Wo rid c h a m p ,!!!i I New regs Ring in awareness Local teen picks up the I Federal government The Kermode Friendship title of world kickboxing I says airport here Society spearheads an champion\SPORTS B4 I needs to have FAS awareness campaign ......... firefighters\NEWS All \COMMUNITY B1 I g o $1.00 PLUS 7¢ GST o ($1.1o plus 8¢ GST go outslae of the Terracearea) tfi Ob TANDARD g Mayor, MLA seek SCl-union deal BOTH TERRACE Mayor Jack Talstra could reach a deal with its unionized lower fixed costs, such as wages, in allow your members to decide whether Talstra said he's willing to take a and Skeena Liberal MLA Roger Harris Prince Rupert pulp mill workers. order to attract investment money to they wish to return to work," he wrote. week's leave from his law practice are offering whatever help they can to That's because the pulp mill is the lar- start up operations. Harris said the prospect of operating and from his mayor's position to spend have unionized Skeena Cellulose saw- gest of Skeena's operations and is the Last week, Veniez announced he the Terrace sawmill without it being time with SCI and IWA negotiators. mill workers here reach a contract end user for chips generated by its was mothballing the Prince Rupert able to send pulp chips to Prince Ru- "Maybe we have to bang some with their employer. sawmills. It's considered a main driver pulp mill, which hasn't been operating pert was "problematic" in terms of heads," said Talstra. Both said late last week that extra- of the northwest economy. for a year anyway, for the winter. He economic viability. Harris said that if a surrender of ordinary measures are needed to pre- All hope of a deal between Prince also said he was selling a stockpiled "I'd think you'd be looking at a li- wages for profit sharing is insurmount- vent more economic damage from the Rupert workers and the company could chip pile at the Rupert mill site. mited time frame before the issue of able on the part of the union, it may continued closure of the company's very well have collapsed last week His plans had been to start it and chips becomes a problem," he said. want to consider another kind of operations. when the Pulp, Paper and Woodwork- his Terrace mill this November had he Yet more important to Harris is the benchmark to generate bonuses." And both say a successful deal ers of Canada Local 4 in Prince Ru- reached a deal with his Rupert union demonstration that a contract can be "Perhaps it could be tied to the reached between the company and the pert submitted a proposal which was workers. reached. price of lumber. It's a simple visual. IWA here will demonstrate the com- immediately rejected by Skeena Cel- Although the pulp union Aug. 30 "If there can't be a framework You could check it every night [on pany and a union can agree on a con- lulose. proposed bringing in experienced agreement reached in Prince Rupert, TV], he said. "Once you begin to real- tract that cuts costs for Skeena yet The company has been promoting mediator Vince Ready, Veniez rejec- then perhaps there can be one reached ize you can craft a model for the new provides financial incentives for work- its. "Fresh Start" deal which cuts ted the idea in a letter also dated Aug. in Terrace," he continued. "Call it ar- reality, there are lots of alternatives ers. wages by 20 per cent but offers bo- 30.' bitration, call it mediation, whatever that can come into play." Up until now, most of the concen- nuses tied to profits. "The only way we can solve this you want to call it. I'm willing to put Harris and Talstra did express con- tration on the future of the company SCI CEO Dan Veniez has been impasse is for you to hold another vote whatever time and energy in to make cern about how willing SCI and the has been focussed on whether or not it saying for months that he needs to of your membership immediately to it happen." Cont'd Page A2 Olympics bid ignoring poorJ says gov't body By JENNIFER LANG THE PROVINCIAL government is under attack from the Kitimat Stikine regional district for appearing to put dreams of Olympic glory ahead of B.C.'s poor. In a letter to four ministers, board chair Harry Nyce questions the government's spending priorities. : "If government can commit $310 million to an Olym- pic bid," Nyce says, "surely it has the means and the will to ensure our children have a safe, secure environ- ment and enough nutritional food to grow, learn and be- come productive healthy members of society." Nyce says cuts to income assistance and programs that support local families like Mothers' Time Off and Nobody's Perfect put