Major shakeup at NORD office targeted

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 09, 2009 6:00 PM

The North Okanagan Regional District is preparing to pay out severance to a senior employee. Staff were informed Thursday that Jody Anderson is no longer the director of corporate services. “I was dismissed without cause and I didn’t do anything wrong,” said Anderson. “This caught me off guard. It appears that I don’t fit into the administration reorganization plan.” NORD officials are saying little about the matter. “It’s not conducive to good labour relations or respect for her rights to discuss details,” said Greg Betts, administrator, adding that personnel issues are confidential. Anderson was hired as a summer student with NORD in 1975, and she became full-time in 1977. She was appointed corporate officer two years ago. Anderson says she was put on leave a month ago. The corporate officer’s position currently remains vacant and no decisions have been made on filling it. “We are reviewing our options right now,” said Betts, adding that a consultant has been contracted to look at organizational development within the district. Details of a severance package for Anderson are still being determined.

City offers free service to neighbours

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 09, 2009 6:00 PM

The City of Vernon is dangling a carrot in front of its neighbours. On Wednesday, city officials informed all North Okanagan jurisdictions that they are willing to provide free access to its economic development function if it leads to industrial growth and new jobs. “I don’t look at it as a subsidy,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. “For Vernon, I see it as a win. There is lots of industry not in Vernon and they have issues and are trying to survive. People in Vernon work at those places.” As an example, Lippert says many Vernonites were negatively impacted by the closure of the glass plant in Coldstream. “Economic development is something we need to do as a region. Anything that happens in Vernon is good for the region and anything that happens in the region is good for Vernon,” he said. Kevin Poole, the city’s economic development officer, points out that any available industrial land is outside of Vernon. “If we don’t have a unified approach, we will lose investment opportunities,” he said. Between 1998 and 2008, the city handed out $920 million in building permits, but less than one per cent was for industrial uses.

The free service would be provided on a one-year trial basis, but there’s no guarantee fees would begin then. “Let’s see how it works on the ground for a year and after that, we can review it,” said Poole. The North Okanagan’s five other municipalities and five electoral areas now must determine if they are willing to participate in the initiative. “If you work in Vernon and live in Grindrod or work in Grindrod and live in Vernon, it doesn’t matter,” said Herman Halvorson, North Okanagan Regional District chairman and rural Enderby director. “It’s a good thing to work together for jobs. Things aren’t that good right now.” Rick Fairbairn, rural Lumby director, says it’s time for communities to stop pursuing economic development separately. “We’re looking at the broad picture for our region.” That’s also the view of Doug Dirk, a councillor in Coldstream, which was hit hard by the glass plant closure. “The more we work together with a common interest, the overall health of the region benefits,” he said.

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Editorial Morning Star July 09, 2009 6:00 PM Vernon’s approach deserves praise

The City of Vernon is certainly taking a novel approach when it comes to economic development. The city has offered to provide its economic development service to all other North Okanagan jurisdictions for free for at least a year. Such a move makes sense as Vernon has virtually no vacant land for industry and the well-paying jobs that go along with them. Manufacturing plants in Lumby, Spallumcheen, Enderby or elsewhere will lead to employees living in Vernon or shopping there. And a unified approach is vital because the competition for industrial investment is significant, reaching across B.C., Canada and around the world. The concept of regional economic development has been hung up by infighting and bureaucracy before, so the offer of a free service will hopefully bring the other jurisdictions to the table. In time — if the initiative proves worthwhile — they may decide to become financial partners.But beyond accessing a free program, the regional politicians need to bring an open mind to the table.

And that certainly is lacking when it comes to the Masters World Cup at Sovereign Lake in 2011. Instead of automatically giving the green light, the politicians have to consider whether they should do it and how to fund it. Obviously due diligence is important but their $25,000 investment could help fuel $5 million in economic impact. What is there to think about?That aside, though, it appears that the city’s fresh attitude towards economic development will benefit the entire region.

IH cuts close to bone

Don Plant 2009-07-09 Kelowna Daily Courier:

Cuts to Interior Health‘s operating budget will likely slice into clinical programs, says the man who chairs the health authority‘s board of directors. Officials must make $28 million to $30 million worth of cuts to this year‘s operations to ensure a balanced budget, Norm Embree said Wednesday. The health authority‘s administration has already endured “painful cuts,” Embree said. Health programs that don‘t mean life or death for patients could be next. “We‘ve already done administration. There could be clinical cuts,” Embree said. “We could do some drastic things, but, as far as patient care and safety are concerned, no. . . . If you go to Emergency, you‘re looked after.” Clinical cuts could result in fewer hours for health clinics, reductions to drug-rehabilitative programs and a one- or two-year hiatus for other programs, he said. Patients in rural communities may have to travel longer distances to regional hospitals for their care.

Embree said he will know more when he sees a document outlining the proposed cuts on Monday. “Will there be pain? Yes – until we figure this out,” Embree said. “It‘s a major issue for our times.” CEO Murray Ramsden confirmed last month that IH is “looking for efficiencies” in administrative and support areas to balance its $1.5-billion operating budget. The health authority has already imposed a freeze on hiring, and has restricted travel and education costs. Ramsden said layoffs could be another cost-saver. The B.C. government has granted $74 million (4.9 per cent) more than last year‘s funding, but most of the money will go toward legislated salary increases. Any dollars left over are paying down operating costs of new long-term care homes. “We‘re looking at a zero increase, and the population is aging. We‘re under a lot of pressure to do more. We don‘t have any more,” Embree said. NDP health critic Adrian Dix says there‘s ample evidence the B.C. Liberals knew IH faced a funding shortfall before the May 12 election but kept it quiet.

“It‘s apparent that (Premier) Gordon Campbell and his team knew the IHA would face a deficit when they pledged health care would be protected during the campaign,” Dix said. Embree said he denies the Health Ministry ordered IH to “put a cap on anything” before the election. “We were in limbo. Did we know it would be difficult in the next two years? Yes,” he said. “We knew before the election we‘d have to deal with the cards dealt to us.” When the health authorities met with new Health Minister Kevin Falcon on June 22, they learned they‘d have to live with the increases announced earlier and nothing more, Embree said. B.C. spent about 24 per cent of the provincial budget on health in 2000. Today, it‘s close to 50 per cent “with no end in sight,” Embree said.

A two-tier system that includes private health care may be necessary, he said. “We‘re already multi-tier. … We already go to Washington (for private care). Why not have it here?” Embree questions the millions of public dollars going toward residential care for seniors. “The Canada Health Act doesn‘t say anything about providing housing for everyone. … Now everyone expects the health-care system to provide a room and a place.”

Vernon Swimmer Sets Record

Written by Peter McIntyre Thursday, 09 July 2009 12:33107.5 KISSFM:

A 16 year old Vernon swimmer has set a new Canadian record in the 200 meter butterfly. It happened for Kokanee Swm Cub member Anders McIntre in the world championship trials in Montreal Wednesday . His time of 1:59:91 is the new record for 15 to 17 year olds in this country. The previous record of 2:00.78 was set in 1981, making McIntyre the first Canadian swimmer in history in the 15-17 age group to finish the event in under two minutes.

McIntyre (pictured in the backstroke) is now qualified for the 2009 FINA World championships July 19th in Rome. The club says in a news release, Anders swam in the most exciting event of the night. Five swimmers were virtually dead even and with only six meters to go to the wall Anders out-stretched the others to win. The five swimmers finished within seven-tenths of a second. The Vernon Kokanee Swim Club is also being represented at the World Championships Trial by Hayley Pipher, 16, and Sarah Mackay, 17. Additional excitement during the Montreal championships was created when Amanda Rearson of Etobicoke, Ontario, set a new world record in the women's 50-meter breaststroke.

Is Eight Enough in Lumby?

Written by Peter McIntyre Thursday, 09 July 2009 11:35107.5 KISSFM

Eight people are now seeking the councillor's seat on Lumby council. Matt Boof and Stephanie Davyduke are the latest to file papers.

Julie Pilon, Karaalee Gehring, Woody Kuraoka, Janet Green, Brad Andres and Nick Hodge are the other candidates.

Kevin Acton is still the lone candidate for mayor. The former councillor who stepped down to run for mayor, will be acclaimed the new mayor if no one else comes forward by Friday afternoon. The byelection, made necessary when former mayor Eric Foster became the Vernon Monashee MLA in May, will be held August 15.

Police make arrest in sexual assault cases

Morning Star Published: July 09, 2009 10:00 AM

Vernon RCMP have a suspect in custody in connection with a series of Vernon sexual assaults involving the use of a white van. Police were called to the Commonage Road area Tuesday night around 10 p.m. after a woman reported to police that she had been taken to the area by a man in a white van and had been assaulted. Police report the woman managed to get away from the man and the van and call them. A white GMC Safari van was located on Commonage Road near the Vernon Fish and Game Club facility. The driver was taken into custody and the van seized for forensic examination. Numerous officers from the Serious Crimes Unit and other sections within the Vernon detachment have been working around the clock on this case since the arrest of the suspect.

Michael Bopfinger, 34, from the Lumby area, appeared in Vernon Provincial Court Thursday to face two charges of aggravated sexual assault and forcible confinement, and one of sexual assault with a weapon and forcible confinement. He has been remanded in custody until July 15 for his next appearance. These charges stem from the three victims that have come forward and filed complaints with the police about being assaulted by a suspect in a white van. Police were first alerted to the case following an assault downtown on June 9. While investigating that matter, they were informed of an earlier assault involving a man and a white van. The file is still actively being investigated and further charges could be laid in this case.

NEW WORDS APPROVED

• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition:
  
• carbon footprint : the negative impact that something (as a person or business) has on the environment ; specifically : the amount of carbon emitted by something during a given period
• fren·e·my : one who pretends to be a friend but is actually an enemy
• green–collar: of, relating to, or involving actions for protecting the natural environment <green–collar jobs>
• lo·ca·vore : one who eats foods grown locally whenever possible
• sock puppet 1 : a hand puppet made with a sock 2 : a false online identity used for deceptive purposes
• stay·ca·tion : a vacation spent at home or nearby
• vlog : a blog that contains video material

Enderby economics

Web posted on Wednesday, 08 July 2009 CHBC VIDEO:

A small Okanagan community provides a good example of how a diversified economy can help weather the downturns.

PM did not pocket communion wafer: spokesman

CTV NEWS:

OTTAWA -- A spokesman for Stephen Harper says the prime minister did not pocket a communion wafer given to him by a Roman Catholic priest at a funeral in New Brunswick last week. The prime minister is under fire from a senior priest in the province who has demanded an explanation about what happened to the wafer, which is supposed to be swallowed. Spokesman Dimitri Soudas says Harper accepted the wafer offered to him at the funeral of former governor general Romeo LeBlanc and then swallowed it. Msgr. Brian Henneberry, vicar general and chancellor in the Diocese of Saint John in New Brunswick, says it was unclear what happened to the wafer -- and says it would be scandalous if the prime minister put it in his pocket. A video posted YouTube shows Harper taking the host, but does not show him swallowing it afterward. Harper is a Protestant and would not normally be given Roman Catholic communion, though it was unclear whether it could be appropriate on special occasions.
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Osoyoos halts flow of liquid waste

Kristi Patton - Penticton Western News Published: July 07, 2009 6:00 PM

The Town of Osoyoos is raising a stink over the latest issue with the regional district. Mayor Stu Wells said that in recent years the amount of liquid waste being dumped into the Osoyoos landfill has grown so significantly it is having a negative impact on the town. “With that increasing volume of waste has come a big increase in the odour,” Wells says. “There used to be an offensive smell a couple of days a week, but now the smell is there seven days a week, and it’s having a real negative impact on visitors to the Desert Centre, which is one of our premier tourist attractions.” Osoyoos town council decided to limit dumping at the Osoyoos liquid waste pits to septic effluent which comes from within the town after noticing the amount of waste growing is due to towns such as Oliver and as far away as Cawston, Keremeos and Rock Creek hauling to the lagoons. Council decided 10 months ago to raise the cost of dumping septic waste to $33.50 per tonne, equivalent to Penticton’s waste site, so South Okanagan rural residents wouldn’t have a financial incentive to truck their waste to Osoyoos. At the same time council gave the RDOS a one-year notice that starting Sept. 1 the Osoyoos site will no longer accept liquid waste from outside the town’s boundaries.

