ia a te i ae abies AG - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 7, 1997 Gov’t faulted for Repap mess ,iaant An open letter to: The Hon. David Zirnhelt, Forests Minister Dear Sir: The North West Loggers Association is con- cemed about comments made by yourself, Dan Miller, and our local MLA Helmut Giesbrecht, : regarding the recent Repap B.C. fiasco. dG Skeena Technical Services ud. Pe ns bebe ae en ae ectem mcliom. These comments imply that contractors ac- cepted the delayed pay schedule instituted by Repap. This is not the case. ; The government's comments suggest that th unsecured creditors of Repap were not prudent in their business practices and thus are desery- ing of the fate that currently awaits them. °° We feel strongly that the government has some responsibility in this situation given the warnings and please for assistance made by the North West Loggers Association. In a letter dated Sept, 20, 1995 to then-forest minister Andrew Petter, we outlined our fears of the continuation of the delayed pay schedule and the effects to the northwest of Repap Enter- prises Inc. severing its B,C, operations. Mr. Petter responded by suggesting that the neat CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail Bag possibility existed of revising B.C. Reg. 258/91 (Timer Harvesting.-Contract-and Subcontract. - Regulation) to stipulate pay schedules that would apply province-wide to licensees, con- tractors, and sub-contractors, In our submission regarding the transfer of the Crenda Forest Products licence we stated we felt that Repap did not have it financial house in order. The supporting documents included a chronology of the delayed pay schedule dating back ta October 1990, Under the terms and conditions of the timber What's going on here? An open letter to: Colin Smith, C.E.0., Forest Renewal British Columbia. Dear Mr. Smith: 1 am writing to express our concern over pending cuts to FRBC funded projects presently underway in our region. Our pri- mary concern is the watershed restoration program, where funding has been reduced by 65 per cent or more. Over the past two years, FRBC has in- vested wisely in a long term strategic plan fo assess the impact of historical logging practices on land and water resources. This process was undertaken with the clear direction from FRBC that funds would be available to complete this restora- tion. Detailed plans are presently in place for unemployed and displaced forestry workers and First Nations people to be put to work on projects that will have an im- mnediate and direct benefit to the environ- ment and the local economy. Why, then, are these projects being cut back just as they reach the point of im- “BUSINESS GLASS” p COMPUTER SALES High End Peatiuna 200 S2MELEDO Ram vB 2 UGA itand Drive - Ji Speed CDRom. . 22 Di Saund"? | 33.6 Modem © Sales, service and Tepairs. ..- . F = Highend and 2 economy moddle.-~ © Locally owned and = * ojerated WAT" SVGA Monitor Li -— 638-0808 § 3569.1) ‘Sorvics_tt’s our goal and inqurnzme” : @a45GREIG AVENUE (pl L ETERRAGE, OG VEG Mae) REGIONAL DISTRICT OF KITIMAT-STIKINE has for sale the following items #TCM3IAV570803 IBM 5219 Display Writer printer 2 IBM 3180 screens with keyboards 1 high back office chair 1 low back office chair 1 AKAI stereo integrated amplifier 1 Panasonic video VHS cassette player 1 Compu-synchro double tape cassette deck 2 AKA! microphones These items can be viewed at the Regional District office, Monday-Friday between 8:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. All items are “As is” “Where Is”, Sealed bids will be received until noon May 16, 1997. The lowest bid will not necessarily be the successful bid. Bids shauld be directed to: Verna Wickie, Treasurer Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine #300 - 4545 Lazelle Avenue Terrace, B.C. V8G 4E1 CELEBRATE MOTHER'S DAY with a B at the TERRACE INN Economy Pentium 166 16 Cig Herd Dave 16 MB Ram RSpeedCD Rom 16. 8i1 Sound 5" SVGA Moniter $1799.) 1980 GMC 2 wheel drive flatdeck truck, Serial ee Dishes ~ Plus Scrumptious Desserts And Fresh Fruits! $13.95/Adults $7.95/Children Under 12 FREE/Children Under 3 Phone For Reservations 35-0083 fam. TERRACE INN 4553 Greig Avenue, Terrace Toll Free 1-800-488-1898 dee ee Treat Mom To Her Favourite Traditional plementing the restoration plans and con- tributing to the jobs that will stimulate the local economy? By some estimates, FRBC has a surplus of over $800 million in the bank from stumpage and royally revenucs generated by the forest industry, it appears that FRBC js straying from several of its key guiding principles: FRBC projects were to be incremental. Investments were only to be used for pro- gtams or projects that would not be other- wise undertaken by government or indus- try. The recent commitment to funding sil- viculture projects contradicts this principle of incrementally. FRBC projects were also meant to in- clude First Nations participation, ensure long term community stability and create jobs. Our communities are relying on the stable funding that FRBC was supposed to pro- vide to the region to buffer the cyclical and seasonal trends of the forest industry. Skip Bates, President, ‘Terrace And District Chamber of Commerce. harvesting contract and subcontract regulation, contractors and sub-contractors cannot