Conservatives to deliver early budget

CBC NEWS:

The Conservative government advanced the federal budget date and scrapped a second element of its economic update Sunday in a bid to stave off opposition efforts to take power with a Liberal-NDP coalition. Three days after delivering a financial statement that sparked coalition talks, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said he will hand down his budget on Jan. 27, about a month before one is normally tabled. Shortly after that announcement, Transport Minister John Baird said the minority government won't try to eliminate the right to strike for federal civil servants over the next couple of years, as pledged last week in Flaherty's fall update. On Saturday, Baird also announced the government has shelved its controversial plan to eliminate political party subsidies that are based on the number of votes received during elections.

As the Official Opposition, the Liberals have been threatening to bring down — with help from the NDP and the Bloc Québécois — the Conservative government over the lack of economic stimulus in Flaherty's update. Opposition parties say they have lost confidence in the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and the Liberals have drafted a no-confidence motion on the economic update that will be put to a vote Dec. 8.Liberal finance critic John McCallum said he doesn't trust the Conservatives to make proper plans in their budget to shore up the slowing economy.

Crawling traffic a drag on economy, says study

Steve MacNaull 2008-11-30 Kelowna Daily Courier:
Traffic jams and slowdowns suck about $200 million annually from the Central and North Okanagan economies. That‘s what Ottawa-based HDR Decision Economics concludes in a just-released study for the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission and the City of Kelowna. “This is significant,” said economic development commissioner Robert Fine. “The costs are estimates of delays that business owners and staff encounter, as well as the extra time it takes to get goods and people in and out of the Valley.” Basically, if a worker or trucker isn‘t able to drive the posted speed limit because of congestion, then the extra time to make the trip is considered wasted, and costs the company and the economy money. The estimated cost of the wasted time per average commuter is $521 a year. “We want to use this data to communicate to senior levels of government that more planning, spending on infrastructure and alternatives are needed,” said Fine.

City of Kelowna regional transportation director Ron Westlake has some suggestions for what those improvements should be. “We‘re working with the province to address existing congestion points (most of Highway 97 from Westbank to Kelowna International Airport) and to provide public transit to reduce the inefficient use of the corridor by single-occupant vehicles,” he said. “The report also provides a summary of key strategies that have been successfully developed in other jurisdictions around the world.” Those range from charging motorists to enter congested areas to road tolls, more public transit, promotion of cycling, and separate lanes for cars carrying two or more people. More housing closer to community cores encourages people to live closer to work, and thus reduces traffic and pollution.

Fine also points to the need for a second bridge linking the Westside and Kelowna. However, that‘s not even on the provincial government‘s radar because the new five-lane William R. Bennett Bridge just opened in May to replace the bottleneck three-lane Okanagan Lake Floating Bridge. Congestion, which is considered not being able go drive the posted speed limit, is classified as wasteful, inefficient and economically harmful. For instance, the worst congestion is in central Kelowna, where average speeds are about 26 km/h, 36 per cent below the posted speed limit. If no improvements to road transportation are made by 2030, the average speed will slide to 23 km/h, or 45 per cent below optimal, says the study.

City drives for highway improvements

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 28, 2008

Vernon’s mayor is optimistic the provincial government will take action on escalating traffic congestion. Wayne Lippert met with Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon in Victoria Thursday to discuss much-needed improvements to highways 97 and 6 in Vernon. “It was one of the more positive meetings I’ve had,” said Lippert. “We went through our five-year transportation plan and they are definitely interested and talking about it. We didn’t get a definite yes but they are looking at it.” Among the possible improvements are installing more left-turn lanes on 32nd Street (Highway 97) and placing restrictions on turning at some intersections. There is also the question of what to do at 32nd Street and 25th Avenue, next to Polson Park. “That’s the intersection that gets the most congested,” said Lippert. No potential timelines were established by Falcon. “All we can do is wait and see what the decision will be,” said Lippert.

Coun. Barry Beardsell recently suggested that the city close 27th Street off to transport trucks as a way of bringing Vernon’s traffic issues to the attention of the government. Lippert says the issue of shutting down 27th Street to large trucks was discussed with Falcon, but the concept didn’t go over well. “It would cause more grief for us than them,” said Lippert of the large transport trucks being forced on to side roads and further increasing the congestion on 32nd Street. But there was some discussion Thursday about the provincial government possibly taking on some responsibilities for 27th Street. “There could be some value for the highway system,” said Lippert.The city owns and maintains 27th Street but it is used as a connector between highways 97 and 6.

Traffic congestion in the North and Central Okanagan cost about $200 million per year, according to a report released Friday by the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission and the City of Kelowna. The study states that more than 48 per cent of excess delays are in Central Kelowna, followed by 22.7 per cent in suburban Kelowna and 18.2 per cent in Vernon. It also found that excess commuting costs to and from work in the region are estimated at $521 per year per car commuter. The greatest cost is in the Central Kelowna, followed by Vernon. By 2030, the costs are estimated to reach $802 per car region-wide. “Costs attributed to reduced speeds and congestion amount to $22.7 million per year for auto travel and 2.9 million per year for truck travel. This is estimated to rise to $42 million and $6 million respectively in 2030. Congestion reduces employment in the region by 935 jobs, rising to 1,619 in 2030.”

Changing face of development raises concerns

By Jennifer Smith - Kelowna Capital News

McKinley Landing residents face the possibility of 1,000 new neighbours thanks to an unenforceable set of circumstances created by city council three years ago. In August 2005, as one of their last acts as the local government, Mayor Walter Gray’s council agreed to allow developer Grant Gaucher to build a luxury resort in McKinley Landing under the Vintage Landing plan. The resort, now dubbed Kinnikinnik, would include a wellness centre, organic golf course and technology centre, with the development backed, in part, by revenues from 1,000 luxury condominiums, in which guests could stay up to a maximum of 240 days. Last Monday afternoon, however, the current council was forced to wipe the 240-day limit from the books after the city manager told the now outgoing city council there’s no way his staff can enforce it. “Today, people rent out homes by the week and it’s pretty clear that the home isn’t intended for weekly rentals and even that is very difficult to police,” said city manager Ron Mattiussi. Admitting that there’s no perfect way to ensure the resort will be used as a resort, Mattiussi told council that it boils down to a buyer beware situation.“If all you’re neighbours are…Calgarians and you get tired of that, than maybe it’s not the right situation for you,” he said. The only thing that stands between the condo owners and permanent residence now is the commercial tax rate the units will all be charged as part of the resort community—a rate roughly three times that of a regular live-in condo or home within the city.If the units can be rented for enough money to cover the tax rate, or the owners are willing fit the higher bill for the privilege of a year-round lakefront home, then there’s little the city can do about the situation, leaving council in a predicament. “I have a real difficulty with this because of the definition. Why did we have the definition if we can’t enforce it?”

Sharon Shepherd said Monday, noting she was annoyed with the situation. Kelowna city staff originally recommended against the Vintage Landing project, which falls outside the planning work in the city’s Official Community Plan. Without the OCP, the city had no idea when the proposal came into their planning department how much it would cost to provide city services to the area—things like new roads, water and perhaps even more importantly, sewers.At the time, Couns. Robert Hobson, Sharon Shepherd, Ron Cannan and Barrie Clark opposed the development when it came time to make the decision.But they were outvoted by the rest of council, and city staff then reportedly negotiated and signed a servicing agreement for the area to ensure the developer paid for the costs associated with sustaining the new resort.That servicing agreement is now up for renewal and current Couns. Norm Letnick, Brian Given and Hobson specifically stated they would only approve removing the 240-day limitation if the developer still ensures he will pay for the cost of the development.

But Richard Drinnan, an environmental consultant who has watched this development unfold, says he’s worried about more than just the costs involved. With several changes coming down the pipe on the project, he believes there’s more to the requests on hand than meets the eye and he’s very concerned about its environmental impact. Drinnan was one of the people who helped develop the provincial environmental review process in 1990. After watching how Gaucher handled his Southwind at Sarsons project, a development approved in Drinnan’s neighourhood, he’s wary the developer may be hedging his bets by throwing a variety of variables at the city so he can make the adjustments he needs and skirt environmental regulations that might weigh down the process while appearing to make concessions.

