Interview with Minister Mike Bernier - North Central Local Government Association Page 1 of 5
/ § é
Enter Search... North Central Local Government Association
About AGM & Convention
Documents Newsletter & Media
You are here: Home » Newsletter & Media » Newsletter: August Edition » Interview with Minister Mike Bernier Subscribe to Our Newsletter An Interview with Mike
Bernier, Subscribe Minister of Education
As a politician with over ten years’ experience, Bernier has led a unique path to his current position. From his time as a Councillor in Dawson Creek to his transition to Mayor; from his years on the NCLGA Board as Regional Director to sitting as President; and from his position as MLA to being appointed to a Ministry – he certainly has put in the time.
In true Northern spirit, Bernier is humbled by the opportunity, and is excited to get down to business.
“It's an amazing honor, when you think about it. Having the northeast represented in cabinet is one thing but, as a fairly new MLA, to be put into what they say budget-wise is the second largest Ministry in the province, it's an amazing opportunity.”
“And it's not just the [work]. It's the responsibility. That, to me,
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/bernier 8/25/2015 Interview with Minister Mike Bernier - North Central Local Government Association Page 2 of 5
was one of the big things. Like I say, I was very excited, very honored to be put in this position. When you take a deep breath, you realize, man, this is a huge responsibility and I've got a lot of work in front of me. I have to make sure I get this right. To do that, that's where I want to engage with as many people as possible.”
Bernier is stepping into his new position with a collaborative approach – what people in the North like to refer to as a “barn raising mentality.”
“One of the big things over the next six months is going to me touring around the province. I'm meeting with lots of different stakeholders, with school boards, with teachers. But it’s really about engaging with the parents, as well. I've got my schedule pretty well full for the next three months. I want to get out and I want to hear from them, some of the challenges and the issues they have. More importantly, for me to make good decisions, I have to see first hand and hear first hand some of the opportunities that we have to work on.”
Learning from past Ministers, Bernier made it a point to involve the BC Teachers’ Federation from the moment he took office. “The very first phone call I actually made after being appointed Minister was to Mr. Iker and the BCTF. The whole point for myself around building those relationships, we all want the same outcomes, which is the best education possible for the students.”
“I had a great discussion, albeit quick, with Mr. Iker at the beginning of the week. One of the first meetings I will be having face-to-face is actually with him, as well in the next short few weeks. I look forward to just building a better relationship with BCTF and the teachers themselves.”
______
The North Central Local Government Association’s area covers 70% of the province – and with only 7% of BC’s population, most areas are rural. This brings challenges and opportunities for the Ministry’s education curriculum. Likewise, 60% of BC’s Aboriginal population lives within our bounds – creating yet another dynamic for the Education file to address when it heads North. These realities are why it is so important to have a Minister that knows Northern BC and its unique points. “I would definitely say you can't use a cookie cutter approach in administering education (in Northern BC). Times are changing. We have to be able to adapt to that. When you look at rural
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/bernier 8/25/2015 Interview with Minister Mike Bernier - North Central Local Government Association Page 3 of 5
communities, First Nation communities, it's a different kind of environment. There's different stressors that come between the urban and rural areas. If I remember correctly, the six year completion rate for Aboriginal students has increased by more than 45% to over 61% since 2001. We've made a lot of great strides there. Still, when I look at 61%, that shows me there's a heck of a lot of room for more involvement, more improvement there.”
Bernier agrees that the North faces challenges that the rest of the Province doesn’t, such as inclement weather, simple logistics such as bussing kids long distances to schools, and the diverse cultural makeup that goes along with living in Northern BC. “When you look at rural schools, you look at First Nation communities, you look at even just the smaller rural areas, teaching the kids is one thing but it's sometimes you have to look at teaching them differently in different areas, depending on culture, the geography, etc.”
Although only on the job for less than a fortnight, Bernier’s already dealt with criticism. “Some people have wondered: If I don't have any teaching experience, how is that going to help me?”
