News
Friday, February 15, 2013 »
It’s the 3rd annual Ride the Lifts with Doug! contest
Get come exercise, support our local ski hill, and let Doug know what's on your mind!
Friday, February 15, 2013 »
Don’t Let Apathy Score! contest
Are you 13 to 18 years old and want to see Dan Hamhuis and the Canucks in action? Then enter our contest!
Monday, January 28, 2013 »
Liberals still scrambling to fix their own mining permit backlog mess
The Liberal government is still scrambling to fix a resource permit backlog of their own making, showing they just aren't up to the challenges facing B.C. today, say the New Democrats
Tuesday, December 18, 2012 » Media Release
New Democrats celebrate decision to end coalbed methane drilling in the Sacred Headwaters
New Democrats are commending the Tahltan Nation, northwest communities, First Nations, organizations and individuals for coming together to save the Sacred Headwaters in light of news the area will now be permanently off limits to coalbed methane drilling.
Friday, December 7, 2012 » Media Release
NDP calls for extension of moratorium on coalbed methane in the Sacred Headwaters
The moratorium on coalbed methane extraction in the Sacred Headwaters must be extended in the face of unresolved concerns about its impact on First Nations, communities and the environment, say the New Democrats.
Friday, November 30, 2012 » Media Release
MLA presents Stikine residents with Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal
Today MLA Doug Donaldson announced the winners of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medals that were nominated through his constituency offices in Smithers and Hazelton.
Friday, October 12, 2012 » Media Release
Liberals have failed to address skilled labour shortage, Donaldson says
News that mining companies are importing temporary foreign workers is proof that the Liberal government has failed to take any real steps to address the skilled labour shortage, say the New Democrats.
Friday, August 3, 2012 » Media Release
Mining permit backlog under Liberals still too large, New Democrats say
Progress toward addressing the massive backlog and sluggish turnaround in permitting for mining under the Liberal government is still too slow, said New Democrat mining critic Doug Donaldson.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 » Media Release
Donaldson to serve as mining critic, deputy energy critic
Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson welcomed today's announcement that he has been appointed as critic for a stand-alone portfolio of mining.
Friday, July 13, 2012 » News Coverage
MLA pushes for Northern Gateway oil pipeline hearing to be reinstated in Hazelton - Vancouver Sun
Stikine NDP MLA Doug Donaldson is calling for the National Energy Board to reinstate a federal panel hearing on the Northern Gateway oil pipeline in the northern B.C. community of Hazelton.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012 » Media Release
Donaldson wants Hazelton’s JRP hearings reinstated
Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson says an announcement by the National Energy Board canceling the Enbridge public hearing in the Hazeltons and moving the venue to Smithers for safety and security reasons is an insult and further erodes public trust in the review process.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 » Media Release
Liberals need to take action to protect Sacred Headwaters
With the end of the moratorium on drilling for coal bed methane in the Sacred Headwaters looming, the Liberal government has yet to take real action to work with communities to protect the ecologically-sensitive area, says New Democrat MLA Doug Donaldson.
Friday, June 8, 2012 » Media Release
First Nations training program axed, hurts rural areas
An announcement by the BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association that it's closing its doors June 15 is a blow to skills training in rural areas and underscores misguided priorities by the BC Liberals, said Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson today.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 » News Coverage
Province targets eight new mines by 2015 in strategy - Kamloops Daily News
The B.C. Liberal government announced a strategy Wednesday to create new mines in B.C. as a way to boost jobs and tax revenue.
Monday, May 14, 2012 » News Coverage
Failure to engage First Nations snags mining plans - Vancouver Sun
Mining Week in B.C. is an opportunity to remind British Columbians of the importance of the resource economy in our province. We are blessed with a province rich in many natural resources that have always played an important role in our economy, from fishing to forestry to mining.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 » News Coverage
Provincial NDP caucus speaks out against pipeline - Terrace Standard
The NDP caucus has written and signed a letter detailing its opposition to the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline and sent it to the National Energy Board Joint Review Panel, which will decide whether the project will go ahead.
Monday, April 30, 2012 » Media Release
B.C.‘s Official Opposition outlines objections to Enbridge pipeline to Joint Review Panel
B.C.'s Official Opposition caucus has formally registered its opposition to Enbridge's Northern Gateway Project with the National Energy Board’s Joint Review Panel.
