A14- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 15, 2000 Log exports get green light to help keep people working By JEFF NAGEL RAW LOG EXPORTS will continue through 2000 in this area lo keep West Fraser’s contract loggers working. Provincial Job Protection Commissioner Eric van Soeren says that although parts of B.C.’s forest industry are recovering, much of the coast ~ particularly areas containing a lot of hemlock — remain uneconomical to log normally. So he’s approved a continuation through this year of the market logging program that keeps 250 workers - most of whom are on the payroll of West Fraser's large contractors, plus some in the company’s sawmill here — employed in this area. The controversial raw log export program was first ap- proved a year age as van Soeren’s plan to deal with the fact that West Fraser planned to conduct virtually no logging in 1999, The timber was worth less in B.C. than it would have cost to log it. Coastal producers have little or no quota to export lumber to the U.S., so there was no incentive to mill the hemlock into lumber and no buyers in B.C. prepared to pay more than the cost of logging. However, van Socren notes, hemlock logs are worth considerably more on the export market. That Jed him to craft an economic plan that allows West Fraser contractors to take the profit from export and use it to balance against the losses they incur be- cause the price for wood processed here is below their operating cast. “The net effect is to increase the logs available ta the domestic market,” van Soeten said last week. Both Skeena Sawmills in Terrace and North Coast Timber in Prince Rupert ended up with more work through the plan. There’s rigorous monitoring in place to ensure that stands being logged fit the criteria, and export approvals are given out 15,000 cubic metres at a time. Van Soeren has been approving similar plans up and down the coast. He estimates 1,728 forest workers on the coast wha otherwise would have been laid off had work in 1999 through 14 plans that included export logging provisions. “] think it’s been extremely effective as a way of pro- tecting jobs,” he said, “There’s still been some resis- tance because of the problem people have with export. But as long as we can demonstraté that the export is creatine jobs rather than exporting them, 1’m comfort- a e,” “Some people still have this idea that export is bad no matter what,” van Soeren added, “But some of the people who don’t like it don't like logging, period.” The IWA-signed onto the plan here last spring and overall, van Soeren says he’s surprised there haven't been more complaints about the program. “| think most people recognize it’s actually working.” He notes that B.C. actually imports large volumes of logs from Alaska, Alberta and the territories. “B.C, is a net importer of logs, even with this export,” he said. “If all our neighbours stuck to the idea that ex- port is a bad thing, we'd be worse off.” Van Soeren hopes the raw log exports won’t continue forever on the coast. Should the softwood lumber agreement with the Uni- ted States end as scheduled next March, there should be more opportunity for coastal companies to export lumber south of the border. That’s because the great majority of coastal logging companies don’t have a quota under the agreement as it exists now to sell wood into the United States. “With the end of that there should be an increase in the domestic value of logs,” van Soeren said. ‘ Hints to figure out your taxes ONE WAY to figure out whether you're in for a tax hike with city council’s proposed budget for this year is to look at the change in your house assessment. Any home that saw its assessment decline by less than 8.6 per cent is in for an increase in taxes, says city treasurer Keith Norman. Homeowners whese assessments fell by more than that amount should get a tax decrease. Another thing to remember is that an increase in city taxes doesn’t mean your entire property tax bill will rise fii He Wh Lie Gasoline 67.9¢ TERRACE: PULSES br mar: 632-4444 ENS SMITHERS: 847-9172 4904 Hwy 16 West, Terrace, B.C. PRINCE RUPERT: 624-6400 by the same percentage. The city council-set tax rate just affects the munici-- pal portion of the tax bill. ae Your final tax bill will also include property taxes for the school district, regional district and small levies for B.C. Assessment and Municipal Finance Authority. Also added to what most people think of as their tax bill are the charges for garbage pickup, sewer and water service, and any special charges like a local paving pro- ject. Healthy eating... regular physical EC TERRACE & AREA HEALTH COUNCIL GN IMPORTANT MESSAGE At a recent meeting, Mills Memorlal Hospital Medical Staff and Terrace and Area Health YOu BE THE JUDGE BY CLAIRE BERNSTEIN Mr. Bank, go away! David walked in the front door, his shoulders slumped. . His wife Alice took one leak at him. She knew immediately what was wrong. e doctor said it’s cancer, didn’t he?” Sobbing, David fell