11/25/2009

A Little Laugh For Everyone

 With all the crap we are seeing from the Campbell Cabal I felt this was too good to not pass on. I get a lot of jokes from friends every day but for my state of mind this week I found this the best.


The Pope and Gordon Campbell are on the same stage in front of a huge crowd.

The Pope leaned towards Mr. Campbell and said, "Do you know that with 
one little movement of my hand I can make every person in this crowd 
go wild with joy?  This joy will not be a momentary display, like 
those believers in your 2010 Olympics, but go deep into their hearts 
and they'll forever speak of this day and rejoice!"

Campbell replied, "I seriously doubt that.  With one little wave of 
your hand?   Show me"

So the Pope backhanded the bastard.




11/24/2009

Falcon Doesn't Get It

 The province is running a story on the caffuffle in the leg about seniors care.called  
"Care workers' contract dispute resolved: Minister"

Because I don't have "javascript enabled" whatever that is, I can't comment there. So I'll post my comment here.

"Falcon just doesn't get it. These people are being hired and fired just to keep their wages and benefits at a bare minimum. This in turn removes quality care for seniors. This is a Crisis. Minister Falcon needs an operation to remove his head from dark places. Unlike the rest of us he can get the operation. All he has to do is jump the que.

11/23/2009

A Story With Two Ends

Following is a forwarded message through Rafe Mair from Karen McAllister. Unfortunately there are no dates set for the interior or Northern BC as yet but we can hope. The $5 suggested donation is fairly inexpensive compared to the liberals multi hundred dollar dinners to listen to the lies spewed by the prem.


Rafe here ... if you can make one of these dates I urge you to do that and please pass this on to people close to this site.
Thanx

Hello all!
FYI. Hope that you can make one of these presentations.  Please pass on to those who may be interested in attending. . .[snip]


Best, Karen McAllister

 A Story with Two Ends

Award-winning Canadian authors Andrew Nikiforuk and Ian McAllister embark on speaking tour highlighting how Alberta Tar Sands developments are set to collide with BC's remarkable coastline.

Victoria - Sun. Nov. 22nd
 Alix Goolden Theatre,
 907 Pandora
 7:00 pm
 $5 suggested donation

Sidney - Mon. Nov. 23rd
Bodine Family Hall,
Mary Winspear Centre
7:00 pm
$5 suggested donation

UVic - Tues. Nov. 24th
 Room A110
 SS&M Building, UVic
 2:30pm FREE

Vancouver-Wed. Nov. 25th
Heritage Hall,
3102 Main Street
7:30 pm
$5 suggested donation  

UBC-Thurs. Nov. 26th
Norm Theatre,
UBC Student Union Building
12:30-2pm  FREE  

 Burnaby-Thurs. Nov. 26th
Shadbolt Centre for the Arts
6450 Deer Lake Ave.
7:00 pm
$5 suggested donation


Join Ian McAllister, Conservation Director of Pacific Wild, and journalist Andrew Nikiforuk as they describe the beauty and complexity of British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest and look at how Canada's dirty oil industry threatens BC and our nation.

Ian and Andrew are outlining the stories surrounding both ends of the proposed Enbridge pipeline, from the Alberta Tar Sands to Kitimat’s pristine waters.  This compelling muti-media presentation will provide an in-depth and intimate view along the pipeline and tanker route.

Bios:
For the last two decades, Andrew Nikiforuk has written about energy, economics and Western North America for a variety of Canadian publications including The Walrus, Maclean's, Canadian Business, The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Georgia Straight,Equinox and Harrowsmith.  His latest book, Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of the Continent, has won him the Rachel Carson Environment Book Award and the W.O Mitchell City of Calgary Book Award. Nikiforuk lives with his wife and three sons in Calgary, Alberta.  Whether speaking or writing about melting glaciers, educational shams, peak oil, or the destruction of the boreal forest, Nikiforuk has earned a reputation as an honest and provocative voice in Canadian journalism.
Ian McAllister is a leading advocate for BC's wild places.  His conservation efforts have won Time Magazine's "Leader for the 21st Century Award." His photography was recently awarded the North American Photography Associations Vision Award and both his books on the BC coast have won the BC Booksellers Choice Award.   He is a co-founder of the BC -based wildlife conservation group Pacific Wild, a non-profit dedicated to wildlife research, public education and informed advocacy. He lives on the central coast of BC with his wife and two children.

Anyone attending is welcome to comment here

11/15/2009

Why is West Fraser Closing Eurocan in Terrace

 The following two articles are reported in the Terrace Daily online. Merv has graciously given open consent to publish the articles here.


 These articles raise many questions as to why Eurocan is putting directly over 500 workers out of work as well as untold others who are indirectly displaced. It makes no sense to me whatsoever.


 As well, on top of all this unemployment and complete shut down of the mill, you will see that they are keeping 30 million dollars that by rights should be returned to the government if the mill closes.


 Why is the provincial government not demanding the return of that money? Is it to be a welfare gift to West Fraser? Is this how the self professed "best" money managers of this province use our money?


