service press conference in June.
Striking Canada Post workers keep their hands warm as they picket at the South Central sorting facility in Toronto on Nov. 13.
It is with sad hearts that we announce the passing of Gordon Helsoe. He was known by many names including, Gord, Gordy and the Deer Slayer due to an unfortunate incident while riding his Harley. Gordy was many things to many people: Son to Bernice, partner to Darlene, dad to his faithful companion, Zen, brother to his sisters Karin, Janice (Bryan), and Trine (Mark). Gordy was an uncle to his niece, Randi (Tyler) and two nephews, David and Steven. Gordy was a great uncle to Paige and Finlay and a grandfather to Nathan and Tobias. Gordy was an electrician for many years and would tell his family countless stories of the people he worked with and the projects that he worked on. Throughout Gordy’s life he developed many friendships and worked with many colleagues. A special thank you to Doctor Grose and Doctor Joss and the amazing nurses from Northern Home Care. The support, care and compassion they provided to Gordy and our family was incredible and appreciated more than we can say. There will be a service at Assman’s Funeral Chapel on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 3:00pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Canadian Cancer society and Multiple Sclerosis society would be appreciated.
LARRY PETER NORBECK
January 24, 1945 - November 16, 2018
With broken hearts we sadly announce the sudden passing of Larry Norbeck. Larry will be dearly missed and remembered by his loving wife and best friend, Joan, daughter Dana (Andy), treasured grandsons, Koewen, Brendyn and Tyrell (Robbin). He was predeceased by his beloved daughter, Leslie in 1986, his parents, Peter and Roberta Norbeck, his mother-in-law, Kathy Melville, father-in-law, Ken Melville Sr. and brotherin-law, Ken Melville. Larry was an avid outdoorsman and competitive shooter. He was a longtime member of the Rod and Gun Club and enjoyed many days hunting and fishing with friends. He treasured many happy days at the Cluculz Lake cabin with his grandsons, swimming, fishing, picking berries, hunting for agates and reading special bedtime stories. Larry worked many years in the oil industry, involved with service stations, driving fuel trucks and running very successful bulk oil agencies for ESSO and Shell Oil. Larry’s main focus was his family, providing for them and always trying to do what was best for them. His children always came first, as did his grandsons.
A Celebration of Larry’s Life will be held Saturday, November 24, 2018 at 11:00am at Esther’s Inn/Super 8 Hotel. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice. -He Was a Good Man-
CLAUDE LUSSIER
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our father Claude Jean Lussier, born February 25, 1937 in St. Louis, Saskatchewan, passed away in Hospice House November 18, 2018 at the age of 81 years after a long battle with cancer. Claude has been a resident of Prince George for 46 years. He is predeceased by his loving wife Doris of 59 years of marriage, one brother, one sister and his parents. He will always be remembered as the Kernel of Alward Place, the mayor of Spruceland and Claude’s barbershop. He will be greatly missed by his six children; Roger (Darlene), Linda (Cal), Allan (Wendy), Denis (Moeveen), Rose and Tammy (Sheldon) as well as twelve grandchildren, four great grandchildren, brothers Lionel and Roland. A viewing for goodbye’s will be held at Assman’s Funeral Chapel on Sunday, November 25th, 2018 7:00-8:00pm. Funeral Service will be held on Monday, November 26th, 2018 at 10:00am at St. Mary’s Parish (Freeman Street) with Fr. Gilbert Bertrand. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cancer Foundation. Thank you Hospice House for all the wonderful care and love for our father and thank you to Dr. Grose and Dr. Hamilton. Assman’s Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements.
HERMAN (JR) HENRY REICH
Passed away in his home on November 9, 2018 at the age of 80. Predeceased by his beloved wife Claudia Reich. Survived by his 3 children: Sandy Matt (Rob) of Kamloops, BC, John Matt (Candee) of Pritchard, BC, Karyn Apps (Bruce) of Prince George, BC, 7 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, brother Aurther Reich (Marlene) of Windfield, BC. Predeceased by his son Jason Matt, grandson Jordan Apps, parents Emil & O’Tillie Reich. As per JR’s request, there will only be a small family gathering.
BOTELHO October 15, 1938November 19, 2018
It is with great sadness and a devastating sense of loss that we share the passing of our beloved dad, husband and grandfather. His love of family, quick wit, twinkling smile and love of storytelling will live in our hearts forever. Manuel is survived by his wife of 52 years Luisa, sister Maria (Luis), son Gil (Tasha), daughter Gina and his beloved grandchildren, Johnathan, Matthew and Isabella as well as nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Joao and Beatriz and brother-in-law Luis. Manuel was born in Agua Retorta on the island of Sao Miguel and immigrated to Canada in 1968. He worked for Northwood until his retirement in 1998. He spent his retirement In his garden, his shed and wine cellar, but mostly with his beloved grandchildren. Our family would like to thank everyone for their support including the staff at UHNBC and Hospice as well Dr. Bartell and Dr. Mader. A prayer service for Manuel will be held on Sunday, November 25th, 2018 at 7:00 pm at Sacred Heart Cathedral with the Funeral Mass on Monday November 26th at 10:00am at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Deus Lhe Deia o Eterno Descanco
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to BC Cancer Society. Assman’s Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements.
