Highway 37 Electrification

I am glad to see the province is still working on moving this ahead. I would like to see plans come about to build the line through to the Yukon and Alaska.

The green power potential of hte Hwy 37 corridor is high, with the line in place it become possible to begin developing all manner of run of the river projects in the region and provide further green power to BC

Feb 02, 2009 14:19 ET

AME BC: Highway 37 Power Line Coalition Applauds Premier for Expressing his Intent to Seek Federal Infrastructure Funds to Support Northwest Transmission Line

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 2, 2009) - The Highway 37 Power Line Coalition today congratulated and thanked the Premier of British Columbia, the Honourable Gordon Campbell, for expressing his interest in seeking federal infrastructure funds toward the review of electrification of Highway 37. Speaking at the 26th annual AME BC Mineral Exploration Roundup conference, the Premier expanded on his earlier commitments to the development of electrical transmission in the province's northwest.

The Premier stated that potential federal government infrastructure funds could be directed to permitting and potential construction of a power line in northwest British Columbia along Highway 37, a region with excellent mineral development and power generation potential.

"The Premier has taken a visionary approach to Northwest BC electrification," said Initiatives Prince George President & CEO Tim McEwan. "By directing funds provided by the federal budget towards the electrification of Highway 37, the BC and federal governments would open up the development potential in the Northwest. We applaud Premier Campbell's willingness to leverage federal infrastructure funds to develop the power line."

In September 2008 Premier Gordon Campbell announced $10 million for engineering, environmental assessment and Aboriginal consultation for a power line from Terrace to Bob Quinn, a corridor surrounded by extraordinary mining and power generation potential. The Highway 37 coalition has since been working with First Nations and government and its agencies to extend the project review to Dease Lake.

"The Tahltan Nation supports responsible developments based on recognition of Tahltan Aboriginal rights and title and that provide for shared decision-making as well as revenue and benefit sharing," says Annita McPhee, Chair of the Tahltan Central Council. "We look forward to studying and assessing this project."

"We're pleased that the Premier is committed to making this important infrastructure project a priority, thereby realizing the vast economic potential it would stimulate in exploration and development," said Gavin C. Dirom, President & CEO of the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC).

"MABC's Report on the Electrification of Highway 37 shows there is potential for more than $15 billion in investment, almost 11,000 jobs and $300 million in annual government revenues. Clearly, it would be money well spent by both levels of government," added Pierre Gratton, President and CEO of the Mining Association of BC (MABC).

About the Highway 37 Power Line Coalition: The coalition represents communities, the Northern Development Initiative Trust, non-profit organizations, mineral exploration and mining companies, independent power producers, joint venture First Nations companies and individuals committed to the construction of a high voltage transmission line from Terrace to Dease Lake, British Columbia, and perhaps beyond. The coalition is committed to sustainable economic development in Northwestern British Columbia and believes electrical infrastructure is the key to the future of British Columbia's Northwest.

About AME BC: AME BC represents more than 5,000 members including geoscientists, prospectors, engineers, entrepreneurs, exploration companies, suppliers, mineral producers, and associations who are engaged in mineral exploration in BC and throughout the world. Through leadership, partnerships, and advocacy, AME BC promotes a healthy environment and business climate for the mineral exploration industry. AME BC is the predominant voice of mineral exploration in British Columbia.

About MABC: MABC represents companies involved in the exploration and development, mining and smelting of minerals, metals, coal and industrial minerals in British Columbia. It is regarded as the predominant voice of mining in the province.

About Initiatives Prince George: Initiatives Prince George (IPG) is the economic development authority for Prince George and Region, and has as one of its strategic priorities the development of a vibrant mining industry in Northern British Columbia. IPG is a non-profit corporation owned by the City of Prince George. Originally incorporated in 1983, IPG aims to undertake programs and projects designed to grow and diversify the local economy. IPG integrates investment attraction, trade development, tourism promotion, events and film for Prince George. IPG also takes a proactive role in assisting the completion of major business contracts that have strategic value for the Prince George community and British Columbia's north.

About the Northern Development Initiative Trust: Northern Development is an independent regional economic development corporation focused on stimulating economic diversification and job creation in central and northern British Columbia, a region that is strategically located, and offers a resource-rich economy with many competitive advantages and incentives for business. As the leading economic development agency in the region, Northern Development will be the catalyst to inject $2 billion every decade into communities within the region to realize their economic potential. The corporation supports community economic development initiatives with funding for economic diversification infrastructure, feasibility studies, marketing, capacity building, grant writing, community halls, recreational facilities, and community foundations.