into her open arms. They held on to each other for an elemity When Alice went to make supper, David called his bank manager. "Sleven, bad news. | have cancer.” The bank manager looked at David's file. “Are you still well enough fo run your company? David was adamant. “Of course.” Five months later, the bank manager called in a panic, BASED ON ACTUAL COURT CASES guarantee and sell your house in order to get the value of your half.” Alice jumped up like a frantic rabbit. "Nineteen years of marriage and you never told me about your personal guarantee and your debts!! How could you keep this from mee!” Eight months later, the Bank sued David on his personal guarantee for $750,000 dollars. It also asked the court to cancel the fast “Devi joe the ban! $3 e ing d own lransfer of Dawicls half of the home to Alice. , . @ bank won. you're vulnerable. You've gat a $750,000 But before it could seize and sell the personal guarantee that you signed 15 years ago and your share of ihe house secures it. Your hause is in danger. Sell your company. Now.” David tried, But there were no buyers. {twas February. Snow on the ground, an icy wind blowing. After a discouraging day, David came home. "Alice, we're going to see the lawyer. We need to put the house in your name only. { have to pratect you in case I die.” Alice was confused. “I don’t understand. Why does it matter whose name the house is in? Dovid pursed his lips. “Don’t ask, honey. Just trust me.” Three menths later, the bank manager came lo see them. : “Alice, David, your financial situation locks grim. David, if you can’t find $3 mil- lion, we'll have to sue you on your persona’ house, David died, Still in mourning, Alice asked the court to stop the bank from taking her home. in court, the Bonk held its ground. "Your Honour, David knew we were going to call in his loan. He gave the properly to his wife, so we couldn’t take it, Thats a fraudulent transaction. Just because David is ead and he used his wife as a cover does- n't mean that we should lose our money. Give us the house!” In tears, Alice pleaded with the court, “Your Honour, my husband gave me our house before he ched. He wanted the house lo be in my name. | didn’t know that he'd used our house ta get.credit from the bank for his company. Don’t let the Bank take it Should the Bank get Alice’s house? YOUI Be The Judge. Then, look below for the decision. SPONSORED BY WRIGHT & MARDIROS oS TRTALLAWYERS +. Serving the Pacific Northwest TERENCE WRIGHT 15 years experience DAVID MARDIROS Criminal and Family Law Civil Litigation Aboriginal Law Free Initial Interview for I.C.B.C, and Personal Injury Claims 4730 Lazelie Avenue, Terrace, B.C. V8G 1T2 Phone: 638-0354 Fax: 635-2919 YOURE TEE HOGE DECRION - The miter ® Alice yak fraudulent noe tal Ales wos unaware of har husband!s motives is irrelevant.” . . YOU! Ba The Judge is based on actus! court cases. Today's cacision is ned on @ facts of tha case and the law of Ontario, If you have a similar ee please consult Wright & Mordires. Claira Bernstein isc lawyer and nationally syndicated columnist. Copyright 1999 Hoika Enterprises. C18-13 * Council rapresentatives agreed on a united effort ta Inform the media and the public of Issues at Mills, They also agreed to work through the health ministry and other northwest 8C health coun- clls to alr thelr concerns about health care in the northwest region. ~The Terrace and Area Health Council acknowledges that at present there Is a lack of fund- ing, nursing and staffing resources, making it difficult to provide services to the northwest. The availability of nurses is an issue not only In Terrace, but also in BC and Canada as a whole. The Council locks forward to opening up as many nursing positions as It can afford. As there Is inadequate funding to continue to provide necassary services, the potential for losis of services is raal. Losing physicians and nurses will further decraase tha ability of Mills Memorial Hospital to act as a regional referral center. - issues at Mills reflact Issues of the northwest region. Anew method of funding regional pro- grams must be found to maintain their viability in northwest BC, Under the Canada Health Act, ‘funding must be provided whera the sarvice Is delivered. 4 1 ; This means that If a patient needs health care outside his or her designated treatment facil- “ly, he or she will receive it, and the funding must follow. This is not the case at present, and is the root of our financial problems, ; a . "The Health Counci! and medical staff view the decision of a united approach as a positive step In handling the issues of axtreme workloads, staff shortages, financlal problems and loss of 4 while working in a ragional context. ”~ For further Information please contact Bob Kelly, Chalr, Terrace and Area Health Council @ 638-4045 __ bpeclaiist services.at Mills Memorial Hospital and anticipate finding new solutions to old issues. in Denny's Wild West Round Up Contest. 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