City prepared to face the snow
Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca
It’s now just a matter of time before the snow hits the streets and when it does, city roads and fleets manager Blake McIntosh says crews are ready to take on the white stuff.
Trucks have been outfitted, sand and salt have been stockpiled, new employees trained and contractors confirmed, he said Monday during a meeting with local media.
“We are definitely prepared for a snow event,” he said.
A full deployment begins whenever the snowfall reaches 75 millimetres or three inches but for smaller snowfalls in between, contingents will be out plowing and sanding as needed, McIntosh added.
Each winter, crews maintain 670 kilometres of road and 189 km of sidewalks. On average, they spread over 3,600 tonnes of fractured rock and 5,200 tonnes of sand.
Along with clearing roads and streets, the work includes pushing back windrows, cutting ice on roadway shoulders in areas lacking curbs and gutters to allow melting snow to drain into ditches, replacing damaged culverts and patching potholes.
At its disposal, the city has seven sanding/ plow trucks, seven graders, four sidewalk plowing and sanding machines, five loaders, one snow blowing loader and two anti-icing trucks. Through contractors, it has access to five graders, 11 loaders, 13 tandem dump trucks and two snow disposal site bulldozers.
Also, the city parks department has its own equipment to remove snow and ice from civic facility parking lots, paths and trails, and other park areas: one backhoe, one Bobcat, one truck plow/sander, and three small tractors with attachments (snow blowers, snow blades or brooms).
In part, the city relies on two weather stations – one at the north end and one in the southwest – to get a heads-up on when snow might be on its way. Road temperatures are also monitored.
Goals and objectives for clearing snow remain unchanged. If at least 75 mm falls in a 24-hour period, the city will aim to clear so-called priority one routes – main arterial roads, the central business district, priority hills, streets adjacent to the hospital and civic facility entrances, priority parking lots,
and pathways – within 48 hours.
The same holds true for priority two routes – namely bus routes that are not main arterial roads and all commercial and industrial roads. If more than 120 mm has fallen, priority three routes – residential roads and lanes, all remaining civic facilities parking lots and select park facilities, parking lots, trails, and pathways – are to be cleared within 72 hours of priority one and two routes being completed. Residents can help by adhering to onstreet parking restrictions. In residential areas, the practice is prohibited from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. but allowed on the side of the street with odd house numbers from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. unless otherwise posted. Likewise, on-street parking on priority
one roads and hills is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and, in the downtown, from midnight to 7 a.m.
Violators are subject to a $50 fine and their vehicles may be towed.
“It can be quite a large issue, especially when we get larger volumes,” McIntosh said. “If people aren’t abiding by the parking restrictions... it makes it difficult for that residential area.”
Plowing around vehicles is out of the question, he said, because crews would still have to go back in a second time to remove the snow once the driver has dug the vehicle out.
“If people abide by the bylaw, it definitely makes our job more efficient,” he said.
McIntosh preached patience should the city get hit with a snowfall on the scale of
the one that struck last February.
“It was a challenge because we had to reset the clock a few times,” he said.
“It snowed, stopped, we started plowing the main arterials, and then it would snow again and we reset the clock.
“Really, the idea is to keep the main arterials open first because they carry the largest volume of traffic.”
In all, about a metre of snow fell in that month which translated into about 13,000 dump truck loads (up to 500 per day) equaling 261,900 cubic metres of snow going to the city’s disposal sites near 18th Avenue and Foothills Boulevard and Guay Road.
That’s enough to fill CN Centre four times and was roughly equal to the yearly average over the previous three snow seasons.
B.C. finance minister says budget on track, province to lead country in growth
VICTORIA — Finance Minister Carole James says British Columbia’s economic growth remains “strong and stable” and the budget is on track to record a surplus in the 2018-19 fiscal year.
James said Monday the operating debt, which builds up when tax or other revenue misses spending pledges made in a budget, has been reduced to zero for the first time in four decades.
The province’s second quarter results for this fiscal year show a projected surplus of $1.35 billion, she said.
The Finance Ministry forecasts GDP growth of 2.2 per cent this year, while the value of all goods and services produced by the province is forecast to climb by 1.8 per cent in 2019.
James said risks facing the province include a $250-million drop in Crown
corporation earnings, mainly due to losses at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, as well as a slowing down of the housing market.
To offset those risks, she said a fund that covers potentially volatile revenue changes has been increased by $600 million.
“That additional prudence is very critical... to help mitigate any kind of provincial revenue impacts,” she said.
The B.C. Liberals say property tax revenues are expected to decline by at least $400 million, which means the province is becoming more dependent on personal and corporate income tax revenue.
Shirley Bond, one of the party’s finance critics, says they are concerned about the tax burden on business because of government plans to charge medical service plan premiums and the employer health tax in 2019.
“The burden is compounded with the
introduction of the new speculation tax and the devastating effects it is already having on the construction industry with cancelled housing starts and lost jobs, as well as continued increases to the carbon tax and an increase to the corporate tax rate,” she said in a news release.
James said RBC and other analysts remain positive about economic growth in B.C., forecasting the province will remain a leader in Canada this year and next, even before the benefits of a liquefied natural gas development in Kitimat are added to projections over the next several months.
“Private forecasters expect that B.C.’s economic growth will be strong. In fact, they are predicting that we are going to lead the provincial rankings in 2019,” she said.
The 2019-20 budget will be released Feb. 19, along with the third quarterly report.
JAMES
CITIZEN PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN
Blake McIntosh, city manager of roads and fleet, gives an update on city snow and ice control activities.
Prince George provincial court docket
From Prince George provincial court, November 19-23, 2018:
• Clayton William Carty (born 1975) was sentenced to 50 days in jail and 18 months probation and assessed $400 in victim surcharges for two counts of breaching an undertaking or recognizance. Carty was in custody for 22 days prior to sentencing.
• Nikkita Amelia John (born 1986) was sentenced to 42 days in jail, to be served on an intermittent basis, and one year probation for theft $5,000 or under and breaching probation.
• Shayn Robert Bulmer (born 1997) was assessed a $100 victim surcharge for breaching probation.
• Jason Matthew Ryan Farquhar (born 1990) was sentenced to one year probation, issued a 10-year firearms prohibition and assessed a $200 victim surcharge for robbery, committed in Fort St. John. Farquhar was in custody for 128 days prior to sentencing.
• Christopher Rea Middlemiss (born 1978) was issued two one-year $500 recognizance after allegations for two counts of causing fear of injury or damage.
• Cali Ronald Harold Peal-Barton (born 1994) was assessed a $100 victim surcharge for breaching probation. Peal-Barton was in custody for two days prior to sentencing.
• Marshall Charles West (born 1979) was assessed a $100 victim surcharge for breaching probation. West was in custody for 40 days prior to sentencing.
• Bradley Robert Foster (born 1979) was sentenced to 45 days in jail and ordered to pay $1,519.17 for mischief $5,000 or under and uttering threats and to 42 days in jail for theft $5,000 or under. Foster was also sentenced to one year probation, issued a 10-year firearms ban and assessed $300 in victim surcharges. Foster was in custody for one day prior to sentencing.
• Patrick Ryan Baker (born 1987) was sentenced six months in jail for breaching a conditional sentence order and 18 and 30 days in jail and assessed $200 in victim surcharges for two counts of theft $5,000. Baker was in custody for 139 days prior to sentencing.
• Phillip Thompson Cooper (born 1966) was sentenced to 21 days in jail and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for breaching probation.
• Peter Junior Charlie (born 1981) was sentenced to one year probation and assessed $400 in victim surcharges for possessing a controlled substance, possessing an unauthorized weapon (non-firearm), willfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer and possessing stolen property under $5,000. Charlie was in custody for 49 days prior to sentencing.
• Myles Hunter Alex (born 1991) was sentenced to 40 days in jail for possessing a firearm contrary to an order and to 30 days in jail for possessing a controlled substance and assessed $200 in victim surcharges. Alex was in custody for 27 days following his arrest.
• Stacie Anne Buttee (born 1972) was sen-
tenced to 27 days in jail for possessing a weapon for dangerous purpose and to 15 days in jail for assault and failing to appear in court. Buttee was also sentenced to one year probation and assessed $300 in victim surcharges on the counts.
• Dale Curtis Currie (born 1978) was sentenced to 10 months in jail and two years probation and assessed $400 in victim surcharges for possessing stolen property over $5,000 and possessing a break-in instrument, committed in Red Rock.
• John Randall Haskell (born 1989) was sentenced to eight days in jail and 14 months probation and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for assault causing bodily harm. Haskell was in custody for 20 days following his arrest and a further 53 days prior to sentencing.
• Matthew Richard Steven Lozon (born 1994) was sentenced to 45 days in jail for breaking and entering with intent to commit an offence and to one year probation and assessed $400 in victim surcharges on the count plus breaching probation. Lozon was in custody for 46 days prior to sentencing.
• Terry Lawrence Moore (born 1985) was issued a one-year $500 recognizance after allegation for causing fear of injury or damage.
• James Edward Wight (born 1975) was sentenced to 18 months probation and assessed $200 in victim surcharges for two counts of assault. Wight was in custody for 34 days prior to sentencing.
Dancers from Enchainement Dance Centre perform a ballet from Nutcracker for the seniors tea at the Festival of Trees on Monday.
Shots heard, rifle found near trail
Citizen staff
RCMP found a semi-automatic rifle near a pathway between Oak and Pine streets on Sunday night after responding to callers who heard shots being fired. Called to the area between the 2400 blocks of Oak and Victoria streets at about 8:45 p.m., RCMP deployed a service dog and handler. What police described as an “SKS-type rifle” was found near the pathway, part of the Centennial Trail around the city. No injuries were reported to police.
Anyone who may have further information about the incident is asked to contact the Prince George RCMP at 250561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers.
Rising star opening for Hicks
Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca
One of Canada’s most promising new voices in country music finally gets to sing a whole set of music to Prince George.
Andrew Hyatt has been here before. He was a feature performer on the Dallas Smith tour that came to CN Centre one year ago, but he didn’t get to step out for more than a brief midshow interlude. Now he’s here opening for Tim Hicks and he gets to let loose a whole flurry of his work.
His latest sounds are off the fresh new EP he called Cain, which will fit with the EP he has coming only a few weeks away called Abel.
Add to that the hit singles off his critically acclaimed debut album Iron & Ashes that came out in 2017. He has a body of work and it’s building.
Canada is just getting to know this down to earth country rocker. He was raised on a farm in the Sudbury area, worked a spell as an ironworker at the town’s nickel mine, but ever since he could forge a career goal in his young mind, this is what he’s wanted to do.
