if ae Dig this WORK JS well underway on the reconstruction of one block of Greig Ave. between Clinton and Atwood streets. Local company Farko Contracting Ltd. is daing the work, which is to be complete by July 6. The project includes replacing existing water and sewer lines, re- locating some overhead power and phone lines underground, and installing sidewallks and ornamental lighting. Gay pride case to proceed THE PROVINCE?’s decision to eliminate the B.C. Human Rights Commission won't stop a human rights hearing this month over Terrace city council’s refusal to proclaim a gay pride day. ~The complaint by the Rainbow Committee of Terrace over the city’s refusal to declare a gay pride day in the summer of 2000 will be the subject of a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal hearing here June 24-28. The province tabled legislation to eliminate the commission, which investigates and medi- ates complaints of human rights violations. Now the tribunal — which has in the past just judged complaints — will pick up more of the commission’s duties. It will now be directly responsible for re- ceiving, mediating and adjudicating cases. The tribunal will also get the power to dis- miss complaints not in the public interest and dismiss cases if a reasonable settlement offer is refused. Attorney-General Geoff Plant called the current system complicated, inefficient and slow. “It can take years for a case to be heard, and justice delayed is justice denied,” Plant said. 4 Maureen Bostock, one of the Rainbow (Committee members. who have spearheaded » ‘the gay pride proclamation complaint here, said éliminating (he commission is wrong. “It’s appalling,” she said. “The province is reverting back to an environment from 30 years ago.” “This will be the only province in Canada that won’t have a human rights commission.” Bostock said says she doubts the reformed system will work well, “There’s going to be a whole lot more work for the tribunal,” she said. “If the tribunal has to engage in investigation if will make it a very much more costly process than what is currently in place.” The changes, coupled with reduced access to legal aid, will put poor complainants at a disadvantage, she said, particularly when pit-— ted against the legal teams of large corpora- lions or even the government. Bostock also said eliminating the commis- sion wipes out the work that it did in telling people about the human rights ccode. “How do people know they have the rights in the first place if the education work isn’t done?” Most human rights complaints allege discri- mination on the basis of disability, sex or race. About 15 per cent of cases handled by the commission were sent on to the tribunal for adjudication. The Rainbow Committee here complained that city council’s denial of the gay pride day amounts to unlawful discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation under the human rights code. The city has stopped issuing proclamations for any group in the wake of the complaint. Union votes to strike TERRACE’S HOSPITAL Employees’ Union (HEU) local has voted in favour of striking to oppose the provincial government’s budget cuts. Nearly 200 of the union’s 252 locals in B.C. have cast ballots so far and 90 per cent are -backing some kind of job action, says union officialChris Allnutl, | | 4, |, i, In Terrace, the vole was 82 per cent in fa- vour of taking some form of action. Higher re- sults were recorded among HEU members in Prince Rupert and in Hazelton. Canadian Death Penalty? The television reporter smoothed out her suit before rolling the tape. “'m standing in front of the sight of a trag- edy that occurred early this morning in this sleepy town of North Hanley. Dead are Ellie Dunney and her husband, right in their own home. Here's one of the neighbours.” You! BE THE JUDG ag An elderly man wiped tears as he approached the microphone. “They were such a lovely couple. What a horror for our lovely neighborhood, No one would ever hurt them, except maybe their grandson!" he sniffed, becoming more animated. “That 18 year old has living here for a month. Nothing but a scoundrel and a freeloader. He came down here from Canada.” The reporter probed further. "When's the last lime you saw him?” “Yesterday,” Ihe neighbour replied. ; The reporter ran up to the investigating officer. “Any comments, officer?” ; The officer waived her away, “I can't talk to the press. Sorry." “What about the grandson?" the reporter asked. “We're following all leads.” Two weeks later, the R.C.M.P. was hol on the trall. “The North Hanlay murder suspect is in Toronto. We've gathered enough avidence to charge him." , That atternoon, the officers stormed inte a seedy motel outside of Toronto. Young Al surrendered immediately. “Ok ok, don’t shoot...” News of the arrest quickly spread to North Hanley. The whole town stormed to the sher- ifs office. “We want that man back here to be tried!” The sheriff reassured them. “Don't worry. The prosecutors are submitting an extradi- tion request as we speak. We'll bring him back.” Back in Toronto, Al spoke to his lawyer. “| didn’t do it! | swear" His lawyer waved him off, “First things first. They want