Barriere Star Journal, December 31, 2015

New Years Eve Bullarama An annual fundraiser for the North Thompson Agriplex & The Farm Kids Scholarship Fund

December 31, 2015 at the North Thompson Agriplex, Barriere, B.C.Bullarama & New Year’s Party (19+): $50 • Bullarama only: $30 • 12 & under (Bullarama only): Free

Doors open at 6pm • Bullarama 7pm •New Year’s Eve Dance to followTickets available at: The Star/Journal, Barriere Country Feeds, or the Horse Barn (Kamloops)

4th Annual

For online tickets go to: http://www.eventbrite.ca and type in: New Years Eve Bullriding

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015 Volume 41, Issue 53 www.starjournal.net $1.40 Includes GSTPM0040030872

S E R V I N G T H E N O R T H T H O M P S O N VA L L E Y F R O M H E F F L E Y C R E E K TO B L U E R I V E R

7 7 8 1 9 5 5 0 0 1 7 8

2014CCNA

Hydro, ICBC, MSP fees up in 2016

..... page 3

Community joining together to help local who lost home to � re

North Thompson Star/Journal

When � re totally destroyed a trailer in Bar-riere trailer park on Dec. 20, it left the owner without a roof over his head or a home to call his own.

Gille Seguin was not home at the time of the fire (reportedly caused by a wood stove), which not only took his trailer but all the tools of his trade as well. Seguin had no in-surance.

Friends of Seguin immediately rallied around him, have provided somewhere for him to stay, and are accepting donations of clothing, furniture and all the items required to put a person’s life back together after such

a devastating loss.Area resident Bill Fowler has opened an ac-

count at Interior Savings in Barriere to accept monetary donations on Seguin’s behalf.

“Anyone can make a donation to the ac-count,” said Fowler, “Just go into the credit union and say its for Gille, they will know what it is about and that I have opened the ac-count.”

Fowlers says Seguin’s friends are working towards raising enough money to be able to get him back to work.

“He is a carpenter and a logger and lost all of his tools and equipment in the � re,” said Fowler, “If we can get him the tools he needs he wants to go back to work.”

Fowler says ideally the group is hoping to be able to raise enough money through bene� t concerts, and other fundraisers to be able to put a trailer back onto Seguin’s pad in River-land Trailer Park.

“There are a lot of costs involved to do that,” said Fowler, “Right now we are deal-ing with the cleanup of the site, the equipment needed to do this and the bins to transport the debris away. So far a number of people have already stepped up to help.”

Fowler notes that if anyone has items to do-nate or be picked up, or would like more in-formation on how to help or participate in the upcoming fundraisers they can call Fowler at 250-672-5116.

When � re totally destroyed a trailer in Bar-

Salvaging freight at ExlouWorkers salvage the cargo from the wreckage of a tractor trailer unit that went off Highway 5 on its side into the north bound ditch at Exlou just after midnight on Dec. 24. The highway was reduced to single lane traf� c only throughout most of the day while the freight was reloaded and removed. Highway conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be less than ideal.

STAR/JOURNAL photo: Bob Hayward

..... page 19

Immigration slows B.C. population

growth..... page 7

One guilty, one acquitted in

moose-hunting incident

..... page 12

Christmas lights in Barriere

A2 www.starjournal.net Thursday, December 31, 2015 North Thompson Star/Journal

The North Thompson STAR/JOURNAL – Every Thursday

Keeps you and your community connected!

Kamloops This Week

A Clearwater man accused of murdering his estranged wife before tak-ing his children hostage and becoming involved in an hours-long standoff with police has been ordered to stand trial.

Iain Scott, 43, was charged with � rst-degree murder after Angila Wilson was found dead in her Clearwater home on April 20, 2014.

Scott’s preliminary inquiry took place earlier this year.On Dec. 13, Kamloops provincial court Judge Chris Cleaveley said the

Crown presented enough evidence to potentially convince a jury of Scott’s guilt, ordering him to stand trial in B.C. Supreme Court.

Scott’s standoff with police began after Clearwater Mounties found the body of Wilson — a 33-year-old nurse who worked at Dr. Helmcken Me-morial Hospital — while performing a well-being check at her home.

Scott, who had the couple’s three children, was found at a different home.

After an eight-hour standoff, during which the children were released unharmed, Scott was taken into custody.

He applied for bail earlier this year, but was ordered to remain behind bars.

Scott was due back in court to set a date on Dec. 21.He remained in custody at the time.

Accused in estranged wife’s murder is

ordered to stand trial

A Clearwater man accused of murdering his estranged wife before tak-

Ministry of Agriculture

VICTORIA - B.C. Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick has issued the following statement regarding the repealing of the United States’ Coun-try of Origin Label-ling laws:

“ T h r o u g h o u t this long process, the British Colum-bian government has stood side by side with B.C. cattlemen and the Canadian government to do our utmost to ensure B.C. food products have fair access to U.S. markets, and that the terms and spirit of all signed trade agreements are adhered to.

“The decision to remove Country of Origin Labelling re-

quirements will once again mean that B.C. and Canadian beef and pork producers have fair access to the U.S. market, and consumers there can enjoy our high-qual-

ity products at fair prices.

“I look forward to continuing to work with B.C.’s food pro-ducers to build on our record 2014 per-formance of $12.3

billion in revenue and $3 billion in exports. Having fair access to markets and improv-ing trade conditions within Canada and internationally are key parts of that.”

B.C. supports COOL repealing and fair market access for B.C.

cattle and pork going southMinistry of Agriculture

Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick has issued the following statement regarding the repealing of the United States’ Coun-try of Origin Label-ling laws:

this long process, the British Colum-bian government has stood side by side with B.C. cattlemen and the Canadian government to do our utmost to ensure B.C. food products have fair access to U.S. markets, and

and fair market access for B.C.

VICTORIA - B.C.

#UsedHelpsA division of

North Thompson Star/Journal Thursday, December 31, 2015 www.starjournal.net A3

By Tom FletcherBlack Press

Medical Services Plan premiums, elec-tricity bills and vehicle insurance rates are up in 2016, reviving criti-cism of the B.C. gov-ernment’s constant boast about keeping taxes low.

MSP premiums rise from $144 to $150 as of Jan. 1, for a family of three earning more than $30,000 a year. For a single person in the same income group, the rate goes from $72 to $75, with lower rates for low-er incomes down to $22,000 a year, where premiums drop to zero.

B.C. is now the only province in Canada with a health care fee, and it has risen about 40 per cent since 2010. Premier Christy Clark has defended the fee as a signal to citizens about the enormous cost of providing health care.

BC Hydro rates

have been politically dictated since Clark and Energy Minis-ter Bill Bennett in-tervened to cap rate increases in 2013. Hydro rates jumped six per cent after the 2013 election, and are capped at no more than four per cent for 2015 and 2016, after which Bennett has promised to return rate-setting author-ity to the independent B.C. Utilities Com-mission (BCUC).

Insurance Corpo-ration of B.C. basic vehicle insurance went up by 5.5 per cent on Nov. 1, an increase still subject to review by the BCUC. That works out to an in-crease of $3.70 per month added for the average driver.

ICBC had pro-posed the maximum 6.7 per cent increase to cover increasing costs of personal in-jury claims and fraud, but the province gave it permission for a one-time transfer of

$450 million from its optional insurance business to subsidize the basic rate.

In a year-end in-terview, NDP leader John Horgan stopped short of promising to eliminate MSP pre-miums, but he called it a “regressive tax” that would be part of a broad review of B.C. taxation fairness if he wins the 2017 election.

The Canadian Tax-

payers’ Federation says people who ben-e� t from Prime Min-ister Justin Trudeau’s promised middle-class tax cut will see most of those savings eaten up by provincial and municipal tax increas-es.

Trudeau vowed to reduce the federal income tax bracket between $45,282 and $90,563 from 22 per cent to 20.5 per

cent, and increase the rate for income over $200,000 from 29 to 33 per cent.

The change would provide up to $2,000 in tax relief for mid-dle-income earners, with dual-income households bene� ting most, CTF federal di-rector Aaron Wudrick says.

Municipal taxes are expected to increase across the province in 2016, with local coun-cils preparing to set budgets for the new � scal year that starts April 1. Port Alberni has proposed a seven per cent increase, and the CTF says it hasn’t found any B.C. munic-ipalities yet that pro-

pose to freeze or lower property tax rates.

With the rapid rise in property prices con-tinuing in parts of the Lower Mainland, the B.C. Assessment Au-thority sent out 37,000 letters in December, warning single-family homeowners to brace for a big jump in their assessed value.

Black Press

ICBC rates are up 5.5 per cent, with the corporation citing increased injury claim costs as part of the reason.

Hydro, ICBC, MSP fees up in 2016Medical Services

OTTAWA, Dec 16, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Con-sumer-facing regulated postage stamp rates will not increase in January 2016.

Increases previously announced in July 2015 will not proceed pending a Government of Canada review of Canada Post, as outlined in the mandate letter for the Minister of Public Services and Pro-curement. As a result, the current rates for Domes-tic Lettermail, U.S. and International Letter-post items (letters, cards and postcards destined for the United States and other international destinations) and Domestic Registered Mail will remain in effect for 2016.

PermanentTM stamps for Domestic Lettermail items weighing 30 grams or less will remain at the current rate of $0.85 when purchased in a book-let, coil or pane. The price of a single stamp will remain $1.00.

The regulated postage stamp rates impacted by this decision are largely geared to consumers be-cause they apply to regular letters, cards and post-cards. Non-regulated rates for items like parcels, di-rect mail and large-volume mailings of letters will continue to see competitive rate changes take effect in early 2016.

Canada Post estimates the average Canadian household purchases approximately two postage stamps per month while the typical small business purchases fewer than 250 postage stamps per year.

2016 regulated postage stamp

rates to remain at current levels

2016 regulated


The North Thompson STAR/JOURNAL – Every Thursday

Keeps you and your community connected!

Kamloops This Week

A Clearwater man accused of murdering his estranged wife before tak-ing his children hostage and becoming involved in an hours-long standoff with police has been ordered to stand trial.

Iain Scott, 43, was charged with � rst-degree murder after Angila Wilson was found dead in her Clearwater home on April 20, 2014.

Scott’s preliminary inquiry took place earlier this year.On Dec. 13, Kamloops provincial court Judge Chris Cleaveley said the

Crown presented enough evidence to potentially convince a jury of Scott’s guilt, ordering him to stand trial in B.C. Supreme Court.

Scott’s standoff with police began after Clearwater Mounties found the body of Wilson — a 33-year-old nurse who worked at Dr. Helmcken Me-morial Hospital — while performing a well-being check at her home.

Scott, who had the couple’s three children, was found at a different home.

After an eight-hour standoff, during which the children were released unharmed, Scott was taken into custody.

He applied for bail earlier this year, but was ordered to remain behind bars.

Scott was due back in court to set a date on Dec. 21.He remained in custody at the time.

Accused in estranged wife’s murder is

ordered to stand trial

A Clearwater man accused of murdering his estranged wife before tak-

Ministry of Agriculture

VICTORIA - B.C. Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick has issued the following statement regarding the repealing of the United States’ Coun-try of Origin Label-ling laws:

“ T h r o u g h o u t this long process, the British Colum-bian government has stood side by side with B.C. cattlemen and the Canadian government to do our utmost to ensure B.C. food products have fair access to U.S. markets, and that the terms and spirit of all signed trade agreements are adhered to.

“The decision to remove Country of Origin Labelling re-

quirements will once again mean that B.C. and Canadian beef and pork producers have fair access to the U.S. market, and consumers there can enjoy our high-qual-

ity products at fair prices.

“I look forward to continuing to work with B.C.’s food pro-ducers to build on our record 2014 per-formance of $12.3

billion in revenue and $3 billion in exports. Having fair access to markets and improv-ing trade conditions within Canada and internationally are key parts of that.”

B.C. supports COOL repealing and fair market access for B.C.

cattle and pork going southMinistry of Agriculture

Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick has issued the following statement regarding the repealing of the United States’ Coun-try of Origin Label-ling laws:

this long process, the British Colum-bian government has stood side by side with B.C. cattlemen and the Canadian government to do our utmost to ensure B.C. food products have fair access to U.S. markets, and

and fair market access for B.C.

VICTORIA - B.C.

Unemployed? Looking for work?Not sure what to do? We can Help

Visit the Barriere EmploymentService Centre

for more information on

• Job Search Resources• Personal Employment Planning• Workshops and Training• Specialized services

For more information contact: Barriere Employment Service Centre4629 Barriere Town Road

(250) 672-0036

Work BC

� e Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and

the Province of British Columbia

Its now easier than ever to get the training and

support you need to � nd and keep a job in B.C.

Shuttle BuS

Clearwater & Little Fort to

Bullarama in Barriere

Pick up at 5pm at Brookfield Mall & will stop at Jim’s Store in Little Fort. Return from Barriere 10-10:30 before dance starts.

Tickets must be purchased by 1pm Dec. 31 $12 each available at the Times Office

Bullarama Tickets also available at the Times office

$30 Bullarama only$50 Bullarama & Dance

Children 10 and under free

Shuttle Tickets $10


OPINIONEditor ia l ; By Ken Alexander / Black Press

The B.C. Liberal government has made an important move to make the � nancial lives of some disabled individuals easier.

Last month, Social Development Minister Michelle Stilwell announced that starting this month an individual with the Persons With Disabilities designation will be able to receive � nancial gifts and inheritances of up to $100,000 without affecting their monthly payments.

The former lifetime gift and inheritance limit was $5,000 per person, after which assistance payments were clawed back from their monthly pay-ments.

A couple – both with Persons With Disabilities (PWD) designation – will now be able to receive $200,000 without losing eligibility for assistance. The previous level was $10,000.

Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett said she is proud of her gov-ernment’s move, as the new levels for � nancial gifts and inheritances make a lot more sense now.

She noted the new policies mean PWD designated people’s pensions can’t be touched and that way they can have gift and inheritance money without being penalized.

In the case of an inheritance, Stilwell said the higher asset limits will free up many clients from having to set aside that money in a trust.

The government is also changing the way trust payments are handled, giving people receiving disability assistance greater � exibility in how they use that money to lead more independent lives.