“There was a moment in Grade 5 or 6,” he told The Citizen. “My sister had a boyfriend who was playing guitar and singing, and I was just like ‘that’s what I want to do,’ and I went and got a guitar. I couldn’t play it worth crap. I wasn’t good enough to learn other people’s music so I started writing my own. That kind of triggered it.”
The mine is as big in Sudbury as the mill is in Prince George. If you can get on there, it’s a tempting job to keep despite the routine and repetition of those sorts of professions. He was a farm kid, so the hard work didn’t scare him, but he just couldn’t shake all the melodies in his head.
When you’re really brutally honest about real-life scenarios, that’s what brings people into the music.
— Andrew Hyatt
“It paid amazingly,” he admitted.
“I was 21 years old, making upwards of $70,000 a year, working like a dog and hating every minute of my life. It definitely took a leap of faith, followed by five or six years of struggle, but it’s started to pay off. I’m happy I made the transition.”
The transition looked something like a diamond on a ring – shining, shining. It sounded something like On Me, the breezy single that branded him on the charts for the first time, making it into the Canadian Top 10 country songs. He got Love Drunk for awhile. He was definitely Livin’ The Dream. (Both were singles that made good noise at the start of his ascent.)
In recent months, the Cain project has taken hold on national airwaves. My Kind Of Crazy is going loco on social media, Habit is unshakable, Some Dust Don’t Settle Down is stirring, and Time For Lovin’ You is clocking in right now too.
It’s all building energy for the new minipackage coming out in December. The two, as the biblical Cain and Abel reference suggests, are companion pieces Hyatt thinks will be interesting to the audience. Abel is, he hinted “all stuff that I wrote. It’s all from the heart and it’s a little bit darker than the Cain stuff. It’s a nice contrast record.” Darker material, he added, “is where I live best.”
Whether it’s dark, mid-tempo, fun, or what-
ever the mood, it always opens a little window into a writer’s personal life when an original work is unveiled.
“I do have that moment where I think ‘do I really want the rest of the world to hear this?’ but then I also feel like those are the songs that pay dividends, the songs people connect with,” Hyatt said. “When you’re really brutally honest about real-life scenarios, that’s what brings people into the music.”
He needed a writing break for awhile, after a few years of near constant writing, recording, touring and all the other toil of being your own small business operator, when you are also the product itself. It’s tiring, but it’s also exhausting, and there is a difference. Tired just needs some sleep and some nutrition and you’re back to rights. Exhausted can pull your spirit into places hard to come back from.
Hyatt said one of the lessons he’s learned from the other professions he’s had leading up to country music is the importance of being deliberate about true life-balance and authenticity in how you spend your time and who you spend it with.
But, he added, you do yourself no good, and cheat your spirit, if you don’t work hard at what you do.
“That’s something the mine taught me. With the ironworkers, you’d do 20-hour days. I’d do shutdowns where we’d put in 80 hours in four days. You just learn to deal with it. You take micro-naps. I’ve been a bartender, I went to school to be a cop, I was a pastor at one point in time, I’ve done everything I thought I would enjoy and out of all of it this is what I love most, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
You can see Hyatt’s hard work firsthand when he joins Tebey and Tim Hicks on the Get Loud tour at CN Centre on Thursday night.
Tickets are on sale at the CN Centre box office or on the TicketsNorth website.
Province earmarks $10M for Indigenous housing project
Mark NIELSEN Citizen news mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca
The provincial government has committed $10 million towards the first phase of what has been described as an “urban village” catering to Indigenous housing needs in Prince George. It will go towards construction of 50 townhouses on a 6.8-acre site at 1919 17th Ave. in a partnership between B.C. Housing and the Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George.
AHS executive director Christos Vardacostas welcomed the news.
“We’re very excited to move forward with the project that’s for the community and by the community,” he said Monday. The money comes out of the Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund and was announced over the weekend. In all, the provincial government committed $155 million for 776 units of off-reserve housing across the province and a further $76 million for 367 units of on-reserve housing City council approved rezoning for the purpose in March and the project is currently in the preliminary design stage.
The goal is to have work begin by as early as 2019 and have it completed by no later than 2021, Vardacostas said. He said it will be open to a mix of Indigenous seniors, singles and families who need subsidized housing and is the first of three phases planned for the site.
The AHS also operates Ts’oo Yoh, or House of Spruce, a 27-unit complex at 1811 Spruce St. Opened in July, it is geared towards low-income Indigenous elders and seniors
“The housing situation for many B.C. First Nations communities has been crippled by decades of federal government funding policies and models that haven’t kept up with our needs, nor with economic fluctuations,” said B.C. Assembly of First Nations regional chief Terry Teegee in a statement.
“This provincial funding will begin to make a difference, but we still have a long way to go to ensure an adequate supply and good quality housing in our fast-growing communities.
“We will continue to work with both levels of government to reverse a crisis that has become a monumental challenge.”
Overstepping his bounds
When the clerk of the B.C. legislature, Craig James, and the sergeantat-arms, Gary Lenz, were summarily escorted out of the building last week, the immediate question was: Why the perp walk?
Apparently, the two men are subjects of a criminal investigation, which explains their suspension (with pay).
But when no charges have been laid, and we are told the investigation has been underway for two months, the reputationdestroying manner in which James and Lenz were treated is a disgrace. They could easily have been informed of their suspension out of the public eye.
But the matter I want to explore is, what in heaven’s name has the Speaker, Darryl Plecas, been up to? It seems he developed unrevealed suspicions in January, and hired a “special adviser,” Alan Mullen, to investi-
gate. Mullen was a longtime friend of his. It was Mullen’s findings that led Plecas to go to the legislature and tell what he had discovered. That, in turn, led to the suspensions of James and Lenz. First off, if Plecas had concerns, what was he doing hiring a special adviser? Why didn’t he go either to the attorney general or the RCMP?
Second, it appears Plecas had other suspicions as well. What were these?
Lenthall: “Your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here.”
It’s important here to remember the Speaker’s role. He is not a private detective.
It’s important here to remember the Speaker’s role. He is not a private detective. He is not paid to run some kind of undercover investigation.
He is no less, and no more, than the servant of the assembly. There was a famous incident in the history of this role, when King Charles I marched into the English parliament and ordered the Speaker to produce five members suspected of treason.
Charles was told by that official, William
That certainly doesn’t seem to reflect Plecas’ views of the job. For here is the issue. The Speaker, by the nature of his position, is privy to all manner of confidential information.
Some of that relates to the conduct of MLAs and ministers, some of it concerns the behaviour of employees at the legislature.
In that capacity, it is essential he conduct himself in a manner that respects the confidence placed in him. You don’t do that by secretly hiring a special adviser with an undisclosed mandate to rummage through goings-on at the legislature.
What assurance do members have that they are not also being investigated, when this entire process has been hidden from sight?
YOUR LETTERS
Not hog wild about PR
I’ve read most of the letters and editorial comments posted here concerning PR and given that the ballot we received is not clear about what the final product will look like, and the leaders’ debate did not help to clarify anything, much of the discussion is pure speculation. I’m left with the sense that we are buying a pig in a poke and that reason alone is enough for me to vote no. So far, most of the comments are about how unfair the makeup of the provincial legislature is under first past the post (FPTP). In other words we are proposing to change the inputs to the legislature in order, I presume, to obtain better outcomes or outputs.
Few writers have said what better outcomes we might expect to achieve. Given that we are told that numerous countries around the world use some form of PR system my question is, what legislative outcomes have they achieved that we cannot achieve with an FPTP system? If we switch to PR will we have a better healthcare system? Will it be public or private? Will we have
What will increase is the number of politicians we the taxpayers will have to support.
a better education system (again public or private)? Will we solve the opioid crisis, homelessness, or the housing crisis in the Lower Mainland? Will we build bridges, tunnels (with or without tolls) or new ferries? Will we have better environmental practices? In short, will we all live happily ever after?
It’s been suggested that PR will increase voter turnout, particularly among young people. Is there any evidence of this? The return rate on the referendum ballots is reportedly low and polls say the vote is split 50/50. If it is true that young people really want this and will vote in Pro Rep elections shouldn’t the return rate be higher and the polls indicate this preference?
What will increase is the number of politicians we the taxpayers will have to support. Another reason to vote no.
Roy Olsen Prince George
Hoping for a third no
People really need to think twice about voting yes for proportional representation. Look at the last election as Andrew Weaver, leader of the Greens, would not even venture out of the Lower Mainland and come north to campaign, basically saying the rest of B.C. doesn’t matter except for taking our tax dollars.
The problem anywhere in Canada for elections is voter turnout and knowledgeable voters. Too many voters complain about governments and don’t vote. The system is fine the way it is. Hopefully the voters of B.C. will vote this down for the third time.
David Harder Prince George
Boots on feet, first
Re: NASA wants Canadian boots on moon (Citizen, Nov. 15).
The Canadian public has no interest in contributing to American “lunacy” by “putting Canadian boots on the moon” until such time as every Canadian resident has the means to put boots on their children’s feet.
James Loughery
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 and 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.
Subscribe to The Citizen and get the best in local news, sports, arts and more delivered to your door five days a week Call 250-562-3301 to subscribe today
I’m not suggesting that members are indeed being investigated. I am suggesting that, in the present circumstances, they have no means of knowing what their servant has been up to. And now we hear that one of the MLAs, Mary Polak, had sworn an affidavit that the night before the sergeantat-arms was suspended, Plecas tried to get Mullen appointed to the job.
The best that can be said of the Speaker’s decision to advocate the appointment of a longtime friend is that it showed dreadful judgment.
I can find only one example in Canada where a Speaker was removed from his office. In 1875, Nova Scotia’s House of Assembly passed a motion proposing that the Speaker’s resignation be requested. The individual in question resigned. Perhaps a few more revelations are needed if that is to happen here. But we are already deep in uncharted territory. Who knows what comes next?
— Lawrie McFarlane, Victoria Times-Colonist
Change doesn’t mean better
Afew weeks ago, we were talking about the fundamental issues underneath electoral reform. There are as many reasons for change as there are people it would seem.
I had a conversation the other day with Green Party members and their issue isn’t better government. It is about getting their people into the legislature. Then we will have the right legislation. Interesting idea but I don’t think it is accurate. First of all, any legislation they would want to bring forward will need to be a compromise with other parties. For example, banning all pipeline projects might sound like a good idea but it would also cripple our economy, so it is unlikely any other party is truly going to support the notion.
Second, it assumes the legislative agenda of the Green Party is “better” in some fashion. While they may have a more environmentally friendly stance on some issues, the environment is only part of the equation. How do you balance jobs into the mix? Or international obligations? Or economic growth?
Simply voting for proportional representation so the Green Party will have more seats is a bit selfserving and not going to improve government. Another friend was concerned about the dictatorial power of government. Why do they get to make all of the decisions?
Well, because they are government. We have ceded our right to complete self-determination by adopting representational democracy. Essentially, we say to our elected representatives “go make decisions for us.”