One of those variables up for discussion last Monday before council was a proposal to eliminate the word unit from the bylaw in questions, to accommodate concerns from his financiers. Along with concerns over the 240-day stay limitations, Gaucher said the original plans were to include lock-off units, or locked off portions of units within the 1,000 units, that could be rented separately.Three years later, that concept is no longer palatable to the industry, Gaucher said and he wanted the city to consider forgoing the word unit, allowing him to develop the same square footage of space as originally agreed to while making the lock-off units separate and rentable, something his financiers could better understand.According to city staff, however, there was never any agreement that the lock-off units could be part of the concept.As of Monday’s meeting, the 1,000-unit cap remains, there is no such thing as a lock-off unit on the city’s books and the development is expected to have the same density as it did when it was approved.Drinnan said the number of units is critical to the environmental review, noting that more units included in the project can trigger an environmental review process.

Water board bails on NORD

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 28, 2008

The loss of a major tenant will create challenges and opportunities for the North Okanagan Regional District. The Okanagan Basin Water Board has moved to Kelowna, vacating space it leased at the NORD administration office on Aberdeen Road in Coldstream. “There are pluses and minuses from it,” said Brian Reardon, regional district administrator. The negative aspect to OBWB’s relocation is that it will no longer pay NORD for administrative services or office space. In 2008, that amounted to $36,326 for the regional district. But OBWB’s departure means there is more room for regional district employees. “We’ve got four or five offices opened up and we could move some of our employees from our downtown office out here,” said Reardon. Currently, NORD has 10 water utility staff at a downtown Vernon office as well as five parks and recreation workers. A decision on relocating some staff to the Aberdeen Road site has not been made, but a board priority in 2006 was to have all employees centralized. “We want to maximize the synergies by having everyone under one roof,” said Reardon, adding that NORD also could avoid lease payments on the downtown building. It’s most likely that the parks and recreation department would take over the offices once used by the OBWB.

Reardon says an expansion of the Aberdeen Road building would be required to accommodate the rest of the staff downtown. OBWB has moved into part of the Central Okanagan Regional District building in Kelowna. Space became available there after CORD went through some restructuring. OBWB is responsible for aquatic weed management, wastewater infrastructure funding and water management projects from Spallumcheen to Osoyoos. “We are very excited about the opportunities that come from being more centrally located,” said Anna Warwick Sears, OBWB’s executive director, in a press release.“As a local government organization that represents water priorities in the entire Okanagan basin, being housed at the Central Okanagan Regional District will help connect us better with our partners throughout the watershed.”

Referendums shot down

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 28, 2008

Okanagan Indian Band members overwhelmingly have shot down electoral reform and a new source of revenue. On Wednesday, the vote for a custom election code was 266 against and 97 in favour, while it was 263 opposed to the band collecting property taxes from non-members and 103 in support. “Democracy has spoken,” said Chief Fabian Alexis. The concept of a custom election code had been proposed by the band council and it would have ended the current regulations implemented under the federal Indian Act. “It would have developed our own process and criteria for elections,” said Alexis. “Right now, the terms for chief and council are for two years and it was proposed they go to three years.” As for the other referendum, the council was asking the membership for approval to start collecting property taxes from non-natives living on reserve land. Currently, taxes from those non-members are collected by the cities of Vernon and Kelowna and the Central Okanagan and North Okanagan regional districts. “We will have to continue to live within our limited resources,” said Alexis. “We will have to be more resourceful with the funding we have.” In 2005, $1,789,180 in taxes was collected for properties occupied by non-natives, and none of that money went to the band for programs or services that it operates. Alexis would not speculate on why a majority of band members were opposed to taking over taxation from other jurisdictions. “The people who voted have said no for their own reasons,” he said.

Costly Congestion

Starlee Speers-Vernon 105.7 SUN FM

Traffic congestion is so bad in the Central and North Okanagan that it costs each commuter an extra five hundred dollars a year. Those findings in a report released today on traffic congestion and economic costs. Kelowna Transportation director Ron Westlake says, steps are being taken to ensure the costs don't reach the projected 8 hundred dollars per car by 2030."It's not all about building more roads, it's a matter of using those roads more efficiently. We've got an agressive transit plan that we're in the stages of implementing." The report shows over 11 million vehicle hours of excess delay per year are occurring in Kelowna and Vernon.

PROVINCE BACKS BIOFUELS TO REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS

VICTORIA – The Province will invest $10 million to support the production of liquid biofuels with demonstrated low greenhouse gas emissions in British Columbia, Technology, Trade and Economic Development Minister Ida Chong announced today. “This is an investment in technology and the ingenuity of British Columbians,” said Chong. “By converting biomass into liquid fuels with uses ranging from transportation to home heating, we can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020.” “B.C. is taking a leadership role in developing renewable and alternative energy innovations,” said Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld. “We are nurturing clean energy technologies that help protect the environment and create economic opportunities for British Columbians.” Eligible projects will include those applying both conventional and second generation technologies. New production capacity using conventional biodiesel technology will be eligible in this call for proposals. All projects must demonstrate that the fuel will result in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions relative to conventional petroleum-based fuels, based on a full life-cycle assessment.

This funding supports the provincial government’s priorities, including:

• Meeting new requirements under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirements) Act for a five per cent minimum annual average renewable content in gasoline and diesel, beginning in 2010.
• Helping to meet B.C.’s commitment to further reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from all transportation fuels by at least 10 per cent by 2020 through a low-carbon fuel standard.
• Development and commercialization of biofuel production technologies that provide significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions relative to petroleum-based fuels.

This investment will be administered through the Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund process, which will evaluate project proposals. Applications can come from anywhere in British Columbia. For more information, please visit the website at: www.tted.gov.bc.ca/ICEFund/Pages/default.aspx

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New plant expected to significantly increase output N.Z.

Initially, the company expects to be able to daily convert 200–250 tons of wastewater biosolids into biofuel, and will have the capacity to convert up to 500 tons per day, thereby increasing its current corporate capacity by more than 33%. The company recently announced that its Daytona Beach operation has ramped-up to approximately 350 tons of biosolids a day, with the capacity to reach nearly 750 tons. It also recently extended its memorandum of understanding with Michigan State University to enter into a long-term arrangement for the design, construction, and operation of an N-Viro Fuel facility at the University.

Mayes prepared for cuts

107.5 KISSFM Pete McIntyre:

Members of Parliament are being asked to cut back on their spending, which the North Okanagan's rep in Ottawa says won't be a challenge for him. As part of it's fiscal plan, the federal government is calling for deep cuts to government spending to stay out of a deficit next year. Okanagan Shuswap M-P Colin Mayes says he's been watching his spending since he was first elected two years ago. "I'm quite frugal. I get about $300,000 (a year) to run my office and advertising. From 2007 to 2008, I had a $75,000 surplus, and this year, we hoping to have (a surplus) close to $100,000. So basically I'm saving about a third of the money anyway." Mayes also agrees with the plan to remove the right to strike in the public service until 2010.He says their wages come from the taxpayers purse and they have to have some restraint when times are tough.

Conservatives drop party-funding cuts from key motion

CBC NEWS:

The government won't include a controversial proposal to end public subsidies of political parties in an upcoming confidence vote on the fall fiscal update, a spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office confirmed Friday. Kory Teneycke told CBC News that only tax measures will be part of the ways and means motion to be voted on by MPs on Monday. "The portion dealing with political subsidies … will be part of a later bill," said Teneycke. "It will not be part of the ways and means on Monday." It's a sharp reversal for the minority government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. When the fiscal update was delivered on Thursday, government officials and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said the party financing measures would be considered matters of confidence. Federal parties currently receive $1.95 for every vote they receive in a federal election, provided they win at least two per cent of the nationwide popular vote. The annual subsidy is used to pay for staff and expenses. Cutting the subsidies would effectively gut the opposition parties, who are far more dependent on them than the Conservative party.

