Christmas in Fernie - Mountain Magic and Small-Town Charm
December 20, 2024
Elk Valley Mines Win Safety Awards March 18, 2017
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedThe province is holding the 55th annual Mine Safety Awards to honour mining operations for their work to ensure mining remains one of British Columbia’s safest heavy industries and a few Elk Valley mines are receiving honours.
Each year, the awards are presented to mines and quarries for managing crews who have accumulated 15,000 or more worker hours with the lowest injury-frequency rate in the previous calendar year. The companies recognized are leaders in workplace safety in an industry that is essential to BC’s strong and growing economy.
In 1969, BC was one of the first jurisdictions in Canada to introduce health and safety legislation and regulations for mines and BC’s mining sector continues to be one of the safest and most responsible in the world. Government presents the Mine Safety Awards each year to recognize industry, workers, unions and ministry staff for their effort and continued commitment to implementing the high standards of health and safety for workers.
Today, BC has more than 30,000 people employed in mineral exploration, mining and related sectors. Ensuring the safety of workers, the public and the environment is essential to securing a strong future for this job creating industry.
“The mining sector is vital to our province’s economy and it’s important to recognize the people and companies that have contributed to making mining one of our safest heavy industries. Tonight’s awards honour mining operations that have shown their dedication to meeting and exceeding our province’s high safety standards. Congratulations to tonight’s award recipients and thank you for the work you do,” said Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines and Kootenay East MLA.
The Mine Safety Awards were established in 1961 by the BC minister of mines and petroleum resources to recognize the safety record of mines in BC.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines recognized the following companies for their exceptional safety records throughout the 2016 calendar year:
Certificate of Achievement:
CertainTeed Gypsum Canada Inc. – Windermere
Plateau Construction Ltd. – Harper Ranch Quarry
Jack Cewe Ltd. – Treat Creek
Mainland Sand and Gravel ULC – Jamieson Quarry and Maple Ridge Sand and Gravel
Imperial Limestone Co. Ltd. – Imperial Limestone Co. Ltd.
Copcan Civil Ltd. – Northwest Bay Quarry
Allard Contractors Ltd. – Mission Pit
Peace River Coal Inc. – Trend-Roman Mine
Abbotsford Gravel Sales Ltd. – Abbotsford Gravel
Stewart/O’Brian Award:
Mainland Sand and Gravel ULC – Cox Station
LafargeHolcim – Central Aggregates
Lafarge Canada Inc. – Pitt River Quarries
532470 BC Ltd. – Ward Pit
LafargeHolcim – Earle Creek
Orca Sand & Gravel – Orca Sand & Gravel
Fraser Pacific Enterprises Inc. – Sumas Shale Quarry
Edward Prior Award:
Copper Mountain Mine Ltd. – Copper Mountain Mine
Greenhills Operation
John Ash Award:
Teck Coal Ltd. – Greenhills
Gibraltar Mines Inc. – Gibraltar Mine
Small Underground Mines Award:
JDS Silver – Silvertip
Large Underground Mines Award:
New Gold Inc. – New Afton Mine
Shypitka wins Kootenay East nomination October 24, 2016
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedTom Shypitka, a City of Cranbrook councillor, has won the Kootenay East BC Liberal Party nomination to serve as candidate in the May 2017 provincial election.
Shypitka earned the nomination over Sparwood resident and former Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks during weekend voting by party members in the riding.
Incumbent MLA Bill Bennett announced last spring that he is stepping down after 16 years in power in 2017.
“The East Kootenay has been my family’s playground for five generations and I couldn’t be more proud to be nominated to serve the people of this region. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and work to be a strong voice in Victoria,” Shypitka stated.
Shypitka has lived and worked in the Kootenays his entire life.
In 2014, he topped the polls as a Cranbrook city councillor, and was appointed as a director of the Regional District of East Kootenay and hospital board. He is also the Vice Chair for the Central East Kootenay Community Directed Funds Committee.
As an active volunteer, Tom has served with many health-based charities and has also volunteered as a minor coach in baseball, soccer, and curling.
BC Liberal nomination rivals strike unity pact October 20, 2016
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedIn an extraordinary move, the contestants in the hard-fought battle for the BC Liberal nomination in Kootenay East are pledging each to go all-in to support the winning candidate. Contenders Tom Shypitka and David Wilks announced their agreement Wednesday, citing the urgent need to prevent the NDP from picking up retiring incumbent Bill Bennett’s seat.