If they make decisions we don’t like we can always vote them out. Except, of course, there are other people who might like their decisions. And they will vote them in. This happens under any form of democracy – first past the post or proportional representation. Indeed, it is much harder to switch governments under a PR system but that is an aside.
The alternatives to a representational democracy are many. We could put every piece of legislation to a province-wide referendum. But consider as of right now only 18.9 per cent of voters have mailed in their ballots on the important PR/FPTP question, how many people would really want to be voting on a Class Proceedings Amendment Act? Better to let the politicians deal with it. True democracies in which all of the citizens vote are rare and fraught with the fundamental issue of addressing perceptual self-interest. Would you vote for higher taxes? What would it take to get you to vote in favour?
California ran into this problem
through their referendum system. The result was a state which nearly went bankrupt because no one wanted to pay taxes to support initiatives which didn’t directly benefit them. Another colleague argued proportional representation will do away with corruption. My response was “How?” They didn’t have an answer.
Corruption comes in many forms but invariably it is related to people with loose moral character being put into positions of power. One of the methods we have of dealing with the issue is through the election campaign where individual candidates can be scrutinized by the electorate. Some of the questions people ask on the campaign trail would make the average person blush and politicians duck for cover.
With a “list-based” proportional representation system, none of the candidates on the “list” have to go through the process of facing public scrutiny. Indeed, other than being a good party member, there really isn’t any criteria for a candidate to be on a list. Or, at least, the parties presently don’t have criteria.
So how are we the electorate supposed to know these are people of good character and above reproach? I would argue, if anything, proportional representation leads to a system which is more susceptible to corruption not less. But we will see if we switch.
My sense of this all is there is a general dissatisfaction with our economic system rather than the way we elect politicians.
Our social contract promised us if we worked hard and kept our noses to the grindstone, we would come out ahead. We could be at the top if we tried.
Yet that is not what happens. Many people work very hard to just keep their nose above water. Rewards in our socio-economic structure don’t seem to follow effort. CEOs make 30 times as much as average workers and yet do they do 30 times as much work? Are they 30 times more valuable?
Affording a house has become a dream for the average worker in our major cities. Who can afford a million-dollar house on the average $54,832 salary in this province?
Is it any wonder a promise to change things for the better is met with so much support? But as I have said before, proportional representation will not actually fix the problems. If anything it will exacerbate some of the issues and ignore others.
TODD WHITCOMBE
As I See It
B.C. chief tells pipeline hearings his people are responsible for their land
Dirk MEISSNER Citizen news service
VICTORIA — Protection of salmon, animals and the land in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia is an eternal responsibility of First Nations and the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline poses risks that could harm the homes and culture of Aboriginal Peoples, the National Energy Board heard Monday.
But Chief Tyrone McNeil of the Sto:lo Tribal Council and councillor Andrew Victor of the Cheam First Nation did not say they are completely opposed to the expansion project as the board began hearings in Victoria.
Victor said the Sto:lo, which includes the Cheam First Nation, want to see grounds for the pipeline expansion project, including the completion of environmental assessments that examine the risks and impacts of a spill.
The council also wants to be part of ongoing consultations and environmental assessments, he added.
“We need to see justification,” said Victor.
“The Sto:lo face uncertainty with the proj-
ect’s impacts to our way of life. We want to see it done right.”
After he testified, McNeil said: “In our tribal council, some of our communities support it, others don’t.”
The hearings in Victoria will gather evidence from Indigenous groups about the pipeline expansion project and its potential impact on the marine environment.
The board was in Calgary earlier this month and will hold hearings in Nanaimo from Dec. 3 to Dec. 6.
The new hearings are being held after the Federal Court of Appeal quashed the original approval for the expansion, saying the federal government didn’t adequately consult with First Nations or consider the impact of tanker traffic on the marine environment.
The board says 30 Indigenous interveners from B.C., Alberta and the United States will participate in the hearings in Victoria.
McNeil told the board the Sto:lo call the Fraser River their mother because it feeds and nurtures them.
“We’ve been here since the start of time,” said McNeil. “We’re going to continue to be here. That’s why we’re here this morning, for us to continue to look after what’s important to us.”
He said the Sto:lo believe they are responsible for looking after everything they see, including the Chinook salmon, the main food source for threatened southern resident killer whales.
“Part of this conversation needs to be what safeguards are in place to start a project like this,” McNeil said.
“When we say everything, that’s in English the land, that’s the water, that’s the air, that’s the four-legged, the winged, the crawlers, the diggers, everything. Whether they are human or not, we’ve got a responsibility for it.”
The federal government announced last May it would spend $4.5 billion to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline from Kinder Morgan. Expansion of the pipeline would triple the capacity of the line from northern Alberta to Burnaby.
Legislature officials deny wrongdoing
Camille BAINS Citizen news service
VANCOUVER — The two top officials in British Columbia’s legislature say they’re humiliated after being placed on administrative leave and don’t know what they’ve done to provoke a police investigation, but they want their jobs and their reputations back.
Sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz and clerk of the house Craig James denied any wrongdoing at a news conference Monday and repeated a demand made by their lawyer Friday to be reinstated to their positions.
Lenz paused and his voice cracked with emotion as he spoke about the support he has received from family and friends since police escorted him out of the legislature last Tuesday after the house voted unanimously to place both men on paid leave.
He described how he was “shocked” when he learned he was being investigated and has had trouble sleeping and eating.
“Although it is impossible to deny what you do not know, I firmly say that I have done nothing wrong and that I am confident that the independent investigation now underway with the RCMP will clear me of any alleged wrongdoing,” Lenz said as he and James sat beside their lawyer, Gavin Cameron.
Lenz became emotional as he said his daughter received a text from someone saying “Sorry about your father” and offering prayers but then she couldn’t get hold of him.
James said no one has informed him of what he is alleged to have done or asked for his side of the story.
“The damage to my reputation is irreparable. The healing can only begin with my return to work,” he said. “I cannot imagine what concern there is about how I have acted in the administration of the legislative assembly that would warrant my being removed from my office,” he said, adding he has worked in the legislature for 30 years.
Both men said they will co-operate with the RCMP investigation, and James outlined steps he has taken since he became clerk in 2011 to improve the administration of the legislature, including assuring the auditor general that problems identified in a report would be fixed.
“I have established processes in the legislative assembly that are essentially bulletproof.”
The speaker of the legislature released a letter Monday saying it is up to the assembly to decide whether it wants to rescind the motion to suspend the men.
In the letter to the three party house leaders, Speaker Darryl Plecas says the motion provides for a periodic review of the decision taken last Tuesday. Plecas says all three party leaders
NEWS IN BRIEF
B.C. nurses strike tentative deal
VICTORIA (CP) — The Health Employers Association and The B.C. Nurses’ Union bargaining group have announced a tentative agreement for the province’s 44,000 nurses. The agreement falls under the B.C. government’s sustainable services negotiating mandate, which in 2019 includes a general wage increase of two per cent in each year of a threeyear agreement. The mandate also allows for the ability to negotiate conditional funding, but no details of the agreement will be released until after a ratification vote.
The tentative deal covers registered nurses, psychiatric and licensed practical nurses working in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home-support and mental-health facilities.
A union spokeswoman says ratification votes will be held around the province until Jan. 21 and the results are expected to be announced by Jan. 22.
87-year-old woman murdered
VANCOUVER (CP) — Police say the death of an 87-year-old woman whose body was found in her apartment in Vancouver is being investigated as a homicide.
Police say they were called at about 8 a.m. Saturday by a relative of Elizabeth Poulin, who lived in an apartment near Kingsway Avenue and Kerr Street.
Sgt. Jason Robillard said the investigation is a top priority for police and based on information collected so far, investigators do not believe there is a risk to the public.
Otter raids
koi pond, avoids
capture
VANCOUVER (CP) — An opportunistic otter that is preying on koi in a classical Chinese garden in Vancouver has eaten 10 of the 14 large carp in a pond as it continues to evade traps. A spokeswoman for the Vancouver Park Board says one koi had been caught at lunch time on Monday and staff were lowering the pond level to net the three remaining fish for transfer to the Vancouver Aquarium.
Although it is impossible to deny what you do not know, I firmly say that I have done nothing wrong...
— Sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz
supported the position that “it would not be appropriate for these permanent officers to continue to be at the assembly in the face of an active criminal investigation regarding their actions related to the assembly.”
The RCMP has said it is investigating staff at the legislature, but it has not said who is the subject of the probe or described the investigation as criminal in nature.
The Liberals have asked for an emergency meeting to question Plecas about how and why he hired a special adviser to investigate his concerns about Lenz and James.
On Saturday, Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said his caucus still has a lot of questions about the Speaker’s decision to hire his friend Alan Mullen in January to look into the administrative duties of the two officials.
The speaker’s office forwarded information to the RCMP in August and the Mounties are investigating with the help of two special
prosecutors, who have declined comment on the case. Wilkinson said he’s asking questions now in part because it came as a surprise to him when Mullen revealed Wednesday that he had led the investigation before handing it off to the RCMP. Before Wednesday, the Liberals thought Mullen was a clerical worker and driver for the Speaker, he said.
But Plecas says in his letter that the Liberals did not raise any objections at a meeting before the motion was presented to the house.
“Official Opposition house leader Mary Polak specifically stated that she did not want or need any further information about the allegations beyond knowing that there was an active RCMP investigation,” he wrote.
Plecas says the work done by Lenz and James is “central to the operations and deliberations of the legislative assembly.”
“They must have the unqualified trust and confidence of the house. They are entitled to the presumption of innocence in any criminal process, but the reality of an active criminal investigation concerning their activities as permanent officers of the house cannot be ignored by the house.”
The Speaker says his office canvassed members about an emergency management meeting for their availability and has since concluded a scheduled meeting of the committee should go ahead on Dec. 6.
Daria Wojnarski said they were trying to capture the otter with traps in both the public and private sections of the garden. The otter moved into the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden just over a week ago and remains on the loose. The koi in the garden’s pond were prized for their longevity, size and unique markings.
CP PHOTO
Sto:lo Tribal Chief Tyrone McNeil poses for a photograph at the Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort in Victoria on Monday, after speaking to the National Energy Board about traditional evidence from Indigenous groups as part of its review of the marine shipping impacts of the Trans Mountain pipeline.
Dziekanski case destroyed RCMP spokesman’s life, widow says
Laura KANE Citizen news service
BURNABY — The last time
Pierre Lemaitre put on his RCMP uniform with pride, it was Oct. 14, 2007, the day he responded to a call about a fatal police confrontation at Vancouver’s airport, his widow says.
He was never the same after Robert Dziekanski’s death, Sheila Lemaitre testified Monday at a coroner’s inquest into her husband’s death by suicide.
