Hiring for $30M road project in the Nass still undecided THE DECISION on who will get the work arising from a $30 million road project in the Nass Valley rests with ihe Nisga’a Tribal Council, says a key official of the company in charge of a provincial government hiring plan. While the dollar value of the Kincolith road job is enough to bring in a blanket contract requiring union-level wages and for workers to join a union for the length of their employment, this project is different, says Bob March from Highway Constructors Lid, (HCL). HCL acts as the hiring agency across the province on provincial road projects worth $30 million or more, It does so through a blanket contract it has with a collec: tion of labour unions. Companies which bid on the wark do so on wage scales set out in the contract. Successful bidders can bring in the first five employees of the first ten hired. Additional workers are hired through HCL with a requirement for local residency and for union affiliation, That may work well on projects where the provincial government is paying the bill all by itself through the B.C, Transportation Financing: Authority (BCTFA) which owns HCL, but the Kincolith road project is different because the Nisga’a are also cash and in-kind contributors. “To include or not include HCL in that project is a deci- sion that has yet to be made,"" said March. “Tis my distinct understanding this is of a power of per- suasion basis, If they don’t want us to parlicipate, we won't be,” he added, So the job at hand is to convince the Nisga’a of the value of HCL’s hiring policy in providing for local employment and training, said March. He noted that HCL, which began life as the hiring agency for the $1.2 billion Island Highway project, has a Kincolith road facts @ Length — Just over 24km through challenging ter- rain alongside the Nass River to connect the coastal vil- lage of Kincolith with Greenville, where the Nisga’a Highway now ends. A 5km stretch already built by the Nisga’a Tribal Council heading east from Kincolith will be improved, making for a total length of approxi- mately 3Gkm. m@ Cost — Pegged, for now, al $30 million. Project being cost shared by the federal and provincial govern- ments and the Nisga’a Tribal Council, M What is it — A two-lane gravel road permitting travel at SOkph. It will become part of the Nisga’a Highway and pari of the provincial highway system. @ Benefits — Access to Kincolith at the mouth of the Nass River is now by air or by ferry to Prince Rupert, The road will connect Kincolith with the other three Nisga’a villages of the Nass Valley and, via the Nisga’a Highway, south to Temace. @ Jobs —- An estimated 50 people will be employed over the planned three-year construction cycle. Still to be determined is how contracts will be let and how hiring will take place. Provincial road construction guidelines require significant Local hire. B@ Environmental review — Now underway, this federal-provincial review of an environmental assess- mentis intended to highlight problem areas and to find _ ways of dealing with them. The project is now open for public comment with a deadline of July 23, Copies of the assessment report are available at the Terrace Pub- lic Library. ENDS JULY 3rd. Carpet ¢ Underpad & labour all for One Low Price* elots of in-stock colours & styles to. ‘choose from eFree estimates, free delivery -. @See the professionals at . _ “The Store For Your Floor” boii ernest tis oot as lea lable arge for fravel io ares ouside of Terrace © ur on stairs anid concrete extra: 8102 Manroe St Terrace 635-2976 Toll Free: 1-800-685-16! mandate to provide opportunilies for natives, youth, women and visible minorities. “*As far as the Nisga’a go, we are well qualified. We are in the process of getting to know the Nisga’a and telling them whal kind of value we can bring to the table,’’ said March. If the Nisga’a agree to HCL’s presence, March said the blanket contract it has with construction unions should be sufficient for whatever special hiring considerations are re- quired, . As it is, March said the Kincolith road project will be a challenge just in its construction. It’s going through some pretty rugged territary requiring workers with specific skills, he noted, This also means the companies who win bids will have to be experienced in this kind of construction. But because of the complexity of the work, some may be unwilling to bid on the project which could result in un- forescen costs eating up profits, March continued, “The cap is pretty firm,’ said March of the $30 million project cost, kkk kk A UNION official who represents organized labour con- necied to HCL hiring hopes the Nisga’a will accept the union pay and sign up concept. Gary Krocker of the International Union of Operating Engineers says the model brings many benefits in terms of training and experience. ‘“We think there’s a tremendous opportunity here to de- velop skills which will have a use when other infrastruc- ture is needed when the [land claims] treaty comes in,”” he said. Aad while Kroeker will be disappointed if the Nisga’a don’t