“We’re fighting a highly competitive nomination battle, but we both agree that a BC Liberal win in Kootenay East this May is more important than our own personal ambition,” said Wilks, the former Member of Parliament for Kootenay–Columbia and a 20-year RCMP veteran. “So if Tom is the successful candidate, I’m pledging that he will have my one hundred per cent support.”
“This race is all about choosing an MLA who will roll up their sleeves and fight for the interests of the East Kootenay in Victoria,” said Shypitka, a Cranbrook councillor and financial advisor. “So if David wins, I’m committed to having his back and working overtime to get him elected.”
“An anti-development, job-killing NDP government would be a disaster for British Columbia, especially areas like Kootenay East where many of us depend on natural resources,” said current MLA and minister of energy and mines Bill Bennett. “I’m really proud that Tom and David have put their differences aside and agreed to fight side by side for the future of working people, families, and seniors in our region.”
The candidates cited provincial investments in East Kootenay Regional Hospital, new trades training equipment at College of the Rockies, and additional residential care beds in the region as examples of why the seat must remain BC Liberal.
The pledge includes a concrete commitment from each candidate to endorse the other and to knock on as many doors and make as many phone calls to voters as possible during the campaign.
The nomination will be held on Saturday, October 22nd and Sunday, October 23rd with voting locations set in Elkford, Fernie, Sparwood, and Cranbrook:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22nd – 4 Locations:
1. ELKFORD – Elkford Community Centre (Meeting Room), 750 Fording Drive
Registration & Voting: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
2. FERNIE – Best Western Fernie (Mount Proctor Room), 1622 7th Avenue
Registration & Voting: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
3. SPARWOOD – Causeway Bay Hotel (Red Cedar Room), 102A Red Cedar Drive
Registration & Voting: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
4. CRANBROOK – Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort (Small Ballroom), 209 Van Horne Street S
Registration & Voting: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23rd – 1 Location:
1. CRANBROOK – Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort (Van Horne/Baker Rooms), 209 Van Horne Street S
SPEECHES: 10:00 am
Registration Opens: immediately after speeches
Voting Closes: 4:00 pm
3 facts about Teck Coal February 15, 2016
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedBy Bill Bennett
Kootenay East MLA
Here are three facts you need to know about keeping mine workers on the job in BC.
1. Commodity prices for metallurgical coal and copper are at their lowest in a decade and mines across B.C. are struggling to remain open. While government cannot change global economic trends, we do have one lever and that is to help mines reduce operating costs with a deferral of electricity costs.
2. As of March 1, all operating mines in B.C. can defer 75% of their power costs for 24 months of the next five years and then repay the amounts plus a commercial rate of interest when commodity prices come back up. This is not a subsidy and tax payers are not on the hook.
3. We want the five coal mines in our region to continue sustaining the families of the Elk Valley and Cranbrook. By providing the option to not pay power costs hopefully Teck can continue its normal operations- keeping thousands of people employed in our region.
Provincial fund to help Syrian refugee October 7, 2015
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedRecognizing the severity of the global humanitarian crisis in Syria, the Government of British Columbia is creating a $1-million readiness fund for Syrian refugees settling in B.C.
The fund is a one-time investment intended to complement existing provincial and federal support services for refugees. It will enhance existing provincial refugee programs and provide additional resources for private sponsors who are working to bring these refugees to B.C.
The Province will work with settlement agencies, community groups and private sponsors to make sure these funds are used to achieve the best outcomes for these refugees. Specifically the funds will be used for:
– Counselling – trauma counselling through a range of psycho-social supports.
– “Groups of Five” private sponsorship supports – A “Group of Five” is made up of private citizens who come together to sponsor a refugee. These funds will assist these private sponsors to help navigate the refugee-sponsorship process.
– Community-level supports – help for local governments that will be settling Syrian refugees so there will be a welcoming community for these newcomers.
– Foreign Credential Recognition – many Syrians will arrive in Canada with work experience and credentials from their home country. Funds will be available for B.C.-based professional associations to quickly and fairly review and approve their foreign credentials so they can start working in B.C.