“He wasn’t my husband,” she said. “Pierre changed from being the most caring, loving, sweetest husband... He got progressively angrier and more and more anxious.”
Lemaitre handled media relations for the Mounties in the days following Dziekanski’s death and was later accused of misleading the public. However, an inquiry into the Polish immigrant’s death concluded Lemaitre didn’t know some of the information he had given was inaccurate.
Sheila Lemaitre testified that on the day of the airport altercation, he communicated the information he was told to give to media.
It was only a day later that he learned a citizen-shot video existed that contradicted some of his statements, she said.
He had told reporters that Dziekanski was stunned with a Taser twice, but the man had been jolted five times. Lemaitre also repeatedly described him as “combative,” but the video showed he was relatively calm when RCMP officers arrived.
Lemaitre immediately urged his supervisors to allow him to correct the information, but he was ordered not to, she said.
“It progressed, then, rather quickly into a very difficult situation,” she said. “Pierre was very upset when he would return home after work after that.”
Media reports described her husband as an RCMP spin doctor and liar, she said, and that upset him. He would scream at the TV that he wanted to correct the information he had given out to reporters.
“He wasn’t allowed to,” she said.
“It was really hard for him.”
Lemaitre was transferred off the case after two days and eventually moved to the traffic department, which he compared to “being put
out with the trash,” his widow said. He felt belittled and disrespected by his colleagues, with one calling him “redundant,” she said. Her husband had suffered from anxiety and depression for years and was first prescribed medication in 1993. It was related in part to traumatic scenes he’d witnessed as an officer and his estrangement
from his daughters after his divorce from his first wife, she said.
But it grew much worse after Dziekanski’s death and he took several stress leaves from work.
Her once caring husband who felt strongly about women’s rights became abusive, said Lemaitre, who is a former police officer.
“He couldn’t explain to me why he was angry sometimes, or why he was feeling the way he was, why he was so anxious,” she said.
He described it as a “rage in his head, burning in his brain” that he couldn’t control, she said.
He also began buying model trains and planes, but she said he would never finish building them.
He accrued large credit card debts, she said.
About four weeks before his death he switched medications, and when she expressed concerns about side effects, she recalled him replying, “I have to try something.
I can’t live like this.”
On the morning of his death, there was TV news coverage about a verdict that was set to come out in the perjury trial of an officer involved in the Dziekanski case. She muted the TV and switched
channels, but he may have seen it, Lemaitre recalled. He seemed quiet that morning, but she followed her usual routine of walking their dogs and picking blueberries on their farm in Abbotsford. When she returned home, Lemaitre said she found her husband’s body in the basement.
“I said, ‘Oh no. No,’” she remembered through tears.
She said she believes he had made up his mind about killing himself days earlier. He had done errands that involved heavy lifting, which she couldn’t do because of an injury.
She said Lemaitre always dreamed of becoming a police officer and he knew he would see upsetting scenes. But he was always able to pick himself up from those experiences, she said.
“What we have difficulty with is when we’re beset with attacks from within. It’s a whole other issue when... you don’t have that internal support, when the people you work with are the source of that pressure and pain,” Sheila Lemaitre testified.
“That’s when Pierre could no longer pick himself up.”
LEMAITRE
Page 9
Wildcats serve up trouble for Cedars
Ted CLARKE Citizen staff tclarke@pgcitizen.ca
Aaron Spurge was a human piledriver for the Mount Sentinel Wildcats Saturday afternoon on the single-A provincial boys volleyball court. He laid down a foundation the Cedars Christian Eagles were unable to topple.
Spurge, the Sentinels’ Grade 10 power hitter, unleashed a devastating jump serve that tore holes in the Cedars defence. He reeled off a pair of aces and rocked the Eagles’ world as the instigator of an 11-point run that gave the Kootenay zone champions a 16-3 lead in the opening set. They went on to win 25-7 and wrapped up the best-of-three battle for fifth place with a 25-22 triumph in the second set.
Campbell. “He got red-hot and it totally lifts the whole team and unfortunately it tends to deflate the other team. We won out today and it’s always nice to win your last match. We feel good about ourselves. All my guys are Grade 10s and 11s so they’ll all be back next year.”
In the gold-medal match Saturday, the Vernon Christian Royals pounded out a 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-16) decision over the Credo Christian Sabres of Langley. The Centennial Christian Seahawks of Terrace, the tournament’s top seed, beat the Kelowna Christian Knights 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-15) for bronze.
The Eagles made a game of it in the second set but were foiled by too many unforced errors...
“It was a tough one – we’ve played serves like that before but had a hard time getting that one up. It was tough to lose on that one,” said Eagles Grade 12 power hitter Joel Nelson.
“They played really good defence on us.”
Spurge and middle blocker Kyle Kabatoff were strong at the net but there weren’t a lot of big hits that turned it in their favour. The Sentinels’ reactive defence and smart tips and sets to unguarded areas proved the difference. The Eagles made a game of it in the second set but were foiled by too many unforced errors, muffed serves and an inability to put the ball down often enough to gain any momentum.
“I guess we just started off on the wrong foot – just some guys were tired, we’ve played all weekend and it’s been tiring,” said Eagles Grade 12 libero Aidan Ceasar. “I think it was actually better for us to play at home with all the support from friends and family and the school. We got used to the pressure and it was great to have all that support.”
Wildcats head coach Glen Campbell said there was no stopping his team from South Slocan once Spurge found his rhythm behind the serving line.
“When he’s on, that is a very tough serve to try to pass,” said
The Eagles finished sixth in the 16-team tournament, improving three spots on their No. 9 ranking going into the three-day event at the College of New Caledonia. They pulled off a minor upset in their morning playoff against the St. Andrews Sabres, beating the No. 6 Victoria team 2-1 (25-23, 20-25, 15-13) to advance to the fifth-place match, while Mt. Sentinel edged fourth-ranked Bulkley Valley of Smithers 2-1 (25-21, 19-25, 15-13).
Playing in front of a hometown crowd at CNC, the Eagles lost their first three matches but won their last two round-robin games to make it into the playoffs. In the quarterfinals Friday night they lost 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-18) to Credo Christian, the defending B.C. champions from Langley.
For Eagles head coach Roland Rempel, who took over the senior boys team after three seasons at the helm with the Cedars senior girls, getting to the fifth-place playoff was gravy considering their ranking. “I couldn’t be more proud of them, we battled hard and we were known as a team that played great defence and we were hard to play against,” said Rempel. “To be top-half in this provincial tournament, that’s a great finish for us. We’re not a top-three team but four, five or six, we can play there.
We have a young team with four Grade 11 or 10 starters so we’re looking at coming back to this tournament next year for sure.”
Rempel admitted his team could not recover from the damage Spurge caused.
Crosina of the Cedars Christian
Wildcats blocker Xavier Moore on Saturday afternoon
single-A boys provincial volleyball
“I think he served (11) before he finally missed – most jump-servers don’t last that long,” said Rempel. “Hats off to Mount Sentinel. In that first set their defence was untouchable. They were digging everything, one-hand, two-hands, they could do no wrong in that first set. They were the better team for sure.”
• The College Heights Cougars placed fifth at the 24-team junior boys provincial championship
Cascades complete UNBC sweep
Ted CLARKE Citizen staff
Foiled by consecutive losses to the Fraser Valley Cascades over the weekend in Abbotsford, the UNBC Timberwolves (6-2) have lost their grip on first place in the U Sports Canada West women’s basketball league. The Cascades hung on to beat the T-wolves 74-71 Saturday, after knocking UNBC from the undefeated ranks in a 72-66 decision on Friday
Following up on her 28-point performance Friday, Taylor Claggett shot a game-high 25 points and hauled in 11 rebounds in the rematch for the Cascades, who improved to 5-5. Katelyn Mallette backed Claggett’s efforts with 15 points and Amanda Thompson collected 13.
Madison Landry was the Twolves top shooter with 19 points.
Maria Mongomo was held to 17 points (three in the first half) and had 10 rebounds. Vasiliki Louka collected 16 points and 11 rebounds. Alina Shakirova contributed 13 points coming off the bench.
The T-wolves shot just 30.9 per cent (21-for-68) from the field. Fraser Valley was considerably better at 43.8 per cent, hitting 28of-64 from the field.
“It was pretty much the same game, right?” said T-wolves head coach Sergey Shchepotkin on canadawest.org
“UFV shot very well, and they’re aggressive and played pretty good defence.”
Saturday in Kamloops. The Cougars went 3-0 in pool play, beating Richmond Christian, Fraser Heights and Sa-Hali. After being eliminated from title contention with a quarterfinal loss to Langley Christian the Cougars defeated Abbotsford Christian and Kelowna Secondary in the playoff round Saturday.
The Duchess Park Condors, ranked 16th going in, went 2-1 in pool play. They beat Mount
Fraser Valley led 35-28 at halftime.
The T-wolves cracked the U Sports top-10 national ranking for the first time in the school’s seven-year Canada West history. While their two weekend losses will certainly drop them out of the rankings, nobody’s panicking in the UNBC camp.
“We’re still a young program,” Shchepotkin said. “Two years ago, nobody thought about us as a top10 team. We’re progressing, and it’s happened that we’ve made the top 10. It’s a good sign for us, but I still believe we need a lot of work.
“It’s good to play versus strong teams like UFV and to get that experience. It’s a test for us. I think we played pretty well. It’s
Boucherie and Elgin Park and lost to Pacific Christian. The Condors won playoff games over Hugh McRoberts and Sa-Hali and lost the 13th-place game to Mount Boucherie and placed 14th. The Cedars Christian Eagles defeated Norkam in their final game and placed 23rd.
MEI beat Pacific Academy in the championship match, while Langley Christian topped Pacific Christian for bronze.
not about the result – it’s more about what quality of the game we’re showing. I’m happy that we fought until the end and tried our best to win. They shot better than us, so they won. But at least we are not down too much. We are showing, I believe, pretty good basketball. We’ll keep working on it.”
The UNBC men also lost both their games to Fraser Valley to drop to 5-3. The Cascades beat them 85-79 on Saturday, after an 81-62 win the night before. In each game, the Cascades rebounding proved the difference. It was a new ripple in an otherwise solid season for the T-wolves, who were off to their best-ever start.
— see ‘IT’S A WAR, page 8
CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE
Lucas
School Eagles attempts a kill shot against Mount Sentinel
at the College of New Caledonia during the
championship tournament.
MONGOMO
‘It’s a war every single weekend’
from page 7
“We’ve been a pretty good rebounding team so far through the preseason up until now, and I think this is the first weekend we’ve really been beat up on the glass by anybody,” said Twolves head coach Todd Jordan on canadawest.org
“That Fraser Valley team this weekend showed us a pretty good level of hard as far as going to the glass, and we need to be able to match that. Our schedule down the stretch, we’ve got a lot of bigger teams coming up, and that’s going to be an important part.
