AB - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, Apri! 10, 2002 we” TERRACE STANDARD Business REvVIEw Methanex natural gas deal will cost other users more By JEFF NAGEL NATURAL GAS users in this region will pay more as a result of a new deal be- tween Pacilte Northern Gas and its lar- gest customer, Methanex Carp, The seven-year agreement slashes in. half the rate Methanex pays PNG to transport gas to ils’ Kitimat. methanol plant. Tt ends ‘a long dispute that had seen Methanex threaten to close its plant per-: manently. Asa result, PNG’s revenues from Me- thanex will drop and all other users on the. system will pick up a ‘greater share of the utility's costs. Ss , An amendment to its rale proposal in- dicates PNG now wants ta-increase its gas delivery charges to residential users for this year by 22 per cent, rather than the 17,5 per cent increase it defended be- fore regulators at a-hearing here tast month, Bul a 27.1 per cent decrease in the cammodity cost of natural gas will more than offset the delivery charge hikes. The end result is users will now see only a 9.4 per cent overall reduction of their bills ~ rather than the II, per cent cut that went into effect Jan, 1 on an in- terim basis — as a result of the agreement with Methanex. The small business rate will drop by 10.7 percent. | The B.C. Utilities Commisston will hear arguments on the rate changes at a hearing in Vancouver on Apr. 17. A decision on the rate requests is ex- pected in May, But natural gas prices seem to be starting to rise again, warns Richard Ga- thereole of the B.C. Public Interest Adyo- cacy Centre. if that happens. he said, rates could soon pop back up, beciiuse PNG's rates are recalculated quarterly to reflect gas price changes. “That rate decrease could disappear very quickly,” he said. Gathereole said. the deal doesn't ap- pear to deliver long-term: security, be- cause Methanex can pay a penalty to break the contract at any time. “We're slill in the same position.” he said, “If this is ap- proved we're going to have to be looking from year to year to see if Methanex continues to operate.” The agreement with Methanex takes effect Nov. I. PNG's forecast for 2003 indicates if may end up short $3.3 million which would have to be recovered from other users as a result of the Methanex deal. If Skeena Cellulose resumes full Operations, its gas consumption may completely offset that shortfall. But if the mill stays down and Metha- nex also shuts down, the shortfall could balllon to $10.2 million: Methanex officials say the agreement reduces their operations costs by about $6 million. As part of the deal PNG may get a share of profits from Methanex’s Kiti- mat plant.. + Sour, Gathercole -, eedaraeae™ j MELISSA GAUTHIER stocks vodka at LOCAL COLD beer and Sat the Northern Motor Inn's cold beer and wine store last Tuesday — the first day spirits could be sold. JEFF NAGEL PHOTO Four liquor stores here now TERRACE VOLUNTEER BUREAU Do you need help on a regular basis for doctors’ appointments, banking, shopping, or a friendly visit? For more information on help from a regularly scheduled volunteer on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, call fi Terrace Volunteer Bureau at CALL: 638-1330 WATERMAIN FLUSHING. The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine wishes to advise their Thornhill Water System customers that a tlushing procedure will be carried out April 8 - April 19, 2002. This procedure is necessary to remove any sediment that may be present in the water mains and to ensure the best possible water quality is maintained. During this P ocedure, water may appear colored or clou Y You are advised to run your water until it clears. Your angoing cooperation and understanding is appreciated. wine stores began selling hard liquor the instant they were allowed to April 2. Cabinet decided March 15 to let the shops to stock spirits only government li- quor stores could sell. Business was brisk as customers began to realize there are three new outlets to buy hard liquor here. “¥t’s been really steady,” said Darryn Eves, manager of the Northern cold beer and wine store, He said many Thornhill residents are grateful they can buy spirits there with- out a trip downtown. Coast Inn of the West manager Doug Barrett said sales started slowly but picked up later. The outlets expect their biggest day will be Sun- days, when the govern- ment liquor store is closed. The cold beer and wine stores sell liquor for around five per cent more than the government store. They purchase it from the liquor store at a 10 per cent dis- count from retail rates, The difference cavers the cold beer and wine stores’ over- head and profit, “Tt don’t think we’re going to be any kind of a threat to the liquor stare,” Barrett said. “I think the convenience is going to be the factor that decides it,” Cold beer and wine stores are also allowed to double in size to a limit of 2,000 square feet. Local operators are considering expansion but are waiting - to first gauge demand. IBS] Wh APRIL 18-215" THORNHILL FALL FAIR GROUNDS , | utes gsi 5 avert oS AD ay x | V< Ww NEW VOTING RIGHTS For First Nations Members Living Off-Reserve li you are a Gitanmaax Band Member regardless of whether you live on or off-reserve, 18 year ol age or older, you will have the right to vote in Jndian Act elections and referendums held by your First Nation. How To Register To Vote? For Olf-Reserve band members to parlicipate in the major decisions affecting your community, your Band Office needs to know how to contact you. To register to vote, it is important to provide your name and address to your Band office so that they may contact you prior ta your Band's next election or referendum, Olf-raserve members can also vole in person at poll on election day, Gitanmaax Ol-Reserve Band Members please contact Linda or Heather, Deputy Electoral Officers with your current address IF mall-in ballot is required. On-reserve band members can request mail-in ballot also, il they cannot make it to the poll on election day. The Electoral Officer will send mail-in ballots and voting information to registered off-reserve voters five weeks before the election, Gitanmaax Band Council Election: NOMINATION MEETING: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 7:00 Pim. - 10:00 Pn. Gilanmaax Communily Hall _.__, Wednesday, June 12, 2002 Soate gaan OO. Am. - B00 Pam” ELECTION: Gitanmaax Community Halt" ““ eC COn te For further information, contact: James Westhaver-Electoral Officer Deputy Electoral Officers: Indian & Northern Affairs Linda Hilbach 1-800-649-4590 604-666-2654 or 250-842-6297 - Heather Bares 1-800-650-5518 or 250-842-2248 (385) www. gitanmaax.com t- amy be wee HOUSE OF COMMONS Andy Burton Member of parliament for Skeena Constituency Office 4654 Lazelle Ave. Terrace, 8.C. V8G 156 Phone: [250) 635-1601 Fax: (250) 635-4109 Toll Free: 1-800-661-2208 E-mail: andy@andyburlen.ca Website: wew.andyburton.ca | enable you to see:someone even if they.are. ARY'S LOCK a proud sponsor of CRIA |i! STOPPER: Terrace Crime Stoppers are asking for your help to solve a break & enter to the Thornhill Community Centre in Terrace, B.C. Sometime during the month of March 2002, the Thornhill Community Centre was entered and some items were taken. A temporary door was removed with a tool. - Several areas of the community centre, including the kilchen area were entered. More than one person is believed to have entered the building. Some liquor was taken from the kitchen area. Terrace Crimestoppers wants your information, not your name: Call if you know the identity of those responsible for this or any other crime. Any information is valuable and may lead to the arrest and conviction of the offenders. Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $1,000.00 for Informatian leading to an arrest and charges being lald against an Individual In thls or other unsolved crime. If you have any Informatlan call Crime Stoppers at 635-TiPS that’s 635-8477. Callers will not be required to revaal thelr Identity nor testify in court. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display. Call 635-TIPS 1} who is there before you open it. There are TERRY’S TIPS | Knock, Knock, Who's There? 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