| 4 4 “ bene ge ALIA N Sa nla Soe agg A me ea aa Ge BE ay a arn aee 18 Se geet seth at ta ee COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH NURSE Marsha Lloyd distributes information on the current B.C. government nurses’ strike, now entering its third week. Community/Convention Centre update The proposed Community/Con- vention Centre in Terrace is causing a stir in some circles. A local ice user group likes the idea but thinks it would be much better if a sheet of ice was included in the "lower floor" of the complex. The group is currently preparing a brief outlining the need for a second sheet of ice in Terrace. At the same time, another group has already made the first booking ' application for the complex. The Northwest Academy of the B.C. Society of Medical Technologists wants to hold their September, 1992, "Annual Scientific Congress" in Terrace; if possible at the con- vention centre. In this regard, the Terrace representative for the group, Gloria Jones, urges council to take the proposal to referendum this fall and wants to know if it will be ready in time if it clears that hurdle. Council is willing to discuss the need for a second sheet of ice in shares issued to $2.86 million for an effective issue price of $1.30 a share. But there is more. Skyline chair- man and CEO, Ron _ Shon, announced last Thursday that they have reached an agreement with Placer Dome Inc. to conduct fur- ther exploration work on the Bron- son Creek and Bonanza West gold prospects. As part of this transaction, Placer purchased 500,000 flow- through common shares of Skyline for $500,000 to. fund an equal amount of exploration work on the Bron- ‘son Creek and Bonanza West prospects in the current exploration season. These shares are a portion of the 2,200,000 flow-through share financing completed by the _ company last June. Placer also has the option to spend a further $3.5 million on exploration in the succeeding two exploration seasons to cam a 60 percent interest in the prospects. The prospects encompass an area of approximately 1,682 acres and town but not willing to go as far as to say a Community/Convention Centre will be ready in time, or if it will even be built. "We would be hard pressed to have it finished," was mayor Jack Talstra’s com- ment. On the other hand, alderman Dave Hull suggested it was "some- thing to shoot for"... "Our first convention." Bob Cooper, though, suggested that the group consider using the arena instead, If the Convention Centre did happen to be finished, they could ‘always move their convention. But what do the people think? At this point it’s hard to tell. The Recreation Department recently did complete a recreation needs survey by phoning about 400 local resid- ents. And although the written copy hasn’t yet been released, ‘information includéd in the min- utes of a Community and Recre- ation Services Committee meeting doesn’t even list a community centre, According to the minutes, | Skyline...cont’d fr. pg. Al represent about 11 percent of Skyline’s Reg Claims property interest, Upon satisfaction of the carn-in obligation, the property: covering the prospects will be transferred to a joint venture oper- ated by Placer. Skyline will retain a 40 percent interest in the joint venture, In a companion agreement, Placer agreed to advance up to $3.4 million to Skyline to meet its working capital and bank debt servicing requirements, Advances made by Placer will be evidenced by demand notes and secured by a debenture registered against Sky- line’s assets. The notes are repayable upon receipt of financing proceeds by Skyline to place the joint venture property into production or one year from the date that Placer elects to relinquish its interest in the joint venture property. Interest ' al 12 percent per annum will be repaid upon ‘repayment of the notes. The notes and unpaid inter- est are convertibic into common the public is quite satisfied with current recreational facilities and services and any future develop- ments should include tennis courts and easily accessible trails and walkways. Still council is committed to a lot of preparatory work prior to a fall referendum and in this regard they are forging ahead. The project was most recently discussed at an in-camera meeting of the Commit- tee of the Whole on July 3. Topics of discussion , included possible federal government funding under the Community Initiative Fund and the possible integration of the library into the Community/Con-- ference Centre. As a result of this meeting, the city has already submitted a fund- ing application to the Community Initiative Fund and asked adminis- tration to arrange a meeting with the library board as soon as possi- ble. shares of Skyline at $2.25 per share. The issue of shares is sub- ject to shareholder approval. According to Shon, "Completion of the Placer transactions will accelerate exploration