The Liberals and New Democrats quickly rejected the proposal and launched a series of discussions about forming a potential coalition government if the confidence motion fails to pass and the government is defeated. Former prime minister Jean Chrétien and former NDP leader Ed Broadbent are steering the talks, according to reports. Teneycke said opposition parties are not acting out of concern for the economy, but because they're worried about losing the subsidies. "It's surprising the opposition parties would act in such an undemocratic fashion," he said. Teneycke said the government still supports cutting the subsidies during this economic downturn and will introduce them at a later date. "The prime minister believes political parties need to do their share," he said

Rabbit Control Bylaw

Castanet:
Rabbit Control Bylaw - Council gave 1st, 2nd and 3rd reading to a Rabbit Control Bylaw that will allow the District to address feral rabbit infestation concerns in a pro-active manner. The bylaw proposes requirements to spay or neuter rabbits before adoption or sale, prohibits uncontained pet or feral rabbits from occurring on private property, prohibits feeding of rabbits in public spaces and requires property owners to modify or clean up problem breeding sites. The bylaw is available on the District’s website at www.districtofwestside.ca.

Draft Rabbit Bylaw

Council has given the first three readings to a draft bylaw aimed at addressing feral rabbit infestation concerns.

Draft Rabbit Control Bylaw

RCMP Want Stolen Items Picked Up

105.7 SUN FM:
Members of the Vernon Detachment are attempting to locate owners of some stolen property that has been recovered recently. It is believed that the thefts from vehicles have occurred in the Middleton Mountain and Silver Star Elementary School area over the past two weeks. Police have recovered two or three Sirius radio systems and fifteen faceplates from various vehicle stereo systems and a digital camera that has pictures of two young children dressed up for Halloween in costumes of Spiderman and Cinderella. If you have experienced a theft of a Sirius radio or a faceplate to your stereo system or had a camera stolen from your vehicle in Vernon over the past ten days and have not filed a complaint with the police or provided a serial number of the stolen items please contact the Vernon office to possibly identify and recover these items.

Please call the Vernon Detachment during office hours and quote file number 2008-29962. RCMP - Vernon

Emergency Shelter

Starlee Speers - Vernon 105.7 SUN FM:

Vernon's Salvation Army has secured funding from BC Housing to operate an emergency shelter to open during extreme weather conditions. Major Phil Franco says extreme weather is defined as minus five or below or if there is heavy snow or rainfall. Franco says while other communities in the Province have secured funding from BC housing in previous years, this is the first time they've funded the extreme weather shelter in Vernon. They'll have space for ten men and ten women.It will operate out of the Salvation army building on 32nd Avenue in Vernon.

Economic downturn halts grant support

By Judie Steeves - Kelowna Capital News Published: November 27, 2008

There will be nearly $750,000 less available to help community groups do their work this year because of the plunge in interest earned from investments this fall. And worsening economic conditions suggest the situation will not improve soon. The impact of that loss in grants and income from endowment funds held by the Central Okanagan Foundation will send ripples through every corner of the community, from arts and cultural activities, to assistance for social service groups, children, seniors and the poor. Without any income this year from its $14 million fund, the COF has warned that for the first time in 30 years it will not be making a grant distribution this year, explained Stafford McKergow, who just stepped down from his term as president at Monday’s annual general meeting for the foundation. “We saw it coming. But, it’s a slippery slope if you begin to dig into your capital and we’ve even eroded that to some extent.”

However, he says there’s been an amazing response from the community, with some fund-holders coming forward to support particular projects with flow-through funds. As well, a couple of firms have come forward with $15,000 each, McKay and Partners and Pushor, Mitchell, to help groups through this difficult time. Board members and other individuals have also already donated $35,000. McKergow said the foundation hires professionals to manage its funds. Currently it’s CIBC Wood Gundy, but that contract has just expired, so the COF will be looking at proposals from other firms. Despite the economic downturn, he said the foundation’s goal is to increase its capital fund to $20 million by 2010, as $3 million was added this year despite the economy, he noted.

Without an income, however, he said groups will have to be more resourceful. “It’s an opportunity to do some introspective thinking, to look outside the box,” he added. COF executive director Leanne Hammond Komori said the foundation is entirely dependent on income from endowment funds, and they’ve received nothing this year. “No one predicted the scope of what happened,” she said. Hammond Komori said she has been working with donors to provide some flow-through funds this year in order to have a spring granting cycle, and she hopes to be able to provide some emergency funds for some of the groups who received nothing this fall. “Social service groups are probably the most impacted. Some of those help low-income families and kids. The need is up, yet the funds are down, and they’re often not as diversified in their funding as other organizations,” she said. Even the United Way, which is an umbrella fund-raising society, will be impacted because its operational expenses are paid through the COF so it can focus on raising money to give to organizations in the community, noted Komori. “This could cripple them operationally,” she said.

In addition to grants and income from targeted endowments, the COF administers the City of Kelowna’s community social development grants, grants to address the sexual exploitation of youth and emergency grants, but those won’t be affected because they are funded by the city’s budget. Previous grants under that program have gone to groups such as the Kelowna and District Society for People in Motion, New Opportunities for Women and the Elizabeth Fry Society.

The COF isn’t alone in its predicament. The Vancouver Foundation, which makes grants in this area as well and is the largest foundation in the country, distributing $60 million in 2007, has announced it will distribute at a rate of five per cent for the remainder of 2008.In a prepared statement, the Vancouver Foundation this week stated: “Given the tremendous volatility in the markets, the board will need to monitor our investment situation and will decide in December if there are enough funds available to pay out these grant requests.”

Lawsuit filed over validity of lottery tickets

Vancouver Sun Published: Friday, November 28, 2008

VICTORIA -- A Central Saanich man has launched a lawsuit against B.C. Lottery Corp. over the validity of scratch-and-win lottery tickets. Albert Chartrand's lawsuit, filed this week in B.C. Supreme Court, will be argued on the same basis as one filed in Saskatchewan last week against the Western Canadian Lottery Corporation, said Victoria lawyer Darren Williams. The issue is whether BCLC can legally sell tickets after the tickets bearing the top prizes have already been won, Williams said. "It's about keeping corporations honest, that's really what it's about," he said.

Chartrand has purchased or acquired thousands of scratch-and-win tickets over 13 years, the statement of claim said. The corporation knows when the top prizes have been won but continues to sell tickets when consumers no longer have any chance of winning, it said. BCLC "has thereby obtained millions of dollars in sales of tickets by falsely promising to the plaintiff the chance to win the top prize," it said. "BCLC has sold hundreds of thousands of tickets in breach of its obligations, after awarding the last top prize from the relevant game order." According to the terms of the tickets, as written on the reverse side, the lottery corporation should sell tickets only to purchasers who have a chance of winning the top prize. Williams wants to have the case certified as a class-action suit, allowing others to join in. Chartrand wants a refund of the money he spent on tickets when he had no chance of winning. He also seeks other damages, but those will not be clarified until the case is certified as a class action, Williams said.

Lakefront owners may get break, thanks to frozen assessments

Ron Seymour 2008-11-28 Kelowna Daily Courier:

Waterfront property owners could be among the main beneficiaries of the provincial government‘s decision to freeze property assessments. Kelowna‘s new city council, which takes office Monday, will get its first look at the proposed 2009 civic budget on Dec. 15. Councillors will go through the budget in early January and set the tax rate to be applied next July. In past years, it could be difficult for individual property owners to figure out their tax increases, even after the budget was set. That‘s because a key factor was how much their property had increased in value relative to other residential properties in the city. If a person‘s home went up in assessed value by more than the residential average – as was often case for waterfront property owners – they would see a tax increase greater than the one provided for in the city budget.Conversely, if a property went up by less than the average increase, or declined, they would see a below-average tax increase or reduction.

This year, however, the provincial government has frozen assessments at July 1, 2007, levels. Victoria says a valuation date of July 1, 2008, would not be accurate since property values have fallen significantly since then. What this freeze in assessment rates means, in essence, is that most people will see a taxation increase close to the council-set level, with no wide variations. Last year, council increased total taxation demand by 10 per cent, from $81 million to $89 million. But almost half of the increase was accounted for by revenue from new construction, so average existing property owners saw their taxes rise 5.7 per cent. Finance director Paul Macklem said the downturn in the construction industry means the city will get less taxation revenue from new construction.

