You are presumed to be honest and responsible without evidence to the contrary beyond a reasonable doubt… on the balance of probablilties you are justified by 51 % likelyhood.
Dan Albas MP Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola Photo: KDG
Budget from an opposition side of the house…
An action plan is the same as a budget it just expresses the activity in dollars and cents.
The first action plan of a strongly mandated new government comes down today, expressed in dollars and cents the closing of some offices and the change of direction discussed in the recent election including…..
This was the Highland Pellet plant several years ago barely when into production and a moisture content problem was discovered. The plant shut down after trying to market the wood pellets as barn floor cover.
The plant is now open and is run by a company called Diacarbon Energy they process’ with sawdust and make a combination pellet for burning in industrial applications.
The process now uses heat to take some filler materials from saw dust and turns it into a near coal or Dicarbon pellet. The pellets resemble a hockey puck and are used in a couple of locations according to a source, including Canada Lafarge.
The plant employs 30 people and has an acknowledgement sign from Community Futures Development Corporation.
Community Futures Development Corporation is the ghost of Western Canadian Diversification, a government program that took the place of the Crow Rate that subsidised rail rates coming west from the industrial heartland of Ontario and Quebec decades ago.
BDC ,Community Futures and the SBA in the United States help business stay on track with the many obligations a business encounters.
On this day: February 17th 2003
The London Congestion Charge begins.
A Green Energy project has an address. This site is an” IPP” independent power producer. File: Photo KDG
Smart meters give the ability to monitor your power consumption on line. Rates are the same all day and the dream of off peak time is not here yet. However if an appliance is a big power user there are programs for better and more efficient ones, including are rebates for buying Hydro endorsed Energy Star brand appliances and a buy back program for working fridges.
Increased supply does not necessarily mean a possibility of better rates as the utility’s charges are commission regulated, but when efficiency is increased the benefit of better rates is to go to BC consumers.
There is also talk of breaks for industrial users. If this concerns you call or email your MLA and say you want the direct benefit of the non profit status of Hydro.
IPP’s ( Independent Power Producers) give an opportunity to sell at peak times at a higher rate. If this happens then it may be that the off peak rate may be perverted however if users use the smart meter to advantage it could be a benefit to us all.
We are a mixed economy meaning that capitalism is not the only player in the system and basic utilities, and water are monopolies to the benefit of the society and as well as the industrial base. Profit should be only a small part of that . Anyway you are empowered by technology to monitor your usage and adapt it by your smart meter.
Publishers notice: Found a fit bit device, email us at: Percypaschal@gmail.com…. with a description.
On this day: February 4rth 2004
Facebook is founded.
Government activity includes infrastructure File Photo KDG
The local Community Futures office hosted a 1 hour moderated webinar Tuesday morning. The program put on by Revenue Canada was targeted for new small business and had a number of points for start up of a small enterprise, including incorporation.
There was an aspiration that Canada wanted people not to fear failure when attempting small enterprise. A network of government support for start ups go’s across the country with outlets such as Community Futures and BDC. Over time the protocols of business have been established. Tax collection and generation amongst them.
Editors Note : Small business remains a serious challenge not to be undertaken lightly.
On this day: January 20th 1841
Hong Kong Island is occupied by the British
There is a kiosk at a sensitive grasslands area here in Merritt. It is dedicated to a local, Laurie Guichion , a rancher and the former chair of the Nicola Valley Community Round table. Laurie lost his life in a motorcycle accident years ago, however his legacy remains as the grasslands he loved is somewhat guarded by the awareness to the sensitive area. The published information isat the kiosk at the entrance of the Lundbom Lake grasslands area at he top of Hamilton Hill leaving Merritt on the connector east of town.
The Trans Mountain Pipeline company owned by Kinder Morgan is reporting that another such facility is installed through a contribution to a Kamloops social action group.
The project was completed on a sunny day in early October. Constructed off-site, the structure transported to the Lac Du Bois Grasslands in two parts. KBRA volunteers worked to prepare the site by digging two holes to hold the kiosk posts. Once on-site, the kiosk frame was pieced together, placed in the holes and reinforced with concrete footings. After placing a roof on the structure, the map panel was incorporated.
The Kamloops Bike Riders Association has placed it at the head of its Lac Du Bois trail.
It is said to give awareness of the combined value of recreation and grasslands sensitivity and the ability to co exist.
Trans mountain is nearing the end of a process to get permission to twin its 60 year old line to Edmonton that passes north east of Merritt’s airstrip.
Editors note: Trans Mountain has operated here for 60 years without any serious trouble we think that the twinning will bring scrutiny to the aging infrastructure here producing a net security benefit.
Cold conditions can still result in Black ice: File photo KDG
The highways system makes winter tires required from October 1st to March 31st , this is to even be on some roads ( high altitude subject to changing conditions). These roads are posted with signs and there is a fine no matter what the present conditions are as you travel . The fine:($121.00) for unmarked proper tires of 3.5 mm of tread.
VICTORIA – With winter quickly approaching, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure would like to remind motorists that beginning today, Oct. 1, 2014, winter tires are required on many highways throughout the province.
Signs are posted on each of the designated highways to advise motorists where winter tires are required. These are generally located approaching high mountain passes and interior highways where conditions can change from rain to snow very quickly.
