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> 4 Terrace Review — Wednesday, November 26, 1986

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the Terrace Review.

Terrace
Review

Established May 1, 1985

The Terrace Review is published
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Mark Twyford
. Editor:
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Phone: 635-7840
Pe

Robert Cooper

Bob Jackman

Three aldermen on Terrace city
council have been re-elected to two-

year terms.

Doug Smith, Bob

Jackman and Robert Cooper will be
sworn into office at the Dec. 8 coun-

cil meeting.

Disputes near resolution

Two lengthy disagree-
ments between B.C. hos-
pitals and their employees
seem to be approaching a
peaceful resolution, and
mediator Vince Ready ap-
pears to be batting two-
for-two in the health care
field.

It was Ready who pro-
duced the contract pro-
posal which narrowly
averted all-out strike ac-
tion by the B.C. Nurses
Union in October, and he
recently scored again with
a proposed settlement en-
dorsed by the Health
Sciences Association
(HSA) union executive.

HSA spokesman Howie
Smith stated recently that
the exact terms of the pro-
posal cannot be made
public until after the
general membership votes
Dec. 3 on ratification. He
did say, however, “The
proposal contains. provi-
sions which speak to all
our key concerns in these
negotiations.’ Among the
concerns, he said, were the
wage gap between B.C.
health science workers and
their counterparts in other
areas of Canada, an out-

dated classification system
for hospital professionals,
opportunities for
upgrading, and contract
benefits to casual workers.

The HSA _ represents
more than 50 health care
professions, including
radiologists, laboratory
technicians, physiothera-
pists and psychiatric
nurses. Personnel short-
ages in many of these
disciplines have been iden-
tified in B.C.; Smith said
the new contract will not
eliminate those shortages,
but it will ‘‘act as a signal
to professionals in other
parts of Canada that pro-
gress is being made here.”
Smith added that other
factors contributing to the
shortage, such as an in-
adequate funding base for
health care and the lack of
training programs in B.C.

universities, are outside
the union’s ability to
negotiate.

~ Representatives for the
B.C. Nurses’ Union
(BCNU) recently an-
nounced that a Nov. 6
membership vote ratified
a four-year contract offer
retroactive to April, 1985.

The agreement will give
BCNU members a 12.8
percent raise by November
1987 with a provision for
renegotiation of wages for
the final year of the con-
tract. The proposal also
addresses shift differential

premiums and language

concerning scheduling and
professional concerns.

Both contracts still re-
quire ratification by the
135 member hospitals and
institutions in the Health
Labour Relations
Association (HLRA).

Chief negotiator Peter

McAllister stated this
week that the BCNU pro-
posal is presently in the
process, and he said the
final results of the vote
will be announced Nov.
28. The HSA contract, he
said, has not been put for-
ward yet and results of
that vote will not be
available until the end of
December.

If ratified by the
HLRA, the contracts will
then go to the Compensa-
tion Stabilization Com-
missioner for a ruling on
the awards.

Hubert. _

Beyer

Terrace Review

Victoria Correspondent
P ners

When Premier Vander Zalm first promised more
open and responsive government, I said I’m convinced
of his good intentions but would hold my applause until
I saw some concrete evidence.

The first evidence is now in, and some applause is
called for, I’ve watched politicians for a living for more
than a quarter of a century, but never have I seen a
premier or prime minister give his cabinet ministers
public deadlines to deliver what they expect of them.
Vander Zalm has done just that.

_ The premier unfolded the first chapter of his respon-
sive government scheme the day his new cabinet was
sworn in, Along with the list of new cabinet ministers,
reporters got a 32-page document spelling out. the
various ministers’ duties.

The document also contained a list of Vander Zalm’s
priorities for each minister, many of them with
deadlines by which the premier expects results.

Attorney General Brian Smith has been given march-
ing orders to establish new regulations and a commis-
sion to oversee public gaming. Vander Zalm also told
him to get cracking on a new set of guidelines for con-
flict of interest. The latter goes with a deadline of Dec,

Stanley Hagen, minister of continuing education and
job training, has to bring in recommendations giving
students in remote regions of B.C, better access to
education opportunities. Deadline: June 30, 1987. And
by Jan, 31, 1987, the premier expects a review of the stu-
dent aid program from Hagen.

Grace McCarthy has been told to devise strategies to
attract new investment, deal with freer trade issues and
investigate provincial involvement in the operation of
selected airports and seaports. The premier gave her no
deadlines. 7

Education Minister Tony Brummet has been in-
structed to have a Royal Commission on education in
place by June 30, 1987.

Energy Minister Jack Davis has his plate full. By Jan.
31, 1987, the premier expects from him a task force to
examine ways of revitalizing the province’s mining in-
dustry. A report on energy to Vancouver Island for
economic development is due Oct. 31, 1987.

Environment Minister Stephen Rogers has been told
to have recommendations ready by October next year
on the Wilderness Advisory Committee’s report.

Finance Minister Mel Couvelier also can’t complain
about a lack of things to do. New legislation governing
financial institutions is to be ready by February next
year. The same deadline applies to a review of liquor
pricing policies. And by June next year, the premier ex-
pects an ‘‘action plan’’ for the privatization of the liq-
vor distribution branch. ; _

Forest Minister Jack Kempf will have to deliver a
detailed review of the effects of the U.S. counterveiling
ey on B.C.’s forest industry. Deadline: Jan. 31,

987. .

There’s no deadline for Intergovernmental Relations
Minister Bruce Strachan who’s been charged with native
affairs matters, including negotiations with Ottawa on
native land claims.

Labor Minister Lyall Hanson’s orders include a
review of the labor code and legislation by Feb. 28,
1987, and a report by June 30, 1987, on liquor licensing
policies. —_

Municipal Affairs Minister Rita Johnston is to report
on the decentralization of certain government functions
by Dec. 31, 1987. -

Provincial Secretary Elwood Veitch is expected to
make recommendations on how government agents can

improve their service to the communities in which they -

are*stationed. Veitch has got until March 31, 1987 to
deliver. _ mo
Social Services and Housing Minister Claude Rich-
mond’s priority is to review all social programs with
particular emphasis on family and childrens’ services,
There’s no deadline. a

Tourism, Recreation and Culture Minister Bill Reid |

has until June 30, 1987, to bring in recommendations

that would enhance the role of multi-cultural groups in

B.C. A review of tourism promotion comes with no
deadline attached. . oo

Highways Minister Cliff Michael is expected to have.
final recommendations on the proposed Vancouver

‘continued on page 5 -

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