Neis dropped from CORD board

By Jason Luciw - Kelowna Capital News Published: November 25, 2008

A surprise announcement was made at the Central Okanagan Regional Board table Monday night. Mayor Rosalind Neis announced she will not return to the regional board as one of Westside’s two directors on the 12-member organization after the new Westside council is sworn in. According to Neis, who was expected to keep her CORD position, incoming mayor Doug Findlater will instead appoint Coun. Duane Ophus to the board. Findlater would not comment about the appointment, other than to he will make decisions based on the needs of the District of Westside. Last year, Findlater was appointed to the board by Neis because he was the top vote-getting councillor in the first Westside civic election. Findlater said at the time that Westside had adopted Kelowna’s policy for appointing people to the CORD board, .

The mayor and the councillor with the most votes in the municipal election are appointed to the board, unless they decline the offer, he said. Because of the vote totals, Findlater was appointed to the regional board in 2007 despite the fact another councilor, David Knowles, had served five years on the board as a Westside regional director prior to incorporation. Before his appointment to represent council, Findlater had served on the regional board for six months as a part-time alternate director. Knowles expressed interest in sitting on the board again this time around. He has attended several meetings in the past year as a matter of personal interest. When reached late Monday night, Knowles said it would be inappropriate for him to comment on the regional board appointment because the mayor-elect had made no official recommendations to council yet. Council will also need to ratify the mayor’s recommended appointments during the Dec. 1 inaugural meeting, Knowles added.

Meanwhile, Ophus could not be reached for comment Monday, given the late hour at which the news came to light. Neis was expected to be re-appointed to the regional board because she was the top-vote getter in the councillor race in the Nov. 15 civic election. With 4,961votes, she finished 562 votes ahead of Ophus, who placed third. Neis made her impromptu departure announcement to the regional board Monday night, as directors said goodbye to retiring Kelowna representatives Colin Day and Barrie Clark, as well as retiring Peachland Mayor Graham Reid and defeated Central Okanagan East rural director Patty Hanson. Neis said Findlater offered her an alternate position on the board, which Neis said she declined. “I am an all-in or all-out individual,” she said. Board chairman Robert Hobson thanked Neis for serving as a director and told her she would be missed. “You asked a lot of fundamental questions that we probably should have been asking,” Hobson told Neis. Westside’s outgoing mayor was known for going over budget details with a fine-tooth comb. On Monday night, she questioned why the board was being asked to approve $99 million for the new ambulatory care tower at Kelowna General Hospital without a line-by-line review of the budget.

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EDITORIAL: Neis deserves her CORD chair back again

Vote tallies should not dictate who does what when it comes to assignments for municipal councillors. The best person for the job should be rule the mayor follows when assigning positions on boards, committees and other municipal-related bodies. Having said that, this week’s revelation that incoming mayor Doug Findlater plans to dump outgoing mayor Rosalind Neis from the regional board now that she’s a councillor seems more vengeful than pragmatic. Neis topped the councillor poll, easily outdistancing herself from the other five councillor candidates (including four incumbents) who were elected. In the past, council has opted to appoint the mayor and the top vote-getting councillor to the CORD board. But not this time. Regardless of Neis’ vote total, she should have been re-appointed to the regional board because she has proven herself there, has defended Westside’s interests and, quite frankly, the continuity will help. Hopefully Findlater’s decision is based on more than past disagreements Neis has had with her fellow council members, or we could well see more wasted opportunities like there were in the last year on council. It’s time to put the past behind us and move on.

O’Keefe’s RV park a priority

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 27, 2008

The City of Vernon hopes to step up the pressure in an attempt to save O’Keefe Ranch. On Monday, council instructed the society that operates the historical site to apply to the Agricultural Land Commission for a 100-unit RV park, not 50 units as was proposed by the society. “It’s not tenable with 50 spaces,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham of the hope that an RV park would generate revenue for the cash-strapped ranch. “We need more than that. We need to look at it as not only a tourism piece, but as heritage preservation.” The ALC recently indicated it disagrees with a 100-unit RV park and the proposed location. which the provincial commission has deemed ideal for growing hay crops. The city is proposing that the proposed site remain in the Agricultural Land Reserve and the RV park be considered a non-farm use.

Cunningham insists the ranch is of historic significance to not only the North Okanagan, but the entire province, and action must be taken to keep it open. It was recently suggested by Coun. Barry Beardsell that if another revenue source isn’t found, the city may have to set aside a minimum of $175,000 in the 2009 budget for the ranch. “The taxpayers of Vernon can’t continue to subsidize the ranch to the level they have,” said Cunningham, adding that assistance from the provincial and federal governments is needed. On Monday, council voted to ask Okanagan Vernon MLA Tom Christensen to provide support and assistance for the city in its attempt to get a 100-unit RV park at the ranch. City staff will also ensure that the North Okanagan Regional District is fully acquainted with the status of the RV park application to the ALC. Mayor Wayne Lippert says the city will lobby hard on behalf of O’Keefe Ranch, but that’s something that’s already been happening. “We do have the support of our MLA here and (Agriculture) Minister Hagen is also in support of it,” said Lippert.

Council ends term with budget

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 27

It was almost like the last day of school for some Coldstream councillors Monday – not much was said or done. The meeting was the last one for Mayor Gary Corner, Coun. Carol Williams, Coun. Glen Taylor (who was not in attendance) and Coun. Mary Malerby. As of Dec. 1, the new council will be Mayor Jim Garlick and councillors Bill Firman, Doug Dirk, Maria Besso, Richard Enns, Gyula Kiss and Pat Cochrane. Aside from a few private goodbyes after the meeting, there were no public well wishes or final thoughts as the old council wrapped up its last meeting in approximately half an hour. Council did manage to squeeze in one last order of business though – adopting the financial plan, which includes the 2009 budget and the 2.5 per cent tax increase.

The new council has not had a chance to review the budget but they can amend the adoption if they wish to make a change. The financial plan is not required to be adopted until mid May. A public open house for the budget was also recently held. The turnout was disappointing though since only 12 people came, several of which were incoming council members. “Every year I’m disappointed by the lack of people who come out,” said Catherine Lord, director of financial administration. Williams, who is retiring from council following nine years as a councillor, said there was little to be upset about over the budget. “We raised the taxes only 2.5 per cent and there were no comments at all.” There was one comment from a resident who said there should be no increase in taxes, another requesting a sidewalk on Uplands Drive from Buchanan Road to Uplands Place and a request for a bicycle path on the north side of Kalamalka Road between Aberdeen and Coldstream Creek roads. These suggestions have been forwarded for the new council to deal with.

B.C. brewery facing "David and Goliath" lawsuit

CTV B.C.

The head of a small B.C. brewery which is being sued by Sleeman over its bottle design, calls the struggle "a real David and Goliath story". Aldergrove, B.C.-based Dead Frog Brewery president Derrick Smith says Sleeman claims ownership of his company's clear glass bottle design. Smith says his company started selling bottles back in June, and was served with papers from Sleeman shortly after. He calls the lawsuit silly and a giant waste of time. "We're talking about a $4.3 billion dollar beer empire going up against a guy who still drives his 2001 F-150," he says. Smith says there are many clear glass bottles on the market and that there's no mistaking his bottle's embossed frog design. "Everything about our company is different," says Smith. "Our marketing, our packaging and - most importantly - our bottles." Dead Frog's lawyer Christopher Wilson has filed a statement of defence and a counterclaim.

The statement claims that Sleeman does not have a monopoly on clear glass bottles and that the public is not likely to confuse the two beers because of Dead Frog's name, slogans, and logo. A Sleeman spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.Dead Frog brewery sells its beers in about 300 locations across B.C. The company started in Aldergrove, B.C. less than two years ago, and is said to be growing in "leaps and bounds."

Ranch funding debated

105.7 Kiss FM Pete McIntyre:

Future funding for the O'Keefe Ranch is expected to remain a topic of debate for local politicians. The ranch, which is owned by the city of Vernon, is looking to get approval for an R-V Park from the Agricultural Land Commission, but has already been turned down once. Outgoing Vernon councillor Juliette Cunningham feels more funding has to come from senior levels of government. "The taxpayers of Vernon just can't continue to subsidize the ranch to the level that they've had to, and the thing is, it's deteriorating all the time, we need to maintain it so I think we need strong support from our MLA and the other ministers involved, and even perhaps federal money in terms of the heritage preservation of the ranch."

Mayor Wayne Lippert says the Ranch's society has two applications into the Land Commission, one for 50 R-V sites and the other for 100. He feels the one for 50 may be the better bet because it uses less farm land.

