• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

V,,tua,oeme,er /I "ram''rashve,,,es Top scorer Three retired local men want to //Community garden makes big Terrace's Chad Wilson leads his put obituaries on the / ] dent to grocery bills, says NY college hockey team in goals Internet\NEWS A12 I / gardener\cOMMUNITY B1 I scored\SPORTS B5 t 93¢ PLUS 7(: GST WEDNESDAY VOL. 10 NO. 10 JUNE 18, 1997. T.ANDARD Shutdowns loom for Skeena Cel Banks will close mills contracting out of services. ed. "They're holding northwestern B.C. • And the provincial government must "We do not work to deadlines," he said. hostage." without concessions step in with millions of dollars to help pay "Just as the banks have certain standards The union, which went on strike for 110 for extending loans, we do as well." days in 1995, is known as one of the most By JEFF NAGEL for a portion of a $278-million, three-year "We don't want a gun to our head," militant in Canada. GOVERNMENT and union leaders show capital expenditure program that would added forests minister Dave Zirnhelt who David Bowra, the court-appointed no signs of giving in to bank demands for modernize the pulp mill and ensure there's was in town Saturday. "We're not going to monitor with Cooper.~ and Lybrand, said massive concessions to keep Skeena Cel- money to build logging roads. The request for money from the province rush in and be a saviour at the public's ex- the company's survival also depends on the lulose operating. province carrying through on its commit- The Toronto Dominion and Royal banks, is believed to be as high as $130 million, pense." ments to cut stumpage and Forest Practices which now own the company, say it will close to half of the total package. Kal Sandhu, president of the Prince Code costs. run out of money around June 27 and close Employment and investment ;minister Rupert local of the Pulp, Paper and Wood- Measures ammunced last week are ex- all operations unless two key demands are Dan Miller wouldn't confirm that figure, workers of Canada (PPWC) all but rejected but said it's "not way out of whack." the job cut plan outright last week. pected to yield savings of $20 million a met: year for Skeena Cellulose. • Unions must agree to cut nearly 250 Miller told the Standard the province will "The banks are here to extract'the money consider extending a large loan to the banks they're owed," Sandhu said. "It's disgust- jobs or one-third of the workforce at the Dan Miller company's Prince Rupert pulp mill and backed by some form of security ~ but ing." Continued Page A14 agree to other labour changes, like more said a straight bailout is not being consider- Terrace City set to kill air has shopping idea Council won't go to referendum urban THE BUSINESS community's drive to allow stores to open on statutory holidays in the summer was stopped dead in its tracks Monday night. pollution City councillors decided to not even take the issue to refer- and "let the people decide" - as Chamber LOCAL AIR monitoring endum of Commerce president Skip Bates had urged. has shown Terrace air to The final vote on the matter doesn't come until next contain trace amounts of Monday, but all indications are it will beunanimous .......... heavy metals ,,- something usually only as~bciat~d with Rich MeDaniel all spoke against the idea. And councillors larger cities. Vat George and Tim Down had earlier expressed similar Doug Johnson, air quality opinions. meteorologist with the en- "I don't think there's the demand or the will," Hull said' viromneut ministry in adding the argument Terrace will lose business to Kitimat and Smithers, has found levels Prince Rupert is weal of barium, copper, He also said a referendum is meant to be an aff'u'mationof a manganese and zinc ill Ter- decision taken by council - not a public opinion poll to test race's air that exceed • i? the waters. provincial screening criteria. "We also have to think of our families," added Vanderlee. Johnson says the data con- Their decision came after heating delegations from workers firms his be.lief that Terrace who feared losing more time with their families. is begimling to have the Bates and other chamber officials argued that passing a problems of other "urban" bylaw that permitted stat holiday shopping wouldn't force settings. stores to open, but would merely give them the choice. According to Johnson, the "We're asking for choice," said Sharon Taylor, "that's all heavy metal pollution can we're suggesting." come from a number of Bates said two surveys of both Chamber members and sources -- including indus- downtown businesses indicated strong support for the