Rural depopulation sign of trouble in the north A demographer says B.C.’s urban ‘parasites’ need to help the hinterland By JEFF NAGEL A DISTURBING depopulation of B.C.'s hinterland suggests the north needs a new deal that re- cognizes its contribution to the province, says a Vancouver-based demographer, David Baxter is the first to admit he’s a freeloader, part of the service economy-driven south that feeds off the wealth extracted from northern resources. “Those of us down here, we're really parasites,” says Baxter, ex- ecutive director of the Urban Fu- tures Institute. “If you're not an ‘exporter, you're a parasite.” The south needs to accept that and take measures lo aid northern towns, he says, Baxter was reacting to the re- lease of the 2001 ‘census, which shows serious population drops across much of the north. Particularly alarming, he said, are numbers that show a 12 per cenl population decline in’ the Skeena-Queen Charlotte regional district. “These aren't numbers that show happy times,” Baxter said. He says the statistics reveal B.C. is a province divided. Most of its population growth is concentrated in greater Vancou- ver, lower Vancouver [sland and the Okanagan region. Those areas, which Baxter defines as the urban south, housed 83 per cent of B.C. residents and grew by six per cent in the census. The rest of the B.C., with 17 per cent of the population, most of the land base and the vast major- ity of the resources, declined by three per cent in the past five years. . “You kind of have to sit back and say ‘What's going on here’,” Baxter said. Although people have fallen in love with the new high-tech econ- omy, he says, the reality is that 80 per cent, of the money_B.C. has, to spend comes from the export of products — much of it pulp, paper, » lumber and mineral ore. Population changes 1996-2001 % 10 s| & 2 8 P ~ 5 Be |. Q = 4 we fo: p S16 8 Q 3 S 8]. u 4/8 Se St El" | Eé£ 5 8 6 8]. 2; 2 22 5 8 8). t 0 | ei 8 rao l S 6 8 & 0 2 s S 3 & Cc > a ry n .4 8 5 & 2 o 9 = * G @ cs ¢g h =a w a 2° é 8 n -10 g 6 712 “The economic base of the province is in serious trouble,” he said. “The regions that are fosing population, where 17 per cent of the population lives, are regions that are disproportionately sup- porting the other 83 per cent of us,” The rural population decline is directly linked’ to the economic downturn in the resource indu- yet, but Baxter suspects the num- bers will show significant numbers left for Alberta. The hinterland regions of B.C. lost 34,000 people aged 45 or under over three years, while Al- berta gained 70,000. “This is a loss of young people, of families,” he said. “When you know it's young families moving away that really erodes the base “Then there's not enough people to support the dentist, so he leaves. Then there isn’t enough people to support the bank. And there’s a down- ward spiral.” stries, he said. When a resource-dependent town loses its mill or mine and people move away, that can start a chain reaction. “Then there's not enough people to support the dentist, so he leaves. Then there isn’t enough |, people, to. support.the, bank. And . there's a-downward spiral”... :«’ Stats ‘showing migration: be- tween provinces aren't available of a community. It affects schools, shopping centres, retailers, all that stuff.” The population stats cover the change from 1996 to 2001 - NDP years in power, How the Liberals react will de- termine whether the decline can oa besreyersed, Baxter, said. .o-ssBut-he noted: the government is- -“fow* cutting back ‘services: across the province in a bid to balance its budget within three years. That threatens to accelerate the decline in same towns, he said, me When health or other services ure taken away because there aren't enough people to justify them, he said, other residents often decide to leave. “It people can’t get care they're going to move to the Oka- nagan,” he said. “That erodes the community further and contributes to the spiral.” Baxter suggests it's time that B.C. consider spending money on the basis of where it’s produced. “Maybe spending shouldn't be proportionale to population, maybe it should be proportionate to economic base,” he suid. That might mean more money for hospitals, roads and services in the north, and a little less money for the Lion's Gate Bridge, Sky- train, or the Olympics. “What happens if the northern part of the province secedes?” Buxler points out. “It does clarify the relationship.” Falling population will also re- duce the north’s collective politi- cal power. The population decline here re- lative to increases in the south means there will likely be fewer MLAs in the north when B.C.’s political boundaries next get re- drawn. Likewise, Baxter says the two new federal seals just given to B.C. will likely be added in Sur- rey or Coquitlam, “They ain’t going to be up orth.” Baxter admits too many south- erners, when they think of the north at all, regard it as a wilder- ness playground and don’t particu- larly’ care if there is logging, mining, shopping centres or people up here, Since the north will never be able to outvote the urban south in elections or in.the legistature, he’. ‘says, its fate will depend on con- : vincing® Victoria ‘new thinking is needed. The Terrace Slandard, Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - A3 ~ News In Brief Cats shot THREE Queensway Drive residents say various cats in their neighbourhood have been shot by an unknown person, The shootings happened between Mar. 18 and April 5 and police say a .22 calibre air rifle may have been used in the incidents. If anyone has information regarding these shoot- ings please contact the Terrace RCMP detachment at 638-7400 or Crimestoppers at 635-TIPS. Tolls for Usk ferry USK FERRY passengers are one step closer to paying a toll to cross the Skcena River now that the provincial government has introduced legisla- tion lo charge user fees for inland ferries. Transportation minister Judith Reid said her ministry will speak to communities about fares structures this summer and that they’ll be intro- duced by the end of the year. Reid also announced that B.C.’s inland ferry sys- tem will be sold off over the next two years. Meanwhile, service hours on many routes, in- cluding the Usk Ferry, have been reduced. Three ferry routes were scrapped altogether. Reid said user fees will help her ministry pre- serve the inland ferry system while putting it on more of an equal footing with the coastal ferry sys- tem, operated by B.C. Ferries, a crown corporation that charges user fees. Vote officer named ELECTION VETERAN Elaine Johnson has been reappointed to oversee this November's municipal elections in Greater Terrace. On Nov. 16, people across B.C. will vote for new city councils, school boards and regional district boards. Johnson was appointed chief electoral officer at the April 8 Terrace city council meeting. That’s just her latest appointment. Johnson was chief electoral officer in the 2001 council by-election won by city councillor Marilyn Davies. Stolen property seized TERRACE RCMP are trying to find the owner of a decorative plate they believe was stolen. Several items were recovered from a group of young people on Kalum St. and Scott Ave. in the early morning hours of Apr. 7, said Cnst. Tom Katis. Among the items recovered was a decora- — tive plate labelled “Legend of the Spirits” with a picture of a soaring eagle on it. The plate has gold | trim and a wooden stand was included, police said. | Police say they have reason to believe the items were stolen. “The person who had the property could not explain where it came fram,” Cnst. Kalis said. “I figured it was a pretty distinctive plate and I was hoping someone would come forward and identify it.” ; cas a ° "Tf you havé information “about where the plate . caméfrdm, ‘contact the Terrace, RCMP. delach;,.,] ment at 638-7400. extinguisher | con use in fires: and paper, ga usually the vogen extinguisher that has no vert Question: Is there a universal type of for the kitehen and ake in the workshop ar garage? How many shuld | have and what price range? Answer: | would recommend the 5 [b, ABC’ dry chemical extinguisher, This type of extinguisher is good for all th soroil, and for : electrical, | have been providing this kind of ; extinguisher for $38.50 with brocket, The fire extinguisher should be mounted by your most frequented exit, k door. This would place the extinguisher in a centr locotion looking after your kitchen and pornge. I would suggest that you use your garage 05 a work shop il would be g 2 on extinguisher mounted there as well, | would caution you on I uge, but rather a push button pressure, There is no way of knowing how much pressure