| We could > buy out Alcan debt Dear Sir: As a retired Alcan project manager I would like to offer a little help with the history of the Alcan Kitimat pre-Delage era (“Labour costs negate power advantage, Alcan boss says”, in The Terrace Standard of May 7). For the: past thirty years the Kitimat-Kemano installation has-been one of Alcan’ § most profit- “able in North America. : Higher manpower and isolation costs at Kiti- mat were more than offset by the incredibly low cost of power. Hence at every contract expiry since the wild- “cat strike of 1976, Montreal head office some- how managed to reach agreement with the union at the last minute. ‘All of these settlements were achieved with little or no loss of production and can hardly be _ described as a “strike every three years” Why would one do this for twenty years if the _installation was a marginal profit maker. It is therefore surprising that Kitimat-Kemano _. entity is now allocating power costs to the smelt- er “at market rates”, and now in a flash the Kiti- _ mat smelter becomes Alcan’s least profitable. Imagine suddenly finding that your partner _ will now charge market rate for your room and “board. ‘The contribution that Alcan makes to the - northwest is also highlighted by Mr. Delage and rightly so. Now, how about the contribution that every- ---one in B.C. makes to Alcan: The water resource that was handed to Alcan has enormous value as a non-greenhouse-gas. . source of power. -The cancellation of Kemano Completion left ’. Alcan. with a $500,000,000 hole in the ground and that isa debt that B.C. morally owes to Al- can. _ The province should be taking the initiative to repair this damage and revisit the unsatisfactory 1997 settlement -— not attacking Kitimat for at- lemptiag to-halt the decay that they are facing. Alcan should be invited to discuss their re- quirements for smelter expansion and if all else faits we should pay Alcan their loss. This would be about $100 for every B.C. resi- dent and would allow the Province to own the hole for future development of the uncompleted power. For the sake of our grandchildren and their grandchildren, this would be a very prudent in- vestment. And just so that all our eggs are not in the one basket, the province should be talking to other aluminum producers about similar bargains in B.C. lan Maxyell, Terrace, BC. ‘Appalled ats statements Dear Sir: 1 was appalled to read statements attributed recently to both Terrace city Councillor Marylin Davies and.Louis Delage, Alcan’ s B.C, director of corporate affairs. Mrs. Davies’ contention that “1,000 smelter jobs” are better than no jobs clearly indicates to the that there is a basic lack of understanding, and ignorance of this issue being perpetrated _ publicly by herself. Does Mrs. Davies realize the significant nega- tive impact to both Kitimat and Terrace commu- nitiés if Alcan reduced employment to such numbers as she stated? Examples are many. Direct losses of up to 175 - 200 jobs of Alcan employees residing in Ter- race, subsidiary industries forced to close, loss of significant contracts to area contractors, and clo- sure of many small retail business entities both in Kitimat’s and Terrace’s retail sector, are some of the considerations that should be taken when making these public statements. Mrs. Davies, while entitled to her opinion, has not done her homework and has misrepresented the constituency. She should perhaps wait until all presentations are concluded, before publicly capitulating to Alcan pressure and participating in fear monger- ing and blame being perpetuated by. Corporate Alcan. ; In respect to Mr. Delage’s comments that la- ‘bour costs negate power advantages, I certainly challenge and take offence to his assertions. _ First and foremost as a longtime labour repre- sentative of the workers in the smeller, I have personally participated in the labour agreement negotiations for the past 25 years. The union and the workers shouldn't have any regrets for the agreements, which have been fair- ly negotiated by both the employer and the union over the years. Mr. Delage’s assertions that Kiti- mat smelter workers earn an average of $80,000. annually are clearly exaggerated and ermbel- lished. For some who may exceed this amount it is due in large part to excessive overtime being worked to compensate for lack of manpower and the downsizing initiatives already being imple- mented by Alcan. Mr. Delage fails to put-any significance to the fact that Alcan Kitimat Works has been bene- ficiary to significant. profits derived from cheap power over the past 50 years and continues to do 50, As per his statement of too many ‘labour strikes the facts are as follows: iri 1970 a three- month strike and. in 1976 a. 21-day company-labour confrontation. Other than the above-mentioned disputes, contract negotiations between the parties have.” been settled amicably with little or no disruption™’ to production. Alcan continues to misrepresent the public of the facts in their efforts to bring them on board . while enhancing the company’s efforts to expand - theif operations to that of an independent power - _ company. | The union as J know it have been very open. CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail THAT CLASSIC image of Alcan-produced aluminum ingots being loaded on to ships for use around the world is threatened, fear a lot of Kitimat residents. Instead of ingots, they be- lieve the multi-national wants to export more power instead. And with that power, they