Furthermore, the $8,000 annual cap on trust payments has been elimi-nated.

According to Social Development minister, the new policy changes affect 96,000 people in British Columbia who receive disability assis-tance.

So, this is good news for people with disabilities, but they have to receive a � nancial gift or an inheritance to take advantage of the new changes.

However, life can de� nitely be a struggle for folks with disabilities.They go through life with ongoing day-to-day issues that non-disabled

individuals don’t have to deal with or even think about.On top of that, it can be a � nancial struggle for people with disabilities.Too many are struggling with the current monthly assistance payments,

which are leaving people with disabilities close to the poverty line.Some folks will get out of that predicament because they will be able to

keep more of the money from � nancial gifts without losing their monthly payments.

The province previously raised the earned income exemption, so people can earn up to $9,600 a year without reduction of their disability assis-tance.

While that helps the � nancial situation for some people with disabilities, they still have to � nd jobs to take advantage of the additional income.

It’s a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done.

Ken Alexander is editor of the 100 Mile House Free Press

North Americans cannot have all that we expect

The North Thompson Star/Journal is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documen-tation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, P.O. Box 1356, Ladysmith, B.C., V9G 1A9. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.

To the editor;People continue to argue for cheaper fuel prices

at the pump, yet this works inversely to the goals of lessening climate change by reducing greenhouse gases. A U.S. government report due out soon is expected to indicate that surging demand for trucks and SUVs fueled by cheap gasoline is hold-ing back improvements in U.S. fuel economy and greenhouse-gas emissions.

This from the second-largest emitter of green-house gases in the world.

No matter what the global leaders decide, it will always come down to individual consumers

to reduce emissions. That will mean reducing our freedom to make purchases and have a lifestyle to which we have become accustomed and, instead, living more constrained and simpler lives.

But, how do you impose less freedom onto a population in North America that is used to such a high level of comfort?

And, how do we tell the rest of the world it can-not have all of these things we take for granted here in Canada and the U.S.?

That is the climate-change conundrum.Perry GrunenbergKamloops, B.C.

No penalties for gifts, inheritances

Published by Black Press Ltd. at Unit 10 - 4353 Connor Road, Barriere, B.C., V0E 1E0

250-672-5611

Al KirkwoodPublisher

Jill HaywardEditor

Lisa QuidingProduction

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

The North Thompson Star/Journal is published each Thursday by Cariboo Press (1969) Ltd. in Barriere, B.C. We welcome readers’ articles, photographs, comments and letters. All contents are copyright and any reproduction is strictly prohibited by the

rightsholder.

SubscriptionsCarrier delivery $60.00 plus GSTPostal delivery $65.00 plus GST

CMCAAUDITED

10-4353 Conner RoadBox 1020, Barriere B.C. V0E 1E0

Phone: 250-672-5611 • Fax: 250-672-9900Web Page: www.starjournal.net

Newsroom: [email protected]@starjournal.net • [email protected]


OPINIONEditor ia l ; By Ken Alexander / Black Press

The B.C. Liberal government has made an important move to make the � nancial lives of some disabled individuals easier.

Last month, Social Development Minister Michelle Stilwell announced that starting this month an individual with the Persons With Disabilities designation will be able to receive � nancial gifts and inheritances of up to $100,000 without affecting their monthly payments.

The former lifetime gift and inheritance limit was $5,000 per person, after which assistance payments were clawed back from their monthly pay-ments.

A couple – both with Persons With Disabilities (PWD) designation – will now be able to receive $200,000 without losing eligibility for assistance. The previous level was $10,000.

Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett said she is proud of her gov-ernment’s move, as the new levels for � nancial gifts and inheritances make a lot more sense now.

She noted the new policies mean PWD designated people’s pensions can’t be touched and that way they can have gift and inheritance money without being penalized.

In the case of an inheritance, Stilwell said the higher asset limits will free up many clients from having to set aside that money in a trust.

The government is also changing the way trust payments are handled, giving people receiving disability assistance greater � exibility in how they use that money to lead more independent lives.

Furthermore, the $8,000 annual cap on trust payments has been elimi-nated.

According to Social Development minister, the new policy changes affect 96,000 people in British Columbia who receive disability assis-tance.

So, this is good news for people with disabilities, but they have to receive a � nancial gift or an inheritance to take advantage of the new changes.

However, life can de� nitely be a struggle for folks with disabilities.They go through life with ongoing day-to-day issues that non-disabled

individuals don’t have to deal with or even think about.On top of that, it can be a � nancial struggle for people with disabilities.Too many are struggling with the current monthly assistance payments,

which are leaving people with disabilities close to the poverty line.Some folks will get out of that predicament because they will be able to

keep more of the money from � nancial gifts without losing their monthly payments.

The province previously raised the earned income exemption, so people can earn up to $9,600 a year without reduction of their disability assis-tance.

While that helps the � nancial situation for some people with disabilities, they still have to � nd jobs to take advantage of the additional income.

It’s a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done.

Ken Alexander is editor of the 100 Mile House Free Press

North Americans cannot have all that we expect

The North Thompson Star/Journal is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documen-tation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, P.O. Box 1356, Ladysmith, B.C., V9G 1A9. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.

To the editor;People continue to argue for cheaper fuel prices

at the pump, yet this works inversely to the goals of lessening climate change by reducing greenhouse gases. A U.S. government report due out soon is expected to indicate that surging demand for trucks and SUVs fueled by cheap gasoline is hold-ing back improvements in U.S. fuel economy and greenhouse-gas emissions.

This from the second-largest emitter of green-house gases in the world.

No matter what the global leaders decide, it will always come down to individual consumers

to reduce emissions. That will mean reducing our freedom to make purchases and have a lifestyle to which we have become accustomed and, instead, living more constrained and simpler lives.

But, how do you impose less freedom onto a population in North America that is used to such a high level of comfort?

And, how do we tell the rest of the world it can-not have all of these things we take for granted here in Canada and the U.S.?

That is the climate-change conundrum.Perry GrunenbergKamloops, B.C.

No penalties for gifts, inheritances

Published by Black Press Ltd. at Unit 10 - 4353 Connor Road, Barriere, B.C., V0E 1E0

250-672-5611

In our January 14th edition, the Star/Journal will celebrate

babIeS born In 2015Don’t miss the chance to share your excitement by

announcing the arrival of a new member of the family!

HBaby!

Bring on the Babies!

Submit the following information along with a clear photo

• name • Phone• baby’s First name

• baby’s Middle name• baby’s Last name

• Date of birth• Parents First &

Last names

Deadline for your entry isJan. 8th, 2016 • phone 250 672-5611or drop in at 10-4353 Conner road

only$27.99

Babies of 2015

+ tax


Find more ‘Letters to the Editor’on page 6...

To the editor;While many Canadians, including First Nations people, are welcoming

Syrian and other refugees to Canada, a few are busy spreading fear and hatred, often through distortions and misinformation. Here are four exam-ples of unfounded claims circulating on social media and news comments:

1) There’s a “rape epidemic” in northern Europe, and Muslim men are the perpetrators.

One source of this myth is a video that claims, “Muslims are two per cent of Sweden’s population but they are responsible for almost all rapes”. This was produced by Alex Jones, an American conspiracy theorist whose “infowars” website disseminates strange, extremist content. A similar US source, the “Daily Caller”, says,

“A 1996 Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention report ... not-ed that Muslim immigrants from North Africa were 23 times more likely to commit rape than Swedish men. It is no wonder why today Sweden is deemed the rape capital of the Western world.”

I wrote to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brotts-förebyggande rådet - Brå), which is an agency under the Ministry of Jus-tice. Klara Hradilova Selin told me on their behalf that although they did publish a report on immigrants and crime in 1996, “when it comes to the conclusions on Sweden as the worlds ‘rape capital’, it is, of course totally incorrect.”

2) The Canadian government is not screening refugees diligently, so we are vulnerable to jihadists and terrorists entering our country.

BC BRIEFS

with

Tom Fletcher

BC VIEWSThe death of for-mer B.C. premier Bill Bennett on Dec. 4 prompted the tradi-tional round of polite tributes.

He was the man from Kelowna who re-made Vancouver, with SkyTrain, BC Place stadium and Expo 86 to put the city on the world map. He won three majority govern-ments before handing over the steering wheel of a smoothly running Social Credit Party to Bill Vander Zalm.

Outside B.C., the wire service obitu-aries ran to a few paragraphs, defining Bennett first as the “architect of financial restraint in the prov-ince.”

It seems an ordi-nary notion today, but when Bennett un-leashed his “restraint program” on the B.C. government in 1983, it was presented as a right-wing coup on a socialist utopia.

I was in journalism school in Vancouver when unions orga-nized a general strike and mass street dem-onstrations under the banner of Operation Solidarity, appropri-ated from the strug-gle against Poland’s communist dictators. Their goal was to bring the recently re-elected government to its knees.

The newly tabloid

Vancouver Province, itself largely con-trolled by some of B.C.’s most militant unions, was a screech-ing banshee of the big-labour left.

“Socred hitmen swoop on rights work-ers,” its front page de-clared after 400 layoff notices were issued to provincial staff. This propaganda was the public’s guide and my professional role model.

A bit of back-ground: the B.C. econ-omy was in the grip of an international reces-sion, hitting resource industries and govern-ment revenues hard.

Bennett had ousted the Dave Barrett NDP government in 1975, but the legacy lived on. During its three-year reign, for exam-ple, education spend-ing increased 13 per cent in the first year and 23 per cent in each of the next two.

The blitz of re-straint legislation re-asserted government’s

authority to control the size and wages of provincial staff, rein-stated the province’s ability to pay, elimi-nated various boards, and increased the provincial sales tax to seven per cent to pay the bills.

Another Bill Ben-nett legacy was dis-mantling the monop-oly chokehold of big international unions on public heavy con-struction.

Growing up in northeastern B.C., I had seen the impres-sive pay for jobs on highway construction, about twice what I earned labouring for a non-union contractor doing city work.

A couple of friends discovered the inside track to securing la-bouring jobs on a provincially-funded highway project. Af-ter joining the union, those in the know could visit a business agent and hand over $500 cash.

Within days, the lucky winner would be “name requested” to join the crew, vault-ing over those who thought paying dues and working their way up the seniority list would be enough.

This struggle over public construction continues today, with BC Hydro’s decision to make the Site C dam an open shop.

The main contract was awarded to a consortium working with the Christian La-bour Association of Canada, an alterna-tive union known by more colourful names among old-line build-ing trades.

After graduat-ing from journal-ism school, I landed my first full-time job as a reporter for the Kelowna Capital News, shortly before Bennett announced his retirement from the premier’s office to finish his term as a backbench MLA.

Bennett and I would sometimes arrive for work to-gether, parking our rusty 1976 Chevrolets on Bernard Avenue, where he kept an of-fice above the family furniture store.

I found out later that Bennett’s mod-est old sedan was the government-issue car he had used during his entire 10 years as pre-mier.

The party bought it for him as a humour-ous retirement gift, and he continued to drive it to work. No frills. That was Bill Bennett.

Tom Fletcher is leg-islature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Email: tfletch-e r @ b l a c k p r e s s .ca Twitter: @tom-fletcherbc

Passages of 2015: Bill Bennett

Waiting to see SantaZander, Lexi and Hunter Janzen wait patiently for their turn to visit with Santa Claus at the Success By Six Breakfast With Santa event held at the Lions Hall in Barriere Dec. 12.

Misinformationsurrounds refugees

...continued on page 6....

STAR/JOURNAL photo: Jill Hayward


To the editor;The Concerned Professional Engineers (CPE)

are a group of registered Professional Engineers with signi� cant experience in the design, con-struction, and operation of bulk export marine terminals in Canada and around the world.

As professional engineers, we understand that Canada’s oil industry requires an export route through Canada’s Paci� c Coast in order to transport its valuable product to global markets. However, we also understand that these mega-projects – pipelines, terminals, and tanker ship-ping routes – pose signi� cant risks to the safety of Canadians and to our natural environment. In our opinion, a strong, independent, science-based review and oversight process is required to ensure the success of these projects while risks are kept at a minimum.

We believe that the National Energy Board (NEB) has failed in its responsibility to imple-ment such a process, particularly for the En-

bridge Northern Gateway and Kinder Morgan Transmountain projects. As intervenors in the review of the � rst project and as commenters for the second, we witnessed � rsthand the � aws in the NEB’s process. We are alarmed at the num-ber of critical issues still left unaddressed.

Below is a brief summary of our concerns:The proponents’ own risk analyses state that

there is a 10 per cent probability in the 50-year lifetime of either project, of a marine spill greater than 5,000 cubic meters (for Northern Gateway) or 8,250 cubic meters (for Transmountain). As a comparison, the April 2015 MV Marathassa spill into Vancouver’s English Bay was estimated to be 2.7 cubic meters.

The product that will be transported, diluted bitumen, is substantially different from crude oil. Very little is known about how it will behave when spilled into a marine environment. Envi-ronment Canada’s own scientists have repeatedly

As I mark my � rst anniver-sary as Board Chair of Interior Health, I’m looking back on the highlights and challenges of 2015. From wild� res that blazed through much of our region, to major investments in surgical care, and a change in leadership within our organiza-tion, it has been quite a year.

We saw the departure of Dr. Robert Halpenny as President and CEO and in October, we announced his successor, Chris Mazurkewich. Prior to work-ing with Alberta Health Servic-es, Chris was Chief Operating Of� cer, Strategic & Corporate Services at Interior Health. It is great to have him back.

In September, we welcomed the � rst patients to the new In-terior Heart & Surgical Centre. Located in Kelowna, this state-of-the-art facility now delivers the highest level of surgical care ever seen in the Interior. We are thrilled to offer this calibre of health care to residents from every corner of our region.

With less than a year to go before the opening of the Clini-cal Services Building in Kam-loops, a business plan is under development for a new patient care tower, the next phase of redevelopment at Royal Inland Hospital.

Planning is also underway in Merritt for the redevelop-ment of the Emergency De-partment at Nicola Valley Hos-pital and Health Centre.

In Ashcroft, a new tempo-rary bus service is taking area patients to medical appoint-ments in Lillooet with the physicians who will relocate to

Ashcroft in the New Year upon completion of their Practice Ready Assessments.