For more information, please contact

AME BC
Jonathan Buchanan
Manager, Communications
(604) 630-3923
Email: jbuchanan@amebc.ca

LONGER RUNWAY WILL BOOST BUSINESS AT SMITHERS AIRPORT

This is a press release from last week. Thw work is done at the Smithers Airport. There are about six inbound flights per day to Smithers at the moment.

This lengthening means the runway is longer than the one in Victoria though not longer than the proposed lengthening at Victoria. Not quite long enough for most larger scale jets

This means that Smithers could put a lot more effort into the development of Hudson Bay Mountain as a ski destination. Smithers is a very good location for a ski resort with high quality snow and a long season. The other interior ski resorts - Sun Peaks in Kamloops, Revelstoke Mountain, Kicking Horse in Golden and more have problems with access to a good airport nearby. The Simthers Aiport is a few short kilometres from the ski hill.

Long term this could mean Smithers and the Bulkley Valley will emerge as a new major tourism region for Canada. The airport can not get flights coming from up to 5000 km away and makes any location in the continental US within range. Hawaii and Mexico are also in range.

___________________________________________
SMITHERS – Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon, Smithers Mayor Cress Farrow and other dignitaries officially opened the extended runway at Smithers Regional Airport today, improving the airport’s ability to serve industry and residents in the Bulkley Valley.

“The Town of Smithers recognized the need for improvements to the airport, and the Province and other partners supported its vision,” said Falcon. “These upgrades to Smithers Regional Airport are important to expanding both tourism and mining opportunities in the Bulkley Valley.”

“These airport improvements help ensure Smithers has the up-to-date infrastructure necessary to support the mining industry’s heavy investment in the region,” said Smithers Mayor Cress Farrow. “The runway extension at the airport also opens the door to future jet service for Smithers.”

The runway at Smithers Regional Airport has been extended from 5,000 ft. to 7,500 ft. The project also includes relocation of the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) and the Omni-Directional Approach Lighting System (ODALS), as well as relocating the runway end lights and adding new end lights for the extension.

The runway extension project cost $5.46 million. B.C. and Canada jointly contributed $2 million through the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund. The Province provided an additional $1.4 million toward the project through its Transportation Partnership Program. The Northern Development Initiative Trust provided $1.36 million, and $699,000 came from the Smithers Regional Airport.

$147 million has been invested in more than 100 communities in B.C. through the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund. Through the Transportation Partnerships Program, established in 2003, the Province has invested over $30 million, with current commitments for an additional $8 million, in improvements at 33 airports across British Columbia.

-30-

Media contact:	Jeff Knight Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 250 356-7707
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.

Months of No Posting

I have been almost incapable of thinking about how things are in rural BC because of the magnitude of the problem. Just today I read that lumber prices are down to $130 per thousand board feet. This price is beyond belief, I can not even imagine it. I can not see how anyone can continue cutting wood at those prices.

BC normally harvests about 80 000 000 cubic metres of timber a year. The raw economic value of this wood to BC is about $24 000 000 000 at the first processing. That is about 20% of our economic activity in BC. This could all be missing in 2009.

MLA Bob Simpson is blogging about forestry and politics.

This e-mail is one of an ongoing series of information updates from Rural Team BC issued by Brandon Hughes (Canadian Rural Partnership/Service Canada). Any input or update ideas are welcomed. If you wish to be added to the list or taken off or for more information on the Team's activities mail me. Please feel free to forward this information to others who would be interested.

1. Food Security Grants - Thanks to joint newsletter of BC Healthy Communities and the BC Healthy Living Alliance - Community Initiative National Grant Program to Promote Food Security - The Epicure Foundation is committed to promoting food security in Canada by supporting Community Initiatives which help provide adequate physical and economic assess to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meet dietary requirements in order to sustain an active healthy lifestyle. To this end, the Epicure Foundation has launched it's second Community Initiative National Grant program; awarding grants of up to $5,000 to CI's across Canada supporting food security. Applications will be accepted postmarked up to midnight January 15, 2009. For more information visit http://www.epicureselections.com/community/foundation.aspx?culture=en-CA

2. Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program - WICWP is a three-year pilot initiative which supports WelcomeBC by fostering inclusive, welcoming and vibrant communities in British Columbia where immigrants can realize their full potential, racism is eliminated, and cultural diversity is valued and celebrated. WICWP has four community-level program elements that focus on immigration, multiculturalism, workplace diversity and issues related to building and sustaining welcoming and inclusive communities. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Knowledge Development & Exchange, Public Education, and Demonstration Projects has been posted on the BC Bid website, which will close on January 15, 2009. For more information, please visit the BC Bid website or review the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program Guidelines on the WelcomeBC website at: http://www.welcomebc.ca/en/service_providers/wicwp.html Please note that questions related to this RFQ must be directed in writing to Liz Lowe, Manager Procurement Advisory Services by facsimile at: (250) 387-7309 or by e-mail at: purchasing@gov.bc.ca.

