S TANDARD TERRACE
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VOL. 25 NO. 39
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Man with brain injury not charged
Staff PHOTO
Idle No More demonstrators hold up signs at the Dec. 28 rally at the Skeena Mall. More demonstrations are planned here in the northwest for later in the month.
More Idle demos planned By Anna Killen The Idle No More movement in the northwest has no plans to go idle and has more rallies in the works for later this month. The movement, which has seen demonstrations staged across Canada since late last year, gained traction – and national attention – with the hunger strike of Attawapiskat chief councillor Theresa Spence. She began her protest on Dec. 11, calling for a meeting “nation to nation” between herself, GovernorGeneral David Johnston and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Late last week, Harper announced he would hold a meeting with First Nations leaders, including Spence, on Jan. 11. But the movement is far from over, said one of the northwest organizers, Shalane Pauls, noting the
movement is about more than just a meeting with the Prime Minister. “The fight is not over just because he has agreed to a meeting,” said Pauls. Idle No More has homed in on changes contained in Bill C-45, the massive piece of federal Conservative legislation which is part of the government's budget plans, but also has an impact on a wide variety of other areas, including the environment and changes to legislation affecting First Nations governance. Two rallies have been held here in Terrace so far, the first at Brolly Square on Dec. 21, and the second inside the Skeena Mall on Dec. 28. The latter drew several hundred people and speakers included Kitsumkalum chief councillor Don Roberts. While the demonstrations here have been largely attended by First
Nations, Pauls says the goal is to also include non-natives. “It's not just a native issue, it's a Canadian issue. There are many things that this bill applies to, it makes changes to 64 acts and regulations and it's bound to affect everybody in some way,” she said. “It's really important to create these alliances so that we can be a stronger Canada and show our one voice as to what we want and not just what they're trying to put through.” “[The government's strategy is] to keep people confused, but that's why it's important to hold these rallies and get people knowledgable about the issues so they can make informed decisions for themselves,” she said. Rally locations are to be announced a few days before each one happens. One possible location is the Kitsumkalum Hall.
A MAN who ended up with a brain injury after being held in police cells here and who now requires full time care will not face any criminal charges. Although RCMP officers wanted Robert Wright charged after he was arrested for impaired driving last year, a government lawyer concluded there was no substantial likelihood of conviction given the level of force used by RCMP officers against Wright and because of injuries he suffered. Wright was arrested April 21, 2012 after Terrace RCMP officers responded to reports of a possible impaired driver. While in police custody, Wright, then 47, was injured and after being taken to the local hospital three times during the night, was taken to the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster for intensive treatment. Police subsequently recommended charges of impaired operation of a motor vehicle, refusing to provide a breath sample and obstructing a peace officer. A provincial lawyer then looked at evidence from the roadside when Wright was first stopped in his vehicle, evidence from his subsequent arrival at the Terrace RCMP detachment and interaction with police while in custody and evidence of his mental and physical condition before and after he was taken to hospital for the injury to his head, said Neil MacKenzie who speaks for the provincial criminal justice branch. Once all the evidence was considered, the provincial Crown Counsel lawyer determined there was no substantial likelihood of conviction, he said. There was no evidence available of actual erratic driving by Wright, and the physical symptoms of impairment observed by police were not sufficient on their own to support a conviction for impaired operation of a motor vehicle, MacKenzie said. The Crown Counsel lawyer was also not satisfied that the available evidence supported a charge that Wright had willfully failed or refused to provide a breath sample without a reasonable excuse.
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First baby arrives TERRACE’S first baby of 2013 arrived later than those of other northern B.C. towns but the wait was worth it. Emily was born 5:27 a.m. Jan. 4 at Mills Memorial Hospital, weighing in at 5 pounds, 14.6 ounces. She’s a first child for Keri-Ann Tomanocy and Tyson Vandevelde. As the first baby born in Terrace, Emily will receive a welcoming basket of items and gift cards courtesy of local merchants. The distinction of having the first northern baby born of 2013, according to the Northern Health Authority, goes to Fort St. John where Sarah Nicole Cornell-Martinez was born 12:15 a.m. Jan. 1. The first northwestern baby, Jalissa Stanley-Alexcee, was born 9:43 a.m. Jan. 1 in Prince Rupert. And Seamus Gardner was born at Kitimat General Hospital on January 4 at 4:25 a.m.
Leaving the nest
Going up
Swimming stars
King Crow kick off their first tour with a show at the Terrace Legion \COMMUNITY A12
Resident property assessment values increased here. \NEWS A20
Meet two standout members of the Terrace Bluebacks swim club \SPORTS A19