idea. try and automobile exhaust. And he said it would cost the city nothing to add a question So while communities in about holiday shopping when the issue of Terrace-Thornhill the northwest may have amalgamation goes to referendum in October. "Let the people decide," said Bates. "It's not going to hurt fewer than 20,000 people, they still have the problems to take it to referendum." But protesters in council chambers said businesses - not of urban air pollution. employees- would make the choice about whether to open. Johnson cautioned that the "It's not our choice," said Laurie Kasperski. ministry's screening criteria Another protester predicted the Chamber wouldn't stop at aren't air quality objectives, the four holidays now being sought - Victoria Day, Canada they are just the first stan- Day, B.C. Day and Labour Day-but would ultimately go aft- dard for determining er the remaining holidays. whether the ministry should Mayor Taistra recalled the Sunday shopping debate of a give further attention to an decade ago. issue. He said two votes at that time came back with residents There have been scientific opposed to Sunday shopping by a two-to-one margin, but studies, however, that point i store owners ultimately opened anyway after the Lord's Day to metals pollution interfer- Act was struck down in the courts. ing with the hmnan body's "The storekeepers didn't honour the opinion of the people- basic functions -- as do they opened anyway," Talstra said, suggesting there's little II Air time evidence businesses would respect a new referendum on sta- things like dioxins and ROB MOSES, Terrace's premiere skateboarder gets some serious air at a boarding demonstration outside furaus. tutory shopping. Thornhill Junior Secondary last week. City workers dragged the halfpipe clear across town for the "It is divisive to go through and those that choose not to Ironically the sampler in demonstration. However, much to their dismay, skateboarding students weren't allowed to try the pipe. Terrace, atop the govern- abide by it won't abide by it anyway." ment agent's office, is a control testing site for an air testing program based in Kitimat. That program aims to find New rules hit 'unemployables' out whether or not Alcan's aluminum smelter is putting would have his or her cheque reduced from health or in alcohol and drug treatment. significant amounts of met- Recipients bracing $596 to $500, the basic welfare rate. These people don't have to look for work, als into the atmosphere. The ministry has created three new cate- but they don't get any extra money on their Several air quality for smaller cheques, gories to replace the old unemployable one. welfare cheques. measuring stations in By CRtS I~YKAUF The category which most unemployables The ministry exempted two types of Kitimat, located at varying COMPLICATIONS from diabetes have will apply to be part of is the new special people from its changes, says Johnston distances from the smelter, prevented Eivin Pnrdy from working for needs category. single parents and people aged 60-64. take regular air samples the last three years. It's for people aged 19-64 who have a Purdy worked as a taxi driver in Terrace there. Now 58 years old and supporting n wife medical condition which stops them from for 20 years. He quit about three years ago Johnson noted he has been who suffers from manic depression, Purdy working for at least one year and who need because of stress and left to work as a taxi finding metals in samples is worried he might lose $142 off his wel- help with daily living tasks. These people driver in KitlmaL from all stations and not in fare cheque. will continue to get the basic extra $96 a The job was lined up, then Purdy was told any pattern that points to Until now Purdy was classified by B.C.'s month, or more if they're supporting other he wasn't wanted since he was over 50. Alcan or other industry as human resources ministry as unemployable. people. Purdy suffers from pain in his neck and the sole source. But the province has changed its defini- Another category is disability benefits, hip and can barely walk on his right hip. Testing was conducted tion of what it means to be unemployable. Purdy Frlesen for people with more severe disabilities and "I can't sleep well at night," he said. from last November to May Changes come into effect on June 30 and high costs. They'll get more money than His wife suffers from crippling arthritis will mean a smaller cheque for some cheques. and manic depression. and Johnson will have to Minisbry spokesperson Karen Johnston people in the special needs category.

Load more

  28

Copy Link