An innovative outreach pro-gram is helping patients in the Cariboo access urology care closer to home. Urologists from Royal Inland Hospital now travel to 100 Mile District Gen-eral Hospital to provide urol-ogy services for patients there.

A signi� cant milestone was reached this year when our Board approved the Letter of Understanding with the Ulka-tcho First Nation, the last of eight health agreements that create a strong partnership to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal people.

We continue to develop new ways to use telehealth to help patients living outside of major urban centres. For example, a service introduced this year will help families in the Cariboo and Chilcotin region whose ba-bies may have hearing loss, stay closer to home for testing by linking an audiometric techni-cian in Williams Lake with an

audiologist at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

Our work to expand access to HIV testing and treatment has led to signi� cant increases in screening for the disease. Since 2013, HIV testing in the region has increased by 50 per cent. Screening is a critical step in controlling and eventually ending the AIDS epidemic.

Throughout the year I re-ally enjoyed meeting staff, physicians, volunteers, and our elected of� cials. We managed to cover a lot of territory in-cluding Barriere, Chase, Clear-water, Kamloops, and Salmon Arm. These visits are a priority for myself and the CEO, and over the coming year we will visit other communities in the region.

There is much to celebrate, but we also have much to ac-complish. In an effort to de-crease demand on hospital and residential services, we are shifting our focus to integrated primary and community care, embracing new approaches that not only bene� t our pa-tients but also the health-care system.

At Interior Health, every person matters and I am ex-tremely proud of the staff, physicians and volunteers who demonstrate this philosophy every day in their dedication to quality health care. Our current board is exceptionally engaged and, for the � rst time, has a majority of women serving and chairing half of the board com-mittees. I am con� dent that the next year will bring plenty of change for the better.

All refugees must go through a front-end security screening by CSIS.3) Muslim immigrants will force Sharia law on Canadians.This message spreads via Facebook memes such as one titled, “The de� -

nition of insane stupidity” which shows a photo of shouting women wear-ing hijabs. It originates from a Florida man who thinks President Obama is Muslim, and can also be found on at least one Nazi, white supremacist site. The far-right “Britain First” disseminates similar anti-immigrant ma-terial from its Facebook page.

4) Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier opposed any immigrants who would proselytise instead of assimilating, and said, “We won’t accept anyone ... who will impose his religions or his customs on us.”

The source of this lie is a Facebook meme with an edited quote from US President Theodore Roosevelt that is falsely attributed to Laurier.Bill HorneWells, B.C.

Misinformation surrounds refugeesContinued from page 5...

Interior Health year in review: From Board Chair Erwin Malzer

Interior Health photo

Interior Health Board Chairman Erwin Malzer

ever seen in the Interior. We are thrilled to offer this calibre of health care to residents from every corner of our region.

before the opening of the Clini-cal Services Building in Kam-loops, a business plan is under development for a new patient care tower, the next phase of redevelopment at Royal Inland Hospital.

in Merritt for the redevelop-ment of the Emergency De-partment at Nicola Valley Hos-pital and Health Centre.

rary bus service is taking area patients to medical appoint-ments in Lillooet with the physicians who will relocate to

Concerned Professional Engineers voice concerns about terminals for

Northern Gateway and Transmountain

...continued on next page

Aerial battleTwo ravens duke it out in the skies over Barriere on an overcast day

early last week. The pair continued their aerial battle for approximately

� ve minutes before one conceded defeat and retreated.


C

C

apsule

omments

with MICHELLE

LEINS

PHARMASAVEMonday - Saturday 9 AM - 6 PM

Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM

201-365 Murtle Cres, Clearwater, B.C.

250-674-0058

When measuring cholesterol levels, doctors often calculate a “risk ratio” when interpreting results of your cholesterol tests. This is simply a ratio of the total cholesterol (TC) to the HDL cholesterol (i.e. TC divided by HDL). Ratios of less than 3.5 are thought to put one at a lower risk for coronary heart disease.

People that are truly allergic to gluten have celiac’s disease. A component of gluten, called gliadin is what causes the main problem. Researchers in Alberta are working on a supplement which will bind with gluten in the stomach and prevent the symptoms of celiac disease. The hope is that the product will be available in about three years after further testing is done.

With so many smartphones cameras in pockets or purses today, it is very easy to snap a picture of a medical condition like a rash or mole. Even a short movie can be taken then shown to your doctor, particularly if the problem comes and goes. It’s a good example how taking a “selfie” can be of benefit to your health.

If losing weight is on your list of resolutions for the new year, think of this: even a five to 10 per cent loss in weight will result in health benefits. The secret to weight loss is to lose it slowly and steadily and to maintain the lifestyle you followed to lose it in the first place.

Good communication between healthcare professionals and patients is important for your better health. Talk to us regarding your medication concerns.

Wednesday - Friday. 3pm - 10pm (or later!) Saturdays 2pm - 10pm (or later!)In-House Raffles Every Sat. At 3 PM • Non Members Welcome681 Shaver Road, Barriere, BC • 250-672-5913

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Black Press

B.C.’s population reached 4.7 million by Oct. 1, a gain of less than one per cent from the same time last year.

The province’s population growth rate was down to 0.8 per cent by the third quar-ter of 2015, Central 1 Credit Union reports in its latest B.C. Economic Briefing. Net international migration was the main reason for the slowdown, with 11,100 inter-national arrivals during what is usually the highest period of the year for immigration gains.

Within Canada, interpro-vincial migration climbed to nearly 5,000 in the third quarter of 2015, as people returned home to a relatively buoyant B.C. economy from provinces hit by slumping oil prices, notably Alberta, Sas-katchewan and Newfound-land.

While permanent interna-tional resident arrivals were slower, international tour-ism demand climbed to more than 400,000 people by Octo-ber, due mainly to U.S. visi-tors taking advantage of a lower Canadian dollar.

Site C dam contract commits $1.75 billion

BC Hydro has signed its main civil works contract for the Site C dam on the Peace River, for an eight-year proj-ect expected to cost $1.75 billion and generate 8,000 person-years of employment.

The contract is with Peace River Hydro Partners, made up of Petrowest Corp. of Cal-gary, ACCIONA Infrastruc-

ture Canada, a division of a Spanish construction firm, and Samsung C&T Canada Ltd., a division of the Kore-an engineering and electron-ics company.

The contract covers con-struction of the earth-fill dam, two diversion tunnels and a concrete foundation for the generating station and spillways. Site prepara-tion work is underway for the third dam on the Peace River near Fort St. John, and a work camp capable of host-ing up to 1,500 workers is un-der construction.

NDP leader John Horgan and B.C. Federation of La-bour president Irene Lanz-inger both denounced the lack of job guarantees for B.C. workers in the contract. BC Hydro says three quarters of the workers currently on the site are from B.C.

BC Ferries, union reach five-year deal

BC Ferries and the BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union have ratified a five-year agreement that provides for wage increases of 8.55 per cent by its expiry in October 2020.

BC Ferries CEO Mike Cor-rigan described the wage and benefit provisions of the new contract as “fair and mod-est,” noting that the latest agreement means the coastal ferry service will have gone 17 years without a labour dis-pute affecting its operations.

The agreement, ratified by members after it was en-dorsed by the union executive in October, provides average pay increases of 1.71 per cent per year.

There are about 3,500 union members working for BC Ferries.

questioned whether it can be cleaned up effec-tively at all.

Finally, we are concerned that the funding structure currently in place to pay for a spill is woefully inadequate and Canadian taxpayers are exposed to these risky projects. In contrast, the marine shipping industry is structured to limit its liability to the greatest possible extent.

Our recommendations are that alternate loca-tions for the marine terminals must be seriously considered for both Northern Gateway and Transmountain.

For Northern Gateway, moving the terminal from Kitimat to Prince Rupert or preferably to Port Simpson would eliminate the need for su-pertankers to navigate 220 km of narrow fjords in the pristine Great Bear Rainforest, a waterway that will be shared every year by several hundred lique� ed natural gas tankers.

For Transmountain, moving the terminal from the con� ned Burrard inlet to Roberts

Bank, where there is already a coal superport and a container terminal, would provide a clear-er route to the open ocean and allow for larger vessels to be used, signi� cantly cutting the num-ber of vessels travelling.

These alternatives have been proposed to the NEB, Enbridge, and Kinder Morgan many times, and each time have been disregarded with-out a thorough review or response. We recently put in a request to Prime Minister Trudeau to take a look at how the NEB reviews these mega-projects in hopes that information can be made available to the public.

Canada is uniquely situated to take advan-tage of its tremendous endowment of petroleum resources while ensuring the preservation of its environment for all Canadians, now and in the future. We hope that the new government will consider our proposals.Brian GunnConcerned Professional Engineers

CPE voice concerns... Continued from page 6..

Immigration slows B.C. population growth

Retirements and a relatively strong economy have increased B.C.’s net migration from other provinces in recent years, but international immigration has slowed down.

B.C.’s population reached

The North Thompson STAR/JOURNAL – keeping you connected!

Nikki’s Red WagonInterior Savings Insurance once again has collected dry goods and Christmas gifts under the Nikki’s Red Wagon banner for the Barriere Food Bank. Pictured is food bank rep Antoon Houben gathering the items for Christmas hampers Dec. 17.

Submitted photo:


Smile in the snowWith a good 15 centimeters of snow on the windshield of a vehicle early Sunday morning an artistic passerby just couldn’t resist putting a smile in the snow. The large dump of snow came overnight and continued through much of the day with accumulations of 15 centimeters in some areas. Long range forecasts called for cool and sunny from Wednesday on.


Here are some highlights from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Board of Directors’ Meeting of Dec. 10.2016 Chair and Vice-Chair Elected

John Ranta of Cache Creek was acclaimed to the position of Board Chair and Ronaye Elliott of Area “J” (Copper Desert Country) was elect-ed to the position of Vice-Chair for 2016.Granted Approved for Art Exposed

Kathy Sinclair of the Kamloops Arts Council (KAC) provided a pre-sentation to the Board about the Art Exposed project, which showcases non-juried pieces from artists throughout the region. The event takes place March 11 to 19, 2016. The KAC was looking for funding support, and the TNRD Board resolved to provide $5,000 towards the event.Letter of Support for Gold Country Communities Society

A letter will be sent from the TNRD Board to the Gold Country Com-munity Society supporting its funding application to Northern Develop-ment Initiative Trust’s “Fabulous Festivals and Events” program for a grant of up to $2,500. The money will support the Gold Country Digital Sign project from the Cariboo-Chilcotin Lillooet Regional Development Account.2016 Public Consultation and Communications Activities

A total of 66 public consultation and communications activities were conducted by the TNRD in 2015. Public consultation was conducted through activities like public meetings and surveys. Communications ac-tivities included items such as Utility Systems newsletters, public informa-tion sessions, and education booths at community events.2016 Summary Report Regarding Use of Discretionary Funds

A report was provided to the Board, grouped by Electoral Areas, detail-ing what projects were funded by discretionary funds in 2015. More than $48,130 of discretionary funds were spent on projects such as fencing for a train-whistle cessation project; Raise-A-Reader campaigns; a geoparks study; and to support farmers market activities, among a variety of other projects.Funding Provided for Upgrades to the Community Water Systems

Up to $16,000 in Federal Gas Tax – Community Works Fund revenues allocated to Area “A” (Wells Gray Country) was approved to fund a wet-well upgrade, and to replace pumps, leaking valves and service lines for the Vavenby Community Water System.

Up to $30,000 in Gas Tax Funding from Area “P” (Rivers and the Peaks) was approved to fund LED lighting upgrades and replacement of leaking valves and service lines for the Pritchard Community Water Sys-tem.

The next TNRD regular Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 21, at 1:15 p.m.

Highlights from TNRD Dec. 10 Board Meeting

Here are some highlights from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District


STAR/JOURNAL print subscribers will find complete eEditions of each issue,

as well as all weekly supplements on our website.

Call the STAR/JOURNAL office to get your access number. 250-672-5611

Submitted

Interior Health is reminding the public that it is not too late to get your flu shot.

Influenza symptoms often include sudden high fever, headache, general body aches and pains, fatigue and weakness, a runny, stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat. In some cas-es, influenza can lead to more severe illness such as pneumonia and even death.

“The flu shot is the safest and most ef-fective way to prevent influenza,” said Dr. Kamran Golmohammadi, Medical Health Officer with Interior Health. “Getting a flu shot helps protect you from influenza and it also helps prevent you from spreading it to family, friends, and those who may be more vulnerable to serious complications from in-fluenza.”

The flu shot is still available at phar-macies, physician offices and through lo-cal public health centres. To find a flu shot provider near you visit Immunize BC’s Flu Clinic locator (http://immunizebc.ca/clinics/flu#8/49.246/-123.116 ).

“I encourage everyone to get their flu shot as soon as possible, especially those in high risk groups.

Protection from influenza generally be-gins 10 to 14 days after immunization.

Getting a flu shot now will protect you and your family over the holiday season and

into the New Year”, adds Dr. Golmoham-madi.

The flu shot is free for:• Seniors over 65 years of age• Children six months to 59 months of

age• Aboriginal people• Pregnant women• People with chronic medical conditions

such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes• People who live with or care for people

in high-risk groups• Visitors to a health care facility For a complete list of those at risk and

eligible for a free flu shot visit the Interior Health website (https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourHealth/Immunization/SeasonalFlu-Campaign/Pages/default.aspx).

In addition to getting a flu shot, Dr. Gol-mohammadi stresses that proper hand wash-ing and covering noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing are also important ways to prevent the spread of influenza and many other infections.

He advises that people experiencing influ-enza symptoms should stay home from work, school and holiday gatherings to reduce the risk of spreading infection to others.

In B.C., the majority of influenza cases occur between December to April, with the peak of activity typically occurring in Janu-ary.

It’s not too late to get a � u shot

Interior Health is reminding the public

Office of M.P. Cathy McLeod

OTTAWA – The federal Liberal government has aban-doned transparency when it comes to � nancial matters for First Nations, according to Of� cial Opposition Indig-enous Affairs Critic Cathy McLeod.

“Today’s decision by Min-ister Bennett to cease all discretionary compliance measures regarding the First Nations Financial Transpar-ency Act is a step backwards for transparency for all Ca-nadians,” McLeod said on Dec. 18. “The government is functionally abandoning the First Nations Transparency Act without repealing it. This is a sad day for those First Nations community mem-bers who called for enhanced � nancial accountability and transparency.”