3. Looking for a technical assistance grant for social enterprise in BC? Pre-qualify for an enp BC grant by attending a workshop this spring. Enp will host its social enterprise orientation sessions in Vancouver, Nanaimo, Surrey, Kamloops, Revelstoke, Kitamaat Village, Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, and Cranbrook. For additional information and dates, please check our website: www.enterprisingnonprofits.ca

4. Independent Power Projects – Many wild creeks around the province are being used to generate new sources of electricity for BC. These small private projects can generate significant electricity. On the down side, these projects may require the diversion of up to 90% of the creek’s water, diversion may be through new tunnels (large enough to drive a truck through), and clear cutting is necessary to run the power lines to the grid. Benefits to the local citizens other than the construction jobs are minimal. Educate yourself on the issues. Here is one government and one non-government source of information…

http://www.gov.bc.ca/fortherecord/independent/in_environment.html?src=/environment/in_environment.html

http://saveourrivers.ca/

5. School Community Connections provides grants! - The School Community Connections program provides grants of up to $8000.00 to assist in transforming school facilities into vital, lively hubs for community activities and services. Applications must be jointly submitted by a school district and a local municipality. Deadline for submissions has been extended to the end of February. For more information or to learn about the types of projects that have been funded visit http://www.schoolconnections.ca/.

6. Sustainability Conference - With more than 100 speakers from the public, private, non-profit, and academic sectors. Featured Topics Include:

SustainAble Agriculture / SustainAble Business /Community SustainAbility (for local governments). To register, visit www.regonline.ca/bsc2009

Host & Facilitator: Fresh Outlook Foundation

www.freshoutlookfoundation.org • Email: jo@freshoutlookfoundation.org • Phone: 250-766-1777

7. Rural BC Secretariat - At the 2008 Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention, Premier Gordon Campbell announced the creation of the RuralBC Secretariat, which is working hand-in-hand with rural B.C. communities to ensure they each have the tools to achieve their unique vision for the future. The RuralBC Secretariat within the Ministry of Community Development provides a direct service and information link between the provincial government and B.C.'s rural communities.
For example, this website offers local governments, regional districts, communities and families access to funding and assistance programs on-line. http://www.ruralbc.gov.bc.ca/

8. ForedBC - FORED operates on the assumption that informed citizens need to be environmentally literate. The association works with community stakeholders of all ages to achieve that goal. What is meant by environmental literacy? In brief, it means having the ability to grasp the basic concepts: scientific, economic and social that surround environmental issues and their consequences. Decisions made today in towns and cities involving roads and zoning will have environmental impacts for a generation. If citizens don't have a basic understanding of any of these debates, they will reward, reject or ignore decision-makers at their peril. Conversely, these same decision-makers, if guided by an informed electorate, will make better environmental choices. http://www.landscapesmag.com/common/main.cfm

9. Northern Development Funding Opportunities - Northern Development is an independent regional economic development corporation focused on stimulating economic diversification and job creation in central and northern British Columbia, a region that is strategically located, and offers a resource-rich economy with many competitive advantages and incentives for business. As the leading economic development agency in the region, Northern Development will be the catalyst to inject $2 billion every decade into communities within the region to realize their economic potential. The corporation supports community economic development initiatives with funding for economic diversification infrastructure, feasibility studies, marketing, capacity building, grant writing, community halls, recreational facilities, and community foundations

http://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/

10. Real Estate Foundation Supports Land Use Decision Making – Why do we think this is important? Because a number of you have told us that the flow of new information about land use, community, and real estate related topics is overwhelming. You’ve said that you’d like us to build on one of the strengths of the Real Estate Foundation’s first 20 years: its ability to enhance and support the “conversation” about land and land use practices within and between various interested parties. We hope that the CIT Information Resource does this, by sifting through some of the wealth of land use related information and making it more digestible, more easily understood – more “conversational”…. (more at www.communitytransition.org)

