4 News WWW.PGCITIZEN.CA | FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2016 Small plane crashes in Quesnel Citizen staff Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of a small plane crash at Quesnel Airport Thursday afternoon, according to a statement issued by the Quesnel RCMP. A Beechcraft single-engine plane was resting on the runway with its landing gear collapsed. The pilot, a man from Quesnel, was the only occupant of the plane and was not injured. The Quesnel RCMP and Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. \AJewr Exclusive to Loved Always! JULES &.JIM AU FAIT MAMA Plus New & Quality Consignment & Local Artisans Brand name & designer clothing, maternity wear, toys, games, books, educational toys and beautifully handcrafted gifts. UweJ( Afwp Gki jkfW s isjue. 372 QUEBEC STREET • 250-563-5678 Find us on Facebook ON NOW AT THE BRICK! “BRICK PRQUOLY CANADIAN SINCE PLUS TAKE 45 TO PAY WITH NO INTEREST! >o/ I OFF SAVING YOU MORE For more details go instore or online @thebrick.com. R0021285927 ^learning For Life! ^ All School District No. 57 (Prince George) schools resume classes on Wednesday Sept 7th, 2016. Students should report to school at the usual time unless informed otherwise in June. Dismissal times will vary from school to school. School busses will return students home shortly after dismissal. STUDENT REGISTRATION FOR - SEPTEMBER 2016 Students new to School District No. 57 (Prince George), including those students who have moved to a different attendance area within the district, are asked to register at their new schools on the following dates: ELEMENTARY Tuesday, August 30,2016, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Please bring: • Proof of address (driver's license, utility bilf) • Copy of the child’s birth certificate as proof of age and name. • Most recent report card from previous school. SECONDARY Between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on dates noted below: • College Heights Aug 30,31, Sept 1 • Duchess Park Aug 30,31 •Kelly Road Aug 30, 31, Sept 1, 2 • Prince George Aug 30, 31 • DP Todd Aug 31, Sept 1 Please bring: • Proof of address (driver's license, utility bill) • Child’s birth certificate as proof of age and name. • Most recent report card from previous school. • Students having successfully completed Summer School should inform their school to ensure enrolment in the correct courses. "‘Students transferring from elementary school to secondary school in the same attendance area need not register"* DISTANCE EDUCATION • Monday, August 22nd through September for Elementary • Please call 250-564-6574 for an appointment time. • Located at 3400 Westwood Drive An ^CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OFFICE School District - No, 57 (Prince George) 2100 Ferry Avenue, Prince George, B.C., V2L4R5 Telephone: 561-6800 Fax: 561-6801______________ J? Philpott to pay back car service costs Kristy KIRKUP The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Health Minister Jane Phil-pott is reimbursing taxpayers just over $3,700 after it was disclosed her office paid thousands to a Toronto-based limo company owned by a Liberal supporter. Philpott apologized for the “excessive costs” related to her work travel that was billed to Executive Sedan Livery Service Inc. “This does not live up to the standard that Canadians expect and I have taken steps to ensure this does not occur again,” Philpott said in a statement Thursday night. “I will personally reimburse in full the expenses incurred on March 31 and July 12 ($3703.57) for travel to meetings that took place in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area and in Niagara Falls.” Philpott also said she has asked her department to review travel booked to and from Toronto’s Pearson airport - a bill totalling $3,815 for 20 trips - with the same company to ensure that taxpayers were charged fair-market value. “I will reimburse any excessive expenses based on departmental advice,” she added. Philpott’s move to repay Canadians comes after the minister faced criticism from both opposition parties and a watchdog group, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. All raised questions about the cost of the service and the fact it was from a company run by a supporter who canvassed for the minister during the last federal election. On Wednesday, Philpott’s office disclosed to The Canadian Press that it spent $1,994 on transportation on July 12 while the minister was speaking at the Assembly of First Nations annual meeting in Niagara Falls, Ont. Through Access to Information, the Conservatives also revealed the minister spent $1,708 on travel for one day on March 31 to take the minister to work-related events. Canadians would have been on the hook for thousands more if the minister had not been called out in public, Tory