McLeod said the FNFTA represents real progress in ensuring that First Nations leadership worked in the best interests of their communi-

ties, and that the Act should remain in place.

“The Act ensures com-munity members have access to basic � nancial informa-tion such as audited � nancial statements, and the salaries and expenses of chief and council. Now with no com-pliance measures in effect, it’s a safe prediction that the

compliance rate will collapse, and � nancial information will again be shrouded in secrecy from community members,” said McLeod.

“Our Conservative govern-ment supported this legisla-tion because it is based on the premise that all Canadians deserve accountability and transparency from their lead-ership,” said McLeod. “First Nations governments operat-ing under the Indian Act had been the only level of govern-ment in Canada that was not obligated to make basic � nan-cial information public.”

McLeod pointed out that withdrawing enforcement of the Act is being done without the bene� t of a parliamen-tary debate. “For all practi-cal purposes, this is a repeal of the Act, being carried out without actually bothering to give Members of Parlia-ment any chance to debate it,” said McLeod. “It is ironic that a law about transparency is being gutted in such a non-transparent way.”

Liberals take step backwards on � nancial transparency: McLeod

OTTAWA – The federal

Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo and Of� cial Opposition Indigenous Affairs Critic

Liberals take step backwards on

fluenza.”

macies, physician offices and through lo-cal public health centres. To find a flu shot provider near you visit Immunize BC’s Flu Clinic locator (http://immunizebc.ca/clinics/flu#8/49.246/-123.116 ).

shot as soon as possible, especially those in high risk groups.

gins 10 to 14 days after immunization.

and your family over the holiday season and


Liberal government has aban-doned transparency when it comes to � nancial matters for First Nations, according to Of� cial Opposition Indig-enous Affairs Critic Cathy McLeod.

ister Bennett to cease all discretionary compliance measures regarding the First Nations Financial Transpar-ency Act is a step backwards for transparency for all Ca-nadians,” McLeod said on Dec. 18. “The government is functionally abandoning the First Nations Transparency Act without repealing it. This is a sad day for those First Nations community mem-bers who called for enhanced � nancial accountability and transparency.”

Liberals take step backwards on Liberals take step backwards on


Smile in the snowWith a good 15 centimeters of snow on the windshield of a vehicle early Sunday morning an artistic passerby just couldn’t resist putting a smile in the snow. The large dump of snow came overnight and continued through much of the day with accumulations of 15 centimeters in some areas. Long range forecasts called for cool and sunny from Wednesday on.


Here are some highlights from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Board of Directors’ Meeting of Dec. 10.2016 Chair and Vice-Chair Elected

John Ranta of Cache Creek was acclaimed to the position of Board Chair and Ronaye Elliott of Area “J” (Copper Desert Country) was elect-ed to the position of Vice-Chair for 2016.Granted Approved for Art Exposed

Kathy Sinclair of the Kamloops Arts Council (KAC) provided a pre-sentation to the Board about the Art Exposed project, which showcases non-juried pieces from artists throughout the region. The event takes place March 11 to 19, 2016. The KAC was looking for funding support, and the TNRD Board resolved to provide $5,000 towards the event.Letter of Support for Gold Country Communities Society

A letter will be sent from the TNRD Board to the Gold Country Com-munity Society supporting its funding application to Northern Develop-ment Initiative Trust’s “Fabulous Festivals and Events” program for a grant of up to $2,500. The money will support the Gold Country Digital Sign project from the Cariboo-Chilcotin Lillooet Regional Development Account.2016 Public Consultation and Communications Activities

A total of 66 public consultation and communications activities were conducted by the TNRD in 2015. Public consultation was conducted through activities like public meetings and surveys. Communications ac-tivities included items such as Utility Systems newsletters, public informa-tion sessions, and education booths at community events.2016 Summary Report Regarding Use of Discretionary Funds

A report was provided to the Board, grouped by Electoral Areas, detail-ing what projects were funded by discretionary funds in 2015. More than $48,130 of discretionary funds were spent on projects such as fencing for a train-whistle cessation project; Raise-A-Reader campaigns; a geoparks study; and to support farmers market activities, among a variety of other projects.Funding Provided for Upgrades to the Community Water Systems

Up to $16,000 in Federal Gas Tax – Community Works Fund revenues allocated to Area “A” (Wells Gray Country) was approved to fund a wet-well upgrade, and to replace pumps, leaking valves and service lines for the Vavenby Community Water System.

Up to $30,000 in Gas Tax Funding from Area “P” (Rivers and the Peaks) was approved to fund LED lighting upgrades and replacement of leaking valves and service lines for the Pritchard Community Water Sys-tem.

The next TNRD regular Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 21, at 1:15 p.m.

Highlights from TNRD Dec. 10 Board Meeting

Here are some highlights from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District


STAR/JOURNAL print subscribers will find complete eEditions of each issue,

as well as all weekly supplements on our website.

Call the STAR/JOURNAL office to get your access number. 250-672-5611

Submitted

Interior Health is reminding the public that it is not too late to get your flu shot.

Influenza symptoms often include sudden high fever, headache, general body aches and pains, fatigue and weakness, a runny, stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat. In some cas-es, influenza can lead to more severe illness such as pneumonia and even death.

“The flu shot is the safest and most ef-fective way to prevent influenza,” said Dr. Kamran Golmohammadi, Medical Health Officer with Interior Health. “Getting a flu shot helps protect you from influenza and it also helps prevent you from spreading it to family, friends, and those who may be more vulnerable to serious complications from in-fluenza.”

The flu shot is still available at phar-macies, physician offices and through lo-cal public health centres. To find a flu shot provider near you visit Immunize BC’s Flu Clinic locator (http://immunizebc.ca/clinics/flu#8/49.246/-123.116 ).

“I encourage everyone to get their flu shot as soon as possible, especially those in high risk groups.

Protection from influenza generally be-gins 10 to 14 days after immunization.

Getting a flu shot now will protect you and your family over the holiday season and

into the New Year”, adds Dr. Golmoham-madi.

The flu shot is free for:• Seniors over 65 years of age• Children six months to 59 months of

age• Aboriginal people• Pregnant women• People with chronic medical conditions

such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes• People who live with or care for people

in high-risk groups• Visitors to a health care facility For a complete list of those at risk and

eligible for a free flu shot visit the Interior Health website (https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourHealth/Immunization/SeasonalFlu-Campaign/Pages/default.aspx).

In addition to getting a flu shot, Dr. Gol-mohammadi stresses that proper hand wash-ing and covering noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing are also important ways to prevent the spread of influenza and many other infections.

He advises that people experiencing influ-enza symptoms should stay home from work, school and holiday gatherings to reduce the risk of spreading infection to others.

In B.C., the majority of influenza cases occur between December to April, with the peak of activity typically occurring in Janu-ary.

It’s not too late to get a � u shot

Interior Health is reminding the public


OTTAWA – The federal Liberal government has aban-doned transparency when it comes to � nancial matters for First Nations, according to Of� cial Opposition Indig-enous Affairs Critic Cathy McLeod.

“Today’s decision by Min-ister Bennett to cease all discretionary compliance measures regarding the First Nations Financial Transpar-ency Act is a step backwards for transparency for all Ca-nadians,” McLeod said on Dec. 18. “The government is functionally abandoning the First Nations Transparency Act without repealing it. This is a sad day for those First Nations community mem-bers who called for enhanced � nancial accountability and transparency.”

McLeod said the FNFTA represents real progress in ensuring that First Nations leadership worked in the best interests of their communi-

ties, and that the Act should remain in place.

“The Act ensures com-munity members have access to basic � nancial informa-tion such as audited � nancial statements, and the salaries and expenses of chief and council. Now with no com-pliance measures in effect, it’s a safe prediction that the

compliance rate will collapse, and � nancial information will again be shrouded in secrecy from community members,” said McLeod.

“Our Conservative govern-ment supported this legisla-tion because it is based on the premise that all Canadians deserve accountability and transparency from their lead-ership,” said McLeod. “First Nations governments operat-ing under the Indian Act had been the only level of govern-ment in Canada that was not obligated to make basic � nan-cial information public.”

McLeod pointed out that withdrawing enforcement of the Act is being done without the bene� t of a parliamen-tary debate. “For all practi-cal purposes, this is a repeal of the Act, being carried out without actually bothering to give Members of Parlia-ment any chance to debate it,” said McLeod. “It is ironic that a law about transparency is being gutted in such a non-transparent way.”

Liberals take step backwards on � nancial transparency: McLeod

OTTAWA – The federal

Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo and Of� cial Opposition Indigenous Affairs Critic

Liberals take step backwards on

fluenza.”

macies, physician offices and through lo-cal public health centres. To find a flu shot provider near you visit Immunize BC’s Flu Clinic locator (http://immunizebc.ca/clinics/flu#8/49.246/-123.116 ).

shot as soon as possible, especially those in high risk groups.

gins 10 to 14 days after immunization.

and your family over the holiday season and


Liberal government has aban-doned transparency when it comes to � nancial matters for First Nations, according to Of� cial Opposition Indig-enous Affairs Critic Cathy McLeod.

ister Bennett to cease all discretionary compliance measures regarding the First Nations Financial Transpar-ency Act is a step backwards for transparency for all Ca-nadians,” McLeod said on Dec. 18. “The government is functionally abandoning the First Nations Transparency Act without repealing it. This is a sad day for those First Nations community mem-bers who called for enhanced � nancial accountability and transparency.”

Liberals take step backwards on Liberals take step backwards on


Turkey comes for dinnerThis wild turkey tom was photographed actually tapping on the door of

a Louis Creek house on a snowy Christmas morning. Fortunately for the

turkey he was not invited in!


Dog Obedience ClassesLearn to teach your dog good manners and

acceptable behaviour in all situations.Next class starts Sunday, Jan. 24 ,

at the Fall Fair Hall in Barriere Six week courses for Basic and Novice Obedience

for dogs age 6 months and older. Cost $110Call Jill Hayward 250-319-8023

Good Manners

Make yourNew Year

resolution one that involves

forming a bond of mutual

respect and companionship

between you and your dog

that will last a lifetime!

By Keith McNeillThe Times

District of Clearwater is moving forward the replacement of its computers and hiring a new information technology services company after the municipality’s computer network became in-fected with a virus.

According to a report from director of � nance Wes Renaud to town council’s � nance and audit committee, the District’s network was infected by the virus in February, 2015.

The virus is a ransom-ware trojan that targets computers running Microsoft Windows.

Once the computer becomes infected, the vi-rus displays a message offering to have itself re-moved if a ransom is paid.

As a result of the District’s computers becom-ing infected, BDO, the District’s auditors, stated in a letter, “The virus exposed certain vulnerabil-ities in the IT (information technology) system and consulting, including that backups were not being adequately maintained and tested. Fur-thermore, the District’s IT consultant recom-

mended that the District engage with the perpe-trator of the virus, which introduces further risk to the District.”

Most of District of Clearwater’s computers are sluggish, a varied in makes and models, and are well beyond their warranty period, Renaud noted in his report.

Computers in satellite locations, such as the � rehall, Sportsplex and former District of� ce, are not on the same network.

Sea to Sky Network Solutions, IT consultants hired following the virus attack, recommended that a redundant server be set up that would back up all dat on the main server every hour and store the data at an offsite location in Van-couver.

Other recommendations included a new Dell main server with a � ve-year warranty, new Dell workstations also with � ve-year warranties, and new network equipment (including � rewalls and wireless equipment for the of� ce).

During its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15, town council approved awarding a $65,000 IT service contract to Sea to Sky of Vancouver.

Virus attacks theDistrict of Clearwater

District of Clearwater is moving forward the

News Canada

Whether we love or hate snow, shoveling is a reality of winter life in Canada.

Clearing sidewalks is impor-tant for the safety of pedestri-ans, but the activity can prove hazardous for those unaccus-tomed to heavy lifting. Take into consideration the following tips as the snow starts to fall.

1. Always talk to your doc-tor about your health status be-

fore the winter season to ensure you are � t enough for the task.

2. Warm up � rst with a walk or light stretching, this will also help you get accustomed to the cool temperatures outside.

3. Don’t be afraid to take lots of breaks. Drink plenty of water before and after and pay attention to your core tempera-ture – you don’t want to get too hot or too cold.

4. Dress for the part. Layer-ing from head to toe is always a

good option. Look for items like the hoodies and anti-slip winter boots from to ensure you stay warm and have good footing.

5. Always bend from your knees and not your back. Con-serve your energy and think about pushing the snow to the edges instead of trying to lift it.

6. Be a good neighbour. If someone on your street isn’t capable of shoveling their side-walk, consider taking on the task and giving them a hand.

How to stay safe while shoveling this winter

Whether we love or hate

News Canada

It’s easy to lose control of your spending during the holidays. But you don’t have to feel a shock when you open your credit card bills.

Here are some money management tips to keep your credit card bill in check:

• If you carry a balance on your credit card, pay as much as you can and as soon as you can since interest is charged daily.

Try to pay more than the minimum payment.

Credit card inter-est rates can quickly eat up any savings from a discount price on a big-ticket pur-chase.

The Government of Canada’s credit card payment cal-culator at ItPay-sToKnow.gc.ca will show you how long it will take to pay off your credit card balance if you only make the minimum payment each month.

• Set a budget for gift spending before

you start shopping—a budget for each person on your list as well as a total limit for all gifts, and stick to your budget.

• Don’t take cash advances on your credit card, as you will be charged inter-est immediately.

• Allow enough time for payments to reach your credit card company.

If you don’t, you may end up making a late payment, which could mean pay-ing more interest. It could also negatively affect your credit rat-

ing.• When your state-

ment arrives, check it carefully.

Report any unau-thorized transactions immediately.

This is especially important during this time of year since credit card fraud of-ten occurs during the holiday season.

• If you can’t pay off your entire bal-ance by the due date, pay as much as you can.

More information is available online at ItPaysToKnow.gc.ca.