11. Funding for Heritage Projects – In honour of BC150, the Province is providing $1.7 million to celebrate and recognize the significant role that heritage plays in the provincial economy, Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Bill Bennett announced today. This funding is provided in partnership with the federal government’s Department of Canadian Heritage, in support of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia in 1858. The funding is to be allocated in two ways. One million dollars will be provided to support community heritage projects through one-time grants of up to $20,000. This funding will be administered by the Heritage Legacy Fund of British Columbia Society and available to registered non-profit societies, registered federal charities and local governments for the creation of heritage legacy projects throughout the province. Projects can include presentations, demonstrations, school tours, historical research, first-person interpretations of people, special events, and minor preservation and maintenance work to heritage sites. The remaining $700,000 will be provided to the community-based managers of provincial heritage properties such as Barkerville, Fort Steele and Hat Creek Ranch to facilitate similar celebratory and commemorative projects at these significant Crown-owned historic sites. For more information, please contact the Heritage Legacy Fund of British Columbia Society, toll-free at 1-877-522-0150 or email bc150-heritagelegacyfund@shaw.ca.

Brandon Hughes

Regional Policy Advisor

Canadian Rural Partnership/Service Canada

P - 250-354-3178

F - 250-229-4459

The Federal Election in Rural BC

Skeena Bulkley Valley

Comfortably held by Nathan Cullen of the NDP. His total vote dropped, but his percentage of the vote increased putting him a hair under 50% and therefore one of the MPs in Canada with a real mandate from his riding. Nathan has been a decent MP for the region and puts effort into serving his area, though I know there are people on the right that would prefer not to approach him.

It is a shame Sharon Smith, mayor of Houston, did not win. She would have been a good addition to the Harper government.

The big loser in this area are the Liberals. The party was reduced to less than 200 votes and 5.6% of the vote. Effectively tied with the Greens and only 805 votes ahead of the Christian Heritage Party. In 2004 the Liberals thought they had a chance to win this riding and nominated Miles Richardson. In 2000 they came second in the old Skeena riding. The party has given up here.

Mary-Etta Goodacre ran for the Canada Action Party and polled a total of 108 votes. She is the wife of former NDP MLA Bill Goodacre.

Cariboo Prince George

Dick Harris is back for the Conservatives and he has moved the vote for the party nicely above 50%. The riding looks unassiable safe Conservative ground.

The NDP nominated a dubious candidate in Bev Collins. Bev Collins was formerly very active in the Canadian Action Party. CAP is a party I find distrubing because of their fortress mentality nationalism that seeks an "other" to blame. She did manage to keep the NDP at the same percent of the vote as in the past two elections.

This riding is also one where the Liberals really suffered. They managed to get enough votes to get their election expenses reimbursed, but barely. The Liberals have never come close to doing this badly in this riding, or the predecessor. In the darkest anti-Trudeau the party did not do this badly.

Prince George Peace River
Jay Hill easily won here for the Conservatives and even boosted the party percentage of the vote.

The NDP remained in a distant second spot with their vote holding.

The Greens managed to break 10% and will get reimbursed their election expenses.

The Liberals came fourth with 8.5%, about 1/2 of what the party has done in the past. The amount they likely spent in the riding is not much, so the amount they will not get back is not that important.

Kamloops - Thompson - Cariboo
This was an open seat as Betty Hinton of the Conservatives did not run again. Cathy McLeod did win it again for the Conservatives and with a higher percentage of the vote. She managed to get 46% of the vote. The riding has been considered one all three parties could win and has often been won with only 40% of the vote.

The NDP held much of this riding as Kamloops under Nelson Riis. Michael Crawford brought the NDP vote up to a healthy 35.9%, another rise of 5 percentage points over the last election. Michael also ran for the NDP here in 2006.

Ken Sommerfield also repeated for the Liberals, but saw a 60% drop in his percentage of the vote. He barely managed to stay above 10% and only marginally ahead of the Greens. His result makes this a two person race next time.

Okanagan Shuswap
Former Salmon Arm mayor Colin Mayes is back again as a Conservative MP. He pushed his vote back over 50%.

The NDP ran Alice Brown for the third time but the vote dropped to just under 20%. The NDP did win this riding in 1988.

The Greens placed third here with Huguette Allen and 17.3% of the vote. She was a bit short of 10 000 votes, but this is still one of the best Green results in the election.

The Liberals, like everywhere else in the interior, did very badly here. Not only did they come fourth, they did not break 10%

Kootenay Columbia
Jim Abbott put up a strong win again, this time just short of 60%. Jim is one of the last member of the '93 Reformers.

The NDP more or less held their own.

