I'd like to see some conversation on the role Stephen Harper has played in the forestry shutdowns here and the rest of Canada. Remember that forestry is a dog eat dog industry at the best of times. That is why our mills are some of the leanest most competitive in the world. Yet the deal Harper signed with Bush penalizes Canadian industry 15% every time the price gets low. Competitive mills around here can survive at $250 /mbf This week prices are around $244, But thanks to Harpers deal the mills are only getting $207. Has our feckless leader single handedly destroyed one of the prime movers of the Canadian economy?

Has anyone heard anything about the new golf course lately? I've heard that they haven't cut a single stick of wood yet. It recently came to my attention that the golf course is being built above an area which has no city water services. Golf courses are huge polluters (fertilizer and pesticide runoff), I wonder what the city plans to do if the wells all get poisoned.

Actually City water goes right past their front door at the moment... but I suspect the GC would punch their own well for irrigation purposes... that ground is pretty much all sand, so it will take a lot of water to stay pretty.

:-)

Still a lot of silence about Alcan.......about why they shut the flow to really slow for maintenance and then turned it to really fast, just as the cold snap came.........ICE. What have they been doing with the flow during the last 2 months, and do they have any plans to perhaps lessen the risks of flooding in the Spring??

It's my understanding that ALCAN has complete custody and control over the Kenny Dam resevoir. They can and do exactly what they want with the water flows.

Your right giterdun,Alcan DOES have complete control over the Kenny Dam AND the Nechako River too for that matter!
They also own every pair of family jewels in Victoria!

This is from a google alert that came this morning.


"'The leading cause of death was alcohol or drug overdose.'
— RCMP internal report"

"'I see this report perhaps as an attempt by the RCMP to fend off the critics.'
— Vancouver lawyer Cameron Ward"

Uh the leading cause of death IMO was bullets, tasers and inexperience within the force. Long, tough battle.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/02/14/bc-police-custody-deaths.html

I would like to see the City of P.G. adopt a Cat Bylaw. Don't get me wrong, I love animals, all animals but what I do have a problem with is irresponsible pet owners. I am a gardener and spend a lot of time, effort and expense in growing my own bedding plants only to have them dug up by the cats in the neighborhood. I no longer have free standing gardens and have resorted to gardening in containers in order to control the cats though they still manage to crap in the containers as well. Don't tell me that cats are free spirits and can't be contained ... give me a break. Cats are quite content to stay in a house with a litter box. Calgary has a Cat Bylaw as follows:

According to the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, cat owners must ensure that their cats:

Have a City of Calgary Animal Licence
Do not wander off their owner's property
Do not disturb the peace by howling or crying
Do not damage the property of others
Do not scatter garbage
Threaten or attack a person or other animal.
Fines for failing to comply with the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw range from $25.00 to $1500.00.

You can buy a gel type of pet control-works for both dogs and cats-should be able to get it at northern hardware..it has an odd odour to it..sprinkle a bit in containers-beds..they dont like it for sure..moth balls also work.

Rafe Mair recently said,"In my view, Premier Campbell is showing leadership on our behalf and should be commended for that leadership. It is up to the rest of us – me very much included – to learn more and do our bit."

These words fell on deaf ears. But when the carbon tax hits us it will be to late and we ordinary tax payers will again have to pay our way. Why didn't the Premier tell us that its time that Huskey Oil, Canfor and vehicle manufactures start using thier profits to reduce the polution of our air space. California did just that.

Lets hope that Finance Minister Taylor lives up to her word and shows some leadership in saving for a "rainy day". Its time our senior governments clamped down on frivolous items that we can do without like the Cameron street bridge. bioenergy plant a new police headquaters performing arts cente and the list is endless on how our money is wasted.

And last but not least is the apathy in our society for allowing waste and poor government leadership.

The cup is half full.