ar- gue, would go a large number of local and regional. jobs... _ and frank in their discussions with Alcan in at- tempts to seek commitments from Alcan for sig- nificant expansion of the smelter. The company’s response to date has been one of continuing broken promises and commitments. On a final note, Mr. Delage has announced he will be moving back to Quebec this summer. I wish him well in his new endeavours but do question however, what has he achieved as man- ager of Alcan’s B.C. operations. over the past three or so years. From my perspective, continuing lack of com- mitment, broken promises and blaming of others will be a portion of the legacy left behind by Mr. Delage on behalf of corporate Alcan, This appears to remain the continuing Alcan agenda of the day. Ross Slezak, Terrace B.C. This crowd out of tune Dear Sir: I was so glad to learn that the only thing that the award-winning Thornhill Junior secondary school band needs to survive is (to quote the Terrace Standard headline) a mere “miracle”. That, after all, must be one of those useful giz- mos that Roger Harris stocks in his notorious toolshed — something taken out from time to time to wow and endow his pals. Now, Mr, Harris’ caucus cronies are constantly excusing their government's exuberant excesses with the hatchet by saying that the public shouldn’t be too surprised or alarmed — after all, their Lizzy Borden approach to public policy was practically almost implicit (sort of) in their New Era promises. And they're darned well going to keep those promises, even if it kill us. So, Mr. Harris: Here’s a novelly for you: an actually explicit New Era promise you can keep for us, Tn the Ministry of Education 2002/2003 - ‘2004/2005 Service Plan we find among “New Era Commitments Planned for 2003 and Beyond” — your government's promise to “ensure that mu- sic, arts, and physical education curricula are fully funded, ‘That comes just after the promise to “maintain and increase education funding levels.” Tt’s not a huge miracle we'll be needing, then, to keep music in our kids’ lives, Roger. We just need you fo be true to your word: Just this orice. John How, Lakelse bales | B.C. A murky school picture Dear Sir: Last fall, it was ‘November. when my daugh- ter’s 33-student Grade 5/6 class had their third “and permanent teacher assigned. I guess at least some of us can expect more of the same this fall. Meanwhile in junior high, the upcoming se- . mester system, if I understand correctly, will mean that students will receive a double dose of “subjects such as math, English or music for five months and then none at all for seven or possibly 12 months. ee ee es Meanwhile, from Victoria comes a team of ; assessment experts to discover and tell our school board that “Gee, you're just nat doing a good enough job of educating these kids.” Meanwhile out of different pocket in Victoria comes $2 million toward a notrvoted for and slightly unnecessary second sheet of ice. Is there something wrong with this picture? Chris Dale, Terrace, B.C. It isn’t cool at all Dear Sir: On the May 7, 2003 edition of The Terrace Standard, there was an advertisement by Ware- house One ~ The Jeans Store about their May 2- 4-1 sale. The bottom of the ad said “You'll have enough cash left over to get a 2-4 for the weekend.” This company targets. young adults, mostly youth, through the clothing they sell, Jn my opin- ion, this line gives the message to these young shoppers to go out and use alcohol on the long weekend. : As well, the advertisement sates “official sponsor of the DD program.” We all know that DD program stands for - Designated Driver. DD in this particular advertisement stands for Desti- . . nation Denim. Again, they are using words that will have a negative impact on the youth of our communities. ; The advertisement gives the message to young people that in order to be cool they first must wear Warehouse One clothing and use al- cohol on the long weekend, In times where substance abuse among youth is on the rise, they give the message to keep on drinking: it’s fun, a very irresponsible message by such a large company. I hope the company will consider the impact their promotions have on the communities they advertise in, like Terrace, Consider the youth’ they are targeting and the messages they are try- ing to give out, As well, consider the parents that are footing the bill for these “cool” clothes. Do you think they want to see their teenage children drinking on the long weekend? Sandy Watson, Terrace. B.C. Don’t RVs park on the lots of big stores Dear Sir: I am responding to an article in your May 7 edition concerning Wal-Mart and overnight park- ing. City council doesn’t see the need to create a bylaw banning overnight parkers with RVs on places like Wal-Mart and Safeway. They feel there won’t be any problenis. Wal-Mart is not licensed as an RV park nor is it set up to accommodate RVs, They haven't spent the money required by the city to have these campers stay there. Places like the Wild Duck Motel and RV Park spend a lat each year to create a nice place - for these campers to go in the: same way any store creates an ambiance to bring i in shoppers. _- They have spent a lot-of money locally on The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 4, 2003 - A5 gravel, seed, lumber, plumbing supplies, paint, and many other commodities to ensure a nice place to stay. This is their business, their liveli- hood and the city council still cannot understand the problem. Would there be a ‘problem