Se pares sy Leaner legal office to open By JOANNA WONG A NEW regional legal aid centre will open its doors here September 3, but officials say residents should expect a dramatic cutback in services. Mark Benton, executive director of the provincial Legal Services Society, says families seeking legal aid will be most affected by the changes. “There has been a substantial reduction in family services,” Benton said. Aid is no longer available for people thai have legal problems that affect their livelihood or their ability to protect and support their families, or for people that need help to start getting maintenance payments or initial custody or access orders. Previously, all cases that involved domestic violence used to be covered. Now aid is only offered for family cases involving domestic violence where a restraining order or interim order is needed to solve the immediate problem. “That's as far as it goes,” said Sandy Shreve, another official of the Legal Services Society. “We won't be in- volved in representation for trials or hearings.” Benton says legal representation will continue to be available for criminal cases where conviction is likely to result in imprisonment, loss of employment, or deporta- tion; and immigration hearings that could result in de- portation. “For the most critical legal problems there continues to be services available,” he said. Legal aid financial eligibility limits remain un- changed. Major provincial government cutbacks announced earlier this year closed eight legal aid offices in the northwest, including The L’Ax Ghels Community Law Centre in Terrace which was run by a focal society. In total, 60 law centres mostly run by local societies were closed in B.C. These offices are now being re- placed with seven regional centres and 24 local agents across the province who will make referrals for legal ser- vice “There will be no more legal information or counsel- ling at a local level,” said Benton. “We're extraordinari- ly restricted. “We will be able to direct services to internet sources and provide brochures but when | think of counselling, 1 think of sitting down one on one and we simply don't have the resources to permit it ~ anywhere in the province,” he continued. The L’Ax Ghels Community Law Centre had pre- viously employed two lawyers and five other peaple. The new regional centre in Terrace will have one managing lawyer, one legal secretary and two intake staff who will process legal aid applications. Hiring is still being finalized, but Benton says the two lawyers who previously worked at L’Ax Ghels will not be continuing on at the new regional centre. “We'll know closer to September how those positions will be filled,” he said. Benton says there will be a computer available at the new regional centre so people can access the internet for legal information. =, ¢ i The society has launched a family law website, as well as a toll-free provincial: call centre that will allow people to apply for aid via telephone at 1-866-577-2525. The new regional centre will be located where the old one was, at 3212 Emerson. THREE DISPENSERS containing brown bags in which dog owners can stoop and then scoop of the offerings !eft the pets are now in place on the Grand Trunk Pathway. That's by-law officer Dave McMurdo at one of the dispensers. City wants pathway to be poop-free zone CALL IT a poop free zone. At least that’s what Dave McMurdo is hoping residents can call the Grand Trunk Pathway thanks to three new stations that provide dog walkers with special poop disposal bags. “It’s in response to council’s concern about the amount of dog walkers not picking up poop,” said McMurdo, a bylaw enforcement and animal contro! of- ficer. McMurdo says many dog walkers say they’ve forgotten to bring along a bag. Enter the poop pick-up bag disposal station, an attractive blue dispenser that holds hundreds of small brown plastic bags, complete. with instructions. There’s currently three stations at stra- tegic locations on the Grand Trunk Path- way: one at the head of the pathway by more seats, more trips and more destinations! More Seats for Students! Caledonia Sr Secondary. Road direct to NW Community College. 4:50pm. More Ways to Pay! City Hall. More Destinations!. weekdays and all day Saturday. www.busonline.ca 63522666 www. busonline.ca Service Changes effective Aug 28 Starting Sept 1, we've made some schedule adjustments to offer you * more direct service to Skeena Jr, Clarence Michiel Elementary and ¢ new College Express trips from Southside, Birch Hill and Kalum * additional 2 City Shuttle trip to Birch Hill leaving Skeena Mall at * handyDART service is offered all day on weekdays. «school students can now purchase a semester bus pass (4 month pass) for a $10 savings. Available at City Hall and the Transit office. e Family Pass: families with multiple school-age children can obtain 4 of more student monthly passes for the price of 3. Available at Passengers riding the 4 Queensway and 5 ‘Thorntill trips can request a drop off at the Great Canadian Superstore during midday on ® the 2 City Shuttle buses will now route directly to Tuck Ave Senior's Residences by request on three trips per day, Mon - Sat. For complete details, pick up a Rider's Guide or visit the website, _ Wherever Life Takes You... PUBLIC TRANSIT L/ BC Transit ; Eby St., one in the rest area at the foot of Munroe, and one on the intersection on Kenny St. “We will get more as funding becomes available,” said McMurdo, who hopes local veterinarians or pet supply stores will want to sponsor a station. One dispenser holds 500 poop bags, and in two weeks, 100 have been used. “F did a lot of research with other ci- ties to see what products are out there and this seemed to be the best option,” MeMurdo said. Each dispenser costs $100, and a package of 2500 bags runs at an addition- al $100. All costs ate covered by the city... “IThe stations] are just'a-reminder-that- picking up poop and having the dogs on a leash is all part of the bylaw,” McMurdo said. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - A3 a ee News In Brief Libs elect new executive B.C. LIBERALS have voted in a new executive to head their constituency association in Skeena. Lael McKeown, of Progressive Ventures, was elected president at the Aug. 16 annual general meeling, replacing Chris Wozney. Doug Groves, a Kitimat resident who also sits on the board of the Northwest Regional Airport au- thority, was named vice-president, and Debbie Carruthers was elected secretary. Other executive members include Michael John- son, Elmer Derrick,’ who: is‘ also‘a’ director on ‘the board of B.C. Hydro, Bruce Carruthers and Allan Hewitson. Chairing the association's fundraising, election readiness and constitution committees are Tom Gingles, Stewart Christensen and Marylin Davies who is also a Terrace city councillor. Olympians here TERRACE IS on the list of a group promoting the Vancouver-Whistler 2010 Olympic bid. Members of the lower mainland organizing com- mittee, and several Canadian Olympic athletes, are due in town Sept. 16. They'll be speaking on the suggested benefits of the proposed games to a joint meeting of the Ter- race and District Chamber of Commerce and the Terrace Rotary Club. Tires, rims stolen RCMP HERE are Socking for four new tires and tims stolen from a local auto dealership Aug. 20. They describe the tires as unique, LT245/75R - 16/E. They were taken from a 2002 Chev truck and were not white-walled. The RCMP number is 638- 7400 or people can call Crimestoppers at 638- TIPS. GG visits the QCI' GOVERNOR GENERAL Adrienne Clarkson and her husband, John Ralston Saul, are to visit the Queen Charlottes Sept. 1-6. This is the fourth of six regional visits this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Canadian Gov- ernors General. While on the Charlottes, the couple will visit Sandspit, Skidegate, Queen Charlotte City, Old Massett and Masset. Theyll also spend two days with young people al the Lepas Bay Rediscovery Camp. The 50th anniversary notes the appointment of Vincent Massey as the first Canadian cilizen to the post of Governor General. Part of the Governor General's trip to B.C. in- cludes a stop in Vancouver to preside over the in- vestiture of 48 people into the Order of Canada. '_ Clubs found RCMP. ARE looking. for. the owner of..a golf; ibag and assoitéd"élubs, Those involved in this situation can call the detachment at 738-7400 or Crimestop- pers at 638-TIPS.