So, what can the provincial government do about the air quality problems. Install big fans????

I'm sorry, but, its really not a provincial issue. Our own city council should be the ones looking after it. What, were going to complain about the potholes to the MLA's.

Exactly He spoke!
More buck passing me thinks.

It looks to me that they have pre programed the candidates to answer air quality questions only.We might not get very far with pot hole questions

According to the City, air quality is a provinical government issue as they are the ones that make the rules. The local provincial government employees havetried to put pressure on companies to clean up and the companies just go to Victoria and the local employees are told to back off

"If elected, what will you do?" The answer is as easy as pie. And the answer goes with any politician of any party. The answer? "Whatever my boss the premier tells me to do". Not me. I sure don't wanna rock the boat. That's not how political careers are made. That's the answer to that kind of question. You're welcome.

just pushing air through their teeth.
this is just election noise so it looks like they are saying something.

They sure do talk a lot, and don't say much.

First thing one needs to do when trying to understand the issue is understand the rules of the game.

Air quality is first and foremost a provincial issue. They are the ones who issue the permits for the release of the pollutants, not the City.

They are the ones who set the standards, not the City.

The City, however, has a say as well in the regulation. The City zones properties. Zones aere created on the base of use. Use can be defined in many ways, including noise, light, emissions, etc. The City, however, chooses not too. So far, the City has chosen to point the finger at the MoE.

Last year, with the push from the North Nechako residents, the City discovered that they actually have more clout than they thought they have with respect to asphalt production.

The City is willing to go to the supreme court in Canada to battle an adult store, and lose, but they are not will to risk stepping out of line when it comes to air quality issues.

PACHA put on the forum, so don't blame the politicians.

I would not be surprised if all sides would prefer not to attend those events.

Well, There is a lot of good paying jobs in them stink mills. Hmmm, i wonder if all we will be doing is selling trinkets on the road side.

He spoke: "... wonder if all we will be doing is selling trinkets on the road side."

Trinkets Made In China, of course.

Hopeless, isn't it?
How sad.
We will all eventually die from it.

I dont think that anyone thinks there is an easy fix to the air problem in the bowl. However, it is a good thing that people are at least discussing it. I think it is counterproductive, however to try a few easy fixes (woodstoves, \BBQ's, etc) if it means that people are going to start congratulating themselves for fixing the problem. Shortly after they take peoples right to a campfire away and switch everyone to 'clean burning' natural gas they will find that the air still sucks. It will then be time for idling bans, driving restrictions, and so forth. The air will still suck and the real trajedy will be that people will have had their freedoms regulated away for next to no real benefit to society as a whole.
\like it or not folks here have enjoyed the right to burn wood here since \pg was formed. If you want to take away peoples rights you had better have a LOT of prooof as to how it is absolutely necessary for the good of society. Really people, how often do we have to have the same debate? Do people never get tired of giving up the rights of other people? I guess not.
Macleans magasine recently ran a story on the decline of freedom in the world. Like many people they made the error of equating freedom with democracy. How, exactly are we, the democratic Canadians more free than the rest of the world? Yes, we get to elect temporary dictators every few years but we need to get permission to do just about anything else. We need permits to dig a hole, a licence to operate a car-top boat , a helmet to ride a bike and in town, a plastic bag to walk a dog. My mom can't even own more than 2 dogs. We cant sell meat at the farm gate or buy raw milk. Land of the free my butt! The really sad thing is that all these regulations were brought about by people trying to regulate other people. It is always easy to take other folks rights away.
As for me, i dont live in town. I dont burn wood for heat (except in my shop once in a while) and i can burn slash for farming purposes where necessary. I am not arguing for my rights here, at least not this time.

It sure does appear to be hopeless. It is sad that there are so many people in this community that are getting paid for being incompetent. They put in time, that is all. There is no measurable, qualitative output that addresses the problem.

Downtown, air quality, street maintenance .... they all suffer from the same disease. Too many of the same people working on the same problems for far too long. Volunteers or paid, get rid of them. New people can't be any worse.