Bits and Bytes - April 15th edition

1) Multi-Centre Proposal

Up in the North-Cariboo - both the City of Quesnel/Cariboo Regional District have been working on getting a $30 million Multi-Centre established.  The building would include 1,600 seating for a NHL-sized area & 450 seats for a Performing Arts Theatre.  In November 2008, residents in portions of CRD Electoral Areas A, B, C, I and all residents in the City of Quesnel approved borrowing for up to $15 million for this project.  See details on this project here

On Tuesday - City of Quesnel/CRD gave an update status on the project.  See the presentation here

However - with distress, I found it a little hard to take Dick Harris (local Federal Conservative Candidate) to suggest that there is no money available for this significantly-required project because of the concern of "setting a precedent".  What a crock!!  This from senior levels of government (Ottawa/Victoria) who can cough up hundreds of millions or even billions for pet projects in larger centers but yet can't come up with small millions for upgrades to recreation centers, which will go a long way to attracting the professionals (medical, etc) we in rural BC need is totally laughable.  If you simply have a pot of money with fair rules that apply to all then there would be little or no complaining from applicants.  Disclosure Note - I happen to be a Conservative supporter and fully intend to vote for Dick Harris but on this file, his comments are dead wrong and he should reconsider his position on this

2) HST Public Discussion

Yesterday, the provincial government announced a $1.7 million plan to engage BC'ers on the future of the HST. 

Editor's Note - it'll be interesting to see how the public turns out for the forums on the HST at various places in BC.  Dates to be announced next week

Government of BC press release here
Media coverage here & here (Globe and Mail) and here (Williams Lake Tribune)
BC NDP, not surprising, cries foul - see here
Bob Simpson gives his take on this here  with a further press release on this here

Also - Bob Simpson discusses local restaurants and need for tax relief - see here

3) Pine Beetle Action Coalitions receive $9 million from Victoria

Today, Victoria announced $9 million going to 3 Beetle Action Coalitions in BC including the local Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coaltion, Omineca Beetle Action Coalition and the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition

Quotes..:

1) Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation –

“We’ve come a long way in fighting this infestation, but there’s still a long way to go. Industries and communities all over B.C. continue to suffer from the effects of the mountain pine beetle epidemic, and this funding will help that battle continue.”

2) Donna Barnett, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA, and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Economic Development –

“The mountain pine beetle problem continues to be one of the biggest issues B.C.’s communities face, and when I fly over the Cariboo-Chilcotin, it’s not hard to spot the vast areas of dead forest. Our beetle action coalitions have done amazing work, and this funding will help ensure they can continue to reduce the impacts of the mountain pine beetle and help communities succeed.”


3) Kerry Cook, chair of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition –

“This is great news for the Cariboo-Chilcotin region. This funding is going to help us continue to bring together the natural resource and economic development expertise we need to minimize the potential economic impacts of the beetle epidemic, and to make the best of the opportunities available for communities.”

Quick Facts:

· The life span of an individual mountain pine beetle is about one year.

· The mountain pine beetle in B.C. is as far-ranging as Fort St. John to the north, the Alberta border to the east, Smithers to the west and the United States border to the south.

· The Province and the beetle action coalitions have been working on a number of ways to lessen the impact of the mountain pine beetle epidemic on local economies, including projects that promote community forests and value-added wood production, green energy development, log-home and timber-frame sector expansion, and bio-energy sector development and promotion.

· The three coalitions were first formed in 2005 to help communities lessen the impact of the mountain pine beetle through projects that create partnerships, diversify local economies, restore forest resources and sustain key industries.

See the full press release here
Visit the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition website at http://www.c-cbac.com