Wells said the RDOS is being very proactive in addressing the need for new liquid waste locations in the region and he wants to help find a solution. At the same time he said Osoyoos has to manage its own locally generated waste and its dumping sites responsibly and limiting it to residents only is the way they can do that. The regional district CAO Bill Newell said the plan had been to use the Penticton septic waste site at the wastewater treatment plant but travel time is a concern to some of the residents down in the Osoyoos area. A letter from the RDOS requesting the Sept. 1 deadline to be extended was sent to Osoyoos last Thursday. “We spent millions of dollars on the Penticton site that was our first choice ... we don’t particularly believe that just dumping waste into an open pit is the way to deal with it either and I think that is Osoyoos’s point of view so we wanted to treat it through Penticton but obviously it’s a big increase in cost to those haulers,” said Newell. “We are going to do a feasibility study on the site that had previously been open in the Oliver area at their solid waste site. Environmental guidelines have changed since that was in use so we would have to figure out exactly how that would be done in order to use that.”

Mayor to contact band over road closure

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 07, 2009 7:00 PM

The City of Vernon wants to know once and for all if a road will be shut down. Mayor Wayne Lippert plans to contact Chief Fabian Alexis this week to discuss the Okanagan Indian Band’s proposal to block Lakeshore Road. “I will see if we can get together and find out what’s going on,” said Lippert. Contact with the band has ground to a halt since it announced in late May that it could possibly shut down a portion of the road over a legal dispute. Both sides of Lakeshore from Tronson Road to the creek, including the beach (not Kin Beach Park), are part of the reserve. The band states it never extinguished ownership over the land the road is on. However, the city claims it has authority over the road right-of-way and it will take legal action against any closure. “We have made plans in case it happens,” said Lippert.

While a road closure would impact emergency vehicles and local residents, Lippert says there could be a negative impact for the band and particularly when it comes to issues of mutual concern. “They have more to lose than we do. With the size of the city, there are things we can do and we’re willing to work with our neighbours,” he said. “We are doing economic development and tourism and if they want to improve things, the band needs to work with us.” Lippert added that the city is looking at planning along its portion of Okanagan Lake, and reserve lands could be part of the process if the band gets involved. The possibility of a road closure surfaced shortly after the band asked the City of Vernon to abandon a $733,000 project that would have addressed safety concerns along Lakeshore Road and the beach. The Okanagan Indian Band could not be reached for comment.

Feds, province should ban pesticides, Coq. council says

Janis Warren - The Tri-City News Published: July 07, 2009 3:00 PM

Coquitlam council will ask the federal and provincial governments to ban pesticides — but it won't do it in the city's backyard. On Monday, in a unanimous vote, city council backed a motion by Coun. Lou Sekora to have the senior governments prohibit all pesticides and other chemicals deemed to be unsafe by federal government scientists. Coun. Fin Donnelly's addition to include chemicals "that pose any risk to human or environmental health" was also adopted as part of the motion. Mayor Richard Stewart, who endorsed Donnelly's request, later called the amendment "a little bit ridiculous" and "craftily worded" that encompassed too much. Sekora said he couldn't support Coun. Selina Robinson's motion in May for a city-wide pesticide ban as he felt the municipality couldn't police it. And having different bylaws in the Tri-Cities (Port Moody has a pesticide ban; PoCo does not) is "considered poor public policy," Coun. Linda Reimer argued.

Still, Robinson said the province allows municipalities to form such bans. She also said there are many bylaws the city can't enforce all the time like speeding, smoking and building codes. "The list goes on and on," she said. Donnelly also cited a letter sent to the city this week from the Canadian Cancer Society, indicating pesticide links to non-Hodgkin disease, leukemia and other cancers. The national society is calling for a pesticide ban on all private and public lands, he said. Anti-pesticide advocate Todd Major, a Metro Vancouver horticulturalist who runs a landscaping company, asked Coquitlam city council on Monday to impose a city-wide ban. Since he stopped using the chemicals, he said his business "has gotten better." "The health effects trump private rights," he said. Sekora's resolution will also be sent to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Union of BC Municipalities, the Lower Mainland Local Government Association and Metro Vancouver for endorsement. Meanwhile, Coquitlam-Maillardville NDP MLA Diane Thorne plans to introduce a private member's bill in the Legislature this fall to ban cosmetic pesticide use.

Tax rate may land Castlegar in court

Francisco Canjura - Castlegar News Published: July 07, 2009 5:00 PM

Zellstoff Celgar has served a petition to the City of Castlegar for a judicial review of their “unreasonable tax rate” or “illegal” tax bylaw to the BC Supreme Court, according to a City of Castlegar press release. “They’re taking us to court because they figure that the tax is unfair or it’s not reasonable. As far as we’re concerned the taxes are reasonable, but if we need to work with Celgar we’re more than willing to work with Celgar,” Chernoff said. Working with Celgar means the city is willing to work towards maybe adjusting the city’s tax rate to come up with a compromise. “If the rate needs to come down the rate needs to come down, but how do you accomplish that? That’s the hardest part of all. To do it in a short term is not feasible. It’s a long-term project and that’s what we’ll have to discuss,” Chernoff said. “In our five-year financial projection we were going to get their taxes down to 40 per cent. It appears Celgar is not happy with that 40 per cent, so maybe we have to look at this a little closer and come up with a strategy on how we can do this.”Chernoff went on to say the city needs to meet with Celgar in order to discuss the issue at hand as the sides have not spoken since Celgar asked for a 50 per cent tax cut during budget discussions.

“We would like to work things out, but the writ has been filed so eventually we’ll probably have to go to court, but we have no idea when that will be,” he said. On Tuesday, when the News spoke with Chernoff he said no meetings had been scheduled with Celgar. Chernoff said he is not happy with Celgar’s decision to take the city to court on this issue, but he believes it was caused by a lack of communication. “My expectation is that they would not do this, but it’s already done so there is nothing I can do about it. We’ll go from there and I really want to work with Celgar and I hope they maintain their operation here for a long, long time,” Chernoff said. Chernoff said Celgar is a huge asset to the community and the city wants to work with them. Despite council knowing Celgar was not happy with their decision to lower their taxes to 40 per cent over the next five years, Chernoff said their actions to take the city to court came as a surprise to him.

The city has already put in a call to the Minister of Community Development to see if the city can get some assistance from the provincial government. As taxes owed to the city will not be paid until the issue is resolved, either by the courts or out of court, council will meet to come up with a financial strategy to deal with the $2.7 million deficit it now faces. Currently four Vancouver Island communities are in similar court case battles with Catalyst Paper and are scheduled to appear in court in early August, according to Chernoff. “That would really be a precedent setting what happens in the courts,” he said. “I don’t know (if this could be settled out of court) I’d like to say yes and I think it’s feasible to do if we could come to an agreement, but remember it’s a province-wide issue because your going to deal with heavy industry in the whole province of B.C.” Celgar mill manager Al Hitzroth was not available for comment at press time.

Vernon\North Okanagan - Male arrested for propositioning young males in Armstrong

2009-07-07 14:14 PDT RCMP MEDIA RELEASE

Forty-one year old Nelson IZAGUIRRE-RODRIGUEZ of Vancouver is facing charges of two counts of Invitation to sexual touching of two teen-aged boys in the Armstrong area.
In these two cases it is alleged the suspect would drive his two wheeled blue motorized scooter around the skate-board parks or areas where teens gathered he would position himself so that when the teens walked by he would invite them to sexual activity. He is described having a dark complexion he is approx 5’8” 160 lbs black hair and brown eyes. In the two cases where the suspect has been charged the suspect did not engage in any sexual activity with the teens that were approached. Several teens have come forward to the police with this information, and that is what has led to the arrest and charges being laid against IZAGUIRRE-RODRIGUEZ.

The police know that he had been staying in the Armstrong area for at least the past month or so he may have traveled between Vernon, Armstrong and the Enderby areas. The police feel that IZAGUIRRE-RODRIGUEZ may have approached more teens both male and female in the North Okanagan, and they are asking anyone who might have been approached in a similar manner to call them, at the nearest police office with the information. The suspect has been released on conditions, pending his next court appearance to not attend any public park, school ground, daycare centre, swimming pool, playground, or any where anyone under the age of 16 is expected to be present.

Released by

Gordon Molendyk
Media Relations Officer
Vernon / North Okanagan Det
3402-30th Street, Vernon BC
Office: 250-260-7161
Cell: 250-308-7288
Fax: 250-260-1733
ediv_internet_webmaster@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Money loser

Web posted on Monday, 06 July 2009 CHBC NEWS VIDEO

The future is uncertain for an historic Okanagan ranch as the city wants it to pay its own bills.

Money for Gay Pride may have led to demotion: Tory MP

CTV NEWS:
A Conservative MP says federal funding for Toronto's Gay Pride parade may be responsible for junior cabinet minister Diane Ablonczy losing a key part of her portfolio. Brad Trost, the MP for Saskatoon-Humboldt, said Ablonczy's decision to use $400,000 for the popular parade that celebrates homosexual, bisexual, and transgendered culture was not supported by most of the Tory caucus. Trost told the anti-abortion website LifeSiteNews.com that the decision surprised the Conservative cabinet and the Prime Minister's Office. He said that responsibility for the Marquee Tourism Events Program, a $100 million initiative, has been given to another cabinet minister. Industry Minister Tony Clement has taken over the program, his office confirmed. Ablonczy, the MP for Calgary-Nose Hill, was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993. Toronto's Gay Pride Parade is one of the biggest in the world and of the city's top tourism draws. This year's even drew more than one million people.

Catalyst follows up on promise to pay only a portion of its tax bil

Mike Damour - Cowichan News Leader and Pictorial Published: July 07, 2009 11:00 AM

'North Cowichan is taking a wait-and-see approach to what happens next after Catalyst Paper followed up on its promise to pay only a portion of its annual tax bill. Mark Frame, North Cowichan’s director of finance, confirmed Crofton mill paid less than what the municipality said it owes. “They paid $1.5 million of their ($6.5-million 2009 tax bill) tax bill last week,” he said. “As well, Catalyst paid another $946,900 to pay school taxes, the Cowichan Valley Regional District and all the others.” Catalyst has long argued it pays more than its fair share of taxes — about 44 per cent of all taxes last year — and it needs that extra cash to remain competitive in a gloomy global market. Frame said Catalyst usually hand-delivers its taxes, and did so again last week. “Eight or nine years ago they came with a (four-foot by eight-foot) cheque and they used to send someone down to specially hand it to the mayor,” he said. “Over the last years they’ve hand-delivered (the cheques) but didn’t make a fuss about it.”

