A6 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 8, 1997 The Mail Bag Other creditors ignored Dear Sir: ‘A proud achicvement’’ was how Premier Glen Clark (a man who vehemently opposed government bailouts) de- scribed the SCI agreement in principle at a huge, government-sponsored victory party in Prince Rupert. Dan Miller stated “'God, I love this town.’’ The NDP publicity train was full steam ahead. Derailed, the SCE agreement in principle was in tatters as the government tried to broker one deal with the banks and another with the PPWC. Elements of the union-ratified proposal would have been.made. public through the courts. . Elements the government did not want public, ie. a 7.5 per cent kickback to the union of the wage rollback demanded by the Lanks, The kickback is to be absorbed not by the union but by the government, ie. the taxpayers. Throughout this entire crisis the government and Dan Miller have buffered the union from the banks’ idea of an economic reality. On the side track, the unsecured creditors have been left abandoned, owed $100 million. The government has of- fered no relief to those hard working people who risk losing their invested capital and livelihoods. [WA mem- bers and other workers have been jobless with no op- portunity for input into the process. People are hurting badly. Meanwhile, the PPWC has been pampered, pro- tected and partied by the government they endorse. Finaily, as the train was about to crash, the union votcd 62 per cent in favour of a deal to avoid bankruptcy, there- by assuring the basis for a restructuring plan. The level of uncertainty has been reduced, albeit at a huge cost to the taxpayer. But for creditors the future is bleak. As yet, there has been no offer extended to the unsecured creditors to resolve their financial predicament. Unfortunately, Skeena Cellulose is the tip of the iceberg. The government’s policies and jobs strategy is about to crash. MacMillan Bloedel is suing the provincial govern- ment for $200 million for forest land lost in land use deci- sions. Husby Forest Products has filed suit for $8 million, claiming that the cost of stumpage is breaking the compa- ny. Logging has halted on many areas of Vancouver Island because lumber markets are poor and mills can’t afford to pay the stumpage being charged. In the Nass, logging op- erations have shut down because of stumpage costs, Fighting these lawsuits will cost the province and enormous amount in legal fees — tax money used to defend poor government decisions. Mr. Miller told me recently, “I can’t understand the banks...they’re bad business people...they don’t understand risk.”’ It is misguided comments like these that have polarized the stakeholders in the Skeena Cellulose crisis. Comments made by a former member of the PPWC. Can you say conflict of interest? The government seems incapable of making sound eco- nomic decisions — it is too busy firing up the media ma- chine that will carry its political message and agenda. The government’s lack of business acumen and penchant for thetoric will drive this province into bankruptcy and unem- ployment. For a group that couldn’t run a bingo game, we have much to fear for our economic livelihood. The unsecured creditors have been completely ignored in this process, When will our plight be recognized?,.-.. * Justin Rigsby, . Aes Repap B.C, Creditors Group HIV victim speaks out Dear sir: For the past 12 years I have not been a blood donor and it’s probably just as well. I’m among tens of thousands of Canadians infected by the Red Cross tainted-blood scandal - having contracted Hepatitis C as a result. T recall why the US brought in blood testing in the mid 80’s. Homosexuals in the early 80’s had declared war on then President Reagan for his inaction in finding a cure for AIDS: they called on AIDS patients to become blood donors. Making such a claim does not make me homophobic, This fact is well documented, although it was swept under the media carpet to prevent a public panic and homophobic fears against AIDS victims, At the time gay activists were " NORTHERN HIGHLIGHT #3 fs Is your organization a non-profit or volunteer group? Northern Savings can help you profit. When you open a Not-for-Profit Account at Northern Savings, you lenjoy NO SERVICE CHARGES.* You can make deposits, withdraw funds and write cheques, all for free. It’s our way of recognizing your commitment to the community. {a NORTHERN “SAVINGS. Pay no service charges FREE BALLOONS & GRIZZWALD AT YOUR NEXT FUNDRAISER Open a new Not-for-Profit account before October 22, {997 and our friendly mascol, Grizzwald will be available balloons at. your next fund raiser or ather special event. *Same restricions apply | Terrace Community Branch © 4702 Lazelle Avenue © 638-7822 quite vocal in their hostility. The recent epidemic of AIDS and Hepatitis from the CRC tainted-blaod has infected tens of thousands not just a few unlucky souls who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. I don’t believe so many AIDS patients would be so stupid as to become blood donors out of ignorance. They had to know what they were doing while they were doing it. The US declaration, which to me is a worse act of ter- rarism than the Oklahoma City bombing, was to get AIDS out of the homosexual community and into the heterosexual community and force government to teat il as a Crisis. Obviously Canada is a knee-jerk reaction of whatever happens in the US and Canadian AIDS activisis were much more successful. Ronald Reagan moved swiftly to bring blood donations in line with blood testing - probably because of his Chris- tian evangelical background. In Canada the RC acted like a bunch of ducks farting in shallow waters and did nothing until 1990. We freely condemn Timothy McVey for what he did at Oklahoma City; but society cares nothing that so many tens of thousands of people were infected by a deliberate act of sabotage, The public hearing into the scandal singles out the CRC, while ignoring the deliberate campaign of homicide against Canadian citizens. So now, like so many other Canadians, I have a time bomb ticking away inside me. Among my other health problems I have been fighting this silent killer for the past 12 years, Ain’t it grand to be Canadian, eh? Brian Gregg Terrace B.C, Rural areas need more Dear Sir: On 26th September, Canada Post issued a set of stamps on “Prominent Canadians’’, One of the stamps with the picture of the late M.P. from Royne, Quebec - Mr. Real Cauoette caught my attention. Mr. Cauoette spoke for the rural ridings even though he was in the fourth official party in the Pearson parliament. I do hope Mr. Helmut Giesbrecht our honorable member in Victoria, and Mr. Mike Scott, our honourable member in Ottawa, follow the good example of Mr. Real Caucette. Rural areas need good thinkers and fighters to pul our- selves in the front line, I hope our. politicians can be more proactive! Anthony Yao Kitimat B.C. Viva Clinic “As Recover your health in a natural integrated way. Offering a new approach to natural healing: LIFE ENERGY ASSESSMENT a as well as..... 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