Category: Government Works


BC Rural Dividend 6th intake

Filed under: Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 17, 2019

Funding available to August 15th 2019 application date.

The BC government is taking applications for the 6th intake of the Rural Dividend program.

The sixth intake of the BC Rural Dividend Program is open.  The Province is providing up to $25 million a year to assist rural communities, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, with a population of 25,000 or less to strengthen and diversify their local economies. It was developed to recognize both the contribution rural communities have made to B.C.’s economy, and the unique challenges they face to diversify beyond natural resources. The application deadline is August 15, 2019.

Source UBCM
BC
R D P

The local Community Theater project have acquired funding from this program according to Rich Hodgson, member. The program is administrated by Forests Lands Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development of BC.

On this Day: July 17th 1984

The age of drinking goes to 21 in the US.

Tags:
Comment

Congratulations to Jason Kenney and all those that will make up the new legislature in Alberta.

Filed under: Politics and Politicians by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 17, 2019

How about all those orphaned wells NOW!

Tags:
Comment

Business seminar

Filed under: Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 12, 2019

In the Cabinets hands

The local chamber of commerce in Merritt is organizing a Trans Mountain Expansion business readiness webinar on March 25th 2019′

We invite you to attend an interactive workshop to learn more about construction and business opportunities with the Trans Mountain Expansion Project in Merritt.

Subject to necessary approvals, Trans Mountain anticipates beginning construction in the Merritt region in 2019.
 
Trans Mountain and its contractors will be available to discuss local construction and business opportunities related to the Project.
 
This event will help businesses understand and prepare for potential procurement and employment opportunities in order to maximize local economic benefits associated with the Project. Participants will learn about the Project’s procurement process and timelines to help prepare to bid for opportunities.

Light refreshments will be served with a brief presentation from Trans Mountain, breakout discussions and networking during the event.


Registration is required, please see the link below. Tickets are FREE! Reserve yours today!


Source Merritt and District Chamber of Commerce.

The 60 year old trans mountain pipeline from Alberta goes by Merritt, the expansion approved by the NEB is in 90 day review of cabinet.

On this Day: March 12th 1961

Mt Eiger is assented in winter.

Tags: ,
Comment

TGIF-Community Engagement Fair…

Filed under: Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 1, 2019

The Community Futures bunch are having a community engagement fair on March 23rd 2019. Free admission 10 dollars a table. The targeted community is the non profit organizations.

Organizations such as the community band may not be incorporated. File photo

The fair is at the Merritt Civic Center , 1950 Mamette Ave in in Merritt British Columbia, Canada. The fair goes from 10 AM to 4 PM, RSVP Nicola Valley Community Futures.

On this Day: March 1st 1919

The March First Movement is organized.

Tags: ,
Comment

Final reconsideration report out tomorrow…

Filed under: Enterprize, Government Works, Politics and Politicians by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 21, 2019

The Trans Mountain court ordered final reconsideration report is out tomorrow. This comes in the light of contracts to move 150,000 barrels a day that the Alberta Government entered into with CN and CP Rail. The scope is the twinning of the existing 60 year old pipeline and its increase of tanker traffic out of Burnaby.

Burnaby South By election Monday.

A By-election is also being held on Monday for the federal riding most effected by the expansion. The CBC is reporting a massive advance pole interest this week. The by-election may elect the current NDP leader but a loss would not stop him from running in the election next fall.

Gas price, the availability of fuel File Photo KDG

Pipeline in effect nationalised

Alberta is putting taxpayer money into rail and pipeline as well as billions spent by the federal government acquiring the existing trans mountain line. This is all peripheral to the efforts of the governments to re-examine the regulatory approval process ( NEB). With all the government activity it seems that they are far from a process that gives permitting any kind of guarantee of production.

  • Pipe for oil field File:Photo KDG
  • Model train set in local library had a car stuck in a tunnel! Trains are a big part of our heritage! File photo KDG

Keep emotions cool…

The amount of effect this issue has on all of us is enormous. Stay cool keep on keeping on with peace and understanding…

On this Day: February 21st 1948

NASCAR is incorporated.

Tags: ,
Comment

New contractor taking old workers…

Filed under: Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 13, 2019
File: Photo: KDG

The highways maintenance contract for Merritt has been won away from VSA by Yellowhead Road and Bridge.

VSA a proven force:

VSA Highway Maintenance Ltd. provides road, highway, bridge and structure maintenance for large portions of the Coquihalla Highway, Phase 1 and Phase 2 from Portia to Walloper; the Lac Le Jeune/Logan Lake Overpass, and the Okanagan Connector from Merritt to the Pennask Summit.

Source VSA

Yellowhead Road and Bridge assumes Nicola work.

The new maintenance contract for the Nicola region — which includes a section of the Coquihalla Highway between Kamloops and Hope — has been awarded to Yellowhead Road & Bridge Ltd. The company will take over on July 1, as the current agreement with VSA is set to expire on June 30.

Source Merritt Herald

Current VSA workers are said to be able to work for the new contactor at their old jobs. There have been some vocal complaints about maintenance of the Coquihalla including published ones by Merritt’s former Mayor Neil Menard.

VSA did its road maintenance for Fraser and Nicola from 5 facilities its management comes from Merritt. The change is from the Nicola region away from VSA.

