Happy Holidays

Remember at this time of year to enjoy yourselves, however please be responsible and don't drink and drive.
Have a safe holiday.

Students financial literacy, worth reading

Canada is falling behind in educating its high school students in financial literacy, according to a non-profit agency that specializes in investor education

Students graduate from high school and face critical life decisions about taking on debt for higher education or choosing a career path without understanding basic financial concepts, says Tom Hamza, president of the Investor Education Fund, a group that educates students, parents and teachers.

“We’re well behind what we need to be, particularly considering the new kind of pressures people have when they get to the end of high school,” Hamza said in an interview with CBC’s Lang & O’Leary Exchange.
An IEF survey of Ontario parents found only 40 per cent believed their teen children were prepared to handle finances at the end of high school.
The vast majority of parents (84 per cent) thought financial literacy was important and most believed it should be taught in school.
“Half of them are teaching something at home, at same time they want schools to supplement that,” Hamza said.
About 70 per cent of the students surveyed also said they want to learn more about finances.
“If you look at high school students, there’s some basic numeracy that’s critical and it’s not just the numeracy of being able to do certain math equations. It’s an actual applied numeracy,” Hamza said.
“It’s not about creating a generation of investment bankers. It’s about having people able to understand what the major hurdles are in their financial lives – the basics of credit and debt and telephone bills and that sort of thing all the way to long-term expectations,” he said.
Hamza said his goal is to create a generation that can manage their debt and look at financial products and assess them realistically.
He is working with ministries of education across Canada to achieve this goal. Ontario introduced a financial component to its Grade 4-12 curriculum in 2012, working it into math, social studies and other classroom programs.
IEF offers free personal and professional development workshops for Ontario educators. The IEF was founded and is supported by the Ontario Securities Commission

Canada Post

Well it has finally happened.
Canada Post will be phasing out door to door delivery and opting for community boxes.
For those who grew up with these boxes, most new sub-divisions it is not seen as an inconvenience.
For those of us who get door to door will  need to adapt to a new system.
There will  also be a price increase for stamps.
Is this progress? We can learn from this and not make the same mistakes.
What Canada Post did, is the same mistake that most governments and some companies do.
They do not analyse the changes and look to the future.
They believe and continue to believe that to resolve a situation is to raise prices for the product whether it be taxes, services or goods.
This only fuels greater deficits as fewer and fewer people can afford their goods or services.
In Canada Posts situation, people moved more and more to the internet and social media, which also forced retailers to follow suit.
The answer is not to raise prices, although it is unavoidable to a certain degree, but to become more efficient and find innovative ways to conduct yours business.

Council meeting

I attended the council meeting of the 9th.
It was a long meeting, a good initiation for our newly elected councillor Barry Cunningham.
There were  three presentations
The first was an update from the Prince Rupert Port Authority given by Shaun Stevenson.
Some concerns expressed by Council were waterfront access, Rushbrook Trail and rail safety.
Mr. Stevenson said there are a lot of property issues to be resolved.
The City and Port are working to enhance commerce and community waterfront access.
A report was given by Tessa Gill from Pacific Northwest LNG.in short once all permits and environmental approvals have been given it will be a  four year construction project with operations to begin in 2018. They will have two information offices, one in Prince Rupert and one in Port Edward.
Of great concern from Council is the environmental impact.
LNG website if www.pacificnorthernlng.com
A presentation was given by Mr. Conrad Lewis of the Tribal Nations Tournament. In essence due to the earthquake on the day of the tournament some of their games were precluded to use the civic centre as an emergency shelter. The tournament resumed the next day however the tournament suffered a loss. Mr. Lewis is seeking a reduction in rent paid as the availability of the facilities were curtailed due to the emergency.
Crime stoppers was seeking a letter of support to obtain a $20,000.00 grant from the government.
They plan on opening a community garden in two 20x20 greenhouses located at Charles Hays.
The 2014 council meeting calendar has been approved and also the Acting Mayor schedule for 2014.
At question period Ms. Niesh addressed Council and requested that the speed limit in residential areas be reduced to 40kmh to reduce speeding, Councillor Cunningham said he didn't think that this was the answer. Ms Niesh second request was that all businesses have push button access for people with disabilities. Ms.Niesh  wanted to know about snow and ice clearing at vacant store fronts. There is a bylaw which can be enforced as all businesses must clear in front of their establishment.
Ms.Niesh also wanted to know what happened to the emergency sirens. The mayor informed her that the sirens were funded from the federal government and that funding had been removed many years ago.
Corinne Bomben gave her financial report. Of note in this report is the fire department requires a new Rescue truck which is 5 years past its replacement. The new truck is to be funded with short term financing with the MFA, and is expected to take 5 years to pay for.