OPEN LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER AND PREMIER FROM SNCIRENew or Updated
Rick Brouwer

November 10, 2009

An Open Letter to:
Premier Gordon Campbell
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Office of the Premier
Office of the Prime Minister
PO Box 9041 STN PROV GOVT
80 Wellington Street
Victoria, BC V8W9E1
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Sent by email: premier@gov.bc.ca
Sent by email: pm@pm.gc.ca
and fax: 250-387-0087
and fax: 613-941-6900

Dear Premier Campbell and Prime Minister Harper:

Re: A Unified Message from the Skeena-Nass Region

The undersigned, as representatives of local governments, First Nations, social service organizations, economic development organizations, local businesses, and chambers of commerce, are providing this unified message to the provincial and federal governments: Provide adequate resourcing to allow us to turn the Skeena-Nass back into a wealth making region.

The announcement on October 28, 2009 of the permanent closure of the Eurocan pulp mill in January 2010 will result in the loss of 535 direct and over 1000 indirect jobs in the Skeena-Nass region. Over the past decade this area has lost 2500 direct and as many as 5000 indirect jobs in the forest sector alone.

This closure of the last industrial wood manufacturing facility in the region shows that the economic model that has dominated the Skeena-Nass region for the past 60 years no longer works, and that we must all work together to address the critical issues facing our region:

- An over-reliance on commodities like dimension lumber and pulp as our primary products;
- Forest policy issues that have been in place for decades and need an overhaul;
- Needed resources for identifying and marketing the special attributes, competitive advantages
and available resources in the Skeena-Nass Region;
- Needed support for development of a diversity of products from the region;
- Inadequate resourcing for trying new things and applying new research or ideas on the ground;
- Recognition that the region has little capacity for "matching funds" in order to allow us to access funding from provincial or federal agencies; and
- Recognition that funds for "bridging programs" are only effective if there is another "shore".


We have come together to let you know that it is long past time to change the Provincial and Federal focus on "bridging". Instead, we need to see resources put towards "building the other shore" so that we know what we are bridging to. You, as representatives of the land owners, need to invest in the Skeena- Nass region to rethink, reinvent, and recreate the natural resource economy. This needs to occur in co- operation with the people of our region, because we understand what needs to be done and we are ready to try new things.

Building the other shore means identifying the additional natural resource opportunities and options that could exist in the Skeena-Nass region, providing an environment where we can test these opportunities and then promoting commercialization of those that are successful. Resourcing for this is critical. We already have people and players coming forward with ideas, but not enough resourcing to act on them.

The Skeena-Nass region has been in an economic crisis since 1997, and has lost as many or more jobs as other parts of the country that have benefited from large injections of stimulus funds. However, there is also an opportunity to rebuild and grow a new economy in the Skeena-Nass (the "other shore")

What we need, at a minimum, is provision of funding to a locally controlled body, with at least the same funding as was provided to the mountain pine beetle action committees, with additional incremental funds to allow for research and application of concepts and ideas on the ground. We ask that you respond to this need immediately. We also invite you to come and meet with us.
Sincerely,

Skeena-Nass Center for Innovation in Resource Economics Board of Directors:
John Nester - Great West Life Assurance Co., Terrace, BC
Brad Pollard - McElhanney Consulting Services, Terrace, BC
Jack Talstra - Talstra & Company, Terrace, BC
Joe Wong - Woodmere Nursery, Telkwa, BC

Rick Brouwer - Executive Director, Skeena-Nass Center for Innovation in Resource Economics, Terrace, BC
Ken Kubota - Project Coordinator; Skeena-Nass Center for Innovation in Resource Economics, Terrace, BC

Terrace & District Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors:
Coleen Taylor - President
Irlanda Price - 1st Vice President
James Cordeiro - 2nd Vice President
Donna Demers -Treasurer
Bert Husband - Past President
Vivian Raposo - Director
Kelly Gingles - Director
Curtis Sagmeister - Director
Charlynn Toews - Director
Glenn Kelly - Director
Janice Paulitschke - Director
Wade Bennett - Director
Brian Langston - Director
Leydi Noble - Director
Ian Black - Director

Stacey Mann - Executive Director, Terrace & District Chamber of Commerce, Terrace, BC
Dave Johns - Deputy Mayor, District of Stewart, BC

K.T. Industrial Development Society Board of Directors:
Ron Burnett - Former Co-Chair, Kitimat EDC, Kitimat BC
Campbell Stewart - Owner, Terrace & Kitimat A&W Restaurants, Terrace BC
Colin Adam - Branch Manager, McElhanney Consulting Services, Terrace, BC
Bill Hickman - Retired, SMIT Marine Canada, Kitimat BC
Mike Scott - Owner, Magnum Road Builders, Terrace, BC
Gerry Martin - President, Shames Mountain Ski Corp, Terrace, BC
Lael McKeown - Co-Owner, Progressive Ventures Ltd, Terrace, BC
Bill Eynon - Former Plant Manager, Methanex Corp, Kitimat BC
Robin Lapointe - Owner, Lapointe Engineering, Kitimat BC
Lynn Stevenson - Owner, Management Matters, Kitimat BC