VJH boss moves on

105.7 KISSFM Pete McIntyre:

The administrator of Vernon Jubilee Hospital says he's not leaving the position out of frustration with overcrowding. Peter Du Toit has accepted a new job with Interior Health as the director of human resources for the Okanagan, starting in January, in Kelowna. Du Toit has been the hospital's administrative boss the last four years. "I've thoroughly enjoyed working with the folks at Vernon Jubilee. It's a very special group and that's why I'm kind of glad that I still will have the opportunity to work with them but just in a different role." Some members of the medical staff suggest Du Toit and another top administrator are leaving because they're fed up with the regular overcrowding. However, the native of South Africa denies that and says he's just ready for a new challenge. Du Toit says Interior Health has not finalized the person that will take over at VJH, saying the applicants are currently being interviewed.

Cherry picker used as speed tool

by Kelly Hayes & Wayne Moore -Nov 27, 2008 CASTANET:
Catching speeders was like picking cherries -- so to speak. Kelowna RCMP took the unusual step Wednesday of stationing an officer in a cherry picker to identify motorists who were speeding or not wearing seat belts. The plainclothes officer above the traffic in the cherry picker radioed to police on the ground the nature of the infraction and the offending vehicle. RCMP took the cherry picker to a number of different high crash and high speed intersections and roadways. At one intersection, police ticketed half a dozen motorists for rushing traffic lights in a 30 minute period.

Flaherty to axe subsidies to political parties in fiscal update: sources

CBC News:

The Conservatives are poised to eliminate the public subsidies that Canada's five major political parties receive, a move that would save $30 million a year but could cripple the opposition. Sources told CBC News and other media outlets Wednesday that the subsidy cut is one of the key elements of the fiscal update that Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will present Thursday in Ottawa. Parties currently receive $1.95 for every vote they receive in a federal election, provided they win at least two per cent of the nationwide popular vote. The annual subsidy is used to pay for staff and expenses.

On the surface, it would appear Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives have the most to lose if subsidies were cut because they garnered the most votes in the October election. The Conservatives earned $10 million in subsidies, compared to $7.7 million for the Liberals, $4.9 million for the NDP, $2.6 million for the Bloc Québécois and $1.8 million for the Greens.

But because the Conservatives have such a strong fundraising base, their subsidy represents only 37 per cent of the party's total revenues.By comparison, the subsidy amounts to 63 per cent of the Liberals' funding, 86 per cent of the Bloc's, 57 per cent of the NDP's and 65 per cent of the Greens'.

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Other items expected in the update:

• Cuts to substantial salary increases for federally appointed judges.
• Measures to rein in spending by MPs and top civil servants, such as new restrictions on travel and expenses.
• Elimination or trimming of the roughly $6,500-per-MP salary increase scheduled to go into effect April 1, at a cost of $2 million.
• Cancellation of Christmas bonuses for management-class civil servants and executives of Crown corporations.
• Temporary relief for Canadians from mandated withdrawals from registered retirement income funds (RRIFs), a measure estimated to be worth about $135 million.
• A likely concession that Canada is heading for both a recession and a deficit.

Money Tied to Gambling Interests Poured into BC Liberal Coffers

By Sean Holman Published: November 27,The Tyee (Full Story)

Private bingo hall and community gaming centre interests appear to have contributed more than a quarter million dollars to the provincial Liberals between 2002 and 2007. But almost none of those donations were made via companies publicly-identified as bingo hall service providers in British Columbia Lottery Corp. annual reports released between fiscal 2002/03 and 2007/08. Instead, a three week investigation by 24 hours shows 98 per cent of the donations came in the form of contributions from industry-connected individuals or companies whose president is a current or former gaming facility owner/operator. And almost a quarter of the donations were recorded by the Liberals' as being made on the same day -- Feb. 15, 2005, three months before the last provincial election. Of the seven individuals and couples who made corporate and personal donations on that date, six wouldn't or couldn't give details about those contributions. The seventh was in Palm Springs and won't be returning to B.C. until Christmas.

When those donors -- as well as other owner/operators -- were asked why they contributed via companies other than their service providers, explanations ranged from "because [that was the company that] probably had some money in it" to "it was just the cheque I happened to have on me."

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Don Quixote Note: Full details of contributions can be found at above Link.

Vernon's Spirit Square Project Unveiled

The City of Vernon's Spirit Square, a new community gathering place on the grounds of City Hall, is to be built with the help of a $250,000 grant from the B.C. Spirit Squares program. "Vernon's Spirit Square will be an accessible, beautiful community space to celebrate important events in the city" says Okanagan-Vernon MLA Tom Christensen. "This square will honour our collective history with artwork celebrating local First Nations, orchard and ranching pioneers in a relaxing setting for all community members to enjoy." Vernon's Spirit Square project will include a revitalized area for relaxation, ceremonies and entertainment on the grounds of City Hall. Some of the features of the new Spirit Square will be a large performance area, removable seating, increased wheelchair accessibility, new landscaping, lighting enhancements and power upgrades for audio.

"We're excited about the development of this new meeting space and the transformation it will bring to the downtown area of our city," says Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert. "As we continue to attract national and international events, I know that Vernon will be proud to showcase the tremendous creativity and resourcefulness of its people within the new Spirit Square."

The $20 million B.C. Spirit Squares program is helping to create or improve outdoor public meeting/celebration spaces based on 50/50 cost sharing with local governments, to a maximum provincial contribution of $500,000. B.C. Spirit Squares is one of four programs announced by Premier Gordon Campbell at the 2006 Union of BC Municipalities convention, aimed at making B.C. communities greener and healthier places to live, with reduced greenhouse gases, improved air quality and increased energy conservation. The other programs are LocalMotion, Towns for Tomorrow, and the Green City Awards. For more information about B.C. Spirit Squares, and for links to these other programs, please visit http://www.spiritsquares.gov.bc.ca. To learn more about BC150 please visit http://www.bc150.ca and http://www.tomchristensenmla.bc.ca

• News Release Document - 22Kb PDF

Hospital squeeze

Web posted on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 CHBC VIDEO

Are two top administrators leaving the Vernon hospital because of the severe overcrowding?

Tories to end taxpayer subsidies of political parties

David Akin , Canwest News Service Published: Wednesday, November 26

OTTAWA - The Conservatives will propose eliminating taxpayer subsidies of political parties when Finance Minister Jim Flaherty delivers his fiscal and economic update Thursday, a move that could save taxpayers about $28 million a year but could spark a political war. Flaherty will rise in the House of Commons Thursday afternoon and deliver the bleakest description of Canada's economy and the federal government's finances in more than a decade.Flaherty will not announce any new spending initiatives and government sources say the only spending cuts will be to trim the budgets for travel, meal and accommodation expenses for MPs as well as eliminate a subsidy that paid each party a $1.75 per year for every vote they receive in a general election.

It's a Sign

Starlee Speers - Vernon 105.7 SUN FM

While which businesses will advertise on the electronic Wesbild Centre sign haven't been worked out, Vernon council is definitely seeing dollar signs. Facilities manager Jim Bailey told councillors on Monday that allowing advertising on the sign could generate 37-thousand dollars in revenue annually. The city approved the ads on the condition that the money goes into Wesbild centre's programming.Staff had recommended against allowing ads on the sign because it would be third party advertising.

OKIB Votes

Starlee Speers - Vernon 105.7 SUN FM

Okanagan Indian Band members will vote Wednesday night on whether property taxation should be imposed on non-band members. Currently the Regional districts, Kelowna and Vernon are collecting taxes from five developments on band land with registered leases. Federal Minister of Indian Affairs Chuck Strahl says he doesn't want to interfere with individual band issues but adds being able to leverage your own land is key for economic opportunity. It's estimated over a million dollars in property taxes is collected each year by NORD, CORD, Vernon and Kelowna from the non- Okanagan Indian band members.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (City of Vernon)

Job Posting - 74Kb PDF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
(Full-time) Exempt

Competition #: 110-COV-08
Closing Date: December 9, 2008
Rate of Pay: $65,946.78 - $77,584.45 Annual Salary Range
Day / Hours: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week.

Reporting to the Manager, Planning and Building Services, the Economic Development Officer assists and facilitates the expansion of local businesses through the removal of obstacles and the provision of services to ensure that local industry is retained. This position participates in promoting the City of Vernon to prospective investors to attract new business and create high- value jobs.

