Prince George, BC:  The Prince George Flood Coalition has joined together a number of concerned parties to ensure that the City of Prince George and the Province of British Columbia protect the lives, property and businesses of those affected by the ice jam and flooding of the Nechako and Fraser Rivers.  The coalition comprises the Nechako River Industrial Group, The Nechako River Victims Coalition, the United Steel Workers and the Prince George Truckers Association and draws together businesses, residents, affected workers and contractors in a united effort to hold the municipal and provincial governments accountable for their responsibilities under the flood emergency and to have meaningful input for their plans for the future.  By uniting together, the broad coalition hopes to have a louder voice to ensure that an acceptable long term solution is achieved. 

“We have over 100 residents that have been badly affected” said Jerry deWit, Co-Chair of the Nechako River Victims Coalition.  “There was a state of emergency for flooding in 1996.  Eleven years later we are again in a state of emergency and our properties are flooded by surface water and the basements are filling with groundwater,” he says.  Mr. Ed Mazur, Co-Chair of NRVC, is concerned that there has not been enough action on the part of the city and province to take effective measures to prevent flooding of the river.  “We need to ensure this never happens again and that adequate flood defences are built for the future,” he suggested. Mr. Mazur complimented the city employees and contractors for having done a stellar job under difficult circumstances.

Speaking on behalf of the United Steel Workers, Mr. Frank Everitt says “Of our nearly 6,000 members in northern BC, nearly 1,000 employees have been laid off and are not working as a result of this flood”.  He adds that the forest industry is already badly affected by the economic situation, impact of softwood lumber duties, adverse exchange rates, and mountain pine beetle damage.  “Getting agreement with both levels of government to do the right things provides stability for operations and employees,” he suggested.  “Employees have endured a very difficult time through the holiday season and solid plans for permanent defences will provide them with a level of security and confidence that never again will they be exposed to the whims of the river,” he added.

“We are into a narrow opening with our winter logging season,” says Stan Wheeldon, “and some of our over 300 members are not working as Winton Global and Brink Forest Products have stopped logging and hauling lumber due to the ice jam.  Immediate action is required.  The city is hoping for warmer weather to break up the ice jam, but that may be too late and we won’t be able to get into the forest under warmer spring like conditions”.  “We need the mills to operate again as soon as possible so our truckers are able to work uninterrupted,” he said.  He adds that the constant starting and stopping is extremely costly for his members.

One group working hard to pull the broader coalition together is the Nechako River Industry Group.  “We have been battling to operate our businesses for well over a month since the flood started,” said John Brink, Co-Chair of the group.  “In that time one of the biggest challenges we have had is dealing with the City,” he says.  “Don’t get me wrong!  The employees out on the frontline have done excellent work and have been exceptionally helpful at all times and we thank them for their efforts.”

John Elmslie, Co-Chair of NRIG agrees and suggests that communications with the City are becoming further limited as the flood situation persists.  “At this time there are about 450 people employed by the businesses on River Road who are out of work.  It is imperative we have meaningful open dialogue to reach solutions for the benefit of all involved,” he added.

The Prince George Flood Coalition has elected two Co-Chairs, John Brink and John Elmslie.  John Elmslie says “We are not just talking about dikes to contain the current floods, but rather a comprehensive solution involving a combination of remedies which may include dredging, pumps, dikes and other mechanisms.  “The real problem is still hidden from us,” says John Brink.  He points out that while everyone has seen the river rise and the ice jam compress, the hidden danger to the broader community is groundwater levels that are rising under the flood plain in downtown Prince George.  “A systematic solution that addresses the drainage into the Fraser River and the entire hydrology of the Nechako river system is required,” he says.