Austin Byrne - Executive Director, K.T. Industrial Development Society, Kitimat, BC
Mark Ignas - Administrator, Gitxaala Nation, Kitkatla, BC
Bruce Andrews - Owner, Lakedrive Lumber, Terrace, BC
Shane Neifer - Owner, High Mountain Tonewood Company, Terrace, BC
Dave Greening - Owner, Value Wood Products Ltd, Terrace, BC
Lloyd Norton - Value Wood Products Ltd, Terrace, BC
Kathy Lewis - Chair, Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British
Columbia, Prince George, BC
Renée Mitchell - Golder Associates Ltd, Terrace, BC
Paul Hanna - Owner, Silverwood Consulting, Terrace, BC
Dieter Marder - Silverwood Consulting, Terrace, BC
Usko Murtonen - Silverwood Consulting, Terrace, BC
Michael Hogg - Owner, Wightman & Smith Insurance, Terrace, BC
Cam Stevens - Chief Forester, Gitxsan Chief’s Office, Hazelton, BC

North West Loggers’ Association Board of Directors:
Joe Bevan - Controller, Kalum Ventures Ltd, Terrace, BC
Jim Checkley - Cedarland Tire Ltd, Terrace, BC
Trevor Jobb - Vice-President, Northwest Timberlands Ltd, Terrace, BC
James McKay - Owner, DJMcKay Enterprises, Terrace, BC
Dave Martin - North Division Manager, A&A Trading Ltd, Terrace, BC
John Nester - Agent, Great West Life Assurance Co., Terrace, BC (repeat signature)

Bill Sauer - General Manager, North West Loggers’ Association, Terrace, BC
Remko Engelbertink - Registered Professional Forester, Terrace, BC
Rod Hayward - Managing Director, Hawkair Aviation, Terrace, BC
Ulyses Venegas - Owner, Artitectura Design and Construction, Terrace, BC
Joanne Legros - Owner, Peques Wee Ones, Terrace, BC
John C Bartlett - President, J C Bartlett & Associates Ltd, Ft Providence, NT
Chris Bartlett - J C Bartlett & Associates Ltd, Ft Providence, NT
Sarah A. Zimmerman - Owner, saz communications, Terrace, BC

Terrace Economic Development Authority Board of Directors:
Darryl Tucker - Hawkair Aviation, Terrace, BC
Kevin Jeffery - Terrace Totem Ford, Terrace, BC
Rob Dykman - Tower Radio Ltd, Terrace, BC
Christine Slanz - Northwest Science and Innovation Society, Terrace, BC
Brad Pollard - McElhanney Consulting Services, Terrace, BC (repeat signature)
Dave O’Leary- Northwest Community College, BC
Ken Parkes - Andritz Automation, Terrace, BC
Kelly Gingles - Skeena Rent-A-Car (National Car Rental), Terrace, BC (repeat signature)
Craig Sears - Pacific Northern Gas, Terrace, BC
Rick McDaniel - Re/Max of Terrace, Terrace, BC
Curtis Sagmeister - Coast Inn of the West, Terrace, BC (repeat signature)

Sam Harling - Economic Development Officer, Terrace Economic Development Authority, Terrace, BC
Jayne McKenzie - President, Keenleyside Insurance Services Ltd, Terrace, BC
Layne Clarke - Sales Representative, Northwest Business Machines, Terrace, BC
Marilyn Kerr - President, Sight & Sound Audiotronic, Terrace, BC
Mark deJong - Manager, Thornhill Motors, Terrace, BC
Karlene Clark - Owner, Images by Karlene, Terrace, BC
Dennis Roth - Co-Owner, MediChair North Coast, Terrace, BC
Rod Link - Editor and Publisher, Terrace Standard, Terrace, BC
Sid Peltier - Owner, White River Helicopters Inc, Terrace, BC
Mel Stevens - General Manager, Laxgalts'ap Forest Company Ltd, Laxgalts'ap, BC
Alan Moore - Chair, Laxgalts'ap Log & Timber Co. Ltd, Laxgalts'ap, BC
Owen Fewer - Planner, Canada Resurgence Developments Ltd, Terrace, BC
Dave Marko - Woodlands Operations Coordinator, Gitxsan Forest Enterprises Inc, Hazelton, BC
Val Gauvin - Owner, Dawne Business Solutions, Terrace, BC
Jerry Gagnon - Owner, JAG Contracting, Terrace, BC

Smithers District Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors:
Dave McKenzie - Sandman Inn, Smithers, BC
Jason Krauskopf - Rays Board Shop, Smithers, BC
Debbie Meissner - Hawkair Aviation, Smithers, BC
Geli McAloney - Studio G, Smithers, BC
Dave Walter - Valhalla Pure Outfitters, Smithers, BC
George Whitehead - ScotiaBank, Smithers, BC
Linda Hanson - Individual member, Smithers, BC
Randy Krooker - Randy’s Image Design, Smithers, BC

Heather Gallagher - Manager, Smithers
District Chamber of Commerce, Smithers, BC

Shannon Emerson - concerned resident, Terrace, BC
Mike Lozier - concerned resident, Terrace, BC
Sharon Emerson - concerned resident, Terrace, BC
Les Emerson - concerned resident, Terrace, BC
Doris Emerson - concerned resident, Terrace, BC

Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Board of Directors:
Harry Nyce (Board Chair) - Electoral Area A (Nass Valley, Meziadin)
Gerd Gottschling (Vice Chair) - District of Kitimat
Melanie Sondergaard - Electoral Area B (Hazeltons rural areas, Kispiox Valley, Moricetown
through Cedarvale)
Allan Lanctot - Electoral Area C (Rural Terrace area, south coast)
Dave Brocklebank - Electoral Area D (Telegraph Creek, Iskut, Bob Quinn)
Ted Ramsay - Electoral Area E (Thornhill)
Darcie Frocklage - Electoral Area F (Dease Lake)
Lynne Christiansen - City of Terrace
Carol Leclerc - City of Terrace
Alice Maitland - Village of Hazelton
Peter Weeber - District of New Hazelton
Angela Brand Danuser - District of Stewart

