Gieddens gets results?
But first Reindeer Games. Read to the end for Mr. OG
Hat tip to Citizen editor Kennedy Gordon for noticing this one — apparently the actor Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump) is an active Redditor and he just did a photo dump of his time in Prince George filming the Ben Affleck/Charlize Theron film Reindeer Games on the movie’s 25th anniversary.
Gordon also points to a couple things that were in the recesses of my memories — this old school website showing filming locations around town
and this Prince George Free Press April Fools front page claiming Ben Affleck was marrying the city’s then-film commissioner Sarah Shaak. He also points to an editorial in another paper saying this caused quite a bit of controversy but my delve into the archives just finds stuff about everyone being good sports about it (that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, though!)
I also took a look around and found this little item in the Citizen about Sinishe and Theron watching Motley Crue at the CN Centre (then called the Multiplex) which feels extremely 1999,
Kiel Giddens picks up where Shirley Bond left off
I think it’s safe to say that Kiel Giddens is on the more centrist end of the B.C. Conservative Party. One of just a handful of B.C. United candidates who were invited to run for the Conservatives in the wake of the B.C. United implosion, the most controversial bit of background lobbed his way was the fact that he was a lobbyist for oil and gas as opposed to say, making racist comments or being a Jan. 6 denier. He’s not fallen for the political traps laid by the NDP nor has he made headlines for posting comments his own party finds offensive. Instead, he’s focused in on his role as labour critic by advocating for local jobs — specifically those at the Tidewater Renewables diesel refinery in Prince George which he says was facing unfair competition from U.S. companies receiving government subsidies. Premier David Eby and energy minister Adrian Dix paid a visit to the site in January and yesterday announced their plan to help, amending provincial regulations to help offset the U.S. subsidies. Here’s the Vancouver Sun on the news (leading with, it should be noted, a photo not of Eby or Dix but Gieddens):
The announcement by Dix also comes a day after Conservative Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Kiel Giddens introduced a private member’s bill in the legislature that he said would “level the playing-field” and close the loophole that allows American producers to benefit from the province’s low-fuel standard.
Giddens said Thursday he hadn’t seen the details of Dix’s amendments to the standard yet but was encouraged by the fact he brought forward a bill and the next day the province took action.
“It was really important for government to act now. If it had been several weeks from now, we may have seen the closure of this refinery,” he said, explaining 165 jobs in Prince George depend upon Tidewater Renewables.
“Prince George has really struggled in recent years. We’ve seen a pulp mill go down. We’ve seen mills close in the region. We can’t lose more. This is our resource sector, our base, our community, is based on that.”
The Citizen notes that the government solution is not that proposed by Gieddens but it was welcomed by Tidewater, whose CEO joined Dix at the announcement. And here’s Dix on Gieden’s role in all this:
“I appreciate Kiel’s contribution,” Dix said. “We’ve talked about it, and well, I don’t agree. We’re not using the same measures as him because we don’t think those measures would be effective in this moment. What he’s trying to do is what we’re trying to do — which is address climate change, support jobs in BC, and support jobs in Prince George.”
Giddens attended Dix’s press conference and was thanked for his advocacy on the issue.
Reached by phone from Victoria later in the day, Giddens said he was trying to use his position in opposition to raise attention to this particular issue because Prince George families were at risk of losing their jobs, and it was a good day because it was being addressed.
“I’m glad that finally, after pushing this, we were able to get some action because this is important for Prince George, both from a jobs perspective and also for energy security for BC as a whole.”
All of this makes me think back to just before the election, at Shirley Bond’s final event as an MLA. She was joined by Dix, then the health minister, and the two of them talked about how even though they were on either sides of the political aisle they often came together to tackle local issues outside of the scope of politics, and encouraging whoever took Bond’s role in the future to carry on the mantle of representing Prince George and the north first, and the party second. It’s early, yet, but based on yesterday’s news it seems like Gieddens — and Dix — are ready to carry on with that message.
Watch the point of order
Yesterday, I took note of a couple of exchanges reported on by the Citizen that indicated tensions between Mayor Simon Yu and the city’s planning director. In the comments, Jenn Matthews rights:
I was at the council meeting, Yu's comments towards Ms. Wasnik around the temporary use permit were so out of line. It was shocking. I really felt for her. Clearly there is a disharmony between staff and the mayor, you can feel it at every meeting. And I imagine that's where this comment was actually coming from, but it was hurtful and wildly inappropriate. The planning department is required to recommend or recommend a denial of land use changes based only on the OCP and surrounding land-use. So in fact a site visit would be inappropriate for her. Plus if she did site visits, she literally wouldn't have time to do her actual job.
This prompted me to want to watch it for myself and if you’re in the same boat it’s item E6 in this video, a the 4 hour, 34 minute mark, with the apology from the mayor coming at the 4 hour, 51 minute, 32 seecond mark.
Also notable is 4:37:52 point where councillor Garth Frizzell thanks Wasnik for doing her job, and explaining that she is, indeed, simply doing what’s asked of her — giving recommendations on whether to approve or not uses for properties based on the zoning and planning rules set out by the city and it’s up to councillors to override those guidelines, if they want.
News roundup:
Have thoughts on parking downtown and around the hospital? You’re in luck.
Open house offers clear look at College Heights supportive housing plan.
Regional hospital board funding cap could cut funding to capital projects.
After delays, Guay Road development bylaws pass third reading.
Lifeline for Prince George Ricki's store, but Bootlegger's fate uncertain.
Try it: Jen and Cody aim to perfect archery with the Silvertip Archers.
Excitement set for a new high at Hart Ski Hill ‘Big Air Competition.
Photos: Black History Month event explores family and culture at Two Rivers Gallery.
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Send feedback by emailing northerncapitalnews@gmail.com. Find me online at akurjata.ca.
Hmmm, mayor disrespecting city staff... shades of Kamloops.