Business

The B.C. government is preparing for increased shipping traffic on the North Coast, from liquefied natural gas to containers and bulk commodity exports. The planning and policy office of the B.C. Ministry of Transportation has posted an invitation to bid on a “marine services needs assessment” for B.C. shipping, with a closing date of Jan. 16. It avoids mentioning oil shipping, but that would be included in the study. “The ministry is interested in how increases in vessel...

Employees of Lomak Bulk Carriers Corp. have voted 93 per cent in favour of a renewed five-year collective agreement. The employees are members of Transport, Construction, and General Employees’ Association, Local 66, affiliated with CLAC. Highlights of the agreement include over 12 percent wage increases over the next five years, increases in RSP, vacation, and work wear allowances, as well as language updates that will allow members greater flexibility. “We are very pleased with this...

The federal government has given its environmental approval to a proposed $5.3 billion gold mine north of here. But proponent Seabridge Gold will also have to undertake a series of environmental protection and other measures for its Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell open pit and underground copper, gold, silver and molybdendum project which would process up to 130,000 tonnes a day of material and have a life span of more than 50 years. Federal environment minister Leona Aglukkaq, in giving her...

By Jeff Nagel Black Press The province’s latest liquor reform will make it easier for wine stores to relocate into grocery stores – provided they offer only B.C. wines – but there’s no sign the government is rethinking its change to wholesale wine pricing that will sharply drive up the price of more expensive bottles. Friday’s announcement by Justice Minister Suzanne Anton in Langley at Chaberton Estate Winery is being hailed by B.C. wineries because some supermarkets that...

Josh Massey Terrace Standard   The opening of the Imperial Metals Red Chris copper and gold mine has been delayed until the new year as the company continues to seek a final provincial environmental permit and negotiates with the Tahltan Central Council over recommendations contained in a review of the facility’s tailings pond. Speaking in Terrace Dec. 12, Tahltan Central Council president Chad Day said the next few months will be critical for agreements with Imperial which had...

Apache Corporation which had been seeking an exit from the Kitimat LNG as well as Wheatstone LNG in Australia is getting its wish with a confirmed deal between it and Woodside Petroleum. Woodside has agreed to buy the projects for $2.75 billion. Woodside will also pick up the tab for spending on the projects for between June 30 2014 and the closing date, which was not specified. Apache does say it is expected in the first quarter of 2015, and is subject to government and regulatory...

The provincial government is giving the Tahltan Central Council $500,000 to buy into a small run-of-river project on the Iskut River owned by Calgary-based energy company AltaGas. The Volcano Creek project, rated at 16 megawatts, has just begun producing power which is being sold to BC Hydro, entering the provincial grid through the crown corporation’s Northwest Transmission Line. Provincial and Tahltan officials were in Terrace this morning releasing details of the business deal...

  The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of Northern BC is worried building code changes could drive up the price of new homes. On December 19, the B.C. Building Code will introduce increased energy-efficiency requirements for houses and small buildings. Key changes will mean new requirements for effective insulation levels, ventilation and radon rough-in requirements, as well as options for code compliance. The province has been seeking to move to a uniform building code for almost...

The company that wants to build a molybdenum mine at Kitsault on the north coast is moving senior managers into place as it anticipates receiving the majority of its financing from an international banking consortium. Avanti Mining has also changed its name to Alloycorp Mining Inc. to better reflect the company’s goal of producing molybdenum as a key steel alloy ingredient. A newly hired health and safety manager is due to move to Terrace as is Luke Klemke who will be the general manager of...

Volunteer crews were out Sunday installing 50 winter seasonal baskets in the downtown area. “We are asking for unwanted artificial Christmas trees again this year, ” said Carla Johnston of the DBIA (Downtown Business Improvement Association), who was on hand to help with the installations. “Last year we were surprised to get 100 trees. In December last year, Downtown PG put out a call for people to drop off their unwanted, artificial Christmas trees. By late January over...