Bob Marcellin –Administrator, Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, Terrace, BC
Gerald Nyce - General Manager, Haisla Resources LP, Kitamaat Village, BC

City of Prince Rupert:
Jack Mussallem - Mayor
Anna Ashley - Councillor
Kathy Bedard - Councillor
Gina Garon - Councillor
Sheila Gordon-Payne - Councillor
Nelson Kinney - Councillor
Joy Thorkelson - Councillor

Nellie Cheng - Economic Development Officer, Prince Rupert & Port Edward Economic Development
Corporation, Prince Rupert, BC

Denise Gagnon - Owner, Spa Essentials, Terrace, BC
Stacey Tyers - Executive Director, Terrace Anti-Poverty Society, Terrace, BC

City of Terrace:
Dave Pernarowski - Mayor
Brad Pollard - Councillor (repeat signature)
Bruce Martindale - Councillor
Carol Leclerc - Councillor (repeat signature)
Brian Downie - Councillor
Lynne Christiansen - Councillor (repeat signature)
Bruce Bidgood - Councillor

Ron Poole - Chief Administrative Officer, City of Terrace, BC

Barry Nikal - Chief of the Moricetown Band, Moricetown, BC
Dave Menzies - Operations Manager, Central Mountain Air, Smithers, BC
Alex Bolton (Sin’oogit Hataxgm Lii Midiik) - Treaty Negotiator, Kitsumkalum Treaty Office, Terrace, BC
Roger Harris - Haisla Business Development Corporation, Kitimat, BC
Erin Griffith - Owner, Urban Colour, Terrace, BC

District of Port Edward:
Dave MacDonald - Mayor
Knut Bjorndal - Councillor
James Brown - Councillor
Dan Franzen - Councillor
Murray Kristoff - Councillor

Ron Bedard - Chief Administrative Officer, District of Port Edward, BC

Mark Starlund - General Manager, Kitwanga Lumber Co Ltd, Kitwanga, BC
Carol Sabo - Executive Director, Ksan House Society, Terrace, BC

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Letter Circulating Eurocan (author unknown)


The biggest contributing factor to Eurocan’s demise is management, both at the corporate (West Fraser – Vancouver) and local (Eurocan – Kitimat) level. West Fraser has stated that Eurocan has consistently lost money, with no hope of changing this in the future. I would disagree on both counts.

Firstly, West Fraser and Eurocan management have consistently told employees that even though the division was showing a loss (as opposed to a profit), it was for the most part “cash positive”. It is quite a leap to go from “cash positive” directly and irrevocably to the doomsday scenario we now face. During the recent presentations to employees the West Fraser and Eurocan management dwelt heavily on a PowerPoint slide showing the past 10 years of profit/loss. On this slide there was only one year with a small profit (2002 I believe) with the other years showing losses. It was stressed how last year (2008) and this year (2009 projected) showed marked increases in the loss, and how this is indicative of the future. What was left unsaid is that Eurocan instituted a change in accounting practice for 2008 onwards which applied the concept of “net realizable value” to large working capital items like finished product inventories, chip inventories, pulp log inventories, etc. This change effectively magnified swings in the division’s profit/loss position, with both appearing greater than before the change. The slide previously referred to therefore did not compare apples to apples. The losses for 2008 and the projected losses for 2009 were magnified in relation to the previous years’ losses by this change in accounting practice. By this measure Eurocan’s future is not as bleak as was stated. In any event, it is misleading to confuse profit/loss (in the accounting sense) with making/losing money.

Secondly, I disagree that there is no hope for the future. West Fraser and Eurocan management have routinely and consistently ignored obvious opportunities to improve the economics of the Eurocan operation. Some examples are as follows:

The Eurocan recovery boiler burns about $2,500,000 worth of fuel oil annually. If this boiler was converted to burn natural gas (capital cost about $350,000) the savings would be about $1.5-2,000,000 annually.

· Reactivation of the in-mill fibre recovery sump would save about 12-14 tons per day of fiber from going to sewer (capital cost about $1,500,000) and this fibre could then be made into paper. Benefits would be about $2,000,000 annually.

· The Eurocan electrical generator is presently shut down. West Fraser and Eurocan management have said this is because the generator is uneconomical to operate. This statement is simply not true. Even in the present circumstances where the generated power displaced electrical purchases at BC Hydro’s tier 1 rate (about $25/MWh) the generator would realize benefits of about $1,000,000 annually. Given West Fraser’s corporate operating scenario, with Quesnel River Pulp back to full operation, this means that the generated power would actually displace electrical purchases at BC Hydro’s tier 2 rate (about $76/MWh), and benefits would therefore be about $3,000,000 annually. In addition, West Fraser was actively engaged in negotiations with BC Hydro to have the power generated at Eurocan credited at BC Hydro’s current rate for power calls (i.e. something in the order of $110/MWh), and one could therefore foresee an annual benefit in the order of $5,000,000 annually.

· A number of electrical energy conservation projects have been identified that could reduce Eurocan’s electrical bill by $1,000,000 annually, with potential for annual savings of $2-3,000,000 with a bit more study.

