Aa The Terraca Standard, Wednesday, April 21, 2004

TERRACE

TANDARD

ESTABLISHED APRIL 27; 1988 ala

PUBLISHER: ‘ROD LINK .

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Our. money —

“NOT. FAMILIAR with the North West t Regional
Hospital District?”
Don’ t.worry. Hardly anybody else is. Se
Formed’ years-ago, the hospital district i isa local:

‘taxing authority, set to raise $2.5. million. this year: ie

from property owners. in the: three’ northwestemn-

regional districts. The hospital’s: board: of direc-: .

tors is made* ‘up of: ‘Tepresentatives. of. the. ‘three:
‘northwest regional districts, ‘Its: role is to; provide ©
‘up to 40: ‘per cent.of. the Toney. needed for medical °

‘equipment, and’ medical: construction or renova : a a

‘tion projects: in the. northwest.” :

Its money — actually, it’s. your money = went :
into the regional. ‘psychiatric “unit. renovations at
~ Mills’ Memorial: ‘Hospital: ‘several: ‘years. ago, ‘into:
‘the new régional dialysis | unit at Mills Memorial .
-and ‘into. the recent ‘purchase of | a mobile: marn-
‘mography machine: baséd’at Mills, eee

Given the constant’ cry: that. there j isn t enough
‘money for health. care, the: ‘hospital district came
‘up with a bit of a: surprise afew weeks back: ‘More’

‘than $600, 000 it. has. allocated for: northwestern |

amedical Spending remains in the:bank.

The culprit is the Northem Health. ‘Authority, cs

“the $400 million- -plus a year supet body created in.
late 2001. by the provincial government to manage
. every: facet of. healthcare in the north. One of its.
jobs is. to buy. medical equipment. and to arrange |
sfor construction and: renovation Projects, using, i in
att hospital district 1 monies,

It-seems-the health: authority’ is a: bit behind i in
‘doing its job. That’s fair: enough | because” of. the-

“zation. And:the hospital district did j point that out:.

7 when releasing: ‘the news-of the: “unspent money “an

‘But “hospital” district: chair: Sharon :Hartwe
‘who. is the. mayor of Telkwa, ‘added’ that: When
it raises money for. northwest: health. care based
on. health authority ‘project: lists, “it expects the:
‘authority. to follow, through.’ “She: said. that if. the.

hospital district is accountable | to- taxpayers, the
‘health authority. should be. as well: More telling i is
“her statement that the hospital district: fought off”
- ian attempt by the health authority to ‘gain control.
of its budget. © re
» Ms. Hartwell hit the nail: on ithe head, The health
‘authority’: s board‘is unélectéd and i is ‘instead: ap- °
| pointed by. the provincial government. “Although:
‘the majority of its: money comes from.the prov: _
ince, it ‘operates: ‘with'a. high degree | of autonomy.
-‘Tts hard for locals to: gain access to decision:mak- «
_ers-and harder’ still to feel: there i is any connection: .

~ -between the money \ we supply it and any. sense 2 of 7

‘control:

T he. North’ West Hospital District, "because of
its insistence. that. ‘it has. a say: in local health c care :
spending, | could Very. well: be. the’ access: “point:

‘northwest | taxpayers need to: keep’ ‘an. eye. On|”

what! S going on...

7  PUBLISHER/EDITOR Rod Link,
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Aulhorized aS Second: “class mall pening the Post Office Departinant, tor ‘payment of Péslaga in cash

“for thelr time and d talents -

"Special thanks: to all our coniributors. and: correspondents :

} vicrorra The. citizens’ age, ~
|. sembly on- electoral reform: seems:2 24
[> tobe making som: Liberal MLAs 7

; prelly nervous.” Pn!

» The: assembly. :

important’ thing: that’s: ‘going: to: deh.
| --happen-to politics in B.C.'in: your, ) +f
* lifetimes A group. of 160 random-.' © -
‘ly selected citizens are. gettinig ta- ||".
” gether.to decide if there’ $a better. cee he
“way. of electing governments: aa
Ie they: think. there. is,-a, pro- »--
“posal: will-go to a referendum at. -”
*’ the’ same-time: as: the. provincial _—_
Tr election ‘in May 2005. ad
Its arbold: democratié- move
~ from Premier. Gordon “Campbell.”
Not 1 many. politicians: would. tam- ©
|. per with:the'systém that got ihem.-:
‘into “power; "fewer: would. take. -
‘Pc the: risk: of. handing, ‘the task: to-
; ordinaty itizens. Give Campbell
‘. credit. - ;
oo But, not alFthe Liberals are 30.
complexity in setting up a.new-and large; organi-.: seit in ‘the peoples” judg.
“people ‘who put them-in‘office: doe

(Odd,-. since :it) was ‘th

s

The. ‘citizens’. assembly i

receive ‘its ‘repér

member Elayne, Brenzinger.: .

