'1 KCP Report To

Warning issued ReCord intact Moving in Ensuring pleasant views from Skeena girl basketballers The first tenants take u p ':.,. highways could hurt the foresty returned triumphant from an residence at a local housing industry./NEW$ A6 Alaskan foray./SPORTS All project.CD/COMMUNITY B1 ~,, ,... WEDNESDAY 75¢ F JANUARY 4, 1995 TANDARD VOL - .. ,f ? - '1KCP report to go to cabinet A 300-PLUS PAGE reporl on Al- capacity to its Kemano generating can's $1.3 billion Kemano Com- station. pletion Project could come before The cenlxal issue to be ad- cabinet next Wednesday. dressed by the report is whether Health minister Paul Ramsey or nor fish stocks can survive the the province's designated repre- dramatic reduction of water levels sentative on the controversial that will occur in the upper hydroelectric project ~ said last Nechako River. week that's the first day cabinet Economically, the project rrteets in the new year. means business for Terrace and "It will take some time to ana- Kitimat during the construction lyze the report and its recom- phase. nlendations," Ramsey told the About 800 workers were on the Standard, adding he hopes to construction site until the half- release it to the public and inter- built project was mothballed in venors as soon as possible after 1991. it's reviewed by cabinet. Beyond construction, however, "The goal here is to get it to there would be few if any new cabinet and to the public as jobs added at the genenting sta- q~icldy as possible." tion. The report and its recommenda- When the province announced tions are the product of more than the review in 1993, Premier Mike a year of work by a B.C. Utilities Harcourt said scrapping the pro- Commission panel that toured the ject altogether was not a consid- north probing the project's im- eration because taxpayers would pact. ' likely have to pay hundreds 0f The project consists of drilling millions of dollars in compensa- a second tunnel through Mount tion to Alcan. Dubose, allowing more water L~ersl leader Gordon Camp- fi:cm the Nechako reservoir to bell in October pledged to scrap tam turbines at Kemano. Alcan the hydroelectric project will add nearly 300 megawatts of altogether if he is elected premier. ..¢,. ....... , .. .. , Boom continues THR£t~ OFF the reel. Lafleur says rising interest rates For the third consecutive year, arc the only thing that can slop the value of construction in the the boom. city has topped $20 million. There are some 1995 bankers: STAYING ALERT at all times is one of the four rules of the should be every driver's watchwords. They apply all year Permits director Bob Lafleur the planned Sam store; a 32 unit road veteran driving instructor AI Tomas (above) says round but are especially important in winter conditions. said the final tally for 1994 was motel; the Skeena-Kalum Hous- Nat a fraction below $22 million. ing Society's 18 unit addition. That's nearly $1.5 million less And a ~significant number of than 1993, but it's still shows sub-division lots had been sold construction running at double last year with the owners plan- the rate of three years ago. • " " ning to build this year. Tomas drives message home The residential sector led the However,: housing will still be SLOW DOWN. Drive to the driving slower, even if it obscured by high snowbanks swear at you. No question way again, accounting for two of the driving force and higher inter- conditions. Be alert. Make sure means arriving at a destination as it does to stopping and look- about it, but they'll know not every three dollars spent in the est rates are "the oniy "thing that your vehicle is roadworthy. a couple of minutes later than ing at intersections. to drive too close," he says. continuing betiding boom. can slow flhings down." ::/: Drivers on the north's winter normal, he adds. "Be patient. "Always take a look around. There's also nothing wrong Single family home starts hit If they get too high, he ex- roads have heard all this before Give yourself plenty of time." If you're not looking, you with slowing down and letting g5, three more than last year, 20 plained, potential home builders probably to the point where Tomas advises drivers going could be at St. Peter's feet the following Vehicles overtake multi-family developments took could find themselves dis- the message fails to sink in. on longer winter trips to make next minute," Tomas says. you when on winter highways, place and even something as qualified from getting financing. But for veteran driving in- sure they have plenty of rest Tomas advocates following Tomas