Cheers

"I would like to see the City of P.G. adopt a Cat Bylaw"

the other side of that coin is pest control. I rely heavily on my tomcat for a poison free method to keep the mouse / vole population down outside my house - he kills at leat 2 per day (that I know of) in the summer months....if he wasn't doing that for me I would have no flowers / bulbs at all due to the voles

Why is is always up to me to spend my hard earned money trying to control someone else's pet? Why can't the cat owners look after their own animals and the damage they cause to other people's yards? If I had a dog and let him do his business in the neighbors' yard, dig up their gardens and pee on their front door, I would expect to get a bill for the damage. As for pest control, the good old fashioned mouse trap works really well, doesn't crap in your gardens or spray your front door. The only thing cats kill in my yard are birds.

Is the city going to help those people who need affordable housing? Vancouver just bought a few old hotels/rooming houses for homeless people. Can't the city do the same? The BC Housing ministry puts you on a list and it may take 10 or more years to get help... way too late for many......

I believe that the warm water release is a colossal waste of money and effort albeit a valiant effort manpower wise. No matter what spin city officials put on the benefits of the warm water release it is weenie compared to nature..... we are powerless against Mother Nature, we just have to look around the world to wise up.

All that money would have built many residences for those less fortunate.... though in whose back yard would it be able to go in remains a mystery.

We have to remember that in a blink of an eye we can be disabled, homeless or get mentally ill. So we need to have some empathy and compassion in our decisions about this issue that we have to deal with very soon.

Well that's it for me for a few days...
TGIF

If or when Mr. Obama may become President, anyone bad mouthing his policies and weaknesses or perceived weaknesses and opposes his opinions better be super especially aware that political correctness will be at the fore front of any criticism. After all, he ain't gonna be easy pickins like Dubya. They say ya don't know a person til they live with you. Well, all I am saying is we don't know Obama until he is the President (maybe). By then it will be too late. Should be interesting. If Obama doesn't get elected, and John McCain is elected, we can all ridicule McCain because of his age. It is always open season on old white guys. Political correctness doesn't care about age.

Too true, Harbinger.

define politically correct??????

no such thing.

Re: Golf Course,

The Prince George Golf and Culing club was made for the working man. This was instituted my Mayor Harold Moffat way back when. The land was just taxed at $1 I believe...

It is sad to see the executive at PGG&CC have trashed a fine club. They should be made to stay and learn how be fiscally responsible. They need to sell the club to pay off their debts incurred by poor management. This is so wrong....

Something is fishy and should be brought out to the public for all to see. I think the club should stay where it is and should be made affordable for the working person's aqain.

Your comments GardenGirl..made me think of my niece in Calgary..they do have a lot of bylaws..and one I thought was rediculous..laundry..you cannot hang your laundry outside !..not sure of the reasons other than an eyesore!..you would think with everyone wanting to save the enviroment..considerations would be made..

Gardengirl, we already have to many bylaws that are not being enforced. Why would we want more? And don't talk to loud or the City will employ another enforcement officer to do nothing. The cup is half full.

Cheers

I agree about the Prince George Golf Club. A great spot in the centre of the City available to many. I would like to see trees planted and the site restored. I hacked many a golf ball when they were building the underground water system and chipped many a club on the gravel surrounding the ditches. It should be kept rather than starting from scratch.

Re. cats. I had a real problem and found the City's By-Law employees excellent. I simply got a trap, trapped the cats (about 10 of them) where they were taken to the pound. The neighbour's cat never went in one again. Serious pet owners can get their cats back. A little catnip in a plastic tub and Jack's your uncle.

I agree with you, Foo738. The City's animal control officers are excellent. We had a problem with a neighbor whose two big dogs got out on numerous occasions and were agressive towards other people ... trapping one neighbor in his yard and going after the mailman to name a few. The officer was there within minutes of the complaint and after more than one incident, the irresponsible neighbors had their dogs taken away.

As for the cat bylaw, at least there would be an outlet for complaint instead of frustrated homeowners having to take matters into their own hands by trapping the cats. Some people aren't so kind as to take the cats to the pound, however. I just want the cat owners to be held responsible for their animals.

While others in the city are looking forward to spring, I am dreading it. With spring comes the dirt bikes and there goes any peace and quiet until snow falls again.

