aa

_ Canadian. flag -is down,

New polic will also save time

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 28, 2001 -A3

ity cans proclamations

PROCLAMATIONS issued
by city council and even
the flying of flags on be-
half of service clubs sre
now a thing of the past.

City council has deci-_

ded to do away with pro-
clamations and the flying
of flags for various groups
altogether rather than face
the prospect of more legal
challenges over its refusal
to issue a gay pride day
proclamation.

That refusal last sum-
mer triggered an ongoing
investigation by the B.C.
Human Rights Commis-
sion.

“Not doing it at all is
the simplest option,” said
councillor David Hull. “It’s
either this or we either
issue proclamations within
the restrictions of the
Charter of Rights, warts
and all.”

Several councillors had
been uncomfortable with a
previous proposed policy
that would eliminate pro-
clamations but set up a
“registry of observances”
in which dates and events
of groups would be recor-
ded.

Some councillors felt
that would still give tacit
city approval to groups

whose activities they op--

pose.
The new policy also

eliminates the flying of
fiags at city hall on behalf
of groups such as the Elks
Club and local Sikhs,

City administrator Ron
Poole said city staff now

‘won't have to spend as

much time scheduling pro-
clamations or raising and
lowering flags.

He noted so many
groups had flags to fly it’s
become a challenge sche-
duling them.

“You never see the city
flag flying because there’s
almost always another
group’s flag flying out
there and half the time the
“well” » Boole ‘said.

ag aie ay

orth aeMIa"OP'a Bay pride” yf préelamiation” constitiltés

TAKE A CLOSE | LOOK at this photo featuring Ter-
race mayor Jack Talstra with a signed proclamation
promoting scouting week. The prociamation was
one of the last to be signed by Taistra now that city
council has voted to do away with the ceremonia!

designation. Council took the Step to avoid the
possible of more legal actions arising from its deci-
sion last year to not proclaim gay pride day. Also
gone by the wayside is the flying of organizations’
flags at city hall.

Gay group offers mediation

A LOCAL GAY support group is offering the city a less
painful way to settle an ongoing human rights complaint
over city council’s refusal to proclaim a gay pride day
here last summer.

The Rainbow Committee of Terrace has offered to
take its complaint to mediation, and avoid a full tribunal
of the B.C. Human Rights Commission, said committee
member Elizabeth Snyder. She said the group was re-
sponding to a letter from the city that had raised medi-
ation as an option.

If the city accepts mediation it might avoid much
higher legal costs and the possibility of a hefty fine,
such as the $10,000 the City of Kelowna was ordered to
pay a group there in a similar case.

But Snyder said Terrace council would have to admit
it’s wrong and do what it should have done in the first
place. “We would like them to declare a gay pride day —
that’s all,” she said. “We're nat looking for any financial

retribution or anything, We’re ‘not asking for money, |

we're just asking for them to declare the day.”

Snydez said all indications are the human rights com-
mission is proceeding with their complaint.
VA series\Of pridt‘decisins acrossCanada have ‘ruled

7

unlawful discrimination under human rights legislation.

Civic proclamations have been held to be a service
ordinarily available to citizens. City council last July 10
voted against the local group’s request to proclaim Aug.
5 as a gay pride day,

The local request came after council a few weeks
earlier rejected a province-wide request by Rainbow
B.C. to have various towns declare gay pride days.

When some councillors rejected that request on the
basis that it didn’t come from a local group, Terrace
gays and lesbians banded together to make a local te-
quest,

Human Rights Commission officials won’t even con-
firm the existence of a complaint, but say it routinely
takes eight ta 12 months to complete the investigation
stage.

Human rights officers investigate complaints and can
also act as mediators when both parties agree, said
Theresa Boulard, the commissian’s acting communica-
tion manager. If there’s sufficient evidence and no
agreement has been reached through mediation, the
compli laint gan, then, be sent to the bene Human

News In Brief

on more than 2,500 health topics, |.
rs Or Poy os

That’s our river

LOOK CLOSELY next time you see a TV com-
mercial featuring B.C. Liberal leader Gordon
Campbell. If it's one where Mr. Campbell is beside
a flawing body of water, chances are it’s the Skec-
na River.

The footage was taken during a visit here by Mz.
Campbell the first week of February, He’s featured
in 15 commercials, some of which are now on the
air and same of which are being held back for the
soon-to-be called election.

The commercials are being paid for by the B.C.
Liberal party, a contrast to others being aired to
Promote various government policies and which
ate being financed by the taxpayer. Critics of the
fatter say that while those commercials may give
information about government policies, they are in
reality pre-election spots promoting the NDP.

Local man gets jail

LOCAL man, Ronald Jacab Therrien was sen-
tenced Jan. 30 to 45 days in jail for possession of
marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

He will serve the sentence intermittently on con-
secutive week-ends starting Feb. 2, 2001.

The 29-year-old man was also ordered to forfeit
scales and cell phones.

Still in custody

THREE people charged with holding up the B and
G Grocery convenience store Feb. 12 were in court
last week.

Christopher Bernard, 19, and Clifford Warner,
19, both of Terrace were charged with the robbery.

.A 17-year-old Terrace male was also charged but

his name cannot be disclosed because he is a
miner. ;

The youth was in court Feb. 20 and was denied
bail and remains in custody.

On Feb. 21 both Bernard and Warner appeared
for their bail hearing.Bernard was denied bail and
remains in custody while Warner was granted bail.

Health guide on its way

to the northwest

NORTHWESTERN residents should soon be re-
ceiving a 400-page bock of medical advice from
the provincial government.

it provides common sense advice on a myriad of
medical situations and, depending upon the cir-
cumstances, is aimed at keeping people from hav-
ing to visit doctors or hospital emergency rooms.

The latter goal is meant to save moncy and to
ease workloads of doctors and hard-pressed hospi-
tals.

Backing up the one-inch thick book will be toll-
free lines so peaple can speak to registered nurses.
Phere’ll also be a website containing information

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