“This league, it’s a war every single weekend, and these things happen. You take two losses, and it’s all about how quick you can rebound.”
The Cascades sealed the win with their long-range shooting in the fourth quarter, hitting five threes in the final 10 minutes. Three of those triples came out of the hands of Sukhman Sandhu, who picked up 22 points in 17 minutes of playing time.
Parm Bains sunk four threes on the way to a 19-point game and also had five assists, while Mark Johnson totalled 12 points and 13 rebounds. Jovan Leamy scored 15 of his gamehigh 23 points in the first half.
Austin Chandler had 15 points, James Agyeman had 14 and Tyrell Laing finished with 13.
Both T-wolves teams will be in Saskatoon to play the Saskatchewan Huskies Thursday and Friday.
Watson leads Texans to record-setting win
HOUSTON (AP) — Deshaun Watson threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a third as the Houston Texans set a franchise record with their eighth straight win, 34-17 over the Tennessee Titans on Monday night.
Demaryius Thomas scored his first two touchdowns as a Texan and Lamar Miller ran for 162 yards, including a 97-yard TD. In the first game since founder and owner Robert “Bob” McNair died on Friday, the Texans (8-3) honoured him by wearing decals on the back of their helmets in the shape of a football with white block letters bearing his initials of “RCM.”
The Texans became the first team in NFL history to win eight games in a row after starting 0-3. They lead Indianapolis by two games in the AFC South. They trailed by 10 early before reeling off 27 straight points. Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler left in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion and did not return.
Quesnel coaches enjoy win in P.G.
Ted CLARKE Citizen staff tclarke@pgcitizen.ca
The Saskatoon Blades have been especially sharp on the Western Hockey League road.
For nine of their 15 wins this season they’ve been the visitors.
Their latest conquest came Saturday in Prince George Cougar territory, where the Blades began a five-game tour of the B.C. Division with a 4-1 win in front of 3,125 witnesses at CN Centre.
For first-year Blades head coach Mitch Love and his assistant Bryan Marsh, who were born and raised in Quesnel, an hour’s drive south, a win in Prince George is as close to home as they’ll ever get as WHL coaches and they were savouring the moment, knowing it was a narrower escape for the Blades than the score would indicate.
“It wasn’t pretty on both sides as a hockey game, from a fan’s perspective, a lot of missed opportunities and both teams had some looks but either missed the net or didn’t execute,” said Love, who played five years in the WHL with Moose Jaw, Swift Current and Everett before embarking on a six-year pro career as a defenceman.
“I give a lot of credit to our guys, they stuck with it and drew some penalties in the third period and we kind of found our game a bit and that gave us some opportunity. We spend a lot of time on special teams, especially on power plays. We’re still trying to find our way but it was big goal and our penalty kill did its job tonight too.”
The Blades went 1-for-6 with the extra skater while the Cougars were 0-for-3.
The Cats got on the board first but it took a video replay to confirm the puck Mike MacLean jammed in from the side of the net crossed the line before it came back out. That happened 2:04 into the game, right after the six-foot-seven MacLean introduced Blades defenceman Zachary Ashton to the end boards with a crushing-but-clean shoulder check.
The Blades wasted no time getting back on even terms and Max Gerlach provided that spark, cashing in on the game’s first penalty
I give a lot of credit to our guys, they stuck with it and drew some penalties in the third period and we kind of found our game a bit and that gave us some opportunity.
just 3:45 in. Gerlach had the puck on his stick for only a split-second as he drove to the net through the slot to redirect a feed from centre Gary Haden. The Texas-born Gerlach finished with a goal and an assist and was named the game’s first star.
Haden also drew an assist on the gamewinner 23 seconds before the first intermission when Seth Bafaro left his point position and unloaded a 30-foot wristshot that sailed in over Taylor Gauthier’s glove. It remained a one-goal game until the 10-minute mark of the third period when Eric Florchuk sunk the dagger. Playing the left side on a line with Gerlach and Blades scoring leader Kirby Dach, Florchuk was left uncovered in front after Gauthier robbed Gerlach with a glove save. Emil Malysjev tracked down the rebound and fed the puck to Florchuk, whose flick-of-the-wrist snipe from the slot found the top corner.
The Cougars failed to generate many quality chances and were held to just 22 shots, rarely taking Blades goalie Nolan Maier out of his comfort zone. Four of those Cougar shots came off the stick of the ever-energetic Reid Perepeluk, who came close to scoring his first of the season with a backhanded wraparound in the second period.
Gauthier was about to leave his crease to go to the bench when Norwegian import winger Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen intercepted the puck and let go a blast from the top of the circle which fooled the 17-year-old netminder to cap the scoring with about a minute left.
The 20-year-old MacLean maintained his physicality and had one of his best games as a Cougar. He was rewarded with plenty of icetime playing on a line with Tyson Upper and Matej Toman and also drew time on penalty kills.
Aside from the first Saskatoon goal the
— Blades head coach Mitch Love
Cougars penalty-killers held their ground and were at their best midway through the second period. Despite a full minute of being two men short they limited the Blades to just one shot. “It was a tough one, we played good and we were getting chances on net but just couldn’t find a way to get the puck in the net,” said MacLean. “Playing with those two guys, they’re pretty skilled guys. I just like to dump-andchase and get after the puck and it’s nice having those guys around you feeding the puck. My legs felt really good tonight.”
Ilijah Colina also played a key roll as one of the Cats’ penalty-killing forwards, winning draws and keeping the Blades from getting their shots through. Colina, 18, was sporting a cut over his eye after narrowly avoiding a serious injury the night before when he got hit from behind headfirst into the boards in the Cougars’ 5-3 win over the Regina Pats.
“Me and (Josh Curtis) work well together on PK, that’s one of our main roles,” said Colina. “It could have gone either way, it just seemed they were capitalizing on their chances. I made a mistake in the d-zone (allowing Florchuk to get open on the third Blades goal) and that just can’t happen in a tight game like that.”
The Cougars headed out on the bus for Kennewick, Wash., where they’ll meet the TriCity Americans tonight. The Cats will play in Spokane Wednesday night, then return for their final home games of 2018 – a Saturday-Sunday weekend series with the Victoria Royals.
The Sunday afternoon game will feature the annual teddy-bear/warm winter clothing toss. “Tri-City came up and took two games in our building (in October) so we’ll be ready,” said Colina, a former Portland Winterhawk. “Those two teams, Spokane and Tri, feed off their fans and we have to come out as a typical road team – throw hits and play fast and keep it simple.”
Kings move closer to top spot in BCHL
Citizen staff
One point.
That’s all that separates the Prince George Spruce Kings from the best view in the house in the B.C. Hockey League.
The Spruce Kings scored a convincing 6-3 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs Saturday night in Chilliwack to move to within a point of the Chiefs atop the BCHL’s overall standings.
Dustin Manz triggered the win with two goals and an assist. Ben Brar, Ben Poisson, Sean Donaldson and Nolan Welsh, into an empty net, also scored for the Kings. Max Coyle collected two assists.
Brody Gagno, Ethan Bowen and Brett Willits scored on Kings goalie Logan Neaton.
The shots were even at 30 apiece.
The Spruce Kings (19-7-1-2) are 7-1-1-1 in their last 10 games. Prince George has one game in hand over the Chiefs (21-9-0-0).
The Kings led 2-0 after one period on goals from Donaldson and Brar, who scored his team-leading 19th.
Manz, who scored one of the Prince George goals in their 3-2 shootout loss to the Chiefs Friday, made it a 3-0 count in the second period before Gagno found a way to beat Neaton. Poisson, the Kings’ captain, restored the three-goal lead for the visitors before the second intermission.
The Kings begin a seven-game homestand Wednesday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena against the Merritt Centennials.
Caps stay hot against Trotz’s new team
NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Wilson had extra time to work on his skills while serving a suspension during the first 16 games of the season. It’s paid off in a big way for the Washington Capitals since his return.
Wilson scored twice, Braden Holtby stopped 32 shots and the Capitals beat the New York Islanders and former coach Barry Trotz 4-1 Monday night for their season-high sixth straight win.
Wilson has six goals and five assists in eight games since joining the lineup, including goals in four straight games.
“I had lots of time, worked on a little bit of everything,” he said. “I just tried to make sure I could pick up where we left off last year. We were playing some pretty good hockey at the end of last year, some pretty good chemistry going.”
Nic Dowd and Alex Ovechkin also scored for Washington, which won after
giving up the first goal for the fifth time during its win streak that has catapulted the defending champions to first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Valtteri Filppula scored and Thomas Greiss finished with 20 saves for the Islanders, playing for the fourth time in six days and snapped a two-game win streak. Trotz was facing the Capitals for first time since leading them to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup title in June. Trotz also guided Washington to the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s best record in 201516 and 2016-17 and then resigned in a contract dispute and subsequently signed with Islanders.
Trotz, Islanders assistant coach Lane Lambert and goalie coach Mitch Korn received their championship rings in the Capitals’ dressing room before the game and addressed their former players.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE
Prince George Cougars forward Reid Perepeluk puts a shot on net against Saskatoon Blades goaltender Nolan Maier on Saturday night at CN Centre.
Stampeders exorcise Grey Cup demons
Dan RALPH Citizen news service
Aslick turf couldn’t derail Bo Levi Mitchell, Terry Williams and the Calgary Stampeders. Mitchell threw two TD passes to earn game MVP honours while Williams had a record 97-yard punt return touchdown as Calgary ended two years of Grey Cup misery with a 27-16 win over the Ottawa Redblacks in the CFL final on Sunday night.
Mitchell, who finished 24-of-36 passing for 253 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, said the Stampeders exorcised their demons by beating Ottawa in the aftermath of two straight Grey Cup losses. Calgary lost 39-33 in overtime to Ottawa in 2016 and dropped a 27-24 decision last year to the Toronto Argonauts after two campaigns in which the Stampeders were the CFL’s dominant regular-season club.
“It feels surreal,” said Mitchell, also the Grey Cup MVP of Calgary’s 2014 win over Hamilton. “I know we talked that (the two previous losses) didn’t mean anything but we couldn’t make the game bigger than it was. We had to understand that this was one game and you can only win one game and win only one Grey Cup. I think the guys who were on those two teams, even on the team last year, the emotions at the 30-second mark kind of hit. It wasn’t about redemption against anybody else or the league... it felt like as an organization we’ve been at the top too much not to finish the job. It feels amazing to get it done for the city of Calgary.”
