Kitimat Northern Sentinel, March 14, 2012

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www.northernsentinel.com

Volume 57 No. 11

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

1.34 INCLUDES TAX

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“Expert panel” draws city council fire City council has lodged an objection to the make up of an “Expert Panel” appointed by the province to “provide analysis and recommendations to the province on business tax competitiveness”. And one councillor had a problem with the whole idea of the panel. The government press release in January outlining Finance minister Kevin Falcon’s announcement in a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade said “a component of the review will also look at municipal property taxation of business.” At council’s March 5 meeting Corinne Scott moved an administration recom-

mendation that a letter be written to Community, Sport and Cultural Development minister Ida Chong and all Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) members saying Kitimat objected to the composition of the panel in that it did not include a municipal representative. Scott pointed out the panel included the Chancellor of the University of British Columbia, the chief financial officer of Goldcorp and representatives from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the Vancouver Board of Trade and Ernst and Young. “All of these individuals are very capa-

ble,” she said, but added, “there should be a local government representative on that panel” given what it would be looking at. Mario Feldhoff said his concern went beyond who was on it. “My concern goes to having a panel in the first place meddling in the affairs of local government.” Rob Goffinet noted Kitimat had presented a paper to the UBCM on several occasions on tax competitiveness mainly because Kitimat was one of the most industrialised municipalities in the province. “We have been concerned in the past that if the municipal level of government was somehow restricted in levying taxation

on local industry, it would have devastating effects on communities like Kitimat, Powell River, Port Alberni, Squamish, etcetera.” Goffinet added the Kitimat submissions pointed out Kitimat’s industrial taxes accounted for less than one per cent of local industries operating budgets “and cannot be construed as a disincentive to locate in a particular municipality”. He added that Kitimat’s industrial tax rate didn’t seem to be stopping the industries that were now “beating down the door” to locate here. The motion passed unanimously.

Cullen rejects TERMPOL findings on tanker toute “Unexpected.” matter what all these arms length That was how Skeena-Bulkley agencies...say, we’re going ahead Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen de- with it’.” scribed the Transport Canada TERCullen said he had met with the MPOL review report that found oil pilots association and “we actually tankers - even the Very Large Crude had a difference of opinion” over Carrier variety - could safely navi- items including where do the pilots gate the Douglas Channel and out- board the tankers, where do the tugs side waters. link up and how we could feel safe However, he added, “It’s going moving ships of a size that had never to be very difficult throughout all been seen in these waters. of this to believe that anyone mak“They are a very ‘can do’ ing any kind of decision group,” he said of the pifrom the federal govlots. “They want to say ernment hasn’t been that almost anything is influenced or pressured possible.” by the prime minister Challenged that on down.” they were probably also Given Stephen the most knowledgeable Harper’s statements of people when it came to support for the project, coastal waters, CulCullen said the federal len repeated that super government had untankers had never been dermined its ability to moved into this part of portray itself as “fair the coast before. actors” on the issue of “There is nobody the Northern Gateway. with experience on “When the boss of that.” Nathan Cullen the bosses says this is When he had sughow it’s going to go, it’s gested to the pilots that hard to believe that everything else super tankers were “a different anithat follows hasn’t been influenced mal” from what they were used to, by that. Cullen said they had disagreed, sayAsked if he was suggesting that ing it was the same as doing it anythe BC Pilots, Pacific Pilots Author- where else. ity and Canadian Coast Guard - all “It’s just a difference of opincleared the route - were part of some ion,” he said, adding, “Are they the grand conspiracy, Cullen said he was experts in what they do? Absolutely. not. Do I respect them? Sure. But added, “It’s impossible to “Are they in the midst of a projsay that people aren’t influenced by ect that has enormous political interthe prime minister saying, ‘It doesn’t ference? Yes.”

‘Violet Sunset’ by Jamie Nole is one of the eye-catching paintings on display at the museum until Thursday, March 22. It is part of the exhibition of works of students at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art - all are by first year certificate students in the Fine Arts Program.

Cote pleased by modernisation progress...page 3