Bernier sees his lack of direct experience as a blessing. “In fact, I think that's a bit of a benefit because I'm not coming in with any pre-conceived ideas about what's better than something else when it comes to the education system. I want to reach out and work with the professionals, which is the teachers, the support workers, the amazing staff I have in the Ministry. Those are the people who I will lean on for advice as we go forward because they're the ones that really have the expertise and the ones that have to be part of the solution.”
Although Bernier doesn’t have direct work experience in the field of education, he doesn’t see himself coming into the position blind. “I have five kids and I've got my first grandkid coming in December, so I look at it personally that I've got a lot at stake. I've got a lot of experience in the system and I foresee a lot more in the system in the future.”
______
In fact, Bernier has a lot of vision going forward regarding his new Ministry. He’s looking to make some curriculum changes over the next six months, and he’s excited to get started.
“What I think's really important going forward is how the world
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/bernier 8/25/2015 Interview with Minister Mike Bernier - North Central Local Government Association Page 4 of 5
is changing. We have some of the best educational outcomes in the world, but in order to keep that standard, we have to be changing to keep up with what's going on. It's no longer just reading, writing, and numeracy. What about technology? What about skills training? What about all the opportunities out there? We have to be figuring out how to incorporate that into making our students as well-rounded as possible for the jobs of tomorrow, not just how we used to be.”
When pressed for more information, Bernier jokingly replied that he “can't let the cat out of the bag just yet.”
In all seriousness though, the NCLGA is proud of the strides former-President Bernier has made, and is excited to see his progress over the years to come. He’s a great example of hard work paying off.
If any NCLGA members are interested in congratulating Minister Bernier in person, he will be joining us at the NCLGA Luncheon at UBCM in Vancouver this September.
Tweets by @NCLGA Contact Us
206-155 George Street
Prince George, BC, V2L 1P8 North Central Local Government Association Phone: (250) 564-6585
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/bernier 8/25/2015 Interview with Minister Mike Bernier - North Central Local Government Association Page 5 of 5
Fax: (250) 564-6514 Email: [email protected]
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/bernier 8/25/2015 Hope Air - North Central Local Government Association Page 1 of 4
/ § é
Enter Search... North Central Local Government Association
About AGM & Convention
Documents Newsletter & Media
You are here: Home » Newsletter & Media » Newsletter: August Edition » Hope Air Subscribe to Our Newsletter Hope Air in North Central
BC Subscribe
Hope Air is a national charity that arranges free flights for low income individuals to travel to their medical appointments far
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/hope 8/25/2015 Hope Air - North Central Local Government Association Page 2 of 4
from home. Since its establishment in 1986, Hope Air has arranged more than 96,000 flights and impacted countless individuals by helping alleviate the stress of getting to medical treatment for Canadian families and their communities.
Hope Air has a pronounced presence in Northern British Columbia communities, arranging flights that impact thousands of people across the region. Prince George, Fort St. John, Terrace, Smithers and Masset are among the busiest departure cities for BC Hope Air Clients. In 2014 alone, Hope Air arranged 5,098 flights for British Columbia residents. Almost half of these flights were for children and their escorts, giving parents peace of mind in knowing their children were able to receive necessary medical attention without added financial strain. Hope Air’s service allows children to get back to their routines sooner and parents to return to work, keeping families together and preventing absenteeism.
Hope Air believes that all Canadians should have equal access to healthcare, regardless of geography or household income. For many families, the cost of purchasing a flight can be prohibitive. Many of Hope Air’s BC Clients live near the poverty line, meaning that securing the funds required to purchase airfare is not always feasible. Clients in BC report that without Hope Air’s assistance, 29% would have cancelled their important medical appointments due to lack of transportation, 23% of Clients would have travelled 8+ hours by ground transportation and 7% would have borrowed money from relatives to pay the cost of a flight to get to their appointment.
Hope Air will have a record-breaking year in 2015; they are on track to arrange more than 9,000 flights across Canada. Hope Air’s work is made possible through the generous support of their donors, allowing them to purchase seats on commercial airlines, in addition to seats donated to Hope Air by their airline partners. Hope Air is also
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/hope 8/25/2015 Hope Air - North Central Local Government Association Page 3 of 4
supported by Volunteer Pilots who fly Clients on their private aircraft, and by corporate aircraft owners who offer Hope Air public benefit flights.
