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SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2014
Three lawsuits filed against pipeline report
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Peter JAMES Citizen staff pjames@pgcitizen.ca
The first legal salvo has been fired in what could be a long court process surrounding the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.
At least three different applications to have the federal court examine last month’s Joint Review Panel report were filed in federal court by Friday’s statutory deadline. Each one identifies errors the interest groups believe the panel made when it recommended the federal government approve the northern Alberta to Kitmat pipeline and export facility with 209
conditions attached.
“We’re asking the court to declare that the work of the panel is incomplete and therefore the government cannot make a decision until that work is completed,” Ecojustice staff lawyer Karen Campbell said. “Government can’t make a decision on an incomplete environmental assessment and an incomplete review.”
Ecojustice, which represents the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, ForestEthics Advocacy and the Living Oceans Society, is arguing that the panel failed to take into account evidence surrounding the fate of diluted bitumen
m We’re asking the court to declare that the work of the panel is incomplete...
— Karen Campbell
if spilled in the marine environment and a recovery strategy for humpback whales when it gave its favourable recommendation.
BC Nature has filed its own judicial review application after finding what it believes is a nearly
dozen errors in law including the finding that the pipeline project could have a significant adverse impact on caribou, but that the impact was justified.
“The possible elimination of a caribou herd and the real threat this project poses to the marine environment are just not acceptable,” BC Nature president John Neville said in a news release.
The Haisla Nation, whose traditional territory sits at the terminus of the proposed pipeline, has also filed an application to have the findings reviewed by the court based on the conclusions the panel reached around the impact the project
CITIZEN PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN
Chelsey Cherkas and Kayla Thorell are the winners of the province's Step In, Step Up anti-gang video contest.
Anti-gang message comes through in 59 seconds
Christine HINZMANN Citizen staff chinzmann@pgcitizen.ca
1M = 1L
That’s the anti-gang message that leapt onto the screen during the 59 second public service announcement called Step In, Step Up, Can’t Take It Back, created by two graduates of Kelly Road secondary.
One mistake equals one life.
“What I like about this video is it’s youth telling the youth the message, we wag our fingers a lot saying don’t do this, don’t do that, but when you guys do it, it’s even more powerful,” said Prince George RCMP Supt. Eric Stubbs, who addressed the youth-filled audience at the public service announcement’s debut at the Cineplex theatre Friday afternoon.
Chelsey Cherkas and Kayla Thorell, both 18, are the winners of the Step In, Step Up antigang video contest that was open to 13- to
18-year-olds in the province, a project funded through the Province of B.C.’s Civil Forfeiture Program. The video will air on CKPG beginning Monday, Jan. 20 and is also at www.commu-nitypolicing.princegeorge.ca or check it out on YouTube at http://youtu.be/LiEHXV2a9vU.
The theme of the program is for youth to step in, by getting involved, and step up, by taking a stand against gang recruitment and activity.
From 14 entries, five were selected as finalists, with Cherkas and Thorell taking top spot.
Cherkas heard about the contest through her teacher Rob Bennett in Kelly Road’s digital media film and digital photography class.
Cherkas said she immediately wanted to take on the project and wrote a monologue and then filmed each image to match each sentence.
“Kayla and I have been friends since we were in Grade 6 and even though she’s shy, she helped me out and took some days off work for this and that means a lot,” said Cherkas.
“I really appreciate that she stepped up and took a role in the video. The story is about how gang membership will affect family and friends around you.”
The final piece was professionally reproduced by a local business, Video Nexus, owned by Steph St. Laurent.
Cherkas and Thorell each received at $250 gift card from London Drugs, while Kelly Road has been awarded a digital video prize package valued at more then $1,200.
Cherkas now lives in Alberta where she plans to enroll in a criminal justice program in the fall, while Thorell is currently studying at CNC and hopes to enroll in the nursing program this fall.
If anyone has information about gang activity in Prince George, the RCMP ask that you call 250-561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online visit www. pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca or text-a-tip to CRIMES (274637) using key word ‘pgtips’.
would have on aboriginal rights.
While the panel recommended the $6.5 billion project proceed, the federal cabinet has the final decision-making authority. It has a 180-day window to make a decision starting from when the panel released its report on Dec. 18.
Northern Gateway spokesman Ivan Giesbrecht said the judicial review applications were expected but the company believes they’re premature since cabinet has yet to rule.
“Northern Gateway is confident in the integrity of the Joint Review Panel process and report,” Gies-brecht said.
— see WHAT, page 3
Rush for flu vaccine should start sooner: NH
Citizen staff
The popularity of the flu vaccine in recent weeks is a good sign according to Northern Health medical health officer for the northern interior Dr. William Osei, but he would like to see the rush to get the shot happen earlier next year.
“This thing that we saw should have happened in November,” Osei said. “People who should have taken a decision to come to us decided to wait a little bit more. Maybe we have to blame it on the holidays.”
We have an adequate supply of influenza vaccine at this time...
— Mary Margaret
Proudfoot
Northern Health has received about 80,000 doses of the flu shot this year, a few thousand more than in years past and has seen an uptick in demand. About 20,000 of those have been administered by public health officials and many more have been distributed to other agencies like doctor’s offices, pharmacists and nurses working in First Nations communities.
Figures on how many total doses have been injected won’t be known until late next month, but Northern Health regional manager of communicable disease programs Mary Margaret Proudfoot said supplies remain strong.
— see INFECTION, page 5
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SATURDAY IS HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA!
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Saturday, January 18 at 12:30 p.m. s
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•Vancouver Canucks’ •DashforCash HUbKEi alumnus Kirk McLean • Face Painting ilDAYj signing autographs • Chuck the Puck First 4000 fans attending Saturday’s game receive a FREE ScotiaBank Hockey Day in Canada Toque
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Edmonton Oil Kings
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Get vour tickets today!
Tickets available at TICKETMASTER: 250-564-5585 • Vouchers available at all Save-On-Foods • www.pgcougars.com Celebrating 20 years of Prince George Cougars hockey
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