A Commonwealth Stadium gathering of 55,819 watched the opening kickoff in 1 C conditions with an 11 kilometre-an-hour wind. But the field conditions quickly became the story as a hard, slick Commonweath Stadium turf made traction near impossible. During warmups, many Stampeders wore shoes featuring short, traditional turf cleats or those with a flat rubber sole. Before the contest, Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell downplayed the conditions, but it became apparent early that footing would be an issue. That was especially clear with 38 seconds left in the first quarter when Williams had both feet slip
Relieved Stamps back in Calgary with Cup
CALGARY (CP) — Tired but happy Calgary Stampeders filed off the buses at McMahon Stadium with the Grey Cup in tow Monday.
The Stampeders defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 27-16 for the CFL’s championship trophy less than 24 hours earlier in Edmonton.
After two straight Grey Cup losses to underdog teams, Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson’s emotions were a mixture of joy and relief.
“It felt good, but I have to admit there was so much pressure and uneasiness you know,” Dickenson said. “If you didn’t get it done for the third year, can you overcome that as an organization, as a team, as a coach? I just tried to really keep the guys focused.
“We stuck together, we believe in each other and guys did what they had to do to win. It’s great to win a championship. Even better to win it in Edmonton.”
The coaches pulled into McMahon’s parking lot just after noon. Dickenson stepped off the bus with the coveted trophy and hoisted it in the air for about 70 fans and media.
The former quarterback won his first Grey Cup as a head coach. Dickenson was the team’s offensive co-ordinator when Calgary won it in 2014.
Several players travelled separately with family
from beneath him while returning a missed 47-yard Lewis Ward field goal try.
“It (the field) was terrible, to be honest it was really bad,” said Calgary receiver Lemar Durant, the game’s top Canadian with four catches for 30 yards and a TD. “I couldn’t get my footing on anything.
“On a lot of stuff, yes (the slick surface was an advantage for receivers). But at the same time you’re trying to bust out of your cuts quick because you feel you have that advantage and you don’t. Either way, if you slip, advantage other team.”
Ottawa running back William Powell, who ran for a game-high 94 yards on 16 carries, was more to the point.
members, including quarterback and Grey Cup MVP
Bo Levi Mitchell, and were returning to Calgary later.
“I know the pressure Bo was under,” Dickenson said. “Everyone one was talking about how this game will define his legacy. I felt I had a little bit to do with that. I’m glad, because he wins me a lot of football games.”
A celebration of Calgary’s win is scheduled for today at noon in front of city hall.
Running back Terry Williams, whose 97-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the second half was a game-changer, said he’d been asked about that play more than he’d thought about it.
“We’re Grey Cup champs and that’s the most important thing,” Williams said. “I don’t think I got any sleep to be honest. That’s why I’ve got my sunglasses on. I’m tired. I’m ready to go home, take a hot shower and just relax for awhile.”
Calgary was the heavy Grey Cup favourite over the Toronto Argonauts in 2017 and the Redblacks in 2016, but lost both games.
“The adversity we had to go through this year, especially this year at the receiving position and especially coming off two Grey Cup losses... facing all that adversity and then finishing the season as a Grey Cup champ is probably the most rewarding,”
receiver Eric Rogers said.
“It wasn’t pretty icy, it was very icy,” said Powell. “But both teams had to play on it.
“Hopefully in the future we can make better conditions for the Grey Cup but that’s just how it was today.”
The field conditions nearly prevented Williams from delivering the game’s biggest play. After taking the punt, Williams nearly slipped heading upfield but an Ottawa defender engaged with a blocker slid on by. Once Williams regained himself, it allowed him to hit the open field, then run past punter Richie Leone to put Calgary ahead 21-11.
“I thought I was going to land on my butt for a second but I caught myself,” Williams said. “I saw the opening, hit it at full speed.
BLADES 4 AT COUGARS 1 First Period 1. Prince George, MacLean 3 (Upper, Lakusta) 2:04 2. Saskatoon, Gerlach 15 (Haden, Davidson) 3:45 (pp) 3. Saskatoon, Bafaro 3 (Wouters, Haden) 19:37 Penalties – Crossley PG (hooking) 2:57, Bafaro SAS (high-sticking) 7:23. Second Period No scoring. Penalties – Crossley PG (roughing) 8:16, MacLean PG (interference) 9:15, Florchuk SAS (tripping) 13:05, Dach SAS (delay of game) 19:20. Third Period 4. Saskatoon, Florchuk 8 (Malysjev, Gerlach) 10:29 5. Saskatoon, Roykas Marthinsen 7, 18:51 Penalties – Crossley PG (slashing) 6:52, Maser PG (high-sticking) 12:33, Leppard PG (slashing) 16:06. Shots on goal by Saskatoon 8 8 12 -28 Prince George 7 10 5 -22 Goal – Saskatoon, Maier (W,13-5-1-0); Prince George, Gauthier (L,6-8-1-1). Power plays – SAS; 1-6; PG: 0-3. Referees – Tyler Adair, Trevor Nolan; Linesmen – Tyler Garden, Michael McGowan. Attendance – 3,125. Scratches – Saskatoon: D Randen Schmidt (healthy), D Aidan De La Gorgendiere (healthy), RW Brady Nicholas, C Jackson Caller (hearthy); Prince George: D Cam MacPhee (shoulder
“It was big because we needed a spark. We were battling all game and needed to make it happen and I’m happy we did.”
Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson said the slippery surface forced him to change his plan.
“We knew it was going to be tough to make sharp cuts so we had to try and adjust our play calling,” he said. “For me, I didn’t think we ran as well as we could have and I thought they ran the ball quite well.
“It looked like we were a bit on a skating rink but we were both on the same field. It seemed like we just made more plays.”
Ottawa, in its third Grey Cup game in four years, never seemed to get into an offensive rhythm on the slick surface. Quarterback
It feels amazing to get it done for the city of Calgary.
— Bo Levi Mitchell
Trevor Harris was 20-of-38 passing for 288 yards and a TD but had three interceptions.
Last weekend, Harris threw for 367 yards to 10 different receivers and had a playoff-record six TDs in Ottawa’s 46-27 East Division final win over Hamilton. Harris came into the Grey Cup having thrown for 2,262 passing yards with 17 TDs and just two interceptions over his prior seven starts.
Even with a receiving corps featuring three 1,000-yard receivers –including CFL top Canadian Brad Sinopoli – Ottawa’s offence had few answers for a Calgary defence that was tops in the CFL in fewest offensive points allowed (17.8 per game), offensive touchdowns (27), passing TDs (11) and tied for most sacks (45).
While the Redblacks amassed 387 offensive yards, Calgary controlled the ball for 35 minutes. And the Stampeders forced six turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles and on downs) while having none of their own.
“The performance those guys (Calgary’s defence) put in against a guy who is elite, very elite, was incredible,” Mitchell said. “He set a CFL record last week with six touchdowns and they got (three) picks off him.
“They’re amazing. It was fun to watch tonight.”
But Mitchell said it was specialteams player Riley Jones who delivered the game-winning play. In the fourth quarter, Jones delivered a crushing hit on Ottawa’s Diontae Spencer during a punt return, forcing a fumble Wynton McManis recovered.
That set up a 29-yard Rene Paredes field goal at 2:54 that put Calgary ahead 27-14.
“If (Spencer) breaks that tackle or gets around Riley, it’s a touchdown and a completely different game,” Mitchell said. “Riley Jones not only tackled him but got the ball out and gave us a chance to get three points.
“That’s a 10-point swing there. To me, that play by Riley Jones won the game.”
Mitchell earned his second Grey Cup win and MVP honour. The 28-year-old native of Katy, Texas, will become a free agent in February and said with the CFL and its players heading into off-season bargaining on a new contract, he’ll take his time pondering his options, which could include the NFL. Don Jackson had Calgary’s other TD. Paredes booted the converts and two field goals.
Julian Feoli-Gudino had Ottawa’s touchdown. Jean-Christophe Beaulieu added a two-point convert while Ward booted two field goals. The other points came on a safety.
CP PHOTO
Alex Singleton of the Calgary Stampeders hoists the Grey Cup after Calgary defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 27-16 on Sunday in Edmonton.
MITCHELL
Citizen news service
ROME — Italian film-maker
Bernardo Bertolucci, who won Oscars with The Last Emperor and whose erotic drama Last Tango in Paris enthralled and shocked the world, died Monday. He was 77.
Bertolucci’s press office, Punto e Virgola, confirmed the death in an email to The Associated Press.
Italy’s state-run RAI said Bertolucci died at his home in Rome, surrounded by family.
“He will be remembered among the greatest in Italian and world film,” the Venice Film Festival, which awarded Bertolucci a lifetime achievement award in 2007, said in a statement.
Bertolucci’s movies also bore the imprint of the director’s own experiences in psychoanalysis. He always said that making films was his way of communicating with the audience. It was his personal language.
BERTOLUCCI
Bertolucci’s movies often explored the sexual relations among characters stuck in a psychological crisis, as in Last Tango, which was banned in his own Italy for over a decade. The self-professed Marxist also did not shy away from politics and ideology, as in The Conformist, which some critics consider Bertolucci’s masterpiece.
Despite working with A-list American and international stars, Bertolucci always defended his own film-making style against what he said was the pressure of the U.S. film industry. He maintained critical success for most of his career, weathering the controversies that his sexually provocative work would stir and some commercial flops.
“When it comes to commercial cinema, I have the strange pleasure of feeling that I’m from another tribe, an infiltrator,” he told Italian daily Corriere della Sera in 1990. He was honoured for lifetime achievement at the Cannes film festival in 2011, when he was already wheelchair-bound.
“Maybe I’m an idealist, but I still think of the movie theatre as a cathedral where we all go together to dream the dream together,” he said upon receiving an award from the Director’s Guild of America for his 1987 film The Last Emperor. That movie handed Bertolucci his greatest success. In 1988 it won all the nine Academy Awards that it had been nominated for – including best movie and best director.
The movie – the first Western feature film to win permission to shoot in Beijing’s Forbidden City – follows the life of China’s last emperor, from child-king at the end of the Qing Dynasty to war criminal and finally to an ordinary citizen in the People’s Republic.
It was filmed in the lush and vivid style that was one of Bertolucci’s trademarks. It featured grandiose scenes and intimate moments, and a flashback structure that is typical of biopics.
“The last emperor of Italian film is gone,” said Oscar-winning director Roberto Benigni and his wife, the actress Nicoletta Braschi, on learning of his death.
Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, who often worked with Bertolucci and won one of his three Oscars with Last Emperor, compared the director to William Faulkner.
“His style is not unlike that of Faulkner who’ll go on for 30 pages without a period. Bernardo doesn’t just use the camera to convey just one sentence. Everything flows into everything else,” said Storaro.
Filter tour in
Start him up
At 75, Jagger still gets a charge from touring
Mesfin FEKADU Citizen news service
NEW YORK — Mick Jagger likes a buzz. A natural buzz.
