Mayor chases Orenda approval TERRACE -- Mayor Jack a committee of civil servants Orenda also has to find finan- tatives. aboriginal groups that might be Talstra went to Victoria yester- that reviews major projects and cing and potential investors who The meeting follows a com- affected," said Parsons. day, saying he won't return un- then prepares recommendations "are not going to wait forever," mitment made by the province The land upon which Orenda til he finds out if the provincial for the cabinet committee on said Talstra. last fall to the native groups, wants to build is in within ter- government will approve the sustainable development. He said the marketplace is said David Parsons, the official ritory claimed by the Tsimshian Orenda Forest Products plan to That committee can either ap- demanding the kind of product in charge of the committee and it's just north of land the build a pulp and paper mill prove the project pending it Orenda wants to produce. which makes recommendations Haisla claim. .... south of Lakelse Lake. recei~,ing necessary permits and But continued delays in ap- on large projects to the provin- Parsons declined to comment The project has been before licences, ask for more studies or proval could result in financial cial cabinet. on the progress of Orenda's ap- the provincial Major Project reject the proposal, backers and Tampellai the "We told them we would plication but did say native opi- nion on the project is, for the Review Process (MPRP) since Orenda wants to spen d $365 Finnish-owned company which meet with them before a deci- moment, the only outstanding last fall but it isn't known if it million on a mill to produce is to supply the machinery, to sion was made to discuss the look ¢lsewhere,mdded Talstra. technical results of the review," issue. ': has been given to a cabinet corn- 1731000 tonnes of chlorine-free, Talstra said he plans to meet mittee for a decision or when magazine-quality paper a year. "This mill is going tO be built said Parsons. that decision will be made with premier Mike Harcourt Talstra said the situation is somewhere," he warned. He added the meeting falls and the ministers who form the Talstra said the trip is critical because Orenda risks Talstra's trip comes just one under the provincial policy of cabinet committee on sus- necessary because the city isn't losing the 1992 construction day after provincial and fedei'al discussing development projects tainable development. One of getting answers to letters it sent. season unless it hears from• the officials discussed the Orenda with native groups. the latter is Dan Miller, forests project in Prince Rupert with Jack Talstra The city has also been unsuc, provinci~ government this spr, "We :know we have an minister and MLA for North cessful in attempts to meet with ing, • Haisla and Tsimshian represen- obligation to consult:with Coast.: ~ > ./: ii: ~•:i.i,:i,~•/iii-: ••i•i!i ¸ ': ....< •:i. >. Unique literacy course prepared TERRACE --A local group has The proposed course assumes come up with a plan to teach employees would be on com- small groups of people how to pany time three hours and week read and write. and on their own time for the It's designed to be inexpen- remaining two hours. sive and practical for northwest "What we have is a quality businesses and industry, says product. We know there is a Nat Purcell of Project Literacy need, everybody tells us there is Terrace. a need and have told us there is Involved is teaching five peo- a problem. This is a very ple for five hours a week over a economical way of addressing planned 16-week period. that problem" said Purcell. The cost would be $6,400 in- Purcell views the proposed cluding teaching salaries, equip- course as ~the next step in Pro- ment and supplies, said Purcell. ject Literacy Terrace's efforts to "Nothing-.like this .has~ ever. improve reading and ~writing been done in Canada to my skiils In the~ h6~:iii~e'st." ~:7..... ,.:,, ,• >, Up until now the group's knowledge," said Purcell. Nat Purcell "It's a curriculum we feel is store-front effort Called The needed at a very. minimal representatives and one-third of Reading Place has Concentrated budget," he added. the employers interviewed in- on matching those whowant to A proposal has already been dicated that employees are learn with volunteer tutors in submitted to Canadian National unable to advance because of a the year it's beenopen, lt,s also which, said Purcell, has shown lack of literacy or language conducted small Classes. a lot of interest. skills. "We've interviewed 60 to 65 The course came out of a people and have placed 58," The curriculum is designed said Purcell. survey of businesses, public sec- for people who now have the tor operations and unions