~> And. at’ thecommitiee’s. first 7
“meeting this month, a: couple. of.
‘Liberal MLAs got mighty skittis
{about this democracy thing vane

“Kamloops «, !MLA *.

: Krueger, the “committée’s “vice!

“chair, was: “especially. concerned

“about the ¢ assemibly’s Ss first Public Ey

RPRIL BRINGS: Easter, ¢ crocus: oo
-.es, and an invitation to. the annual mo
|. shan, count, the family reunion. : a
. ‘Family | feunions supply’ eve
--eryone with i date. and place to a
congregate, lure reluctant'travel--; °.|-
“ders, and: stock: “Conversations: for ae
J months to come: reef
- le This ‘year’s’ ‘reunion ‘invitas mp
hs tion ari ved last week: from. three.
~ cousins: who: live: ‘side- by" Side, ~ |
City, map to’ their. ° "|
home, Good: ‘thing. The. intetven=.
ing ‘yeais ‘have- populated: ‘their. | -]:}
: *_ City until. [-Kave trouble locating . ae
‘(seven major: landmarks’ such” as
“ob bridges. .

Following 5 bath a” 50th: school:

oe ‘Teunion and a family. Teunian’ in
“the ‘past three’ years, ‘may: cousins: o—
feel confident: about" What to-do

“and what not: to do to host’ a suc~

- [cessful clan gathering..”~.. we
“ First, pick a. ‘Saturday: ‘when
“mast ‘people are-off works Suns. -
day gives: them time to: travel:
homie. Supply 3 a: roomy house and -
Je} .a. spacioiis: backyard. for: outdoor &
vy dining, and running ‘off steam...

legislative i

welding,
five. Liberals, New Deimocrat: Joy.
~-MacPhail-and newly: independent’ ;
o pointea hair for the’ process. )"
Krueger. ‘pulls © one, seftence™.”
from the Teport to. back his- claim -
“citing: a: passage in which: thea
: usembly. ‘Says: it wants: “to: hear fk
the’ public: agrees: “that: ‘a-more-
proportional: system’, “would . bet::. members, *:
* ter-reflect the basic values of our. :

Me THROUGH BIFOCALS [|
. ~ SLAUDETTE Sa SANDECKL

“graves. :
-Cater:the mainmeal so-ailiafe- For’
cafree to-visitand “thingle. Stock make

« leflovers. for a. help: yourself if proy

in ans suas saiaes EARLY thee )
A SPIKE OF RV TRAFFIC)

THAT THE TOURIST. |} } ‘S
ATTHISTIME: ©! es

SEASON BEGINS in. ;

PAUL WILLCOCKS

: “report That eight: page document’
Set Out-the results of months of
research and study and was in: .”
‘tended asa. starting point for-49,
ee public: ‘Meetings around, the prov:
-inee-in May-.and June.

“Krueger accused: the assembly, :
of being closé-minded.” “Iwas, -
“surprised, : Dr: “Blaney; ‘that: the °
$7 preliminary “ ‘statement 0 clearly *:
=fdemonstrated.“that the assembly. ¢
iad. made. Up: its mind: to lean i An’.

province! S population.” oy

“brunch next day by: those who ”
can linger before leaving, Expect»
” everyone to pay: without quibble

for their share-of the: food.

los,: even. drive. to see elatives’

a FROM THE CAPITAL fe

“highly: politi
“to the: editor-in the» Vancouver :
Sun from one. of the, the ‘assembly .

Ve. shirt:

of us. who rely a
- three : ‘or

a) WORKED AND SLAVED 50 You. couLD be AON

_ SUCCESSFUL SUICIDE BOMBER AND WRAT DO you Do?
You END uP. iN A WHEELCHAIR. HOW CANT Hou
Dy .MY HEAD UP? | SACRIFICED. $0

- You CouLD bE A MARTYR. WIT
‘Too muce To. ASK THAT You —
Sg “MAKE ‘ME. PRouD? .

> OMY SON, THE |
FAURE. ,

Wes: a tay -accusation. ch oti
- “hardly seems” sensible: tox asks: 1
: “ordinary citizens. to: bring’ ‘their’:
_ “common sense, ‘commitment and™
_ knowledge. to.a task only. to have = os
cwthe: ‘government. members sniping
Sat theme

‘But’ it’ S. bizsifre in ‘this. case,

ob bevause the: “assembly's - ‘teport *,

*. . SWwas remarkably balanced, noting: .
the? strengths . and: weaknesses: of
the: current system and potential
= alternatives. : ie
- oo: The! report was “clear: to. em--
” phasize - thatthe.” assembly: “had ~
reached ‘ino’ decision on: whether”
any. change “is” needed.’ Thats
: “why the’: ‘public, hearings ‘aire 86
; important: -
Infact Gordon: Gibson: hired
_ by, the: Liberals’ fo. come. up. with:
the assembly ‘process, . had SUg-
« gested-a- much-miore! “specific set.
“of proposals from. the group by
this point,: Instead, they. decided”
“to keep the options as open. as.
: possible for. public discussion...

