The Prince George Citizen ­ Friday, January 16, 2009 ­ 5

Citizen photo by David Mah

ALL CLEAR -- Prince George Firefighters from two halls were called to Alward Place Thursday morning when alarms were activated. A search of the building found nothing.

Recession downdraft gripping B.C, warns Credit Union Central
The Canadian Press VANCOUVER -- A report by the voice of B.C. credit unions predicts more than 42,000 jobs will be lost in British Columbia this year as a recession unfolds in the provincial economy. The economic forecast for 2009 to 2013 said declining construction and business investment, along with weak consumer spending and recessions in forestry and housing will cause an economic contraction in 2009. Central 1 Credit Union chief economist Helmut Pastrick said Thursday the province can't avoid the downdraft of the global economic recession. Pastrick was hopeful the global economy will start to recover by next year. "In B.C. we do have the 2010 Winter Olympics, which does provide a injection of money into the economy in the order of perhaps a billion dollars," he said. But the report calls the Olympics a temporary economic boost, with growth slipping back slightly in 2011 before the economy begins growing again, reaching four per cent in 2013.

Enbridge woes raise concern over Northern Gateway
The Canadian Press PRINCE RUPERT -- It's been a tough two weeks for Enbridge Inc. The company proposing the Northern Gateway pipeline project through northern B.C. was successfully sued for $1.1 million by the state of Wisconsin for breaking 545 environmental agreements. The Edmonton Journal reported that the pipeline company had an increase in oil spills from its operations in 2007 to 13,177 barrels from 5,633 barrels in 2006. A news release from Wisconsin's justice department said the state charged that Enbridge performed work in and around wetlands and navigable waterways that resulted in violations of its permits, and which affected wetlands and navigable waterways. Enbridge was required in Wisconsin to pay for environmental monitors who reported directly to the state's department of natural resources. "In effect there were two layers of environmental oversight on the project, one being Enbridge's own environmental inspection team and -- as a secondary layer of oversight -- people who were watching the construction and reporting back on a day-to-day basis both to Enbridge reps and the department of natural resources," said Erin O'Brien of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association. She said observers learned there were many problems along the pipeline -- 545 in total. There is also concern regarding increased tanker traffic on the north coast of B.C. Guujaaw, the Council of Haida Nation president, is opposed to Enbridge's plan to build a pipeline to Kitimat. Guujaaw, who goes by one name, said that the increased oil tanker traffic would have a negative impact on Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. "In (Enbridge's) instance they want to have an environmental process without tankers but that pipeline is no good without tankers," said Guujaaw.

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January 16, 2009

Reserve fire keys attention on aboriginal housing
The Canadian Press VICTORIA -- The deaths of five people in a house fire on Vancouver Island has renewed calls for improved housing conditions for Canada's aboriginal peoples. Three generations of one B.C. aboriginal family were killed in the blaze on the Chemainus First Nation reserve. A recent report by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. found that the death rate from fires in aboriginal communities is more than 10 times higher than in the general population and that the fire rate is more than double. "It is literally a life and death situation and too many people are needlessly dying in these tragic fires as a result of the appalling housing conditions within First Nations communities, both on and off reserve, and quite frankly it's a national disgrace," said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the B.C. Union of Indian Chiefs. Phillip said Thursday that aboriginal organizations have called on the federal government to make aboriginal housing a major funding priority in the coming Jan. 27 budget. He said the housing for First Nations is in a state of crisis. "First Nations people are forced to live in housing that should be condemned. Quite frankly these houses are fire traps, they're death traps," Phillip told The Canadian Press. Police and witnesses of the house fire on the Chemainus reserve near Ladysmith, about 90 kilometres northwest of Victoria, said the home exploded into flames Wednesday after a woman carrying a lantern entered. At least three people escaped the fire, but five females died, including a young girl. Several people suffered serious burns trying to rescue those trapped inside. It is not known how many people were living in the home, built in 1953 and located near the Pacific Ocean. Gilbert Frenchy, 22, said he lost his grandmother, aunt, niece and two other family members in the fire, which reduced the two-storey home to black timbers and burned with enough intensity to melt nearby vehicles. Recent government reports indicate fires in aboriginal communities are more frequent and often more deadly than fires in other Canadian homes. "The First Nations fire incident rate is 2.4 times the per capita rate for the rest of Canada," said the Oct. 2007 Canada Mortgage and Housing Report examining fire prevention in aboriginal communities. "The death rate is 10.4 times greater; the fire injury rate is 2.5 times greater; and the fire damage per unit is 2.1 times greater." The study suggested "overcrowding and the inaccessibility of remote locations are two of the main reasons for the high incidence of fires in aboriginal communities and the more severe consequences." CMHC published a fire prevention manual it distributed to housing managers at aboriginal communities. It also produced a fire prevention DVD available to aboriginal community members. The organization also conducted fire case studies in 10 aboriginal communities and found that t he White Cap Dakota First Nation of Saskatchewan dramatically reduced fires by employing a prevention program that included an-