if Wal- Mart: and Safeway decided to repair cars on their lot for . free? ‘Perhaps if ‘they decided top put' up trailers to : accommodate overnight travellers to Terrace for “free. Would that not impact the hotel industry or ‘the mechanic shops in the case of the repairs? ’ . The Wild Duck, like any business, is looking to make a fair return on their investment, an in- vestment which requires them to buy an annual business license and pay local taxes. Should city council not, therefore, help them to protect that investment so they will always be there for. the. betterment. of those. tourists.they. en- courage to stay that extra day to see the sights and spend money? City council would like to bring in another airline and cause a lot of hardships on Hawkair, | and they will allow Wal-Mart and Safeway the Tight to take away business from the RV parks. It - seems like our. council is not for city businesses “these days. . Tam not against Wal- Mart but. I am for con- 2 trolling them and not bending over backward to - accommodate them. ‘They will make their money off this area “without all the concessions and they. will always _ want more, ‘They ‘are coming here to feed their coffers, not “to help Terrace “grow. Places like the Wild Duck will do that and put more back into the commun- ity than Wal-Mart ever will, ~ David Crichton, Terrace, B.C. We count, too Dear Sir: Recently I have seen quite a few people who have jobs complain and whining about their em- | ployers, their customers, their work in general. That is disheartening to say the least. Being native in a community where it is defi- nitely not cool and where you are literally cho- sen as the last person on the hiring list gets real- ly rather discouraging. 1 have gone to places to spend my money and they have either ignored me or been totally tude. There are a few rules that are common knowledge around this area and that is the cus- tomer is always right, the boss is always right and if the boss does by some chance happen to be wrong, see Number 2. It is really disheartening because ] know that people look at .nalives and see drunks, addicts or lazy people. They don’t see that we are people just like you who have hopes, dreams, and feel- ings. Some people don’t even see us they walk through town pretending not to see us and if they do they only see the bad. I have been in line in this town and had someone budge in front of me or bump me as I am walking. I know for a fact that there are natives who are more qualified than the next person and have been overlooked simply because they are native or because they are.on social assistance. I have gone into an interview and had all the right qual- ‘ifications but got turned away because of the be- fore mentioned reasons. Or we get looked down upon at school be- cause we are government subsidised. Either way it is completely and totally unacceptable how this community treats its aboriginals. It is a cele- bration year for this city supposedly because some non-native came to this city 75 years ago. Did we natives not exist or not matter before the rest of the Europeans got here? I would hope that after hundreds of years of mistreatment and abuse that Canada would cele- ‘ brate its aboriginals. Everybody who has a job should consider themselves fortunate and realize there are those of us who would gladly take your job for its meagre wage and be glad about it. I am one of those people and while I am still in college I know that when I do finally get a job I won't be all whiny and complaining about it simply because I know exactly how it feels to be broke and down and out in your home town. I would like to say to Terrace, “Yeah, OK. Happy 75 Birthday. It has had ample time to embrace aboriginals and don’t you think it is time they at least acknowledged the fact that we are here and we do exist? Dawn Wale-Derrick, Terrace, B.C. Why we don’t vote Dear Sir: Our Attorney General has encouraged B.C. voters to register and vote on the voting proce- dure change. | don’t know if it’s for better or for worse? All I know is that I'm “Liberal Leery” and afraid of anything they promote. Mr. Plant is wondering why B.C. voters don't vote. Here’s one good reason: the self-govern- ment.section of the Nisga’a treaty was the big item at the time of the last provincial election. Gordon Campbell, promised to wipe it out in his debunked court case that he knew would never fly. Mr. Campbell argued strongly against para- graph 15, page 19 of the treaty, claiming it al- lowed the Nisga’a to enjoy any benefit enjoyed by any other Canadian over and beyond the trea- ty contents. This is probably true but did he stop reading on page 19 and not turn the page to read para- graph 20 on page 20 that prohibits any lawsuit by the Province on Canada against the treaty? And did he know that about 99 per cent of the provincial population had not and probably never would read the contents of the treaty and the one per cent that did found out most of it could mean anything or nothing and the only people that re- . ally understood it were the people that designed it? It's tricky little tricks like this that Mr. Camp- ‘bell pulled off-in order.to get elected that turn “voters off from ever voting again. I'd like to take this opportunity to echo Geoff Plant's plea to register and vote in the next pro- vincial election. The province isin such bad shape now maybe no party can get it back on track but we sure ‘need to vote in a different party to try. LLoyd Brinson, Nass.Camp, B.C.