The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 22, 1996 - A3

News in Brief

That’s a lot of work

TREE PLANTERS lift more than 1,000 kilograms,
bend more than 200 times and walk 16 kilometres each
day, estimates the Workers’ Compensation Board
(WCB).

Teo help prepare people for the job which can involve
planting up to 1,600 trees a day, the WCB has released
Preventing Tree Planting Injuries. It gives advice on
getting in shape for the job, what kind of shovel should
be used and how to recognize early signs and symp-
toms of injury.

On average, 120 to 200 work-related injuries among
tee planters are- reported each season. Muscle strain,
tendenitis and carpal tunnel syndrome — injury to 4
nerve in the wrist — top the list of injuries reported.

“Tnjuries can result because of the pace of the work
— many tree planters try to plant as many trees as pos-
sible, as fast as possible,’’ says WCB official Steve

. Brown,
The booklet is available at the local WCB office.

Skeena’s fate undecided

A PLANNING committee looking at building a re-
placement school for Skeena Jr. Secondary hasn’t yet
made a decision whether the new school should be
built on the bench or on its current location,
But committee chair Stew Christensen says they hope
to make a presentation to the school board by June 11.
“Right now we're looking atethe demographics of
where the students come from, and any possible in-
creases in the future,’’ said Christensen. 7
The education ministry has handed the school district 1
nearly $1 million to use to help plan a new school. a
None of that money’s been spent yet, said Christensen,
and it will primarily go towards architectural fees.
When asked about the possibility of using an off-the-
shelf plan to save money, Christensen said the ministry
is only really using them for elementary schools. Junior
highs can differ significantly from one another, he ex-
plained,

Gas price prober named

RAPIDLY RISING fuel prices have resulted in the
provincial government naming a top official to head an
inquiry.

Dr. Mark Jacquard, chair of the B.C. Udlities Com-
mission which already oversees natural gas pricing and
B.C. Hydro, is to issue an interim report and make
recommendations by June 30.

He’s empowered to look into retail gas pricing fac-
Dr. Eric Gustavsen also admits the changes are difficult tors in BC, differences in gas pricing Ramone I to

to deal with, “We're obligated as dentists to take care of —~ " another, the extent to which retail gas prices reflect the
emergencies,” he says. “And these changes put the dentist proper levels for dentistry,” he says. ‘‘It’s difficult for DR, ERIC Gustavsen | cost of domestic and international crude oil and the ef-

Dental work
Suffers cuts |

NOTICES ARE going out to hundreds of social services
recipients in B.C. advising their dental coverage has been
cut in half

And Roseanne Pearce at Terrace Anti-Poverty says the
news is coming as a surprise to most people. ‘I don't think
anyone’s happy,’! she says. ‘‘This is coming as a complete
surprise,’?

As of April 1, yearly coverage for unemployable adults
on welfare has becn cut from $500 to $250.

The government is using the money it'll save from the
culs for a new program that will allow for more coverage
for children of low income families,

Pearce says the Terrace Anti-Poverty Office has already

‘received a number of complaints, but she thinks a lot of
people still aren’t aware of the changes,

_ Many dentists’ offices started contacting their social ser-
vices clients just one week before the changes went into
effect.

But not all dentists in Terrace accept patients with social
services coverage, and the ones who do are getting busier,
"One office says they're being approached by a number of
people from Kitimat.

Dentists there aren’t accepting social services clients any
longer unless they pay up front.

Much of the reluctance to deal with social services stems
from the fee schedule.

For example, a dentist can bill a group benefits company,
such as Manulife, $253 to $315 for a root canal done on a
patient covered under that plan.

Bul for the same procedure done on a social services
patient, they bill the government for $216.

_ And for a patient who is covered under Blue Cross
through the federal Indian Affairs department, that proce-
dure costs $241.

And Indian Affairs patients have also seen their coverage
scaled back drastically.

_ For-example, children can only get their teeth cleaned
once a year instead of twice.

And adults only get half of a yearly cleaning paid for:
they also used to get two covered,

Dr, Bruce Prokopetz says his office accepts all paticats,
regardless of what type of coverage they have,

‘But he says he works al a Joss on social services clients,

‘If someone comes in and they’re in pain, no-one’s

’ going to tum them away,’’ says Prokopetz.

‘‘And by cutting the coverage, the government is forcing
you out of business,’”

'~ Dr. Dennis Fisher agrees, ‘‘It’s a really awkward situa-
tion,” he says. “This is not a profitable business to be in if

. youre providing high quality care. The only way to make
money is to provide sub-standard care.”

: and patient in a hard place. ” , dentists to work under (hese new parameters.”’ peers Into the mouth of fectiveness of competition in determining gas prices.
Don Lauriente is the Director of Member Services at the — Lauriente feels dentistry should be covered under the an anxious patient. - In announcing the inquiry, Premier Glen Clark said
College of Dental Surgeons and he doesn’t feel the cuts are health ministry, not social services. So : the provincial government does have the authority to

| faireither. ; es He says the ministry gives first priority to food, clothing —— "| yall back price increases found to be unjustified.
“Social services has been very negligent in maintaining and shelter, and dentistry often takes a back seat. oe

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placing an arbitrary $5,000
limit which, in practice. is
really a gag on the
amount of money
individuals or groups can
spend on promoting or
opposing any candidate or

| ‘| — Everspent 2 years | |
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YOUR NEIGHBORS across town The new Election Act, proclaimed July 13, a ° a oe
would like to tell the community what 1995, with hardly a whisper of protest from aving © WO on i e me
they really think of the politicians | opposition parties. has ensured your right to” Coos a -
running in the currentelection campaign. = lecior comet ee most wn, OF oe pyres :
BUT THEY CAN'T, ee oo fae oe ee
Your local critical lo our democratic system —by cs a J ar rey cint en an ce. _ : :

~ community group
would like to'tell
you what it thinks
are the important
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BUT IT CAN'T. If you think that’s fair go back to sleep. 7
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FOR —— AGAINST -

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I os Rev. Val Anderson Roadside Assistance
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