ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2023 | VOL. 79 NO. 13
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GREEN THUMBS New group sought to take over community gardens at Catholic Church
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Gov’t budget worries MLA Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
anyone who may have security camera footage of the area between 4:20 a.m. and 4:26 a.m. on March 24, to review their footage and report any relevant information. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 250787-8100, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Tips can be made online at northernbccrimestoppers.ca.
Fort St. John businesses got a snapshot of this year’s provincial budget at a meeting with local MLA Dan Davies last week. The budget forecasts a deficit of $4.2 billion, and $11 billion over three years. And while the deficits cover a range of new social programs, such as the $400 renters’ rebate, free contraception, new housing, and mental health and addiction beds, Davies says there’s not much emphasis on growing the economy. “The front pocket is empty so they’re reaching into the back pocket,” Davies said after a lunch meeting with the Chamber of Commerce on March 20. “The only way they can support their budget is going into the taxpayer’s wallet.” Davies raised his concerns that natural resource revenues are forecast to slide 21% to $4.7 billion this year, and by 34% to $4 billion by 2025-26. Natural gas royalties are projected to drop 31% over the next three years, while forestry revenues are projected to plummet 54% this year alone, from $1.85 billion to $846 million. The province needs to “snuggle up” to the resource sector in a hurry and not shut them down, Davies says. “You can’t have a dying resource sector and ballooning fees and taxes to cover programming,” he said. Davies says employer health tax will cost businesses $2.7 billion this year, while the carbon tax will cost consumers $2.8 billion. “The NDP says, ‘we eliminated the health premiums’. They didn’t eliminate them; they moved them to businesses. They think businesses are all rich and millionaires,” he said. Davies says B.C. has lost its competitiveness. By the time the budget cycle is done, the province will be more than $100 billion in debt, which he says the NDP has doubled in the last six years. “We’re losing businesses and people that are going to Alberta,” Davies said. “Why would they stay? It’s cheaper to do business, there’s less taxes, and more opportunity.” “For us in Northeast B.C., next to Alberta, that has a significant impact on us. It already is,” he said, adding his daughter was initially talking about moving to Vancouver after graduating high school, but that it might be Calgary now. “It’s a shame our kids our grandkids are saying, ‘I want to stay in B.C. but it’s not affordable. I can go next door and live for significantly less,’” he said. “There’s no growing the economy in the budget, in fact it’s shrinking it,” he said. “That points to a lot of concern, big time.”
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Three RCMP cruisers were on scene of a drive-by shooting in Fort St. John Friday morning, March 24
Home targeted in drive-by shooting 9224 100 Street, Fort St. John, BC (250) 785-0463
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Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca RCMP are seeking the public’s help in identifying and tracking down a suspect vehicle involved in a targeted drive-by shooting at a home in Fort St. John early Friday morning, March 24. Several shots were fired at a home in the 8600 block of 74 Street at 87 Avenue around 4:30 a.m. on March 24. No injuries were reported by RCMP, which say frontline police officers as well as the Serious Crimes and Forensic Identification units are investigating. “A drive by shooting of this nature demonstrates the offenders complete disregard for the safety and wellbeing of the residence and the entire community as a whole,” said Cst. Chad Neustaeter. “Investigators will be giving this top priority in efforts to locate and arrest the offenders.” Three RCMP cruisers were seen on scene mid-morning Friday with officers canvassing neighbours and one officer was documenting bullet holes around the door of a residence. RCMP said “numerous” bullet holes were found in the residence as well as in a vehicle in front of the home. RCMP on Saturday released a surveillance image of the suspect vehicle, described as a black or dark mid-2000 Volkswagen Jetta with what police say appears to be a dark front passenger side tire rim.
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Suspect vehicle in a drive-by shooting in Fort St. John on March 24
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A RCMP officer investigates
Police say the vehicle departed the 8600 block of 74 Street by turning westbound onto 87 Avenue. “Though the investigation is still in the early stages, it has been determined this was a targeted incident as the inhabitants of the residence are known to police,” said Neustater. Investigators are asking
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