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APRIL 23, 2015
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Vol. 120, Issue 63
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Soccer numbes gowing Page 9
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Political hopefuls weigh in on federal budget
Fruitvale recycling depot set to close
CROWE WELCOMES DUCKLINGS
BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
On paper, annual budgets appear black and white. But what the numbers really reflect are choices based on underlying philosophies of whomever is in power. That’s very apparent after the three South Okanagan-West Kootenay (SOWK) MP candidates weighed in on the latest federal budget tabled by Finance Minister Joe Oliver Tuesday afternoon. There’s a few highlights, regardless the party, that are positives for all Canadians, including extending compassionate care benefits from six weeks to six months and relaxing rules governing registered retirement income funds. On matters like the absence of cli“This budget is mate change fundjust throwing ing versus billions baubles and earmarked for counter-terrorism trinkets at voters efforts, or the beneto get them on fits of income-splittheir side, and to ting and increases me that’s cynical.” to tax free savings accounts, there’s a RICHARD CANNINGS wide divide between SOWK politicians Richard Cannings, NDP, the Liberal Party’s Connie Denesiuk and Conservative Marshall Neufeld. “There is nothing in the budget for climate change and that’s my big concern,” said Cannings, an Okanagan-based biologist. “To me, that’s shameful and embarrassing. We are the pariah of the world when it comes to action on climate change and have a big meeting in Paris later this year,” he said, referring to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. “We will be embarrassed again if this is all we have to report.” The budget is short sighted with no vision, says Cannings, because billions are invested into oil and gas industries instead of renewable resources, which would create new jobs outside of northern Alberta. “This budget is just throwing baubles and trinkets at voters to get them on their side, and to me that’s cynical.” He says the focus on bumping up military spending such as a $360 million mission against ISIS, $293 million for police, border services and Canadian Security Intelligence Service plus another $118 million to fight cyber attacks, is misguided. “Their initiatives on counter terrorism will only affect us in very negative ways, and we are very much fighting Bill C-51. See TORY, Page 5
BY LIZ BEVAN Times Staff
LIZ BEVAN PHOTO
Grade 11 student, Guy Vercillo, holds one of the seven ducklings who are making their new home at J.L Crowe Secondary School. The ducklings are part of a program to get students closer to nature. See story Page 2.
The Fruitvale recycling drop-off centre is closing down on April 27, leaving some homes in the area without a convenient place to drop off their recyclables. Without the centrally located depot, residents living outside of the curbside pick-up area will have to travel into Trail to get rid of their plastic, glass, paper and more. Multi Materials BC, the provincial body in charge of recycling, said it can't reveal the exact addresses around the Beaver Valley curbside pick-up boundaries, but to find out if your home is on the route, visit www.recyclinginbc.ca/rdkb/ for a map and address search function. Tim Dueck, solid waste management coordinator with the Regional District of the Kootenay Boundary, says the closure will end up saving district taxpayers a significant amount of money. “We have been paying for the cost of that depot which is in the neighbourhood of $100,000 per year,” he said. “The cost of operating that depot involves a contracted hauler to collect materials a couple times a week, there is the cost of renting the land, grading and snow removal. “The cost of operating the curbside collecting service is about $50,000.” But now, with the closure of the depot, there are some homes that will be without curbside pick-up and without a local drop-off centre. Area A resident, Stan Skoumal, currently uses the drop-off centre at Liberty Foods in Fruitvale several times a week. See CHANGE, Page 3
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN866-897-0678 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242
Supporting our community West Kootenay Brain Injury Association Support for Survivors and their Caregivers in the community. Visit their store on every Thursday at Waneta Plaza beside Crockett Books to view the artistic endeavours of their clients
Canada Post, Contract number 42068012
Free kids playroom and ball pit
www.wanetaplaza.com
5 min. east of Trail on Hwy 3B