Dealing with credit card shock

It’s easy to lose


STAR/JOURNAL print subscribers will � nd more community news, views,

photographs, complete eEditions of each issue, and weekly supplements

on our website. Call our o� ce to get your

access number – 250-672-5611

All dressed up in snowThe recent snow falls have dressed the valley in a blanket of white. This young evergreen makes for a striking photograph.


On Dec. 15, the staff from Jim’s Food Market in Little Fort held their annual Christmas party, and this year the theme was ‘Hawaiian’.

The event was at the High Five Diner, who presented a meal with a total of eleven different dishes for the party-goers, who all agreed the food was “fantastic”.

Many of the party-goers arrived at the diner suitably attired in Hawaiian shirts or grass skirts, with one group arriving dressed as tropical island can-nibals.

Everyone was greet-ed as they arrived and given a lei to wear.

The party included trivia questions about Hawaii and prizes were handed out to the � rst person to answer each question correctly.

All in all, everyone agreed the party was “a lot of fun and tons of great food”.STAR/JOURNAL photo: Jill Hayward

Turning tin cans into lanternsGrade 5 students, Doug Hyslop and Danika Zerr, making lanterns from recycled tin cans at Barriere Elementary School Dec. 17.

STAR/JOURNAL photo: Elli Kohnert

Christmas party brings Hawaii to Little Fort

(Above) Tropical island cannibals who at-tended the Jim’s Food Market staff Christmas party stated, “We brought our own meat in case they ran out”. (L-r) Antoon, Wim and Margaret Houben, and Sylvia Boyd.

(Right) Margaret Houben looking the part, while sister Sylvia commented that can-nibal out� ts were much easier than grass skirts.

On Dec. 15, the

Submitted photos:

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Winter Fun Night at Barriere Elementary School on Dec. 17. The evening began with a chili dinner fundraiser hosted by the grade 7 class; students and parents were then able to visit four different rooms within the school where they could make Christ-mas cards. The primary students then performed some Christmas songs in the gymnasium.

(Left) Racheal Veitch and Destiny Baker mak-ing Christmas cards during the Winter Fun Night

(Bottom left) Primary students singing Christmas songs in the gymasium dur-ing the event.

Winter fun at Elementary

W A N T E D : News, photos, event info, & letters for your community newspaper –

The North Thompson STAR/JOURNAL - email: news@starjournal .net • call 250-672-5611

Photos: Ashley Salle

A film set in the Thompson-Nicola Region-al District (TNRD) is now available on DVD.

Shana: The Wolf ’s Music, which was shot primarily in the TNRD, is now available for purchase. It can be found online at shanafilm.ca.

A Swiss-Canadian production, the movie was directed by Nino Jacusso from Switzerland and involves leading cast members from the Scw’exmx branch of the N’laka’pamux First Nations, which includes the Shulus (Lower Nicola Indian Band), Nooaitch, Shackan and Ntsla’tko (Coldwater) First Nations.

The film also features cast members from Merritt and other TNRD communities.

Shana: The Wolf ’s Music has been screened in 28 countries, including more than 15 the-atres in Switzerland and across North Amer-ica.

It has been featured at more than 66 festi-vals worldwide, garnering 25 awards.

Movie filmed in TNRD now on DVD

Frosty and friendJolly snowmen light up the lawn of a Barriere home.

STAR/JOURNAL photo: Elli Kohnert

Have you dropped a

loonie in the Barriere Food

Bank Can?Your sup-

port is always needed.

Thank You.

Nate would like to wish everyone a very

Merry Christmas and happy new year from the

Kirkwood familyAl Theresa� Allison Eric�

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SPORTS

By Cam FortemsKamloops This Week

Calling shooting of a bull moose “brazen,” a provincial court judge Thursday found one of two men guilty of illegally killing and abandon-ing the animal.

Xin Xiao was found guilty after trial of il-legal hunting out of season, possession of an animal and abandoning the bull moose at the side of a logging road in the Nicola Valley in October 2013.

He was � ned about $8,500, with $4,000 of that going to the provincial Habitat Conserva-tion Trust Fund.

“I don’t believe a third party killed the moose and Mr. Xiao came upon the moose and decided to take it,” judge Chris Cleaveley said in his decision.

Cleaveley ruled Xiao said “yeah” to anoth-er hunter when asked him if he killed the bull moose.

That hunter, Kyle Carusi, testi� ed at the trial.

Both Xiao, represented by defence lawyer Kevin Walker, and co-accused Wei Li, defended by Fred Kaatz, used an interpreter during the trial and did not testify themselves.

Cleaveley found the Crown did not have enough evidence to convict Li of the same three offences, nor of hunting without a special licence needed for a non-resident.

The Crown’s case was built on circumstantial evidence.

Two deer hunt-ers who came across a dead bull moose at the side of the road testi� ed when they returned to the same logging road later, they saw two Asian men with a Ford Rap-tor truck backed up to the moose.

Carusi said they appeared to be using a winch to get the moose — not yet � eld dressed or gutted — into the truck.

A surveillance camera at a gas station in Merritt recorded Xiao and Li the morning be-fore the moose was found.

Food and gas receipts from Merritt the day before were also found inside the Ford pickup.

During trial, Carusi testi� ed the two men be-side the moose immediately stopped as he and his father rolled up in their pickup.

Carusi said the two acted “shifty” while be-side the moose.

“It’s reasonable to infer Mr. Xiao and the other man realized they’d been caught red-handed,” Cleaveley said.

Conservation of� cers tracked the Ford pick-up to a Vancouver home.

They seized the truck and a trailer.Xiao, 49, had a “much stronger connection

to the Ford Raptor,” Cleaveley said.Inside that pickup, registered to a woman

from Vancouver, they found Xiao’s Canadian passport, as well as a wallet with his driver’s and hunting licence and credit cards.

Conservation of� cers used DNA to link the moose to blood found on a jacket in the truck.

Cleaveley found it was Xiao’s jacket.Following the Wildlife Act charges, the civil

forfeiture of� ce applied successfully to have the Ford Raptor sold, with half the $48,000 pro-ceeds going to the Crown.

In addition to the approximately $8,500 in � nes, Xiao forfeited two guns found in the truck.

He is also prohibited from hunting for two years.

Walker urged Cleaveley to reduce the � ne from the $10,000 requested by the Crown be-cause his client, a building property manager who earns about $40,000 to $50,000 a year, has a limited ability to pay.

Xiao rents an apartment in Burnaby he shares with his wife and child.

One guilty, one acquitted in moose-hunting incident

Calling shooting of a bull moose “brazen,” a

Broads on Boards teaches skiing skillsPenny Harper practices snowplowing while Sue Ward and Yevonne Cline watch. Six ladies took part in a program put on by Wells Gray Outdoor Club last weekend to teach basic cross-country skiing skills to women. Broads on Boards instructor was Charlotte Smith.

Submitted

Nominations are now open for a new awards program celebrating the athletic achievements of aboriginal youth.

The Premier’s Award for Aborigi-nal Youth Excellence in Sport has been developed by the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activ-ity Parters Council and the Province of British Columbia. Nominees will be scored on athletic achievement, leadership skills, commitment to high-er education and for their recognition as community role models on and off the � eld of play.

The awards are part of Premier Christy Clark’s announcement earlier this year committing to establishing a

program to honour and celebrate the achievements of aboriginal youth in sport.

“To young people, sports are pow-erful, giving meaning in confusing or even dif� cult times,” Clark said in a re-lease highlighting the program. “One of the ways we can embrace reconcili-ation is by recognizing and celebrating aboriginal achievement in sports.”

Athletes will be honoured at the 2016 Gathering Our Voices Confer-ence in March in Victoria. There will be 12 awards given — six male and six female — and recipients will also be asked to attend a special high-skill performance workshop to further their athletic and leadership abilities.

Nomination forms and more in-formation can be found online.

Program launched forexcellence in Aboriginal sport

Program launched for

Nominations are now open for a

THE TIMES photo:

Minor Hockey ScheduleSATURDAY JANUARY 29:00 – 10:00 Novice10:10 – 10:50 Prenovice11:00 – 12:30 Atom vs. Logan Lake12:45 – 2:45 Bantam vs. Logan Lake3:00 – 4:30 Atom vs. Logan Lake

SUNDAY JANUARY 310:00 – 11:30 PW vs. Merritt12:30 – 2:00 PW vs. Merritt

The Sportsplex will be closed January 1st

Adult HockeyMens Drop In Hockey Fridays @ 7:45pm

Oldtimers Hockey will be Sundays @ 7pm & Wednesdays @ 8:35pm

Ladies Drop In HockeySunday @ 5:45pm

Family SkatingFriday @ 4:45PM & Sunday @ 4:15PM

January 3 Sponsored by Hop N Hog

NORTH THOMPSON SPORTSPLEX

Hockey Lives Here!

For more information about the Sportsplex or any programs call 250 674 2143

Clearwater Minor Hockey Become part of a winning team. Join Minor Hockey and learn

to play Canada’s Game. Open to Boys & Girls.www.cdmha.info/

Register @ 250 674 2594 or [email protected]

Wells Gray Curling Clubcall 250.674.3768

Love Where You Live BonspielJan. 16 / 17 Call 250 674 8009

To register


Submitted

Give Mother Na-ture a valentine this year and show how much you care about birds by counting them for the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC).

The 18th annual count is taking place Feb. 13 through 16. Anyone in the world can count birds at any location for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count and enter their sightings at www.Bird-Count.org.

The information gathered by tens of thousands of vol-unteers helps track changes in bird popu-lations on a massive scale. The GBBC is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Orni-thology and the Na-tional Audubon Soci-ety with partner Bird

Studies Canada.Bird watchers fell

in love with the mag-ni� cent Snowy Owl during the last count when the birds were reported in unprece-dented numbers across southeastern Canada, the Great Lakes states, the Northeast, and down the Atlantic Coast. Expect Snowy Owls to show up in higher numbers during this year’s GBBC, too.

“It’s called an ‘echo � ight,’” explains Marshall Iliff, eBird Project Leader at the Cornell Lab of Orni-thology. “After a huge irruption like we had last winter, the follow-ing year often yields h i g h e r- t h a n - u s u a l numbers as well. The abundance of lem-mings that produced last year’s Snowy Owl irruption likely contin-ued or emerged in new areas of eastern Can-

ada, more owls may have stayed east after last year’s irruption, and some of last year’s birds that came south are returning.”

“This may also be a big year for � nch-es,” notes Audubon Chief Scientist Gary Langham. “GBBC participants in North America should be on the lookout for larger

numbers of Pine Sis-kins and redpolls. These birds also push farther south when pine cone seed crops fail in the far north of Canada.”

Bird watchers from 135 countries par-ticipated in the 2014

count, documenting nearly 4,300 species on more than 144,000

bird checklists–that’s about 43 per cent of all the bird species in the world!

In addition to the U.S. and Canada, In-dia, Australia, and Mexico led the way with the greatest num-ber of checklists sub-mitted.

“We especially want to encourage people to share their love of birds and bird watch-ing with someone new this year,” says Dick Cannings at Bird Stud-ies Canada. “Take your sweetheart, a child, a neighbor, or a coworker with you while you count birds for the GBBC. Share your passion and you may � edge a brand new bird watcher!”

The Great Back-yard Bird Count is a great way for people of all ages and back-grounds to connect with nature and show

some love for the birds this Valentine”s Day. Participation is free and easy. To learn more about how to join the count, download instructions, a slide show, web buttons, and other materials, visit www.birdcount.org. While you’re there, get inspired by the winning photos from the 2014 GBBC photo contest.

The Great Back-yard Bird Count is made possible in part by sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a nonpro� t membership institution interpret-ing and conserving the earth’s biological diver-sity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Visit the Cornell Lab website at www.birds.cornell.edu

Audubon is dedi-cated to protecting

birds and other wild-life and the habitat that supports them. Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scienti� c and educational programs, and advocacy on be-half of areas sustaining important bird popula-tions, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in conservation. www.audubon.org

Bird Studies Can-ada is our country’s leading national chari-table organization dedicated to bird re-search and conserva-tion.

Our mission is to conserve wild birds of Canada through sound science, on-the-ground actions, in-novative partnerships, public engagement, and science-based ad-vocacy. www.birdscan-ada.org

Join the Great Backyard Bird Count this FebruaryGive Mother Na-

Photo: Carol Poulos, MI

The black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is a small, nonmigratory, North American songbird that lives in deciduous and mixed forests.

Photo: Charlie Prince, Alabama

Adult downy wood-peckers are the small-est of North America’s woodpeckers, and are native to mainly deciduous forested areas.


This year will be the fourth annual New Year’s Eve Bul-larama and Dance at the North Thompson Agriplex in Barriere. What started as an idea discussed over coffee has grown to an economic driver for the region; all thanks to Steven Puhallo and Ed Lebourdais, key founders of the Farm Kids Scholarship Fund.

“It’s been a pretty incredible project and we’re proud of having established this bur-sary for ‘Farm Kids’ in our local school district,” said Puhal-lo, “Education is the silver bullet for our young people to reach their dreams and be who they want to be.”

Puhallo says that what started out as an idea over coffee be-came a great way to honour the memory of his Uncle, Mike Puhal-lo, who was lost due to cancer back in 2011.

“It was something Mike and I had talk-ed about on and off,” he said, “I remem-ber going and visit-ing him near his end, and spending time with the man who had taught me so much, and had inspired me to do good for the community; I made a promise to do this project for him. So many people came together to make this happen and we got it done.”

Steven Puhallo and his wife Jenn moved back home to Kam-loops in 2011 to raise their family.

“I wanted to do something for Mike that would re� ect his values and interests,” said Puhallo, “He was so many things to so many people. Most of all he was a cowboy

through and through. “In talking about

that with Ed Lebour-dais, who knew my Uncle well, we came up with this event. Ed dove right into it and is a core reason this event is so successful. The support we re-ceived from the Leb-ourdais family and the Whispering Pines/Clinton Band was amazing.”

Puhallo says once the decision was made to host a New Year’s Eve Bullarama in Barriere it was pretty nerve wrecking in the � rst year.

“The North Thompson Agriplex was still under con-struction, we had no arena steel, and no-body had started a new agri-sport event in the area for a num-ber of years. When I told people we were putting on a profes-sional bullriding and dance in Barriere, in the middle of winter, they told us we were nuts. I love proving naysayers wrong!