Monday, February 27, 2012 » News Coverage
Rock Talk in Smithers brings good news
To a non-geologist onlooker, Rock Talk may cause eyes to glaze with an abundance of technical jargon. However the annual Smithers-based conference on mineral exploration and mining had some rocking good news.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 » News Coverage
Strong prospects for mineral explorers in Smithers
Small-town Smithers made an outsized splash at Canada’s largest trade show for mineral explorers last week, sending more people than any B.C. municipality after Vancouver and Victoria.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 » News Coverage
No oil pipeline here: Enbridge Northern Gateway Joint Review Panel in Smithers finds 100% opposition
It’s unanimous: all of the interveners who gave testimony to the Northern Gateway Joint Review Panel in Smithers oppose the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline. The Wet’suwet’en, BC Métis and Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson all asserted the Bulkley Valley is shared by different cultures which share a dependence on clean rivers for wild salmon.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 » Editorial
The value of literacy
The natural resources that surround us in Stikine hold great opportunities to provide for our communities.
Thursday, January 5, 2012 » Media Release
Donaldson set to present to Joint Review Panel on Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway project
The Joint Review Panel for the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Project will begin its hearings this month and Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson is scheduled early in the process. Donaldson is registered as an intervenor and will be presenting to the panel on January 16, 2012, in Smithers.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 » Editorial
A time for reflection
The Christmas season allows us to be reflective in this oftentimes fast-paced world. And one of the things we can reflect on is living in northwest B.C.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 » Editorial
Amendments to Bill 19 not in the public interest
I spoke to Bill 19, the Miscellaneous Statues Act, during the last day of the fall legislative sitting. The pattern of this government is to pack amendments to many different Acts into a miscellaneous bill. Some of these are simply administrative amendments, but others have the potential to be very significant in rural constituencies like Stikine. A section of Bill 19 fell into the latter category.
Thursday, December 1, 2011 » News Coverage
Stikine MLA wants Hunting Allocation Numbers for 2012 Released - CFTK-TV
Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson says the hunting allocation numbers for big game species; need to be released before it has an impact on local guide outfitters businesses.
Thursday, December 1, 2011 » Media Release
Hunting allocation numbers for 2012 still not released, jobs threatened
Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson is calling on the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to fulfill his commitment made in the legislature two weeks ago and release the new hunting allocation numbers for 2012 before it hurts businesses any longer.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 » Editorial
The Family Law Act is good legislation
I spoke in the legislature last week in support of the Family Law Act, during its second reading debate. The government did a good job on this one, consulting widely and taking its time in crafting the wording.
Thursday, November 17, 2011 » Media Release
Report on Budget 2012 consultations released
The Select Standing Committee on Finance has released its report on 2012 budget consultations this week, and deputy chair Doug Donaldson said he was encouraged that his efforts to include some specific recommendations related to Stikine were endorsed by all members of the bipartisan committee.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 » Editorial
Forestry jobs: out-of-country and up-in-smoke
Last week I highlighted a couple of forestry issues during Question Period in the legislature, both of which mean fewer local forestry jobs due to government decisions.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 » News Coverage
Report exposes apparent rift over future of B.C. climate policy: Vancouver Sun
The B.C. Liberal dominated finance committee exposed on Tuesday an apparent rift within the government over its future climate policy, recommending a controversial halt to both carbon tax increases and to the province’s move towards cap-and-trade.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 » Editorial
Quality Waters strategy failed the community
It’s the prime time of the year where the rivers and angling become the equivalent of our recreation centre for many living in Stikine. And fishing is an economic driver too – especially the fly fishing, catch and release steelhead fishery.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 » Editorial
Families are not being empasized
Governing is all about emphasis. While recognizing the role of government in encouraging initiative and development, former Saskatchewan NDP Premier Allan Blakeney had another point of view. He wrote, “I put more emphasis on the role of government in dealing with the inevitable casualties produced by a highly competitive economy. It was a difference in emphasis only, but perhaps an important one.”
