OVER THE EDGE March 14, 2007 UNBC Student Wins ECO _ Student Award Mircue.y Grant, Paoro Eniror Batis Eric Chow posses with his presentation that he is taking to a na- tional conference in Montreal Repeccea CARMICHAEL Co-Epiror In CHigr Eric Chow just. won $1000 and he’s going to Montreal later this month. He didn’t just get this for nothing; he had to earn it with an award winning environmental project submitted to ECO Can- ada’s Student Awards 2007. This UNBC environmental planning student was one of 15 students from across Canada selected to present an environmental pro- ject at the 2007 Americana Inter- national Environmental Technol- ogy Trade Show and Conference. ECO, which stands for En- vironmental Careers Organiza- tion, is an organization that de- velops programs to encourage the growth of the environmental em- ployment sector by providing sup- port for employers, practitioners and students. This student awards program was developed to en- courage post-secondary students to get involved with environment- al research and projects. The win- ners of the award will get to pres- ent their projects through posters in Montreal March 20-22 at the Americana 2007 Conference. Support was provided by Indus- try Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), and Nat- ural Resources Canada (NRCan), which allowed ECO to select more students than usual this year. Eric’s project was based on a larger group project currently be- ing conducted in Eric Rappaport’s Environmental Impact Assess- ment class. On his poster he does a review of the environmental im- pacts of the proposed Red Chris Porphyry Gold and Copper Mine, located near Iskut in Northwest- ern BC. The Red Chris mine will be an open pit mine, which offers interesting environmental chal- lenges. Eric covered a variety of environmental impacts, focusing in particular on watershed im- pacts such as water pollution. He also covered some of the aborig- inal issues associated with the de- velopment, since the mine will be located in the traditional territory of the Tahitan and Iskut Bands. These issues were presented with information on how the min- ing company was dealing with the impacts and resolving them. Many of the projects submitted in the ECO contest were focused on climate change, so Eric’s project was somewhat unique, particular- ly since it covers aboriginal and social issues as well as scientific ones. It offers a perspective on issues relevant to northern BC and to resource based economies. “J feel that I’m acting as a student ambassador represent- ing UNBC,” says Eric. “I want to promote the strength of our environmental programs.” Eric is a fourth year environmental planning student due to graduate in 2008. He transferred to UNBC from the Langara College Urban/ ‘City Planning program. He is act- ive on campus, currently serving as Communications Coordinator with NUGSS. Victoria Proposes Sewage as Potential Energy Source Treatment Plant Could Provide Heat and Energy to UVic, Camosun Laura Roo “Neous (CaMosuN COLLEGE), VICTORIA (CUP) -- One of the options Victoria is considering for treating its sewage could pro- vide local schools with an energy boost. ‘ The area of Victoria that in- cludes the University of Victoria and Camosun College’s Lans- downe campus is one of six pro- posed sites the Capital Regional District is considering for the in- stallation of a raw sewage treat- ment plant. “What we are considering is , new ‘technology called a mem- brane plant,” said Dwayne Kal- ynchuk, CRD general manager of environmental services. “The advantages are that this technol- ogy allows for water reuse as it produces a high-quality effluence -- heat can be collected and reused in buildings such as UVic and possibly the Lansdowne campus of Camosun College.” Kalynchuk has had prelim- inary talks with. senior staff at UVic and is planning to contact Camosun to discuss the prospect of energy recovery. In 1999, a Sierra Legal De- fence Fund Report, prepared in part for the Georgia Straight Al- liance, gave the CRD an F grade for their handling of the estimated 37.8 billion litres of raw sewage dumped into the coastal waters of Vancouver Island every year. The situation has only become more critical as the south island popula- tion continues to expand. Currently, 130 million litres of raw sewage per day contributes to a reduction in shellfish harvest- ing and the orca population, and a surface fecal coliform bacteria level that exceeds recreational standards by over 1,400 per cent, according to the Georgia Straight Alliance. Ganges on Saltspring Island, near Victoria, is currently home to a membrane plant that is~ so unobtrusive it’s located right next door to a restaurant, Kalynchuk said. He added that all planning is still at preliminary stages and will have to go through a siting process that will not take place before the summer. Jamie Biggar, a board member for the UVic Sustainability Pro- ject, is pleased UVic and Camosun could potentially use a sewage plant as an energy source. How- ever, he would also like to see an emphasis on reducing the demand for water infrastructure. “A better solution involves concerted efforts to reduce the de- mand for water and thus the need to supply infrastructure such as sewage treatment plants,” Biggar said. “So, in the case of the pro- posed sewage treatment plant, we would like to see what conserva- tion and demand side manage- ment initiatives were considered first before a supply-side and end- of-pipe solution is employed.” Kyle Artelle, a member of Camosun Students for Environ- mental Awareness, agrees that methods of preventing increase in raw sewage should also be con- sidered. “Sewage is a problem before and after treatment. However, if we can, at least manage to reclaim some energy from it, then we’re a step ahead,” Artelle said. “We’ll still be up shit creek, but at least we’ ll have a paddle.” Gordon Campbell’s ‘Education Credit’ Not Faring Against Critic “The current policy of tuition fees are to raise them based on inflation. With that plan, average tuition fees will be $7,226 by 2025. The credit is projected to grow to $2,200 by then, covering only just over CAMERON OrR ‘Negs Eurror. The government of BC has introduced a credit for all children born in 2007 which will give them $1,000 dollars to be used towards their education and tuition costs. “Beginning in 2007, $1,000 will be invested in the name of each new child born here in British Columbia to help them meet their post-secondary skills development needs and learning in the future,” said Gordon Campbell during-BC Liberal convention 2006. “That $1,000 will grow through their young lives, and will contribute to their choice in learn- ing after graduation,” continues the inflation.” Campbell in his keynote speech. The Canadian Federation of Students considers this act a cheap ploy which will do nothing for students of today or tomorrow. “Campbell and his Liberals need to reduce the tuition fees that they have doubled over the past five years,” says Scott Payne, BC Chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students. “With the additional cuts to student financial assistance, Campbell is shutting the door on students who are most in need, and telling BC’s families to wait eighteen years for some relief,” says Shamus Reid, BC National Executive Representative. The current policy of tuition - fees are to raise them based on in- flation. With that plan, average tu- ition fees will be $7,226 by 2025. The credit is projected to grow to $2,200 by then, covering only just over the inflation. Budget 2007 has also cut the funding for financial assistance to students by $23 million dollars. Reid further states that, “This Budget makes absolutely no sense for students and families.” Further government plans for students is a fellowship for gradu- ate students to be a part of univer- sity graduate studies, in an effort to keep graduates within BC and not have any drain of people to other places.