As it now stands, Catalyst has been hit by a 10 per cent penalty that stays current until Dec. 31.If the taxes remain unpaid by January, Catalyst will officially be in arrears, and by May the municipality would add 2010 taxes to the overall bill. If Catalyst fails to pony up by September of the third year, the property could go to a tax sale. But Catalyst is challenging the municipality in court. Claiming unfair taxes have helped put them deep in a financial hole, Catalyst petitioned to the Supreme Court of British Columbia last month for a judicial review of property tax rates in North Cowichan, Port Alberni and Campbell River, all places where the pulp-and-paper company has operations. The court has yet to rule on the application.

Downtown Ambassadors to face B.C. Human Rights Tribunal

CBC NEWS:
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal will hear a complaint that Vancouver's controversial Downtown Ambassadors program discriminates against homeless people. The Pivot Legal Society and the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users launched the complaint against the private security guards who patrol the streets. Laura Track, staff lawyer for the Pivot Legal Society, said the ambassadors "act very much like homeless police" because they tell people who sit, sleep or panhandle on sidewalks to move along, and that they are not welcome. The City of Vancouver and the Downtown Business Improvement Association tried to get the complaint thrown out. But Track said she is pleased those efforts failed. "We're thrilled that the tribunal has considered that this complaint has merit and has a possibility of succeeding at a full hearing. And we're really pleased that the tribunal has rejected the respondents' applications to dismiss the case without even having a hearing," said Track.

Charles Gauthier, spokesman for the Downtown BIA, which co-manages the ambassadors with a private security firm, remains optimistic the complaint will fail. "We're still quite confident that the program will be exonerated. We haven't seen any evidence presented by Pivot Legal Society or VANDU that basically support the allegations that they've made."A schedule for the hearing has not been set.

RCMP budget may rise next year

Erin Hitchcock - Williams Lake Tribune Published: July 07, 2009 8:00 AM

Williams Lake City Council is expecting its policing budget to rise by 3.7 per cent for the fiscal year of 2010/2011. The increase would equate to an extra $92,000 the City would need to find in next year’s budget. City Council — following a letter from the RCMP requesting a letter of approval in principal for municipal contract policing resource requests — noted Tuesday night that sending the letter of approval is for planning purposes only.

The increase includes a one-time cost for hard body armour, as well as PRIME — Police Records Information Management Environment — operational skills training, and periodic health assessment costs.

The mandatory hard body armour came about following incidents such as the Mayerthorpe and Columbine High School shootings. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Hazardous Occurrence Investigating Team had issued reports recommending national enhanced body armour — rifle plates — for all general duty members. Their recommendations were based on Canadian officers being more likely to face the threat of gun fire from a rifle than a handgun. Soft body armour isn’t designed to and won’t stop rifle rounds. Hard body armour is intended to protect officers from bullets primarily fired from long guns, such as rifles. Hard body armour costs $1,000 each. The RCMP will require one per marked vehicle and two per plainclothes vehicle, as well as spares in the detachment for cadets and call outs.

In November 2006, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General advised that effective Jan. 1, 2007, a $500 per officer user fee for PRIME would be charged for every sworn member in B.C. The user fee may be increased, however, as the full cost analysis of the PRIME user fee hasn’t yet been determined. Therefore, for planning purposes, the RCMP has budgeted $1,000 per sworn member for the financial five-year planning, beginning 2010/11.

The increase would be 5.1 per cent, or $117,000, based on the existing 24 police officers, but that amount would be offset by a decrease in accommodation costs of about $24,000 or 10.6 per cent, compared to the 2009 budget. The accommodation costs represent the City’s shared costs for the building owned by the RCMP. The decrease is due to reduced building repairs and upgrades.

Effective April 1, 2010, the hard body armour requirements will be included in the RCMP’s five-year plan of 2010/11 to 2014/15. Mayor Kerry Cook said the policing budget already accounts for 20 per cent of the City’s operating budget now. “This does have financial impacts for the City,” Cook said. “But we really don’t have any choices in this particular case. This is going to be a huge cost. We’re not alone as a community.”

She said that with the rising costs of local RCMP and policing, it has become a provincial and federal issue. She said resolutions to improve the situation will likely go forward at the Union of B.C. Municipalities and Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Brian Carruthers, acting chief administrative officer, said the current contract between the municipalities and the province, as well as the federal/provincial agreement with the RCMP, expires in 2011. “The UBCM is going to be representing local government with respect to negotiating the agreement between the province and local government,” Carruthers said. “Over the next year, you’re going to see a fair amount of activity happening on that front as UBCM starts to gather information from the municipalities on these kinds of issues.”

But under the current agreement, he said, the City has no choice or control over the additional costs. “This is the way the system works now,” he said, adding that there is a formula that is agreed on as to how costs are calculated, with respect to the cost of members and support, that are built into the existing agreement. Municipalities that contract with Canada for RCMP services share the costs. Since Williams Lake has a population less than 15,000, the City pays 70 per cent. Municipalities with a population greater than 15,000 pay 90 per cent, with Canada picking up the remaining 10 per cent. The total policing cost to the City for the 2009 budget is about $2,366,000.

Suicidal man threatens police

Kelowna Daily Courier Staff 2009-07-07

RCMP zapped a suicidal man with a Taser after he threatened to fight two officers, police said Monday. The 44-year-old man was standing in a small kitchen holding a steak knife in a home on Cactus Road early Saturday afternoon. The two officers convinced him to put down the knife, but he yelled and came toward them, said Sgt. Ann Brinnen. An officer shot pepper spray at the man, but he wiped the liquid from his eyes and continued to be combative, she said. “He was coming toward the officers. He told the officers he refused to go to hospital with them, and that he‘d fight them all the way.” The officers warned him they‘d use the Taser after they “exhausted their verbal-intervention techniques,” Brinnen said. One of the officers, certified to deploy the energy weapon, fired it once at the man and he fell to the floor. They handcuffed him and took him to Kelowna General Hospital, she said.The man‘s mother had called police saying her son was threatening suicide and she was “at her wits‘ end,” Brinnen said.

Officers intended to talk him out of the kitchen and the home, but he refused to leave. The officers saw a butcher knife on the counter. He did not threaten to use it, but the confined quarters of the kitchen (about five by seven feet) made the situation risky, Brinnen said. “The kitchen is one of the most dangerous rooms for police officers to be in, based on the number of weapons and tools in that room and the dimension. … A lot can happen.” The man is medically OK, but Brinnen couldn‘t comment Monday on his mental state. Officers will complete an administrative review of the incident, which is mandatory whenever a Taser is used. Police use the weapon infrequently in the Central Okanagan, Brinnen said. “We believe it‘s important for our media and for the public to know it‘s successfully being used and is a tool we have access to.”

RCMP‘s use of Tasers generated a public inquiry after the death of Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver‘s airport in 2007. Officers fired the weapon several times at the distraught man less than a minute after confronting him. He died minutes later. In Saturday‘s incident, the officers spent at least 10 minutes in the home before they used the Taser, Brinnen said. No charges will be laid.

Dawson Creek - RCMP continue post blast examination and follow up on fresh public info tips

RCMP continue their investigation of the EnCana natural gas pipeline bombings and welcomed a small spike in public information tips received since the latest bombing on July 4, 2009.

Today, members of the RCMP Post Blast Forensic Examination team based out of Ottawa National RCMP Headquarters continued to sift through and process the physical elements from the latest bombing site. Other officers tasked with following up on public tips were more then willing to thoroughly follow up on well over a dozen fresh tips that came in from the public.

“The phone calls were received in the last 24 hrs over the weekend, after information relating to the latest bombing which occurred on July 4th, was released to the public via the media. The details and facts of the latest bombings pointed out just how close it came to possibly injuring or killing someone. We are hoping that people are really jogging their memory for anything that may have occurred relating to these two latest or any earlier bombings since October 12, 2008”, stated Cpl Dan Moskaluk.

“We are also hopeful that people will take confidence in strength in numbers and feel more comfortable in coming forward with information. As a member of a small rural community myself, I can empathize with how at times, being the first one to come forward and have all eyes on you can be intimidating. The RCMP also wants to reassure people that although investigators are dealing with a serious crime, they are sensitive to the distress these bombings are causing to the community and the need for discretion when dealing with information received. There are several avenues to contact the RCMP about this matter, including tip lines where the identity of a person providing information does not have to be revealed. I think that solidarity in our working together in bringing this or these individuals to justice and make them accountable for their actions will ensure a shared feeling of success between the RCMP and the communities of Pouce Coupe, Tomslake and Dawson Creek”, added Cpl Moskaluk.

The attached photos depict the following: top photo Bomb blast of pipeline occurring July 4th, 2009. Aerial photo depicting proximity of July 1st and July 4th blasts. North direction at top of photo.

NV woman busted at U.S. border for smuggling Homer Simpson drugs in court next week

Kelly McManus - North Shore Outlook Published: July 06, 2009 5:00

A North Vancouver woman faces charges in U.S. court of drug possession with intent to distribute after authorities seized more than 100,000 N-benzylpiperazine (BZP) pills shaped like Homer Simpson and Transformers characters.

Court records show that on June 26 Krysta Edwards was stopped by customs officers at the Pacific Highway Port of Entry in Blaine, where investigators found the pills stashed in a secret compartment of the Ford Explorer she was driving.

Employment Opportunities City of Vernon July 6.

• Asset Clerk - Finance
  

  Closing Date: July 15, 2009

  Download - 121.5KB doc (Part-time – Temporary)
  August 15, 2009 – August 15, 2010 $24.18 per hour Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
  

• RCMP Clerk

  Closing Date: July 16, 2009

  Download - 123.5KB docRCMP CLERK
  (Full-time – Temporary)
  Approx. June 26, 2009 – Sept. 30, 2010
  $24.18 per hour Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
  

• Transportation Demand Management Coordinator

  Status: Completed Interviews

• Long Range Planner

  Status: Filled

Seven Lumby Candidates

Written by Peter McIntyre Monday, 06 July 2009 16:19107.5 KISSFM:

A seat on Lumby council is turning out to be a hot ticket. There's now six people running for the councillors position vacated by Kevin Acton who stepped down to run for mayor. Juli Pilon and Karaa-lee Gehring are joined by four others who filed Monday: Woody Kuraoka, Janet Green, Brad Andres and Nick Hodge.Acton remains the lone candidate for mayor with the deadline for candidates on Friday afternoon. The by-election will be held August 15. The resignation of former mayor Eric Foster in May after his election as Vernon Monashee MLA, led to the need for the election.

Calgary Stampede with a Vernon Flavour. (Our winning float entry)

Most Creative Entry- City of Vernon
Best Municipality Entry - City of Vernon

Osoyoos won't take others' waste

Rob Turner - Jul 4, 2009 CASTANET:
Osoyoos is not offering a particularly warm welcome for "liquid waste" that originates from homes and other sources outside its municipal boundaries. In fact, the reception the town is offering is downright frosty, as council has reiterated a previous decision to bar septic disposal from rural sources as of September 1. "It's unfortunate, but this really is an issue for the regional district," says Mayor Stu Wells in a news release. The amount of septic effluent being dumped in the liquid waste pits at the Osoyoos landfill has increased significantly in recent years, with most of the increase coming from rural areas, says Wells. Liquid waste is being trucked in from as far away as Keremeos, Cawston and Rock Creek, Wells says. The rapid increase in dumping has had a very practical impact on Osoyoos residents: "a big increase in odour" now present seven days a week, and it is particularly hard on visitors to the popular Desert Centre, he says.

