ALR: Local businessman still battling after 40 years A3 Friday, March 8, 2013 City celebrating 98th birthday A2
Newsline 250-564-0005
www.pgfreepress.com ■ WOOD INNOVATION AND DESIGN CENTRE
A CUT ABOVE
Bell dismisses Fehr complaint, saying he donated to NDP BID Group owner has also given to Liberals BILL PHILLIPS editor@pgfreepress.com
Allan W ISHA RT/Free Press
Kelly Road Secondary student Austin Gill makes one of the first cuts on a Trades Day project in the carpentry shop at CNC. Students from local high schools with an interest in trades got the chance for some hands-on experience Friday.
BOBBY
Pat Bell dismissed concerns from one of the local businessmen crying foul over the Wood Innovation and Design Centre procurement process Wednesday, because he has donated to the NDP. Bell, in Question Period Wednesday, said Brian Fehr has contributed heavily to the NDP. Bell’s comments were in response to repeated calls from the NDP for an investigation into the controversy surrounding the Wood Innovation and Design Centre. Fehr and fellow businessman Dan McLaren, with well-established links to the Liberal Party, sent a letter to the fairness advisor on the project in November claiming they were told in May 2012 by government representatives they would be short-listed for the project if the land needed for it was bought ahead of time. There were not on the shortlist. “Last February Mr. Fehr, through one of his companies, wrote a cheque to the NDP for $50,000,” Bell said in the Legislature Wednesday. “… Mr. Fehr had one of his employees go and pick up the leader of the Opposition, show him around Prince George for a day, and to help start the NDP organize their campaign in Prince George.” According to Elections BC, since 2005 Fehr and his companies have donated $122,995 to the Liberals, including a $5,000 donation to Christy Clark when she was seeking the party leadership and to MLA George Abbott when he was seeking the leadership. Dan McLaren and Commonwealth Financial have donated $2,900 to the
SHERRY
DEEPAK
PRINCE GEORGE MACKENZIE
OGASAWARA
bobbydeepak.bcndp.ca
sherryogasawara.bcndp.ca
PRINCE GEORGE VALEMOUNT
Liberals since 2009. Bell did not mention either. The NDP repeatedly asked Justice Minister Shirley Bond whether she would reveal all the documents involved with fairness advisor Jane Shackell’s investigation into the matter. Bell, who fielded all questions on the controversy even though Bond was sin the Legislature, said documents would be released after the contract was awarded. The NDP continued its attack, releasing a briefing note from Northern Development Initiative CEO Janine North indicating that a site was procured for the centre at the MLAs’ request. The briefing note was sent to the NDIT board and “her purpose was to convince the board to lend a considerable amount of money to Commonwealth Campus for a public project,” said NDP MLA Maureen Karigianis in Question Period. “After clearly saying that the jobs minister and justice minister had thrown their political weight behind a specific purchase of land, she made the recommendation that a ‘term sheet be developed to enable Northern Development Initiative Trust to provide a secure loan to the Commonwealth Campus.’” NDIT has subsequently initiated foreclosure proceedings against Commonwealth. Bell pointed out that NDIT operates independent of government and that MLAs’ roles are to advise only. “It’s our responsibility to advise,” Bell said. “Not to make the decisions. Of course we would be advocating for projects in our community, that’s our responsibility.” The NDP have since called for an independent investigation into the matter, given that Bond is also involved.