A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 28, 2001 , Gov't already eliminating From front Job cuts to hurt “When you take that money out of the regional economy, it’s going to hurt.” Papenbrock said stabili- ty is needed in the north- west given the downturns in the regional economy from ather sectors. “Sure it’s fine ta have modest tax cuts, but they don’t mean anything when you don’t have an income to base them on,” he said, Papenbrock said the BCGEU will look for the support of local govern- ments and businesses once it gathers more information on the scale and timing of the cuts here. “We need to get the message out there,” he said. The province has said it will offer early retirement incentives for those who leave voluntarily. Those incentives kick in for a petson whose age and years of service add up ta 80. Severance packages of up to one year’s salary based on three weeks of pay for every year of ser- vice will be made avail- able to those who are laid off. Finance minister Gary Collins said the cuts are necessary to curb a grow- ing government deficit, Revenves have been hust by the drop of natural gas and oil prices and by a severe drop in the forest products sector. Some of the deficit is being incurred by personal and business tax cuts brought in after the B,C. Liberals were elected. They amount to $1.5 billion this year for perso- nal income taxes and a si- milar amount next year. There’s an additional $500 million tax cut for businesses. The theory is that the cots will résult in more people haying more money ‘to spend, thus stimulating the economy, But that plan has since been hurt by the general downturn of the economy following the Sept. 11 ter- rorist attacks, A softwood tariff dis- pute with the United States has also resulted ‘in thousands of forest workers being laid off, Injured workers to meet WORKERS INJURED on the jab who want help pro- cessing their compensation claim are invited to a strategy session in Terrace next week. Leonard Seigo, founder of the Society for Injured Workers and Families, speaks on dealing with Workers’ Compensation Board rejection at the Car- penters’ Hall Dec, 4. Seigo lives in Hudson’s Hope, B.C., where he heads up the society, which functions as a lobby group and networking agency for injured workers. “We're working to help people with their WCB claims,” said Jim Smith, a farmer locomotive engin- eer who was injured on the job two and a half years ago. Smith is hoping to set up a local chapter so people having difficulty processing their WCB clairas have somewhere to tum for advice — and sup- port. Smith noted frustration over injuries that prevent peaple from working can lead to feelings of depres- sion and anger that can af- fect entire families. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. For more infar- mation, call 635-9121. -@®MedicAlert oe eee ae fo www.medicalert.ca: ‘ ‘Fue moro infarmnting - ‘ 800-668-1507 positions here, LAYOFF NOTICES were alrerdy going out to local pro- vincial civil servants before last week's announcement of massive job cuts, says an official of the B.C. Govern- ment and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU). Shelley Anderson, from the union’s Terrace office, says it is difficult to get an exact number of peopie af- fected so far in local offices af various government mini- stries. “We know that in the transportation ministry, some people have already received surplus notices,” said Anderson. “And the children and families ministry has pretty much laid off all of the auxiliary workers in this region.” The BCGEU’s Terrace office looks after northwestern B.C. where there about 1,500 members who are directly employed by the provincial government. Forest, transportation, children and families and human resources ministries are the major provincial civil service employers in Terrace and area, The children and families ministry auxiliaries that were laid off were front-line peaple warking with social workers. The human resources ministry has issued lay. off no- tices to some of its employees who have less than three years seniority, Anderson added. “These are regular employees but they have different provisions fin the BCGEU contract] than do those with more than three years,” said Anderson. “If it gets to the point where a senior social worker’s position is declared surplus, that person has rights and could bump an under-three,” she added. “Ii’s going to create a lot of turmoil.” The union already knows that forests ministry posi- tions that were paid for by Forest Renewal B.C. are says union scheduled to end next Be March because that provin- cial crown corporation has been eliminated by the pro- vincial povernment. “It’s pretty scary out there right now,” said Anderson. She added that labour rela- tions people working for various ministries up here are already giving out infor- mation on layoff notices, recall notices and similar issues. “They wouldn’t be doing that unless something more is going to happen,” Ander- son noted. She said there are lots of rumours floating around of increased regionalization of government services. One local provincial facility rumoured to be on the closure list is the communily correctional facility which employs approximately 15 BCGEU members. Built in the 1990s, the facility can take up to 33 people under sentence for non-violent crimes. In the last while it has had an occupancy rate of 20-25 people, said corrections branch spokesman Wayne Willows, Senior BCGEU official Wiho Papenbrock said high up provincial offictals have so far not indicated the cor- rectional centre might be on a closure list, He did add that occupancy numbers are down at cor- rectional centres across the province. Shelley Anderson $400M payroll savings sought THE PROVINCIAL government’s job cuts plan could eliminate one in three civil