Quesnel's friendly, social & entertaining online news source!

On the morning of March 6, 2012 at 7:22 am, the Burns Lake Fire Department and the RCMP were called out to a structure fire at the Decker Mill Forest Products in Burns Lake B.C. 

Fire and Rescue along with BC Ambulance, BC Hydro and Pacific Northern Gas attended the scene of the fire, which reportedly started in a portion of the planer mill.  There were approximately 50 employees on site at the time of the fire who all assisted with trying to put out the fire before emergency crews arrived.   

As part of a commitment to healthy families in British Columbia, Premier Christy Clark announced today that starting this Friday nicotine replacement therapies will be available at no cost and smoking cessation prescription drugs will be covered under PharmaCare.  "Each year, more than 6,000 British Columbian needlessly die from tobacco use," said Premier Christy Clark. "By providing convenient and direct support, we are helping British Columbians live smoke-free and improve their health as well as the health of their families. By reducing the number of people who smoke, not only will we prevent or delay the onset of diseases like heart attacks and cancer but also avoid the millions of dollars cost on our health care system." 

By calling HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 and registering for the smoking cessation program, B.C. smokers who are covered by MSP and who wish to quit will be able to receive free nicotine gum or patches either by mail or at their local community pharmacy once they receive a reference number from HealthLink BC.  As part of this program, varenicline (Champix) and bupropion (Zyban) will also be covered by B.C. PharmaCare beginning Sept. 30 and will be available with a prescription. People will need to see their doctor for a prescription and be registered in a PharmaCare plan to receive coverage for these products. The level of coverage will depend on a person's PharmaCare plan. 

The Province will reinstate the combined 12 per cent PST and GST tax system following the referendum decision by British Columbians to extinguish the HST in B.C., Finance Minister Kevin Falcon announced today. An action plan has been established to guide the transition process and help ensure an effective and orderly transition from the HST to the PST plus GST system in B.C.

The PST will be reinstated at seven per cent with all permanent PST exemptions. The Province may make some common sense administrative improvements to streamline the PST. The transition period is expected to take a minimum of 18 months, consistent with the report of the independent panel on the HST. During this period, the provincial portion of the HST will remain in place at seven per cent. Eligible lower-income British Columbians will continue to receive the B.C. HST Credit until the PST is re-implemented. The B.C. HST credit will then be replaced by the re-implemented PST credit.

During the transition period, the Province will provide quarterly updates on the progress of returning to the PST.

A new $10-million provincewide program will benefit rural communities and support physicians by improving patient access to rural emergency services.

Funding of up to $200,000 per year will be provided to groups of rural, fee-for-service physicians who commit to work as a team to ensure reliable public access to emergency services at their rural community hospital. Physicians will work with the regional health authority to develop a community-specific plan for how funding might best be applied.

Bill 13, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act 2011, was introduced in the legislature today by Attorney General Barry Penner. If passed, the amendments will affect a number of provincial statutes.

The amendment, which allows the court to permanently transfer custody of children who are living with relatives in temporary out-of-care agreements, creates an alternative to bringing children into foster care and will provide continuity and permanency for both children and their caregivers. The amendment also includes safeguards to ensure permanent transfers only occur when they are in the child’s best interests, while ensuring that due process is in place before parental rights are severed.

Prince George RCMP are asking for the public's assistance in locating a missing man from Prince George.

RCMP are looking for 70 year old, Jackson George Ginger (aka Ginger Jackson George) who has been reported missing by his friends and also by his Parole Officer.

Updated at 7:02pm

Amber alert cancelled - Daniel Sturm located

Amber alert issued - Daniel Sturm taken by father

Chilliwack BC: At approximately 12:55pm the Chilliwack RCMP were advised of a child abduction that had just occurred in the 46200 block of second Avenue in Chilliwack BC.

(Photo:  Daniel Strum, BC RCMP handout)

A historic mining revenue-sharing agreement between the Province of British Columbia and the McLeod Lake Indian Band was signed today by the Chief and Council and the B.C. government announced Randy Hawes, Minister of State for Mining.

“B.C. continues to lead the way in Canada with our Economic and Community Development Agreements that ensure First Nations Communities benefit directly from resource development,” said Hawes. “Following on the footsteps of yesterday’s announcement, the Province is pleased to join with the McLeod Lake Indian Band as a partner in environmentally responsible mineral development. B.C. wants to work with other First Nations to develop mining projects that meet some of the highest environmental standards in the world for the benefit of all British Columbians.”

Mackenzie, BC – The restart of the Mackenzie pulp mill has generated approximately 220 direct jobs, 500 indirect jobs and provided the local community with a significant economic uplift, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today at a grand re-opening celebration. 

“I would like to thank Paper Excellence for their valuable investment in the community of Mackenzie, the Omineca region and the province of British Columbia,” said Premier Campbell. “I also want to thank Minister Pat Bell, the McLeod Lake Indian Band, the entire community and all partners for working together to ensure working families in this region have an opportunity to build a future right here in Northern British Columbia.” 

Fifteen B.C. community groups will receive grants of up to $25,000 each to promote multiculturalism and anti-racism through art, Minister of Citizens’ Services Mary McNeil announced today.

“Tapping people’s creativity is a way to break down barriers and change thinking,” said McNeil. “These projects will use art to engage youth and adults on topics of multiculturalism and racism.”

The combined federal and provincial funding is being provided through EmbraceBC, a program that works to inspire residents, community members and sector leaders to welcome, accept and embrace difference within their communities.