· Eurocan has a number of outdoor tanks that are used to store hot process fluids, yet these tanks are uninsulated. This is unheard of in the industry, particularly in northern climes. Insulation of these tanks would cost about $500,000 and would give an annual benefit of at least $1,000,000.

· The Eurocan CMP (Chemi-Mechanical Pulp) mill presently vents the waste steam produced by the pulp refiners to atmosphere. Recovery and reuse of this steam (capital cost about $3,500,000) would give an annual benefit of about $2,700,000 annually.

· The Eurocan CMP was built in the late 1980’s, and the depreciation of the plant started with the plant startup as 20 year straight line CCA. This should have finished almost 2 years ago but for unknown and highly questionable reasons West Fraser instructed Eurocan to continue depreciation charges beyond the 20 year period. These charges amount to some $3,000,000 annually, and are reflected directly Eurocan’s profit/loss position. On the other hand, these charges obviously have no impact on Eurocan’s cash position (beyond tax considerations). One could wonder of this is even legal, let alone ethical or justified.

The above are only a small sampling of the obvious opportunities that have been identified that could greatly improve Eurocan’s economic performance. I have selected these opportunities to list here as they are relatively simple to explain to those who are unfamiliar with pulp and paper operations. Please believe me when I say that there is a long list of additional opportunities of similar magnitude that, if acted on, could help turn the situation around.

Some of these opportunities are so obvious that one would question why they would not be acted upon immediately. Why burn expensive fuel oil when natural gas is obviously so much cheaper? Why continue to charge depreciation against an already fully depreciated asset? Why continue to put valuable fibre in the sewer when it could easily be made into paper and sold?

I have no answer for this. It defies all logic, and one can only assume that it is either due to extraordinarily incompetent management, or it is an informed attempt to make the Eurocan operation look (unjustifiably) unviable. No doubt the former plays a significant role, and this could hopefully be remedied through the sale of the Eurocan asset to an interested party and subsequent replacement of the management. But for the moment let’s focus on the latter.

One would question what possible motive there could be to make a viable operation appear unviable. For starters there is the recent federal government Green Transformation Programme (GTP) funding for the pulp and paper industry. As you know, Eurocan generated some $30 odd million in credits towards West Fraser’s total allocation of $88 odd million. What perhaps you do not know is what West Fraser’s plans are for that impending money.

West Fraser has long championed a second electrical cogeneration plant at Cariboo Pulp in Quesnel. This project was rejected in the previous BC Hydro call for power since it was not consistent with their stated objectives around procurement of “green” power. But times change. In the present context of the impending GTP the BC provincial government has directed BC Hydro to do whatever it takes to attract as much of this federal funding to BC as possible. BC Hydro has reacted by “reassessing” their position on the Quesnel project, and giving it more than favourable consideration.

Cariboo Pulp is a joint venture between West Fraser and Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd. (DMI). DMI have looked at the GTP funding in the context of the federal government's stated GTP goals, meaning that they plan on using their allocation to execute projects based on long-term environmentally driven business goals rather than short-term payback. To DMI this means that they plan on using the bulk of their GTP credits to address motherhood type issues at their Peace River, AB, facility. Their take on the Cariboo cogeneration project is that the project should stand on its own merits as a high payback project, and should not be subject to GTP funding. West Fraser, on the other hand, sees this as an opportunity to take complete ownership of this particular project, and use something like $50-60,000,000 of their GTP credit allocation to execute the project. They will then reap 100% of the benefits, which are extraordinarily good due to the excessively high price currently offered by BC Hydro to purchase new generation power.

But back to Eurocan and its present demise. When an operating asset slips into unviability there are normally some warning signs, and typically corporations react in predictable and logical ways. First, and attempt is normally made to sell the asset to an interested buyer. If this fails then the next step is usually an indefinite idling of the asset. Permanent closure is normally the final step after all else has failed.

One could wonder why no attempt was made to sell Eurocan to an interested buyer. West Fraser has stated that there simply is no hope of making Eurocan viable. I hope I have managed to convince you that such hope does indeed exist, despite West Fraser's assertions.

One could also wonder why West Fraser has chosen to permanently close Eurocan rather than idling the asset, either for a definite period or indefinitely. Idling would have allowed West Fraser to avoid the bulk of the operating losses while waiting for improvements in the world economy and giving due consideration to alternatives other than permanent closure. We can only conclude that their mind was irrevocably made up prior to the announcement. But why?

Should interested parties come forward to consider the purchase of Eurocan it stands to reason that they would want a fair portion of the Eurocan-generated GTP credits to be included in the deal. Public and political pressure directed at saving the Eurocan jobs would have supported this position. If we postulate that something like $25-30,000,000 of West Fraser's GTP total credits would be attached to the Eurocan deal then the Cariboo cogeneration project would be put in jeopardy, much to West Fraser's chagrin.

It is also interesting to note that the current plans being put in place by Eurocan's management, and by extension endorsed by West Fraser's management, are such that the plant will become inoperable shortly after shutdown. There is presently no consideration given to maintaining the idle equipment in such a way as to allow reactivation some time in the future. It is not planned to keep the buildings heated. It is not planned to keep the turbine and generator rotating on the turning gear. It is not planned to rotate major pieces of equipment (paper machines, lime kiln, etc.) on a regular basis. If these equipments are simply left sitting then within a few weeks of the shut down shafts and journals will bend, bearings will develop flat spots, equipment will sag, and the plant will become impossible to start up again.