The Harper govt. simply does not think that
the forest sector is important enough to
risk angering the Americans.To them it's
just numbers on a piece of paper. Witness
the anemic response to the pine beetle
disaster. Wait a couple of weeks, Canfor
was just warming up with the "indefinite"
shutdowns. By the first week in March we
are going to see thousands more laid off.
While there is not much we or our feds
can do about the housing crisis, there is
plenty that both federal & provincial
govts. can do to help the forest industry.
Rethink & revamp the tenure laws; work with
the unions, companies & workers to bridge
pensions; find a way to get that 15% tax
back into the affected companies.Where are
our local MPs? Probably too busy being
Stephans little yelpers.

Regarding cats, my son has an electronic fence for his cats which keep them in their own yard. They had one of their cats killed by a dog as it doesn't prevent other animals from getting into their yard. The owner walking the dog didn't even call the dog back when it ran into the yard to chase the cat.

so many people don't control their pets... someone in my neighborhood lets their dog out either in the middle of the night or in the early AM hours and it is obviously not on a leash... soooo many mornings I leave to go to work only to find a massive pile of crap right at my front door.

I still cannot figure out who it is, since there are several big dogs on the street.

All last summer I had a cat coming into my greenhouse... couldn't get it to stop - always seemed to find a way in. This same cat also came into my yard and killed birds.

It is a shame we all have to pay the price for irresponsible, inconsiderate pet owners.

Electronic fences are indeed handy, but also dangerous as posted by kagee... I have a dog who is trained to stay in the yard, but I have also had bears in my backyard... I want my dog to be able to run.

In the US it is estimated that 7 million birds a year are killed by cats. So cat lovers why do you let your cats roam free? Your call. 7 million birds think about it. At least up were I live the foxes and coyotes seem to keep the cat population down. Get'um you willy coyote.

For the people riding your ATVs in city limits, it is against the law. You are destroying the undeveloped trails. ATVs dig big ruts and make the trails very hard to walk on and almost impossible to bike on. Why do you do that? You folks are very selfish not to think of others. Hey bylaw people where do you folks hide. I'll give you a hint where to look, check out the end of Domano especially on a sunday! Take your ATVs out of town where they belong!

I forgot to add, anyone else concerned about ATVs digging up the trails? The trails have turned into quite a mess in the last couple of years.

Seamutt. Most of the trails were made by atv riders extensivly using old systems in the first place so dont be too quick to point fingers.

ATV's destroy the environment. They are outlawed in the city. They should not be here. If these people need a thrill, then do some mountain climbing.

My cat goes outside when she wants to and I have my own garden that she craps in. My neighbour uses wire mesh to cover his flower garden just in case and there doesn't seem to be a problem. Maybe the odd poop here and there, but thats nature. If my neighbour ever rounded up my cat to take her to the pound I would be very angry and wouldn't be a very good neighbour. He shoo's her away and makes her not welcome all the time and that is expected and I do the same if I notice. My dog he has never worn a collar and never will... that is how he was trained and he respects his freedom by respecting others and their property. All my neighbours like my dog. My dog keeps the other cats away from my yard.

Northman those trails where there before ATVs and where in good shape. I have been walking them for twenty years and the ATVs are destroying them. Not one trail in city limitsI have been on was made by ATVs.

No most of the trails were made by the dirt bikers. I agree with seamutt that the ATV's are wrecking the dirt bike trails. I've made over 100km of those trails myself with friends... on our dirt bikes and sometimes mountain bikes. The area Seamutt talks about has a lot of potential for new trails along the canyon especially near where the creek enters the Fraser River.

The problem is the housing development is blocking all the access to these trails from the North side of the Canyon, and the South side hasn't been maintained by those that are currently using the trail system IMO.

I also think the ATV's should stay off the dirt bike trails.

The golf course was sold because they were in debt over their head. They orginally had a plan to re-do the course for $3.5 million over a number of years. However when they were offered $15 Million for the course they jumped at it and scrapped the re-do.