Ferry Cuts

The provincial government is again trying to balance the budget on the backs of the most needy.
The ferry service on the North Coast is NOT a luxury but rather a necessity.
The Ferry service between the villages and the Queen Charlotte Islands is a vital link to the people of
Haida Gwai.
The ferry provides more than just a transport for people but also an economic link providing jobs and services for both the mainland and the islands.
With both Provincial and Federal governments looking to push gas and pipeline development in the North Coast to supply the Asian markets, why are they not working to increase and improve service.
It`s plain mismanagement and lack of planning on the governments part.
The removal of the discount for seniors shows that the government has no respect or regards for the people that built this great province.
I would urge all voters to write their MLA, and voice their objection.

Council Meeting

October  financial statement in brief
Airport ferry revenue is up $43,000.00 compared to 2012, due to increase in ridership and re-directions to YPR.
911 revenue continues to decline due to less and less land lines.
Recreation revenues have also increased by $88,000.00. and costs are on budget.
Transit revenues have decreased by $27,000.00, due to drop in sales.
Most departments are within budgets.

Presentation made by Ms. Spong and Mr. Newman. They would like to have council allow them to keep their  four dogs. One dog is getting on in years and will pass in a couple of years after which they will only have three dogs.
Ms. Spong was on a committee in the lower mainland which considered individual cases and reported to council. Ms. Spong suggested that the City adopt such a committee.

Presentation was also made by the Recreation Advisory Committee  ( Committee update)

Motion was passed giving City to demolish property at 1439 The Plaza if owner does not remove property within 30 days.

Nov. 20th important events

The official results of the Nov.16th by-election are scheduled to be released to-day.
As I attended the count I know who our new councillor will be as the spread between first and second place is large enough to not warrant a recount.
Because of driving conditions I will not be attending.

The Pacific LNG project is holding an open house from 4pm to 7pm at the Crest Hotel.
I urge all to attend

November 16,2013

November 16,2013, will be a busy day in Prince Rupert.

There is a by-election for City Councillor being held at the Civic Centre.
The annual craft fair is also being held at the Civic Centre.
The Prince Rupert Lions Club is holding their Diamond Dinner for Ladies only at the Highliner Inn.
This  fundraiser  supports local and Lions charities.
The event sells out every year.
Good Luck fellow Lions.

Did we need a by-election?

Some people are asking if we could have avoided a by-election by staying with five councillors instead of six.
Municipal elections are governed by the Local Government Act. The Act lays out the guidelines for elections and by-elections.
In brief, if a councillor resigns in the year of an election a by-election does not have to be held.
If a councillor resigns prior to this, a by-election must held, unless the councillor request a
 leave of absence ( usually unpaid) until the election year. If this leave is approved by council then no election is held.
Consequently if not approved an election must be held.
The key is the councillor must request the leave and not just resign.
In the last provincial election, two council members and one mayor were elected to the Provincial Legislature.
Two asked for leaves of absence and one offered to pay for the cost of an election.

Re-airing

CFTK is re-airing the debate this evening at 6pm in it's corrected format

CFTK news report

The CFTK news carried a report on the all candidates meeting.
Unfortunately they identified me a James Kirk, and James Kirk as myself.
A name switch !!! will it damage or enhance my bid for council?

All Candidates Meeting

The all candidate forum was held yesterday at The Lester Centre of the Arts.
Five out of  six candidates came, one could not attend due to medical reasons, and I wish him the best for a  speedy recovery.
Attendance was moderate, being a by-election this was not unusual.
All candidates had a two minute introduction and a one minute closing remarks.
There were two prepared questions, with candidates having two minutes to answer.
Following a break, it was open mike with questions from the floor.
A variety of question were asked and each candidate had varying answers.
Great evening

Prince Rupert Airport Authority

The Prince Rupert Airport Authority  is composed of the Mayor of Prince Rupert,. The City Administrator and the City Council. The eight Directors  of the Authority who oversee the operations of the airport are appointed by the City and sit for a term of two years.
In April of 1997 under the National Airports Policy the Prince Rupert Airport was transferred from Transport Canada to the Prince Rupert Airport Authority. The City of Prince  Rupert owns the airport through the incorporation of the Prince Rupert Airport Authority. The Prince Rupert Airport Authority is the operator and holder of the Airport Certification.

Senior's breakfast

Attended the seniors monthly pancake breakfast held at the seniors centre.
It was my first time attending, although my wife and I kept promising ourselves to go to it.
It was a great breakfast and well attended, our MLA Jennifer Rice was also in attendance.
I will be going out for breakfast more often and will be marking my calendar.