This seems to fly in the face of what might be considered best business practice. One would think that good businessmen would be motivated to realize the maximum return from even a non-performing asset. In Eurocan's case this should firstly mean selling the operating plant to an interested party; secondly selling the idle plant in its entirety to an interested party; and thirdly selling the equipment piecemeal over a period of say 12 months prior to permanent closure. Why, then, is West Fraser seemingly in such a hurry to wipe Eurocan from the map? I certainly am not party to their thinking. I can only speculate that there is a direct link to the possibility that any attempt to rehabilitate or resurrect Eurocan could interfere with West Fraser's capability to proceed with the cogeneration project at Cariboo using federal GTP funding. Any interested party will require a reasonable period of time to execute due diligence scrutiny, put financing in place, obtain shareholder/board approvals, obtain government approvals, etc. It is not reasonable to expect any credible organization to execute these steps in the 3 month period from West Fraser's announcement to the final plant shut down. This is compounded by the fact that West Fraser is not actively seeking nor encouraging interested parties to come forward.

To summarize:

· West Fraser have shown that they are determined to wipe Eurocan off the map. They have bypassed all logical business steps by announcing without warning the permanent closure of Eurocan, with only the absolute minimum notice required by law. This notice period is so short that any interested parties will find it difficult or impossible to properly assess the possibilities of purchasing Eurocan as an operating asset before the plant is shut down. The method of shutting the plant is such that the plant will not be able to be restarted in the future, meaning that a sale after the plant closure date will be next to impossible.

· Eurocan in its present form could be made viable. Many opportunities have already been identified to optimize the operation, yet these have been consistently ignored by Eurocan and West Fraser management. Acting on these opportunities would require capital investment. Eurocan's share of GTP funding credits would go a long way in financing the needed changes and making Eurocan a viable operation.

· West Fraser is planning on using the lion's share of their aggregate GTP funding credits to unilaterally execute a high payback cogeneration project at Cariboo Pulp in Quesnel. The GTP is supposed to be about improving the sustainability and environmental performance of the Canadian pulp and paper industry, not about supporting high payback projects that should stand on their own merits, and West Fraser's plans are therefore not consistent with the stated GTP goals. Furthermore, BC Hydro's participation (after initial rejection of the project) is based on a desire by the BC government to attract as much GTP funding to BC as possible, however if these actions contribute to the permanent shutdown of Eurocan then obviously the best interests of BC (and indeed Canada) are not being served.


The reality of the situation is that something like 500 Eurocan employees will lose their livelihood and to add insult to injury many will lose their savings due to the attendant collapse of the Kitimat real estate market. My number is lower than the total of Eurocan employees because a small number of employees are in a position where their termination package will bridge them into retirement. I am also not including the Eurocan managers, as they are obviously well looked after by West Fraser through all of this. Regardless, this seems like a very high price for the common people to pay for mismanagement and greed on behalf of the company management.

What is needed is the following:

· the headlong rush to permanently and irrevocably close Eurocan as quickly as possible must be stopped. Sufficient time should be given so that interested parties can come forward and develop a realistic plan for acquiring Eurocan and turning it into a viable operation. Permanent closure should be viewed as the last option, rather than the first.

· Eurocan should be endowed with its fair share of GTP credit funding to aid in attracting interested parties and returning the operation to viability.


There is one other obstacle faced by Eurocan that I have not yet touched on, and that is fibre supply. In the past Eurocan was supplied almost exclusively with residual chips from West Fraser's sawmills in the area. West Fraser had to divest itself of some of its sawmills in the area as a consequence of its takeover of Weldwood, and this combined with the idling of West Fraser's sawmill in Terrace means that Eurocan has become less integrated in West Fraser's overall fibre chain of supply. Regardless, looking to the future I do not see fibre supply as being an insurmountable problem. Lumber markets will come back, and the supply of residual chips will reestablish itself. Perhaps any future deal for Eurocan could include the Terrace sawmill as well. Some thought needs to be given to this issue, and that thought requires time. West Fraser seem bent on ensuring that sufficient time is not available for due consideration.

11/11/2009

My Appologies

I've been tagged by, I suspect a spammer from La Belle Province. It caused me to tag his daily posts as spam. So everyone was going into the spam file.
I think the problem has been corrected but regular posters will have to use "word verification"

And if there is anyone out there who knows how I could hack this a$$hole or send him/her a worm, I'd appreciate it.
Gary E

In Flanders Fields


by John McCrae, May 1915

Poppies (©greatwar.co.uk)

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

11/09/2009

Interior Health Could Care Less About Unborn Children and Their Mothers.

I have been unable to post on this site for a variety of reasons lately. First because I wanted to build a house. That project got off the ground but is now hanging in mid air.
Many of you know that I am retired and live on a fixed income with a young bride and a new (15 month old) daughter. And at this posting another daughter.

You see last winter after taking some normal precautions we got pregnant again. They said the baby was overdue on October 11. So instead of being able to drive to the hospital in town where Mack E was born, we were forced to take an extra hour and thirty minute drive to Williams Lake to have this baby. One hour and thirty minutes on top of the thirty minute drive to our town. That's a long time when a baby wants to come. And we all know that babies come in their own time.