"The Town of Osoyoos has to manage its own locally-generated waste and its dumping sites responsibly," Wells says. Wells expanded on his comments in an interview Saturday with Castanet News, saying that council might suspend the pending ban if the regional district came up with a concrete plan for dealing with the issue. "The key words here are 'solid plan' because (the regional district) has been at it for almost a year, and obviously nobody thought to do anything about it until the last minute when they realized this is coming to an end." Wells says there is a potentially viable alternative in Oliver for septic waste disposal.

Gamestown 2010

Don Quixote Note:

There is 1 entry from Vernon so far . Get off your ass, fellow blogreaders and make some creative Vernon Entries either with stories, Pictures or Videos and enter them in the contest at www.GamesTown2010.ca

Don’t hold back. Every community taking part in GamesTown2010 is eligible to become the Gold Medal GamesTown2010 and bring home $100,000 to put towards sports and healthy living facilities. Silver and Bronze medal winners will take home $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.

ARMSTRONG HAS 25 ENTRIES SO FAR.

Survival of the smartest.

Nick Hodge for Lumby Councillor

http://nickhodgeforlumbycouncillor.blogspot.com/2009/07/why.html

With Councillor Kevin Acton resigning to run for mayor, there is a vacancy on Lumby Council. I am campaigning for the position.

Why?

1. to represent the tax-paying residents of Lumby on council

2. to find a way to improve communication between council & residents

3. to keep parking meters out of downtown Lumby

How good is your mayor?

City Mayors provides Mayor Monitor (MM) to allow residents and non-residents to rate the performance of mayors from across the world as well as highlight their ‘best’ and ‘worst’ decisions. Mayor Monitor uses the widely understood one-to-ten rating system, where '1' signifies an extremely poor performance and '10' ‘an outstanding one. In addition to rating mayors’ performances, citizens are invited to highlight the best and worst decisions by city leaders.

Over time, Mayor Monitor will provide a valuable track record of mayors’ successes and failures as well as their popularity among residents and a wider public. The results will be published on the City Mayors website and updated monthly.

Please rate your mayor now.

The ratings will become a contributory factor of World Mayor 2010.

Ottawa eyes $3,500 'cash-for-clunkers' program

Renata D'Aliesio, Canwest News ServiceJuly 5, 2009

Environment Minister Jim Prentice said Saturday he's reviewing whether Canada should follow the United States and several European countries in offering consumers a substantial financial incentive to scrap their clunkers and buy new vehicles. Prentice said he's met with a number of auto manufacturers over the past few months to discuss the prospect of giving Canadians $3,500 to trade in their older, polluting vehicles. Makers and sellers of cars have been aggressively lobbying Ottawa to adopt the measure, contending it will significantly boost sales in the sagging auto sector while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Pressure has mounted since U. S. President Barack Obama signed a "cash-for-clunkers" program worth up to$4,500 US into law last month. However, Prentice said before making a decision on whether the federal government would adopt a similar incentive, he wants to evaluate the effectiveness of an existing program, which offers modest rewards that vary across the country.

In Alberta, drivers who scrap vehicles made in 1995 or earlier can get up to $490 for a bicycle, up to a year's worth of monthly transit passes, or $300 cash. "We have a limited program that's in place now that was frankly put in place before the recession began. It was directed at getting clunkers off the road. It wasn't really designed as an economic-stimulus package," said Prentice, who was in Calgary for the annual Calgary Stampede festival.Prentice suggested a decision on whether to offer clunker-driving Canadians more lucrative rewards to buy new cars will be made within 60 days.

He stole $100 million, and lived like a king. Then it all fell apart.

Macleans.Ca July 2 (Excerpt below)

The experts will tell you that most frauds start small—maybe a few hundred bucks pocketed here, a little accounting fudge there—and get gradually bigger over time as the thief warms to the task, and gains confidence. That’s the way it almost always goes.

But Paul Champagne was not your typical fraudster. For one thing, Champagne had no particular expertise in finance. He was a computer engineer, brought in to manage maintenance contracts at Canada’s Department of National Defence in 1992. He was a technical authority, who could tell the bureaucrats how to buy, operate and maintain their computer systems more efficiently, and to save the taxpayer money in the process. For most of his time at DND, he wasn’t even an employee, but an outside contractor. And, up until the day he was fired in 2003, most of his colleagues thought he was doing a great job. Even when he was fired, it was for exceeding his authority in approving contracts that were beyond his position.

His theft wasn’t discovered until shortly thereafter. And what a theft it was: an estimated $100 million embezzled from DND through a phony invoicing scam that ran for just under a decade. Every year he supplemented his $80,000 salary by about $10 million—one of the longest-running and biggest frauds in Canadian history.

New product could end graffiti problem

Rachael Kimola - Jul 5, 2009 Castanet:

It's a product a Peachland couple thinks could be the answer to the Central Okanagan's graffiti problems. Bev Brown and Brian Retzlaff have become local distributors of Graffiti Block, a water based product which repels graffiti. Brown says they became aware of the product just a few months ago and believe it could be a very big help to Kelowna's rampant graffiti problem. “It can go on any surface, paint, brick, concrete, anything, and it creates an invisible barrier between the wall and spray paint. Any graffiti put onto a wall after the Block is put on it just washes off with a rag. No sweat, no effort, it just comes right off,” says Brown. She says the product, which is manufactured in Vancouver, is environmentally safe and could also be used on highway signs. “Snow doesn't accumulate on surfaces which have been covered in the Block, so it could be very helpful in keeping highway road signs clear in the winter.” Retzlaff, owner of Beyond Concrete, which is the only company in B.C. with license to sell Graffiti Block, says the product looks kind of like a clear nail polish. “It gets sprayed or rolled onto a surface, just like regular paint. It expands a little while drying and once it's set, it lasts about 20 years,” says Retzlaff. He says they have been talking with city officials, local school districts and Strata buildings. “It has been used with great success in Vancouver and the Graffiti Task Force in Kamloops is recommending it.” More information about the product is available at the company's website.

Link: Graffiti Block website http://www.rainscreentechnology.com/

Calgary Stampede with a Vernon Flavour

Ty Elliott of Vernon, British Columbia flies off the bull Class Act after he rode him for 8 seconds in the Bull Riding event during the Calgary Stampede Rodeo in Calgary, Alberta, July 4, 2009.

REUTERS/Todd Korol

PM dares rivals to force election

By Renata D'Aliesio And Jason Fekete, Calgary Herald

P rime Minister Stephen Harper dared opposition parties on Saturday-- namely Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff--to topple the Conservative minority government, arguing it will trigger an election Canadians don't want and leave voters with a stark choice at the ballot box. "Let the opposition parties threaten to get together to defeat us and replace us," Harper told about 800 Conservative supporters during a barbecue at Heritage Park. "Canadians have been clear that they do not want another election." Harper and Ignatieff, both in Calgary for Stampede events, have been engaging in electoral brinkmanship for weeks, with the Liberals threatening to defeat the government over issues such as fiscal management and employment insurance eligibility requirements.

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All 3 Anglo leaders at Stampede yesterday.

RCMP investigating 6th EnCana pipeline bombing, July 4

2009-07-04 14:35 PDT RCMP NEWS RELEASE:

RCMP confirm that on July 4, 2009, between 2:00 am and 3:00 am, a 6th bombing against a natural gas pipeline infrastructure occurred at an EnCana site. The latest, which was in the immediate vicinity of the most recent blast on July 1st, 2009. The last two bombings occurring, near Pouce Coupe approximately eight kilometers south of Dawson Creek. There were no injuries to residents or EnCana staff.

The RCMP were alerted after receiving a report from a concerned resident in the area, stating that a loud bang had just been heard. EnCana security and site workers who were working nearby on the previously damaged wellhead from July 1st, , were within a kilometer and also heard the blast. Immediate attendance was made by both the RCMP and EnCana. EnCana activated its emergency response plan for the site to ensure the public safety and that of the EnCana workers and RCMP members in attendance. RCMP officers at the scene confirmed that the incident was a result of a blast.

“ EnCana has advised us of the following technical information:” stated Cpl Moskaluk:

That the explosion hit a section of pipe, causing a leak and escape of gas. Due to the drop in line pressure at the time of the explosion, the safety valves on the pipeline immediately shut in the line, isolating the damaged section and the leak stopped. There was no harm to workers, the public or the environment. The natural gas flowing through this line is slightly sour – containing a very small amount of hydrogen sulphide – approximately 0.07 percent. Air monitoring equipment was placed at the nearest residence, about 2.5 kilometres from the site of the leak, and no sour gas has been detected in the air. No evacuation was required as the leak was stopped and area contained for insurance public safety.

“The elements of this incident thus far, are consistent with the previous blast sites and the RCMP considers this latest bombing linked to the others. This does change the dynamics of the events in certain terms, the main being our heightened concern for public safety, given that this explosion went off in close proximity of working crews and within a couple of kilometers of a populated rural area.

In regards to the investigation, we were able to respond to this latest blast very quickly, this made possible by receiving the immediate public report of suspicious activity. Rapid response permits us to conduct a forensic examination of a fresher scene before natural elements or human contact disturbs or eradicates evidence, greatly increasing the scope and success of the collection of fresh physical evidence. Supplemental resources are headed to and have arrived in Dawson Creek today July 4th in order to further bolster the resources already in place. The RCMP “E” Division Integrated National Security Enforcement Team INSET will continue to be assisted by the RCMP Forensic Ident Section, with the RCMP post blast forensic examination team, Police Dog Service teams and explosive disposal team mustering today.

In order to bolster current resources at the Dawson Creek Detachment itself, to conduct expanded rural patrol and coverage, two additional Constable positions have been allocated to the detachment strength”, stated Cpl Moskaluk.

Mission keeping busy during recession

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 04, 2009 12:00 PM

Vernon’s Upper Room Mission has more mouths to feed because of the recession. About 200 meals a day are served to people in need at the non-profit agency on 27th Avenue. “We’re starting to get a few new faces in,” said Chuck Harper, executive director. “That’s traditional in the summer but we’re also seeing an increase in the working poor.” Harper believes the current economic downturn has made it difficult for some individuals to survive. “People are having a hard time paying their bills and buying food,” he said. As a non-profit agency, the mission relies on public support either through contributions of food, cash or clothes that are then resold in the adjacent thrift shop. “I’m very impressed with how the community supports us,” said Harper. “Whether it’s homebaked pies or a bag of canned goods, it’s amazing.” Beyond serving meals, the mission also provides a number of other programs to local residents. They include typing skills, computer literacy, Narcotics Anonymous, life skills and sewing and crafts.About 100 people are accessing those services.

For more information about programs, call 549-1231. Or to donate food or clothes, drop by the Upper Room Mission at 3403 27th Ave.