As a result of the technical analysis completed during the Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review, winter tires have been defined as those labelled with either the winter mountain/snowflake symbol or the mud and snow (M+S) designation. Winter tires must also be in good condition with a minimum tread depth of 3.5 mm.
There is also a new time frame that winter tires are required on the high mountain passes. The new time frame is October 1 to March 31 (it previously was October 1 to April 30).
The ministry encourages drivers to always drive to the road conditions and choose the best tires possible. Tires with the winter mountain/snowflake symbol provide the best level of traction and safety in severe snow and ice conditions. Source BC govt.
So what about where it is not posted as required at all times? In our opinion from time and experience if you are driving in your small town and have an accident and conditions contribute to it then you will be held responsible perhaps as seriously as not having used required care and attention.
This can make you at fault and hurt severely. Here’s the rule accidents happen for a reason and someone will apply it to any use of a motor vehicle, to a fault. You may have good all season radials and they work, however over night lows are going below -8 Celsius this week and next and our subjective experience tells us that snow is solid as compact and black ice can be a problem. These conditions are different then slushy watery snow.
All these weather conditions are a challenge to be addressed, good luck and be aware… Watch and beeeeeee winter smart….
On this Day: November 19th 1847
The second Canadian rail line, is opened, the Montreal to La-chine line.
The Merritt Herald is the only local paper in this small interior BC town. We were served by the Merritt News until a few years ago. when city policy changed and advertising was directed to one paper instead of two. We also had the Kamloops Daily News with delivery here the paper was in a city of 80,000 and had correspondence from Merritt.
A shift to industrial rather then celebrity has in part contributed to the change. Highland Valley Copper and BC hydro expansions have had an effect on the personality of Merritt.
There is an all candidates forum coming up, Thursday Oct 8th ,7PM at the Merritt Civic Center, hosted by the local chamber and reporting will be limited most probably to the Herald and a small local radio station Q 101 FM. Merritt was privileged to have the three papers here their community involvement had zenith with the Merritt Mountain Music festival and boundary expansion.
Social media is a good thing but journalism that is well-edited is a tremendous value especially at election time.
The Merritt Herald is older than the City of Merritt and has won national awards its editorial bend is conservative.
Both the Vancouver Province and Sun papers are available here as well as nationals but correspondence with them is unknown at this writing.
On this Day: October 7th 1912
The Helsinki Stock exchange opens
The federal election is coming on Monday , October 19th, 2015. It is from 7 am to 7 pm and the local polling stations in the Nicola Valley (here) are the Merritt Civic Center and the Lower Nicola Community Hall.
The advanced polls are :
Friday, October 9th- noon to 8pm
Saturday, October 10th-noon to 8pm
Sunday, October 11-noon to 8pm
Monday, October 12-noon to 8pm
There is a mail in ballot opportunity if you are not in the riding on any of these days, you can vote by special ballot, to obtain the ballot contact the returning officer. The ballot must reach the riding by 7PM on October 13th 2015 .
Disclaimer: this information comes from published material from Elections Canada distributed by E. Salmon-De- Friedberg, please refer to a second source for certainty in this important event.
elections canada.gc.ca
On this Day: October 6th 2007
A human powered complete navigation of the globe is done by Jason Lewis.
Pole installation and work on Voght street Merritt Photo KDG
The work continues for the Merritt Green energy and new substation power project. Poles on Voght to transmit power from the substation and generator.
A worker on site says that they are putting pipes in the road to bring three phase power to some business’s for after they move the poles to the other side of the road.
On this day: September 30th 1955
Popular entertainer James Dean dies at 24 in a car crash.
On Wednesday a pair of observers of First Nation origin were rowing down the Nicola River in a rubber raft.When challenged by the PR they said “we are looking for Chinook Salmon” .”We tagged a thousand of them last year and they should be here anytime” They run every year, said the person in control of the boat.
Merritt has two small rivers that join in the city. The Coldwater and the Nicola they continue as the Nicola to the Thompson at Spence’s Bridge and then on to the the Fraser and the Pacific ocean.There is a fish hatchery at Spious creek west of Merritt that is open to the public for tours. A serious fish tagging program is undertaken and a cabled intervention point is on the Coldwater River off the Voght park walking trail.
The Coldwater river was visibly seen to be suffering during the drought this summer but on viewing the this morning looks healthy and well due to rains in the Coldwater river valley high into the Coquihalla area to the south. The river is however void of fish at this point from a layman’s perspective and access. Chinnok Salmon are on the UNC red list for endangered species.
According to the local newspaper of record the city has announced plans to purchase three city lots on Charters street (* one is in the Nicola river) for a preserve.the lots are said to have access problems which may make them suitable for the preserve.
Chinook are anadromous fish native to the North Pacific Ocean and the river systems of western North America, ranging from California to Alaska, as well as Asian rivers ranging from northern Japan to the Palyavaam River in the Arctic north-east Siberia. They have been introduced to other parts of the world, including New Zealand and the Great Lakes of North America. A large Chinook is a prized and sought-after catch for a sporting angler. The flesh of the salmon is also highly valued for its dietary nutritional content, which includes high levels of important omega-3 fatty acids. Some populations are endangered, however many are healthy. The Chinook salmon has not been assessed for the UCN Red List.
Source: Wikipedia
On this Day: September 3rd 1976
The Viking 2 spacecraft lands on the Utopia Planitia,Mars.
Kevin Griffiths
percypaschal
The Proprietor Review 