A4 - the Tenace Standard, Wednesday, | October 2, 2004

STANDARD

ESTABLISHED APRIL 27, 1988.

~ PUBLISHER: ROD LINK...

“ADDRESS: 3210 Clinton. Street Terrace, B: C..« vasa BR2°
- TELEPHONE: (250) 638-7283 * FAX: (250) 6 638-8432
mane WEB: wiww.tertacestandard: com.
EMAIL: newsroom@terracestandard. com

~ Not here

“THIS | is where the jobs are.

You'd ‘think it. was a modern- day. workers’ SS ee

paradise judging’ ‘from the happy. government:

paid advertising on. TV that's ‘designed to make |. :
voters feel 1 Boot in the, leadup to. the. fe provinical oe

election.

And an economic paris it iti is- “ ~ at least in the ae

rest of B.C.

Vancouver a and Victoria cotitinue to o boom alons g met

with unemployment levels: of 7 per cent or less.

“Previously hard-hit: areas’ like: the: Cariboo, :
which also had uhemployment measured as high |
as 13: per cent’ in recent. years, have also seen}

COMPENSATING -
|} Tawrep puoop |
\ crs twee

PRIOR To 19867”

improvement, The Cariboo’s jobless rate dropped.” Ce ree
to 7.5 ‘percent, in Statistics Canada’ S. latest labour se ialip Ee

force survey: :

~ While the. 00d times ‘apparently a are’ é rolling 1:
through. the’ test of B. C, ‘the northwest has m= a

-left-behind:”

Here’ the: ‘uneinployment rate’ remains “stuck j in,

double ‘digits at. 11.5" per: cent; although: that’ s.
. down a bit from’ July’ 8 figure of 13 per cent...

And. even then: the Teal situation is worse se than

the statistics show: - wl Bats

Unemployinent’ rates ‘aly meaguré. the: ratio. ;

of people out of a job {who want. work) against.

_. the number of people i in the. tegion’s labour. force. :
oh Ls erg? Kindness-to the mine’s-own-.

(those either working or seeking. work. ) oes,
‘They: do not count. ‘people: who have- given: up

looking : for: ‘a job; -And they-do. not count people: C

- who. have left the region to get, work elsewhere!”

compare the number. of jobs: we. have now’ in ‘the:

northwest — 43,700 - against’ the number that |
existed when. the Liberal government w was. sworn’

te

- into office in June. of 2001:.48 300,.... a

tandem with: -OUr drop 'i in population:

Hadle gions of northwest’ economic refug gees not. .
fled the area for greener pastures and kept looking” |.
- for work here, our present 43,700-jobs would ‘be:

measured against a‘much. larger: Jabour force, ea
Crunch the - ‘umbers: and: you'll ‘discover
northwest -B. C.-would | have: an unemployment’

on. the June. 2001 workforce. size.’

Northwesterners don’t need fedetal ststicans, :

or newspapers | to tell: them this, =) hs a

Everyone: in. this: town: knows. ‘someone’ “who
‘has ‘been forced: to. Teave Terrace, to: find work:
elsewhere. 7

. Families. have: been broken % apart, “while one 7 -

distant logging camp to put bread on the table; °-| -

Spending: our tax: ‘dollars: to. tell: us’ chow good:
things are isn’t going to play. very: well ‘when the’
"spin paints one Picture and reality paints a starkly ;
different one. | ae

~PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Rod Link £8
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PRODUCTION. MANAGER:. Edouard Credgeur’ :
2 NEWS: Jeff Nagel. a
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_ INTERN REPORTER: Rebecca Collard *
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- Special thanks: to'all our: contributors and
correspondents ¢ for thelr time and talents

a says!

_ The labour force ‘has ‘declined ‘fiom 53, #00:
petiple then to’ 49, 400. now = pretty” much in’

7 smallest , installment ’‘in taxpay-

~cersy Another: $14.5 ‘million may : .|-|?
be written off in twoyears, as the

“mine nears'the end. of i its life.

debt isn't a subsidy. ‘The govern-

Tt was a business decision, b
fa Vi bot B

patie was" ‘also. political one

~ Last-veek a judge : sentenced *

Te ‘the: Speeder. to.two. years-in jail.
~. Followed: ‘by two Years probation,
|. Two Awhole-years jail time!Plus...
|... probation! The. poor speeder will o
ee need stress counselirig. oe
By --What: formula do judges, use io
FS arrive.at sucha minimal sentence. -
| © far so deadly’ a-ctime?: Does the -~
= judge divide the speed of the killer”
Car (130) by the age of the victim:
32). Four years" jail “was too"
“| Severe; the: judge split'it into half: ;
“s Jall. time, half probation? _
41 Or. does a