Seniors set sights on government

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 04, 2009 12:00 PM

Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster has been told to take concerns about macular degeneration to Victoria. Foster has been presented with an 1,800-name petition from residents who are upset the Ministry of Health will only permit retinal specialists to treat the wet form of the eye disease. “I will talk to the minister and find out why they did what they did, and if there will be any changes,” said Foster who was just elected MLA on May 12. “I have no idea on why this decision was made.” On June 1, the ministry began covering the cost of Lucentis or Avastin injections into affected eyes. Previously, patients paid the bill themselves. But as part of the fee structure change, the ministry is mandating that only retinal specialists can provide the procedure, not the two ophthalmologists who have been involved in Vernon. “These people are qualified and have been doing it for years,” said local patient Irene Dorin of the ophthalmologists. There are 18 retinal specialists in B.C., including only one in the Interior — Kamloops. The treatments only last for a month to six weeks so regular visits to the doctor aren’t uncommon. Resident Bev McEachran fears that not having a physician locally will put her eyesight in jeopardy. “We can go blind within a week,” she said. There is also a concern that the retinal specialists in the Lower Mainland and Kamloops will face large waitlists and no one will be available if the doctors are on holidays or ill. “Think also of the fare to the airport and staying overnight,” said Dorin of travel-related costs. The petition was launched after the ministry announced its policy change in April. “We could have got 5,000 names if we had stayed out on the street,” said Bonnie Turley, who receives treatments. “Four of us got these names just like that.”While the petition is now being sent off to the ministry, McEachran, Turley and Dorin vow not back off their fight.“I’m not going to shut up,” said Dorin.

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July 4 Morning Star EDITORIAL: MLA must get more involved

Granted Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster has only been in office for a couple of weeks, but he hasn’t shown a strong flare for representing his constituents’ interests yet. When presented with an 1,800-name petition over macular degeneration treatments, Foster gave the safe response. “I will talk to the minister,” he said. And obviously talking to the minister is important, but Foster must have some gut feeling about a policy that will force local residents with the wet form of the disease to travel for treatments. He will soon be at that age himself where macular degeneration starts to surface. Without knowing all of the bureaucratic details, it’s not hard to tell that patients will suffer because they can’t count on a local ophthalmologist anymore. They will have to join the already long list of patients seeing the 18 retinal specialists in B.C., including the closest in Kamloops.

It will mean extra costs for fuel, motels and restaurants and if they don’t drive any longer, the patients will have to rely on a relative or take the bus. It should also be pointed out that sight can deteriorate quickly with macular degeneration so a senior may not have enough time to wait for their appointment in Kamloops or Vancouver a month or two months away. Trying to determine why the Ministry of Health changed the rules is certainly important if any hope of changes are to be made, but where is the compassion for those who have been impacted.Foster promised he would represent his constituents when he was campaigning, and now that he has the job, it’s time for some action.

Mayor cleared, lawyer targets appeal

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 04, 2009 12:00 PM

Legal troubles may not be over for Spallumcheen’s mayor. The lawyer representing 39 residents who alleged Will Hansma was in conflict of interest is not satisfied with a judge’s dismissal of the charges. “They need to look at an appeal and I recommend they appeal it,” said Danica Djordjevich, an Armstrong-based lawyer. The residents allege Hansma was in a conflict regarding amendments to Spallumcheen’s official community plan because his sons owned property in the area affected by the change.

But Justice Peter Rogers, with the B.C. Supreme Court, disagreed. “In essence, the petitioners argue that the court must assume that because he is their father, this mayor must be taken to desire financial advancement for his sons, and further that because of that father and son relationship, improvement of the sons’ affairs will necessarily equate to an improvement of the mayor’s estate,” he wrote in his judgement Thursday. “In my view, the law has not yet come so far as to permit such inferences to be drawn, at least not without there being some evidence to support them. None of the authorities upon which the petitioners rely go that far — they all contain at least some evidence showing a link between the pecuniary interests of the official and the pecuniary interests of the party whose affairs were affected by the matter under discussion. But in the present case there is absolutely no evidence at all to link the mayor’s sons’ pecuniary interests to his own.”

Direct or indirect pecuniary interest aside, Djordjevich suggests the ruling could set a negative precedent across B.C. “It’s about public perception and what people feel is the taint to the process of government,” she said of relationships between elected officials and those who make applications to municipalities. “Good government not only needs to happen, it must be seen to be happening.” Djordjevich is waiting to hear from her clients as to whether there will be an appeal to the B.C. Court of Appeal.

Hansma believes there is no opportunity for appeal. “This can’t continue. This is their (39 residents) petition and their voice was heard,” he said. “I’m really happy with the ruling. It clearly sets out no conflict and that I acted within accordance of the municipal act.” Hansma’s lawyer had argued that the mayor was not in a conflict because he would not gain from changes to the OCP. “Every zone in the township was being dealt with,” said Hansma. When asked if he would have handled the situation differently or left the room when the OCP came before council for a vote, Hansma replied, “No regrets whatsoever.” He added that he based his actions on two legal opinions stating he wasn’t in a conflict and the allegations have been difficult personally. “It was my credibility on the line, my family’s credibility on the line — that we would do something crooked.” Rogers has ordered the 39 petitioners to cover Hansma’s legal bill. Hansma isn’t sure what those costs may be but he did borrow $5,000 from the township to go towards his expenses.

Green party predicting fall election will be called

James Miller 2009-07-04 Kelowna Daily Courier:

Adriane Carr, deputy leader of the federal Green Party of Canada, fully expects an election will be called in the fall, and she‘s in the Okanagan this weekend to prepare the troops. Carr, a former B.C. provincial leader and the federal candidate in the riding of Vancouver Centre, spent Friday with Green party members in Penticton. She will be in Kelowna today to meet with candidate Angela Reid and attend a fundraiser in the evening. “We‘re expecting an election in the fall. (Liberal Leader Michael) Ignatieff and the other two opposition parties have boxed themselves into a corner. None of them want to be the party that props up the Conservatives. It will be like a game of chicken.” Carr, a former teacher, said the Green party will attempt different strategies in the next election, with its main focus being to elect leader Elizabeth May.
“We‘ve developed a very clear plan and set of goals, and No. 1 is to have our leader elected. Elizabeth May has been open to doing polling where the most likely riding is to elect her, and it‘s not breaking news that Saanich Gulf Islands is one possible riding. We‘d love to have one person in each riding across the country offer to help pitch in and get Elizabeth elected.”

Carr admits financing is always a problem for her party, but jokes, “we‘re not putting money into attack ads. We are doing training in fundraising, and I‘m out doing the barbecue circuit – good old grassroots fundraising, but the reception we‘re getting is good. Young people ages 18-34 are strong supporters. For some reason, traditionally, we have more support among women, but we have all walks of life. We have grandmothers concerned about the future for their grandchildren.” As for strategic voting, she believes it will soon come to an end. “How do you feel good about yourself voting for a party that you thought had the best chance of defeating the party you hate the most based on a poll you read? With strategic voting, it‘s really the voter who loses out.”

Carr said although the Okanagan is traditionally strong Conservative territory, her party has established a presence. “In the Interior, where it‘s traditionally been Conservative territory, people who‘ve thought about voting Green can do so with more freedom than in the tighter ridings. We have strong numbers in the Okanagan, and it may not be a breakthrough in the next election, but part of what we‘re training our candidates for is multiple elections.” She rhymed off several strong performances, including Penticton, where first-time candidate Dan Bouchard collected 13 per cent of the vote. As for the recent provincial election in which the Greens failed to elect a single candidate, the former provincial leader said she was more disappointed to see the Single Transferable Vote lose. “It‘s sad after all the work that went into it to see that it didn‘t pass. We need change to our electoral system. The federal Green party collected almost one million votes in our last election, yet didn‘t win a single seat. The Bloc collected 1.3 million votes and won 49 seats.”

2009 Calgary Stampede Parade

CTV:

300-thousand people lined the streets of downtown Calgary for the kickoff to "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth".The 2009 Calgary Stampede began when Stampede Parade Marshall, home renovations guru, Mike Holmes, cut the ribbon with the roar of military jets heard overhead. 2,500 people were part of the parade.There were 170 floats, 50 marching bands, and more than 700 horses in the parade that is the official start to the Calgary Stampede.

This year's Stampede Parade trophy winners are:

• Best Overall Parade Entry - Brazilian Community Association of Alberta
• Celebrity's Choice Award - Alberta Building Trade Council
• Best Western Entry - Guns of the Golden West, CAOS - Calgary Animated Objects Society "Spirit of White Buffalo", Chick Wagon
• Most Creative Entry- Stirling Hunted House, Coquitlam Festival Society, City of Vernon
• Best Corporate Entry - Canadian Pacific " Puffer BellyEexpress", ATB Financial, Servus Credit Union
• Best Business or Non-Profit Entry - Alberta Building Trade Council, Kensington Sun and Salsa Festival, Falun Dafa
• Best Cultural Entry - Danish Canadian club, Israeli/Muslim community of Calgary, Trinidad and Tobago Organettes
• Best Municipality Entry - City of Cranbrook, City of Vernon, City of Kimberly/Chamber of Commerce
• Best Horse Entry - MT Stables

Police Seek Info On Missing Man

Glen Morrison Friday, 03 July 2009 107.5 KISSFM:

Lumby RCMP have issued a formal appeal for information in a missing persons case. 21 year old Cory Lee Romanick of Trinity Valley, north east of Lumby hasn't been seen since Sunday, June 21st. He apparently left his home at some point after ten that night and may have had a single barreled shotgun with him. After his family reported him missing on the 23rd, Vernon Search and Rescue along with three other teams and the RCMP helicopter carried out an exhaustive search, but to no avail.So far he's not used his bank cards or contacted anyone including his employer in Alberta. When last seen Romanick was wearing a black hoodie, jeans and brown running shoes.RCMP Corporal Henry Proce says Romanick is a lifelong resident of the area and a graduate of Charles Bloom Secondary. Anyone with information is urged to contact RCMP.

Help Vernon become Gamestown 2010

http://www.gamestown2010.ca/

KAMLOOPS – The City of Kamloops has won an ActNow BC athlete ambassador visit for their display of Olympic and healthy-living spirit in the online GamesTown 2010 competition.

“This is exciting news for our city,” says Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake. “Kamloops is well-known as the Canada’s tournament capital and it is great to see the commitment to sport and fitness in this city celebrated. Having an elite level athlete visit our community will help inspire and motivate continued excellence.”

“Winning this athlete ambassador visit is a great way for people to share in the spirit of the 2010 Games and be encouraged to build their own legacy of active and healthy living,” says Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger. “Kamloops is definitely a great contributor toward our Province’s goal of being the healthiest jurisdiction to ever host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Communities can show their 2010 spirit by competing for the title of GamesTown 2010 and a $100,000 gold medal prize.

On the GamesTown 2010 website, www.GamesTown2010.ca, everyone is encouraged to post comments, stories, photos and videos online that shows why their community should win the title.

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Don Quixote Note:

There are NO entries from Vernon yet. (I have entered a City Of Vernon Youtube video to start). Get off your ass, fellow blogreaders and make some creative Vernon Entries either with stories, Pictures or Videos and enter them in the contest at www.GamesTown2010.ca

Don’t hold back. Every community taking part in GamesTown2010 is eligible to become the Gold Medal GamesTown2010 and bring home $100,000 to put towards sports and healthy living facilities. Silver and Bronze medal winners will take home $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.

City payroll tops $19 million

Kathy Michaels - Penticton Western News Published: July 02, 2009 6:00 PM

Those wondering who makes the big money in Penticton, should shift their gaze over to city hall. Of salaries paid in 2008, more than 14 of the city’s top staffers can boast a wage of over $100,000 before expenses, while 36 others make more than $75,000 annually. The city’s highest paid worker was administrator Leo den Boer, who pulled in $156,085. The next highest wage went to director of corporate services Jack Kler and director of development and engineering Mitch Moroziuk, who made just over $129,000 a piece. When all was said and done, the top 50 earners in this city cost about $14,236,286, with the total city payroll coming in at $19,007,961. Politician’s wages were more modest and councillors and the mayor raked in about $180,968 collectively.