con- "These are people who have equivalent of a Grade 4 reading come forward on their own and ducted by The Reading Place and writing level and for those last year. have decided they want to learn. whose first language is not The statistics are that there are The survey found that 85 per English. cent of employers and 80 per 7,700 people in this area who cent of union representatives in- "At the end, the people have a need -- people who can't dicated some employees have would have their English skills read prescriptions or bank trouble with basic reading and raised and reading and writing machine instructions," he said. writing tasks. would be at a Grade 6 level," Purcell said the course~was Two-thirds of union said Purcell. designed to fit in with a federal literacy initiative that would have provided money. The federal go~,ernment has now put Pamphlet ready that initiative on hold. that explains SUNNY DA~'S. Skiers onShames Mountain take advantage of blue skies to carve some turns in Nisga'a talks the abundant snow and catch some of the mountain's spectacular panoramic views. The change in weather was a godsend for Shames, where thepowder hounds were getting plenty of, powder., TERRACE --Northwest three parties want, the general but beginning to wonder if the sun ever shines on themOuntain. .... residents will soon be getting a topics under discussion and how I I pamphlet outlining the negotia- the negotiations are conducted. I tions to settle the Nisga'a land Although the federal govern- claim centered on the Nass ment and the Nisga'a have been Valley. working on a settlement for Skeena Cellulose makes It's produced by the federal years, negotiations accelerated and provincial governments and last year when the provincial the Nisga'a Tribal Council. government formally agreed to join the talks. pitch for Hazel wood The pamphlet was to be The pamphlet indicates the distributed last year but was TERRACE --Skeena Cellulose remanufacturing facilities such But Lightfoot did say Skeena three parties will publish more held because of the October has the best chance to keep • as the Skeena (Cellulose) mill in Cellulose's plan includes setting information and will hold 1991 provincial election. Westar's forestry operations go- Smithers," a company press up a joint venture with area meetings to explain the negotia- ing in the Hazeltons, a release said of Lightfoot's state- native groups. It explains what each of the tions and gather opinions. spokesman for the company ment. cont'd A2 said Feb. 8. Skeena Cellulose already is a Westar has been trying to sell significant purchaser of wood its Kitwanga and Carnaby mills chips produced by Westar, They J and its forest licences in the area are used by Skeena Cellulose's ,Northwest Roundup since last year ....... Prince Rupert pulp mill and I illl I The statement by Skeena form 30 per cent of its re- Cellulose vice president Reg quirements PRINCE RUPERT -- Up to SMITHERS -- The crime has once again raised the HOUSTON :--- Council Li-htfoot to a nrovincial corn- ,,x~ hot;-,,,, )~,., et.oona h°~ 20 of the city's outside rate here rose by 16 per cent " issue of fire protection for members here h/we rejected mission........................... examining the impliea' the best chance of providing workers will be laid off if a last year over 1990, unorganized areas. ' the :, Idea ~ ~f : .........declar'n" ! tions of what Westar wants con, sustainable employment in the provisional budget is ac- • RCMP officers handled Although they didn't have !: municipal offlee~: a smoke- firms long standing rumours the area because of its experience in eepted, 'r 1'815 criminal complaints in to. Hazelton firemen went to fiee area~ i!: i;ii::::!i :: :: ~: company was interested in the manufacturing and marketing That,sbecausetheeitywlll 1991 compared:t0 1,479 the the Jan.20 blaze because Aid,~:Te~iGautronlkald /: cutting rights, and because of its track redord freeze capital projects, ~ year before, i they thought there might be couiiCi!didn,t have ihe rlgl t::i He also acknowledged that in investing substantial amounts :,The,: only Way ~this will Assaults Increased to 294 people :inside the home. to lm~oSe its Vaid~Sm!~the there are more wood nrocessiw, ,,¢ ,=,,.~,, ;.;t~ ~,,~i,~.~ " th,~ I.:ehan~eis if the city isable to from 241 ::while crimes Two ~:Mlle:~ residents" 'last: :, an ~ hat, ,it might: real e : facilities in the area than there is pr'es's"r'e~ease "qu0tes'"I~ightfoot [ :¢011ec~t $750,000 In outstan, against property rose from year.turned d~wn itaX' in~!i : ~ saokerS: feel alhWeldom~!i f-.~iI wood available as saying; /ding taxes from ihe~:!Rldley 666 to 849, ~:i ~ crea~whlch:would h aVeex,,:,,~themunlclpal6ffle~ii~::ii~:: i~iii:: ; * ' ' ' ' ~ ; ..........