I discovered by accident, earlier this year when my tax assessment came that they were systematically shutting down 100 Mile Hospital. My tax rate for the hospital read CMH. That's Cariboo Memorial Hospital and that's in Williams Lake.
To compound our frustrations they wanted us to make a total of three trips. All this on a limited income. We were informed of the first trip mid month. After our budget was completed. While we were at the doctors in Williams Lake, he moved up the delivery date. I allege that this was for the sole purpose of having an earlier past due date. As it turned out I was right because when the baby was born there were no indications that she was past due. She was right on time , even though she was induced.
To me this was playing with the life of a mother and child.

So, back to the problem. Last January Interior Health in their infinite wisdom decided that they didn't want to pay for maternity nurses. Not as they say, they couldn't get nurses. Then they figured they would just close the maternity ward altogether. Then with all the unmitigated gall they could muster, they attempted to close the ER. I'm not sure of the backlash they got but they are now back peddling on that just a bit. They are saying that the ER is open 24/7 and IF there is a doctor on call you will get service. The IHA is servicing us now but its not the kind we are paying for.
If all of the above is getting you pissed there's more. They are attempting to close the OR.
And if anyone in this area believes that I am not telling the truth just have a look at your tax bill for 2009.
You are paying taxes to support the Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake (CMH). It's there in black and white. So when Interior health says that they have no money for these services they are right. The assholes have taken the money away from 100 Mile Hospital and given it to CMH.

And further to this when we got to CMH they had already had 3 cases of H1N1 one of which died. We were not notified of this situation nor were we given any instruction on how to attempt to avoid infection. This is a bloody virus. And for the doctors who seem aloof to this problem they should get their collective asses together and come up with a plan.


From 100 Mile Free Press Jun 2009

The emergency room at the 100 Mile District General Hospital will be closed for 12 hours at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, until 8 a.m. Thursday, June 18, because no doctor is available.

Interior Health advises that in the event of an emergency residents should call 9-1-1.

(We all know that BC Ambulance was on strike until the Lieberals legislated them back to work this month.Gary E)

BC Ambulance Services has been notified and extra staff and cars have been arranged.

The emergency department in Williams Lake is available for non-urgent matters and if anyone is unsure what services they need they should contact the BC Nurse Line at 1-866-215-4700
from 100 Mile Free Press sep 2009

The one operating room at 100 Mile District General Hospital is operational three days a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays), generally from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for minor surgical and scope procedures.

Interior Health is reviewing this service, which had 530 procedures performed in 2008-2009.

Andrew Neuner, Interior Health Thompson Cariboo Shuswap health service area chief operating officer, says these procedures are booked in advance and are elective procedures during which no hospitalization is required.

He adds three physicians perform procedures, such as dental work, carpal tunnel surgery, vasectomies and colonoscopies, in 100 Mile House.

The OR has also been used for an average of 16 caesarian sections during the past five years.

Neuner says patients in emergency situations are normally stabilized through the emergency room and then transferred to a higher-level facility.

The only exception would be emergency C-sections and that would depend on the staffing available, he adds.

(How the christ can this person make a statement like that? Cesarian is the most crucial type of childbirth. Both mother and infant could die . Gary E)

100 Mile physician, Dr. Franky Mah, says the loss of the surgical program would affect the obstetrics program because there would be no caesarean section backup.

Dr. Mah has been proven right because they have moved all births to Williams Lake.Gary E

He adds closing the operating room would also affect the emergency room because it would mean the loss of a surgeon on call for trauma cases and more serious cases as well as anesthesia.

“It would have a broad effect on the whole provision of medical care in 100 Mile House.”

Mah says recruitment and retention of physicians would definitely be more difficult without a surgical program.

Meanwhile, Neuner says Interior Health is not prepared to answer a hypothetical question. However, he notes there are communities where there is no OR and physicians are successfully recruited.

(But this situation is now not hypothetical. It is a fact. So Neuner lets have a goddamn answer Gary E)

“Physicians are attracted to communities for a variety of reasons, both professional and personal.”

The issue will be discussed at a meeting with Ministry of Health personnel, Interior Health, physicians and local politicians Oct. 9.

And Now From Paul Wilcocks

It doesn't matter what the intentions are. The Campbell government's actions are resulting in a shift to two-tier health care in B.C.

People who can pay get fast, effective treatment. The rest of British Columbians wait, suffer and get sicker.

Earlier this month, the Vancouver Island Health Authority said provincial funding was inadequate to maintain health care services. It chopped surgeries and support for seniors and people with mental illness.
For example, last year the health authority did 124 bariatric surgeries. The operations help obese people who have been unable to lose weight in less extreme ways. Their stomachs are made smaller or bowels shortened to reduce the absorption of calories the number of bariatric surgeries......[snip]

Demand hasn't fallen. The wait for treatment is measured in years.
But the health authority's provincial funding for this year falls $45 million short of what is needed to provide health care services. The gap will be greater next year.
So patients won't be treated.
Unless they have money.[snip]

But so far Canadians have decided that health care is different. We have, after a fierce public discussion, decided that when care is rationed, it shouldn't be auctioned off the to the highest bidder.
If two people have an illness, then the decision on who gets treatment is to be based on medical need.
We've even written the principle into law. The Canada Health Act and B.C.'s Medicare Protection Act say people cannot pay extra for speedier treatment for any medically necessary procedure.
But the law is routinely ignored. Private clinics have pushed the boundaries in offering more and more surgery to those who can pay for faster treatment. [snip...]