According to Dennis Back, the current city administrator, local wages are about en par with municipal wages in like-sized cities such as Port Coquitlam, Campbell River and Kamloops — though Penticton is not the most lucrative place to go into public service. “Every three years we find out where we are relative to market and that’s something we are looking at right now,” he said. “We don’t compare favourably at all when we compare ourselves to Kelowna, but (it’s) a substantially bigger community. That is why the comparisons have to be relative.” While Back said local wages are standard if not slightly lagging behind, Coun. Dan Albas — who earlier lobbied for a city council pay cut — noted it is something that city council will look closely at as a means to address questions raised in the budgetary process.

“Some say to attract the best staff, we have to pay them the most. Personally I don’t buy into the argument,” said Albas. “I think people go to public service versus working in the private sector because they feel a sense of duty. They want to be fairly compensated, but to always be constantly raising wages? I don’t agree with that personally.” Albas went on to say that he’s aware of a recent report on business executive compensation over the last year, and in the private sphere Canadian CEOs are making about 10 per cent less than they did the year before. While matching what private-sector workers are paid is one way to look at the issue, Albas said that it’s not necessarily the most important. “The real argument is what’s the scope of working duties,” he said. “Penticton is a unique place, it’s neither a big city or a small town. It’s that awkward position in the middle. So I think it’s important that we are always looking at those things and we will get the best people if we pay fairly and have a great work environment.”

While there’s room for discussion on rates, one area the city falls behind is the proportion of women in its high paying ranks. Only five women were among the 50 employees who earned $75,000 or more in 2008. “We don’t hire on the basis of gender, we try to hire for the best person,” explained Back. “We like to advance females within the organization, and if we have a posting and they apply then we give them equal consideration. But we hire for who’s the best person for the job, not male or female. But we do try and encourage advancement for the organization, including women.” While Penticton currently has few women in managerial roles, that’s not necessarily an indication of how conditions are in other cities, and Back said in his time working for the City of Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver, he’s noticed a shift. “I can tell you that over the years there are more women that are being attracted to local government work, and advancing into managerial roles,” he said. “We are also attracting professionals who want to make a career in local government and advancing to senior ranks.”

Few takers for discounted condos

Wolf Depner - Penticton Western News Published: July 02, 2009 6:00 PM

Alysen Place, the financially troubled condominium development in the south end of Penticton, is once again selling units, albeit slowly. The project has been in receivership since the end of the March after running into financial difficulties late last year. Receiver D. Manning and Associates last month announced that the remaining 35 units would go on sale at deeply discounted prices, with Vancouver-based MAC Marketing Solutions handling sales. Partner John Ryan said his company has so far sold eight units, including two of the most expensive ones. That leaves 27 units up for sale. Another 34 units sold before the project ran into difficulties. When the receiver announced the sale last month, expectations ran high. The accompanying press release dated June 9 billed Alysen Place as “Penticton’s Signature Real Estate Development” and Ryan predicted strong and immediate sales at the time.“With prices far below replacement cost we expect a very rapid sellout,” said Ryan. “With concrete construction, quality finishes, and incredibly low interest rates, this is likely the most affordable opportunity to own a prime Okanagan condominium.”

Two weeks into the sale, Ryan acknowledged that numbers so far have lagged behind expectations, noting that the Okanagan is a “little behind the curve” when compared to the real estate market in Vancouver, where comparable sales have drawn more interest thanks to a still relatively strong real estate market. “It (the Okanagan) is definitely a different market,” he said. Yet, Ryan also added, the sale has generated a lot of interest. “We have had a good response, as far as people coming through the doors,” he said, expressing confidence that his company will be able to move all units, possibly by fall. “Will we see a sell-out? That is definitely our marketing plan,” he said. Early marketing efforts so far have focused on the Okanagan, Ryan said. They will now expand to seek out buyers from the Lower Mainland, southern Alberta and the Prairies. Ryan noted that the units represent an unprecedented mix of quality and price, noting that the concrete-built units could not even be constructed for the price, for which they are being sold now.

Discounts range from 20 to 55 per cent, with prices starting as low as $249,900 to a high of $699,900 for the penthouse. The average discount exceeds $200,000 per home. The units, in other words, are selling for far less than their actual construction costs and it appears highly unlikely that their prices will come down further. “We feel that we priced it to sell and see no need to discount any further,” Ryan said. The sale became necessary after the project under the guidance of developer Jake Bergen ran into undisclosed financial difficulties towards the end of last year. The project eventually went into receivership at the end of March as it got caught in the real estate downturn in the wake of the current economic crisis. Bergen had first proposed his three-tower project more than three years ago as part of a broader scramble for development opportunities in the south end of Penticton near Skaha Lake.Developers had identified the area as an attractive and affordable alternative to the northern end of Penticton, where development opportunities along Okanagan Lake have dried up. The area also attracted other developers, including Mel Reeves, who was planning an even more ambitious project near Alysen Place. Yet it turned out to be a harbinger of things to come when Reeves announced last year that he would stop his project because of financial difficulties without ever having broken ground.

The demise of Reeves’ project and the receivership of Alysen Place has not only hurt many local trades and sub-trades, who are still waiting to get paid, but also forced City Hall to re-evaluate its financial books. Mayor Dan Ashton, commenting on the situation last month, said he expects Penticton to weather current trends. Yes, some proposed developments have not gone ahead, said Ashton. But does this not mean that the city does not remain an attractive place to live and do business, he said, pointing to a host of new developments on the northern and southern end of Penticton such as 100 Lakeshore Drive and the Waterford respectively. Ryan echoes this point in his sales pitch. The current receivership sale is an opportunity to buy into an area that will look very different five years from now.

Mayor Cleared of Conflict

Cleared of Conflict
Web posted on Thursday, 02 July 2009 CHBC VIDEO

The mayor of spallmucheen has been cleared of conflict of interest allegations.

Peter McIntyre Thursday, 02 July 2009 107.5 KISSFM:

Will Hansma says it's a big weight off his shoulders. The mayor of Spallumcheen has been cleared of conflict of interest allegations, made by a group of 39 residents. The residents argued Hansma should have stepped aside during council's discussion of a 2008 bylaw to amend the Official Community Plan because he and his sons had property affected by it. BC Supreme Court Justice Peter Rogers ruled Hansma was not in a direct or indirect conflict. Hansma says he's relieved at the ruling. "You always worry, "Did I do everything right?' You always second guess yourself, but I feel I did everything right and obviously the court thinks so too." The five term mayor says he decided to remain in the council discussion after getting two legal opinions that he was not in a conflict. "All the steps I followed were the proper procedure as we as politicians are guided by the Municipal Act so I feel I did everything the way we are supposed to do it."

Hansma could have been removed from office had he been found guilty. The plaintiffs have been ordered to pay Hansma's legal costs which he estimates are more than $5,000. Calls to the plaintiff's lawyer were not immediately returned to KISS FM.

Conservative leader resigns

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 02, 2009 6:00 PM

An insider insists the B.C. Conservatives are strong despite much of its executive stepping down. Leader Wilf Hanni, vice-president Bob Eedy and seven directors announced Tuesday they are immediately resigning their positions over what they describe as party turmoil. “I wouldn’t say there was in-fighting but there was a group that claimed to represent the party. We had to take that to court to get it resolved last year,” said Wayne McGrath, party president and former Vernon mayor. McGrath is confident the party can survive the resignations. “The last election was a huge improvement over the previous one,” he said. “I get the feeling that there’s a tremendous desire on the part of the electorate to have an alternative to the NDP and Liberals. Membership is starting to grow.”

In a release, Hanni and the other directors defended the decision to leave their duties.“We have spent much of the last four years fighting a long and protracted battle with a group of dissidents. As a result, the party has amassed almost $30,000 in legal bills and we still have not managed to unite the members of the board of directors. A small band of board members still insists on fighting and having its own way,” states the release. “We were hoping to achieve peace in the party so that we could work together to build on our success and turn our party into a real force in the next election campaign, but our efforts continue to be undermined. The constant infighting is continuing and there does not appear to be any end in sight.”

But McGrath claims the resignation may have to do more with the Conservatives not winning any seats during May’s provincial election. “The general feeling is the members would be interested in considering replacing the leader. It looks like Mr.. Hanni wanted to avoid that and quit,” he said. Beryl Ludwig, who ran for the party in Shuswap, believes there has been a power struggle in the party. “It’s very disappointing but there’s been infighting and this will hopefully settle it,” she said of the resignations. “A lot of people have joined and sometimes new people help.” The B.C. Conservatives will hold an annual general meeting in Chilliwack Sept. 26 and McGrath says a date will have to be set for a leadership race.

Lumby By-election Set

Rob Abramenko Thursday, 02 July 2009 107.5 KISSFM:

Lumby residents will be going to the polls on August 15. A by-election will be needed after two people filed papers to run for councillor. Julie Pilon was first to file, followed by Kaaralee Gehring, and there could be more.

There may also be a race for mayor, but so far, former councillor Kevin Acton is the lone candidate. Nominations for both positions close July 10. The resignation of mayor Eric Foster i May to become the Vernon Monashee MLA, led to the nomination call. Officials say the vote, which comes less than a year after the last municipal elections, will cost village taxpayers about $5,000

School sports could suffer from lawsuit

Katie Robinson - Chilliwack Progress Published: July 02, 2009 3:00 PM

School sports may take a hit after a $1.3 million award was made to a Chilliwack student injured in P.E. class. Joe Ogmundson, Chilliwack secondary school basketball coach and former field hockey coach, fears that the willingness of teachers and coaches to volunteer their time may be impacted as a result of the ruling. It's not just physical education that may be affected, he said, it's all sports. "The risk could be considered so great that the willingness of coaches to step forward may not be there anymore," said Ogmundson. The B.C. Supreme Court awarded 24-year-old Devon Hussack $1.37 million for a head injury he sustained in 1998 while participating in a field hockey game in his Grade 7 P.E. class at Vedder middle school. Hussack was encouraged by his teacher to take part in the field hockey game even though he had been absent for most of the classes. In the suit, Hussack alleged that his teacher was negligent in thoroughly teaching him how to play field hockey before allowing him to play, which he claimed resulted in him being hit in the face by a fellow student's stick.

Joe Mauro, Chilliwack secondary school P.E. teacher, was shocked by the verdict. There's always a risk to sport, he said."On average I have five to eight kids missing a class – does this mean we have to stop our whole entire class to individually teach one student who's missed a class? No way. "This is lose-lose for everybody," Mauro said. Despite conducting safety checks and going over the rules of a sport, no teacher is ever guaranteed an accident-free class. "You can tell kids a million and one times not to do something, and there will always be one or two who will still do it," said Mauro."The only way to avert accidents like this from happening is to quit coaching period. "Unless the school district is willing to put an extra teacher [in P.E.] for the kids who aren't in class every day," this can't be avoided, said Mauro.

Sean Wicker, P.E. teacher at G.W. Graham middle-secondary school, speculated that a ruling like this could effectively remove sports that don't use protective gear, like field hockey, lacrosse and floor hockey, from the P.E. curriculum. "It wouldn't have an impact on the curriculum ... but it would definitely have an impact on athletics," said Wicker. "If we're not able to do those kinds of sports in class, we will never see the [kids] who are good in those sports and be able to get them onto teams outside of school – this is where we find our athletes."