$7 million is there an alternative

Unless there is strong opposition filed against the loan for the airport upgrade, the loan is a "done deal"
I had an interesting conversation this morning with a couple of residents.
One was of the opinion we should close the airport down and bus the travellers to Terrace.
The time differential would be the same as we need to arrive early to take the ferry to the airport and wait for the plane to land.
There are many communities that do not have an airport and must travel the same distance.
West Jet is offering flights out of Terrace to Vancouver starting November 25th of this year.
Of consideration to this alternative, is cost of transportation, weather delays in the winter and accommodations should the flights be delayed.
The other real issue is if we need to medevac patients to Vancouver.
The present procedure is helicopter to the airport and government jet to Vancouver. If the airport is shutdown and runway  in disrepair how do we medevac to Vancouver?
Would we transport via ambulance to Terrace, and if this is the case, we would need to lobby the Provincial Government for more ambulances and paramedics. In severe winter condition how would we  transport a patient to Terrace?
Once all these questions are answered would it be advantageous to the people of Prince Rupert?

Seniors

Dropped by Acropolis Manor today while seniors were enjoying their Halloween bash.
Looked like they were having a good time.
Now we wait for the little ones trick or treating
Happy Halloween All.

ALL CANDIDATES MEETING

Mark your calendar
Wednesday November 6,. 2013  7:00PM
At The Lester Centre of the Arts.

Airport Authority Agreement Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 3333,2013

A poorly attended information meeting was held this evening at the Lester Centre.
This bylaw will give the City of Prince Rupert the go ahead to borrow $7,000,000.00 from the Municipal Finance Authority to lend to the Airport Authority in order to proceed with much needed major upgrades to our airport.
The reason for this, is the City of Prince Rupert can access these funds at a much lower rate than the Airport Authority could negotiate on the open market.
The maximum term under the Municipal Finance Authority is 30 years. The Airport Authority arrived at a 20 year loan repayment schedule, which they feel the loan could be paid off earlier.
The net cost to taxpayer would be nothing as the loan would be covered by user fees levied to all travellers.
Some concerns raised are the maintenance and upkeep of the new terminal, as the old terminal has been poorly maintained over the years.
It is important to note that the road leading to the airport was paved in the late 1970s.(except for patch  work.)
The question which also arises is, will the dock be improved to handle heavier commercial traffic, and will there be a ferry upgrade?

BAD IDEA

I attended the information meeting  this evening at  the Lester Centre.
The house was packed with standing room only.
The message was DON'T TOUCH OUR PARKS.
Reasons ranged from protecting the Blue Heron, wildlife "Bambie" and it was the only park in the neighbourhood for our kids.
Development is inevitable, however as residents we can make a difference and say where the development will go.
For instance if the housing is for Seniors it must be close to amenities not at the town cores extremities.
I urge everyone to contact city councillors by email or letter, and let them know how you feel, do not let the issue slide.
Make your voices heard.

Dates of significance

October 22,2013

Information meeting on proposed condo site (old transition house) on Atlin ave.
At the Lester Centre  (PAC)
7:00PM

November 16, 2013

Craft fair and by-election at the civic centre

I urge all to attend: visit the craft fair and cast your ballot for City Councillor

$150 million for infrastructure !!!

It was reported that the City requires $150 million for infrastructure.
These include water system upgrade, trestle bridges replacement and raw sewer upgrades to comply with liquid waste regulations.
One item not mentioned in the article is road repair.
The City is due for costly major infrastructure work
With a population of 14,000, the taxpayer cannot shoulder this burden.
Although I have always been opposed to putting an extra tax burden on new development , which would discourage industry from settling here, it may be time to revisit this.
A one time fee may be charged and placed in a special fund for infrastructure repair and maintenance.
We also need to lobby the governments for funding. It is to the provincial and federal governments advantage to help as they gain to make millions on tax revenue from these new projects.

Renting in Prince Rupert

With low mortgage rates rental accommodations are becoming more expensive than buying your own home.
All communities have what has become  known as  "slum lords", where the apartments are not maintained and fall below health standards.
It is frustrating for a renter to have his or her concerns ignored.
The B.C. residential tenancy act regulates rentals. This again is an overworked agency which deals with thousands of complaints yearly. I have heard of some renters who have waited a long time to have their case heard, some have even given up trying to get any satisfaction.
This has put the landlords in an advantageous position when it comes to arbitration and judgements.
Although the system is slow, more people should use it and if your case is not receiving the attention you feel it should, contact your  MLA, in this case it would be Jennifer Rice.
If you live in a rental which has or causes serious health issues maybe contacting the health unit or the provincial ministry of health would be a starting point  to see what options are available to you.
You also could contact the City of Prince Rupert building dept. or the Fire Dept. to see if the building meets code or violates safety regulations.
Be as persistent.

