Tag Archive: British Columbia


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)

Related articles
Tags: , ,
Comment

.08 administrative or criminal

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Vegtable soup, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
December 5, 2011

The province is saying that they are pleased with the results of a tough new roadside suspension law after a year of activity. The results they say saved lives. There were 40 % fewer deaths accruing over the time of the implementation that saw roadside suspensions coupled with very severe administrative penalties.

There are 4 million people in this province and the death rate is very low, some what over 2 per thousand per year for all causes, that ranks with the Arab emirates that are filthy rich, and is far below Canada’s rate of about 7 per thousand. There are approximately 350 some vehicle related deaths per year here and Stats Can does not break down the ones that are drunk or alcohol related. It would be safe to say that if the general population has enough regard for life and safety to keep the rate of death so low for the general population that we’re not bunch of drunks out there needing constant supervision and scrutiny of our assets . This brings up the specter of political opportunism the great success that they are promoting did not translate into a premium benefit the opposite is true as drivers are facing a 30 dollar increase to the levy dictated by ICBC. Makes you want to go find an occupy movement camp does it. It gets worse the real change is that more public control is welded and less trust and presumption in the population to act above the reasonable prudent person. The Chinese say more laws get more criminals. Now they say a portion of the law is unconstitutional as there is not enough process and appeal for those that blow over the 0.8 that is the criminal benchmark for impaired drivers. You  can bet it was just grease for that application of the non criminal high administration penalty bonanza that the province is reaping; and of course they are not taking it from you the taxpayer but some vilified group who  enjoyed the relief of stress by having a couple of beers with the office staff after work twice a week. Can it be? and I give this to you; that the dynamic contributed to less benign deaths in the general rate of our society. KDG

Editors note: A designated driver is not a hard ship for most people to arrange and rotating is not hard for you sociable types to get a turn….

Today in history, December 5 1945

Flight 19 is lost in the Bermuda  triangle.

Tags: , ,
Comment

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.

Related articles
Tags: , , , , , ,
Comment

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.

Related articles
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Comment

Fall coming

Filed under: Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
September 7, 2011

Indian Summer, the weather is warm the  days  bright with  happy people feeding on free vitamin D provided by the sun and giving brain chemicals a lubricated  sence of goodness..This location in the south central part of British Columbia is rife with things coming , harvest, October Fest and hunting.. We will look  for big game coming through town on the back of pick up trucks in the next few weeks.  There is a limited entry bow season on moose going now till the 19th in the Kootenay.

Check regulations for details in the various regions and remember there are 152 species nearing  some classification of endangerment, in this province.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/resident/

The Americans are getting ready for the republican party’s 2012 presidential candidates debate and looking at what a democratic president may speak to congress about on thursday for another stimulus program. We wonder if they are starting to understand an earlier statement that trying to stimulate an economy with spending is like standing in a bucket and trying to lift your self up by the handle.

Today in history, September 7th,2005

Egypt holds its first multi party elections.

Tags: , , , , ,
Comment

Elkhart lodge

Filed under: Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 18, 2011

There was a small fire reported in the proximity of the Elkhart lodge yesterday and it was said to have been responded to by emergency crews and is assumed out. The Elkhart lodge is on the Okanogan connector divided freeway between Merritt and West Bank or Kelowna.The concept of a divided highway gives safety and security from cross traffic at level crossings however there is one exit on each phase of the Coquihalla highway system , Lac le Jeune on the Kamloops route 5 and Kingsvale on the Hope phase to Vancouver . ( not level crossing)

There was a standing joke about Elkhart when the highway was under construction as highways policy was to connect communities rather then by pass them ,hence people were calling it Elkhart BC however there is no community but a hunting lodge and a way into wilderness for hunting and prospecting interests.

 

Today in history : August 18, 1941

The t4 euthanasia program is temporarily halted in Germany by protests.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Comment

Job fair

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 16, 2011
This is a public photo. Category:Columbia River

Image via Wikipedia

A small job fair was held at the campus of NVIT on monday, Teck the mining giant that runs the Highland Valley Copper Mine was there . A representative said they would be hiring around  the middle of December. A training company/ society for people who would work on the hydro site at Revelstoke and Mica also had a booth, as did the Community Futures Society for the first nations of the Thompson Nicola.

A rep from  Western Bio Energy of Richmond BC  for their proposed hydro co-gen plant was giving out information. Fred Scott was saying that when the project is approved for permits it will have a strong contact with hydro that prohibits fuel being used that is not green wood waste ie railway ties. The boiler is only capable of taking 1900 degrees and toxins must be burned at higher temperatures \(legally).

There is one toxic waste facility in the province it is in the lower mainland. This project is strictly green and for hydro co gen to the public utility BC Hydro.The plant would be on the Tolko mill site here in Merritt, the company plans public consultations in the next 5 months to accommodate their permitting process.

The VP of business development Fred M. Scott said that it was not to be confused with a proposal that failed 8 years ago which included medical waste. We say that a proposal of some decades ago that generated a ground swell of protest should not be mitigated by this corporate goodwill to ward green coming from the proposal and BC Hydro.That one was for toxic waste and the interest went to a plant in Swan Hills Alberta after being soundly rejected.That proposal was encouraged by then Mayor H.P.Kroeker and his administration that included an economic development officer that was a former used car sales rep. Kroeker still sits as a counselor here after some years as a justice of the peace and after a failed  Mayoralty  reelection bid.

The job fair was aimed at young people and training opportunities in the resource sector. Nadine Israel, represented BCAMTA as a coach. That organisation is the Aboriginal Mine Training association. www.bcamta.ca

Today in history, August 16 1989

Solar activities interfere with electronics ceasing trading on the TSX.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Comment