– Employer supports – funds to help businesses and existing immigrant settlement organizations employ, train and mentor Syrian refugees. These funds will also provide matching funds to employers who train and commit to hire a Syrian refugee.
For any questions about existing supports available for refugees or to learn more about how this fund can be used to help, community groups and private sponsors can call 1 877 952-6914.
Top Questions on Teachers Dispute September 3, 2014
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedPeter Fassbender answers the most frequently asked questions about the labour dispute with the BCTF.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
1. Why didn’t you bargain all summer?
We were prepared to bargain all summer, in fact, we started bargaining in earlier this year. But it takes two to tango.
The BCTF has steadfastly refused to bring their demands into the affordability zone. They are still asking for twice as much as other public sector workers have settled for, including a demand for a $5,000 signing bonus.
When veteran mediator Vince Ready met with both sides this past weekend, he concluded that wages were one of the big stumbling blocks.
2. Why are you appealing the court case? Why not just negotiate class composition now?
Despite what you may have heard, we want to deal with class composition now. It’s an important issue, which is why we tabled a proposal to provide more resources in the classroom. Read more about that proposal, “E80”, below.
We are appealing the court case because government has a responsibility to balance the interests of BCTF members against what is in the best interest of students and families. Simply put, we do not believe that the BCTF should make fiscal and policy decisions for the government.
The BCTF wants to return to a factory model where students are managed through rigid ratios and arbitrary formulas. No other province manages their classrooms this way. And for good reason: it is inefficient, ineffective, and highly discriminatory against students with special needs. It also takes away the ability of boards of education and principals to make appropriate decisions to match resources to meet the needs of students.
3. What is E80?
E80 is our proposal to bargain the issues of class size and composition now as Justice Griffin suggested the two parties do.
We believe class composition is the most important issue. We want to do everything we can to ensure students have the support they need: resources, educators and education assistants. So we’ve set aside $375 million over five years for this purpose.
The BCTF says they want to bargain class size and composition but when we try to do exactly that, BCTF refuses. Unfortunately, from their perspective, this is about which union benefits from the additional resources, the BCTF or CUPE (CUPE represents educational assistants). It should be about nothing other than what’s best for students.
4. What about class sizes?
The BC government publishes a fact sheet of information on class sizes in British Columbia. It says:
Compared to other high-performing jurisdictions, British Columbia does not have large classes. This year’s (2013-14) average class sizes are near historical lows of:
19.3 students for kindergarten.
21.5 for grades 1 to 3.
25.7 for grades 4 to 7.
23.0 for grades 8 to 12.
The BCTF wants to go back to rigid ratios and formulas. No other province in Canada manages its classrooms this way because it is inefficient, ineffective, and highly discriminatory against students with special needs.
5. How much do teachers currently earn?
The average starting compensation (salary & benefits) for a newly hired teacher in British Columbia is over $60,000 (roughly $49,000 in salary). An experienced teacher is compensated up to $99,000 (roughly $80,000 in salary).
6. What has the government offered to teachers?
The most recent offer to the BCTF was a 7% wage increase over a six-year term to provide stability for the education system and a guarantee of at least $375 million over five years to address complex classroom needs like hiring more teachers and education assistants.
We’ve also said that if we exceed our fiscal targets and GDP estimates (i.e. growing the economy faster than predicted), teachers, like all other unionized workers who have signed contracts, can earn up to another 0.5% wage increase over and above their contract. It’s our way of sharing the benefits of a growing economy with our public sector employees.
7. What are the sticking points with the BCTF counter offer?
Veteran mediator Vince Ready was brought in recently to explore the possibility of mediation and he concluded that wages remain one of the big stumbling blocks.
The BCTF’s compensation demands remain double what 150,000 other B.C. public-sector workers have recently settled for, including a demand for a special $5,000 signing bonus that no one else received.
8. Why won’t you just legislate now?
We do not believe that it is in the best interest of students, parents or teachers to continue on the same dysfunctional treadmill that we have been on.
According to University of Victoria Professor Tom Fleming, there have been more 50 strikes and three lockouts since April, 1987 (Source: Canadian Press, 01/09/2014).
Legislation would only serve to shelve the same problem temporarily.
That is why we want to come to a negotiated agreement with the BCTF – an agreement that works for both sides. We have to stand firm on behalf of the long-term public interest, and on behalf of all British Columbians.
