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This past week I have heard from constituents expressing their outrage over recent events involving four Senators and the former Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office. Firstly, I hope the actions of these few individuals don’t lead you to paint all Senators with the same brush. We are fortunate to have Senators like Nancy Greene Raine who are dedicated to serving the people of British Columbia and Canada with integrity and honour.

In regards to the recent allegations, all taxpayers are rightfully intolerant of any abuse of their hard earned dollars, and this case is no different. I am equally frustrated and unhappy with these allegations of abuse of public funds. I am troubled that Parliament is constrained by a set of legislative rules that do not allow us to remove someone from public office for a breach of trust. However, if someone is in contravention of the law there are a number of actions that can be taken.

Dear Editor,

Independent candidate Gary Young, speaking at a recent all-candidates meeting, has made incorrect statements with respect to the New Prosperity Gold-Copper Project.

Mr. Young is wrong to suggest the project will harm Fish Lake. The truth is that Fish Lake and its trout population will be protected during all phases of mine operations. There will be no harmful impact to Fish Lake.

Dear Welcome to Williams Lake,

I just wanted to give you a bit of an update. After the release of the article ('Cariboo couponing group invites new members to save money') on April 9th, we had 12 new members sign up that same day, and another three new members in the following days. So, a total of 15 new members!

I'm very excited about the exposure your article provided our group and hope that we will be able to encourage more locals to use coupons.

One of the new members has contacted me directly asking for some tutoring in setting up a binder and acquiring coupons. I have yet to meet with the member, but we are arranging a time to get together.

Thank-you again.

Shelby (Couponpunk) Philpotts
Williams Lake, BC

 

The Cariboo Regional District held a debriefing session with the residents of Wildwood on March 7, 2013 regarding the recent hazmat event on Highway 97 in late January, 2013. Residents were asked to relate what they felt went well; what didn’t work for them; and how they thought a similar situation in the future could be made better from an evacuee’s perspective. These meetings were not about laying blame, but wereused as an educational opportunity for responding agencies and affected residents.

Emergency response success begins with a phone call, which is exactly what the volunteers of the Cariboo Regional District’s Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department initiated the evening of Thursday, January 17 when a tanker truck overturned on Highway 97, just north of Hickory Road.

The Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society (CCCS) would like to give an environmental perspective on the proposed Prosperity Mine project. The following points are brought forward by CCCS Director Bill Lloyd, and cover some of our concerns.

Environmental concerns surrounding the Taseko Mines New Prosperity Project

1. Environmental Review Process – This proposed mine has already failed an exhaustive review process costing the taxpayers of this province millions of dollars. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Authority’s Panel examined input from many stakeholder groups, the public and the Company, and has ruled that the environmental impact would be too great for the mine to be approved. It also judged that an alternate plan, which forms the basis of the current “New Prosperity” proposal, presents an even greater environmental threat. Taseko has submitted two Environmental Impact Statements in support of “New Prosperity”; the most recent was returned to them with a 77-page list of issues that had not been adequately addressed.

Dear Editor,

Twice this week I have received reports of dogs deceased on the edge of the road. Both had owners who later called to see if their precious pet had been found and brought to the SPCA. It then became my job to break the unwanted news that a dog, fitting the description of theirs was found deceased.

It breaks my heart -- I can only image the grief these people must feel.

As manager at the Williams Lake Branch of the BC SPCA and working closely with our local vets, I have witnessed too many injuries. I have seen first hand the agony and pain a dog endures from the accident, during surgery and while recovering. We've seen broken legs, road rash so bad the skin is just gone, broken skulls and hips, and the worse possible, a lifeless body in the ditch.

(Please note:  The dog in this photo is sleeping, not deceased.)

Dear Mayor Cook and Council,

We are writing in response to recent news that you have applied for “Interested Party” status with the New Prosperity Mine Review Panel. It came as a surprise to see the City’s submission given our coalition’s recent letter calling on you to honour the contents of your September 2012 Resolution, which indicated only conditional support for the mine proposal.

The Resolution clearly states that your support for the Project is contingent on the environmental approvals being obtained and First Nations being adequately consulted. In fact, neither of these is certain and there is strong evidence that the revised mine plan is actually worse than the previously rejected proposal.

Here is my response to the story in the news on Cariboo mining.

Much of the report generated by the environment staff was indeed flawed, considering they used reports from the Bullion Pit Mine, that hasn't operated since the 1940s, as well other mining operations from that era.

Though it is also true to say there have been problems with some placer operations, and there are some easy to see reasons for this,

(A) Shortage of Mines Inspectors, lack of departmental funding in regards to industry.