They havent as yet actually sold the course, as they have to wait for the City to change some bylaws. I understand that the City would like to build a new par 3 course as part of the sale to maintain some green space in the area. This of course would then allow them to sell off the Pine Valley course to commercial interests for big dollars.

There are plans in place for residential housing to go in on both sides of the road from Foothills into the new gold course, and I understand that the water will be piped from Foothills to service these lots and would be paid for by the developers. It would then go on to the new course, whom I presume would pay for it, but who knows??

One of the major problems we have with the City to-day aside from their inability not to raise taxes, is the solicitation of funding from the Provincial and Federal Governments that requires the City to Match the funding. Seems they spend all their time going through the books looking for funding and the come up with some idiot projects that meet the criteria to get the money. This type of intrusion and control of funds to Municipalties cost us big dollars and we get little in return.
\
Some idiot projects;

Kin Connector

Under Pass Victoria and Highway 16

Proposed highway on lower Patricia Blvd to overpass 1st Ave then onto River Road. There is absolutley no traffic to warrant this road, but there is money available, part of which will go to build the new Cameron St. Bridge

Co-Generation plant to heat water to heat City buildings. This one takes us to the ultimate height of stupidity.

None of these programs would have gone forward if the City had to finiance them on their own. Therefore some of the blame for this waste has to be laid at the feet of the Provincial and Federal Governmnts.

We need to get this funding with no strings attached,and we can then spend it more wisely. Whats the chance of that happening?????

golf course -- time for a change.

I say let the golf course relocate. Does anybody know that the airport used to be at the current location of the PGGCC (Prince George Golf and Curling Club)?
Golf courses need to be successful to survive unless they use government (my) money to maintain a yearly loss. The golf course off Northwood Pulp road has done a beautiful job of building on marginal farmland. There is no reason the PGGCC cannot do the same. If the old airport was prevented from relocating in the 1950's(?), how would jumbo jets land in todays current world economy and modern technology .............. the 9th fairway?

That airport was where Wiley Post came through in the l940's. We had the day off school to walk to the airport.

Summit Lake Sewage System
Where do your tax dollars go? Our federal and provincial governments have committed $1.6 million dollars (2/3 rd of the cost) of a sewage system for Summit Lake. There are 8 permanent residents and 70 other properties classed as residential or recreational and one commercial property involved in this process.
In regard to the septic system, I would like to make a few comments for the readers awareness. Not all property owners are in favour of the proposed systems. The pump and haul system on Tallus Road will increase the annual taxes of 39 property owners (one is exempted) by about $850 dollars for 25 years. They will also have to pay for the pump and haul on a “User Based” process. Many of the cabins just have outhouses and no electric power installed to run a septic tank, but will still have to pay the taxes and were not given opportunity for exemption. Some lots have very steep lots that might make pump and haul very difficult or even impossible.
The 36 properties on Adams Road (two are exempted) were not given the option of the pump and haul system in the final petition and will have their annual taxes increased by almost $1600 for 25 years. This is because the infrastructure for the proposed STEP (Septic Tank Effluent Pump) system has to be covered. The STEP system is a complete sewage collection system piped directly to a lagoon. Some of Adams Rd. properties still use outhouses, or have no development at all, but were not given the opportunity for exemption. After 25 years, the cost of ongoing maintenance will still be applied to the taxation base.
Of note, the 3 exempted properties as identified in the June 2006 RDFFG Community Project Update, were given exemption because they have already installed expensive sewage disposal systems.
During the petition, a number of other properties in proximity to the pump system were also exempted, including those on the east side of Adams Road and the east side of Summit Lake Road. The only conclusion I can draw from this is that it was a gross manipulation of statistics in order to meet the imposed rules of 50% of property owners PLUS 50% of net taxable value. In explanation, there were less NO votes and a much HIGHER percentage of taxable value achieved by being selective in the properties participating in the petition.
The taxable value of the property does not impact the annual taxes applied. All properties will be taxed the same amount (except the exemptions who will pay nothing), which to me should mean each the petition should NOT have been weighted by net taxable value. Commercial property will contribute the same amount as undeveloped property.
Assuming protection of the lake is the main issue, the proposed system does not address all the concerns, as there are still 74 island properties, approximately 15 properties on the south and south east lake shore and the camp site at the north end of the lake that will not be included in the process. Our present Regional Director, who has property large enough for his own lagoon has opted not to be connected to the proposed septic system, even thought the pipe for the STEP will run across his access road. The “non inclusive” properties account for more than 50% of the total on the lake.
A major concern is the location of the proposed lagoon in a low lying area south of Summit Lake. The original feasibility study for a sewage system, undertaken in 1990, identified this location of great environmental concern. The issue of leaching back into Summit Lake from this site was addressed. Because of this risk, difficult access (especially in winter) and prohibitive ongoing costs, the proposal was abandoned. I had been led to believe that an environmental assessment was still required, but this was not mentioned in our Regional Directors report to Electoral Area “G” citizens and property owners, where it stated that projected completion date is the end of 2008.
I do not want to be accused of being critical without providing a solution for the protection of our lake and environment. The biggest problem of lake contamination is due to phosphates, herbicides, pesticides, oil, fuel and other chemicals leaching into the lake. The Summit Lake Stewardship Committee are trying to address some of these issues in regard to the explosion of weeds in the lake. Following extensive research my suggestion would be that we institute a true “User Pay” system to allow for greater individual flexibility. This would allow property owners to install monitored holding tanks when and if they decide to develop their properties or upgrade their septic systems, without causing the financial burden of taxation. The cost of “Pump and Haul” is the same if the septic tankers dump the sewage at the proposed lagoon at Summit Lake or haul it back to the Shelley Treatment Facility. There is a rumour about inadequate capacity at the Shelley treatment facility. A nominal increase in taxes could be applied to expanding or upgrading the Shelley facility.
The government could put $1.6 million dollars to better use by looking after the homeless in our country. What do you think?