“Rick” Ricky Klaus Willfahrt
Today it brings us great sadness to announce the passing of Ricky Klaus Willfahrt. Age 54. Whom passed at home Thursday, November the 15th 2018. He was born March 3rd 1964, in Vancouver, to Klaus and Gisela (Maresch) Willfahrt. He will be missed by his wife, Ana. His mother, Gisela. A sister, Monika (John) Lewis. His children and step children, family and friends. There will be a celebration of life this Friday, November the 23rd at 6:00pm at the Twisted Cork banquet hall. Food will be provided and a pay bar. Be sure to bring your stories, because we all know there are lots! In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) would be greatly appreciated.
Mara Mamic
It is with heavy hearts that we, the family of Mara Mamic, announce her passing as she went to be with the Lord on November 20, 2018 at the age of 90. She was loved by all and will be greatly missed.
Very proud of her large and expanding family she will be lovingly remembered by them all including her daughter Ljubica (Nick) and sons Matt, Branko (Lynn), Zarko (Drazena) Tony (Helen), Steve (Deborah), Tom, and 19 grandchildren Troy, Brian, Shane, Joe, Derek, Tanya, Tea, Danielle, Camron, Joshua, Charissa, Xzara, Jared, Jacob, Emmara, Sasha, Mia, Aleisha, Miles, and her 17 great grandchildren. The world won’t be the same without you Baba. Funeral mass will be held on Saturday November 24 at 1:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 887 Patricia Blvd. Internment to follow in the Prince George Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Prince George Rotary Hospice House.
MANUEL MELO
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A financial tale of three ghosts
By the time this hits print, the Fall Economic Statement (FES) will have been delivered, but I am writing the night before (see story, page 6). It’s OK. I have help from a few disembodied friends.
The FES is not to be confused with Fiscal Excess Syndrome, but this evening, as Finance Minister Bill Morneau tries to sleep, Preston Manning will tweet him, promising a restless night in which will be visited by three spirits.
Ghost No. 1
The federal government’s pending release of the Fall Economic Statement may hold some surprises, but one near-certainty is continued deficits as far as the eye can see. Despite a bubbly economy, if anything, even larger deficits are likely. Ottawa long ago abandoned any pretense of balancing the budget in favour of targeting the debt-to-GDP ratio, which is a very weak fiscal anchor and encourages fiscal policy that exaggerates the economic cycle. debt-to-GDP budgeting implies that we will cut costs during a recession, and then raise them during a buoyant economy. The ghost of John Maynard Keynes will haunt the minister at the crack of midnight tonight to remind Morneau that the NobelPrize-winning idea was to nudge program spending up during a recession, then pay down the associated debt during good times. Morneau will look confused and then the spirit will slap him in the face with a pumpkin pie.
Ghost No. 2
The Trudeau/Morneau Debtto-GDP policy has resulted in rapid program spending growth – averaging six-and-a-half per cent annually over the last three years, up from a one-and-a-half per cent average in the preceding three years. This fire-fueling fiscal stimulus is putting added strain on inflation and consequently interest rates. The spirit of Milton Freedman can be heard moaning in the parliamentary library. Freedman’s Nobel-winning concept said low interest rates are an effective tool for stimulating growth – amply proved again over the past decade, pulling us out of the most frightening recession in 70 years. But times are good now, and so Freedman will visit him and re-
mind Morneau that what we need now is “more-no.” At this point in the economic cycle, fiscal policy would be better aimed at running budget surpluses and reducing debt to better position the Canadian economy for an eventual slowing.
The fact that not even a tiny Timbit of frugality is likely to be invited to dinner can’t be blamed on the fiscal numbers to date. Revenues over the first five months of the fiscal year are running eight per cent ahead of comparable numbers for a year earlier, while program spending is tracking up 2.9 per cent, fairly close to the 2.5 per cent projected increase. The better-than-expected revenue growth, along with a $3 billion risk adjustment, suggests there is room for the deficit to drop into singledigit territory relative to the target of $18.1 billion for the current fiscal year and a final deficit of $19 billion for fiscal year 2017-18.
But now we are approaching an election year, and this FES is likely to be more Santa than Grinch.
Despite warning from the ghosts, the FES is likely to include some new initiatives that will eat into whatever spare fiscal room has emerged. Expect Ottawa to direct some funds to support industries harmed by recent developments on the trade front in vote-rich Ontario. Although such spending could be reallocated from other expenditure buckets, past experience suggests it will show up as new spending.
The tax side of the books will get a little more attention than usual amid high expectations that the finance minister will introduce measures to improve Canadian tax competitiveness. Following recent tax reductions in the U.S. and some earlier unpopular policy moves in Canada, our relative competitiveness has deteriorated.
In March, Morneau woke up, rubbed his eyes, and decided that Canadian competitiveness is Job 1 for him over the next six months.
The bets seem to be on a move allowing businesses to write off
investment more aggressively, which would have the double benefit of narrowing the gap with the U.S. and encouraging more investment in Canada. Many of those same business owners are still steaming from the measures he took against them a few months ago, so time will tell.
