City denies cable TV plea THE CITY won’t back up B.C. Tel’s bid to compete wilh Skeena Cablevision’s cable TV service in the northwest. City council debated the issue after a B.C. Tel union- management delegation urged it to support the company’s appeal of a ruling that bas barred the company from the cable market. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) denied B.C. Tel a broadcast licence —~ that would enable it 10 provide television, on-demand video and Internet signals through phone lines — because B.C, Tel.is 50. 1-per-cent foreign owned. Canadian phone _ companies in other provinces have been granted licences. B.C, Tel’s Larry Parker and Telecommunication Workers’ Union business agent John Ricketts told council they believe expanding into other business areas could help save some of the 2 3000 jobs B.C. Tel expects to cut province-wide, Ricketts said there are . 100 jobs in the Terrace: area ‘that could be affected, Parker held out the promise of the reduced cable TV prices competition would bring, and warned that without B.C. Tel, northerners who live outside ‘the cable service area could be left without good access to the information highway. ‘We feel’ we're the only competitor that can bring the signal to rural parts of B.C,’ Parker said. “The competition has greatly reduced the cost of your _ long-distance telephone service,’’ he added. “We foresce competition will also help keep the cost down of the video services you get in your home as weill.”’ But councillor Gordon Hull feared protecting local jobs at B.C, Tel might come at the expense of jobs at Skeena Broadcasters. “Tt really pits this council against Skeena Broadcasters if we support this request,’ added Ed Graydon. ‘Do we ral- ly behind B.C. Tel or do'we rally behind Skeena Broad- casters??? Mayor Jack Talstra suggested cheaper cable service for local people would be a good thing. “It would be a good thing,’ said Graydon, “but what if Skeena Broadcasters loses 40 per cent of their staff?” _ “*Well, that’s business,” replied Talstra, who indicated his surprise at the response of his fellow councillors. “I thought this was a free enterprise council?” In the end, councillors agreed they didn’t have enough information to make an informed decision supporting B.C. .. Tel, and denied the request, . A cabinet decision on B.C. Tel’s appeal of the CRTC ruling is expected by the end of the year, Councill doesn't think he's in conflict ED GRAYDON doesn’t be- lieve he was in conflict-of- interest when he argued against B.C. Tel’s campaign for open cablevision compe- tition. The city councillor is part owner of Tolsec Canada Inc,, a local telecommunica- tions company that has just struck a dea] with Okanagan ‘Skeena | Group the owners of Skeena Cablevi- sion and Skeena Broad- casters here. + “T guess it could have .. been seen as a conflict,” Graydon said last week. ~ But he says his participa- tion in the debate didn’t af- fect the outcome, because Ed Graydon selffherself or his/her fam- ily, or any other member of council, in the City of Ter- race,"" The cablevision issue The Terrace Standard, vweanesaay, Novemiper 1, ty¥o - A117 Intro ducing TERRACE ANYWHERE In A. New Agent VOLUNTEER BUREAU. . Helping Handyman Program Notice to Seniors and Persons with Disabilities on a Limited Income:' Our Volunteers will cleon outside windows, do fall yard clecen up and small emergency house and household repairs. “Jack Talstra Be TERRACE-THORNHILL . and surrounding area ~: ais bey Phone naw to get your. name on the list for thi . service, and for snow removal in the winter. . Phone 638-1 330 1 Tanya Perrin 306 - 4546 Park Avenue Terrace, BC V8G 1V4 Tel: 604 635-6146 Sun Life welcomes Tanya Perrin to our sales team, - Please feel free to contact her for information on any of the products or services listed below: * Personal Life Insurance * RRSPs & RRIFs Business Life Insurance * Employee Benefits GICs* « Annuities * Estate Planning Strategy 2000 personal financial analysis © sun tif sun Li e “sold throath Sun Life Tout a Help UNICEF Cyeg help kids, unicef @ United Nations Children’s Fund Z LEVOLOR WINDOW BLINDS For information, call (804) 874-3666 55 % OFF CUSTOM BLINDS including Verticals & Horizontals It's Happening Now!.. Take This Opprtunity To Save & Experience The Levolor Difference 45 % OFF. WOOD BLINDS: gimmicks ~ It’s messy and makes no sense at all. The sensible way to take half off furniture - and mattress prices is to shop at United’. Furniture Warehouse. Our “no frills, no warehouse-style operation” the rest of council also re- jected B.C. Tel’s request for suppert. “J don’t belicve my action aS a councillor swung the balance to any particular direction,’’ Graydon said. - Tolsec and — Okanagan Skeena Group have together bought out Western Profes-- Communications sional Ltd,, a Prince George-based ‘paging firm. Graydon said the deal has nothing to do with Skeena Cablevision’s cable TV op- erations. “This is a small division’: — the paging division is_ fess than a quarter of what we do,” _ And he says his link to the Soe holds the ., :. cablevision monopoly in the. . northwest didn’t colour. hiss": : company that thinking. “If I felt it was a conflict, I guess. | would have stepped away,”’ he said. ‘'l was just as curious as every: . body else to find out what was going tohappen.” Asked if he could vote for = .. something that would harm — ‘his new business partners ‘if. ; he thought it was good for the people of Terrace, he - said: Oh, definitely.’”. . *'T was there as a council. lor for the City of Terrace. 1° wasn't there acting out of | ty own personal interest.’’ “TET had thought I was directly to gain or benefit from it I would have pulled - away,” oe : City. ‘counell’s code . of ethics states that councillors: shall “‘report to the mayor or- council any conflict of in terest or potential conflict of interest which he/she is” him . aware — involving © came up at Jast week's cily council meeting when B.C, Tel lobbicd council to back Your Decor Terrace Carpet Centre Ltd. hen > (00 Locations, saves you half. what many furnitire store: and department : stores charge. “When ‘it: comes to: choosing the best: furniture stores, it's Simply no -saw-ott- we'e leaving | the others i in the dust Fine F urniture.” & Mattresses. Furniture Warehouse. 3202 Munroe Street at Hwy 16 W, Terrace its request to exempt it from a federal ruling that prevents Terrace’ 4730 Keith Ave, + 635-4111 Prince Rupert » 124 3rd Ave, W * 627-4800: 635-2976 1-800-665-1657 it. from entering the cable GPEW TO THE PUBLIC: Mon-Thur & Sat: 10am - 6pm/Fri: 10am - Spm/Closed Sun. TV market. Vancouver. - One of the most vibrant and beautiful cities any- where, With mountain views, magnificent Stanley. ‘ark, unique shops on Robson Street, fine cuisine, exciting professional Sports ; AS bitle as" ]s 3 3 and: exceptional perfor ree ct modatfo for 2 nighis: ersori, taxes extra. a. Minin ol two highs atay, out business days vanes cC toavailbllity Same sens and conditions apply. : ee ONT EAT onkerignse mii Victoria Experience a heritage city alive with the romance '* of an era. when tall ships moored alongside, the” wharf. Where gardening and golf are year-round . 2 “Ai tthe ns : sulex mivun NATU AaL , SRITISH COLUMBIA