Gardengirl
Get yourself a live trap from SPCA, trap them and take them to the SPCA. Worked for me many times

As it's still Feb. 15th, I have a few thoughts. I'm glad I live in PG. I'm happy we don't have much in the way of hurricanes or tornadoes. Or earthquakes or sunami's for that matter. I like the change of seasons we enjoy in this part of the country. I like so many of the good people who live here and care about our city. I like it when folks come out to support any events this city hosts. And we are good hosts. I am proud of our facilities we provide for our citizens. Massey Stadium, the Outdoor Ice Oval, High calibre X-Country Ski facilities, our Multiplex, our Wave Pool, our University, our College, our Soccor Fields, our ball Diamonds, our selection of Big Box Stores, Did I say our people?

We haven't been bombed. We don't have to wake up dodging bullets. We have an issue with flooding, but not on a regular basis and it doesn't effect our whole community like New Orleans for example.

Does anyone else think we have anything else to be grateful for? I'm sure the list can be expanded on. I am thankful and grateful to live in PG. Chester

Why do you insist upon driving around residential areas with your car stereo pounding out the bass. People live and sleep here. TURN THEM DOWN YOU FRIGGEN SELFISH BRAINDEAD LOSERS

Chester are you really proud of our big box stores?
Big box stores have been the demize of many small businesses.

Chester has just listed the facilities that can be found in any like sized community. We can be proud of them, however we should also get off our butts and use them. Most of the facilities mentioned are under utilized and very expensive to maintain. Lets see how proud we are when we go broke:

Have a nice day.

The old airport was located west of the golfcourse closer to the super store ,approx where PAGARA Racetrack was.

Don t hold your breath for any wide body jets to land at the New Airport or you will suffacate.

Chester you might be in error on the dodging bullets part.

I think the new golf course location is a good one if you don't take into account the fact that all of the houses below it (west of Foothills in North Nechako) are on private well water. I urge everyone in the area to have their water tested now and often after the golf course construction begins. Ground water is a precious resource and golf courses are notorious polluters through fertilizer and pesticide application.

Looks like a t-bone car accident at 5th and Foothills tonight also involving an alledged power pole. Not sure if anyone's hurt, but there's lots of emergency personel on scene....