Paul is speaking here mainly about obesity but the scenario is the same. This so-called government of the people is systematically dismantling our hospitals and I believe it is for the sole purpose of setting up private for profit clinics. Gary E

I gave Interior Health more than a week to answer some questions such as "What is the justifacation of these draconian policy shifts." They have chosen not to answer.

Next up: some questions I will have for Donna Barnett. They will be posted here as she appears unable to answer my e-mails.

11/07/2009

Finally Someone Steps Up To Sue The Campbell Liars

And it took a pollster to do it. Go for it Glen

November 4, 2009

PRESS RELEASE – VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Glen P. Robbins private not for profit public opinion pollster “The Most Accurate Public Opinion Pollster in the World” ®, and writer under ZEUS/ROBBINS, Robbins Sce Research (1998), and www.robbinssceresearch.com, and Glen P. Robbins – is providing written legal NOTICE to commence legal action against the following persons:

1. Gordon Campbell (aka Premier of British Columbia); 2. Colin Hansen (aka Finance minister of British Columbia); 3. The British Columbia Liberal Party –
for --DAMAGES arising to him (and others) from events relating to the most recent provincial general election – May, 2009.

Robbins says “Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen and the B.C. Liberal Party purposely misled all British Columbians to win the most recent provincial election.”

“There was no discussion of the H.S.T. (Harmonized Sales Tax) and there ought to have been – voters were deprived of full and complete information – they were provided with none – when the B.C. Liberal government knew or ought to have known that the H.S.T. and their current position on it – would have had a significant impact on the outcome of that election.”

Adds Robbins “ Campbell, Hansen and the B.C. Liberal Party completely lied about the budget – with economics a primary reason for the B.C. Liberal win. Campbell, Hansen and the B.C. Liberal Party won on a gross omission and a complete lie about money – it was victory by fraud – by any reasonable standard of democratic expectation.”

Robbins states that “Neither Gordon Campbell nor Colin Hansen are protected by privilege of their Cabinet status because an election Writ had been filed and they were essentially private citizens seeking to be re-elected – and thus lied to voters as private citizens.”

“As a consequence our polling properties lost potential growth in ‘value’ ‘we have built our reputation on being deadly accurate on forecasting election outcomes long in advance of the election date – with many of these forecasts running totally against the grain of mainstream pollster predictions.”

Says Robbins “Forecasting the Obama presidential win in January 2008, when mainstream pollsters had Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton ahead by 12-20 percentage points at the same time, -- and forecasting the first Stephen Harper –Conservative Party of Canada minority government months in advance – (2006) are just two examples.”

“Our polling indicated that the B.C. New Democratic Party would edge out the B.C. Liberals – and I believe they would have –save for the deception – and lies of Campbell, Hansen, and the B.C. Liberal Party.”
“Had the B.C. NDP won the 2009 provincial general election – as we accurately predicted long in advance – against the grain of other pollsters – these intellectual properties of ours would be even more valuable than they are currently.”

Robbins notes that the statute of Limitations provides two years for filing a Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim.
Glen P. Robbins 778-385-9757 -30-

Just think, if this case actually makes it to court there may be grounds to nullify the election. Oh we can only hope.

Scott Simpson and The Sun

On October 30,2009 you ran a story on how the Liberals screwed the people of BC by directing that Hydro shut down Burrard Thermal.

In your article you state that "Hydro is now looking to add 6,000 gigawatts per year of new electricity supply -- enough power for 600,000 homes.At full operation, Burrard is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the province."

Firstly you fail to mention that Burrard Thermal is run on NATURAL GAS. Then you fail to tell your readers that the by product of this burned fuel is Hydrogen and Oxygen. Which by the way when combined as two parts hydrogen to one part oxygen the resultant is WATER.

So I really fail to see how Burrard Thermal is one of the biggest polluters in the province when it produces water as a by product. Even if it produced heavy water 2H2O which is used in nuclear reactors that wouldn't be pollutionbecause the production would need to be controlled.

Maybe you could enlighten the masses by doing further research on this puff piece and let us know just how this plant pollutes us. And if you can't find anything then please ask Campbell for me because this appears to be where the lie is coming from and his party doesn't answer my e-mails.

11/03/2009

Terrace Daily reporting rumors of Alcan

The Terrace Daily Online is reporting rumors that Rio Tinto will be making a major announcement on Monday November 9,2009.

The rumor says that they will be shutting down the plant at Alcan. Paving the way for them to convert strictly to Hydro Production. It goes on to say that there may be federal and provincial input into the closure. ie: for environmental reasons.

Doesn't do much for the escalating unemployment in the area either.

11/02/2009

BC LIBERALS Expected to table back-to-work legislation today, in paramedics strike.

That is how the headline in todays' Sun online should read. It is not the province who want this it is Gordos' big business lobby.
I predicted that this would happen after the election and I guess it wasn't the highest priority. So they finally got around to it today.

Now my bet is that the Paramedics get the shaft and shortly afterwards the executives of the BC ambulance service will get raises and bonuses and golden parachutes. Any takers?

Wake up BC these idiots in the liberal party are not looking after your best interests.