City waives rules for advertising

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 25, 2008

The City of Vernon is bending its rules against third-party advertising because of a direct benefit to taxpayers. On Monday, a majority of council shot down a recommendation from staff to deny a request from the North Okanagan Regional District for third-party advertising on the electronic reader board sign at Wesbild Centre. Staff insisted that such advertising infringes on current bylaws, but Coun. Pat Cochrane believes this was a direct example of where the city should be flexible with the rules. “It generates funds for the public benefit,” he said of the revenue that will be generated by NORD selling advertising on the sign. The revenue will go towards operations of Wesbild Centre, which is owned by NORD but funded by the taxpayers of Vernon, Coldstream and Areas B and C.

Under city bylaw, third-party advertising is a sign which promotes a business or service which is not conducted within the property the sign is located on. “There would be an opportunity for a proliferation of third-party signs,” planner Dale Rintoul told council. However, Cochrane questioned the policy, pointing to advertising on bus shelters and benches. “There are other examples of third-party signs in the community,” he said. The electronic sign was installed in 2006, and NORD’s intent was always to sell advertising on it as a way of reducing operating costs at Wesbild Centre. Concerns over the advertising came from Coun. Barry Beardsell, who wanted more details on how much revenue could be raised.“Surely that has a bearing on the issue,” he said. “Signs in the city are our jurisdiction and if there is a fair bit of revenue coming in, should the city get part of it? All of the details were lacking.”

It’s believed the advertising could raise about $37,000 a year. While the development variance permit for the third-party sign was approved Monday, the city has asked the regional district for the relevant financial information.

Retiring politicians offer advice for council

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 25, 2008

Two Vernon politicians didn’t end their careers quietly. Monday was the last council meeting for Barry Beardsell, Pat Cochrane and Juliette Cunningham, and Beardsell and Cunningham used it as an opportunity to send some advice to the incoming council. “I hope more attention is spent on the financial wellbeing of the city in the new year,” said Beardsell, who is retiring after 12 years. With the global financial crisis continuing, Beardsell called for “belt tightening” in the 2009 budget. “There should be a definite attempt to keep property taxes at a zero decrease or lower,” he said, adding that reserves could be used to fund infrastructure projects that would help keep people employed during difficult times. “To just stop spending further hurts the economy.”A draft 2009 budget was supposed to be before council in late October, but that didn’t occur and Beardsell is convinced some politicians aren’t taking the matter seriously. “Two of them didn’t have the time for an extra meeting this week to delve into the budget,” he said, suggesting that current council should have provided the new council with some clear direction.

Cunningham also had some parting words for those council members who were re-elected Nov. 15 and those who will be at the table for the first time. “I hope you move forward with the official community plan and continue to support affordable housing,” said Cunningham, who was a councillor for three years and unsuccessfully ran for mayor. “A lot of people feel they don’t have a voice and I hope you will continue to support social planning.” Cunningham also made a pitch for an aggressive economic development plan. “This economic downturn we are seeing globally is like nothing we’ve seen before. A lot of people are hurting.”

Cochrane, who is moving over to the District of Coldstream after 12 years in Vernon, wasn’t willing to provide any advice to the new city council. “They are a good group of people and they will make good decisions,” he said. Instead, Cochrane focused on the relationships he has formed with not only councillors, but city staff. “You are like a second family to me and I will miss you,” he said.

There was considerable praise for Beardsell, Cochrane and Cunningham as the meeting wrapped up. “They’ve been three outstanding councillors that have contributed enormously,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol. Mayor Wayne Lippert gave Beardsell, Cochrane and Cunningham credit for serving the community., “We’ve worked pretty well together. We had our times but we tackled a lot of issues. We’ve accomplished a lot,” he said of the outgoing council.

Lippert is well aware of Beardsell’s concerns about the budget. “Council has done a good job of keeping taxes in line and it’s something we’ll have to look at. Times are tough and we all need to tighten our belts,” he said.

Paroled killer walks away from B.C. halfway house

CBC NEWS:
A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for a 25-year-old killer who breached his parole conditions and disappeared from a halfway house in New Westminster, B.C. Matthew St. Hilaire, one of three men convicted of manslaughter in the stabbing death of a Surrey man four years ago, was granted day parole on Nov. 14. Surrey RCMP said Tuesday a woman who knew St. Hilaire reported he and another man came to her Newton home on Monday. The woman, who has not been identified, recognized St. Hilaire through the peephole when he knocked on her door at about 7:30 p.m., Sgt. Roger Morrow said. She didn't answer the door and waited for the men to leave before going outside. "She's gone out and checked her vehicle and found it's been vandalized. It appears that a beer bottle has been smashed into it," Morrow said. Corrections Canada has issued an arrest warrant for St. Hilaire, spokeswoman Line Guibert-Wolff said. "He [St. Hilaire] was on day parole. As you know, day parole allows offenders to participate in community-based activities in preparation for their release for full parole or statutory release," she said.St. Hilaire is described as 5-foot-10, with brown hair, green eyes, and weighs about 190 pounds.

NDP chooses Olsen

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 25, 2008

The provincial election may not be until May, but the NDP wants to gain the support of voters now. On Sunday, Mark Olsen was selected as the party’s candidate for Okanagan Monashee, which will be the name of the current Okanagan Vernon constituency once British Columbians head to the polls in the spring. “We will start to roll out the campaign fairly soon,” said Olsen who was up against Jeet Dukhia for the nomination. Among the first steps, according to Olsen, will be to familiarize voters in Vernon, Coldstream, Lumby and Cherryville with himself and the NDP’s platform and policies. “There’s a lot of work to do. We have to raise the general public’s awareness about privatization of health care and the secrecy. Our social system is being dismantled,” he said.Olsen has lived in the area since 1986 and he is currently president of CUPE local 5523 in the Vernon School District.He sought the party’s nomination in 2004 and in 2005, and he pursued a seat on Vernon council.

Olsen believes the primary concern of residents is the economy. “The economy has been booming in the province over the last few years and yet child poverty is high. If there is an economic downturn, how are we going to help families already struggling to put food on the table?” he said. His other concern is the public-private partnership being used to construct the new tower at Vernon Jubilee Hospital and the fact that a consortium will design, finance, construct and manage the facility. “No corporation or anyone else would agree to a 30-year contract unless there was some way to increase revenue,” he said, adding that jobs and services at VJH could be at risk. Olsen will go head-to-head against Liberal MLA Tom Christensen during the campaign, but Olsen is confident that residents are looking for a change in local representation.“The people of Vernon Monashee want someone to represent them. We have an MLA that hasn’t represented them,” he said.“When the glass plant closed, he said that’s to be expected with globalization but I don’t accept that.”

Coldstream tax hike

107.5 KISSFM Pete McIntyre:

The impact of the Lavington glass plant closure might not be as severe as once thought on Coldstream taxpayers. District council has approved a provisional budget with a 2.5 percent tax hike, lower than the four percent needed to make up the $175,000 lost tax revenue from the closure. Outgoing mayor Gary Corner says over a million dollars in capital works projects are still in the plans, but others have been put on the shelf. "We've put some projects aside for now and when the new council comes in, they will deal with those projects in the future." The average Coldstream homeowner will be shelling out an extra $20 a year, if the increase stays at 2.5 percent.

MORE CIVIL FORFEITURE CASH SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES

VICTORIA – Ongoing civil forfeiture successes mean communities across B.C. are receiving an extra $750,000 in support of crime prevention and victim service programs this year alone, including $200,000 for one-time grants announced today by Solicitor General John van Dongen. “This is extra support for targeted, local projects, over and above the 53 per cent increase in this year’s provincial budget for services to victims of crime,” said van Dongen. “Our civil forfeiture successes continue to enable us to provide one-time funding for projects that get to the heart of local crime issues and victims’ needs.” The Province launched the funding program last February with $500,000 to help prevent and address the effects of crime. In April, 27 applicants received up to $20,000 each toward projects focused on such goals as domestic violence and cyber-bullying prevention, restorative justice and helping at-risk children return to school. Last summer, another $50,000 from civil forfeiture went to support “con air” programs in Vancouver and Victoria, which return individuals to other jurisdictions where they face charges.Van Dongen noted the Province’s 2.5-year-old civil forfeiture legislation is removing the profit motive from unlawful activity and then building on that success by turning the dividends into a crime-fighting force in B.C. communities.