“So many people stepped up to the plate and got involved. It was magical and a re-ally touching moment when we saw that line-up of people and cars stretching out at our � rst event,” said Pu-hallo, “It felt like that moment at the end of ‘Field of Dreams’. We built it (the event) and people came!”

Puhallo says af-ter three years of the Farm Kids Fund put-ting on the event as a fundraiser to start their bursary legacy, it is now time to hand the reins over, and that 2015 is the tran-sition year to do just that.

“I’m grateful for everyone who got in-volved and the sol-id team that came together for these events,” said Puhallo, “With the bursary up and running, it’s great to hand off the event to the North Thomp-son Fall Fair folks. This is a big event for Barriere and creates a lot of economic spin-

off for the area.”The event will now

become a major fun-draiser for sustain-ing and maintaing the North Thompson Agriplex and Fall Fair facility. However, the Fall Fair will be do-nating a percentage of the pro� t from the New Year’s Eve event annually to support the Farm Kids Fund bursary program.

Puhallo voiced his thoughts about the Bullarama event and how it has grown.

“I think at the end of the day I’m most proud of the new equipment and indoor arena set-up we helped get for the Agriplex, bringing professional bull-riding to the North Thompson Valley, and working with the great people of Bar-riere in making this event the success it has become.

“I believe it’s all about the team, and the team around this event should be extremely proud of

what we’ve accom-plished!”

Tickets are still available for this year’s Dec. 31 event, which Puhallo says by all appearances will be another sell out.

The Farm Kids Fund will continue as a $200 bursary (each) for a male and female graduating grade 12 student from School District #73 for 2016

and into the future. The 2015 Farm Kids Fund recipient was Katie Elliott.

Check out: www.farmkidsfund.ca, or on Facebook.

Find out more at: www.fallfair-rodeo.com or Facebook: North Thompson Agriplex, North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Associa-tion.

Puhallo says Barriere New Year’s Eve Bullarama success is all about the team

This year will be

Submitted photo

(l-r) Farm Kids Fund president and New Year’s Eve Bullarama event manager Steven Puhallo at the 2014 event in the North Thompson Agriplex is pic-tured with Jeremy Willis announcer and country entertainer, vice-president and arena manager Ed Lebourdais, and key sponsor representative Chief Michael Lebourdais from Whispering Pines / Clinton Indian Band (also the key sponsor for the 2015 Bullarama).


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By Lori Welbourne

During a cleaning spree a few days ago I found some unopened Play-Doh in the back of a cupboard that had been in there for years. I immediately opened the lid and took a whiff. It still had that divine nostalgic smell I’ve loved for as long as I can remember. I took the familiar mod-elling compoud out of it’s container and smooshed it around with my hands, creat-ing shapes and � gures before putting the lid back on and placing it on our kitchen counter.

When my 12 year old daughter came home from school she saw it and reacted almost exactly the way I had. She opened it up, took a sniff and instinctively played with it as she told me about her day. When my 15 year old son got home he did the same thing. Neither one of them asked me where it came from or why it was in the kitchen, they automatically goofed around with it, molding it into different creations and letting their imaginations take over.

I asked them if they remembered play-ing with it when they were younger and of course they did. I also remembered it from when I was a kid.

“They had Play-Doh way back then?” Daisy asked.

“Yes,” I said. “We didn’t have the elec-tronics you kids have nowadays, but we de� nitely had this.”

Sam went on the laptop to Google it. “It’s been around since 1956,” he said amazed. “Before you were even born, Mom.” That actually surprised me as well and we proceeded to read more.

It turned out it was originally a wall-paper cleaner in the 1930s when homes were heated with coal and the messiness of soot was created. It wasn’t until the mid 50s that it became something kids played with - and it was quite by acci-

dent that happened at all.The product which was originally com-

posed of � our, water, salt, boric acid, and mineral oil was � rst manufactured in Cin-cinnati by Kutol Soap Products and after many years of doing decent business their sales decreased drastically after World War II when oil and gas furnaces became popular, as well as the introduction of washable vinyl wallpaper,

On the verge of bankruptcy the sister-in-law of one of the owners randomly read a magazine article in 1955 recommending wallpaper cleaner to make Christmas or-naments. She took a big can of it to the community nursery school she ran and the children rolled out the doughish com-pound and cut it into shapes with cookie cutters to make festive decorations. She then suggested a reworking of the sub-stance to her brother-in-law so it could be marketed as a toy. What a brilliant idea.

Adding the colours red, blue and yel-low, the revamped product was originally named Kutol’s Rainbow Modeling Com-pound. That didn’t sound fun enough so they renamed it Play-Doh and introduced it to the Cincinatti Board of Education in 1956 where it was used in elementary

schools for arts and crafts.In 1957 it was shown on the popular

children’s television show Captain Kanga-roo. Bob Keeshan who played the Captain presented it for free, agreeing to take 2% of the pro� ts in lieu of advertsing dollars since they couldn’t afford to pay for ads at the time. After that it was seen on Ding Dong School and Romper Room and by 1958, the sales of Play-Doh had reached nearly $3 million.

The product the struggling owners had been barely selling for .34 cents per can was suddenly selling for $1.50 and they couldn’t keep up with the tremendous de-mand.

It started getting exported to other countries and the sales kept increasing. General Mills eventually bought the com-pany and then Hasbro. Their surprise hit product continued to evolve and sales continued to soar.

It’s been 60 years since Play-Doh was � rst introduced to children and the reci-pe has been tinkered with and improved upon several times. It’s now selling in over 75 countries, has been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, and the Toy Industry Association has it listed as one of the 100 most memorable and most cre-ative toys of the twentieth century.

Many consider it one of the most be-loved toy products ever created - quite an extraordinary success for a nearly defunct substance once intended to wash walls. And quite a coincidence we discovered this interesting bit of toy history after a rare cleaning spree.

I now have an added appreciation for Play-Doh, which I already loved, and I will be adding it to my list for Santa.

Lori Welbourne is a syndicated col-umnist. She can be contacted at LoriWel-bourne.coma

Play-Doh, an accidental toy iconDuring a cleaning spree a few days ago

Service Centre

She Is Looking For Home Improvement Help. Will She Find Your Business?

Advertise your business for as low as $16/weekCall for more information or come in to the Star/Journal 10-4353 Conner Road.

250-672-5611

ROOFINGProgressiveRoofingSolutions

PRSPRS• Emergency Repairs• Expert Leak Tracking• Journey Level Servicemen• Service & Maintenance

• Shingles & Torch-on Roo� ng• Fully Insured • Licensed• 20 Years Experience

Please call for Estimate & Service

Geoff Pullencell 250-299-9005

home [email protected]

SCRAP STEELSCRAP STEELSCRAP STEELFree drop off for any scrap steel

Appliances, car/truck parts parts, etc.

250-318-26254812 Gilbert Street • Barriere Industrial Park


FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY

February 19– March 20

January 20– February 18

December 22– January 19

May 21– June 21

April 20– May 20

August 23– September 22

July 23– August 22

November 22– December 21

October 23– November 21

March 21– April 19

June 22– July 22

September 23– October 22

A p r i l 2 3 - 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

This week is all about give and take, Capricorn. Do for others, and they will do for you. A special event calls for some extra-special gifts.

Some habits are hard to break, Aquarius. Look to a mentor to help and you will succeed. A fitness goal is easily achieved with a new piece of equipment.

The odds may be stacked against you, Pisces, but that doesn’t mean you won’t come out on top with a little ingenuity. A weekend endeavor requires a leap of faith.

Speak up, Aries, and the problem will be solved. A little miracle at home makes for an interesting weekend. Travel plans come together.

Cast aside all doubt, Taurus. The offer is genuine and will bring you many rewards. A test of faith begins— be strong. Money woes ease.

Feeling blessed these days, Gemini? Pay it forward. A compromise at home raises everyone’s spirits and fun ensues all weekend long!

A business relationship blossoms with an addition. A larger-than- life personality drops by with an offer you can’t refuse. Oh boy, oh boy, Cancer.

Oops, Leo. You fall behind on a project, raising some eyebrows. Not to worry. You will get back on track sooner than you think, thanks to an innovation.

Spend less, save more and you’ll definitely get more, Virgo. More in your bottom line and more peace of mind. Flowers provide a great pick-me-up.

Lady Luck smiles on you, Libra, and there is nothing beyond your reach. A treasured heirloom resurfaces, bringing back many fond memories.

The tiniest of changes make a vast improvement in a project. A rejection is a blessing in disguise. Be grateful for what you’re given, Scorpio.

News from afar gets the creative juices flowing, and you accomplish more than you have in some time, Sagittarius. A game of wits at the office proves challenging.

Dec. 31/15 - Jan. 6/16

Aries, you are familiar with the ex-pression, “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach.” This week you have bitten off a project that is just too much to chew. Enlist some help.

Learning from your mistakes can help you to grow, Cancer. Accept a challenge presented to you this week, even if it scares you. You may find it’s not so chal-lenging after all.

Some can see straight past your protective facade, Libra. So why not take it off and sim-ply let others see the real you? You won’t be disappointed, and neither will they.

Capricorn, when a past conflict pops up this week, push it aside. It is better to focus on the positive things that are in store for you rather than problems from the past.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t accomplish some-thing, Aquarius. As you have proven time and again, you simply need to set a goal in your sights to get things done.

Taurus, you are on a roll, and now it is only a matter of maintaining mo-mentum for a few more days. Don’t let anyone slow you down this week.

Leo, many oppor-tunities are within reach, but you are just not sure which way to go. Seek advice from Pisces when you get a spare moment.

Now is not a time to drag your feet, Scorpio. You have a full slate of tasks to tackle, and it seems like the hours will slip away quickly. Recharge and refocus.

Pisces, when you love someone, it can be difficult to step aside and let that person make his or her own mistakes. Be patient.

Gemini, you may not know where your path is taking you, but you are fully aware that an adventure is in store. Take some time to prepare for the unknown that lies ahead.

Virgo, no one will know what you’re like deep inside un-less you share a few secrets. You don’t have to give every-thing away, but let some information slip out.

Sagittarius, you never shy away from a challenge, but you also know when to pick your battles. If something arises this week that seems a waste of time, pass it by.

BARRIERE FIRST RESPONDERS

BARRIERE FIRE DEPARTMENTPractices every Thursday at the Barriere Fire Hall Come out and join the team!!

COM

MUN

ITY

EVEN

TS &

SER

VICE

S

Dec. 31 - Bullarama and/or Dance NT Agriplex doors open at 6pm

Dec. 31 - New Years Eve Dance at the Barriere Legion Live entertainment and appies tickets $10 at the Bar

Jan. 7 - Yellowhead 4H Club AGM Legion Basement at 7pm.

Jan 8-9 - BSS Sr Boys basketball tourneyFeb. 8 - Family DayMar 19-21 - Kamloops Cowboy FestivalArmy Cadets - 2941 RCACC Cadet Corp. - ages

12-18. New Recruits Welcome. Hethar McIntosh 250-587-0027.

Adult Day Program: Mon. & Wed. 9-2. Lunch, crafts & music at the Seniors Ctr. Sherry Jardine 672-5121

After School Program: Mon.-Fri. 3-6pm @ Ridge (NTVIC room). For info call 250-672-0033.

Baha’i Night: Fri., 7:30pm, @ Marge Mitchell’s 672-5615.

Barriere Craft Group: Tues. 6:30-8:30 Barriere Employment

Barriere & District Heritage Society: 3rd Wed. of mth, 1pm at NTVIC in winter, at Museum in summer.

Barriere & District Seniors Events: Whist - Mon.

7pm, Carpet Bowling - Tues., Thurs. 9am-12, Fun Cards - Wed. 1:30pm, Breakfast - every 3rd Sun. at 8am (excld December)

Barriere Farmer’s Market. Every Thursday. Sam’s Pizza & Rib House Hwy 5. 10am-2pm (May - Nov.)

Barriere Youth Group - Fridays ages 12-18 at the Ridge 7-10pm. Enjoy activities, sports and more.

Riding Club: Apr-Oct: 3rd Thurs. 7pm at NTVIC. www.barrieredistrictridingclub.com. Darcey 250-318-9975.

Cancer Support: 672-9263, 672-0017 or 672-1890Crib: Barriere Legion 242, every Thurs. 7pm, Sept. to

May.Darts: Barriere Legion 242, Thurs. 7pm, Sept. to May. Curling Club: Oct.-Mar. Curling, league & bonspiels.Drop In Art. Fridays 11:30am-2:30pm at NTVIC end

of Sep to Mar (except holidays). Nominal fee. Barriere A-A: Every Tues. 7:30pm Pentecostal

Church 818 Amnesty Rd. 250-672-9643 or 250-672-9934

Barriere Elementary PAC: 1st Wed. of mth, 6:30pm, call 672-9916.

Barriere Drop In Art. Fridays 11:30am-2:30pm

at NTVIC from end of Sept to March (except holidays). Nominal fee. All welcome.

Barriere Fire Dept.: Firehall, Thurs., 7pmBarriere Food Bank: Every Wed. 672-0029Barriere Genealogy: once a mth at the Library,

except Jul/Aug. For dates/times call 250-672-9330.Barriere Hospice: Loans out handicap equip. 250-

672-9391.Photography Club. Shelley Lampreau 250-672-

5728.Community Quilters: Every Thurs. 2pm at the

Barriere Food Bank. Judy 250-672-5275 or Fran 250-672-2012.

Barriere Search & Rescue: 2nd Tues. of mth, 7pm. Training on 4th Tues. of mth, 7pm.

BSS PAC & Booster Club: 1st Tues., 5:30pm. 250-672-9943.

Survivors of Brain Injuries: John 250-372-1799.Bethany Baptist Church Prayer: Every Tues., 7pm.Carpet Bowling: Mon, Wed & Fri., 9:30am-12 @ Little

Fort Hall. Community Kitchen: Call Dede 554-3134.Community Soup Day: Christian Life Assembly on

Annesty Rd. 3rd Mon., 11:30 am.

Crib: Mon. & Fri. 1-4pm @ Little Fort Hall.

Family & Caregivers Group: 1st Mon. of the mth, 10am @ Ridge, kitchen. Info call 778-220-5930.

Gambler’s Anonymous: 250-374-9165 or 250-374-9866.