kids and their parents at risk. He also cited the troubles affecting the forest indu- stry, corporate downsizing - and the province's decision to close some government offices with contributing to higher unemployment in the region. The regional district agreed earlier this summer to raise the issue of growing poverty and hunger with the provincial government. The decision came after Community Response to Hungry Kids Committee member Darlene Westerman told the board about rising numbers of hungry families in. Terrace. She said local children are feeling the impact of pro' vincial government cuts to social programs. In some cases, people are turning to local social ser- IVAN AND Donna Carpenter are just two of many Terrace resi- increase in the number of scooters in the area. Travel has also vice agencies for food. dents experiencing more freedom and mobility due to a large been assisted with the growth in sidewalks and paved roads. Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee an- nounced last week Vancouver is one of four cities on a short list to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. Have scooter, will travel Salzburg, Austria, Bern, Switzerland and Pyeong- chang, South Korea are also in the running. By JOANNA WONG growing sensitivity to disabilities. Northern Healthcare pharmacist manager The IOC makes its final decision on the 2010 Winter BEFORE DONNA Carpenter goes out to get "A lot of businesses are pretty good," Erie Durando says he's noticed an increase Olympics next year. groceries, she straps on a pair of racing says Mr. Carpenter, adding that the Skeena in the visibility of people using scooters in The Vancouver bid committee says it will cost $2 bil- gloves. After all, cruising along at six miles Mall has added an automatic door. Terrace. "1 would probably think I service 12 lion to host the games - not incltiding an upgrade of the an hour can get chilly when you're riding a Getting around on scooters has given the [scooters] on a regular basis," Durando says. Sea to Sky highway linking Vancouver to Whistler it scooter -a close cousin of the wheelchair, Carpenters a whole new perspective on Ter- Mrs. Carpenter figures there's a least 50 says is necessary to secure the bid. With other projects, only more high tech and stylish. race. "Most people don't think much about it scooters out in the Terrace community, and the total Olympics price/tag could touch $6 billion. The regional district's letter is addressed to Gordon "You don't realize what you lose and you if you have to take a step or two," says Mr. she says there would likely be more if they have to make a choice in your life," says Carpenter. weren't so expensive. Hogg, the Minister of Children and Family Develop- ment; Murray Cecil, Minister of Human Resources; Carpenter, who suffers from chronic arthritis Mrs. Carpenter often even plans out her Typically, a new scooter costs anywhere and multiple sclerosis. "You can stay at route before she goes out. "We may spend from three and five thousand dollars, with Linda Reid, Minister of State for Early Childhood Deve- home and go 'poor me poor me' or you can more time figuring out how to do something deals on used models. lopment, and Colin Hanson, Minister of Health Services. The board has received just one reply so far, from take the initiative." but mostly you get it done," she says. Pricey, yes, but the Carpenters say it's Doug Hayman, interim chief executive officer for the Carpenter and her husband, Ivan, have According to Sara Blum, who's been wot:th it. Other scooter perks include easy north region of the Ministry of Children and Family De- both been using scooters for the past three dealing with scooters over the past eight parking and lots of attention from fascinated velopment. years. "It gives you your independence years through the Multiple Sclerosis Society children. Hayman says his ministry, which is facing a budget back," says Mrs. Carpenter. "A fellow we of Cahada, use is on the rise. Then, of course, there's the racing option. know is quite elderly and can't walk any- "Part of it is people are more open to try- But when Mrs. Carpenter and her husband reduction over the next three years, is reviewing pro- more. He gets out on his scooter and goes ing them. People feel there's less stigma at- burn rubber, there's no contest. grams and services. out every day of the year, r/tin or shine." tached to a scooter than a motor "My scooter is faster than his," she Since 75 per cent of the ministry's budget is spent on The Carpenters both say they've noticed a wheelchair," she said.