9. Where is the money coming from for the $40 a day program?
Parents with students 12 years old or under attending B.C. public schools may be eligible to receive a payment of $40 per day, per child, to help ease the impact if public schools are closed in September due to the labour disruption.
These funds come from the amount of money that is not spent by government to run the school system while the BCTF are on strike. Learn more at http://www.bcparentinfo.ca
I hope you find this information helpful.
Sincerely,
Peter Fassbender
Minister of Education
MLA, Surrey-Fleetwood
NDP Leadership Race? May 4, 2014
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedWhen the BC NDP announced the search for a new leader, they promised an exciting race, full of new ideas that would move British Columbia forward. Well, they now have a new leader. But the rest? That never happened.
With the selection of John Horgan as leader, a colourful personality I admit, the NDP remains firmly stuck in the 1990s. No one else wanted the job, so Mr Horgan, a former adviser to two NDP Premiers from the Dismal Decade, will try to captain the NDP ship.
You’d be right if you are thinking it’s back to the future. The NDP is trying to put a new face on their tired Party with a guy from the 1990’s, hoping no one notices.
This is the second leadership process in a row where the only candidates interested in being leader are connected directly to the Decade of Decline. Mr Horgan, just like Adrian Dix, has been at the centre of the same ill-conceived economic policies for more than 20 years.
Expect Mr Horgan to say the things he thinks you want to hear. Like Adrian Dix, he’ll pay lip service to the economy. His very first event was a photo op with a hard hat; but beyond wearing a hard hat, he offered nothing to grow the economy or control spending.
The new leader is the latest in a long list of NDP leaders who don’t understand what drives our economy. He may say it forcefully. But like all NDP leaders before him, Mr. Horgan does not understand how you generate investor confidence and frankly, he and his Party are incapable of making the sometimes difficult decisions involving resource development. He’s also a master flip flopper, sometimes flipping on his first flop.
When it comes to LNG and extracting the resource from the ground, he has taken several positions: he supports it because we’ve been doing it for a long time but then demands a scientific review that he acknowledges could end with a moratorium and the end of the LNG opportunity.
When it comes to Kinder Morgan’s application, he was fine with waiting for the company to make its application; then he enthusiastically supported the Kinder Surprise, where the NDP abandoned any pretense of believing in a fair review; and now he’s saying the NDP position can be revised one more time. It’s tough to calculate how many flips and flops that actually adds up to!
On Site C? Horgan has taken so many positions it’s tough to keep track. He once said it himself: “I’ve taken many positions on Site C. That’s right.”
Quite simply, that’s not the leadership British Columbians need. We deserve straight answers, clear directions for a plan to make sure the province grows. And that’s what Premier Christy Clark is delivering.
The NDP may be interested in putting the band back together and playing their ‘greatest hits’ from the 1990s. But that’s not our approach as BC Liberals.
We’ve continued to move forward as we balance our budget, grow the LNG sector, reengineer skills training so British Columbians are first in line for jobs and make sure we can support the programs British Columbians need.
That’s what Premier Clark and all of us committed to a year ago. And we will deliver our vision through real action, not with empty words and ever-changing positions.
Sincerely,
Bill Bennett
MLA for Kootenay East
BC Liberals position on Enbridge’s Federal Approval December 19, 2013
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedToday, the federal Joint Review Panel has recommended that the federal government approve Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline project, with 209 conditions attached. The position of Today’s BC Liberals is as follows:
Depending on how the Federal Cabinet decides, the proponents are part way to meeting one of British Columbia’s Five Conditions – to pass environmental review.
But there’s still a lot of work left to meet the other conditions, including: First Nations’ consultations, world-leading spills response for marine and land, and a fair share for British Columbia.
What we are seeing is broader recognition and acceptance of British Columbia’s 5 Conditions, from industry and other governments.
A year and a half ago, Premier Clark was alone among all the premiers of Canada, standing up for British Columbia.
We have been consistent that B.C.’s Five Conditions must be met in order for our government to consider supporting any proposed new or expanded heavy-oil pipeline in BC.
Alberta recently accepted B.C.’s Five Conditions, and both pipeline proponents are indicating they are working to address all 5 Conditions.
B.C.’s Five Conditions apply to any new or expanded heavy-oil pipeline.