service positions between now and 2004, according to information released last week. There ate now 35,000 full time equivalent positions in the provincial civil service and the plan is to cut up to 11,550 of them. A mid-range target of nearly 30 per cent, working out to 9,800 positions, is the most likely scenario, indicate government estimates. Eliminating current vacancies of 1,000 positions, cut- ting 1,000 temporary employees and banking on losing 500 people through attrition will amount to 2,500 jobs. That leaves 7,300 positions and the government ex- pects 2,500 people will take early retirement options. This will leave 4,800 layoffs to happen between now and 2004. The province estimates it'll spend $85.2 million on the 2,500 voluntary departures for an average of $34,000 per person. This early departure program begins in Jan- vary and ends in March 2002, The province is calculating it will spend $156 million to lay off 4,800 people for average cost per person of $32,500. Taken together, the cost of voluntary departures and layoffs will amount to $241,2 million. The expectation is that by 2004, the province wants to have cul its payroll by $400 million a year. There’s no indication yet of how the cuts will be in- troduced in each government ministry. Due to wedding, cant J “we will be closed Nov. 19-Dec. 16", 2001 Sorry for any inconvenience. See you when we re-open. a Kalum Motel will remain open! GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE # RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED Haryana’s Restaurant (250) 635-2362 5522 Hwy 16W, Terrace, BC IT'S NO SECRET, the local economy has nat been in the best shape lately, | am sure no one is really SURPRISED, Every so often a furniture dealer must look at stocks with regard to their relationship with the present markel. We have just done that and find an IN HOUSE WAREHOUSE SALE is necessary to pul our house back in order. IT 1S NOT WELL KNOWN that most of our furniture is ordered months in advance that cannot be canceled, So tain you are going to REALLY SAVE. and the flexibility our buyers love. Brerybody wins. , in-store @ being optimistic for our busy fall season we ordered os normal which has left us a little to high in the inventory depariment for aur liking. WE'RE OVERSTOCKED - if it isn’t sold now, it’s got to be sold in January - So WHY NOT NOW? Who can’t use the extra sovings for the holidays? You con shop for every one in your family - shop for every room in your home - shop for everything you've needed or wanted - and know for cer- We have many DISCONTINUED MODELS, DESIGNS, AND FABRICS that must go, One of a kind floor samples make up the majority of this SALE, Many pieces are absolutely perfect but there are the odd scratches or marks on decent pieces sold ‘AS 1S” some up to 50% OFF. You pocket the savings. Ralher than pick and choose what might or might not sell over the next few months, we've gone for an ALL OUT LIQUIDATION effort to streamline the store ina hurry, That means a BLITZ ON PRICES. You get the cream of this years savings. We get space So heading into the heart of the holiday shopping season, FABULOUS TOTEM FURNITURE SALE PRICES that you don’t expect until the end of the year. IF YOU ARE CONTEMPLATING new furniture or appliances for your home but wisely wailing for the right deals to come along, spend A FEW MINUTES on our floor and prove to yourself that this is THE HOME FURNISHINGS SALE you've been waiting for! A fast reading of our LOW PRICE TAGS will convince you of the UNIQUE VALUES. Values that will be snapped up by other local area shoppers. THIS SALE |S AN OPPORTUNITY you won't want to miss if you love your home, fine furniture, and the opportunity to sava money! THIS GREAT EVENT gives you MORE of what you want, in the long term, for your home-quality, designs, convenience, combort - PLUS THE INSTANT SATISFACTION OF AUTHENTIC SAVINGS | But it’s not just the SELECTION of merchandise that makes this one of the great sale events of the year. l’s the QUALITY of the merchandise on sale, Not just a scatlering of name brands, but aisle after aisle of furniture and appliances that carry some of the most famous brands in the industry. Drop on in and browse around, we are confident that you will be impressed by the savings we will have lined up for you, Due to the nclure of this sale, we will be unable to olfer layaways, or hold items, it will be vide FREE DEUVERY in local area, Cash in on these impressive pre-holiday savings at Totem Furniture & Appliances now! I/2 Million Dollar Sale Of Fine Home Furnishings credit, 6 we are plecied fo offer tha following speciol terms to go with this incredible sale, ZERO DOWN ZERO INTEREST Smart sheppars buy while extraordinary bargains are ovaiiabla ond pay later with their good fla, ZERO PAYMENTS | UNTIL MAY 2002 ‘°4< irst come-lirst serve, bul we are able to pro- ALL CHAIRS & RECLINERS! ALL LIVING ROOM FURNITURE! ALL KITCHEN & DINING ROOM FURNITURE! SELECTED BEDROOM FURNITURE! *Sorry, Canwood Pine Not Included* EVERY MATTRESS SET! SELECTED APPLIANCES! ALL FASHION ACCESSORIES! NAME BRANDS: Just because it is on sale doesn’t mean that it is not first rate furniture. In some cases you will be wandering why itis ON SALE, Be early for BEST SELECTIONS, LOTS OF EXTRA SAVINGS: Lots of merchandise at SPECIAL BUYS bough! at SPECIAL SAVINGS, which we are passing on to you. SCRATCH ‘N DENT ITEMS: Be an early bird to catch the SAVINGS ON these. Some will need a little mara TLC. than cthers, therefore discounted a linle deeper. IF you ara o good fixer upper, you'll love thesa bargains. TH of a great furniture sale is how much money you savel other - and more important - 1/2 is what you get for the money you spend! it all fogether - great savings and great furniture valve - in this great storewide clearance! Fax (250) 635-4328 |"