Lives remembered Moving on Six minute mile A tribute was held for two local Salvation Army captains Cindy an( I Colin Parr used strategy at the top avalanche technicians who were Norm Hamelin are needed in of Lanfear to win The Kermodei killed this year\NEWS A1.4 Moose Jaw\COMMUNITY BI Classic May 30\SPORTS Cl WEDNESDAY $1.00 PLUS 7¢ GST June 9, 1999 ($110 plus a¢ GST outside of the Ten'ace area) T kNDARD VOL. 12 NO. 9 Poll tests MP's provincial chances STEP FORWARD Skeena Reform MP Mike Scott, Stewart mayor Andy Burton, Three mayors and councillor also queried as B.C. Liberal contenders Terrace mayor Jack Talstra, Kitimat mayor people for their opinion on which party is 1997. campaign. Rick Wozney and Terrace city councillor best suited to handle key areas such as Scott isn't a member of the provincial As for this time, Wozney's seriously con- Linda Hawes. health and education. Liberal party, saying "it's better I stay dis- sidering running again for the nomination. Each is being tested in an opinion poll as Most of the people on the list are promi- engaged from provincial politics" while "I'd like to have the opportunity to nar- being a potential candidate for the B.C. nent Liberals, making federal Reform MP being an MP. row that gap of 600 votes," he said. Liberal party for Skeena in the next provin- Mike Scott's name stand out. Sounding a bit more enthusiastic about The mayor of Kitimat since 1988, Woz- cial election. He conceded he has been approached in running for the Skeena Liberal nomination hey moved up north in 1971 to practice A pollster asks people for their impres- the past but hasn't given the idea of running is IOtimat mayor Rick Wozney. law. sions of all five people and if they'd be provincially serious consideration. He was the Liberal candidate in 1996, Terrace mayor Jack Talstra won't be more likely to vote Liberal if any of the five "You never say never in politics, but I losing to victor NDP MLA Helmut Gies- thinking about running for the nomination was a candidate. think my commitment, my obligation and brecht, by 600 votes. until after the summer. The poll, being conducted Western my responsibility is to do the job I've been "Back then the Skeena Liberals were a Opinion Research of Manitoba on behalf of elected to do," said Scott who was fkst pretty green group. We didn't have a lot of the provincial Liberal party, also asks elected to Ottawa in 1993 and returned in seasoned people," said Wozney of that Continued Page A2 Mike Scott Frigid spring City vows to move shatters ahead on multiplex CITY COUNCIL is committing to make a George said. records. number of key decisions this summer to He said it's important to determine how move forward plans to build a pared-down much extra local taxpayers are prepared to IF THE recent cold and wet $7.5 million multiplex. pay for the multiplex. weather here seems ex- Foremost among them is getting the "It would be a terrible step backwards if cessive, it's because it is. Kitimat-Stikine regional district to agree to it goes to referendum and gets turned down It snowed and rained more the proposal, getting a firm price estimate, again," George noted. "That could set it at the Terrace and Kitimat and deciding how much money the city back five to 10 years." airport last month than ever should borrow for the project. The multiplex would include a second recorded there before. The plan, approved by council last week, arena, double gymnasium, change rooms, In May, the airpo~ broke a also sets out the need for council to develop teen centre, climbing wall, community 39-year-old precipitation a referendum strategy, to explore other kitchen and a pair of multipurpose rooms. record as well as a 46-year- ways to finance the project, and officially Eliminated from the design ~ but still old snowfall record. put the Rick and Paul King Foundation in theoretically planned for a more distant sec- The airport's mean month- charge of community fund-raising. ond phase m is a 250-seat drama theatre, ly precipitation rate for May But council will for now stop short of squash courts, a weight room, arts and is 49.9 millimetres. The to- also setting a referendum date -- which crafts space, and child-minding space. tal precipitation rate last would be tile next step. An open house is planned for next Wed- month was more than twice "This does not commit the city to any ac- nesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the arena. that amount, at 105.6 mil- tion other than to continue to explore If there's public support for the