t 1 f 4 t ’ ' 4 ' ' eoeevaee ee nslepeapiateraranannaliaietemataiatie ee ‘, eaeavreenes _Aé - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 8, 1998 "NORTHWEST forest indus- ,_try reps say moves to slash '< Forest Practices Code costs ‘and ease stumpage fees “should help breath some life ‘Tinto the business, But Dan Tuomi, Skeena Cellulose’s solid wood gen- eral manager, said many in- dustry players are not confi- dent the moves will go far enough to dig the forest sec- tor out of its current ‘downturn, 3 “The majority of industry lis somewhat skeptical at this ‘stage,’ Tuomi said. ‘The i numbers sound great bul “we'll want to sce them on - our bottom line,” | The stumpage change will ‘translate into a $3.50 per ‘cubic metre reduction in + fees for Skeena Cellulose, or about 14 per cent. It came after months of ; wrangling between coastal- ‘and = interior-based = com- :*panies over how stumpage t «relief would be divided be- tween the two areas. The biggest change an- nounced last week is a radi- cal chopping of the amount of paperwork required under the Forest Practices Code, Forests minister Dave Zimbelt said the amend- ments to the code will reduce industry’s costs by $5 a cubic metre, translating into about $300 million worth of cost savings to the industry based on last year’s harvest. **Cutting red tape, logeth- er with stumpage reductions and other commitments un- der the Jobs and Timber Ac- cord will enhance the eco- nomic health of the forest industry,’’ Zimbelt said. He said the changes reflect a move to a more results- oriented, rather than process-oriented, code. Zirnhelt painted — the changes as ones that will cut in half the amount of paper- Stumpage cuts good news for wood guys work required for opera- tional planning, logging road construction, silvicul- ture practices and timber harvesting. He said it’ also eliminate unnecessary reviews and uncertainty around plan ap- provals. **Eavirommental pro- tection will not be com- promised under these code changes as staff will focus more on enforcement in the field,’’ said environment minister Cathy McGregor. Tuomi was returning Fri- day from a forestry confer- ence in Prince George, where he said the mood was distinctly negative about the outlook for lumber markets. “What we heard is that the markels aren’t going to bail us out,’’ Tuomi said. ‘T’s a tough world out there and we have to do something about our operat- ing, cost,”” ‘More money unlikely for cash-strapped Mills ‘DON! T EXPECT Mills Memorial Hospital . to win one argument for more money. '. Even though an annual average of 25 per «' cent of the people admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit (1cu) come from out- side the area, this isn't recognized when the provincial government sets budgets. Instead, the hospital has to absorb the cost * of treating people from outside its normal * coverage area and that means running a : ‘deficit. Mills administrator Michael Leisinger * estimates that the ICU ended its budget zs year March 31 with a deficit of $70,000 on ota budget of $500,000. 8.6. That’s meant an increase in full time equivalent nursing, positions from 4.8 to Skeena NDP MLA Helmut Giesbrecht, who is also parliamentary secretary to health minister Penny Priddy, says there are no budget formulas which recognize a ser- vice a hospital provides to people outside its normal operating area. But in theory, says Giesbrecht, a hospi- tal’s budget for the following year is based previous year. on how many people used ils services the If there is a greater usage, the hospital generally gets an increase, he said. “Over lime this is expected to work itself | James W. 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CUT OF TOWNCUSTCHERS = & PLEASE CALL COLLEGT TERRACE 695-4941 KITIMAT 692-4941 4-200: 2NCEWAR™ (1-800-862-3926) Sales McEwan Terrace Leasing DEALER HO 587) We Can Make It Happen At The Bright Spot On Hightweay 16 West In Terrace Terrace Co-operative Association announce their ANNUAL MEETING Terrace Co-operative Association will GD) s ‘We've had a 65 per cent increase in use a + of our ICU since 1994-95,"' said Leisinger =" * last week. 2 ‘“We're only staffed and funded for three * "beds but we can have as many as five =; patients at a time requiring intensive care “? v= and that means more nurses and more “5 costs,’” he said, “t There were 575 ICU patient care days in ri1994-95, climbing to 950 for the fiscal il year out,”’ said Giesbrecht. Yet that doesn’t happen at Mills because the provincial government feels it is provid- ing too many services for the number of people in the arca regardless of where they come from, added Giesbrecht. He does believe that Mills, despite what - the health ministry says, has a pretty solid case for more mouey because of the kind of hold it’s Annual General Meeting Tuesday, April 21, 1998 in the Elks Hall on 2822 Tetrault Street, Terrace ~Sjust ended on March 31. bes « ROAD-WEARY drivers in 3 the northwest will likely =" find out April 14 if there Ss * will be money in this year’s ere ™ « highways budget to do up we = grades io some of the pro- », vince’s worst roads. ' * There's $1.25 billion in »* this year’s provincial budget ‘° allotted for new schools, oz hospitals, roads and trans- tt portation projects. That’s an + increase of $275 million. « But the ministry won't say io, just yet how much of that od money is going to highways 3 or how much will be spent +¢ in this region or over what S x” period of time it will be al- cy r « i“ ee ee eR RC CREE CO ETT ee ee me em me me . bee located. regional services it docs provide. And highways regional director Dirk Nyland says that until the announcement is made, he doesn’t want to comment on whether the news would be good or bad, ‘J really wouldn’t want to speculate,’’ he says. B,C.’s new highways min- ister visited Terrace two weeks ago. He admitted to reporters that roads in the northwest are some of the worst in the province, and hinted at the possibility of more money for the region. Bul he stopped short of making aly promises. “Certainly some of the roads T was able los see today Drivers wait for news indicate a necd for govern- ment to spend money in this area,” Harry Lali pointing out that he noticed several “‘structural failures’’ on the road to Kitamaat Vil- lage. This was Lali’s first trip out of Victoria as highways minister and it was a bit of an eye-opener. Although he didn’t drive the Nisga’a Hwy or Hwy 37, he did promise to come back to Terrace within 30 days to see those areas for himself. ‘] want to make sure | have a chance to personally take a look at these roads,’’ he said. + 4 © sae | FACTORY DIRECT Spring Clearance Sale on Now! UP to 50% orr ALL NO. 2 PRODUCTS Also Available 24°X24" patio slab Portland Cement $1.00 ea. $2.99 ea, $6.95 ea. $9.00 bag Building or renovating this year? We provide more than concrete and concrete pumping. We have, reinforcing steel, forming materials, drain rock, sand, bricks, blocks, masonry supplies, patio slabs, pavers, retaining wall blocks, septic tanks, curbs. Talk to us about our special prices. Ret inin Wall Units SKEENA CONCRETE PRODUCTS LTD. 3781 Old Lakelse Lake Dr, Terrace, B.C. 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