Mayors, MLA welcome Smith's appointment as chair of Ridley Terminals
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Updated: June 30, 2009 4:36 PM
Just a few days after Dan Veniez was relieved of his duties as board chair for Ridley Terminals, Transport Minister John Baird announced the appointment of Bud Smith as the interim chair of the publicly owned facility.
Smith was elected as MLA in the Kamloops area and served five years in cabinet under the Social Credit government from 1986 to 1991. Since leaving politics he has been heavily involved in Crown corporations, including service as a director for the British Columbia Development Corporation, Canada Post and the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
The announcement of the appointment of Smith and the removal of Veniez from the board chair position was welcomed by North Coast MLA Gary Coons and mayors in the region, who had spoken out against the plan to sell the facility proposed by Veniez.
“I believe that Bud, the former Kamloops MLA and B.C.’s one time Attorney General, is a great choice. He is from B.C. and has an in-depth understanding and familiarity with the North Coast,” said Coons.
“We were heartened by the quick response from Minister Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade, Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Senior Regional Minister of British Columbia, to the concerns of regional community leaders. He responded to us that ‘Ridley Terminals is clearly a driving force based on its involvement with 30 communities and 350,000 people in B.C.,’ and confirmed that ‘Ridley Terminals is a public asset’," said Karen Goodings, President of the North Central Municipal Association.
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