A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND. One of the big winners at the Terrace Centennial Lions Diamond Dinner April 20 was Donna Laurent. Above, Laurent is congratulated by Centennial Lions member Ray Tremblay after her name was drawn for the $895 14-karat gold, three-stone diamond ring from Erwin’s House of Fine Jewelry. SAVE'AQ) | e W 3-way convertible. Side-Discharge « Mulch * Rear Bag W® Rustproof die-cast aluminum deck @ High lift blade for clean and even cut @ Optional rear bag kit and mulching kit @ Adjustable handles for more comfort GS SHOWN ABOVE ARE OFF MANUFAC URER'S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE. = @ Wi Quiet, Powerful 4 or 5 hp B&S Quantum engine @ Rustproof die-cast aluminum deck W High lift blade for clean and even cut @ Big 3-bushel bag - largest in industry @ Three-position handle-bar for more comfort ~ HOMELITE OFFER ENDS JUNE 30, 1991 AT PARTICIPATING DEALERS. KEN’S MARINE Ken Gibson (G04) 635-2909 4946 Greig Ave. Terrace, B.C. V8G 1N4 Visga;g on rr) 7 ott ee 1 rrrrrrs fi Is if Terrace Review — ~ Wednesday. May 1, 1991 AS Regional district. takes issue with | wage commisioner There won't be any wage increase for the staff at the Regional District of Kitimat- Stikine. At least not fora while. The problem for the board of B directors in discussing a wage increase is how to deal with Bill 82. Their fear is that even a mod- est increase, say five percent, could be offered, but five or six months down the road Compensa- tion’ Faimess Commissioner Ed Lien could roll that five percent back to two or three percent, and the staff would be faced with paying back the difference. It is much wiser, therefore, the board has decided, to wait for a few months until the situation has stabilized somewhat and then offer a wage hike retroactively. In the meantime, the board has passed a motion asking administra- tion to write a letter to premier Rita Johnston expressing their “utter dismay” at legislation which is considered to be an "intrusion into the affairs of regional districts, municipalities and school districts in their ability to make collective agreements, or establish fair com- pensation to the staff and people that work for our organizations". Copies of that letter are to be forwarded to Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations, Mel Couvelier, and Minister of Labour and Consumer Affairs, Jim Rab- bitt. Board opinion on this resolution, though, was far from unanimous. Kilimat director Ray Brady made | the original motion and had the most to say. He described Bill 82 as "the worst legislation in many, many years," adding, "If we don’t show our displeasure to the pre- mier and minster of finance, I can see greater erosion of elected people’s ability to govern them- selves.” He continued: "I’m sure local school boards and municipalities can make better decisions on the worth of staff and our ability to pay, and that’s the crux of the matter." - Hazelton director Alice Maitland agreed, although she stated that it was interference in local govern- ment and not wage controls that she was objecting to. "It’s not the idea of controls, it’s the idea of the Sapping of powers of duly elected bodies to oversee and control services," said Maitland. She then described Bill 82 as having "the strength of a Supreme Court judgement with no appeal" and summarized Brady’s motion by saying, "The motion is not to say let them get as much as they want. It’s to say don’t control it with one czar." Director Les Watmough agreed, saying, the regional board has done a good job of controlling wages on their own, "And now to get fouled up in this mess... I think they deserve a letter from us." He then added his own evaluation of Bill 82: "It’s not just teachers, it’s everybody in the public sector and there’s no recourse. His decision is final and binding, and even in a court of law there’s recourse." Sitting on the other side of the fence was Hazelton director Pete Weeber. "I haven’t read Bill 82," admitted Weeber. "But the intent is clear." Weeber said we saw spiralling inflation in the early 1980's due to uncontrolled wage settlements as high as seven to nine percent when inflation was running at only three to four per- cent. "Now,” said Weeber, "with the type of settlements being bandied about, I think we’re headed in the same direction." Weeber’s com- ments drew support from Sandy Sandhals, Bob Cooper, and Stewart mayor Darlene Cornell. Their combined opposition, how- ever, was not enough to have Brady’s motion scrapped. Food bank closes down for summer The shelves are now empty at the Terrace Churches Food Bank, and the doors are locked. "It’s been a busy year," says food purchaser Terri Elkiw. The Food Bank served 996 appli- cants this season, up 12 percent from last year’s 889. About 1,600 bags of groceries were given out during the five months the bank WAS Open. Eikiw attributes the higher demand to the severe winter weather conditions. When heating bills go up, says Elkiw, low- income budgets are strained, "Jan- uary was the busiest year | have scen in my three ycars as food purchaser," The Terrace Churches Food Bank, open November through April of each year (excluding December, when the Salvation Army distributes food hampers), is supported by a volunteer alliance of 11 local churches. In an average month the food bank. distributes over $2,000 in groceries and approximately 500 donated loaves of bread. The use of the building is donated, along with the time put in by volunteers, "All monies received are used for food pur- chase," says Elkiw, "and without our volunieer help, we just couldn't do it.” The Food Bank expects to re- open Nov. 18. ..before their very eyes? Read the classifieds!