Hello all:
I have received a complimentary VIP pass to the NCMA Conference in Williams Lake between May 2nd to May 5th, 2007. I will report on the proceedings of what happened on each day and my experiences during this very important conference for local gov't officials. The Premier will give a speech to NCMA delegates, which includes Mayors, Councillors, Regional District Directors' / Chairs'. Also, the Minister of Community Services (Hon. Ida Chong), and the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Official Opposition, Ms. Carole James (BC NDP Leader) will give a speech to NCMA Delegates. NDP MLA for Cariboo-North, Mr. Bob Simpson, will speak to delegates at the official opening of the NCMA AGM on Thursday, May 3rd.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Poplar Glade Elementary Destroyed by Fire
Folks:
As you may have heard, Poplar Glade Elementary was totally destroyed by fire. The cause for the fire is suspected to be electrical in nature. There will be no classes, obviously, at Poplar Glade Elementary tomorrow, however School District #27 Staff will be meeting tonight and Friday to devise a plan to disperse the kids from this school to other elementary schools in the City of Williams Lake. I hope that this plan, in whatever form it comes in, is the least disruptive to the kids so they can finish out this school year.
I'm told that parents should stay tuned to your local radio for further updates on this matter.
As you may have heard, Poplar Glade Elementary was totally destroyed by fire. The cause for the fire is suspected to be electrical in nature. There will be no classes, obviously, at Poplar Glade Elementary tomorrow, however School District #27 Staff will be meeting tonight and Friday to devise a plan to disperse the kids from this school to other elementary schools in the City of Williams Lake. I hope that this plan, in whatever form it comes in, is the least disruptive to the kids so they can finish out this school year.
I'm told that parents should stay tuned to your local radio for further updates on this matter.
Here's a link showing some of the Poplar Glade Elementary Fire:
Campus 2020
Folks:
Here is the link to the Campus 2020 Website.
http://www.campus2020.ca/en/home
As you will recall, Geoff Plant (Former BC Attorney-General) went around the province seeking input as to how we, as a society, can increase participation rates at post-secondary institutions
Here is the link to the Campus 2020 Website.
http://www.campus2020.ca/en/home
As you will recall, Geoff Plant (Former BC Attorney-General) went around the province seeking input as to how we, as a society, can increase participation rates at post-secondary institutions
Thursday, April 12, 2007
NDP and the Mininum Wage
Today, the NDP followed up on a call by the BC Fed of Labour to raise the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour but the NDP went a step further and called on the Provincial Government to lower the Small Business Tax Rate from 4.5% to 3.5% plus link the minimum wage to incremental increases so businesses can plan for future incremental increases in the minimum wage. They have also put a poster on their website that can be printed to allow people to support the NDP minimum wage call
While I don't object to the lowering of the Small Business Rate from 4.5% to 3.5% and I believe that it would be good for small businesses generally, I still object to the raising of the minimum wage as it will be definitely would be a "job killer" and for the NDP to suggest that there is no link between a higher minimum wage and higher unemployment numbers is a bit of a falsehood. One only has to look back to the '90's when the NDP were in power and look to other jurisdictions who raised the minimum wage in one shot and look at their unemployment numbers.
Raising the minimum wage won't help those living in the GVRD as rising living costs are an indication of market forces at work in the real estate field and there is not much the provincial government can do to lower those costs, save issuing the home owners' grant that they give out each year.
BC Finance Minister Carole Taylor this afternoon suggested that raising the minimum wage would be a "disincentive" to invest in BC. I tend to agree with her
What do you think?
While I don't object to the lowering of the Small Business Rate from 4.5% to 3.5% and I believe that it would be good for small businesses generally, I still object to the raising of the minimum wage as it will be definitely would be a "job killer" and for the NDP to suggest that there is no link between a higher minimum wage and higher unemployment numbers is a bit of a falsehood. One only has to look back to the '90's when the NDP were in power and look to other jurisdictions who raised the minimum wage in one shot and look at their unemployment numbers.
Raising the minimum wage won't help those living in the GVRD as rising living costs are an indication of market forces at work in the real estate field and there is not much the provincial government can do to lower those costs, save issuing the home owners' grant that they give out each year.
BC Finance Minister Carole Taylor this afternoon suggested that raising the minimum wage would be a "disincentive" to invest in BC. I tend to agree with her
What do you think?
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
WL Council Meeting Highlights - April 3rd, 2007
At Tonight's WL Council Meeting:
1) Dr. Charles Jago - Fraser Basin Council
Dr. Jago gave an overview of the work of the Fraser Basin Council and congratulated WL Council on their environmental initiatives.
2) BC Hydro Spring Update 2007
Bob Gammer from BC Hydro gave an overview of their plans for 2007 including buying more energy from IPP's, looking at the "Site C" in the Peace Country and more conservation measures
3) 2007 Budget
Council gave three (3) readings to the Budget Bylaw (Bylaw #2016, 2007) tonight which includes a 3.98% tax increase. An open house on the budget will be held on April 11, 2007 (Wednesday) in Council Chambers
4) Muncipal Security Issuing Resolutions - Fire Hall + River Valley Storm Sewer Outfall Projects
Council agreed to send the Resolutions to the CRD for the borrowing of $8,000,000 from the MFA's (Muncipal Finance Authority) Fall Issue of Debentures over a 20 year period
5) Airfield Lighting Control Panel & Power Cable at WL Airport
Council agreed to enter into an contribution agreement with the Federal Government for this project. The Federal Government is providing $204,731 for this endeavour
1) Dr. Charles Jago - Fraser Basin Council
Dr. Jago gave an overview of the work of the Fraser Basin Council and congratulated WL Council on their environmental initiatives.
2) BC Hydro Spring Update 2007
Bob Gammer from BC Hydro gave an overview of their plans for 2007 including buying more energy from IPP's, looking at the "Site C" in the Peace Country and more conservation measures
3) 2007 Budget
Council gave three (3) readings to the Budget Bylaw (Bylaw #2016, 2007) tonight which includes a 3.98% tax increase. An open house on the budget will be held on April 11, 2007 (Wednesday) in Council Chambers
4) Muncipal Security Issuing Resolutions - Fire Hall + River Valley Storm Sewer Outfall Projects
Council agreed to send the Resolutions to the CRD for the borrowing of $8,000,000 from the MFA's (Muncipal Finance Authority) Fall Issue of Debentures over a 20 year period
5) Airfield Lighting Control Panel & Power Cable at WL Airport
Council agreed to enter into an contribution agreement with the Federal Government for this project. The Federal Government is providing $204,731 for this endeavour
Meeting of the BC Liberal - Cariboo South Women's Association
Folks:
I'm told that there will be a lunch meeting of the BC Liberal - Cariboo South Women's Association on April 24th, 2007 at Crazy Joe's (Restaurant by the Intersection of 3rd Avenue and Oliver Street)
If you have any questions, please contact Dorothy Hartshorne, Co-Chair by email at dhartshorne@gmail.com
I'm told that there will be a lunch meeting of the BC Liberal - Cariboo South Women's Association on April 24th, 2007 at Crazy Joe's (Restaurant by the Intersection of 3rd Avenue and Oliver Street)
If you have any questions, please contact Dorothy Hartshorne, Co-Chair by email at dhartshorne@gmail.com
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