health critic Colin Carrie said Thursday night, adding it reflects poorly on her judgment. “The fact is that minister Philpott was aware that this company belonged to a Liberal,” Carrie said. “She didn’t even think once of the taxpayer.” Carrie has also written to Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson asking for a probe into the minister’s “apparent viola- CP FILE PHOTO Health Minister Jane Philpott answers a question during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on June 16. tion of the Conflict of Interest Act.” “The decision by the minister to use the services of such a strong supporter with no apparent open process or steps taken to avoid a conflict of interest appear to be potential violations,” Carrie said in the letter. New Democrat MP Charlie Angus said he hopes there is a take away for the new Liberal government on the importance of accountability standards for ministers. “I am pleased that minister Philpott is taking responsibility over her failure to respect the principles of accountability and transparency,” he said. It is important that Prime Minister Trudeau send a signal from the top about spending, said Aaron Wudrick, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “We would certainly like to hear a public statement reinforcing the importance of getting value for taxpayer dollars,” Wudrick said. The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Earlier in the day, Reza Shirani - the owner of the limo company - said he was V THE LONEl Celebrating The Music of... ROY ORBISON rasasiia or/ vi X/ v\ Only the Lonely - Crying - Dream Baby - In Dreams Oh Pretty Woman - You Got It - Blue Bayou PERFORMANCES SELLING OUT EVERYWHERE! SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 PRINCE GEORGE PLAYHOUSE Tickets: $40.00 (all inclusive) Available at Studio 2880 - 2820 15th Avenue Phone 250.562.4526 or Online: info@studio2880.com Doors: 7:00 pm Show: 7:30 pm R0011287419 willing to personally reimburse taxpayers for the cost. He also took aim at Philpott’s political critics. “It never occurred to me that providing a service to a minister of the Crown at my company’s normal and standard rates - rates that are competitive for the service we provide - would end up damaging the reputation of the MP I respect and the political party I love,” he said. Shirani also said he personally drove the minister on July 12. “While I was driving, she was able to work full-time on what I can only assume was important business for our national government,” he said. Shirani said his only purpose in responding to criticism - which he characterized as “petty political posturing” - is to restore Philpott’s “fine reputation and relieve her of being required to answer for such patent nonsense.” Shirani added he resents the suggestion he’s somehow playing the system or that he is an “insider” in any way. “I know that minister Philpott and I both deserve better,” he said. “I will have no further comment.” Driver's body cremated against Islamic rules The Canadian Press STRATHROY, Ont. — A terrorist sympathizer killed in a police takedown in southwestern Ontario last week has been laid to rest. The London Muslim Mosque said in a statement that Driver’s family declined its offer of support and chose to have his body cremated, which is against Islamic burial rules. The 24-year-old’s father, Wayne Driver, told the Toronto Star that his son had a “quiet and sweet” burial at an undisclosed location on Thursday morning. He told the newspaper that a Christian minister presided at the ceremony, and one of Aaron’s former friends performed a Muslim prayer over his remains. Driver died during a confrontation with RCMP in Strathroy, Ont., last Wednesday after making a martyrdom video that suggested he was planning to detonate a homemade bomb in an urban centre. Driver had been under a court order not to associate with any terrorist organizations or to use a computer or cellphone, but he wasn’t under continuous surveillance despite concern he might participate or contribute to the activity of a terrorist group. A taxi driver who was in the car when Driver was gunned down by officers has slammed police, saying they needlessly put his life in jeopardy. Terry Duffield, 47, said that police didn’t warn him as he waited in the driveway for five minutes for Aaron Driver before the 24-year-old got into the back of his cab. He says police swarmed them only after he began reversing the car out of the driveway, which is when he says Driver set off an explosive device. Ontario Provincial Police, who took over the investigation into his death, said Tuesday that Driver died from a gunshot wound, but gave no other details. Driver moved to Strathroy earlier this year to live with his sister. Authorities were tipped off about his activities by the FBI and confronted him hours later.