Baby Bryony of Prince George (pictured at left) needed long term treatment for an injury. Hope Air arranged flights for Bryony and her family to fly to Vancouver for her appointments. Follow the link to read her story: http://hopeair.ca/news/ViewMedia.aspx?ProfilePDF=119.
If you would like to support Hope Air’s vital work in your community and help families like Bryony’s, consider making a donation. You can direct your donation specifically towards flights for BC families at: http://www.hopeair.ca/shh/SupportHopeAir.aspx.
Tweets by @NCLGA Contact Us
206-155 George Street
Prince George, BC, V2L 1P8 North Central Local Government Association Phone: (250) 564-6585
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/hope 8/25/2015 Hope Air - North Central Local Government Association Page 4 of 4
Fax: (250) 564-6514 Email: [email protected]
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/hope 8/25/2015 NCLGA August Update - North Central Local Government Association Page 1 of 5
/ § é
Enter Search... North Central Local Government Association
About AGM & Convention
Documents Newsletter & Media
You are here: Home » Newsletter & Media » Newsletter: August Edition » NCLGA August Update Subscribe to Our Newsletter NCLGA August Update
Subscribe
The NCLGA 2015/16 Board.
Ministry of Agriculture
President Frenkel, as well as Chairs Art Kaehn and Bill Miller, met with Minister Letnik to discuss NCLGA resolutions pertaining to his Ministry. The resolution on reforestation of productive agricultural land, submitted by the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako, was the talking point for most of the meeting.
The Peace River Regional District’s resolution on ALR land was also discussed, as was the sticky issue of foreign land ownership in British Columbia. A table was drawn up outlining BC to be the only province without significant restrictions. You can see a version of this table here.
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/nclga-august-update 8/25/2015 NCLGA August Update - North Central Local Government Association Page 2 of 5
The Minister was also surprised to learn that the NCLGA region covers a vast 70% of the Province. We were very grateful for the meeting and look forward to working further with him on these two resolutions.
Further on the topic of agriculture, our office has been liaising directly with Frank Leonard (the new Chair of the Agricultural Land Commission). We briefed Chair Leonard on our current resolutions concerns around foreign ownership of agricultural land. As a byproduct of discussions with Mr. Leonard, he has agreed to sit on a panel on agriculture at our upcoming AGM.
Ministry of Transportation
Our President had an opportunity to speak in person with Minister Stone in Vanderhoof, and presented him with another NCLGA brief on transportation issues. This brief included relevant resolutions, as well as other ongoing issues in the region, such as Car Wash Rock between Terrace and Prince Rupert, and BC Ferries. As a result, President Frenkel received a long list of North-Central transportation projects that are in the works for our region, with an offer from the Ministry to keep in touch and update our Board moving forward.
2016 AGM & Convention in Dawson Creek
As recommended at our July meeting, Councillors Wilbur and Shuman held a convention planning meeting in Dawson Creek. Representatives from several communities were present, and Tumbler Ridge confirmed that they will be sponsoring the conference.
It was a very productive meeting. Future panel sessions were outlined to include the following themes & subjects:
{ First Nations Relationship Building (Reconciliation, title, business) { Agriculture (Foreign ownership, food security) { Forestry (Industry evolution, fibre supply, innovating new wood products) { Water Use (Fracking, community waste water, etc) { Community Development (Boom & Bust Cycles)
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/nclga-august-update 8/25/2015 NCLGA August Update - North Central Local Government Association Page 3 of 5
Also, the committee worked hard to keep the usual amount of sessions, while (for the first time) ending the practice of breakout sessions. This move means that delegates will not miss out on any topics or issues. All delegates will be in the same room for each and every session.
The committee also managed to secure the CEO of The Knowledge Network (Mr. Rudy Buttignol) to be our official keynote speaker. Mr. Buttignol has quite a set of life experiences and professional victories to inform his presentation on leadership. You can read more about his personal achievements here.