The FES may also address a couple of issues that have attracted headlines in Canada: carbon pricing and the Trans Mountain pipeline. Over the short term, however, neither of these initiatives is expected to have a fiscal impact associated with it.
Ghost No. 3
And as Morneau and friends walk triumphantly from the FES announcement, they will be attacked by the Ghost of Fiscal Futures. Shrouded in a hooded black robe, eyes darkened with football paint and carrying a heavy leather bound ledger, the spirit will press
MONEY IN BRIEF
Crude-by-rail exports reach a record
CALGARY (CP) — The National Energy Board says crude-by-rail exports from Canada rose to a record 269,829 barrels per day in September.
That’s up more than 17 per cent from 229,544 in August and just over double the 134,132 barrels per day recorded in September 2017.
Total crude exports reached 3.47 million bpd in September, up from 3.31 million a year earlier.
Pipeline export constraints are being blamed for a glut of oil in Western Canada that caused the price discount to peak at more than US$50 per barrel in October for Western Canadian Select oilsands blend versus New York benchmark West Texas Intermediate. The province has called on Ottawa to help increase crude-by-rail shipments, estimating the discounts are costing the Canadian economy as much as $80 million per day. Meanwhile, oilsands producers such as Cenovus Energy Inc. and Imperial Oil Ltd. are ramping up crude-by-rail volumes to get barrels to markets where they will receive better prices.
Cenovus has called on the province to impose production cuts to reduce the oil oversupply in Alberta but the suggestion has been panned by rivals who are insulat-
the red-inked book firmly into the nose of the minister. The corporeal nature of the experience will spook the Don of Deficits, as will the distinct resemblance of the personage to a former party icon.
And as the ghost walks away, a gust of wind will blow from the Ottawa River, revealing former Liberal finance minister, that budget-balancer extraordinaire, Paul Martin, shrouded in office curtains, muttering angrily under his breath.
Mark Ryan is an investment advisor with RBC Dominion Securities Inc. (Member–Canadian Investor Protection Fund), and these are Ryan’s views, and not those of RBC Dominion Securities. This article is for information purposes only. Please consult with a professional advisor before taking any action based on information in this article. See Ryan’s website at: dir.rbcinvestments.com/ mark.ryan.
ed from discounts because they have firm pipeline contracts or use their oil in their own refineries.
Legal challenge filed in warship saga
OTTAWA (CP) — The $60-billion effort to build new warships for the navy has hit another snag, this time in the form of a legal challenge by one of three companies involved in the high-stakes competition to design the vessels.
The federal government announced last month that U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin beat out two rivals in the long and extremely sensitive competition to design replacements for the navy’s frigates and destroyers. Lockheed’s design was based on a new class of frigates for the British navy. The company is now negotiating a final contract with the government and Halifax-based Irving Shipbuilding, which will build the ships.
But one of the other two companies, Alion Science and Technology, is now asking the Federal Court to quash the government’s decision, saying Lockheed’s design did not meet the government’s stated requirements and should have been disqualified.
Industry insiders had long warned that Lockheed’s selection as the top bidder combined with several changes to the competition after it was launched – including a number of deadline extensions –would spark lawsuits.
but investors remain on edge, says a market observer. “I would say yesterday’s sell-off is probably a more accurate representation of where people’s heads are at out there,” says Ryan Crowther of Franklin Bissett Investment Management.
The S&P/TSX composite index surged to close up 218.02 points to 15,095.02, a day after losing 194 points.
The key energy, materials and industrials sectors that account for about 40 per cent of the index led the recovery on higher crude oil and gold prices.
The January crude contract rose US$1.20 to US$54.63 a barrel and the December natural gas contract was down 7.2 cents to US$4.45 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract jumped US$6.80 at US$1,228.00 an ounce and the December copper contract gained 2.8 cents at US$2.79 a pound. Crowther says market sentiment has changed from a year ago when U.S. tax cuts drove economic growth and heightened corporate profits. The focus now is on headwinds such as earnings growth, higher interest rates, trade and inflation.
“There’s lots of things to be considering on the risk side of the equation that are more clearly in focus right now than they would have been a year ago,” he said in an interview. Business conditions remain good but the market is discounting valuations, which present buying opportunities for investors.
Slowing global growth at the later stages of the economic cycle doesn’t necessarily mean a recession is near, Crowther said, even though discussion of such an event as early as 2020 is ramping up.
The Canadian dollar traded at an average of 75.36 cents US compared with an average of 75.42 cents US on Tuesday. The optimism was initially seen on Wall Street until the end of the day as the Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.95 points at 24,464.69 heading into the Thanksgiving holiday.
The S&P 500 index rose by 8.04 points to 2,649.93, while the Nasdaq composite gained 63.43 points at 6,972.25. Investor anxiety is translating into increased volatility, said Crowther. “I think investors are much more on edge currently and I think that’s what’s manifesting into these a little bit more magnitude in terms of the day-to-day volatility.”
MARK RYAN
It’s Only Money
CP PHOTO
Finance Minister Bill Morneau delivers the Fall Economic Statement in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Wednesday.