Literacy Tutoring: Learn to read FREE. Jill 250-319-8023.

Little Fort Recreation: 1st Thurs. each mth 7pm

LNT Catholic Women’s League: 2nd Sat. each mth, 9am at St. George’s. Call 250-672-9330 for info.

McLure Rec.: 1st Wed. each mth at 7:30pm McLure Firehall. Except Jul & Aug. 250-578-7565 for info.

McLure Fire Dept.: Wednesdays, 7pm, Firehall

Men’s Floor Hockey: Tues., 8-10pm at Barriere Sec.

NT Fish & Game: 4th Mon. each mth 7pm NTVIC. 672-1070

NT Valley Hospice: 3rd Tues, 11am, Little Fort Hall. 672-5660.

Quilting: 1st Tues, 10am @ Little Fort Hall.

Safe Home: Get away from domestic abuse, call 250-674-2135 (Clw) or 250-682-6444 (Barriere).

From KitchenMyBy Dee

Baked Garlic Parmesan ChickenIngredients2 tablespoons olive oil1 clove garlic, minced1 cup dry bread crumbs2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese1 teaspoon dried basil leaves1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a bowl, blend the olive oil and garlic. In a separate bowl, mix the bread

crumbs, Parmesan cheese, basil, and pepper. Dip each chicken breast in the oil mixture, then in the bread crumb mixture. Arrange the coated chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish, and top with any remaining bread crumb mixture. Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Budget-Friendly Hearty Winter SoupIngredients2 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped1/2 head cabbage, coarsely chopped

1 cup chopped carrots1 pound turkey bratwurst, sliced1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon dried thyme1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper1/2 cup dry white wine3 cups chicken broth

Directions: Place the sweet potatoes, cabbage, and carrots into a slow cooker, then place the bratwurst slices on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle with the salt, thyme, rosemary, and pepper. Pour the wine and chicken broth over the vegetables. Cook on Low until the sweet potatoes are easily pierced with a fork, 5 to 6 hours.

250-674-2674

Bayley’s BistroBayley’s Bistroin the Brookfield Shopping Centre in Clearwater

Eat in or Take out Fried Chicken

250-674-2674

this ad is sponsored by

North Thompson Star Journal Thursday, December 31, 2015 www.starjournal.net A17

Xaxli’p

XAXLI’P ADMINISTRATOR

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Xaxli’p is a St’at’imc community located in the beautiful Fountain Valley, 15km east of Lillooet with great community and economic development potential. The successful candidate requires a post-secondary education in Business, Administration, or Commerce. The successful candidate must have senior management experience with general program and services of an Aboriginal Organization, and will be responsible for the following:

Reporting to and receiving direction from Chief and CouncilHas a minimum of 3 to 5 years administrative experience with an aboriginal organizationHave excellent knowledge and implementation of AANDC, FNHA, and other agencies, programs, and servicesFacilitate the development and implementation of plans to include strategic, capital, financial, program, and economic developmentProvide effective leadership and teambuilding through employee supervision and developmentDevelop and/or assist in proposals for fundingIdentify and provide for the needs of the community and membership

An excellent benefit package is offered that includes medical, dental and pension plan, as well as an opportunity to contribute to the success and growth of a great community.

Please mail, hand deliver, fax, or e-mail current resume with cover letter and references to the following address:

Xaxli’pAttention: Chief Darrell Bob Sr.

PO Box: 1330 Lillooet, BC V0K 1V0E-mail: [email protected]

Fax: 250-256-7892

Resumes will be received until 3:00pm January 22, 2016

TRU invites applications for the following position:

FACULTYABTS 1140, 1200, 1300Applied Business Technology ProgramRegional Centre, Clearwater, BC

For further information, please visit:

www.tru.ca/careers We wish to thank all applicants; however, only those under consideration will be contacted.

RECEPTIONIST (PT) – JCS Welding B0750OUTBOARD MOTOR MECHANIC – Casual B0749

CARE AIDE (Part Time) – BC0746CARE AIDE (Regular PT Night Shift) – Yellowhead Pioneer Residence BC0738

CHAMBERMAID/HOUSEKEEPING – MonteCarlo Motel BC 0736

LOGGING TRUCK DRIVER – West Pine Logging BC0726

WAITRESS – Station House Restaurant BC0729

CASHIER – A&W BC0630COOK – A&W BC0685DRIVER-Hy’s North Transportation BC0453

Barriere Employment Services

YOUR GATEWAY TO LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION

The Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia In Partnership with Barriere & District Chamber of Commerce and Yellowhead Community Services

Skill Development: If you have been on Employment Insurance in the past 3 years (5 years maternity) & are currently unemployed, you may be eligible for re-training dollars. Book an appointment to see one of our counselors for information. Free computer & Internet access • Free resume help • Free info on many services

629 Barriere Town Rd. V0E 1E0 • 250-672-0036 • Fax: 250-672-2159 E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.barriere-employment.ca

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ABOVE JOBS PLEASE GO TO www.barriere-employment.ca

Mike Wiegele - http://www.wiegele.com/employment.htmSun Peaks - http://www.sunpeaksresort.com/corporate/work-and-play/opportunities

Box 67, 100 Mile House B.C. V0K 2E0

BEFORE YOU SELL:• ASPEN • BIRCH • COTTONWOOD• PINE • SPRUCE • FIR PULP LOGS

Please call KATHERINE LEPPALA(250) 395-6218 (direct line) • (250) 395-0584 (cell)

(250) 395-6201 (fax)

CANADA BENEFIT Group - Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canada benefi t.ca/free-assessment

CANADA BENEFIT Group - Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canada benefi t.ca/free-assessment

Clearwater Alcoholics Anonymous

Sunshine Group meets every Tuesday, 8 pm, Elks Hall

72 Taren Dr.Open to Everyone

For info contact Wendy 250-587-0026

Do you need help with reading, writing or math?

FREE confi dential adult tutoring available.• Clearwater Literacy

250-674-3530• Barriere Literacy

250-672-9773

Safe Home Response Providing a safe place to

escape for women and their children.

Volunteers always needed. Clearwater 250-674-2135,Barriere 250-672-6444, or

North Thompson Valley 1-855-674-2135

HOSPITAL AUXILIARY THRIFT SHOP

Located across the railway tracks in Vavenby, B.C.

Wednesday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Sunday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Great deals - low prices

Travel

TimeshareCANCEL YOUR timeshare. No risk program stop mort-gage & maintenance pay-ments today. 100% money back guarantee. Free consul-tation. Call us now. We can help! 1-888-356-5248.

Employment

Business Opportunities

HIP OR Knee replacement? Arthritic Conditions/COPD? Restrictions in Walking/Dress-ing? Disability Tax Credit $2,000 Tax Credit $20,000 Refund. Apply Today For As-sistance: 1-844-453-5372.

Career Opportunities


HEALTHCARE DOCUMEN-TATION Specialists in huge demand. Employers prefer CanScribe graduates. A great work-from-home career! Con-tact us now to start your train-ing day. www.canscribe.com. 1-800-466-1535. [email protected]

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employer-trusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

TRAIN TO be an apart-ment/condo manager. Many jobs registered with us. Good wages and benefi ts. Govern-ment Certifi ed online course. 35 Years of success!www.RMTI.ca/enq

Services

Photography / VideoPHOTOS

by Keith McNeillDigital and fi lm photographs.

Phone 250-674-3252 or email:[email protected]

Moving & Storage• Indoor Storage Units • Offi ce space with equipment storage available. Hwy access for convenience & [email protected] Yellowhead Hwy 5

Employment Agencies/Resumes

Employment Agencies/Resumes

FULL SERVICE Plumbing from Parker Dean. Fast, re-liable, 24/7 service. Take $50 off your next job if you present this ad. Vancouver area. 1-800-573-2928.

FULL SERVICE Plumbing from Parker Dean. Fast, re-liable, 24/7 service. Take $50 off your next job if you present this ad. Vancouver area. 1-800-573-2928.

Merchandise for Sale

AppliancesFor sale: Washer in good working order. $150.00 obo. Call 250-587-6151

Estate Sales1200 sq. ft. house. 3 bdrm, 2 bath, .79 acre w/fruit trees, garden area, 600 sq ft shop, & 300 sq ft woodshed. Located on Peavine Rd. $120,000. obo. Ph 1-250-318-7235

A-CHEAP, LOWEST PRICES STEEL SHIPPING Dry Storage Containers Used 20’40’45’53’ and insulated con-tainers all sizes in stock. 40’ containers as low as $2,200DMG. Huge freezers. Experienced wood carvers needed, full time. Ph Toll free 24 hours 1-866-528-7108 or 1-778-298-3192 8am-5pm. De-livery BC and AB www.rtccon-tainer.com

Food ProductsFood Products

Announcements Announcements Employment Services Merchandise for Sale Merchandise for Sale

Information Information Education/Trade Schools

Plumbing Heavy Duty Machinery

Misc. for SaleSAWMILLS FROM only$4,397 - make money and save money with your own bandmill - cut lumber any di-mension. In stock ready to ship. Free info and DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT1-800-566-6899 Ext:400OT.

Misc. WantedFIREARMS. ALL types want-ed, estates, collections, single items, military. We handle all paperwork and transportation. Licensed Dealer. 1-86-960-0045. www.dollars4guns.com




To advertise in print:Call: 250-672-5611 Email: [email protected]

Self-serve: blackpressused.ca Career ads: localworkbc.ca

Browse more at:

A division of

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Used.ca cannot be responsible for errors after the first day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors on the first day should immediately be called to the attention of the Classified Department to be corrected for the following edition.

Used.ca reserves the right to revise, edit, classify or reject any advertisement and to retain any answers directed to the Used.ca Box Reply Service and to repay the customer the sum paid for the advertisement and box rental.

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COPYRIGHTCopyright and/or properties subsist in all advertisements and in all other material appearing in this edition of Used.ca. Permission to reproduce wholly or in part and in any form whatsoever, particularly by a photographic or offset process in a publication must be obtained in writing from the publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction will be subject to recourse in law.

ON THE WEB:

INDEX IN BRIEFFAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRAVEL

EMPLOYMENT

BUSINESS SERVICES

PETS & LIVESTOCK

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE

RENTALS

AUTOMOTIVE

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

LEGAL NOTICES

FightBack.Volunteeryour time,energy andskills today.

Adopt a Shelter Cat!The BC SPCA cares for thousands oforphaned and abandoned cats each year.If you can give a homeless cat a secondchance at happiness, please visit yourlocal shelter today.

www.spca.bc.ca

If you see a wildfi re, report it to

1-800-663-5555 or *5555

on most cellular networks.


Fraser Institute

VANCOUVER—The median wait time for Canadians seeking medi-cally necessary surgery or other therapeutic treatment remains stagnant for the third consecutive year, � nds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

The study, an annual survey of physicians from across the country, reports a median wait time of 18.3 weeks, up slightly from 18.2 weeks in 2014. In 1993, the wait time was just 9.3 weeks.

The study examines the total wait time faced by patients across 12 medical specialities from referral by a general practitioner (ie: a fam-ily doctor) to consultation with a specialist, and subsequent receipt of treatment.

“These protracted wait times are not the result of insuf� cient spend-ing but because of poor policy. In fact, it’s possible to reduce wait times without higher spending or abandoning universality.

The key is to better understand the health policy experiences of oth-er more successful universal health care systems around the developed world,” said Bacchus Barua, senior economist at the Fraser Institute’s Centre for Health Policy Studies and author of Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, 2015 Report.

On a provincial basis, Saskatchewan now has the shortest waits in the country at 13.6 weeks, a dramatic turnaround from 2011 when it was among the country’s longest wait times (29.0 weeks). It’s followed by Ontario (14.2 weeks), Quebec (16.4 weeks), and Manitoba (19.4 weeks), which has also decreased wait times since its 2013 high of 25.9 weeks.

For the third consecutive year, British Columbia recorded an in-crease in wait times with its median wait now sitting at 22.4 weeks.

Meanwhile, the Atlantic provinces face the longest median wait times: Prince Edward Island (43.1 weeks) followed closely by New Brunswick (42.8 weeks) and Newfoundland and Labrador (42.7 weeks). However, the number of survey responses in Atlantic Canada were lower than other provinces which may result in reported median wait times being higher or lower than those actually experienced.

Among the various specialities, the longest referral-to-treatment wait times exist for patients requiring orthopaedic surgery — the treatment of ailments related to bones, joints, and muscles — at 35.7 weeks and neurosurgery (27.6 weeks), surgery performed on the nervous system.

In fact, patients requiring such treatments can expect to wait over 15 weeks to just get a consultation with a specialist after getting a referral from their family doctor.

“These wait times for medically necessary treatment in Canada are not simply minor inconveniences.

They can result in pain and suffering for patients, contribute to lost productivity at work, decreased quality of life, and in the worst cases, disability and death,” Barua said.

On a somewhat better note, patients face much shorter referral-to-treatment wait times, relative to other treatments, for radiation oncolo-gy (4.1 weeks) and medical oncology (4.5 weeks) — specialties involved in the treatment of cancer.

Median wait time by province in 2015:

Wait from GP to specialist (weeks)

Wait from specialist to treatment (weeks)

Total wait time (weeks)*

British Columbia 8.4 14.0 22.4Alberta 10.2 11.0 21.2Saskatchewan 6.7 6.9 13.6Manitoba 7.8 11.6 19.4Ontario 6.8 7.4 14.2Quebec 7.3 9.1 16.4New Brunswick 25.4 17.4 42.8Nova Scotia 13.2 12.9 26.1Prince Edward Island 28.3 14.9 43.1Newfoundland & Labrador 22.2 20.5 42.7Canada 8.5 9.8 18.3

*Totals may not equal the sum of subtotals due to rounding

No improvement in health care wait times as Canadians still wait more than

18 weeks for surgery

VANCOUVER—The median wait time for Canadians seeking medi-

A18 www.starjournal.net Thursday, December 31, 2015 North Thompson Star Journal

This Crossword Sponsored by

WELLS GRAY HOME HARDWARE86 STATION RD., CLEARWATER

674-3717

Real Estate

One Chair Hair Salon in Clear-water Legion Mini Mall. All fur-nishings, equip, & supplies incl. Ph. 250-674-3354 for info.

