ee AS - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 12, 1995 Cashore spurns offer to debate with Reform MP PROVINCIAL ABORIGINAL affairs minister John Cashore says he has other things ta do with his time than debate with Skeena Reform MP Mike Scott. Cashore made the comment last week in response to Scott’s recent challenge to debate Cashore on land claims. , ‘It seems he’s more interested in generating heat than light,” said Cashore, “Td prefer to spend the limited time I have in a creative process than what Mr. Scott has in mind,” Cashore said he has already spoken on land claims in the northwest on numerous occasions and will continue to do so. *‘T really have no hesitation to debate but I'd rather be involved in forums generating views to share each other’s vision ina con- structive way for certainty,’’ he added, Scott issued the debate chal- lenge as part of a series of public mectings held with other Reform MPs throughout the province. Cashore said his office didn’t receive Scott’s debate request un- til after three or four of these meetings were held. **T’ve already debated with him on CBC and invited him to sil with me personally. ] gave him an assignment to visit the various native communitics and sit with them in recognition of the fact they make up 35 per cent of his riding,”’ said Cashore, ““He may not agree with them and that’s OK but he has a re- sponsibility to represent them.”’ Cashore also suggested that Scott, as a federally clected mem- ber, should more properly address his debate challenge to federal In- dians affairs minister Ron Irwin. ee ae John Cashore In the meantime, Cashore said his ministry is still mulling over how best to gain public opinion on a land claims agreement in principle with the Nisga’a Tribal Council once it’s concluded. That agreement in principle will form the basis of legislation enacting a treaty with the Nisga’a. Cashore has promised to some- how circulate the document for opinion prior tc any legislative action. “We need discussion on that with local people on how to best do that,” he said. The agreement in principle is late according to a negotiations schedule set out three years ago by the Nisga’a and the federal and provincial governments. Several proposals have already changed hands between the three partics but there’s been little con- crete news lately on progress.” _ Fed workers eye employment cuts EMPLOYEES AT the Terrace Canada Employment Centre won't know for a few more months how hard they’li be hit by federal budget cuts. “T guess ill depend on whether we’re onc of the offices that survive,”’ assistant manager Alice Bannister said recently. The unemployment insurance and employment centre employ- tes are supposed to be notified by Sept. 30 of any impending job cuts in 1996, she said. Human Resources Development Canada — the department under which those employees fall -—- is to cut 5,000 positions nationwide over three years, starting with 1,100 in 1995-96. All kinds of possible restructur- Terrace | 491 2 Hwy. 16 West ing options are being examined, she added. Offices that close, for example, could be replaced by electronic kiosks in malls. With 36 employees and another three at the Skeena Aboriginal Management Board, Terrace’s of- fice is by far. the largest in the region, There are another 10 employees scattered at smaller offices in Houston, Smithers, and Kitimat. Bannister said employees are expecting to sec some move toward centralizing services, and that could mean the elimination _ ofsome offices. There are 67 such employment offices in B.C. and the Yukon ter- ritory. ~ Featuring mare: borse pot han city other pi “diits class Pro-Gun Rally otShow Your Opposition to Bill C-687*7v April 22 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm George Little Memorial Park * Fine Lines * Bright Colors * Health Inspected Fi * Cover-ups ? RICH WITH COLOR TATTOO STUDIO 4650€ Lakelse Ave 638-0852 Representation by Tbe Reform Party of RS FAX 635-3279 FAX 635-3279 COMPLETE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR INDUSTRIAL - COMMERCIAL - RESIDENTIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS - DATA CABLING 48992C OLD LAKELSE LAKE DRIVE, TERRACE, B.C. V8G 3V1 MISTY RIVER TACKLE & HUNTING 5008 Agar Terrace, B.C, Phone 638-1369 we __.. Fax 638-8500 "| _ eo cS eed plone cee STRAW’S MACHINE SHOP 3875 Highway 16 East Terrace, B.C. 635-2874 Fred Straw Jeff Hiemi Res. 635-7300 Res, 788-2549 ENJOY OUR TRIVIA GAMES! Wednesday, 6 pm.- TRAVEL TRIVIA Friday, 6 p.m., Spotlight -ENTERTAINMENT TRIVIA Saturday, 6 PM.- MUSIC TRIVIA "Action Terry Morris President (604) 638-4922 3254 River Drive Terrace, B.C. V8G 3P4 Shooting Supplies Ltd. Phone 635-2249 Sonne Peas Terrace Motors Toyota “Canada’s Oldest Toyota Dealership” 4r. 1ses7 635-6558 1-800-313-6558