“Our youth outreach theatre project for schools has taken an innovative approach to issues like drugs, bullying, conflict and building communications skills,” said Geanine Robey of the Victoria Restorative Justice Society, which received a grant last spring. “It’s also helped us to further engage Victoria Police officers in restorative justice as an alternative when they’re dealing with youth crime.” “The grant last spring helped us respond to community needs and emerging crime and safety issues,” said John Sakamoto Kramer, co-ordinator, Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre. “We offered programming and mentoring for Aboriginal youth in East Vancouver, including cultural teachings related to canoe-building and drum-making. We also were able to fund an anti-graffiti program and outreach in several high-crime areas.”

As in February, local governments, community and youth organizations, school districts, police departments, victim service programs, Aboriginal organizations and First Nations bands may apply for a share of the funding. Interested communities and organizations are invited to contact the ministry’s Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division at 604-660-2916. The deadline for applications is Jan. 16, 2009.

Since B.C.’s civil forfeiture legislation came into force in April 2006, the Province has seen 54 cases completed, $5.25 million forfeited and more than $1.3 million made available for victim compensation and crime prevention grants. A two-year report on the success of the civil forfeiture program is available at www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/publications online.

Council farewells include advice

107.5 KISSFM Pete McIntyre:

One of the departing members of Vernon council is concerned the new council won't continue to address social issues. An emotional Juliette Cunningham took part in her final meeting Monday after three years as councillor and a second place finish in the Nov 15 mayor's race. Cunningham says pushing for issues like affordable housing hasn't been easy, and she doesn't see anyone else picking up the torch. "I don't believe at this point and time there's anybody on council that will speak as strongly as I do about it. I fundamentally believe in social issues in a community.Without a good foundation in that area, you really don't succeed very well as a community."

Meantime, 12 year councillor Barry Beardsell used his final comments to implore the city to do some financial belt tightening in light of the world economic crisis, and to keep tax increases to zero or less. The retired accountant also wants the city to use reserve funds to continue with capital works projects, which create jobs and help the economy. "So it's a two fold effect. You have a zero increase in taxation or even a decrease, and you spend some of the funds from the reserves to create infrastructure projects."Mayor Wayne Lippert told KISS FM, he agrees with Beardsell on the need for no tax hike, or a decrease.

Councillor Pat Cochrane wished the new council the best, and thanked city staff and residents for their support over the last 12 years. He says council has been like a second family to him. Cochrane will become a new councillor in Coldstream next week.

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Starlee Speers - Vernon 105.7 SUN FM :

Monday marked the last council meeting for three Vernon councillors. City council is losing nearly 30 years experience. Barry Beardsell,who retired, took the opportunity to criticize council for not doing enough to prepare for the 2009 budget. He also took the opportunity to offer advice to help the city weather the economic downturn and spend reserve money for infrastructure projects.

Juliette Cunningham, who ran for Mayor and lost by 365 votes, was emotional as she addressed council. She says she's not sure who will replace her on the new council as the advocate for social issues. Cunningham says she wished she'd been more outspoken about an economic development plan.

Pat Cochrane, who has spend 12 years on council, said his fellow councillors have been like his second family. The Four term councillor was elected to Coldstream council.

Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert says despite their differences, council worked well together and achieved a lot. He says while there's always someone who doesn't agree with council's decision, credit should be given where it's due. Lippert says he gives the outgoing councillors a lot of credit and despite appearances, council worked well together.

The inaugural meeting for Vernon's new council is December 1st.

Wesbild Centre sign could add ads

107.5 KISSFM Pete McIntyre:

Vernon council has agreed to allowing ads on the electronic sign outside Wesbild Centre, but only as long as NORD isn't pocketing all the cash. The city reps voted 4-3 in favour of a variance to allow the third party ads, which normally are not allowed except for bus shelters and benches. Before granting NORD the permit to proceed, Mayor Wayne Lippert says they want to make sure the revenue goes into the centre's programs. "(Council) restricted the permit to get the information on financials (how much the city would get) from the regional district before they'll get any permit. So at the next meeting, if council is not happy with the financials, they do not have to give the permit."Lippert says it's a way to ensure the revenue goes to Wesbild Centre and its programs."I think the fear is that any funds could just go back into general revenue at the regional district and that's not the intent as any revenue coming from that should be going back into the Wesbild Centre." Facilities manager Jim Bailey told council, the sign ads could generate $37,000 in annual revenue.

No movement on density bonus

by Wayne Moore - Nov 25, 2008 Castanet:

Kelowna Council can't seem to agree on how developers should compensate the city when receiving a density bonus. The City's elected officials have been kicking the issue around for the better part of this council's three year term, which comes to an end next Monday. Council received a report from a land economist earlier this month, however, deferred making any decisions until after staff reviewed suggestions made by the Urban Development Institute (UDI). The UDI expressed concerns about the interim affordable housing policy submitted by the land economist. The contentious issue is the percentage of land value required to be paid back to the City in exchange for the density bonus. The land economist had recommended developers pay 100 per cent of the market value of the land the developer would otherwise need to acquire in order to achieve the density.

The UDI had suggested 50 per cent should be the maximum contribution for density bonus within current OCP zones, regardless of whether the contribution be in units of cash-in-lieu. In a report to council, staff indicated they met with UDI and were able to arrive at a compromise solution on the value of cash-in-lieu contributions at 75 per cent. UDI, after reviewing the recommendation, sent a letter to council late Sunday night, indicating it would prefer a 50 per cent cash-in-lieu. "For bonus density to be successful as one means to create affordable housing, the contribution levels needed to be structured such that they are an incentive to the development community. While UDI was somewhat willing to agree to a 75 per cent contribution of cash-in-lieu, this concession was being made in the context of the other amendments we are recommending, and it is not something we believe, ultimately, will be successful," says the statement. "If it is the City's goal to create an affordable housing policy that will encourage greater participation by the development community, rather then ask for 75 per cent of the market value of the increased density and possibly get little or no participation, it would be more productive to set a policy that asks for 50 per cent and get participation from the development community on a broader basis."

Councillor, Andre Blanleil, says it seems as if the development community and staff are very close to an agreement. He says it would be nice to finally see them get on the same page. "It would be so good if we could get both the development community and our staff on the same page and I think developers will step up and say they are willing to pay something, but it has to work from a financial sense," says Blanleil. "I think at the end of they day if they pay too much they are just going to leave the land or develop it in the way it was originally done, and we lose either way." Councillor, Robert Hobson agreed that more discussion between staff and UDI is required before council can make a final decision. "I think staff need to go back and take a look at the suggestions that have been made and maybe they need to talk to the land economist just to get that information back in the loop and come back with a report," says Hobson. "On the face of it, I think what UDI is saying is reasonable, but in fairness I think our staff have to review that. We shouldn't be asked to negotiate here at the council table." In the end, council decided to defer a decision pending further input and information.

Coldstream Election Results 2008

Click to enlarge:

Six drug properties seized by police

Drug homes targeted CHBC VIDEO
Web posted on Monday, 24 November 2008

RCMP hope to seize millions of dollars in Okanagan real estate because of illegal activity.


Castanet:
A joint RCMP investigation has resulted in the seizure of real estate assets totalling about $300,000. The investigation, involving the Vernon and North Okanagan RCMP, South East District Criminal Intelligence Section, and the Federal Drug Section dug into suspected marijuana grow operations, involving six properties in Vernon, Coldstream, Armstrong, Enderby, and Falkland. The value of these operations together is estimated at around $3 million. "Criminal forfeiture proceedings for two of the houses have been launched under the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act," says RCMP spokesperson, Gordon Molendyk. "If the houses are ordered forfeited, they will be turned over to the Federal Government." "Civil forfeiture proceedings for the other four houses were started under the Civil Forfeiture Act. This allows the government to apply to the courts for orders to restrain and forfeit assets acquired through, or used to engage in, unlawful activity. "

Molendyk says the investigation was launched in the spring of 2008 and led to seven search warrants being executed in May. More than 5,500 marijuana plants were seized and eight persons were charged with drug offences," says Molendyk. "One of those charged, Vuong Van HA, 50, pleaded guilty in Vernon Provincial Court to production of a controlled substance and sentenced to 15 months of jail." North Okanagan RCMP have referred 13 properties totalling more than $6 million, in the Vernon area alone, says Molendyk. Of the thirteen, four have been handed over to the Federal government one to the Provincial Government, and the other eight are still awaiting judgment.

