C All aboard | JACQUELINE Adams from the Nisga’ a Valley Health Board examines one of the buses now used on an expanded Kitimat to Terrace service for general. passengers and for people who have medical appointments. It's a product of “local governments and the Northern Health Authority. Adams said Nass resi- dents would like a similar service to connect the Nass with Terrace. _ Hotel room prices elude — health transport program — » THE NORTHERN Health Authority is hav- ing trouble finding low-cost accommodation -for people stopping in Prince George over- -hight as part of its new Connections medical bus’service. Authority official Mark Karjulouto ‘said hotels and motels in Prince George'are busy as it is because of an economic upswing: The service offers a lowcost way for peo- ple to get to and from medical appointments outside of their hometowns. The Vancouver run was introduced in July and other more shorter runs are-either already in place or will be soon. Those needing a room in Prince George are either on their way to Vancouver for spe- -cialized health’ services from various parts: of the north or on their way back. Prince. George is the. overnight stop each way for the two-day trip eithér north or south. * “We put out a request for proposals in the | spring but the’ response. wasn’t what we ex- ‘ pected: Clearly the economy is ‘doing well,” said Karjulouoto.” ‘He said people will have to draw their own conclusions as to whether hotels or mo-’ tels are busy enough that they don’t have to bid to offer low cost accommodation. .The authority doesn’t want hotels or mo- _fels to set aside a set number of rooms but 4 ave « i rat een Ao sbavan td ae REALITY CHECK _ We need to close the skills gap Only 59% of our workforce has post-secondary education, yet the BC Business Council says _ 73% of all new jobs will require post-secondary education and — training. But we're’ making it harder to get the skills Since 2001, average tuition | fees have jumped by 98%. “Average student debt in. © ‘BC has climbedfrom $18,000 in 1999 to almost $25,000 currently. Provincial funding needs to increase 4) by $200 million just to _ bring per-student funding back.to the 2001 level. ‘| POSTSECONDARY. ‘| EDUCATORS. | HAVE SOLUTIONS Wi Reinstate the BC Student student debts. lM Reduce tuition fees for education more affordable. i Make adult basic education adult learners to upgrade their skills. | oof public post-secondary Grant Program to help lower — students to make post-secondary | (ABE) tuition-free to encourage — i Increase per-student funding institutions to at least 2001 levels. had: been expecting to offer lower than nor- . Mal costs to those using its medical buses>= Karjuluoto said more hotel and motel rooms are being added. in Prince George and that the added capacity may bring about lower prices. _ ‘The authority has been able to reach a | lower than normal room rate in Vancouver, “a city that is also. experiencing an economic boom. People taking the Connections bus can, if they wish, stay at the Inn at False 7 Creek on Howe St. for less than $100 a . night, said-Karjulouto. - “We feel that’s a very good rate for: Van- couver,” he said. High season rates there can be at least $150 a night. Karjuluoto said the hotel is also close to St: Paul’s Hospital and a short cab ride to. ‘Vancouver General ‘and the cancer centre, ‘the three health care facilities which draw” « the most people from the north who go. down south for treatment.: a The health authority, began its Vancouver . "service in July and while a summary. of use: * _ so far wasn’t available, Karjuluoto said more bookings are. expected i inthe fall. ©. > “Lots of people are on vacation in the ‘summer,” he said of both physicians and pa- tients. The cost from Terrace to Vancouver return on the Connections bus is $80, oh tes EU fa iat erty 4 ‘George Davison, Ph.D. HISTORY INSTRUCTOR . College of New Caledonia FPSE Ta Desens. capa KO sesrstiono Post- Secondary Educators of BC The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 4, 2006 - AZ Scratch Save uP ue, OFFS ON ANY DIMENSIONS PILE OW FOP OR EUROPEAN PLEPOWEOP MAVETRESS SITE. "HEALTICARE ” S797 _ Queen tat 7 Oo. a . “Chirupractio ie the oale sleep sy acem approved bs the Canadian © hiropractic Association and is dexqgned wath exact spesiications for total «leep satintaction and maxiunum health benetits S rb ae FDU aubida Ale bee ve ihe dbbcg Offi ceo pict In the last five years I've séen.a- lot of changes i in post- secondary education. But most of them have been i in the wrong. oe direction. Sky- high tuition fees, the loss of | counseling and support services, and chronic under-funding from the J provincial government have made it tougher 1 for my students. Post- secondary _ - education is an investment in. our future. Let's make ita future 7 where everyone benefits.” ye t TO SEND A MESSAGE TO PREMIER CAMPBELL an VISIT OUR WEBSITE www. FPSE. CA