sign on to the model completely, he feels some kind of arrangement can be made. “There are issues, but they aren’t insurmountable,” he added. Kroeker has already met with Nisga’a Tribal Council members. i Terrace Community Band Socie is accepting applications for Musical Director of its Concert Band For more information, please call 638- 7820 and send resume to: . T.CB.S. Box 115 Terrace B.C, V8G 4A2 Closing Date: July 15, 1999 This is a volunteer position. The ferrace Standard, Wednesday, June 30, 1999 - Al] It’s Back! Time Again for the ¢ Tickets: Available at: 5 00 * Mohawk 5 ed, 4 "East End Chevron 4 *Chinook Sales Mastercard “Terrace Equipment isa Sales Cheque *BookMasters Cash. (Kitimat) GRAND PRIZE: 1998 Citotion Supreme, 24’ Motorhome Value: $83,000 Draw Date: August 2, 1999 . Early Bird Prize: July 1:....$750 Canadian Tire Money For Tickets Call: (250)638-7981 No Prize Substitutions Winner's Consent to Name Release Total Tickets: 3200 Park Report Marie-Josee Banville This week and every week for the rast of the summer, at Lakelsa Laka Provincial Park, there wil! ba @ program of special interest to the young people in your family. Every Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. the park interpreter will be offering Jarry’s Ranger Program at Lakelsa Provincial Pauk. The Jerry's Ranger Program Is an anvironmantal education pregram {or children. [t was piloted in 1984 and since that tima has seen thousands of young people participating. For those visitors that are touring the province, the Jerry's Ranger Program is delivared In many of tha provincial parks. BC Parks racognizes our young people as future decision makers and future stewards of park lands, The Jerry's Ranger Program helps young people foster an understanding of conservation Issues knowledge of the natural and cultural environment as they relale {o the park system. The pragiam acknowledges the participants efforts through the awarding of siickars and pins, Themes are dallverad through the usa of games, cratts, niusic and drama to develop a batter understanding of our parks, Jerry's Rangars ara raqulred to earn four siickers. Two are mandatory- Dogged Detective and Salety Sense. The othar two stickers can be Nature Nut, History Hound, People Pleaser, Earlh Explorer, Garbage Gobbler, or Proud Player. Once all four stickers are obtained, the young people racelva their badge and become Junior Rangers. Instilling in our young pecple a pride in thelr nalural and cu‘turel environment is a goal shared with BC Parks and parants alike, Bring your young mind to the Jarry’s Ranger Program al Lakelse Lake Provincial Park, Soon Thay will halp build a better future for us all, On Sunday July 4 the Gaia Project from Victoria will be visiting Lakalse Lake Provinclat Park with their Sustainable Living Bus. The bus is full of interactive displays on sustalnable shelter, energy, and water use, transportation, recreation, food security and consumer choices. LAKELSE LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK VISITORS PROGRAMS THURSDAY JULY 1 Great Bug Hunt. What Is the bast way to learn about insacts? Collect and cbserve lher in their natural environment. Walk with the Glants. Leam some secrets about Coastal Old Growth Forast. near the FLY. dump station, Hike-a-Trae. While locking at a tree's bark or leaves, you can end up discovering amazing things abaut animals that live in or on the tree. Weird Weather. Weather shapes the way wa live. Loarn haw to become a weather observer, ial Bans 3:00 pm 7:00 pm 3:00 pm 7:00 pm 3:00 pm Jerry Ranger's ‘Tree Friands”. See the forest without your eyes. Nature Nut. Children's gamas. Sclence is Golden. Learn about tha environment through sclence, Lots of- sclance experiments and tricks to excite your brain, 7:00 pm 3:00 pm & 7:00 pm Gala Project's Sustalnable Living Bus . Stroll through tha Interactive displays on tha bus, eat a bow! of ‘solar papcarn' and {earn about sustalnabla living. Located in Furlong Bay parking lot. 3:00 pm Plunge tn! Explore the homes and habits of the aquatic animals that live in BC Parks, You may gat wet, so ba prepared. Beautliul Butterfiles. Discover tha world of butterflies and maka one to take home. Children’s craft, All are waicome. Programs are FREE! All programa will be held in tho Amphitheatre unless otherwise posted, 7:00 pm Alter 8 is a great time to drop by our place fara casual nibble or an even heartier bite. We also have some tasty desserts and plenty of ice cold Anuer Ale on tap. Whenever you arrive, we always have something worth sinking your teeth inte. The new improved IMPALA Has finally arrived *the mos! interior room in it’s class | *sporly sleek exterior/full luxury interior *3.81 fel injection 200 H.P. engine *elecironic traction control four-wheel disc brakes “®and much more Once You See One, You'll Have To Drive mg) One, Be The First One To Own The All 3 New 2000 Impala. Drop Down For A Test Drive Today | ‘see: Out of Town Customers : _ Stove Nihal Please Call: 1-800-8McEwan tery Mo day 1-800-862-3926 Terrace: 635-4941 oo or E-MAIL mcewan.gm@osgq.net —oisava poles Maneger