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Category: Government Works

BC Hydro, power and authority

Filed under: Environment, Fauna, Government Works, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

December 13, 2011

Lots of no trespass signs about and some on old hydro meters. Dell from Coopers says they were by and changed his. Some people say they don”t want them because of health issues. Other say they wanted a choice for no wireless connection. The fact is they are being installed and adds in the papers are asking for clear access.

The hydro has worked since it was nationalized in BC as a monopoly and as socialism goes it was considered draconian. However the lower rates we are supposed to get from the monopoly are supportive of the vision of Canada being a mixed economy. As a Non profit crown corporation it is not allowed to have retained earnings and must lower rates for efficiencies it gets. Still you have to watch that the government does not raid it for revenues like raising water licence fees, to accommodate good water levels for the utility.

The off-peak time dynamic will be the next issue us consumers will be watching as we still want it to be an under girding of our economy and not go to profits.

BC Hydro has the rights to all water in the province for generation purposes and a lot of power. When good snow packs occur the next year should see rate reductions, as they have in the past.

The lines and poles are public property and that always raises an issue when they talk about co generation ; recently the utility has replaced a lot of poles and is working to have a third 500 KV line to the lower mainland from the interior.

Today in history December 13 ,2003

Saddam Hussein is captured in Iraq. ( The Ace of Spades)

Scientists urge BC Hydro not to close conservation offices (cbc.ca)
Couple pressures BC Hydro to remove smart meter (cbc.ca)
No long-term forecasts in BC Hydros rate hike application (theglobeandmail.com)
BC Hydro executive bonuses questioned as deficits grow (cbc.ca)
BC Hydro files plan to meet reduced rate expectations (vancouversun.com)
BC Hydro to reveal results of B.C. review of proposed rate increases (vancouversun.com)
Smart meters alleged to pose security risk (cbc.ca)
Auditor General sounds alarm over BC Hydro accounting (theglobeandmail.com)

Tags: British Columbia, Business, Merritt BC

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Lay off

Filed under: Politics and Politicians, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

November 22, 2011

A unconfirmed source says that the crew they work on is being layed off till spring complete the sidewalk upgrade and storm sewer work on Garcia and granite. A white hat seemingly in charge later confirmed “we are out of here”

When I gave him a Diamond saw blade, I found he commented I will behave as they do. Some of his crew were seen tossing tools about a day before.

He also seemed unsure who would be finishing the project.

The site had the benefit of a Federal Government Funding credit sign for over a year before any construction began and when it did it was coordinated with the local civic election and a flurry of other work.

Also an announcement that there was no way of accounting back in the job creation projects for the 46 billion spent on the recession fighting program “The Canada Action Plan by the federal an auditor general may make for interesting applications for laid off job creation workers.

Today in history, November 22 1995

Toy Story the first computer generated feature film is released.

Auditor general finds ‘disturbing’ flaws in visa system (cbc.ca)
Auditor general: Stimulus spending ‘largely achieved’ objective (canada.com)
Gila Tools, A Leading Online Supplier of Construction Tools, Showcases Its Diamond Blades Catalogue (prweb.com)
Top Online Diamond Blades Supplier, Gila Tools, Unveils A Series of Weekly Promotions (prweb.com)
Government should help make job creation easier (career-advice.monster.co.uk)

Tags: Arts, Canada, Diamond blade, Goal, Job creation program, Movie, Storm drain, Toy Story

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pellet plant

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Enterprize, Government Works, Technology, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

November 4, 2011

Image via Wikipedia

I went by the new wood pellet plant today and took a picture of the a man supervising a bagging operation.
A source says that there may be some hiring when the dryer is finished in about 6 weeks.
The wood pellet plant seems new and modern and clean without clutter or grease. On the way over I upbraided a child that was playing between the wheels of a parked logging truck. He agreed it was a danger and took his plastic gun and played elsewhere. The truck had nothing to do with the pellet plant however; people should pay attention to their own children.

Today in history, November 4,1970

Genie a thirteen year old feral kid is found after being locked in her bedroom most of her life.

