A4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 3, 2003 - TERRACE STANDARD ESTABLISHED APRIL 27, 1988 PUBLISHER: ROD LINK ADDRESS: 3210 Clinton Street Terrace, B.C. « V8G 5R2 TELEPHONE: (250) 638-7283 * FAX: (250) 638-8432 WEB: www.terracestandard.com EMAIL: newsrcom@terracestandard.com Been there ... ..and done that. Once again northwestern eyes turn down south to a Vancouver courtroom for another instalment of “As the Mill Turns,” a mini-series involving the trials and tribulations of Repap/Skeena Cellulose Inc./New Skeena Forest Products. And once again a court-appointed monitor and phalanx of lawyers will go through the entrails of what was once the northwest’s largest employer. Unlike 1997 and 2001, the move by the company to bankruptcy protection is different because we’re missing one major player — the provincial government. In 1997 there were cries for provincial assistance, resulting in a now perhaps ill-advised intervention by the then-NDP government which cost taxpayers and northwestern businesses more than a half a billion dollars. There were similar cries for help in 2001 but the new Liberal government of the day, flexing its, tough-love election promise of no subsidies and no assistance, allowed the company to slip away. This time there’s been nary a muted cry for provincial assistance from a battle-weary and psychologically-battered northwestern B.C. Why is that? For one thing, the company’s mills haven’t operated for more than two years, meaning there is no immediate massive job loss. That pain has mostly been dealt with. The northwest isn’t missing what it doesn’t have. Enough people have moved away and the economy has shrank to the point where the northwest has adjusted, as grim as things have become. New Skeena is almost irrelevant to whatever future there is here. _ oo, No matter that food banks are a growth industry depending upon massive volunteer help and generous assistance from the public, companies and non-profit groups. No matter that virtually every school in the district now has either a breakfast or a lunch program or both. The key thing to consider here is that the Liberal government wants a northwest free of state intervention, at least when it comes to forestry and a company that was once the foundation of the regional economy. This may ultimately be a very good thing. Yet it is a very long journey. Skeena MLA Roger Harris has persistently said the hope for the northwest relies on many small forestry players and has been doing his utmost to free up a wood supply to that end. But those of us who are left should ask why the northwest is being singled out for such treatment. Down south, the provincial government has no problem in a massive infusion of public monies to act as a springboard for the 2010 Winter Olympics. As the song goes, “Alone again, naturally.” PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Rod Link ADVERTISING MANAGER: Brian Lindenbach PRODUCTION MANAGER: Edouard Credgeur NEWS: Jeff Nagel NEWS/SPORTS Sarah A. Zimmerman NEWS/COMMUNITY: Jennifer Lang 2002 WINNER CCNA BETTER CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR: Tammy Donovan NEWSPAPERS ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS: COMPETITION Bert Husband & Debbie Simons COMPOSING: Susan Credgeur AD ASSISTANT: Sandra Stefanik FRONT OFFICE: Darlene Keeping & Carol McKay SUBSCRIPTION RATES BY MAIL: $57.94 (+$4.06 GST)=62.00 per year; Seniors $50.98 (433.57 GST)=54,55: Out of Province $65.17 (+$4.56 GST)=69.73 ‘Outside of Canada (6 months) $156,91(+10.98 GST)=167,.89 MEMBER OF PSST, KID, TRY Some COLA DONT DO IT, KiRK/ MOM WARNED US ABOUT PUSHERS- | ~ONE BIG GULP AND; You'RE HOOKED FOR LiFe / ——— CANADAS SCHOOLS PROVIDE FERTILE GROUND FoR INFILTRATION BY CORPORATE AMERICA NDP cannot w VICTORIA - The big winner at the NDP leadership convention two weekends ago was Gordon Campbell, Women have been spectacularly unsuccessful as party leaders in Canada. Remember Kim Campbell, who presided as leader over the implosion of the federal Tories? Or how about Rita Ichnston, under whose’ stewardship the B.C. Socreds were wiped out? And then there are the current and previous federal NDP leaders, both women, who in spite of their best efforts failed to inspire the public. Carole James, the new leader of the B.C. NDP is a very nice woman. I mean that in a positive sense. The former Victoria school board president wouldn’t know how to hurt a fly, leave alone do it. Someone “take a good woman” to clean up-the mess made by men. James said later she wouldn't mind ‘being that woman. Well, she now is, Unfortunately, nice and good don’t cut it in the blood sport known as politics in British Columbia. The 45-year-old James is also about as exciting as low-cai cream cheese. said on the. convention floor that it might FROM-THE CAPITAL HUBERT BEYER She’s no Joy MacPhail whose performance as half the opposition in the legislature has been awe-inspiring, Had MacPhail run for the leadership, she would have been a shoe-in, ‘and I would - have been far more optimistic about the NDP’s chances of making a credible comeback, probably not to. government, but at. least strong opposition status, proving my theory about. women party leaders wrong. James, on the other hand, seems unlikely to ‘prove me wrong. * Don't get me wrong. I wish James all the luck, not just for her sake, but for the sake of the democratic process, which needs a strong opposition to keep the government in check, In fairness to James it must also be said that none of the contenders for the leadership set the convention on fire. There was a lot of Liberal bashing, which is bound to go over well at an NDP convention, but is‘no substitute for laying out in forceful terms a different vision for the future of the province. James won the leadership contest with relative ease, defeating Leonard Krog and Nils Jensen on the second ballot. That was the easy part. The real challenge begins now. Not only must she. inspire good candidates to line up against the Liberals in the 2005 election, she also must begin filling the