Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The provincial NDP are saying work and programs are underway to support the forest sector, as the industry faces layoffs, but according to Conservative forest critic Ward Stamer, that is not enough.   Provincial leaders are at odds on how to address challenges in the province’s forest industry.  The discussion comes in light of the recent announcement of the pending closure of a Williams Lake pellet plant on Nov. 26 and the previously announced West Fraser Mill closure in 100 Mile House on Nov. 6 ... CLICK HERE for the full story

The Province, in partnership with the BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC), is opening six Indigenous justice centres, fulfilling a commitment to establish 15 Indigenous justice centres (IJCs) throughout BC. Niki Sharma, Attorney General, was joined by the BCFNJC in Kamloops to celebrate opening the six new centres in Kamloops, Williams Lake, Cranbrook, Port Hardy, Fort St. John and a shared location serving the communities of Burns Lake and Hazelton.  “ It is incredible to reflect on what First Nations, the BC First Nations Justice Council and the Province have collaboratively achieved – a network of 15 Indigenous justice centres across BC ,” said Kory Wilson, chair, BCFNJC. “ IJCs provide Indigenous clients with optimum legal representation and access to wraparound services that extend beyond their legal needs. As those accessing our services often feel overwhelmed and disconnected from community, IJCs embrace them with care, honour their cultural identity ...

The City of Williams Lake is fighting to save a biomass power plant there that is set to go dark in the coming weeks, partly due to a lack of affordable fibre, which has become an all-too-familiar refrain in BC for sawmills, pulp mills and other wood processing businesses. The Atlantic Power plant in Williams Lake burns wood waste to generate about 66 megawatts of electricity annually, enough to power about 50,000 homes ... prior to plants like Atlantic Power being built, wood waste from logging in B.C. was burned in beehive burners, and to this day, tonnes of wood waste from timber harvesting is still burned in slash piles, generating nothing but smoke and ash. Many of the EPAs signed in the 1990s expired a few years ago, and some were never renewed. Atlantic Power managed to get a 10-year extension to its contract in 2019, giving it until 2029 at least. But the company that owns the plant announced one year ago that will have to shut down, as it will no longer be eco...

Atlantic Power's Williams Lake biomass energy plant is still in limbo, while B.C. imported record amounts of electricity last year. The plant's future remains uncertain, after having given a one year termination of contract notice to BC Hydro at the beginning of 2024. The biomass energy plant burns wood waste to produce electricity and is the city's largest single taxpayer. Atlantic Power said the Williams Lake plant would cease operations due to the lack of affordable fibre to maintain financial viability, but the original October deadline to revoke this notice has been relaxed due to the impact of the provincial election ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Youth around British Columbia and their families will have faster, easier access to mental health and substance use services and supports with eight new Foundry centres to be developed throughout the province. The new Foundry Centres will be in Burns Lake, Comox Valley, Cranbrook, Langley, Squamish, Surrey, Port Hardy and Williams Lake. The new locations, as with all Foundry centres, will offer increased access to integrated health and wellness services for young people aged 12 to 24 in both rural and urban communities. Each centre will offer primary care, youth and family peer supports, walk-in counselling, mental health and substance use services, and social services all under one roof, making it easier for youth to get help when they need it. “ I am so excited that young people in eight more communities in rural and urban B.C. will be able to get quick access to the mental health and substance use services they need and deserve ,” said Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and...

A couple of days ago I noticed that Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb had shared a poster for an event taking place in the community ... it was being held by a group called #TheNorthMatters. Apparently, according to Walt, the group started mainly due to Cariboo protection in the north that is closing mills, and has grown to include a list of things that are not happening that should.  As a former MLA, business owner, and now Mayor of the community of Williams Lake, Walt is well aware of land use issues that threaten interior communities and rural and northern BC. “ Land use and access issues have become a huge topic here, as the treaty process progresses with no consultation with local government or regional districts ”, he told me. Mayor Cobb then continued, “ They are all sworn to secrecy.  We are tired of out of province or out of country telling us how to do things ”. Here though, are the words of the organizers of #TheNorthMatters...