Emerging Issue: Northern Connectivity Initiative
Our telephone & internet redundancy in Northern BC is non-existant. If an accident cuts the lines along Highway 97, all of Northern BC could be disconnected. This means schools, local governments, hospitals, businesses, and more could be without landline phones, internet, or emergency service capabilities. The solution is to add an additional fibre optic cable servicing our region for redundancy purposes.
There is a new, positive project called the Northern Connectivity Initiative. Essentially, this proposed project is a $120 million partnership between the Federal Government, the Province and Telus that would create broadband redundancy, allow for an expansion of service to First Nations, industry and local governments throughout the region, and add much needed certainty/security for health care and emergency service providers.
The Province, while showing great initiative in putting this project together, is still prioritizing different projects and dealing with a slew of issues. Northern communities can help, however, by urging provincial representatives to push the Northern Connectivity Initiative. Until then, 70% of the Province remains vulnerable.
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/nclga-august-update 8/25/2015 NCLGA August Update - North Central Local Government Association Page 4 of 5
Tweets by @NCLGA Contact Us
206-155 George Street
Prince George, BC, V2L 1P8 North Central Local Government Association Phone: (250) 564-6585
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/nclga-august-update 8/25/2015 NCLGA August Update - North Central Local Government Association Page 5 of 5
Fax: (250) 564-6514 Email: [email protected]
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/nclga-august-update 8/25/2015 UBCM 2015 - North Central Local Government Association Page 1 of 4
/ § é
Enter Search... North Central Local Government Association
About AGM & Convention
Documents Newsletter & Media
You are here: Home » Newsletter & Media » Newsletter: August Edition » UBCM 2015 Subscribe to Our Newsletter UBCM Resolutions,
Nominations Subscribe & Northern Representatives
Nominations
It’s that time of year again! The annual Union of British Columbian Municipalities’ meeting takes place in less than a month. With the festivities looming, the NCLGA would like to remind you of specific representatives that live within the NCLGA’s bounds. These fine folks will be running for
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/ubcm 8/25/2015 UBCM 2015 - North Central Local Government Association Page 2 of 4
positions on the UBCM Executive, and they would love for you to support them.
President
{ Chair Al Richmond, Cariboo Regional District
First Vice President
{ Councillor Murry Krause, City of Prince George
Director at Large
{ Councillor Phil Brienesse, Town of Smithers { Councillor Cheryl Shuman, City of Dawson Creek { Director Margo Wagner, Cariboo Regional District
Small Communities' Representative
{ Mayor Galina Durant, District of Stewart
Electoral Area Representative
{ Chair Art Kaehn, Fraser-Fort George Regional District
You can read all of their biographies in the UBCM Nominating Committee Report, here.
Resolutions
Similarly, please show support for our fellow communities & municipalities resolutions. All resolutions are included in the 2015 report, located here.
Luncheon
Once again, the North Central Local Government Association will be holding a luncheon during UBCM. The biggest of its kind, the luncheon draws almost 300 people every year, and features multiple Ministers and their staff. This year, our keynote speaker is Minister Bill Bennet,
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/ubcm 8/25/2015 UBCM 2015 - North Central Local Government Association Page 3 of 4
Energy & Mines. Joining him on stage will also be the new Minister for Education, Mike Bernier.
Other MLAs and Ministers who will be in attendance include Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour; John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation; Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business, Red-Tape Reduction and Minister Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch; and MLAs Pat Pimm (Peace River North); Jennifer Rice (North Coast); Doug Donaldson (Stikine); Robin Austin (Skeena); and Donna Barnett (Cariboo-Chilcotin).
The NCLGA would like to extend a big ‘Thank You’ our luncheon sponsor, Pacific Natural Gas. For several years in a row PNG has graciously supported our luncheon and made special opportunities like this possible.