with- draw services if the licensee initiates a delayed pay schedule, The only means of recourse is a long drawn out and costly process and can only be initiated at contract renewal. ‘We feel that if a province-wide industry stan- dard pay schedule were included in the regula- tions, the financial hardship and devastation cre- ated by Repap’s C.C.A.A. protection would have been softened. It was our understanding that the intent of the regulation was to create a level playing field be- tWeen contractors and licensees. However, the fact that no pay schedule guidelines are in- cluded in the Regulation allowed companies like Repap to’ issue ultimatums to either go along with the delayed pay schedule or the op- erations would be shut down. On the other hand, contractors were not in a position to demand payment or to cease work- ing, as lo do so would be deemed to be in con- travention of B.C, Reg. 258/91, therefore, in breach of contract. The government’s current attitude to our situation is unacceptable and we feel that it is imperative to made some changes to the regula- tion to stipulate pay schedules in order to avoid a repeat of the turmoil we are currently facing. We cealize and accept that when a person goes into business there. is some risk involved, how- ever the way the act is currently written it forces contractors to take more risk that is acceptable. Changes would ensure that this scenario never happens again, not only in the pacific northwest but in the entire B.C. forest industry. In addition to changes requested of B.C. Reg. 258/91, we would also like to have discussions as to what changes could be made to pertinent legislation so that a contractor or sub-contractor has an avenue to mitigate some of their risk by being able to transfer their book debts from an unsecured position to a more secured position. We understand that the Law Reform Commis- sion of B.C. recammended in 1994 to the At- torney General that the archaic and outdated Wood Workers Lien Act be modernized and brought up to date, Once again it appears nothing was done by the govemment. It is time for this current govern- ment to make some positive changes to assist its number one industry instead of continually put- ting out fires. Bill Saver, Secretary/Manager, ‘North West Loggers Association Hurtful rumours Dear Sir: ; I am so appalled at the way this town works. There was # tragic accident on the way to Kitimat on Easter Sunday. ] was involved. One of my good friends was killed. I don’t believe the gossip that goes around this town. I am not just pointing the finger at the teens here, like most adults like to; the teens are not all to blame. Everyone is. My mom was shopping one day just after the acci- dent and heard the most terrible things being said about me and my other friends that were there. I don’t want to say this about that town I live in but it is so true — you people will do anything for a kick. I have barricaded myself at home because I can’t handle all of the rumours, and things being said about us. So next time you hear something that is most likely not true, don’t go and spread it around. Think about who you are hurting. It was a horrible accident, and it could have happened to anyone. Erin Hague, Terrace, B.C. myself, Preston and the other three teens that were with HERE'S YOUR chance to hear and ques- tion the candidates running for the Skeena riding in the June 2 federal election. The tive candidates, incumbent Reform MP Mike Scott, NDPer Isaac Sobol, Libera Rhoda Witherly, Tory Kent Glowinski and Rod Freeman of the Christian Heritage Party wil ity to question each other. And there'll be plenty of time for the audi- ence to ask their questions. The evening is sponsored by The Terrace Standard, Terrace Toastmasters, the Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce and the RI courts to decide. _ And to show our good faith, we said we'll invest any compensation the courts may award us into our business here in B.C, We also said we still want to expand in B,C, in the future. But the government has to let us do that by leaving KCP to the courts, and honouring the rights and agreements that support 5,000 jobs in this region today. The simple truth is that the provincial government has + never made an offer that would keep Alcan whole, If the: government wants to talk about options that take our loss- és into account, we’re more than willing to listen. In the meantime, we're asking the courts to decide on the past. So we can focus on the future. - An Element of B.C. If you would tike more information on this issue, | please call Alcan at 1 800-94 ALCAN, ~ ° ‘We’re asking the courts to decide on the past, so we can focus on the future. — We want you to know thal going to court over com- pensation for the Kemano Completion Project was one of the toughest decisions we’ve ever made. We didn’t want it to come to this. But, after two years - of negotiations, we just weren't able to agree on the value _ of KCP. The government could never understand the strategic importance of this asset to our aluminum business’ and to the Pacific Northwest. . "_ Since we couldn’t agree on KCP’s value, it was “impossible to agree on fair compensation. So, we did what our democratic systems allow us to do: we asked the provide their positions and have the opportun- fi