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See Vancouver Sun Article of June 30 for more:

Saddam interview tapes released

BBC NEWS:

US investigators have released accounts of the questioning of Saddam Hussein, offering a goldmine of historical and personal details on the Iraqi leader.

The documents released under freedom of information rules are from interviews and informal conversations he had in US custody with the FBI in early 2004. Saddam Hussein said he refused to allow UN weapons inspectors into Iraq to stop Iran knowing how weak it had become. And he scoffed at reports that he used body doubles to confuse assassins.The former Iraqi leader was interviewed by Arabic-speaking FBI agent George Piro after his capture nine months after the US-led invasion of Iraq.

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Washington POST; July 2, 2009:

By Glenn Kessler Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, July 2, 2009

Saddam Hussein told an FBI interviewer before he was hanged that he allowed the world to believe he had weapons of mass destruction because he was worried about appearing weak to Iran, according to declassified accounts of the interviews released yesterday. The former Iraqi president also denounced Osama bin Laden as "a zealot" and said he had no dealings with al-Qaeda.

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Read the Documents: http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB279/index.htm

http://www.journal-post.com/forum/main-forum/389-saddam-interview-tapes-released-pdf-files-included.html

Twenty Interviews and Five Conversations with "High Value Detainee # 1" in 2004

National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 279

City councillors in conflict?

Jeremy Deutsch - Kamloops This Week Published: July 02, 2009 12:00 PM

A rookie city councillor says he’s going to be more careful when it comes to voting on property issues in the downtown. Denis Walsh said it didn’t even cross his mind that he could be in a conflict when he voted on an amendment to the city centre revitalization tax-exemption bylaw at the June 25 council meeting. KTW has learned the city is consulting with its lawyers to determine if either Walsh or Tina Lange were in conflict of interest when the councillors voted on the tax exemption. Walsh is co-owner of the Crossroads Inn on Seymour Street, property which is located within the tax-exemption zone. Lange is co-owner of the Plaza Heritage Hotel on Victoria Street, which is also in the zone. “Basically, it would be an oversight and I guess I would have to be more careful next time,” Walsh said. He voted against the amendment, while Lange voted in favour.

The tax-exemption bylaw was introduced in 2006 to encourage new development or the renovation of old buildings in the downtown area. Eligible developments can get a 100 per cent exemption from municipal taxes for up to 10 years. According to the Community Charter, a council member is required to declare a conflict of interest if he or she has a direct or indirect financial interest in a matter of discussion. But one of the longest-serving councillors is defending his colleagues. John O’Fee doesn’t see a problem with Lange or Walsh sitting in on the vote, arguing for a councillor to be in conflict, the issue should be based on something more specific. For example, he said, if the tax exemption was for a particular block in which a councillor owned property, O’Fee could see that being a conflict. In this case, he noted the revitalization bylaw is for the entire downtown area. Lange could not be reached for comment as of KTW press deadline.

Mayors Look At New Police Unit

Written by 107.5 Kiss FM July 2

The Okanagan's four major cities are exploring the concept of establishing an Integrated Homicide Investigation Team similar to ones in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. The group of homicide investigators from Vernon, Kelowna, West Kelowna, and Penticton would work on serious crime cases in all four communities. The RCMP is researching the logistics and costs of establishing the program.Valley mayors like Vernon's Wayne Lippert (pictured) say it could improve efficiency and provide for more uniformity in the investigations. The four centres also are working on a coordinated action to deal with squatters and pollution associated with houseboats. They're also trying to set up a protocol for more extensive group purchases of materials and products.
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Okanagan Valley Mayors Team Up on Initiatives

By City of Kelowna

KELOWNA - Mayors from the Okanagan’s four largest municipalities met in Kelowna earlier this month to discuss issues of common interest and find ways to work together for greater efficiency and effectiveness. The Intermunicipal Advisory Board heard a request for an RCMP pilot project called IHIT – Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. Described by RCMP Superintendents Bill McKinnon and Russ Nash, IHIT would group homicide investigators from Kelowna, West Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon to work on cases in all four communities. “By sharing resources and the expertise of the investigators in each community when needed, it could improve efficiency and provides for uniformity in these investigations,” says Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd. “It could also have the benefit of skilled investigators doing what they’re trained to do more regularly.” The RCMP will continue to research the logistics and costs of such a program, which is modeled on similar programs employed by municipal police forces in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd, West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater, Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert and Penticton Mayor Dan Ashton also discussed coordinated action on houseboats using Okanagan Lake. The mayors resolved to work with other levels of government to address houseboating issues such as squatters and pollution. The mayors, who represent more than 80 per cent of Okanagan residents, also talked about establishing a protocol for group purchases. The municipalities already do some group buys, but the mayors believe there are further opportunities to explore. The mayors also continue to compare bylaws that might be adopted for consistency in each municipality.The Intermunicipal Advisory Board has been meeting for the past year to discuss valley-wide meeting issues.

Hockey Canada reveals list of Olympic invitees

MIKE ZEISBERGER, SUN MEDIA

With apologies to the Sutters, the Staal family has become the First Family of Canadian hockey - at least from a playing standpoint.That was underscored this morning when all three NHL Staals - forwards Eric (Carolina), Jordan (Pittsburgh) and defenceman Marc (New York Rangers) - were on the list of 46 invitees for Canada's National Men's Team Olympic orenientation camp, which will be held Aug. 24-27 in Calgary.

Goaltenders (5)
Martin Brodeur (Montreal, Que./New Jersey, NHL)
Marc-André Fleury (Sorel, Que./Pittsburgh, NHL)
Roberto Luongo (Montreal, Que./Vancouver, NHL)
Steve Mason (Oakville, Ont./Columbus, NHL)
Cam Ward (Sherwood Park, Alta./Carolina, NHL)

Defencemen (16)
François Beauchemin (Sorel, Que./Anaheim, NHL)
Jay Bouwmeester (Edmonton, Alta./Calgary, NHL)
Dan Boyle (Ottawa, Ont./San Jose, NHL)
Brent Burns (Ajax, Ont./Minnesota, NHL)
Drew Doughty (London, Ont./Los Angeles, NHL)
Mike Green (Calgary, Alta./Washington, NHL)
Dan Hamhuis (Smithers, B.C./Nashville, NHL)
Duncan Keith (Penticton, B.C./Chicago, NHL)
Scott Niedermayer (Cranbrook, B.C./Anaheim, NHL)
Dion Phaneuf (Edmonton, Alta./Calgary, NHL)
Chris Pronger (Dryden, Ont./Philadelphia, NHL)
Robyn Regehr (Rosthern, Sask./Calgary, NHL)
Stéphane Robidas (Sherbrooke, Que./Dallas, NHL)
Brent Seabrook (Tsawwassen, B.C./Chicago, NHL)
Marc Staal (Thunder Bay, Ont./N.Y. Rangers, NHL)
Shea Weber (Sicamous, B.C./Nashville, NHL)

Forwards (25)
Jeff Carter (London, Ont./Philadelphia, NHL)
Dan Cleary (Carboneau, N.L./Detroit, NHL)
Sidney Crosby (Cole Harbour, N.S./Pittsburgh, NHL)
Shane Doan (Halkirk, Alta./Phoenix, NHL)
Simon Gagné (Ste-Foy, Que./Philadelphia, NHL)
Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, Sask./Anaheim, NHL)
Dany Heatley (Calgary, Alta./Ottawa, NHL)
Jarome Iginla (St. Albert, Alta./Calgary, NHL)
Vincent Lecavalier (Île-Bizard, Que./Tampa Bay, NHL)
Milan Lucic (Vancouver, B.C./Boston, NHL)
Patrick Marleau (Aneroid, Sask./San Jose, NHL)
Andy McDonald (Strathroy, Ont./St. Louis, NHL)
Brenden Morrow (Carlyle, Sask./Dallas, NHL)
Rick Nash (Brampton, Ont./Columbus, NHL)
Corey Perry (Peterborough, Ont./Anaheim, NHL)
Michael Richards (Kenora, Ont./Philadelphia, NHL)
Derek Roy (Rockland, Ont./Buffalo, NHL)
Joe Sakic (Burnaby, B.C./Colorado, NHL)
Patrick Sharp (Thunder Bay, Ont./Chicago, NHL)
Ryan Smyth (Banff, Alta./Colorado, NHL)
Martin St-Louis (Laval, Que./Tampa Bay, NHL)
Eric Staal (Thunder Bay, Ont./Carolina, NHL)
Jordan Staal (Thunder Bay, Ont./Pittsburgh, NHL)
Joe Thornton (St. Thomas, Ont./San Jose, NHL)
Jonathan Toews (Winnipeg, Man./Chicago, NHL)

BC CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENT THANKS WILF HANNI FOR SERVICE TO PARTY

For Immediate Release Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Vernon – BC Conservative Party President, Wayne McGrath, in response to yesterday’s resignation of Wilf Hanni, has expressed his regret and sincere thanks to the former Party Leader, who was instrumental in leading the party through the recent provincial election.

“It is with both regret and gratefulness that I accept the resignation of Mr. Hanni as leader of our Party. Wilf worked hard to help build the conservative movement in BC and led us with courage and distinction in the recent election. I believe I speak for the whole Party in extending my sincere thanks to him for all he has sacrificed and done for us, and for BC,’ said McGrath.

“It is at times like this that changes often do, and should, occur. That a number of Board members loyal to Wilf have also resigned is understandable, and the Board wishes to thank them for their service as well.”

“I also understand the frustrations and disappointments that sometimes accompany these decisions. We will work diligently to bring the party together in a professional and positive manner,” added McGrath.

McGrath pointed out that the timing of Mr. Hanni’s resignation is fortuitous in that it will allow the membership to go into the Party’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) with a unified Party that will elect a new board and begin plans for a Leadership race.

“We appreciate Wilf’s consideration regarding the timing of his decision, and will utilize this opportunity to build on what has been achieved while bringing in new people with fresh ideas to take the party to the next level,” McGrath stated.

The BC Conservative Party is holding its AGM in Chilliwack on September 26, 2009. All interested British Columbians are invited to apply for membership and attend. Memberships are available in advance via the party website at HYPERLINK "http://www.conservativesbc.com" www.conservativesbc.com and will also be available at the AGM.
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Don Quixote Note: Original posting at : Drastic Move for Conservatives:

Mission Very Busy

Starlee Speers - Vernon 105.7 SUNFM:

Vernon's Upper Room Mission has become increasingly busier in the economic downturn according to it's executive director. Chuck Harper says the Mission serves about two hundred meals a day, seven days a week. He's not sure where everyone is coming from but has heard that the homeless population is being driven out of Vancouver in preparation for the 2010 Olympics. Harper says the Mission is also seeing more of the working poor, people unable to stretch their pay cheques to cover the cost of food.

RCMP probe possible bombing of B.C. gas pipeline

CBC NEWS July 2:

National security investigators with the RCMP are investigating a gas leak on an EnCana pipeline in northeastern B.C. that may have been caused by another deliberate bombing. RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said police hope to release more information, including the cause of the leak, later on Thursday. "Certainly we want to ensure we have the proper resources here to fully examine the scene and make sure, if it is linked to the other incidents and bombings, we collect the evidence as thoroughly as possible," said Moskaluk. EnCana spokeswoman Rhona DelFrari said the area around the leak was cordoned off and there is no threat to the public or the environment, but it's alarming nonetheless. "It appears that it may have been caused by an explosion. If this is the case, then we are concerned about that," said DelFrari. EnCana employees detected a sudden drop in pressure in a sweet gas pipeline on Wednesday and traced the source of the leak to remote wellhead about eight kilometres south of Dawson Creek.