Rebates available for wood and pellet heating (cbc.ca)
First renewable energy exchange opens in Amsterdam (expatica.com)
The Renewable Heat Incentive kick-starts UK supplies of woodpellet fuels (prweb.com)
Pacific Pellet gets federal biofuel grant (bendbulletin.com)
Europe’s first biomass exchange to open in November (environmenteng.wordpress.com)
You: Use Wood Pellets for Inexpensive Biodegradable Cat Litter [Clever Uses] (lifehacker.com)
Can a stove convert from wood burning to pellet burning (wiki.answers.com)
Plant-Growing Chopsticks of the Day (geeks.thedailywh.at)
Pellet Boiler Video (sustainabilitymonitor.wordpress.com)
Pellet Heat Gaining Traction as Viable Renewable Home Energy (prweb.com)

Tags: APX-ENDEX, Business, Construction and Maintenance, Materials and Supplies, Pellet stove, Specialties, Stove, Wood pellet

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All Candidates forum

Filed under: Politics and Politicians by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 31, 2011

The local chamber hosted an all candidates forum last night at the NVIT lecture theater, the afternoon saw the school trustee hopefulls answer questions and the evening the town council .

The two Mayoralty candidates sat at different ends of the long panel table answering questions posed by the new manager of the Community Futures organization the Government access point to business and self employment services located on the corner of Garcia and Quilchena Avenue.

Questions were addressed to incumbants and challengers as prescribed on a written form collected by the Chamber. There was also a limted number of questions posed by a press table.

The forum will be broadcast on the local shaw community channel.

Today in history, October 31,1517

95 theses nailed to the church door at Wittenburg to start the protestant reformation.

1959: Lee Harvey Oswald attemps to renouce his US citzenship at the US Embassy in Moscow.

Three candidate forums scheduled (heraldnet.com)

Tags: Ask an Expert, Board of education, Lee Harvey Oswald, Mayor, Moscow, NVIT, Religion and Spirituality

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Election events

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

October 24, 2011

Here in Merritt British Columbia , the local civic election is on November 19th 8 am to 8 Pm . There is an all candidates forum on October 30th 5:30 PM and advanced polls Nov 8th and Nov 16th 8 to 8.

There are 10 councillor contenders and 2 mayoralty. one of the three seats for Regional district rep is filled already by acclamation. that is by Herb Graham a long time rep.

Today in History, October 24, 2003

The super sonic concord makes its last flight.

Vancouver online voting pilot nixed by province (cbc.ca)

Tags: British Columbia, Elections in Tunisia, Government, October 24, Politics, Tunisia, United Nations

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Mid week activities

Filed under: Environment, First Nations People, Flora, Politics and Politicians, Public health, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 20, 2011

Image via Wikipedia

There are some significant activities this week in Merritt, tonite the Alexander the Great Seminar continues at the library, presenter al Horne and his wife coördinate the slides and the talk.An Academic venture,in progress as the credits for photos of antiquity are yet to be published.

The Nicola Naturalists also have and AGM tonight at 7 o’clock at NVIT about 3 kilometers from the 6-8 presentation at the library.

There is also a member picture presentation after the expected brief business meeting.

Last evening there was an eco health forum that featured such speakers ad Scotty Holmes the chief o the Upper Nicola Indian band and others including representation from the Community round table at evening it was sparsely attended and coming to a conclusion in its second day of presentations and discussions.

Today in history, October 20th 1973

The Sydney Opera House opens.

Tags: AGM, Alexander the Great, Annual general meeting, History, Merritt, Merritt British Columbia, People, Sydney Opera House

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Election

Filed under: Politics and Politicians by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 19, 2011

There off, on the hustings today, the first election signs appeared on Voght Street. A councilor candidate named Polmans has some small stenciled 2 by 3 foot signs out .

There are two candidates for mayor 2 ex mayors running for councilor. Kroker and Norguard.Candidates include incumbent Alastair Murdock, Shelly Sanders, H. Kroeker. There is a neophyte Harvey Keys and others…..

There was an increase in the money paid for the civic duty around the time of the last election it seems not to have made much of a difference to the motivation of the people to run. a former liberal Prime minister says that the animosity should be lessened to encourage the young to run. There is no one under thirty running and some well into their 7th decade are still running.

A politician becomes a public figure when elected limiting their claim to privacy. that will not change.

