WIELDING WATER

Desert town wants to create a surfing oasis; Filmmaker laments at what we flush away
LIFESTYLES/PAGE 25

MICHENER AWARD WINNER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2007

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Beef markets still hurting
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen staff Beef markets are suffering. Results are still being tabulated from the cattle auction held in Vanderhoof over the weekend, but pending those results it is not a healthy industry across Canada and into the United States where most of the continent's meat is killed, cut and wrapped. One of the biggest reasons for the downturns is the high Canadian currency rates. T h e l o o n i e h a s s o a r e d to record heights over the U.S. greenback this fall, just when ranchers are doing most of their selling to American feedlots for final preparation for slaughter. "We did see a little recovery last week, but all the markets, with the dollar going up, really c r a s h e d ," s a i d P r i n c e George Cattlemen's Association spokesman Mark Grafton, manager of the area's largest cattle operation, the Bar K Ranch not far from Chief Lake. "That volatility really hammered things. "The dollar coming back down again has helped a little bit. We saw about a four cent (per pound) increase in the fat market on Thursday." Grafton is still keeping tabs on the other main aspects of the market -- yearlings and calves -- before he commits to selling the bulk of his herd. He is curious about the cow market as well. It was anticipated that the cow market would improve from t he depths of the BSE crisis since the American government recently eased most restrictions on importing mature female cattle from Canada, but Grafton said that has not come to pass. "There hasn't been any response on the cow market since the border reopened. Age verification may be a problem," he said. One remaining restriction is that cattle from Canada have to be verified with official documentation to be younger than seven years old. -- See PRICE on page 3

Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED BY -- A winter walker enjoys a crisp morning walk at Fort George Park on Sunday.

Intermodal terminal hailed as regional turning point
by SCOTT STANFIELD Citizen staff Northern B.C.'s economic forecast has taken a sunny turn, according to CN Rail officials and politicians who officially opened Prince George's new intermodal terminal and distribution centre at a Saturday ceremony at River Road. "This is a special moment," Mayor Colin Kinsley said. "This grand opening is really putting Prince George on the map. We are already hearing comments back from Asia that they're talking about Prince Rupert and the connection through here. With the recent opening of the port, it's realized a dream of many of us that goes back over a decade. "This transNorthern B.C. The potential is enormous. In coming years we will access markets, because we are right in the middle of the world's greatest wood fibre basket. Our forests are a backbone in our culture, and we're going to expand on that. With this connection to Asia, in the next decade you're going to see more and more manufacturing here." The $20-million Prince George facility opened for business Oct. 14, shortly before the first ship arrived from Asia at Prince Rupert's Fairview container terminal. "They (CN) have made some very bold and courageous investments in this corridor," said Prince Rupert Port Authority president/CEO Don Krusel, noting industry experts had predicted this development could not happen. "Well, it has happened, and it's something to celebrate. I have always said that container terminal is much more than simply a piece of transportation infrastructure. It's a piece of transformational infrastructure. -- See OPPORTUNITIES on page 3

AND HER LITTLE DOG TOO ...
The Wizard of Oz gets the fractured fairy tale treatment in `Tin Man' PAGE 16

Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

Jim Vena, CN senior vice-president, Western Region, speaks at the opening of the rail firm's Prince George intermodal terminal and distribution centre on Saturday.
modal facility and the Port of Prince Rupert will create new and exciting opportunities and change the face of

SHADES OF GREY
Saskatchewan wins a plodding CFL title game PAGE 12

HOWARD'S END
Australian conservative and Stephen Harper ally John Howard loses election to new PM Kevin Rudd PAGE 15

INDEX
Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . .17 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . 3,5, 6, 13
0

Classified . . . . . . . . . . .19-22 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Horoscope . . . . 17 Nation . . . . . . .6,7 Sports . . . . . . 8-12

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