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 » Media Release
Finance committee hears from exasperated mining industry
Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson and the mining industry are calling on the BC Liberal government to support core funding for Northwest Community College’s School of Exploration and Mining, and to provide clear direction on First Nations consultation.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 » Editorial
A jobs plan should be about people
Touring rural parts of the province with the finance committee last week, a few themes emerged. One of them, on the topic of employment, reminded me of a saying I’ve heard lately: Jobs without people, people without jobs.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 » Editorial
Food production equals jobs
The 2011 Bulkley Valley Exhibition has once again demonstrated the importance of agriculture to our way of life. Being able to feed ourselves with products grown and raised locally, regionally and provincially is important for our health and also for climate action, reducing the need for long distance, fuel-intensive transportation.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 » Editorial
Certainty will bolster investment
Plans to reopen the Tulsequah Chief mine and build a lengthy access road through salmon spawning habitat for access became a flashpoint 10 years ago. The issue of ‘duty to consult’ was the essence of a Supreme Court of Canada ruling in 2004 that decided in favour of the TRTFN.
Thursday, July 21, 2011 » Media Release
New Democrats challenge Premier and energy minister’s priorities on Enbridge plan
As Premier Christy Clark hosts Canada's premiers in Vancouver, New Democrats are challenging her to clarify the Liberals' support for the Enbridge pipeline after B.C. signed on to a national energy plan that lays the groundwork for the pipeline to push ahead.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 » Editorial
Responsible development
Part of managing the rush of natural resource development coming to the Northwest involves understanding and dealing with long-term consequences. One component of that is reducing impacts to our clean water, wild salmon and globally significant wildlife populations.
Friday, July 8, 2011 » News Coverage
Premier Christy Clark makes stop in Smithers - Interior News
The government has its place in facilitating economic growth but Christy Clark is happy to limit government meddling.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 » News Coverage
Premier Making a Visit to Smithers - HQ Prince George
Premier Christy Clark is set to visit Smithers for the first time since taking office. She will attending a Smithers and District Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Friday.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 » News Coverage
Stikine MLA skeptical of HST compromises - Interior News
The Liberal government’s slashing of the HST by two percent is indicative of a desperate government, according to Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 » News Coverage
B.C. suffering power failure - North Shore News
"BC Hydro will no longer produce its own energy: instead it must purchase it from private power developers through expensive, long-term energy contracts. Yet despite paying very high prices, B.C. customers get no assets, no price protection, and no guarantee of future security of supply." - SFU professor John Calvert, June 2007
Monday, May 16, 2011 » News Coverage
B.C. government launches HST ad campaign - Prince George Citizen
"B.C. Liberal government launches HST ad campaign":http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/article/20110513/PRINCEGEORGE0101/305139941/bc-liberal-government-launches-hst-ad-campaign The B.C. Liberal government unveiled a $5-million information campaign on the harmonized sales tax Thursday -- a TV, print, radio and on-line campaign that will feature a "stickman" beset by arguments from the yes and no sides.
Friday, May 13, 2011 » News Coverage
B.C. government launches HST ad campaign - Prince George Citizen
The B.C. Liberal government unveiled a $5-million information campaign on the harmonized sales tax Thursday -- a TV, print, radio and on-line campaign that will feature a "stickman" beset by arguments from the yes and no sides.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 » Editorial
Mining Week in B.C.
We will rock you. It’s the lyric made famous by Freddie Mercury and Queen. It has even been played at a Canucks game or two. But just recently it was the slogan for this year’s Minerals North conference held in Stewart. On behalf of all MLA’s in the legislature, I was honoured to welcome mining leaders from across the country: exploration companies, suppliers, scientists, local government and First Nations representatives.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 » News Coverage
First Nation Along NTL Route Willing to Delay Construction - HQ Prince George
A First Nation along the proposed route for the Northwest Transmission Line say they are willing to fight the power line going in. The Gitanyow First Nation have not yet reached an agreement with BC Hydro to allow the 404 million dollar transmission line to go through their territory. Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson says the approval from both the federal and provincial governments shouldn't have been given yet until negotiations were completed.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011 » News Coverage
BCTV clip with Doug in Question Period regarding the HST
Global TV clip about the unfavourable report on the HST and Doug in Question Period demanding answers from the government: http://www.globaltvbc.com/video/index.html?releasePID=5_m_lobzIXPURfWn_bxV6Rj0ZIrDSWRs
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 » Editorial
HST will soon have its day
Get ready for it. The pro-HST spending splurge by the provincial government is about to begin. Finance minister Kevin Falcon recently announced the government will be spending $1.7 million of your money over the next couple of months on HST information and that doesn’t even include a taxpayer- funded advertising campaign, the cost of which still hasn’t been worked out.