Pp

Is this how muc

ORILL SOMEONE with a car,
expect to: seve 6: more” than’
; = lwo. years ‘in jail. Two “years: is :
the value our courts: ‘put on a life. .
spouse heads to. Alberta: or the: Peace country or a ~ Outrageous! But do we complain
: enough: to make adifference? °°
J: Take ane _Lcase. : of. RCMP:
So Mr, .Premier; a: bit of friendly. ‘advice. ~ Constable . Jimmy: “NB Killed
_two years’ ago-at ani intersection ~
o- when. a speeding car T-boned his’:
~ cruiser, thYowing: him-out of his”
“ar. window to instant death. +.
The: 19-year-old: driver: of the.
a - Speeding - -vehiclé “ran’-from the’
-[ "scene while ‘his | passenger refused
“toname him. iors

THROUGH BIFOCALS

-CLAUDETTE SANDECKI

a judge. divide- tee

‘Snow is WHITE E uci? 2
AND WATER iS. CLEAR J

PAUL WILLCOCKS —

-the total mine cost =o help with ~
. development. It was supposed to.
“be a commercial oan, at competi.
oon co tlve interest rates. :

But eight,

parently. not Aerribly, successfully:

“due 10! low ‘copper: prices, ‘since. -
“other “creditors “have ‘also. gone.

unpaid. : Amperial has'since taken ©

on four. ‘Japanese investors,” who.

havé a: 50: ~per-cent share ‘in the

“property.

‘ » Imperial. made-a a. $3 million”

profit last.s year, and is developing:
another: mine. at’ Mount : Polley.
With. a well-crafted ‘ ‘loan agree--
ment, you would expect the gov:
ernment and. other sreditors to be.”

“number of. people involved (3): ‘by >
the numberof cars’ (2).and round:

the result off-to get2? 0). +:

- Six month ‘jail, ime: per, life

_ inight: bea litle light-until - you...
concurrent

consider. otwelve...

“then, A

ayears ‘nat a
Y as ty mine!’*

: has been’ operating, altHiowgh’ aps"
and, itisa ‘subsidy. Other mining ~
|» Companies’ are” out. there trying.“
| --to compete: without ‘the benefit:
of. government; largesse, : While. oe
a “Huckleberry Mine getsa break.“
: The ‘tangle..goes- back’ to. the >:
oh NDP days, when. Subsidies. “were
-.']---flowing to companies. ~ Lo
*"2 Imperial: Metals. of Vancou-
© aver wanted to develop the copper: '
“mine; and:in 1996 the. gavern-'”
4°: ment came” up with. a: $14.5-mil-

rate of 18: 8: per cent today: if it’ s calculated based 7 .

Aion: loan, ~ = about. 10, per. cent of :

sentencing ”
Hf the . driver - had: killed 12.1
blueberry. pickers in’a van ‘auld -
“he have been sentenced lo 6 years: |
in jail for ‘snufling a dozen lives’. y

VL MELTS jf WATER now
al DYESAILTHE wile GO? /

: / ~ LONG DRAWN: our

“VICTORIA - qv ‘Ss ‘hard to see “ehow - TG
hae Jetting acompany off the hook fo or:
- $3, million owed to. the. govern-
J oment isw’t a: ‘subsidy, something wn
1 the’ Liberals” considered’ odious «|
“during. the NDP years... 2 5 (=
oe That's: what’ the: government :
. ‘has, just done for: the: owners: of -
“the Huckleberry Mine southwest .
me of Houston.” , .:
And it's “likely. just the first;

- able to exert. some: e- pressure and
butit has no commitment and will
~~ But Imperial‘also. restructured.
-- last year, turning ‘over the man- - -
‘| -“.agementof the Huckleberry Mite
’ toa separate company.
> ‘The-ultimate: ownership stayed:
. “the § game, but. the debts are now,’
“on the. new. ‘company’s books.
“Its only. asset is the Huckleberry
.o! Mine, which is - slated- (0- shut...
“down jiva little’ over tw6 years, :"
| > and-it has large: debts: Creditors :

get some of your. money back. .

~ have little’ leverage,’ ‘because ‘the

a ———": | owners'don’t havé much to: ‘Jose...
1 hif the mine is forced” into ‘bank:
. ~ Revenue Minister: Rick Thor-.’ ~ FROM THE CAPITAL & . :
pe says writing off the company’ 8.
For.a truer. measure of our economic: ‘malaise, ze
CB “ment = = like any. other creditor =
“ had two choices, he says. It could.
“” forgive the. debt, Or the company
“would close’ .the mine ‘and » 175°

i people would'lose their jobs.

“ruptcy and closes now:.

and loans to ) companies, -

- be ‘tapped for: the money,

‘“ndbitably.’ ‘disadvantages’ ‘tom: -

" petitats, creating a tilted’ play ig

field.

Skéena: Cellulose not: ‘only: cost

- taxpayers. money, “it: hurt’ other’ 4
companies trying to‘operate’ pulp’:

‘ mills without government cash.

or: commitment from the compa-
. ay to make regular payments?“
; The:. government “hapes the

“sentences piled one upon another

* indéed, Especially. - . Since

to the usual wrist pat.”