The Greens came third and just managed to break the magic 10% number.

The Liberals were once again badly behind with less than 10% of the vote.

BC Southern Interior
Alex Atamanenko had a commanding win which put to rest the question of the 2006 election where the Conservative candidate withdrew but still had his name on the ballot.

Robert Zandee for the Conservatives came second with 35.6% of the vote, not really very close.

This is another third place finish for the Greens, but just short of the 10% needed.

One more place where the Liberals did very badly, only 6.9% of the vote.

Okanagan Coquihalla
Stock Day cruised home to another win and boosted his vote to 58.2%

The other three parties all came in at 12.1% to 16.5% in the vote, though the Liberals came fourth here

Kelowna - Lake Country
Another strong Conservative win, with all three other parties finishing in the mid teens for support.

Vancouver Island North
Round three of John Duncan versus Catherine Bell. John Duncan is back as the Conservative MP for this riding with the strongest win of the three contests. His percentage rose by five points in the last two elections.

Catherine Bell hung onto the same vote she had last time, but this was not enough to win again.

The Greens came a distant third with 8% of the vote.

The Liberal did not even break 5% of the vote


Overall Analysis

Rural BC has two parties, the Conservatives and the NDP. Other than Vancouver Island North, the ridings were comfortably won by the incumbent party.

The Liberals have utterly abandoned this region, their vote is lower than ever and in many cases at the levels fringe parties achieve. They are effectively tied for third with the Greens in a region that has more people than Nova Scotia.

Kaska and Hard Creek Nickel Reach Agreement

(Prince George, BC) – Cat Lee, Chief of the Dease River Band Council, Walter Carlick, Deputy Chief of Daylu Dena Council, Donny VanSomer, Chief of the Kwadacha First Nation, Dave Porter, Chairman of the Kaska Dena Council and Mark Jarvis, President of Hard Creek Nickel Corporation (TSX—HNC) are pleased to announce the signing of their “Cornerstone Agreement”. The Agreement is designed to be the foundation of a respectful, cooperative and progressive relationship to facilitate the development of Hard Creek’s Turnagain Project. An integral aspect of this Agreement is that it is based on mutual rights recognition.

For the full news release, please open the following link:

http://www.hardcreeknickel.com/Mailings/OCT1508.pdf

Thank you,

Mark Jarvis
President

HARD CREEK NICKEL CORPORATION

---
The TSX does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this news release.

1060 - 1090 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6E 3V7
T: 604-681-2300 F: 604-681-2310
E: info@hardcreek.com W: http://www.hardcreeknickel.com

British Columbia Southern Interior

Currently held by Alex Atamanenko of the NDP. He ran in 2004 and 2006. In 2004 he came close to unseating Jim Gouk. Jim severed as a Reform/CA/Conservative MP from 1993 until he retired in 2006.

No one in the national NDP gave Alex any chance of even coming close to winning in 2004 and he only had $22 000 to spend. In 2004 he barely spent more than the Greens.

In 2006 the Conservative nominee ran into problems and was dropped by the party making it very easy for Alex to become elected as MP.

The West Kootenay area has been fertile federal ground for the NDP. From 1949 to 1974 the CCF and then the NDP held the riding. From 1974 to 1988 the area bounced back and forth between the NDP and PCs. The margin was normally less than 2000 votes.

Assuming the NDP vote does not collapse, Alex has to be assumed the most likely winner in the election.

In 1993 this area was picked up by the Reform Party. For a number to elections the NDP were not a serious factor in the region. The Conservatives should be able to recover from the problems from 2006, though will Rob Zandee be able to win? I do not think he can pull it off this time.

BC Southern Interior is one the better Green votes in the country. In 1997 and 2000 Kootenay Boundary Okanagan had the highest percent of Green votes in Canada. In 2004 BC Southern Interior was their 4th best result and in 2006 their 6th best result.

If Andy Morel of the Greens works hard, he should be able to pull his party in third place. But the argument will be that people need to vote NDP otherwise the Conservatives will win. IF the greens are going to win a seat, this has to be one of the ones they put their resources into. If they do not make a first rate effort in a riding that has been one of their top areas in the country then the party may as well close up shop.

The Liberals are a non issue in the riding. Their best result came in the 2000 election in Kootenay Boundary Okanagan when former NDP cabinet minister Bill Barlee ran as a Liberal. He pushed the party vote to just over 27%. As far as I can tell there is no Liberal nominated yet. I can see the carbon tax being a big lead ballon here.

Also running is Mark Cochrane of the Canadian Action Party.