re

s And the guinea pig says... .

MAYOR JACK Talstra listens to Skeena Sam, the “groundhog” who saw his
shadow after emerging fram his cage Feb. 2. According Skeena Sam, there
will be six more weeks of winter. Briar Gallant, pet counsellor from Petland,
holds the two-year-old rodent.

Docs to close offices
as fee fight lingers

DOCTORS ARE mistaken
if they think they are going
to be paid for the three days
this month and five days in
March they’ll be closing
their offices, says a health
ministry official.

At issue is a $1.5 billion
fee-for-service contract doc-
tors signed with the provin-
cial government last year,

The contract put a cap on
what doctors would be paid
up until March 31 and the
provincial Medical Services
Commission could reduce
fees throughout the year to
avoid running a deficit. .

But doctors began closing
their offices in what. are
called Reduced Activity
Days (RADs) to match
those fee clawbacks,

To do otherwise, say doc-
tors, is to work for nothing,

As of Feb, 1 the Medical
Services

about four per cent, saying
the amount of money left in
the budget until the end of
the fiscal year on March 31
is cnough to cover full fee
payments, :

Yet the B.C. Medical “As-
sociation, which represents
doctors, decided to go ahead

Commission

slopped ‘fee ‘reductions ‘at "they get’ paid'under the con-*

with eight scleduled RADs
this month and in March to
press their point the amount
of overall fee money is in-
sufficient for whal they do.

Terrace physician Dr.
Geoff Appleton, who
represents the north on the
medical association board,
said it interprets the contract
as saying they’ll be paid u
to the cap. -

‘“If we work, we get paid.
Tf we don’t work, we still
get paid,’’ he said.

Appleton said the associa-
tion estimates that fee pay-
menis over eight days
represents $28 million.

Health ministry official
Stephanie Slater said doc-
tors can’t expect to be paid
for days they don’t work.

‘*The contract was not en-

’ tered into with this intent,’’

she said. “‘There’s no guar-
antec. if they don’t work;

tract.”

Slater added the ‘health
ministry will take the con-
tract to arbitration and to
court if need be.

* kok kk

The ‘three RADs this
month are Feb, 23-25 and

iects
Terrace.

The City of Terrace is seeking volunteers of all ages to
serve on its Seniors Advisory Commission.

The Commission acts as an advocate for the interests of
seniors in the community and provides recommendations
to Mayor and Council. It also guides initiatives ond pro-

designed to improve the qualily of life for seniors in

Tha Commission meets ten times per year. It is a one year
term and can be renewed. For more information, please
contact Ken Veldman at the City of Terrace 638-4725 or
fax ta 638-4777 by Friday, February 26, 1999.

of burning.

number to register

Before you light a fire it

Some of BC’s outdoor burning laws
changed on February 1. Under the
changes, Forest Service burning permits
are no longer required. Now, you must call
a toll-free number to register some types

Information brochures outlining all
of the changes are available from:
BC Forest Service offices
Government Agents’ offices

local government offices
www.for.gov.bc.ca/protect

To register your burn call:
1-888-797-1717

As of February 1,, winter burning condi-
tions have been declared which exernpt
fires from certain rules. Before you do any
burning, you must still call the toll-free

a Lop

_.._ BRITISH
se COLUMBIA |
Ministry of Forests |

the five next month are
March 15-19 which coin-
cide with spring break,

Those March RADs also
coincide with planus by Mills
Memorial Hospital ‘to
reduce operaling room to
save moucy.

As it is, the hospital has
been declaring every fifth
Friday a ‘‘corporate day”’
and culting back on activity
lo save money.

“The majority of the staff
want to take the time off,”
said Leisinger of the March
scale back,

Doctors will still be on
call in case of emergencies.

Leisinger estimated the
Spring break closures could
save up to $10,000.

The Multilateral
On Investment —

A Special Conunitice of the Legishture
has been appointed to examine the
implications af the proposed
Multilateral Agreement on Investment
(MAL) and related issues subject to
further international negotiations.
While MAL negotiations lave ended,

MAI-style rules are being proposed fer :

several international agreements.) =:

The committee will be holding public
hearings at various locations in the
province to hear fram British .
Columbians on how these proposed
rules would affect you, your community,
this province and the country. The
commitice alse wants ta hear your
views on what kinds of international,
investinent cules would best serve
British Columbians and how British
Columbia can help determine the
direction of future negotiations.

om

Individuals and organizations
interested in appearing before the

— Cominittee an the subject of the

Multilateral Agreement on Invest ment
are requested'to contact the Clerk af
Committees as soon as possible.

The Committee will hold - public
hearings as follaws:

February 17, 1999
2:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Best Western Terrace Inn
Skeena Room ,
4553 Greig Avenue
Terrace, BC

February 18, 1999
2:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Yellowhead Inn

Ospita ll Room

1445 West Central Street
Prince George

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, Februa

10,1999 - Ag

ra, a

Agreement |

The Clerk of Committees,
Room 224, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC VaV 1X4

Phone: (250) 356-2933
1-877-428-8337
{toll free within BC)
Fax: (250) 356-8172
emait: ClerkComm@iass.gov.be.ca
internet: waww.fegis.gov.be.ca/emt

geet Asse,

as
bes

PROVINCE OF ab
8p, Ng H cou

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE: «= Ms. Joan Smallwood, MLA (Chair) » Mr. Colin Hansen, MLA
(Deputy Chair) = Mr. Stave Orcherton, MLA » Mr, Pietro Calendino, MLA = Ms. Evelyn Gillespie, MLA
= Ms. Erda Walsh, MLA » Mr. Helmut Giesbrecht, MLA = Mr, John Cashore, MLA « Mr, Ted Nebbeling, MLA

« Mr. Barry Penner, MLA # Ms. Lynn Stephens, MLA = Mr. Kevin Krueger, MLA

- ICBC’srates —
are now among
_ the lowest
in the country.

“raphe oy

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It's true, BC has some of the most competitive car insurance rates in Canada. In fact, -
we've frozen rates for the past three years. Together with BC's
_ drivers, we're making strides in reducing crashes, saving lives
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Pe |