coffers to finance the next battle. That requires not only organisational skills but a lot of arm-twisting as well. MacPhail wisely declined Premier Gordon Campbell's offer Not to run a candidate in a by election, should the new leader want to get into the legislature immediately. oe “In his dreams,” was how she put it, because not only would she or Jenny Kwan have to resign their seats, but the new leader would be tied up in the legislature, unable to beat the NDP drum in all ridings, but IN with a woman she'd be a virtual dog's breakfast for the Liberals because of her lack of experience. James’ task of rebuilding the party after the disaster of the last election begins right now. She will have to travel the width and breath of the province to fire up the troops and tell people to shore up the election campaign coffers. As a very modest start, James should tell someone to give the provincial NDP's website a makeover. There is no’ link to any of the riding associations. Inviting visitors to leave a get-well note for Mike Harcourt is a nice gesture, which Mikey appreciates, I’m sure, but what the site needs is a little more information. She must also assemble a team that prepares a distinct platform for the next election. A lot of NDP supporters naively believe that the Liberals will be defeated on their record alone. In their “dreams. Sees I said at the outset that Gordon Campbell was the big winner at the convention. Let me conclude on a more positive note: 1 would like nothing better than be proven wrong by James. Beyer can be reached at: E- mail: hbeyer@coolcam.com: Teens need nutritional helo | ENTHUSIASTIC REACTION of viewers to the obvious success of the adults on Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Loss Challenge has inspired him to organize an ullimate weight loss challenge for teenagers. . Again, we'll be able ta follow dieters’ progress as they learn to control their weight by revamping their lifestyle rather than starving themselves. Prior to announcing _ this second weight loss challenge, Dr. Phil’s son Jay reviewed university research and interviewed thousands of American teenagers. His finding are disturbing. Girls as young as 9 feel they are too heavy. Almost 50 per cent of 10 year old girls believe they are overweight. And over 40 per cent of girls age 9 and 10 are happier when they are on a diet. Ten year olds don’t obsess about their weight unless those around them obsess. If they hear Mom or big sister complaining about her ample butt, thick thighs, or second chin every time she passes a mirror, little wonder if the youngster decides she, too, is a cow. Pp _THROUGH BIFOCALS. CLAUDETTE SANDECKL The same sex parent has the most influence on a child. So if the kid looks like Mom, and Mom says her body has defects, the child is bound to conclude thal she, too, is a defective human being. Herding teens together five days a week (okay, in Coast Mountains School District it’s only four days a week) gives them ample opportunity to B Nol THE SNOWELAKE mug (SHELL FEEL CHILLY) OR THESORE Mub GHELL THINK OF WORK), OR. compare themselves to their peers and to be ridiculed. Even teens of normal weight may feel they need to lose as much as 50 pounds. Fifty pounds could well make them anorexic, but no matter. Their view is unrealistic. In addition, those who believe they are overweight look at a normal weight peer and wish they were equally skinny, Yet the normal weight teen is probably labelling herself a fatso and dieting to drop 20 pounds. Bath teens think if only they could lose weight, their life would be perfect. But ,as one astute teen said, “Losing 50 pounds doesn’t make your life perfect. ‘You'll only find something else you want to change about yourself.” Much better for parents to help a teen celebrate her good points, sense of humour, musical ability, ski]! on the volleyball court, being a loyal friend, getting along well with people and countering her negative self-talk with deserved praise and encouragement. This can be difficult. As an aid, Jay McGraw has published a ONTAE FALL ASPEN [p MUS! THATS PERFECT [2 teen version based on Dr. Phil's book. The Ultimate Weight Solution for Teens has not yet reached Terrace store shelves, nor has his second book, Closing the Gap, which offers families help reconnecting with estranged teenagers. Without reading Jay's book I know it is a guide to altering lifestyle following Dr. Phil's seven keys. Believe you can lose weight to a healthy level. Heal the feelings that drive you to overeat. Rid your environment of junk food, Curb impulse eating. Buy foods that take longer to . consume. Exercise daily. And keep company with folks who _ support your weight loss efforts. One thing teenagers want is help dieting without drawing attention to themselves when they are in the presence of their peers. To eat a tossed salad while others stuff themselves on burgers and fries invites ridicule. Teens . lack nutritional knowledge. They also depend upon Mom to shop for and prepare healthy meals so they can lose weight slowly, safely. ieee THE CABIN MUG ie Miss Tue BUSH), OR THE a A YING-YANG MuG (SHE'S INTO FENG SHot Now), OR me THE PALM TREE MUG(SHE HATED THAT TR IP)» « W. O, Suen i FOR TODAY"! "BG, AND YUKON COMHURITY NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION, oe CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION #CN A Ss AND Hanottineasc! B.C, PRESS COUNCIL (www.bepresscouncll.org) Serving the Terrace and Thomhti] area. Published on Wednesday of gach weak at $210 Clinton Strea!, Terrace, British Columbia, VaG 5R2, Storles, photographs, illustrations, designs and typestyies in the Terrace Standard are the proparty of the copy- Fight holders, including Cariboo Press (1968) Ld., Its Itustration repro sarvices and adveriising agancles. Reproduction in whole or in part, without writtan permission, & specifically prohibited, : Authorized as second-class mail pending tha Post Office Department, lor payment of postage in cash. Special thanks to ail our contributors and correspondents ' for their time and talents