YOUR CITY MATTERS
COUNCIL MEETINGS
The next regular meetings of Council will be held at 7:00 pm on Mondays, January 19 and February 2, 2009 in the Council Chambers of City Hall. A Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled to be held on January 26, 2009. Monday meetings are broadcast live on Shaw Cable 10 and retelevised on Sundays at 9:00 am. Council meeting calendars may be obtained from the City's website or through the Service Centre. Agendas are only available on line at www.city.pg.bc.ca City Manager's Office, 561-7602

PUBLIC NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the City of Prince George intends to proceed with the final passage and adoption of "1092 Eastern Street Road Closure Bylaw No. 8163, 2008", at a Regular Council Meeting, scheduled to be held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, B.C. on Monday, February 2, 2009. 1092 Eastern Street Road Closure Bylaw No. 8163, 2008 Bylaw No. 8163 authorizes the City of Prince George to close a .941 ha portion of unconstructed highway dedicated by Plan PGP36014 and situated adjacent to That Part of Parcel 1, District Lots 745 and 747, Cariboo District, Plan 34384 as shown on Plan PGP35183 Except Plans PGP36014, PGP36015 and BCP10773 and Parcel 1, District Lots 745 and 747, Cariboo District, Plan 34384, Except Plans PGP35183, PGP36014, PGP36015, PGP36075, PGP36481, PGP42972, PGP44172, PGP45387, BCP38207, and BCP38932. The unconstructed highway would be intended to be sold to the adjacent landowner, BCR Properties Ltd., to accommodate a subsequent sale of their property. The sale price will be a proportionate share of approximately 18.4% of the consolidated property's selling price once it has been disposed of by BCR Properties Ltd. All interested parties may inspect a copy of the proposed Bylaw and its Appendices "A", and "B" on January 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30, and February 2, 2009, at the office of the Corporate Officer, 5th Floor, City Hall, 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, B.C., Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., statutory holidays excepted. Written objections or petitions, if any, should be delivered to the Corporate Officer no later than 12:00 noon on Tuesday, January 27, 2009. For further information, please contact City of Prince George, Real Estate Services, at 250 561-7678. This is the first of two advertisements respecting this matter. Dated this the 16th day of January, 2009. WALTER BABICZ CORPORATE OFFICER CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE

2009 DOG LICENSES
City of Prince George dog tags are on sale now at City Hall, SPCA, Petcetera, Total Pet, Dog Gone Bakery and Ospika Pet & Farm Supplies. For Dog Licenses from December 1, 2008 to January 31, 2009, the price is $20.00 for spayed/neutered dogs and $50.00 for non spayed/non neutered dogs. Effective February 1 2009, the price increases to $25.00/$60.00. Dangerous Dog price is $100.00/$250.00.

CP photo

Elizabeth Frenchy is overcome with emotion as her husband and son speak to the media after some of their relatives were killed in an ear ly mor ning house fire on the Chemainus First Nations Reserve.
nual home inspections by officials from nearby Saskatoon. "They check fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, clothes dryers, heating sources and the accessibility of candles, matches and lighters to small children and pets," the report said. A March 2007 report prepared for the B.C. government found that housing was a key problem issue for B.C. aboriginals. The report said B.C. aboriginal organizations have at least 10,000 people waiting for housing. It also said the housing many aboriginals live in is out-dated, not safe and not healthy. With more than 170,000 people, British Columbia has the second highest aboriginal population in Canada. The report said housing needs for B.C.'s aboriginals will increase in the next decade because 46 per cent of the province's aboriginals are under 25 years old. Chemainus First Nation administrator Stephen Olson said the cause of the most recent fire has yet to be determined, but the Vancouver Island reserve is no different than any other Canadian aboriginal community when it comes to housing issues. He said young families move in with relatives while they wait for their own homes. There are 625 people living on the reserve and the waiting list for new homes has about 100 names. "Housing is a chronic problem in just about every aboriginal community in Canada," Olson said. "We have a housing shortage (here). We've got a housing waiting list. We don't have enough housing to meet the demands of our community."

JANUARY'S GOLDEN AGE SOCIAL ­ CANCELLED
The Golden Age Social (the senior's tea held at the Civic Centre) has been CANCELLED for January. The next Golden Age Social will be held on February 11th from 2pm ­ 4pm at the Civic Centre. All Prince George seniors are welcome to join in the fun! The Golden Age Social starts out with an hour of lively entertainment and is followed with tea, coffee and goodies. This free event is held at the Civic Centre and all seniors are welcome. For more information, contact the Prince George Council of Seniors at 250-564-5888

JOB POSTINGS
Event Host, Irregular Part-Time Competition #09/07 Closing Date: January 19, 2009 Auxiliary Lifeguard, Irregular Part-Time Competition #09/02 Closing Date: January 16, 2009 Visit our website at: www.city.pg.bc.ca Fax 561-7719 or Email: servicecentre@city.pg.bc.ca

1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 Tel. (250) 561-7600 · Fax (250) 612-5605 www.city.pg.bc.ca · ServiceCentre@city.pg.bc.ca

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