On this day: February 13th 1981

Sewer explosions destroys 2 miles of streets in Louisville Kentucky.

Tags: , ,
Comment

Frendship funding…

Filed under: First Nations People, Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 7, 2019

File Photo KDG

C2C funding is available for local governments to build relationships with neighbouring FN groups.

C2C- Community to Community Forum…

Funding permitting, the application deadlines for 2019/20 are:
March 15, 2019. For events between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020
September 13, 2019.  For events between September 30, 2019 and March 31, 2020
December 6, 2019. For events between January 1 and March 31, 2020
The C2C program is administered by the UBCM and the First Nations Summit.  In most years since 1999, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing and Indigenous Services Canada have provided funding. In this time, nearly 630 C2C Forums have been held across the province.

Source UBCM

On this Day: February 7th 1940

Walt Disney’s Pinocchio premiers .

Tags:
Comment

Apportionment up…

Filed under: Environment, Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
January 31, 2019

The Trans Mountain bunch are saying that apportionment is up to 32%. Apportionment is just a accountants way of say demand to use. However there are now reports that the Alberta government has been visiting their legislation from last year that made company’s limit production.

When a pipeline experiences significant and prolonged apportionment like in the case of the existing Trans Mountain Pipeline, it’s one signal that more capacity is needed. Apportionment can bring with it a discounting of prices as producers compete to sell what they can through the pipeline before having to use another pipeline or other modes of transport to another, less profitable market. It can also mean the buyers at the end of the pipeline are forced to source their shortfall of supply from alternate, less desirable sources.

Trans mountain..

Good to hear that things in Alberta are moving in a better direction.

The Balance predicts that world crude prices will average 61 dollars a Barrel in 2019.

On this Day: January 31st 1911

The first Monte Carlo rally. ( video below is later cars however the 1911 route)

h

Tags:
Comment

Forestry changes call.

Filed under: Environment, Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
January 17, 2019
  • Nicola river, bank stabilation,
    Rip Rap installed at Central Park File Photo KDG

Multi year implementation of forest practices…

Changes beginning in early 2019. The government expects to make changes over several years. They are looking for several outcomes:

  1. Improved relations with first Nations
  2. Restoration of public Social contract.
  3. Provide certainty in log supply.
  4. Give land managers a better ability to promote natural resources.
  5. Provide range planning and streamlining.

Community Economic Development Committee

Local governments are encouraged to take note of the committee’s policy page at UBCM and make recommendations.

Walter Archacan at 75, retired FN fire boss .File Photo KDG

Forestry is a big thing with the first nations people of Merritt And the Nicola Valley. Some families have been involved for generations.

On this Day: January 17th 2007

The Doomsday clock moves to 5 minutes of midnight.

Comment

TGIF-Computer Security Day

Filed under: Academics, Public safety, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
November 30, 2018
 Giving by those that have received File Photo KDG

Since 1988 today has been computer security day. Recommended day for updating malware etc.

On this Day: November 30th 1886

.Folies Bergere opens

.

Tags:
Comment

TGIF- $140.9 a liter, federal whale strategy discussed…

Filed under: Politics and Politicians by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 26, 2018

DSC_8640

broken sign no contract…. Photo KDG

Good Value:

The Trans Mountain pipeline company ( now the Canadian government )have noted the policy. Gas prices in Merritt have been at $140.9 a liter for weeks here gone are the swings of the price of the last few years.  Ecology preservation is always worth the price in a free market as demand is usually blind and tensions over competing ones bring balance.

Monitoring of Vessel noise:

The policy is new and is to help the situation of the Southern resident killer whales. The species that was the center of the court challenge to the companies expansion.

According to the Vancouver Sun ,  the “Echo” program will monitor sounds and will lead to possible threat protection.

Earlier this week, the federal government announced new measures to monitor underwater ship and mammal noise in British Columbia’s Salish Sea to help develop measures to support the recovery of endangered southern resident killer whales

Anyway, consumers can enjoy stable but higher gas prices for a while perhaps it will end back in wage and price controls like PET’s time.

On this Day: October 26th, 1921

 

Tags:
Comment

47% change in leadership…

Filed under: Academics, elections, Politics and Politicians by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 24, 2018

100_7917

Polling station Merritt BC file photo: KDG

New mayors, councilors:

The provinces 162 municipalities had a healthy change of elected public servants for the 2018 election.  There are 73 new mayors and 395 newly elected councilors a 47 and 48.8 percent change factor overall. Vancouver bucked the trend electing 16 of 21 new mayors to its municipalities.

The high level of turnover on Councils and Boards with each election was one of the motivating factors for the creation of the Local Government Leadership Academy in 2007. The academy’s mission is to provide local government and First Nations elected officials and senior administrators with comprehensive, timely and dedicated leadership development opportunities throughout their terms of office or employment in the interest of improving governance. The LGLA’s 2019 elected official seminars have been announced and once again will be made available in regions throughout BC.

For the full details on the 2018 local government general election, please visit CivicInfo.

Source UBCM

Regional directors:

There was a similar turnover for regional directors.  Fifty-Seven Electorial area directors were new a 37.7% change.

Merritt BC changed 5 of  6 councilors and elected an incumbent councilor mayor.

On this Day: October 24th, 2003

The last commercial flight of the Concorde supersonic airliner.

Tags:
Comment