The Rolling Stones frontman, who will tour America next spring with his iconic band, says live shows give him a rush that can’t be matched and is the reason that at 75, he still loves touring.
“When you go out in front of all those people you get an enormous rush of chemicals in your body –your own chemicals, not chemicals you’ve put in,” he said laughing.
“Let’s face it, it is a huge buzz. Must be like playing football or something,” he said.
Jagger should feel like a football player – since he’ll be playing the same stadiums as NFL stars when the Stones’ No Filter tour launches in Miami on April 20, 2019.
Tickets go on sale Friday and the 13 shows will hit Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois and Washington, D.C.
“Basically your life’s attuned to doing those few hours onstage and everything else is a build up
to that. Of course, you get to enjoy yourself at other times, but really you’re thinking about the next show or the show you’re doing that night,” said Jagger, who will be joined onstage by Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts.
“A lot of prep time goes into that –keeping yourself (together) so you can get through the whole thing without screwing up physically and mentally and keeping yourself really sharp. But I really enjoy it.”
In an interview Monday with The Associated Press, Jagger talked about the tour, only having three Grammys and appearing in the new-but-old Aretha Franklin concert documentary, Amazing Grace, filmed at a Los Angeles church in 1972.
AP: What can fans expect from the U.S. shows?
Jagger: A good night out! A good night out for all. We did a kind of similar tour in Europe this summer, so it’s got a lot of fun. It’s pretty high energy and it’s a good a show, I think. I’m into it.
AP: Is it different performing in the U.S. compared to other territories?
Jagger: Well, I don’t have to speak foreign languages normally, so that’s a big difference.
When you tour Europe it’s a lot of languages, so I try to do them all and that takes up some time, so (in the U.S.) I can concentrate on some other things. There’s lots of regional differences, say between Houston and New York, so you’ve got to tune yourself to that a little bit. It’s slightly about adjusting your set and attitude. Its different. It’s nice that it’s different, you don’t want it to be completely homogenous.
AP: How’s the new music you’re writing coming along?
Jagger: It’s going good. I’ve got lots of stuff. I’m doing some more writing this week. And I’m always, like, messing around. I enjoy the writing process a lot. I mean, you always think the last thing you wrote is really wonderful and sometimes they’re really not (laughs). But it’s really fun doing it and it’s really enjoyable doing new things.
AP: You don’t need to release music because of the band’s catalogue. Jagger: Yeah, and we haven’t released that much and I think it’s a shame we haven’t released more new music. So, I would hope we’re going to release some music. We do have a huge catalogue. The thing about the catalogue is when we come up to doing a tour like this, I try and go back and find some stuff that we haven’t done ever or we haven’t done very much and try to mix it in, so it isn’t always the same show. But when you’re playing a really big show, there’s a certain amount of songs people want to hear – you don’t have to play them – but there’s a certain percentage of the songs that people will want to hear and if you don’t do them, they’ll go, “Wish he’d done that one.”
AP: Were you happy with the success of the band’s blues album, which won a Grammy this year?
Jagger: That was good. We weren’t really setting out to do that. It just happened. It was a fun thing to do. It was... stuff we’d known for years since we were kids and played in like clubs and we knew it all pretty well. I really thought it was great and the response was really surprising, and I thought that was really wonderful. And I just hope we’re going to come up with some new stuff as well.
AP: I’m surprised the Stones only have three Grammys, when other acts have 10 or 20. Does that bother you?
Jagger: No, I don’t really care about Grammys very much. I’m not saying it’s not not nice to have, it’s lovely to have. But it’s not going to break my heart if I don’t get Grammys and if my Grammys count is not as big as other peoples. But it’s very nice to get a Grammy. I appreciate it.
AP: I saw you in the new Aretha documentary...
Jagger: I didn’t even see it yet! It was like an amazing event. It was so delayed and long and I don’t think Aretha wanted it to come out for whatever reasons and there were so many technical problems with the sound, but I’m glad it’s out and I can’t wait to see it. It was quite a lot of preaching. Did they leave the preaching in?
AP: They did.
Jagger: I remember that very well.
AP: What else do you remember about that day?
Jagger: I remember it really well. It was just a wonderful event. It was quite mesmerizing from start to finish really. I think I went with Charlie (Watts) and I think Billy Preston quite possibly, but I don’t know if you see him there. It was really an amazing, really fantastic day in church really, which I haven’t had for a while.
Mick Jagger, left, and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform during their No
London in May.
Loretta McComber
Garmen Rolland Gunville August 25, 1935November 21, 2018
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved dad, husband, grandfather and great grandfather. Rolly Gunville passed away at the University Hospital of Northern BC on November 21, 2018 after courageously battling the complications of 2 surgeries over the last 2 weeks. Rolly was born in Biggar Sask., raised in Vancouver BC. and spent the better part of his last 30 years in Prince George. If you knew Rolly or had the chance to meet him he would have left you with a few good stories of his mischiefs, adventures, unconventional ideas or political gripes.
He is predeceased by his adoptive parents Beatrice and Arthur Smith and his brother George; his mother Mary Gunville and father Rex Ballentyne; and daughter Deborah. He is survived by his loving wife and soul mate Evelyn of 48 years; children Peter (Haley), April (Brian), Evelyn (Steve), stepdaughter Nicole (Scott), Anita, Bonnie, Cindy, Ray, Joanne and Christina; grandchildren Rebecca, Colton, Joshua, Daemon, Peyton, Madison, Rick, Dustin and many more grandchildren and great grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Prince George Curling Club on December 8, 2018 from 1-3 pm. Friends, family and others whose lives Rolly touched are invited to join us to celebrate his life and share his stories. Our family would like to give special thanks to all the nurses and staff at the hospital who cared for Rolly and, most importantly, to our family doctor, Dr. Ferriera, and his surgeon, Dr. Lokanathan, for giving us hope.
In lieu of flowers please give a gift in memory to the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.
Robert Michael Russell
Dec 30, 1954 - Nov 22, 2018
Robert departed this life on November 22, 2018 at the age of 63 years. He is lovingly remembered by his companion Susan Clermont, daughters Jennifer Negrin (Brad Negrin) and Tamara Russell (Clayton Gordon), his grandchildren; Brenden, Camryn and Brynlee Negrin as well as Van and Ava Gordon. Also, his beloved fur baby Becky-Lynne. No service by request. In lieu of flowers, if you are wishing to make a donation in Robert’s memory, please consider the Prince George Shrine Club No. 17.
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. Max Ehrmann, Copyright 1952.
It is with extreme sadness we announce the passing of a beloved mother, wife, grandmother, auntie, and friend. Loretta May McComber Kemp, born April 24, 1950, she passed away Nov 20, 2018 with her family by her side. Loretta is survived by her husband of 51 years Jim Kemp, daughters Donna Kemp (Tim). Jamette Kemp (Sam), her grandchildren Dustin, Samantha (Josh), Kolton, Aaron (Dani), Kenny (Jessica), Kristina (Dylan), her cherished great grandchildren Cohen, Brodie, Tyler, Brayden, Sierra and Jaxon. Her niece Bambi and many more family members and friends. A date for a celebration of Loretta’s life will be announced at a later date.
Pagnotta, Gaetano born June 22nd 1948 passed away November 21st, 2018. It is with great sadness and heavy hearts we announce the passing of Gaetano Pagnotta at the age of 70. Born in Grimaldi Cosenza, Italy. Gaetano passed away peacefully with his family by his side. He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather. Gaetano will be remembered by his loving wife of 51 years Santina, three sons; John, Luciano (Sandra) and Mike (Andrea) and four grandchildren; Zoe, Martina, Giuliana and Giordano. Also mourning his loss are brothers; Franco (Michelina), Battista (Angela), Carmelo (Maria) of Italy and Mario (Francesca) of Italy, also many family and friends in Canada and Italy. He will be deeply missed.
Prayer service
Rest In Peace
6:30PM Thursday Nov. 29th at Assmans Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass to be held 1:30PM Friday November 30th at St Mary’s Parish. Please use the Freeman Street entrance.
Mary Rose Foreman (Redmond)
May 13, 1928 - Nov 19, 2018
Mary passed peacefully in her 90th year after living a full & active life. Mary had an indomitable spirit and after Stewart died, she returned to college at the age of 45 to become an Licensed Practical Nurse. She left that career to work at Sears in the Catalog Department and then onto Credit Card Promotion where she won a number of Top Customer Service awards. She was an avid golfer, playing in the Senior BC Summer Games and scoring a hole in one in her 70’s despite being blind in one eye & half blind in the other. She also loved to travel both locally and afar and when she no longer could, she travelled vicariously thru her children & grandchildren. Mary was also a dedicated community volunteer including over 25 years at the Hospital Auxiliary. When her children left home to start their own lives & families, her home remained the gathering place for holiday celebrations. Mary worked hard to keep her family connected over the miles & thru the years. She is predeceased by her 1st husband Stewart Redmond, 2nd husband Patrick Foreman, daughter Judith, sons Sydney, Michael & Darcy. She is survived by her children Robert, Darryl, Donna (Art), Greg (Kathy), Shelly (Noel), 13 grandchildren, 16 greatgrandchildren & 2 great-great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring/summer of 2019 to allow Mary’s many far flung family & friends to attend. Notification of the date will be published in the PG Citizen. In lieu of flowers please donate to the compassionate Prince George Hospice House.
Heather M Welch Mar 12, 1951 to Oct 31, 2018
It is with great sadness that on Oct 31, 2018, we lost our Mother, sister and friend. Heather passed away as the fireworks began, ending her courageous battle with cancer. Heather was surrounded by her children, Leona, Leann and Guy, stepdaughter Teresa and dearest friends at the Prince George Hospice House. The celebration of Heather’s life will be held on Dec 2, 2018 at the Elks Hall 663 Douglas Street from 1-4pm The family would like to ask in lieu of flowers you make a donation to the Prince George Hospice House, where she felt safe enough to rest,
Todoruk,Bob September1,1941-November22,2018 Withbrokenhearts,wesharethenewsofthesudden passingofourbelovedhusband,father,and grandfather.Bobpassedawaysurroundedbyfamily andinthelovingarmsofPat,whohasbeenhisbest friendsincethedaytheymet,57yearsago.Bobwas predeceasedbyhisparentsandsonKelly,andis survivedbyPat;son,Kevin;daughter,Kathy;andhis grandchildren,Robyn,Ryan,Kailey,andKyle.Bob’s passionwashisfamilyandwehavebeensoblessed tohavehimasourrolemodelforlove,dedication, andshowingusallthetruemeaningofwhatitmeans toalwaysbetheretolendahand.Anyonewho knowsBobknowswhatanavidfishermanhewas. Hisloveforflyfishingandspendingtimeatalake waswithhimhisentirelife.Millionsofmemories centeraroundthebestflies,chatsaboutthesizeof thefish,and,ofcourse,topsecretfishingholes.In lieuofflowers,thefamilyasksthatyoucastalineor teachsomeonetofishandthinkofBobthisspring. Noservicebyrequest,butfamilyandfriendsare invitedtosharememoriesandstoriesonTuesday, November27thfrom1:00to3:00attheColumbus CommunityCenter.
