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Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Vol. 7 • Issue 102
Misty the elk needs milk See Page 11
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Union president marches in opposition to Interior Health move
Hospital Employees’ Union president Victor Elkins (right photo) joined Sophia Dricos, a Kootenay Lake hospital laundry employee, in a rally Saturday against Interior Health’s move towards privatizing hospital laundry services in Nelson and in 10 other BC communities.
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Government stops Jumbo development
BILL METCALFE Nelson Star BC Environment Minister Mary Polak has decided the Jumbo Glacier Resort real estate development in the Purcell Mountains cannot proceed, but the developer says it might take the government to court. “While it is clear some construction has started, I am not convinced the physical activity undertaken meets the threshold of a substantially started project,” Polak said in a written decision Thursday. “One of our options will be judicial review,” said Tom Oberti of Glacier Resorts Ltd. in an interview with the Star on Monday. “We are disappointed. We do not agree with her logic.” The provincial government gave the Jumbo development the green light based on an environmental assessment certificate issued in 2004. Certificates may be renewed after five years but may not be renewed a second time unless the project is “substantially started” in the opinion of the environment minister. The Jumbo certificate was renewed in 2009, leaving a final expiry date of October 12, 2014. “My role was limited to the question of whether it was started,” said Polak, “and not to reassess the merits of the project.”
What does ‘substantially started’ mean?
By well into the summer of 2014, virtually no work had been done on the site. In the fall the company built a road, put in a temporary bridge and two permanent bridges, poured a concrete slab for a day lodge and a service building, and put in foundation anchors for a chairlift. Did this mean the project was “substantially started?” There were no clear standards on which to base that decision. Polak was in uncharted territory, and it took her until last week to release her decision. Accompanied by staff members from her environmental assessment office, Polak visited Jumbo in the fall, where she met with the company, the Ktunaxa Nation Council, the Shuswap Indian Band, and environmental groups.
Tamara Hynd photos
Elkins and Dricos thanked Nelson city council for its support. Elkins said Nelson was the first of several councils to come on board and that has made a difference. Since then, local governments in Kamloops, Vernon, Williams Lake, Summerland and
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Kootenay Co-op at 40 See Page 3
Nelsonites rally against laundry privatization TAMARA HYND Nelson Star Kootenay Lake Hospital laundry employees and their union president rallied together Saturday, marching down Nelson’s Baker St. to city hall to protest the privatization of laundry services. The colourful and vocal group prompted honks and cheers from many people driving by. After the rally reached city hall, Hospital Employees’ Union president Victor Elkins and three local hospital laundry workers, Mike Pearce, Al Chatten and Jeff Sheloff, addressed the crowd, as did city councillor Michael Dailly and BCGEU representative Henny Hanegraaf. Sophia Dricos, who has worked in laundry service for 29 years, including 19 in Nelson, organized the event. “I’m doing this because we want to keep our jobs,” said Dricos. “I really want this government to stop the privatization of public services because it’s the government doing this, not Interior Health.” Elkins said Nelson hospital employees and the local union have been provincial leaders in rallying against Interior Health’s move.
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100 Mile House have also raised concerns about privatizing hospital laundry and consequent job losses in their communities.
Elkins said since the privatization of services began in the Lower Mainland in 2007, payments for private laundry Continued on page 7
‘There is no formula’
“It is not something the environmental assessment office has had to do before, so there is no formula,” she said in a conference call with media after her decision. Continued on page 7
Kootenay Team Pursuit
THE BOMBI
Sunday, June 28
4 Person Teams | Mens - Womens - Mixed Registration Extended!
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See Gericks for details!
702 Baker St • 250.354.4622 • www.gericks.com