_. Krieger: wasn't alone: in--h
concerns; Vancouver.” “Kingsway

“MLA Rob Nijjar: said e shared oe
rO-* the worries: “.
And Nijjar had; his 0 own, com: 1
DP plaine,: one: that ‘revealed. some-.
“thing: Bott life i win. the Liberal

Re Nijiar’ Was “worried about. “a

in their. respective: families i isn’t:
"easy. Encourage each: family to”
-, dress in the -same-- -coloured T-..
Eight-year- olds: “look. ‘al
| lyoutas suspiciously, as. U. s. ‘bor

der guards. if: you call them “by:
. another’ s name:
As swith > “any ‘large ® - group, .
you "Il warm: to some;.: “want: to’.
avoid others, ‘That's okay.” “You ne
. choose your. trlends: relatives 0 are:

foisted on you.: ee Se
“Once - everyone » -sétiles”. -in,

balancing’ a-paper. plate: Warped’
"by the weight-of potato “salad-and oo
ham, ‘indulge: your: critical, eye.
__ in gauging the behaviour, of. the |,

, Youngsters..

“One® fainily.“has’ kids as. “well ;
“apannered / as’: any: grandmother’ -
could” ‘hope. for. : His* brother's
“Kids: are: every ‘radmothen’ Ss
2 oniighimare: : : web
Fhis invitations too; ‘begs BYE
“eryone. to peng portable musical

AE mainly. encouraged people ‘to:

_ highly politically charged, »

* the: process ‘involved trust .in the: ;

of the’.world, and if: they: think.
.,to be-run: past | ‘the party chiefs.
the: Jegislative commniitiee;::

“ani. excellerit,
Check out its “web, page. = WWW

_ Of the: main results. of a shift to:a*
=: “more. ‘proportional form: ‘of repre-
«sentation, would: be a strong role a
> for MLAs se
lly’ charged”. letter. -
h,

the: office of the premier. or. ptime~.’

* Shouldet” “ménibers’ ‘Have wot
_ clear: al: letters, or’ ‘communica-::

family Teunion —

. space; as well as: Spacious fridges: :

“Jot to be’ desired, Still, Llook. fo

~ Of musicians “and gauging’ the.-

Saboue: to- erelire: teachers,’ ‘T-expect
2s alot of: queuing: and: other: Tegi-
at mental. measures,: Teachers” can't: ~
“help themselves; ordérly’ move:
“nent: is “the” Bray’ ape oF their.

; Saunt, any brothérs, sister, and, Our.”
They, . more. ‘than the: adults; ‘con \ } ;
_ Signity how, well: your age.group::
has, succeeded | raising. a family. *
Voicing: your. observations. could -
be risky, ’but-you can't be shot for:
os thinking. 4

‘Don't run ‘things. Relax: “Let et
folks” ‘create’ ‘their, own, pastimes :
“and groupings, ate) chat, swap pho -"

Up the'seniors.

“Lol. daughters. Our” ‘aunts. and
2 uncles, in their 60s or 20s, wilted’

“ankles tucked ‘safely: indernéath’
“and Shifted like daisies as the. sun
a moved, Now it’s, my: turn. ae

ib our family g genes, for ‘those: sti
ber _ present :

‘paragraphs’ long.” ;
‘an- observation: that the:Liberals’-
secfel: caucus 'suspensions’ ‘hight.
“not: be appreciated’ by-- constitu--
‘ents Of the: banned’ MLAs. And °

-participate in the.work of the as-
sembly i if they: thought the’ ‘system .
could “be improved; “It wasn’ ‘t

“Blaney Tightly. responded: that ee
‘judgment’ of the assembly mem
bers., eae

“But: it. ‘lakes Jou ‘wonder :
‘about the’ ‘Liberal MLAs’ view:
everything. they: write:or say, ‘has

~ It-was‘a ‘disappointing g start ae

‘The citizens’ “assembly
‘brave’. ‘initiative

Footnote: “What's most odd” ae 2
about ‘the pésition : taken: iby
Krueger: and Nijjar is-that.. Ones fs

We've drifted into a system i it o
which: power is. concentrated: ‘in:

minister, changé. offers a chance -.. a
-to. give it back to elected MLAs. oS
 willeocks@u ltrane et. ca

“staged in a. eity school: ‘with: ‘a
gym, piano, and plenty of. parking

‘The gyim’s acoustics: Tay: leave: a
_ward to hearing. the. newest. crop
improvement: wrought: by;three~

“winter’s of lessons. and practice.:
“This: year’ s Kostesses are three:

hectic days, - ;
“ Except: for « An. *B3year.. ol

wl tecall a ‘family’ feuinion ‘in.
1974 when Iwas of the sandwich \.~.
“generation, with under ’ 10-year

‘in lawn chiaits, ‘varicose’. veined:

‘On.our: way home we vt thank,