of the Reg Claims property and confirms the significance of property interests held by Skyline in the Iskut River region." In the meantime, though, the Johnny Mountain site is rolling toward an early close because gold reserves there were less than anti- cipated, Price says operations there will be suspended by the end of August. The mill at that site, how- ever, may still be of value. Antici- pated reserves from the claims north of Johnny Mountain may mean the mill will reopen at some point in the future, says Price. With this in mind, two maitien- ance/custodial employees will continue to work at.the site, One of their duties will be to monitor water quality in order to maintain government permits in anticipation of new reserves of ore. Terrace Review — Wednesday, July 11, 1990 A3 Nurses... cont’d from pg. Al Also, equity of wages would alleviate alot of the recruitment problems for community healthcare nurses in the north. They point out that it is difficult to get nurses here at all, but when they do come, they are enticed to join the hospital workforce because of the wage advantage there. The B.C. Government nurses want a fair wage which is the hourly rate that general hospital nurses get. Currently, government nurses receive almost $800 less a month. They want increased pre- miums for working weekends and shifts. They want a professional responsibility clause that addresses employee concerns regarding safety for patients and nurses and’ nursing practice conditions. And a plan to include basic protection for nurses affected by privatization or layoffs including alternate employ- ment and additional employer-paid education, The nurses in Terrace and a few other communities have. started a petition that they hope local resi- dents will support, "to get the two sides back to the negotiation table and end the strike" says commu- nity health nurse Carol Harrison. Dr. David Bowering, medical health officer/director of the Skeena Health Unit, also has his "fingers tightly crossed that the strike will be over shortly". Dr. Bowering’s main concern in this area is immunizations. With the government nurses’ strike entering its third week, the absence of immunization services is "very worrisome", says Bowering. He is approaching local physicians to see if they can do immunizations until the nurses are back on the job. Bowering explains that, in the lower mainland, physicians regu- larly do at least half of the immun- izations required. In the northwest, ihe community health nurses “do practically all of it.” In an Tuesday morning interview with Ron Meyer, manager of Labour Relations in Victoria, the. following information was gleaned on the status of the B.C. Govern- ment nurses’ strike; Meyer says that negotiator Vince Reddy announced last week that participants in contract negotiations are expected to be back “at the table" later this week. Meyer also adds that "the unions were aware of this fact last week. Escalating the strike is not indicative to me of them settling." Meyer was speaking particularly of the long-term care assessors, some of whom are considered essential by the IRC (Industrial Relations Committee), whe have joined the striking nurses. He is seeking voluntary compliance tor them to return to work. Meyer explains "the major issue is money and job security. They’re asking 21.9 percent, with a wage re-opener in the second year. We’ve advised them that 20.93 percent is available over two years." This is the same percentage increase that general hospital nurses settled for last year. Meyer also points out that hospital general duty nurses work, on average, two and a haif hours more per week than general duty community health nurses, Meyer concludes by saying, "Our community level nurses will be making more on an hourly basis by the second year (than general duty hospital nurses). Liquor license allowed You may be able to sip a few while you bowl this fall. Terrace council says a liquor licence appli- cation submitted to the Liquor Control Board by Terrace Bowling Lanes conforms with the uses permitted under existing zoning of the property and they have no objections to the issuance of a liquor licence. If approved, Terrace Bowling Lanes will be adding a bar to their list of available services, but it will be closed during youth bowling events. According to Terrace Bowling Lanes manager, Diane Francis, at the present time they apply for at least two special occa- sion licences each month during their regular season and a perma- nent licence would save a lot of Terrace Centennial Lions would like to congratulate the organizers on the success of the annual Skeena Valley Triathlon and wish ail competitors Good Luck!! As usual, we will be on hand with excellent food and refreshments at our concession stand. Don’t miss the fun, Sunday, July 15 at the Lakelse Lake picnic site!! unnecessary paper work.