Mr. Edward “Eddie” David Forfar, of Willow River, born on August 28, 1954 in Terrace, to the late Anna Irene Davidson and Edward Cameron Craig Forfar, passed away at age 64 on November 22, 2018 in Prince George. He is survived by his daughter Nikki Forfar; daughter Diana Forfar, son-in-law Jason Scheumann, and their daughter Shia Scheumann; stepchildren Kris Welch and Josie Olszewski; brothers and sisters-in-law Marvin and Karen Forfar and Stewart and Janice Forfar; sisters and brothers-in-law, Sonja and Arne Bjork and Ginny and Walter Neufeld; and by a large extended family. Everyone welcome for the funeral at the Old Apostolic Church at 28323 Sturgeon Point Rd, Vanderhoof, BC graveside service and coffee to follow. A small gathering for those unable to make the funeral will be hosted Friday evening 4-7pm at his daughters house in Prince George. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donating to the BC Cancer Foundation in his name to help them continue providing the amazing care that Ed benefited from at the Prince George Cancer Clinic.
Currencies
OTTAWA — These
tive
The markets today
TORONTO (CP) — North American stock markets rallied Monday from last week’s selloff with the technology and consumer discretionary sectors rising on signs of a good start to the holiday shopping season. The bounce is in part due to some exhaustion from last week’s selling, says Craig Fehr, Canadian markets strategist for Edward Jones. “A good start to the week after a pretty lousy week last week,” he said in an interview.
The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 1.92 points at 15,012.65 after hitting a high of 15,127.13. Information technology led the index, rising 2.5 per cent on increases by Shopify Inc. and Blackberry Ltd. It was followed by consumer discretionary, which was helped by Hudson’s Bay Co. and Lululemon Athletica. The cannabis-heavy health-care sector fell more than three per cent. Fehr said investors took advantage of deals following last week’s pullback.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 354.29 points to 24,640.24. The S&P 500 index was up 40.89 points at 2,673.45, while the Nasdaq composite gained 142.87 points to 7,081.85
A report on preliminary Black Friday shopping numbers pointed to a stronger holiday shopping season with postU.S. Thanksgiving sales increasing nearly 25 per cent while Cyber Monday was up in the mid-teens.
“It’s a reminder that the consumer is still alive,” he said.
U.S. consumers are armed with confidence and more money amid low unemployment, wage growth, tax cuts and lower gasoline prices. In Canada, the labour market is good but consumers face a heavier debt burden and the housing market is a bit of a headwind, Fehr said. The trends offset the nervousness investors might be feeling from the market’s recent volatility.
“I think that suggests it’s going to be a good holiday shopping season, which fits into our view that the economic expansion is going to continue.”
The Canadian dollar traded at an average of 75.59 cents US compared with an average of 75.60 cents US on Friday.
The January crude contract was up US$1.21 at US$51.53 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was down 56 cents at US$4.30 per mmBTU. The December gold contract was down 80 cents at US$1,222.40 an ounce.
Beer battle brewing between Alberta, Ontario
Dan HEALING Citizen news service
EDMONTON — The Alberta government is opening a new front in its beer war with other provinces by targeting Ontario for what it says are its unfair trade barriers to Alberta-made suds and other alcoholic products.
The initiative emerged on Monday as Alberta announced a full retreat on its own craft beer subsidies that were found by a judge last spring to be unconstitutional.
“Alberta has the most open liquor policy in the country, offering Albertans a choice of over 3,700 Canadian products... Alberta merchants stock and sell 745 alcoholic beverages from Ontario,” said Economic Development and Trade Minister Deron Bilous at an Edmonton brewery on Monday.
“Ontario is the largest market in the country, three times larger than our own, yet we can only find about 20 Alberta liquor products listed for sale in Ontario.”
The complaint under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement is being made against Ontario because it has the biggest liquor market in Canada but it could be expanded to include other provinces with similar barriers, Bilous said, adding he’s hoping for an amicable solution.
Under the CFTA, Ontario will have 120 days to respond to the complaint made in a letter sent Monday morning.
The complaint may then proceed to a CFTA panel for a ruling on corrective actions or allowed retaliatory measures, with a provision for either side to appeal that ruling, explained
Jean-Marc Prevost, Bilous’ press secretary.
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario said in a statement Monday that it is aware of the Alberta action and that “breweries from anywhere in Canada are equally able to access our listing process.”
In his letter to Ontario Trade Minister Todd Smith, Bilous complains that Ontario gives local brewers access to stores over Alberta brewers, gives Ontario beverages preferential shelf or refrigerated locations, requires Alberta brewers to provide commercially confidential information to their larger competitors to be listed and gives Ontario small brewers a significant discount on listing costs.
Smith said he is surprised by Alberta’s move.
“Just last week, I sat across from representatives from the government of Alberta and not once did they mention this to me,” he said in a statement.
“The government of Ontario is committed to reducing interprovincial trade barriers, as we made clear in our fall economic statement when we said we wouldn’t stand in the way of pipeline projects moving forward.”
Neil Herbst, owner of Alley Kat Brewery of Edmonton, said he has faced numerous nontariff barriers when trying to ship his products to Ontario, giving as an example a $400 laboratory fee assessed on a shipment of $1,600 worth of beer.
Also Monday, Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci said he will cancel by Dec. 15 a program of grants for small Alberta craft brewers in order to bring provincial beer regulations in
compliance with Canadian trade law.
The province will return to a system similar that was in place before 2015, with markups (a tax collected for the province) of $1.25 per litre applied to all beer sold in Alberta by producers of more than 50,000 hectolitres per year. Smaller brewers, regardless of province of origin, will be able to apply for markups of between 10 and 60 cents per litre.
Alberta dropped its graduated markup system to go to a flat markup on all beer in 2015. It at first exempted brewers in Saskatchewan, B.C. and Alberta, then changed its rules so it applied to all Canadian brewers but introduced a subsidy program solely for Alberta’ small brewers. It lost a CFTA panel ruling initiated by Artisan Ales, a Calgary-based beer importer, which argued the grant program unfairly tilted the market against its product.
Last June, a Court of Queen’s Bench judge ordered the province to pay a total of $2.1 million in restitution to Great Western Brewing of Saskatoon and Steam Whistle Brewing of Toronto, finding that the subsidies created a trade barrier against their products.
At the time, Ceci said the province would consider appealing that ruling.
His department says Alberta now has 137 liquor manufacturers, including 99 brewers. It says the number of brewers has nearly tripled since the subsidy program was introduced in 2016. The province says it will introduce more supports for Alberta liquor manufacturers in the next few weeks.
Senate resumes debate on Canada Post
Joan BRYDEN Citizen news service
OTTAWA — Senators resumed a special sitting on Monday to examine a bill that would force an end to rotating strikes at Canada Post as the walkouts enter their sixth week.
But the upper house might not go along with the government’s rush to get mail moving again during the postal service’s busiest holiday season.
Some independent senators argue that because it curtails postal workers’ right to strike, the bill is an unconstitutional violation of their right to freedom of association and expression.
And independent Sen. Murray Sinclair, a former judge, is poised to propose an amendment that would keep the legislation from kicking in for at least seven days after it receives royal assent. The Liberal government proposes to have the bill go into effect at noon the day following royal assent – as early as Tuesday if the Senate passes it Monday without amendments.
A Senate amendment to the bill would cause at least another day’s delay, requiring the bill to go back to the House of Commons, where MPs would have to decide whether to accept or reject the
change and then ship the bill back to the Senate.
Bill C-89 was debated in the upper chamber on Saturday after the Liberal government fast-tracked the legislation through the House of Commons.
But despite an initial plan to continue debate – and possibly hold a vote – on Sunday, senators chose instead to give themselves an extra day to digest hours of witness testimony on the labour dispute.
In the meantime, Labour Minister Patti Hajdu said Monday that a special mediator the government appointed to try to bridge the gap between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has concluded his work and the two sides are no longer negotiating.
Negotiations have been underway for nearly a year but the dispute escalated when CUPW members launched rotating strikes Oct. 22. Those walkouts have led to backlogs of mail and parcel deliveries at the Crown corporation’s main sorting plants in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
Picket lines were up Monday in parts of British Columbia, including Vancouver, Richmond and Surrey, and in parts of Ontario, including Hamilton, Ajax, North York, Pickering and London.
Workers also walked off the job in Halifax and Dartmouth, N.S.
Sen. Peter Harder, the government’s representative in the upper house, urged senators not to delay the bill any further.
“It is the government’s strong view that if it does not act now to protect the public interest, it will have acted too late,” he told the Senate, arguing that postal disruptions are “not merely inconvenient.”
“The strikes come at a critical period for retailers,” Harder said. “Unlike other kinds of e-commerce transactions ... lost holiday sales are unlikely to be deferred to a later date. They represent real and actual lost business for these companies.”
Canada Post said Monday that the backlog of mail and parcels is “severe” and expected to “worsen significantly” once online orders from Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are processed.
In a statement, the post office said it is experiencing delivery delays across the country and that’s expected to continue throughout the holiday season and into January 2019. The union wants better pay and job security, guaranteed hours for its 8,000 rural and suburban carriers, and equality for those workers with the corporation’s 42,000
urban employees.
CUPW also wants Canada Post to adopt rules that it says would cut down on workplace injuriesan issue the union has said is now at a crisis level.
The union is to decide this week how to fight back if the bill becomes law, with its national president, Mike Palecek, saying all options are on the table.
The previous Conservative government forced an end to a lockout of postal workers during a 2011 dispute by enacting back-towork legislation, which was later declared by a court to be unconstitutional. But the Liberal government argues its bill is different, in that it does not impose immediate new contracts.
Whereas the 2011 bill imposed a settlement that favoured Canada Post, the current legislation would give a mediator-arbitrator appointed by the government 90 days to try to reach contract settlements. Failing that, a settlement could be imposed either through a decision from the arbitrator or by choosing from one of the final proposals put forward by Canada Post and CUPW.
In drafting the bill, Harder said, the government has taken into account court rulings and is confident that its limitations on the right to strike would be upheld.
CP FILE PHOTO
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley drinks a beer while touring the Cold Garden Beverage Company in Calgary on March 27, 2017. The Alberta government is retreating on craft beer subsidies after they were ruled unconstitutional but will open a new front by targeting the province of Ontario for what it says are its unfair trade barriers.
