Saturday, June 18, 2011

Pat Bell's Top Ten for June 17th

1. BC Hydro and Conifex Timber are teaming up to generate clean, renewable bioenergy in Mackenzie. On Friday we announced new agreements that will create 80 construction jobs and 20 permanent jobs in the region, strengthen the local forest industry and add new clean energy to British Columbia's electricity mix. Conifex will invest approximately $50 million to upgrade its existing power infrastructure to create a bioenergy facility with a 36-megawatt steam turbine. The fuel will be sourced from the residuals produced at Conifex's lumber manufacturing and log harvesting operations. More great news for Mackenzie!

2. A new state-of-the-art Cross Laminated Timber plant in Okanagan Falls, which officially opened Friday, features innovative technology that will change the way wood is used in B.C., providing another boost to B.C.’s forest industry and regional economic growth.
The plant takes structural laminated wood products to the next level by producing a new line of CLT, CrossLam, which has been compared in strength to concrete – but is up to six times lighter.
A multi-layer solid timber panel is constructed by bonding dimensional softwood lumber, with each layer at an alternating right angle. The result is a ready-to-use solid wood building system that offers many advantages to commercial and multifamily construction. These benefits include: faster construction time, greater versatility and stability, and significant environmental benefits. It also uses locally sourced, sustainably managed resources, including western hemlock – which has historically been underutilized – and mountain pine beetle-killed wood.
With wood products currently making up 16 per cent of commercial and institutional construction – compared to roughly 95 per cent in residential construction – there is significant opportunity to expand the use of wood products in B.C.

3. Whether you’re a parent looking to try something new with the kids or an experienced angler passing on your skills, families can cast a line into B.C.’s freshwater lakes and streams this Father’s Day weekend for free. The 12th Annual Free Family Fishing Weekend is held June 17th to 19th and allows families to fish for free in freshwater lakes and non-tidal streams anywhere in B.C..

4. When John Eckland came to B.C. from the U.S as a business immigrant under the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program in 2006, he decided to settle in Kaslo. With a $2.8-million investment, Eckland completely renovated the Kaslo Hotel, creating 24 new jobs and providing thousands of dollars in spinoff benefits to local businesses. In 2010, he was named one of the top ten Kootenay businesspersons of the year. Under the same program, Dr. Shyr Chui emigrated from the U.K. to B.C. in 2010 and today helps meet the health-care needs of patients as a radiologist at the Prince George Regional Hospital. As shown by a new, independent evaluation report, these are just two examples of the many success stories resulting from the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), which provides accelerated permanent resident status to qualified workers and entrepreneurs based on labour market and development priorities. The report notes that from 2005 to mid-2010, a total of 203 entrepreneurs who received permanent resident status through the program invested over $423 million in British Columbia, creating more than 1,100 jobs. More than half of the total investments made and jobs created were outside Metro Vancouver.


5. More than 180 communities across the province can do more to support and promote tourism as a result of provincial funding. This year one million dollars is being shared among 300 grassroots projects through the Community Tourism Opportunities (CTO) program, now in its third year of operation. Growing in popularity, applications to the program have increased 13 per cent this year. The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation program assists communities to implement their own tourism initiatives with the Province acting as a funding partner by providing matching monies upon the completion of eligible projects. Individual communities are eligible for up to $9,200 from the Province. In instances where clusters of communities have collaborated on a proposal, the maximum available funding is $23,000.

6. B.C. small businesses have innovative ideas on how to conserve energy, but many do not have the time or money to make their ideas happen. The $550,000 LiveSmart Champion Program can help small business make their energy-efficient ideas a reality. Small business can submit their energy saving ideas to the Ministry of Energy and Mines starting June 14, 2011. Applications will be evaluated on project feasibility, energy and cost savings, innovation, and their benefit and value to other companies and the community. To become a LiveSmart Champion, small businesses must spend less than $50,000 per year on electricity and meet program eligibility requirements. Applications must be submitted by Monday, Aug. 15, 2011 at 4 p.m. to be considered. Successful applicants will be eligible to receive up to $25,000.


7. The Province is providing $1.35 million to the BC Cattlemen’s Association (BCCA) as this year’s portion of a $10-million, six-year highway and railroad livestock fencing plan. The program is a commitment under the Ranching Task Force Report, in partnership with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Ministry of Agriculture and the BCCA. This six-year program began in 2010 with planning and prioritization of projects. Construction will take place through 2015, with a total of about 700 km of fencing built to guard provincial highways and railways from straying cattle.

8. Working together, B.C.’s Civil Forfeiture Office and the BC Securities Commission have reunited 37 Canadians with the full amount of $190,121 they lost to fraud in 2003. Two B.C.-based companies targeted the investors, largely through word-of-mouth promotion. The investments offered by Wellspring Capital Group promised investors a return on their investments through various business schemes. Investors paid for their investments through a numbered company that called itself Springpay Systems. In reality, the only source of funds for Wellspring’s income programs was new investors’ money. The companies later admitted to operating illegal Ponzi schemes. Acting on a tip from authorities in the U.S., where similar scams were discovered, the BC Securities Commission located the Canadian investors’ funds in B.C. bank accounts. The commission froze the funds, investigated, then referred the matter to the Civil Forfeiture Office, which pursued a successful forfeiture action and then returned funds to investors.


9. I’d like to congratulate Brad Waghorn and Jeff Elder and all of the guests on a successful Visions luncheon. The luncheon held last week raised $18,000 for the CNIB – money that will go to supporting research and programs designed to support Canadians dealing with vision loss.

10. In Mackenzie you can celebrate Father’s Day with the annual Mackenzie Elks Family Fishing Derby at the Alexander Mackenzie Landing or tonight celebrate “ Summer Solstice Night” at the Spirit Square with music food and fun!

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