For Sale By OwnerFor Sale or Rent: 225 Murtle Cres, 3 bdrm, 3.5 bath, dbl heated garage w/toilet & shower, rent $1,150/mo + util. For Sale: 208 Dutch Lk. Rd, 3 bdrm, 1/2 duplex, 2 full bath, $125,000.00. Offers. Pls lvg msg at 250-674-3668

Rentals

Commercial/Industrial

Commercial space avail for rent in the Interior Whitewater Bldg. starting Jan. 1/2016. Spacious, bright, clean, like new. Close to amenities. 675 sqft, $500/mo. 73 Old North Thompson Hwy, Clearwater. Ph 250-674-3727

Duplex / 4 PlexClearwater: 2 bdrm & 1 bdrm in tri-plex. Own entrance, Close to amenities. 2bdrm $600/mo; 1 bdrm $500/mo + DD. Call Julie 250-674-0188

Clearwater: 3 bdrm duplex in Miller sub. F/S. Avail Jan. 1 Call Julie 250-674-0188

Mobile Homes & Pads

Barriere: 2 bdrm for rent, $650/mo + util. DD/RR. 778-257-0498

Rentals

Business for Sale Mobile Homes & Pads

Vavenby: 2 bdrm covered mo-bile w/addition on priv lot. W/d, f/s. Ref req. $675/mo + dd. Pets neg. Call 250-676-9210

Homes for RentClearwater: 5bdrm 2500 sq ft hm w/ 2, 3 & 4 piece bath in Weyerhaeuser sub. Cost neg depending on tenants. If you are horse people, I have 8 acres of land that could be incl. House and land are in 2 different locations. Call Randy at 250-674-8288

Rooms for RentClearwater: Room for rent in Weyerhaeuser sub. Wi-Fi, Sat TV. Nice clean place. NS, NP. $500/mo, incl laundry and util. Call 250-674-1768

Suites, LowerBarriere: 1bdrm suite, would suit single/elder person. Near amenities, ample parking, hy-dro/heat incl. $650 to the right person newly renovated, avail. Jan. 1. 778-220-2148.

Barriere: 2 bdrm basement suite, all util, all appl. NS/NP, no parties. Separate entrance /parking. $750/mo. 250-672-5643

Transportation

Auto Accessories/Parts

4 Winter Tires w/rims 17” - 8 studded for Dodge truck. $400 250-672-2447

CHURCH DIRECTORY

CHURCHOF ST. PAUL

4464 Barriere Town Road

Worship Sunday 11:00 A worshipping community of

Anglicans, United & LutheransAll Are Welcomethe Rev. Brian KrushelOffice: 250 672-5653

www.norththompsonpc.ca

CHRISTIAN LIFE ASSEMBLY4818 Annesty Rd.

(Across from High School)Bible perspectives Sunday 7am on

93.1 Radio10:30am - Sunday Service and

Children’s Sunday SchoolPastor: Lance Naylor

250-672-0111www.clabarriere.org

THE OPEN DOOR

FELLOWSHIP11:00 am Sundays at the Ridge

Bible Study on Tuesdays at 1pm

PASTOR TODD ENGLISH

Join us for refreshments after the Service.

Phone 250-672-1864 anytime.Affiliated with North American Baptist

Association. “Believe in the Lord Jesus - and you

will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

Seventh-day Adventists Meet in the Church of Saint Paul

on Saturday MorningsBible Study - 9:30am

Worship Service - 11amFellowship Meal - 12:30pm

Everyone Welcome 318-0545

Community Newspapers

We’re at the heart of

things™

Breathe through a straw for 60 seconds.

That’s what breathing is like

with cystic fi brosis.

No wonder so many people with CF

stop breathing in their early

30’s

Please help.

1-800-378-CCFF • www.cysticfi brosis.ca


Fraser Institute

VANCOUVER—The median wait time for Canadians seeking medi-cally necessary surgery or other therapeutic treatment remains stagnant for the third consecutive year, � nds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

The study, an annual survey of physicians from across the country, reports a median wait time of 18.3 weeks, up slightly from 18.2 weeks in 2014. In 1993, the wait time was just 9.3 weeks.

The study examines the total wait time faced by patients across 12 medical specialities from referral by a general practitioner (ie: a fam-ily doctor) to consultation with a specialist, and subsequent receipt of treatment.

“These protracted wait times are not the result of insuf� cient spend-ing but because of poor policy. In fact, it’s possible to reduce wait times without higher spending or abandoning universality.

The key is to better understand the health policy experiences of oth-er more successful universal health care systems around the developed world,” said Bacchus Barua, senior economist at the Fraser Institute’s Centre for Health Policy Studies and author of Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, 2015 Report.

On a provincial basis, Saskatchewan now has the shortest waits in the country at 13.6 weeks, a dramatic turnaround from 2011 when it was among the country’s longest wait times (29.0 weeks). It’s followed by Ontario (14.2 weeks), Quebec (16.4 weeks), and Manitoba (19.4 weeks), which has also decreased wait times since its 2013 high of 25.9 weeks.

For the third consecutive year, British Columbia recorded an in-crease in wait times with its median wait now sitting at 22.4 weeks.

Meanwhile, the Atlantic provinces face the longest median wait times: Prince Edward Island (43.1 weeks) followed closely by New Brunswick (42.8 weeks) and Newfoundland and Labrador (42.7 weeks). However, the number of survey responses in Atlantic Canada were lower than other provinces which may result in reported median wait times being higher or lower than those actually experienced.

Among the various specialities, the longest referral-to-treatment wait times exist for patients requiring orthopaedic surgery — the treatment of ailments related to bones, joints, and muscles — at 35.7 weeks and neurosurgery (27.6 weeks), surgery performed on the nervous system.

In fact, patients requiring such treatments can expect to wait over 15 weeks to just get a consultation with a specialist after getting a referral from their family doctor.

“These wait times for medically necessary treatment in Canada are not simply minor inconveniences.

They can result in pain and suffering for patients, contribute to lost productivity at work, decreased quality of life, and in the worst cases, disability and death,” Barua said.

On a somewhat better note, patients face much shorter referral-to-treatment wait times, relative to other treatments, for radiation oncolo-gy (4.1 weeks) and medical oncology (4.5 weeks) — specialties involved in the treatment of cancer.

Median wait time by province in 2015:

Wait from GP to specialist (weeks)

Wait from specialist to treatment (weeks)

Total wait time (weeks)*

British Columbia 8.4 14.0 22.4Alberta 10.2 11.0 21.2Saskatchewan 6.7 6.9 13.6Manitoba 7.8 11.6 19.4Ontario 6.8 7.4 14.2Quebec 7.3 9.1 16.4New Brunswick 25.4 17.4 42.8Nova Scotia 13.2 12.9 26.1Prince Edward Island 28.3 14.9 43.1Newfoundland & Labrador 22.2 20.5 42.7Canada 8.5 9.8 18.3

*Totals may not equal the sum of subtotals due to rounding

No improvement in health care wait times as Canadians still wait more than

18 weeks for surgery

VANCOUVER—The median wait time for Canadians seeking medi-


1977 was an impor-tant year. It was the year Han Solo said, “May the Force be with you.” It was also the year El-vis passed away. Maybe even more importantly, 1977 was the beginning of the Drinking Driv-ing CounterAttack Program in B.C. – the very first of its kind in Canada.

Since its humble beginnings, we’ve seen significant reductions in impaired-related crashes. In fact, the program has been so successful most of us know instinctively that drinking and driving don’t mix. But did you know that there has been an increase in the number of drivers under the influence of drugs, such as prescrip-tion medication, while driving?

If your festivities in-volve alcohol, arrange for a designated driver or use other safe op-tions to get home safe-ly – call a taxi, or call a sober friend. Some communities offer Op-eration Red Nose, a volunteer service that provides safe rides home for drivers and their passengers.

Did you know that if you crash while drink-ing and driving, you’re likely in breach of your insurance policy? That means that you could be 100 per cent respon-sible for the costs if you damage someone

else’s property or in-jure them. That’s the word from our friends at ICBC who run the campaign (in partner-ship with police and the B.C. government) with great success. Their website has lots of great information, including this quiz:

True or False?*As long as I eat a

big meal before drink-ing, I’ll be okay to drive.

False. It’s a good idea to eat while drink-ing alcoholic bever-ages. But a full stomach won’t stop you being impaired.

*All I need is coffee, food or fresh air and I’ll be sober enough to drive home.

False. No amount of hot coffee, cold showers or fresh air will sober you up. The only cure is time.

*Driving stoned isn’t

as bad as driving drunk.False. Studies show

that “stoned” drivers can be as dangerous as drunk drivers. Depend-ing on what you’ve smoked, swallowed or injected, your impair-ment could range from slowed reflexes and flawed depth percep-tion to hallucinations, psychosis and seizures. New legislation means police now can test for drug-impairment and charge drivers who re-

fuse to provide blood, saliva or urine samples when requested.

*The penalties in B.C. are the toughest in Canada.

True. B.C. has the toughest impaired laws in Canada. If you drive impaired, you can count on penalties add-ing up between $600 and $4,060 – even if it’s the first time you’re caught – and more time off the road.

Stay safe!

What will it take to stop impaired driving?

DRINKING DRIVINGCOUNTERATTACK

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Toll Free in BC: 1-877-377-8673

On Now Don’t Drink & Drive

Keep your family safe • Don’t Drink & Drive

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Phone: 250.672.9751Email: [email protected]

Drinking & Driving Drinking & Driving

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Toll Free: 1-800-949-3362 (BC)Telephone: 250-372-8811 • Fax: 250-828-6697 • Email: [email protected]

Have a safe holiday season don’t drink & drive

A division of



Shipment data released in Novemeber from the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC) suggests tire retailers are gearing up for increased consumer demand for winter tires. These shipment increases are due in part to measures by government, industry and stake-holders to educate drivers about the superior traction and stop-ping distance of winter tires.

The data is part of a compre-hensive new Winter Tire Report released by TRAC to support consumer education efforts by government and industry stake-holders.

The report details the latest winter tire shipment, market, usage and test data, along with recommendations to increase winter road safety and build awareness of the bene� ts of win-ter tires.

In particular, TRAC reports there has been signi� cant growth in winter tire shipments to deal-ers, with a 35 per cent increase in Manitoba, a 25 per cent increase in Ontario, and a 14 per cent in-crease in the Atlantic provinces.

There are many reasons why tire dealers are ramping up for increased consumer demand for winter tires, but it is no coincidence that it is the prov-inces who are showing leader-ship in terms of government programs are also showing the largest increases in winter tire shipments.

• In Manitoba, the provincial government implemented an in-novative low-interest winter tire � nancing program in 2014 and is continuing the program for the 2015/16 winter.

• In Ontario, the provincial

government recently introduced a mandatory insurance discount program for drivers who use winter tires as part of their ini-tiative to improve road safety and to lower insurance premi-ums for Ontario drivers.

A 2014 survey conducted by Leger for TRAC, shows that outside of Quebec, where win-ter tires are the law, only half of Canadian motorists use winter tires.

The survey found cost to be a primary deterrent. However, � nancial incentives offered by government and industry, are proving effective at making win-ter tires more feasible for many drivers.

“For the safest and very best winter driving experience, we recommend that motorists use winter tires,” says Carolyn Goard, Communications Man-ager of TRAC. “Government initiatives are working and that’s leading to growing demand and making our roadways safer. As an industry, we will continue to do our part to educate drivers about the importance of using winter tires.”

Other highlights of the report include:

• Role of government is key. Government leaders are playing a proactive role in encourag-ing Canadian motorists to use winter tires. Through education and incentives, they are helping to reduce preventable collisions, injuries and fatalities.

• Easy to recognize labeling. Tires that display the Three-Peak Mountain Snow� ake Sym-bol (also referred to as the ‘Al-pine Symbol’) on the sidewall have been rigorously tested and meet speci� c snow traction per-formance requirements.

• Misconceptions persist. While there is a growing under-standing from consumers of the safety and performance bene� ts of winter tires, 63 per cent still cling to the idea that all-season tires offer suf� cient traction and braking capabilities for winter driving. Data shows that’s just not true and that winter tires save lives.

• Temperature is everything with winter tires. At tempera-tures at or below 7 degrees Cel-sius, winter tires signi� cantly

outperform all others. Winter tires provide superior traction in cold-weather because they fea-ture a softer tread compounds that maintain � exibility.

• Provincial governments are doing their part. Government jurisdictions across Canada are proactively promoting road safe-ty in the winter. Consumer edu-cation resources, � nancial incen-tives — among other initiatives — are helping to increase winter tire adoption nation-wide.

The full 2015 TRAC Winter Tire Report, along with a wide range of winter tires resources, can be viewed by visiting news.tracanada.ca/winter-tires

The Tire and Rubber Asso-

ciation of Canada (TRAC) is the national trade association representing tire makers, rub-ber products manufacturers and importers as well as rubber recy-clers and suppliers of goods and services related to the industry. TRAC is committed to educat-ing drivers about proper tire care and maintenance. A key ad-vocacy goal in the cold-weather months is to raise awareness about safe winter driving and the safety and performance ben-e� ts of winter tires.Twitter: @BeTireSmartCAFacebook: Be Tire Smart CanadaYouTube: Be Tire Smart CanadaLinkedIn: Tire and Rubber As-sociation of Canada

Getting a grip on Canadian winter drivingShipment data released in

Q. What do people get hung up on?

A. The price. You might save $50 by using Acme Funeral Home, but you’re not buying a TV set. And � ve years from now that $50 prob-ably won’t matter. Check out all the funeral homes -- make a day of it (just kidding!) They’re all different. Find one that feels comfortable to you.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Drake Smith, MSW, is the Owner and Funeral Director of North Thompson Funeral & Drake Cremation Services. With loca-tions in downtown Kamloops (phone 250-377-8225), Clearwater phone (250-674-3030), and Barriere (MaryAnn Shewchuk, Man-ager phone 250-672-1999), his dedicated team has served people in the Kamloops area and the entire North Thompson Valley since 2005.

ASK DRAKEQ. What do people get hung

North Thompson Funeral & Drake Cremation Services

Barriere Star Journal, December 31, 2015

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Transcript of Barriere Star Journal, December 31, 2015