to extradite you to the Slates..." Al balked. "But they have ihe death penalty!” The lawyer galhered his papers. “We'll ask for @ guarantee that you won't be executed.” In court, Al's lawyer argued firmly. “Your Honour, the death penalty is unacceptable in Canada so how can we send people to face the death penalty in another country, especially an 18 year old like Al?” The government was adamant. “Your Honour, if you commit a crime in another country, you should face the consequences there. If we make demands that the American government refuses, Al won't be tried at all, which is worse. It’s also impor- tant to maintain good Canada-US relations.” Should Al have to face the death penalty? You! Be The Judge. Then look below for the court's decision. SPONSORED BY Phone: 638-0354 TERENCE WRIGHT LAW OFFICES TRIAL LAWYER sincz 1985 Serving the Pacific Northwest TERENCE WRIGHT - Criminal and Family Law and Civil Litigation Free Initial Interview for I.C.B.C. and Personal Injury Claims 201-3219 Eby Street, Terrace, B.C. V8G 4R3 Fax: 635-2919 YOU! BE THE JUDGE - DECISIOK: “Al will be extradited with the assurance that he not face the death pen- alty,” held Judge Courtney. “The objective in extraditing an accused Is to assure that he Is tried for the crime. Canada’s public Interest is not promoted by exposing Al to the death penalty. Other countries like Canada don't generally extradite without the assurance that the death penalty will not be sought." Today's column Js based on a case from British Columbia. 1f you have a simitar problem, please consult Wight & Mardiros in ‘Terrace, B.C, We are proud to bring you some af the current legal issues from across the country for discussion and debate. Te provide com |. fing entertalnment, ve have fictionalized the names, the characters and the scenarios in the case. Any resemblance ta real people [s furely coineldental, in the Interest of clatity and brevity, the legal issues tn the case have beon preally reduced and simplified. Clatre Pomstein isa lawyer and nationally syndicated columnist. Copyright 2001 Itaika Enterprises, G28-11 Allnutt said support is strong in smaller communities already hit by resource industry closures. “They're taking a stand by voting in favour of the action plan because it’s now more im- portant than ever to protect decent jobs, family supporting paycheques and. vital services,” he said of HEU members.” eee’ There was a.62 per cent turnout in Prince. Rupert with 92 per cent registering support while in Hazelton, there was 100 per cent sup- port among the 47 per cent membership vote. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - A3 News In Brief He’s the prez again A FORMER Terrace resident has once again been chosen as the pre- sident of one of B.C.’s largest unions, George Heyman was elected by acclamation to a second, three-year term as head of the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union at ils annual conventian June 2 in Vancouver. Heyman, an active jee member of the BCGEU fe for years, once worked in Terrace for the forest service, Heyman and the George Heyman BCGEU have been active in opposing cuts to jobs and services brought in by the B.C. Liberals since the party defeated the NDP in the 2001 provincial election. Delegates to the convention also approved an in- crease in union dues to finance their apposilion to the B.C. Liberal government. Nurses oppose gov't MORE THAN 83 per cent of B.C.'s unionized nurses are opposed to how the B.C. Liberal govern- ment is handling health care, a poll for the B.C. Nurses’ Union shows. And more nurses, almost 88 per cent of those surveyed, say they are unhappy wilh the way the province has handled issues affecting nurses and the health care system. “The poll shows that nurses know this govern- ment is not putting patients first. It shows that our members understand that, with their cuts to health care, the Liberals are pulting patients far down on their list of priorities,” said union president Debra McPherson in releasing the data at the union's June 2 convention in Vancouver. The poll was taken on behalf of the union May 23-26 and involved questions to 502 union mem- bers. a a a Vacant police positions THE RCMP detachment is looking to fill three po- sitions, says its commanding officer. One of the vacant spots is that of community relations/crime prevention, one is in the detach- ment’s plainclothes sections and the third is with the highway patrol based out of the detachment, said Inspector Marlin Degrand. The first position came open when Brendan Mc- Kenna was promoted lo corporal and although that leaves. a gap in community relations, and; crime prevention,-Degrand does éxpect 0-Fill’ it- byafally es “We have’ a limited number of resources and we have to be very cautious about how to use them,” said Degrand. Friday Nights To Vancouver! FRIDAYS Saturdays Departures from Terrace - Kitimat Sunday through Thursday 8:00am. 3:00pm. | 8:00am. 3:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 9:30 a.m. Phone for info or to reserve now New Schedule Starts July 28, 2002 Call your travel agent or HAWKAIR & a 1-866-HAWKAIR www.hawkair.net 635-4295 ToL FREE 1-866-429-5247