adds. seemingly unimportant as garages That aside, Laflcur.says::he structor AI Tomas, it's a way and to stop every once in the "two second" rule when Instead of relying on brakes accounted for close to one quarter would be pessimistic if he didn't of life. awhile to take a walk and to l~avelling behind another when going down hills in the of a million dollars. forecast this year will be as busy "Check over your left get some fresh air. vehicle. winter, Tomas advocates put- How long can this go on? as last in terms of construction. shoulder. Drive with the door Although not a regular coffee "Fix your eye on a landmark ting the vehicle into a lower locked and the headlights on," drinker, Tomas takes a thermos and when the other vehicle gear. says Tomas as he prepares to full of the liquid on long trips passes it, count 'one thousand HIS caution here is to be pull out from the curb on a tour careful because too low a gear Minister says .... of area streets andhighways. can ruin the transmission. "You can't afford to be lazy. If you're not looking, you could be at SL When parked on a hill and to You have to be alert with all of Peter's feet the next minute.'" ................. Tomas. move forward, Tomas says fears unfounded , the conditions no matter the drivers should choose a low time of year." gear and be ever so gentle SLAPPING preservation status achieve the figure because of de- That advice is even more im- to help him stay alert. and one,' 'one thousand and when accelerating. on large areas of the northwest vclopment that had already taken portant in the winter when road That word "alert" is a con- tWO,' " His advice even extends to does not necessarily mean smaller place, he pointed out. • : conditions make driving stunt refrain and forms the first This applies for any speed the little things -- such as eco-systems in the region will go "Some balancing will have to slower a must. rule of tbur that Tomas has. and will give you time to act if making sure there's no snow unprotected. be done," Petter said, repeating It lakes longer for vehicles to The others are recognizing that other vehicle poses a stuck to the bottom of your That was the response last week conservation decisions would be stop on snow and ice and ex- hazards, being prepared and hazard. footwear when you climb into from provincial Forests minister taken based on "how it ills into cessive speed can lead to skid- acting on time. And should another vehicle a vehicle. A~drew Petter to concerns raised provincial goals;" ding and loss of control. "Good observation is more be following you too closely, That snow is slippery and by the Gerry Bloomer, chairman Therefore, any decisions taken "If you just touch the brakes, than 80 per cent of the safety Tomas has a solution. your foot can easily slip off of of the Kalum South Community to date did not preclude preserva- you can lock your wheels. It's that's required," notes Tomas. "Just touch your brake very the brake or gas pedal. Resources board. tion or conservation of smaller nearly impossible to prevent "You have to watch the other lightly. Your brake lights will Tomas adds that good brakes In an article in the Dec. 14 Ter- areas in the northwest or else- that kind of skid," says driver and anticipate." go on even though you aren't and good winter tires are es- race Standard, Bloomer criti- where. Tomas, That applies as much to putting pressure on the brakes. sential for driving during the cized the province for setting Petter also defended the Klilope There's nothing wrong with slowing down on comers Sure, the other driver may winter months. aside "immense protected areas" and Tatshemhinl decisions which such as the Kitiope and Bloomer had. suggested were Tatshenshini-Alsek, driven by !'political agendas". Those decisions pushed the area The Kttlope had Involved of preserved land in the northwest .extensive ~public• consultation" above the government's target of and even tZe forest companyi !n- City to go to rural tax well 12 per cent. volved -- West Fraser ..-r~hsd Bloomer therefore feared it agreed the area was ~w0rtJay:_of IT'S A CASH GRAB and there's ating the library -- which ac- And the city has a good chance by giving away their money? would now be impossible to get preservation. : : :;~ probably not much Thomhill tax- counts for more than half of the of succeeding in the money grab. "Thornhill may want to keep meaningful conservation The decision to l~eserve had payers can do about it. $600,000 in grants on the list That's because regional district the status quo," Hull said.

Load more