Today in history October 19th, 2003

Mother Teresa of Calcutta is beautified by Pope Paul the second

GCC Mayor to get the boot (gabzfmnews.wordpress.com)
Oakridge officials survive recall vote (bendbulletin.com)
When are elections held in Canada (wiki.answers.com)

Tags: Canada, Councillor

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Smart meters

Filed under: Government Works, Politics and Politicians, Technology, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — 2 Comments

October 17, 2011

Image via Wikipedia

The provincial hydro authority is going to be installing smart meters around the province. This will give them the ability to better manage power. As well the customer will also be able to do the same .No word on the thought that there will be two rates, one for off-peak and one for on. There was a proposal for an energy project that took water out of our own Nicola Lake and stored it till peak usage time. The marriage is more than obvious and we will be listening for the re-emergence of that project here in the future.

The local library has a meter for you to borrow to test where you are using your power the smart meter will build on that principle.

Today in History, October 17,2010

Mary Mckillop is canonized to be the first Saint of Australia.

There Goes the Neighborhood: The Introduction of Smart Meters (stevebeckow.com)
Smart meters: Can they save you money on your gas and electricity bills? (confused.com)
Smart meter opponents launch B.C. initiative (cbc.ca)

Tags: BC Hydro, Business, Energy, Equipment, Meters and Metering, Nicola lake, Smart meter, Utilities

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RCMP

Filed under: Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 3, 2011

There are negotiations on here for the renewal of a contract with the province to supply municipal police services from the Federal Police Force.
The press is reporting that a take it or leave it offer is on the table from the feds for March 2012 renewal. The feds are also tendering 30 plus billion in navy ship building contracts and a proposal is in their hands for work to be done in BC shipyards by an eastern shipbuilder.

The BC Provincial Police force was used even up past the end of the second world war in BC and this renewal for the RCMP comes after the completion of a 20 year contract with the province for its 6000 members that the feds supply to municipalities here.

Two police officers were murdered in this community in the 1930s a BC Provincial Police officer and a Dominion Police Services of Canada officer , their killers, surname George, were hung at the New Westminster penitentiary for the killings.

The second war era RCMP were responsible for national security today that task is done by a civilian agency the called CSIS….

The Justice Institute of BC trains police and jail guards for civil police and authorities in BC.

Today in History, October 3,1952

United Kingdom tests nuclear weapon to become the worlds 3rd nuclear power.

B.C. should debate RCMP contract, says Cummins (theprovince.com)
Provincial police force an option, says former B.C. solicitor general (canada.com)
Provincial police force an option, says former B.C. solicitor general (theprovince.com)
Christy Clark says B.C. police force still an option (cbc.ca)
Should B.C. ask the Mounties to take a ride? (theglobeandmail.com)

Tags: British Columbia, March 2012, New Westminster, police, Public safety, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Saskatchewan, Shirley Bond, Vic Toews

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Merritt volunteer fire department training

Filed under: Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

July 20, 2011

The local fire fighters have trained new fire men here, and will be getting 5 more in September. The project has proven succesful for four trained fire fighters 2 who have gotten jobs with a Vancouver fire Company and 2 with a Kamloops Company. ( meaning Department of the Cities.)

The people are paid and live in a trailer behind the fire house. A source says that the MVFD has three platoon s of about 9 persons each and three trucks including a 70 odd foot ladder and water cannon operation. There is one 4 story building in Merritt.

Today in history, July 20,1903

Ford Motor Company ships its first car.

Tags: Fire person training

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Fire investigation

Filed under: Government Works, Politics and Politicians, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

June 7, 2011

About twenty fire fighters, are taking an investigation certification course at the local community college today. They will become credible witness’s to court cases involving insurance companies and criminal proceedings involving prosecutions.

The 4 and a half day of training gives the participants a level 2 certification for civil not criminal investigations another 4 1/2 would give them level one and a credible witness in a criminal proceeding.

One of the participants said he was looking forward to making determinations.

Those would have to stand in prosecutions and recovery actions for costs with insurance companies. We think that when loss rears its head it is competence and fairness that needs to prevail.

Today in History, June 7 1099

The first crusade the siege of Jerusalem begins.