"If it was caused by an explosion that was set on purpose, then that is very frustrating to us because it causes a potential risk to the public and our staff in the area," she said. Fortunately no residents were in the nearby vicinity and no one was at risk, said DelFrari. Since October, there have been four deliberate bombings of EnCana pipelines and natural gas facilities in northeastern B.C., according to police. Investigators believe the bomber in those incidents was a local resident with a grudge against EnCana, which operates a large network of sour gas wells in the area. Sour gas is a type of natural gas that contains toxic hydrogen sulfide.

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RCMP NEWS RELEASE July 1:

The RCMP has responded to a report of a gas leak, which occurred in the early morning hours of July 1st, 2009, along a portion of an EnCana natural gas pipeline near Pouce Coupe, Dawson Creek B.C. EnCana and the RCMP have secured and contained the area to ensure public safety. EnCana reported the incident to the RCMP this am, after EnCana employees noted that gas line metering and detection devices indicated a drop in pipeline pressure in the early morning hours of July 1st. EnCana staff then attended the location and noted a gas leak at a wellhead on the site. EnCana and the RCMP immediately secured and contained the area in order to ensure public safety.

The RCMP Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) have assembled and are en route. The investigators will liaise with EnCana, with further information being made available to the public once the scene is examined by the RCMP and determination is made wether or not the leak is associated to a criminally motivated act.

Media inquiry messages/requests are to be directed to RCMP Media Relations Officer Cpl Dan Moskaluk at 250-863-7433 or by leaving a message with the Dawson Creek RCMP Detachment. Cpl Moskaluk anticipates being in the Dawson Creek area this evening and attempts to return media inquiries will be made today while in transit. Cpl Moskaluk will be available for further comment on July 2nd at the Dawson Creek RCMP Detachment commencing at 08:00am.

Drastic move for Conservatives

By Daily Courier Staff 2009-07-02

The Conservative Party of B.C is in disarray following the sudden resignation of Leader Wilf Hanni and half its board of directors. Hanni blamed infighting for his departure, saying he and the others who quit were tired of dealing with a “group of dissidents.” “We were hoping to achieve peace in the party so that we could build on our success and turn our party into a real force in the next election, but our efforts continue to be undermined,” Hanni said Wednesday. The Conservatives gained only two per cent of the popular vote province-wide in the May 12 election, but they were much more popular in the Central Okanagan. All three local candidates got more than 10 per cent of the vote, well behind the Liberals and NDP, but ahead of the slumping Green Party. Mary Ann Graham, who represented the Conservatives in Kelowna-Lake Country, said Hanni‘s resignation was a “positive step.” “I do see there‘s an opportunity now for new blood in the party,” she said. “Sometimes a shakeup is a good thing.”

Graham, a former regional district director, intends to stay involved with the Conservatives, who will hold their annual general meeting on Sept. 26 in Chilliwack. “The party has good principles and platforms,” Graham said. “It‘s just unfortunate that there were personality differences.” Joe Cardoso of Oliver gained more than 20 per cent of the popular vote in Boundary-Similkameen, the highest for any Conservative candidate in the province. However, he had just recently joined the party, after earlier being ousted as the Liberal candidate, and is not aware of what disputes there may be within the Tory executive. Cardoso also downplayed any suggestion he might be interested in running for the Conservative leadership in wake of Hanni‘s resignation.

“It‘s obviously going to take someone with a great deal of time (who is) willing to expend great energy to bring the party together,” he said. “I have to be honest, I‘m not sure I‘m the person who has that kind of time and energy to devote to building a party.” During the election campaign, the Conservatives offered a right-of-centre platform that called for, among other things, the lowest taxes in Canada, equal public funding for private schools and deportation of convicted criminals who are not Canadian citizens to their country of origin “by the cheapest method.”
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The Tyee June 30: Party President Wayne McGrath, who remains on the Board of Directors, did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
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BC CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER AND BOARD MEMBERS RESIGN

Western Standard July 1: The Shotgun Blog

CRANBROOK: BC Conservative Party Leader Wilf Hanni and several members of the Provincial Board of Directors issued the following statement today:

“Wilf Hanni has been Party Leader since 2005 and since that time, we have fought hard to unite this Party and to build it into a force to be reckoned with in B.C. Politics. At times the fight seemed overwhelming, but we stuck with it and despite the difficulties, we were able to accomplish a lot. We have spent much of the last four years fighting a long and protracted battle with a group of dissidents. As a result, the Party has amassed almost $30,000 in legal bills and we still have not managed to unite the members of the Board of Directors. A small band of Board Members still insists on fighting and having its own way. Despite these difficulties, under Wilf Hanni’s leadership and with the help of our hard working and dedicated Board members, we have managed to adopt a great new set of policies and a good constitution. We have also built our Party membership several times over. In addition, we have more than tripled the number of candidates in the 2009 Election campaign, compared to the 2004 election and have also tripled our percentage of the popular vote in the ridings in which we ran candidates. We were hoping to achieve peace in the Party so that we could work together to build on our success and turn our Party into a real force in the next election campaign, but our efforts continue to be undermined. The constant infighting is continuing and there does not appear to be any end in sight.

Accordingly the following members of the Board of Directors have decided to resign from our positions and from the BC Conservative Party, effective immediately:

Wilf Hanni, Party Leader

Bob Eedy, Vice-president

Maria Dobi, Party Secretary

Shirley Abraham, Director and Former President

David Duncan, Director

Yvonne Dunlop, Director and Recording Secretary

Liz Eedy, Director

Barb Smith, Director

Mathew Hanni, Director

In addition, the following people have resigned since the May 12^th General Election because of this ongoing infighting.

Gill Picard, Party Secretary and Webmaster

Lis Quinn, Treasurer and Financial Agent

Gary Johncox, Director and Fundraising Manager.

The I.P.E. presents the RCMP Musical Ride!

On behalf of the Interior Provincial Exhibition Association, we are pleased to announce that the RCMP Musical Ride will be visiting the Armstrong Fair Grounds on Sunday July 19, 2009 for two performances at 2pm and 7pm!

The RCMP Musical Ride will be preceded by a show featuring various acts and promises to be entertaining. The entire performance will be approximately 1 ½ hours long. Various vendors will be on site providing food and refreshments as well as our own Musical Ride/IPE Merchandise shop providing those special souvenirs and memorabilia. Attendees are encouraged to go meet and take pictures with the riders and horses before and after the shows.

This event is part fundraiser for the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Tower of Care Foundation. This foundation has the goal of raising 7 million dollars to equip the new Patient Care Tower. The new Tower will house Emergency, Maternity, Paediatric, Surgery, ICU, Cardiac and Ambulatory Care.
Ticket Information:
Prices do not include GST
A family pre-sell ticket* will be available at the IPE office in Armstrong prior to the event.
All tickets are rush seating.Ticket Information:
Adult - $12
Child (12 & Under) - $7
Family Pass (2 Adults and 2 Children 16 & Under) - $28

TICKETS CAN ALSO BE PURCHASED AT ASKEW'S FOODS in ARMSTRONG and at ALL VERNON SAFEWAY locations.
All tickets are rush seating.
*Family ticket admits 2 Adults and 2 Children aged 16 & under.

Canada last among G8 on climate change action: report

CBC NEWS July 1:

Canada has been ranked last among the G8 nations in an annual climate change report funded by the World Wildlife Fund and the insurance firm Allianz SE.

2009 rankings in the G8 Climate Scorecard (WWF/Allianz)

1. Germany
2. UK
3. France
4. Italy
5. Japan
6. Russia
7. U.S.
8. Canada

"Nowhere else on Earth do fewer people steward more resources, yet Canada now stands dead last amongst the G8 nations in protecting our shared home from the threat of dangerous climate change," said Keith Steward, director of WWF-Canada's climate change campaign, in a statement Wednesday. Canada's greenhouse gas emissions are steadily increasing, and its per capita emissions are already among the highest in the world, says the study, conducted by Ecofys, a renewable-energy consulting firm."A plan to curb emissions was developed last year but has not been implemented," the report says.

The report looked at the G8 nations as well as five major developing countries (Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa), focusing on:

• The change in their greenhouse gas emissions since 1990.
• How far they are from their targets under the Kyoto protocol, an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Their use of renewable energy sources as a share of their energy use.
• Their energy policies.

Last year, Canada placed seventh. This year, it traded places with the U.S., which moved up a spot thanks to climate initiatives announced by the Obama administration.Germany, the United Kingdom and France topped the list, partly because they have already achieved their Kyoto targets.

Vladimir Putin gambling law banishes Russian casinos to Siberian exile

TIMES ONLINE - June 30:

At the Metelitsa casino, the oldest private gambling house in Moscow, which opened in 1993 after the fall of the Soviet Union, they are packing up the card shoes and folding the gaming tables away. Across Russia thousands of others are doing the same as a gambling ban comes into force today. Gambling is now illegal outside special zones in four remote regions under laws ordered by Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister, which have cost up to half a million jobs and $1 billion (£600 million) in tax revenues. The ban spells the end of an era which witnessed an eruption of gambling fuelled by a lawless business culture in which fortunes were made and lost with dizzying speed.

As a result of the new legislation, the neon casino frontages that illuminated central Moscow’s prestigious Novy Arbat street are dark after the Metelitsa and several of more than 500 gambling venues in the capital chose to close a day early, on Monday night, to avoid possible police raids. As the deadline to shut up shop approached, waitresses marked the Metelitsa’s demise by handing out glasses of champagne to customers who eagerly placed bets at blackjack tables and on roulette, some spraying £300 chips across the baize. Through the cigar smoke one told The Times: “I changed $2,000 into chips and I’m just enjoying myself because there’ll be no more chances after today. It’s a stupid law.”

Mr Putin insists that the measure will tackle a growing problem of gambling addiction among Russians and control an industry notorious for links with criminal gangs and moneylaundering. Critics argue that it will do the reverse, and simply drive gambling underground and into criminal control. Relentless police pressure had already forced hundreds of gambling establishments to close and Moscow city council insisted that the last 524 would shut by today. The city’s coffers stand to lose almost $200 million in annual tax revenues as a result. Many casino operators plan to leave Russia, arguing that Government gambling zones — in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, the Altai region of Siberia, the Far East area of Primoriye and around the Sea of Azov in southern Krasnodar region — will need $40 billion in investment to turn them into the Russian equivalents of Las Vegas, Atlantic City or Monte Carlo. Mr Livingstone said that Metelitsa would examine opportunities in Kazakhstan, while others are looking to Armenia and Georgia.

Okanagan integrated homicide unit

Ron Manz - Power 104 -Jul 1, 2009 CASTANET:

The Okanagan's four major cities, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton are exploring the concept of establishing an Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, similar to ones already in existence in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. The group of homicide investigators from the four cities would work on cases in all four communities. The RCMP is researching the logistics and costs of establishing such a program right now. The four centres also are working on a coordinated action to deal with squatters and pollution associated with houseboats. They also are working to set up a protocol for more extensive group purchases of materials and products the four municipalities all need.