City Of Vernon MANAGER, ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT

Job Posting - 78Kb PDF
(Full-time) Exempt

Competition #: 108-COV-08
Closing Date: December 5, 2008
Rate of Pay: $65,946.78 - $77.584.45 Annual Salary Range
Days/Hours: Monday to Friday, 35 hours a week.

Reporting to the Manager, Engineering Services, this position is accountable for ensuring that
the work performed on behalf of the City of Vernon adheres to sound engineering principles
and standards. This position is the 2 I/C in Engineering in the absence of the Manager,
Engineering Services.

PSAC reaches deal with federal government

CTV:

Canada's largest public service union has reached a deal with the federal government after accepting an offer that many onlookers are calling a sign of tough economic times. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at what the economy is doing right now in Canada and around the world," said John Gordon, president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. The deal, which gives members of PSAC a pay raise of 6.8 per cent over the next four years, was reached at about midnight Sunday after a lengthy bargaining process that ended 18 months of negotiations."I might say there was a lot of hard bargaining involved in the context of achieving this agreement and I would encourage other unions to take a similar path," said Treasury Board President Vic Toews.

Although wage increases are limited, Gordon said the deal should be considered a victory for employees because the union gave up nothing and won other non-monetary demands."I felt that the best thing that we can do is get back to the negotiating table, take recognition of these economic times and at the same time address issues that we have had for many, many years to see if we can achieve some accomplishments," said Gordon. Still, the NDP MP for Ottawa-Centre told CTV Ottawa PSAC had little choice but to settle on the government's cash terms. "Essentially, what we had was bargaining with a gun to one's head. If they said 'no,' we don't accept this, the government had already made it clear in the speech from the throne that they were going to legislate this," said Paul Dewar.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, though, said the deal was one that reflects public sentiment."If they were smart, they saw the writing on the wall -- that the government had the backing of the public to do everything it can to keep costs down," said Kevin Gaudet.Members of the Public Service Alliance must now ratify the agreement; a process that's set to begin in early December and should be wrapped up sometime in January.

NDP Nomination

Betty Selin - Vernon 105.7 SUN FM:

The Vernon Monashee Constituency Association has nominated their candidate for next spring's BC election. Mark Olsen won the nomination over Jeet Ghukia. Olsen ran for the candidacy in 2005 and lost to Juliette Cunningham. He's the President of CUPE local 5523 representing school district support staff. Constituency President, Bob Pettit says, "The arrogance and lack of concern for ordinary people of Tom Christensen and the Campbell government is alienating voters and I have complete confidence that Mark will take the seat and join the Carole James government that will be elected next May." Christensen beat the NDP by over 25-hundred votes in the last election.

City caught in development crunch

By JOE FRIES Monday, November 24 Penticton Herald:

City officials are expecting a 30-per-cent drop in the total value of building permits next year in the wake of ongoing economic uncertainty. But Mitch Moroziuk, the city’’s director of development and engineering, said he’’s not aware of any current projects being halted due to the credit crunch. He’’s "also had people come take out big building permits in the last months," although that doesn’’t mean they plan to move immediately: "they might spend a little more time doing their paperwork now, so they’’ll be better positioned to move ahead when they think there’’s more opportunity to do that." Indeed, in the first week of October, Vancouver-based Pilot Pacific Group took out a permit for a $20-million apartment building to be located on Skaha Lake Road. No one from the company was available for comment Friday afternoon. Pilot Pacific is the firm behind the Alysen Place project also on Skaha Lake Road. At least one local developer, however, is slowing the pace on a large project. The Singla Brothers are building a five storey, 40-unit condominium complex on Winnipeg Street that’’s still in the framing phase. Paul Singla said there is "no rush" to get the product on the market, because "people are not looking to buy right now." He didn’’t want to mention names, but said there are other some developers who are simply sitting on plans right now while they ride out the storm and wait for buyers’’ nerves to mellow.

The Loss of innocence

NDP to pick BC election candidate

107.5 KISSFM Pete McIntyre:

Local New Democrats will select their candidate this weekend for next May's BC election. The two candidates are Mark Olsen, who is the local president for CUPE school district support staff, and Jeet Dukhia, who is the chief engineer at Vernon Jubilee Hospital and a strong opponent to using a P-3 agreement for the hospital expansion project. Olsen also ran for the nomination in 2005, which was won by Juliette Cunningham. The Vernon Monashee NDP Constituency Association will hold it's nomination meeting this Sunday at the Halina Centre in the Vernon Rec Centre complex. Registration is 1 with the meeting starting at 2.

2005 Vote Results
Name Party Votes Vote %age

• * Tom Christensen LIB 11,566 43.2o%
• Juliette Marie Cunningham NDP 8,995 33.59%
• Colin Black CP 3,095 11.56%
  
• Erin Nelson GP 1,867 6.97%
• Gordon Campbell NA 945 3.53%
• Michael Toponce BCM 260 0.97%
• Tibor Lesley Tusnady BCPA 48 0.18%

Anger rising over water at Big White

Kelowna Daily Courier Nov. 23:
Opponents of a proposal by Big White to take water from the Kettle Valley River will have a chance to formally have their say – and they have a lot to say. Big White has applied to take water from three creeks in the Kettle Valley watershed, which opponents say is already starting to run dry. Travis Lowe, an angler and former guide, says he has fished the Kettle River “religiously” for the last 10 years. “Year after year, I have watched the water levels drop in the Kettle and West Kettle to critical flow levels as a result of over-subscribed water licences,” says Lowe, who releases all the fish he catches. “It used to be you could float the Kettle into August and sometimes September. But the West Kettle now runs dry in certain sections starting in August. There just isn‘t any water in the watershed to withdraw. “It‘s extremely outrageous that the ministry would even consider such an environmentally irresponsible water licence application. I think it‘s crazy.”

But Big White‘s Michael J. Ballingall said the resort won‘t need the Kettle water for many years. Big White now stores water in two lakes, Rhonda and Lake Paul, said Ballingall. “We don‘t plan on building reservoirs for many years,” he said. “We don‘t need any water now. We have plenty of water. In runoff seasons, we have to open the floodgates at Rhonda Lake so it doesn‘t overflow.” He said that the plan calls for only catching water in the spring “when it‘s flooding down stream.” “We‘re going to catch that water during runoff,” he said. “We‘re never going to catch water after June 1. The people who worry about the summer water and the rivers running dry, that will have nothing to do with Big White.” He said long-term plans propose two golf courses and another 5,000-10,000 beds. “But you‘re talking about something in 2025 or 2030,” he said. “The government has told us to apply for the licence. If you‘re going to need water in the future, apply for it now. That‘s what the government has told us.”

Ballingall said he will welcome public consultation.Conservationist Fred Marshall claimed Big White‘s plans for water use go beyond just snow making. “The current and new applications, with 20 per cent of the water proposed for snow making and 80 per cent for personal use, indicate that the real money to be realized from these developments is from the construction and sale of condos and very little from skiing, said Marshall. “The Kettle River is already over-committed relative to water licences and the addition of additional ones, especially those in the sensitive headwaters of the river, will seriously jeopardize all existing water licence users downstream of these headwaters.”

Mark Angelo of the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C. said the Kettle River ranks sixth on the organization‘s endangered list and he wants to go further than just opposing the Big White application to protect the river. “This issue has been percolating for a long time,” he said. “There have been definite signs of excessive water extraction pressures already. For the first time, we‘ve seen no runoff or peak. There are times we see the river at an all-time low flow.“We believe there is a need to establish a watershed management plan for the Kettle River. That‘s something we don‘t have yet.” He said his member groups will make formal presentations to the Ministry of Environment opposing the application. Kate Thompson, spokesperson for the ministry, denied claims by some that the application is going ahead without public consultation. “They (Big White) haven‘t consulted with First Nations yet,” she said. “They have to put together another development plan for approval. There wouldn‘t be a decision until the environmental and community impacts are considered. The application is not a fait accompli.”