Rio Tinto Alcan Has Them Coming And Going
Monday, July 30, 2012 @ 3:45 AM
Last week Kitimat City Council quietly gave approval to Rio Tinto Alcan’s proposal to have a liquor primary license to serve liquor at its Kitimat work camp.
The camp houses hundreds of temporary workers for the Kitimat modernization project that is building the new smelter. The lounge, according to the pitch, will enable the workers to kick back after their shift. The company wanted a liquor primary license instead of the previous license which was food primary. In other words you don’t need to eat in order to drink.
The workers at the camp are required to stay at the camp and are not able to come to town, so in effect, Rio Tinto Alcan has a hell of a deal going, Want a drink? You buy it off Rio Tinto with the wages they paid you for your work.
Reminds you of the good old company towns, where they gave you your cheque by way of a credit at the store that they owned. They got you coming and going.
The license still needs BC Liquor Board approval.
The lone Councillor to vote against the approval, Phil Germuth, makes a real case in that he states that in addition to the new booze deal, the company gets its meats and groceries trucked in from Alberta. So that pretty much shuts down the town of Kitimat from receiving any benefit from the construction of the new smelter.
Funny how the Council supported the move instead of suggesting that if it was to recommend such a license that it should be in the hands of one of the local hotels or pubs who are in the business and who have been supporting the local economy over the past twenty odd dry years.
In the oil patch, the camps are dry. They don’t want any booze floating around the place and they don’t want people who have had a drink working on their equipment.
It does certainly add new, well old, meaning to a idea where you get them coming and going and all Rio Tinto did was shake the cradle and the City of Kitimat rolled over.
I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s Opinion.
Comments
Dry camp is the best camp! Shame on Alcan. Are they going to do random drug testing too?
Why arent these companies who extract or use BCs resources forced to use BC goods and services first before any outsourcing?
There are several run of the river projects in northwest BC which are ran by alberta based companies, to the tune of gating remote roads to keep people out, that is the citizens of BC they are keeping out of thier own backyard. I see lots and lots of alberta work vehicles driving around PG these days. I don’t know how it is now, but it wasnt too long ago when virtually every new highway construction in northern BC was being done by an alberta road crew. What is going on here in BC? If this is how our gov’t protects our interests, we definately need a new govt running the show.
But: “Why arent these companies who extract or use BCs resources forced to use BC goods and services first before any outsourcing?”
Because we’re not under a Communist regime. Not yet anyway.
It’s been a long time since I agreed in any way with Meisner. But I’m with him on this one. Kitimat Council has indeed failed to make its voice heard on far too many Rio Tinto decisions. Rio Tinto is a steam roller. It owns the property — the courts say it owns the Nechako Watershed — so they make virtually all decisions without any kind of consultation.
The highways are jammed with trucks carrying equipment and supplies to the KMP operation. The community has been incredibly supportive – RTA’s answer is to set up a giant camp, bring food supplies in from Alberta, keep the camp residents on site with a pub of its own. They were even planning a Tim Horton’s on site — something Kitimat does not have – yet, perhaps.
For “road safety reasons” RTA has closed its community beach and its freed boat launch. It has also shut down two marinas in the vicinity in the past few years.
RTA continues to support community events like hockey and dragon boat racing — but dollars/cheques is the easy way.
Arrogant and thoughtless dismissal of community interests and values should be met with perspective and arguments by our community representatives. — but it seems more intent on demonstrating its unquestioning support for RTA and KMP.
RTA and KLNG are industrial proponents who clearly can look after themselves. Council has to get back to climbing off the fence and expressing themselves and reflecting the community’s interests before it is too late and all newcomers just do as they like.
“Because we’re not under a Communist regime” and why would taking care of local interests constitute heading towards communism? You are probably one of the slave labour proponents who agree with proposals to allow chinese workers to come over here and work for less pay than residents and under a different set of worksafe rules. Anything to make life easier for the poor destitute corporations, aye johnny?
But: “Anything to make life easier for the poor destitute corporations, aye johnny? “
As usual, you have missed the point. The reality is that we don’t operate in a bubble, and it is not the government’s job to force a company to buy local. Maybe if the local suppliers were a little more competitive, they wouldn’t need to outsource.
“You are probably one of the slave labour proponents who agree with proposals to allow chinese workers to come over here and work for less pay than residents and under a different set of worksafe rules.”
Just as much as you are a proponent of government ruling over every aspect of our lives.
OMG I agree with JB somewhat! :)
I guess did the local companies have the logistics to supply such a camp, did they actually get to bid on the contract? Things like that normally go to the lowest bidder.
Now if the Camp gets a Timmies before Kitimat itself that would be criminal.
But a dry camp it should stay just like every other camp in B.C.
If you buy stuff in Alberta and truck it to Kitimat do you pay HST on those goods?
We are going to take issue with Dix, when he becomes Premier. The jobs in BC, stay in BC. Everything of value in BC has been thieved and sold, by the Campbell/Clark BC Liberals. Nor, do we forget Harper’s part in the destruction of this province.
No way will we permit Premier Redford and Harper, to bring that dirty, lethal chemical laced Bitumen, into BC. We will not assist them to sell control of the tar sands to Communist China. Premier Redford can keep her precious money and her dirty Bitumen, all to herself. Harper can go to hell too.
Jim13135: If you buy stuff in Alberta and truck it to Kitimat do you pay HST on those goods?
A very good question.
The old PST rules required payment of pst on goods purchased outside of b.c. if the goods were to be used-consumed-registered in b.c. It should not be any different with the hst.
RTA are clearly not interested in being good corporate citizens if they actually purchase camp supplies in Alberta instead of supporting Kitimat-Terrace-Smithers-Prince George vendors.
And the camp should remain dry.
metalman.
” Posted by: But on July 30 2012 10:57 AM
“Because we’re not under a Communist regime” and why would taking care of local interests constitute heading towards communism? You are probably one of the slave labour proponents who agree with proposals to allow chinese workers to come over here and work for less pay than residents and under a different set of worksafe rules. Anything to make life easier for the poor destitute corporations, aye johnny?”
Precisely!
Hi Ben, I stayed in a Fort Mac camp with a bar. 2 drink maximum, strictly enforced along with drug sniffing dogs and security. Seemed like it had a quasi immigration booth for foreign workers too. Several thoasand ppl with a Timmies, rink, & huge gym. Most camps are dry although contractor camps and dry camp parking lots often arent.
NoWay: Most BC camps i`ve stayed in (about a dozen) were `dry` but `hear no evil see no evil` and `no harm no foul` when it came to booze and pot.
Cheers
Lived in Kitimat for a few years in the 70’s. Non competetive as far as goods for the consumer as well as being over priced. Big reason people drove to Terrace on the weekends to shop.
I can understand shopping food supplies in Alberta rather than Kitimat.
Were local (Kitimat) businesses given a chance to provide goods and services for the r.t.a. camp?
metalman.
So what do people want in this town? First, they didn’t want “transient” camp workers partying it up in town causing a ruckus, now they want them back…..this is ridiculous. I have never seen so many people who want things both ways here.
Comments for this article are closed.