The Five Conditions are clearly stated, consistent and gives business certainty of what is required to build in B.C.
The Five Conditions articulate how we do business in B.C. And it works.
We support economic development that is fair to British Columbians, that protects our environment and respects our First Nations.
Douglas Channel at dusk in Kitimat, B.C
Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review June 11, 2013
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedAs expected Bill Bennett was appointed by BC Premier Christy Clark to a high-profile position within her government, taking on the dual role of Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review.
This is the second time Bill Bennett has been the Minister of Energy and Mines. The new portion of his portfolio will be the responsibility to conduct the government’s core review.
Premier Christy Clark cited Bill Bennett’s ability to cut through red tape as being handy in his new role as Minister of Core Review. She also specifically mentioned the overseeing of Site-C dam project and the continued development and importance of BC natural resources as being additional responsibilities.
Bill Bennett was a popular choice with the mining and resource sector previously and should prove to be a popular choice again. The new BC cabinet will be officially sworn in on Monday.
Other government ministers included…
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Gas and Housing, Rich Coleman.
Finance Minister, Mike de Jong.
Forests, Land and Natural Resources, Steve Thomson.
Health Minister, Terry Lake.
Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister, John Rustad.
Education Minister, Peter Fassbender.
Advanced Education Minister, Amrik Virk.
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister, Todd Stone.
Social Development Minister, Don McRea.
Technology and Citizen Services Minister, Andrew Wilkinson.
Children and Families Minister, Stephanie Cadieux.
Community Sport and Cultural Development Minister, Coralee Oakes.
International Trade and Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism Minister, Theresa Wats.
Justice Minister and Attorney General, Suzanne Anton.
Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training Minister and Minister Responsible for Labour, Shirley Bond.
Environment Minister, Mary Polak.
Agriculture Minister, Pat Pimm.
Small Business and Tourism Minister, Naomi Yamamoto.
Strong Economy, Secure Tomorrow April 18, 2013
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedToday’s BC Liberals unveiled our platform to grow the economy, control spending and eliminate debt. Our platform will secure tomorrow and make a Debt-Free B.C. possible for our children.
“Strong Economy, Secure Tomorrow is a comprehensive, affordable and optimistic vision for our province,” said Premier Christy Clark. “Our plan starts with the Jobs Plan and ends with a Debt-Free B.C. It’s a journey of how far we’ve come and explains how we will build on the progress we are making with British Columbians.”
Today’s BC Liberals will protect our strong economy by building on our BC Jobs Plan that is creating jobs, expanding markets, attracting and encouraging investment. We will secure tomorrow by holding the line on taxes, controlling spending, and balancing the budget.
A key part of this plan is taking advantage of our once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop a new industry by exporting B.C.’s natural gas.
Specific actions to grow the economy, control spending and pay down debt include:
– Holding the line and then cutting taxes to spur private sector job creation, starting with small business, reduce red tape, secure opportunities in Asia;
– controlling spending by placing a cap on government expenditures against the rate of nominal GDP and launching a core review of all government ministries;
– freeze the carbon tax and all personal income taxes;
– dedicate at least 50 per cent of all future surplus revenues to debt reduction; and,
– dedicate all revenues from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and proposed Kitimat Clean Refinery royalty revenues to debt reduction until provincial debt is eliminated, including paying down BC Ferries debt.
“These are the things that will put us on the path to a Debt-Free B.C.,” said Finance Minister Mike de Jong. “A Debt-Free B.C. means that the next generation will be able to make choices for themselves when it comes to tackling the issues of their day.”
“Strong Economy, Secure Tomorrow is focused on eliminating our debt to secure a safe, clean, healthy and affordable and Debt-Free B.C. for generations of families,” said Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister and Today`s BC Liberals platform chair Bill Bennett. “NDP economics puts this is all at risk. They believe that spending billions on the backs of our kids is acceptable. We believe government shouldn’t leave our kids with debt.”
Strong Economy, Secure Tomorrow. That’s what Today’s BC Liberals are fighting for.
MLA Bill Bennett’s Fernie Office is located at:
Waldorf Building (Across from Norther Hotel)
562 – 2nd Ave, Downtown Fernie.
For information contact:
Jennifer Osmar
Campaign Manager to Bill Bennett
Cranbrook Office: 250-426-2533
Mobile: 250-421-3388