scaled- limetres. things," said recreation superintendent down plan at that meeting, Scott said, the As for snowfall rates, the Steve ScotL project will continue to advance. airport broke another record Councillor David Hull said it's important Although council was given a loose price in May when 15.4 centi- to move forward. estimate of $8.05 million last week, that has metres fell. The previous "We're at a critical point with this pro- subsequently been firmed up and reduced record was 8.4 centimetres ject," lie said, adding if council doesn't to $7.5 million, Scott said. recorded in 1965. back the work done so far, the process will The reduction is partly due to reduced site It was also considerably drag and volunteers working on it will start preparation costs because of the smaller- colder in May than average. to bum out and give up. footprint, but he added savings were also The average temperature "I firmly believe council is behind the found in other areas. for the month is 9.9 degrees project," he added. It's a 35 per cent drop in cost from an ear- Celsius. Last month's aver- Councillor Val George said it's lier $11.4 million all-inclusive proposal. age temperature was below worthwhile to get the project details ironed The drama theatre was the priciest com- normal at 7.6 degrees Cel- out regardless of when it goes forward. ponent eliminated from the plans, Scott sius. "Something like this is going to be built said. But he noted the double gym space According to Gary Myers some time -- whether it's one year, two will also be set up to take theatre lighting climate specialist at En- years, five years, 10 years or 15 years," and will include a roll.out stage. vironment Canada, May is the last month to record snowfall. Mayor's treaty support He explained snow can still fall in June, but never enough to record. raised in heat of debate Myers said it has never snowed in Terrace in July or REFORMERS were once demanded a retraction. August. In 55 years it has again called racists and even * He later withdrew the only snowed once in Sep- Terrace's mayor and council remarks under orders from tember. were dragged into a heated the speaker, but was not debate on the Nisga'a treaty ejected for a day as Thursday in the House of Reformers had requested. Commons. Reformers spent the day Drop in unemployment may Indian Affairs minister arguing the high court Jane Stewart, rebutting should decide now --be- Reform calls to refer .con- fore the treaty takes effect stitutionai questions about whether it amounts to a herald end of recession the treaty to the Supreme constitutional amendment Court, suggested Skeena and whether self- federal analyst Karcn Wienberg. the next year and they're goring them- UNEMPLOYMENT in the northwest MP Mike Scott hasn't been government provisions has dropped sharply and is now lower She noted the stats don't yet reflect selves into position," Veldman said. listening to his constituents could threaten the rights of than atiywhere in the interior. the return to the bush of West Fraser "It looks like things sort of bob on file issue. individual Nisga'a people. tomed out over the winter," he added. The jobless rate, which has been conh'aetors under a log export pro- "Has the honourable Scott said that the trcaty is Strengthening lumber and pulp, declining here since December, fell gram or Skcena Cellulose plans to member talked to the mayor Jane Stewart primarily a self-government prices should help stabilize the forest from 9.2 per cent in April to 8.4 per return its pulp mill to full production and the council of the City Joe Gosnell in 1996. arrangement and that by industry and in turn ripple through the cent in May -- the lowest level since and pet 500 people back to work. of Terrace who, I would "She seems to think that entrenching those provisions northwest economy, Veidman added. July, 1997. Wienberg also noted the cold spring note, made a particular Nisga'a peoplc are a within it -- rather than as a He said there was little question that Only Victoria at 6.6 per cent, Van- means the usual increase in jobs week in April Nisga'a Ap- homogeneous group who all side agreement as with the through seasonal employment hasn't the cyclical resource sector would couver and the Lower Mainland at 8.2 preciation Week in honour think the same way and all the Sechelt band -- a third really taken hold yet. eventually rebound. per cent and Vancouver Island at 8.3 of the Nisga'a treaty?" want the same things," order of govemment is ere- "The bigger question is how much per cent are lower.