Tweets by @NCLGA Contact Us
206-155 George Street
Prince George, BC, V2L 1P8 North Central Local Government Association Phone: (250) 564-6585
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/ubcm 8/25/2015 UBCM 2015 - North Central Local Government Association Page 4 of 4
Fax: (250) 564-6514 Email: [email protected]
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/ubcm 8/25/2015 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month - North Central Local Government Association Page 1 of 5
/ § é
Enter Search... North Central Local Government Association
About AGM & Convention
Documents Newsletter & Media
You are here: Home » Newsletter & Media » Newsletter: August Edition » Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Subscribe to Our Newsletter The Importance of Prostate
Cancer Subscribe Awareness Month
Did you know that 1 in 8 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common cancer in men?
If so, you’re in the minority.
According to an IPSOS Reid poll of 1000 Canadian men over the age of 35 that was conducted in July of this year, 80 per cent of men are not aware of their chances of developing prostate cancer.
Bridging this gap in public knowledge is crucial. If men – the least likely of the sexes to talk about their own health in the first place – don’t know that their chances of developing prostate cancer are as high as they are, they will be less likely to start a conversation with their doctor to better understand their risk. Considering that the survival rate for prostate cancer is more than 90 per cent when detected early, it becomes clear why starting that conversation early is so important.
This need for greater public education is why we have designated September Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a month dedicated toward engaging and connecting the public, media, academia, and government around a disease that affects us all on some level. Whether it’s a cutting-edge research announcement, a special news feature, a public service announcement, a fundraising event, or a landmark that has
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/prostate 8/25/2015 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month - North Central Local Government Association Page 2 of 5
been illuminated blue, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is geared towards spreading the word in as accurate, diverse, and widespread a manner possible.
While deaths from prostate cancer have dropped by approximately 40% over the past 20 years, an estimated 4,100 Canadian men will die from the disease in 2015 alone. A lot of work remains to be done to reduce that number even further, and a valuable starting place is the collective understanding and active participation that comes with broader awareness. And right here in B.C., the more we understand the more likely and better equipped we are to come together and truly make a difference, whether it be sharing information, making a donation to research, or dialing your health care provider’s number.
Prostate Cancer Canada at UBCM
The District of Powell River and the City of North Vancouver have sponsored a motion at UBCM encouraging all municipalities to declare September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Next year our goal will be a motion to get the Province to pay for free, universal PSA testing the way they do for mammograms for women.
Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in a man's blood. For this test, a blood sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis.
BC and Ontario are the only two provinces in Canada that do NOT currently pay for PSA testing. If you are interested in getting tested yourself, Prostate Cancer Canada will have a booth at UBCM conducting free PSA tests.
APPENDIX I
PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
September 2015
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/prostate 8/25/2015 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month - North Central Local Government Association Page 3 of 5
WHEREAS prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect Canadian men;
AND WHEREAS 1 in 8 Canadian men will be diagnosed with the disease in his lifetime;
AND WHEREAS an estimated 23,600 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year;
AND WHEREAS the survival rate for prostate cancer can be over 90% when detected early;
AND WHEREAS those with a family history of the disease, or those of African or Caribbean descent, are at a greater risk of developing prostate cancer;
AND WHEREAS Prostate Cancer Canada recommends that men get a PSA test in their 40s to establish their baseline:
THEREFORE I,
APPENDIX II
SEPTEMBER PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
UBCM RESOLUTION
WHEREAS 1 in 8 men in British Columbia will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime representing the number one cancer risk to men;
AND WHEREAS the economic, family and social costs to our province would be significantly diminished through increased awareness and early detection:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the provincial government proclaim September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to ensure men and their loved ones are aware of the need for early detection.
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/prostate 8/25/2015 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month - North Central Local Government Association Page 4 of 5
Tweets by @NCLGA Contact Us
206-155 George Street
Prince George, BC, V2L 1P8 North Central Local Government Association Phone: (250) 564-6585
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/prostate 8/25/2015 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month - North Central Local Government Association Page 5 of 5
Fax: (250) 564-6514 Email: [email protected]
http://nclga.ca/newsletter-2/August/prostate 8/25/2015