New agreement could mean great things for Kitimat!
I couldn’t have put together a better list myself. A recent group, not represeting the city or Alcan have put together a list of things that they would like to see city and Alcan accomplish together. I have been along time supporter of modernization, however less jobs only leads to a downward spiral effect. Therefore, both Alcan and the city should be coming up with a game plan to offset these job losses. The agreement would work as a “compensation” as a sort, however I don’t feel this is a handout. Alcan built Kitimat and retains some responsibilty, but the city now has grown up and its time to take it upon ourselves to find alternatives to Alcan. Im glad to see that the two parties are working together like they did for many decades. In hard times, it’s commendable that both sides are putting aside their pride and taking the next step.
I leave you with the Northern Sentinel Article;
Apr 18 2007
“People not representing either Alcan or the city who attended the close door meeting on April 4 (Sentinel, April 11) have developed a strategy that they believe will unite the two sides.Local business owner Tony Deni and Alcan retiree Richard McLaren acted as facilitators during the meeting in which Alcan Primary Metal president Michel Jacques met with city officials for the first time, said Deni.
Deni told the Sentinel that he had presented an eight point strategy.
“We’re hoping it will be a framework for council,” Deni explained. “But we’re not elected officials so it’s up to them.”
The first three points involve communication with the city and are the initial steps to redeveloping the fractured relationship, he said.
That list begins with “Alcan facilitating dialogue with senior levels of government.” Adding other parties to the talks, Deni suggested “Alcan facilitate dialogue with the Haisla in order to bring about a negotiated land claim outcome.”
And the final communication-based point is that “the make-up of the Kitamaat Port Development Society be changed to facilitate the full participation and decision making on the part of the city.”
The next three initiatives are centred around economic development.
Deni said these initiatives lead off with “Alcan partners with the city in developing energy-producing projects in the Kitimat area and that all potential upstream and downstream aluminum industries be fully explored.”
The next would see “road ownership south of the railroad track be changed to allow for access for the public to tidewater.”
The remaining economic development initiative is “that some of Alcan’s remaining lands in municipal boundaries other than industrial-zoned land adjacent to the smelter be gifted to the city.”
Deni pointed out these initiatives would “add value to the community” while trying to attract potential investors to the community.
The final two points fall more along the lines of benevolent gestures, Deni said.
The first requests “Alcan make a sizeable donation towards completion of the new swimming pool.”
The gesture would befit a new relationship between the city and Alcan, Deni explained.
The second gesture would unite the two sides in aiding the school district’s goal of returning the 5-day school week to the region.
Deni added that although these points make an excellent framework, he is not an elected official and does not make the decisions on behalf of Kitimatians.
In response to these points mayor Rick Wozney told the Sentinel the city has been working towards a number of these initiatives already.
Both agree the communication initiatives would be big steps forward for the city.
“These discussions are good because we’re getting into the communications loop,” Wozney said.
Even points such as road ownership have been discussed in the past between city administration and Alcan, he added.
But one discussion Wozney added he really would like to be a part of is the talks between Alcan and BC Hydro on the development of the new power sales agreement.
“We’ve not been part of any of those discussions,” he said.
One goal that the city would like to achieve is to establish a firm guarantee from Alcan the new smelter will be built. “We’re trying to get these things in writing,” Wozney explained.
The mayor also added that although this is only the start, through negotiations and dialogue “maybe we’ll end this thing.”
Alcan’s Paul Henning was tied up in meetings and unavailable for comment by press time.
Sources close to the talks between the company and city say they have met again since CEO Michel Jacques’ visit to Kitimat and another meeting was scheduled for either yesterday or today.”