Condos

We all know that Prince Rupert is in need of housing, good quality housing at an affordable price.
Strata plans are the way of the future, however we must be diligent in our approach.
We must consider who will be living in these units and what amenities are required to enhance such a project.
Should we sacrifice park land for condos?
Who will live in these units?
There is an abundance of land within  the town core in my view to accommodate such a project.
The question is, who owns the land and can the City acquire the land at a fair market price for development, or should it be a private corporate based development?
What is more cost effective and best for the community as a whole.
As our population ages, we need more affordable seniors housing, but more importantly it must be within easy access to amenities.
I URGE ALL CONCERNED CITIZENS TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING TO BE HELD AT THE LESTER CENTRE ON OCTOBER 22,2013 AT 7:00PM.

Run for council has started

With the deadline for challenges having past I can only assume that the "race" is on.
The deadline to withdraw from the run for a council seat being this Friday Oct.18. I am confident that all candidates will not withdraw their names.
The reason I am running for council is I feel I can contribute to the community. I am retired and am committed to being a full time councillor.
I've been involved with the Lions Clubs and the Senior Citizens Housing Society .
I came to Prince Rupert in 1988 to a "booming" and vibrant community, since the downturn with the mill closure the community has faced hardships, however the community has banded together, worked hard to see this community survive.
There is still much to do and together we can do it.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL.
It is a time of sharing and remembering the less fortunate.
The Lions Club will again be holding their seniors thanksgiving dinner at the Moose Hall.
A big thank you to the Lions the Volunteers and the Charles Hays Girls Volleyball Team

Today I filed my papers to run for councillor in the by-election for the city of Prince Rupert.
Prince Rupert is experiencing a new beginning. Trade and Commerce is seriously looking at our City, the latest being a $36 billion dollar LNG proposal from Petronas.
The Northern Gateway Project, although going through to Kitimat, and Enbridge have all set their sites on Prince Rupert.
Our City has the best facilities and most prestine shoreline in the world.
We must find a balance between the economy and the environment. In essence we are making decisions today which will determine our survival not only economic and political, but rather the survival of our children and our grandchildren.

Interesting article in Vancouver Biz, as reported on Global news. Prince Rupert did not make the list, which tells me we are still living in the seventies.

BCREA

Tags: Surrey, Halifax, Kitimat, Markham, prices, real estate

Luxury home in Vancouver

By Emma CrawfordThu Sep 26, 2013 9:16am PST

Eight of the top 100 neighbourhoods set to lead growth in Canada are in British Columbia, according to a September 26 RE/MAX Network and Verico Financial Group report.

The list, which was compiled by the Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine, is based on statistics including population, average home price, capital growth and vacancy rate.
Many of the most promising neighbourhoods were found in small towns.
"As this report clearly shows, investment opportunities abound across Canada, both in bigger cities and smaller towns," said Elton Ash, RE/MAX of Western Canada regional executive vice-president.
"No longer are the big cities dominating the real-estate investment landscape."
The B.C. neighbourhoods poised to lead growth in Canada are (not ranked):

• Castlegar (entire community);
• Fort St. John (entire community);
• neighbourhoods of Colwood and Langford in Greater Victoria;
• Kitimat (entire community);
• Lynn Valley in North Vancouver;
• Whalley in Surrey;
• Terrace (entire community); and
• Grandview-Woodland in Vancouver

On Saturday Sept. 21st on Global TV. Prince Rupert was focused.
Finding a balance.
It is interesting to hear the views of our elected officials and corporate CEOs.
For the most part, all was positive, although I did pick up some negative vibes from some of the people interviewed.
Prince Rupert must be careful to balance it's eco system with it's economic needs. We  must not reject new projects or companies who wish to locate in our community, without first studying the proposals and weighing all the options.
Council and the city must do, due diligence with all proposals we cannot afford to outright reject new initiatives.
Our decisions today affect the lives of our children and grandchildren.
Lets look to the long term effects of our decisions and not be short sighted.

The port of Prince Rupert is busy, and the future looks bright.
The challenge we have is to keep the interest and client base hungry for our services.
Prince Rupert is primed for the future with LNG and cargo management.
It appears that Kitimat will have refining facilities to handle crude before it is shipped to markets.