‘laws.
minimunis: : Parliament svon't. q
that, for four reasons. “yo

First; :° “MP8.. ‘don't

“controversial. legislation: through
to “completion. They: distract

EN) THe SNOW

". creditofs :means: they'll” gét. firs
- shot al» any. profits, With’ good
“ptices the: province will ‘see ‘pay.

_. Thorpe notes thé Liberals have mn
closed.the door on any new grants : ~ calling the-company.on its threat —
oo. =-might have worked. Or.it mhight mown

That’ was a good decision: If nO
-bank Or. investor: Considers thé'risk’-

“worthwhile, ‘taxpayers: -shouldn’ bes

“And a. subsidy t to one compatiy” o

“The NDP’ 5 decision 6. pump:
“more than.’ $400 million ‘into.

a ested ori the. web.”
“Why: the break to Huickleberry;’ 5 ;
“without any benefit'to taxpayers: On. ‘materials for ‘schools “rated a.’
~ news: “release; .8 decision ‘to ap-
“prove. a -$3- million ‘break’ to” a.
-. company didn’t:.
“company will pay’ the remaining oe

a) a life is.

. the ext election, _
“would - be, a. weighty’ senténce *
the
‘speeder “probably ‘didn’t. intent.
_ to kill anyone when. he’ ‘climbed: :
“behind the wheel: and-floored the -
gas: pedal, Surely -he would rate.
7 leniency for his’ pure intentions, °°
||. Judges-Seem.to-have a soft spot,

‘|. for violent ‘criminals, especially _
- drunken’ :or speeding - ftivers =
‘The main - problem,. though, ~ ’
.” precedence, Judges... repeat : hat
_ other judges have-done, If a bold.
i judge ‘sentences a: killer-driver to.
_ extra jail’ time;. defense’ ‘lawyers 7
Spring up shouting, “Appeal! >
__ Forthwith’ an’ ~appeal:’ ‘court: 1
dutifully watersdown the sentence .

_ speeding, or highway. homicide, -
_ That's most of us, judging by: ‘our =

: #9handed down. ©

‘parliament - won't. moves: Given.
oS the odds, it could: be years ‘before “-
For sentences ‘to - reflect thie. an. MP is’ directly: affected... Our «
value ‘of life, taken; . parliament: .”
would: have. to: pass “mandatory -

With * ‘higher’

“Cadman ‘knows the. pain.” His son,
,* SWas ‘béaten “to: death.. He's. been: ,
“elected twice ‘on a“ promise of :~-,
harsher: penalties’. for criminals...7.“.
Cadman’ ‘needs ‘support-from the geet
“y-Publig: before: he'll: fel-ariy: from

“ themselves: maneuvering, to win. ; ‘

‘Stay “on,
tisk. long” enough’. to «shepherd:

“por WEANEN ssaKe!
GoTo SLEEP?!

i eee ee ee

“PROCESS. GETTING | N we

WHS POINT Bur | NA:
“We THINK eNouge | NYE
HAVE FINALLY. Diep |
WUNOW To MaKe / |

aw AFFORDABLE ne |

beck wd

arr eee nae Se ea eC ee ee

aie i ae

$14 S-million debt i in late 3005,

“have even less leverage then. ®
“Huckleberry : president.’ Jim: oe
oO Rourke *says.. the. deal | with’200< «

iments,’ he says. “Tt was a Goad.
business. deal.” :

‘Thorpe: ‘says “the ‘government’! a
had little choice. It could forgive. ; _

“the $3-million in-accrued interest.”

“on: the loan:: -or the-miné- would ;
close. The deal was .reached- after * ae
“negotiations with the owners. :
“It's not an easy: political: dee.
sion.: Pressing ° for. repayment -—

‘have resulted in the’miné closing.
early, and: the. debt’ sil ‘left un
paid. .
The: Liberals = = ~ like’ the. NDP
before: them; though. ‘01 a.muc|
'sthatiér’ Scale — opted ‘to’ pro role
‘the’ jobs, arid let the debt slide.” ’"’*

“Foothote:: The’ Liberals ap: '

“peared. uncomfortable “withthe. .

deat. Cabinet’ quietly. approved. ne

~ the write-off, wvith the only public s
“notice a 15-word reference ina’!

list of about-70° cabinet decisions , es

:A-decision to spend $750: 000 =

_ entail: ‘willeocks@ultravetcn -

worth?

Second, MPs avoid legislation.
‘that: might stir opposition: among =:
citizens who. scé nothing -wrong'?* 5."
with drunk’ or reckless - driving; 2°

silence’ whenever a light. sentence, one ;

Third, ‘egislating” minimum.

‘seitences would .nix-“automatig
7 “appeals. ‘Many: high-priced: trail."

lawyers . would ‘be: short: billable —
hours: Now : that- would: be:pain

- MPs: could understand. ‘One-sixth oe :
-of MPs are: lawyers. eee

“Fourth, 80 long as MPs families Wo a
remain unaffected by these crimes...

population i is Gyer-32 million, but oo : .
fewer than 400 are MPs, ~:~ aye
‘Independent . MP: . Chuck