‘A? - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 31, 2000 ' | ' r i r ' r r » ICBC wants Suit moved ‘ICBC LAWYERS want a negligent death suit filed in con- ‘nection with the deaths of two Caledonia grads tast year _ heard in Vancouver instead of in Terrace. And the provincial crown corporation wants the suit heard by a judge alone instead of by a judge and jury. One of the two people killed in the accident was Laura Lee, who was 17 at the time of her death. It is her parents, ; Nancy and Gordon Lee, who have filed the suit. It names Aaron Douglas; the man accused of driving the “stolen car which’ struck a vehicle containing Lee and the second Caledonia‘grad, Belgian exchange student Renaud Fontaine, 11999, a ' But when Douglas, who is expected to plead guilty July at the intersection of Hwy16 and Hwy37 June 12, | 17 to criminal -charges arising-from the accident, didn’t re- . spond ta the suit, ICBC became:liable in default. That’s be- . cause the car Douglas driving was stolen, and therefore un- ‘insured, The Lees are filing under B.C.'s Family Compensation ‘Act which allows families to sue for damages on behalf of - ia deceased spouse, parent or child. | The Lees are asking for more than the $12,000 to : $20,000 ICBC historically has paid in this kind of circum- ‘stance because, they say,-Laura was an exemplary teen that ‘would have done mare for her parents in later life, Local ICBC manager Frank Fekete says there just isn’t the case law from past court cases to substantiate a higher Monetary award. “Whar is the value of somebody at a younger age com- pared to a mother or father with kids?” he asked. Fekete said the Lees’ lawyer, Jim Hanson from Surrey, has made no attempt to settle the claim. Methanex closure affects local workers ‘NEARLY 20 LOCAL resi- dents who work at Metha- _fex in Kitimat are affected ‘by last week’s announce- ‘ment that the company ‘will close ils methanol plant for up to a year be- _ginning July 1. - All told, 125 workers ‘ will be offered various ap- ‘tions, including re-training cat the plant, following the company's announcement that costs are outweighing revenue, “We're going to keep our people gainfully employed,” said plant manager Wilber Walker last week, also adding that all jobs are secure. “The ‘bottom-line is we don't want to lose anyone.” Methanex has been troubled fur some time by Ithe gap, between, costs .and income and has tried to sell its Kitimat operation. The company blames the cost of the natural gas used as the raw material for methanol and the fees Pacific Northern’ Gas charges lo deliver gas through its pipeline as a treason for high expenses. Methanex calls these costs “high and non contrall- able.” Walker said Methanex has had discussions with Pacific Northern Gas about its pipeline fee but that the results haven't been satis- factory so far. As for the cost of natur- al gas, Walker said Me- thanex buys the product on the open market and is a viclim of the booming American economy be- cause demand there for natural gas is causing price hikes in Canada. “The company intends to work with employee task teams to identify op- portunities to use this time to further strengthen and broad work relevant skills and qualifications for the benefit of both employees and the company,” a Me- thanex press release said May 24. As well, Methanex says it will grant approved leaves of absences to em- ployees and may consider giving some workers a por- tion of their next year’s vacation allotment this year. Located on the same property are two ammonia plants, owned by Japane- se-controlled Pacific Amo- nia Inc. One uses hydrogen produced by. Methanex as a by-product of methanol. I'll be affected by the Methanex closure. The second can operate inde- pendently of Methanex’s hydrogen by-product and provides about 40 per cent of the current ammonia production. Methanex does supply the workforce for the two ammonia plants. It is not yet known how the closure will affect one potential suitor for the plant, Acetex Corporation. The closure announce- ment has prompted a bond rating service to put Paci- fic Northern Gas Lid,’s debt rating “under review with negative implica- tions.” That's because Metha- nex accounts for about 40 per cent of the gas compa- ny’s gross sales and 60 per cent of its gas deliveries. COR REAVARE oTOPPERS 635-TIPS KERMODET i ~_ TRADING, ? BUILDING OR RENOVATING? NEW! LG) umpra Drapery & Bathroom Hardware In Stock . The Yellow Gift House on Highway 16 - ara 638-1 808. . 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