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JANUARY 19, 2016
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Vol. 65, Issue 12
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Council releases deer cull info
City of Cranbrook acknowledges 20 deer culled; 137 in urban herd was most ever counted TREVOR CRAWLEY
Cranbrook city council officially acknowledged that an urban deer cull was carried out, with 20 deer being captured and euthanized over the last six weeks. In a media release issued after a city council meeting on Monday, Jan. 18, the city said a wildlife permit was obtained in October and valid until the end of January. “I am very pleased with the results of this program to manage and control our urban deer situation,” said Mayor Lee Pratt, in the press release. “I know some people do not agree with our program, but in the interest of the protection of citizens’ property and the safety of our residents it had to be done.” Councillor Wes Graham filled in for Mayor Lee Pratt, who was unable to make the meeting due to illness. It’s the first public acknowledgement of a cull since the B.C. Deer Protection Society and the Animal Alliance of Canada accused the city of approving and conducting a cull behind closed doors. The B.C. Deer Protection Society posted video of a deer caught in a clover trap before being shot twice by a bolt gun. Photographs of two other fawns caught in a collapsed clover trap were also posted on their website.
See CITY, Page 3
BARRY COULTER PHOTO
A group of people opposed to Cranbrook’s deer cull gathered in Council Chambers at City Hall to protest during Monday night’s regular council meeting.
‘Taking Back EK Highways’ protest set for Wedneday C AROLYN GRANT
The FaceBook group Taking Back East Kootenay Highways was formed in 2014 as more and more people became concerned about what they perceived was less than quality maintenance of winter roads in the area. The FaceBook page, with links to an online petition, has grown since then as people share their concerns and report conditions. Now the group is planning a protest at Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett’s office in Cranbrook on Wednesday.
The protest will begin at 11 a.m. Bennett’s office at 100 Cranbrook St. N. A statement from the group says, “We will let our MLA and highway Contractor (Mainroad) know that we are very unhappy with Bill Bennett’s delay in response to our concerns regarding highway maintenance and the growing complaints as well as lack of highway maintenance we are receiving this winter. “We would like to stress that this protest is not directed at employees of Mainroad but rather MLA Bill Bennett,-
Mainroad management and the Minister of Transportation. This is a peaceful protest and we remind those who are attending to be respectful during this event.” However, it is likely to be a quiet protest as neither Bill Bennett nor anyone from Mainroad will be there. Niki Taylor, Mainroad Communications, put out the following statement: “Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting is aware of the protest but has no plans to attend. Instead, we will be continuing to ensure the Pro-
vincial highways are kept safe for travel, as we have done for the past fourteen years.” Bill Bennett will not be in town on Wednesday. He spoke to the Bulletin/Townsman while en route to Prince George on Monday. Bennett says his office will be closed during the protest. “I told my staff to leave the office and let the protest happen,” he said. “I’m not going to expose my staff to profanity and threats, which they have received from these people,
both over the phone and coming into the office. My staff will vacate the premises.” Bennett says that up to a point this winter, he found that his office had received fewer complaints than other years. “I have 14 other winters with Mainroad to compare it to and there were fewer complaints. Up until I said publicly that I hadn’t received as many complaints — since then, we are receiving more complaints.”
See HIGHWAYS, Page 3