A14 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 25, 2003 TERRACE STANDARD Busrsss REVIEW Building plans reinforce forecast for improvement MAYOR JACK TALSTRA says he's sticking by his forecast of a year ago that Terrace has essentially bot- tomed out and begun its recovery. Talstra, speaking to chamber of commerce members in his annual state of the city address Thursday, pointed to renewed construction ac- tivity already this year. “Wal-Mart is ready to go into the ground very, very shortly,” he said. He also pointed to new construc- tion by Terrace Honda and Terrace Furniture Mart, and expected new projects including a drive-through Tim Horton's on Lakelse, a Safeway gas bar and a Lucky Dollar Bingo Palace expansion.. “Those are all good signs,” he said. Terrace has also recorded three new house starts this year — a big improvement from zero in 2002. Talstra also outlined the city’s fi- . nancial position, noting cuts to virtu- ally all city departments has re- turned city-paid employment to 1992 levels. Cuts at. the fire department were the latest to go ahead as coun- cil continued to tighten the cily’s belt rather than raise taxes. Talstra said Terrace continues to support other towns in the re- gion. “What's good for Kitimat, what’s good for Prince Rupert, what’s good for the Nass Valley and for the Ha- zeltons is good for Terrace.” He said that means Terrace sup- port for.Prince Rupert’s proposed ctuise ship dock and container port, for oil and gas exploration both off- shore and onshore, and for the Ste- Jack Talstra wart-Omineca resource road. He sounded a more cautionary note on the issue of Alcan, The aluminum giant is very im- portant to the region, Talstra said. “We have to treat them with ten. der care,” he said. “We want to plan an active role there and do whatever we can to assist.” The mayor also said a proposed road connecting southeast Alaska to Hwy 37 may not be as bad as feared. “A border should not be scary,” he said. “There may be ways to change what we consider a negative into a positive,” Talstra also signalled he’s behind the airport society’s drive to extend the runway to attract larger jets. He noted Smithers is also plan- ning to extend its runway. “If we want to remain a commun- ity based on growth, we have to keep up,” he said. Hawkair to sell shares to raise cash For every. question Sign Up For Summer Swim Sets are starting June 30th Special Themes for each set of Celebrate Canada Day & the Start of Summer Vacation Friday, June 27th, 2003 1:;00pm—4:00pm Lessons lessons. Pick up your Summer Recreation Guide at: Terrace Arena, City Hall, Copperside Foods, Terrace Library, Safeway, Skeena Mall and Terrace Aquatic Centre Tel: 250-615-3030 For More Information Weight Watchers can HAWKAIR AVIATION is selling private shares in a bid to raise $4.5 million for further expansion. The money from new investors will be used to acquire more planes and expand into new markets, as well as bolster working capital, officials at the Terrace-based airline said. “The company’s chan- ging again,” marketing director Charlynn Toews said. “We're going to have shareholders.” She said the airline is eyeing three new destina- tions in B.C. and one in Alberta. Hawkair started passen- ger service nearly three years ago and has since expanded from one to three Dash-8 aircraft serv- ing Terrace, Prince Ru- pert, Smithers and Dawson Creek, Plans ultimately call for the airline to grow to around a dozen Dash-8 air- craft, Toews said, but added the next step will be a fourth plane paired with one new destination. Expansion will mean further growth beyond the airline’s current 100 em- ployees. Toews said a fourth plane will mean hiring an- other five pilots and five flight attendants. And a fourth plane also triggers a regulatory re- quirement that the airline open a dispatch depart- ment. She said that will mean another six to eight work- ers in Terrace plus an ex- pansion of the Hawkair building at the airport. Toews said the shares to be sold represent a roughly 40 per cent stake in the airline. The preferred Hawkair shares won't be publicly traded on an exchange, but will be handled through agent Dundee Securities. The RRSP-eligible shares would pay divi- dends based on the air- line’s profitability. Buyers will be eligible for a 30 per cent refund- able tax credit under the B.C. Small Business Ven- ture Capital Act, The airline hosts a pub- lic information meeting Thursday at the Best Western Terrace Inn on the share offering. help you get out from under winter's layers. vrYvwwv Join now and get “In the Groove”— your cool guide to getting started, FREE when you join. OIN NOW FOR 1/2 PRICE AND SAVE $22 caLL 1800 682 8011 WEIGHTWATCHERS.cOM Kiiox United Church (ferrace) 4907 Lazelte Tuesday 9:30 am # Tuesday 5:30 pm, 7:00 pm es real food.real life.reai results. Valid [n Gritish Columbia for a fiitectime ank Si went weekly fess apply. GST il Inc. owner of tha WEIGHT WATCHERS trademark. i bghasseserved. ©2000 Waight Watchers FREE:‘GAME VOUCHER ® FREE GAME VOUCHER ana EEE FREE GAME VOUCHER * This game is free, that’s right, FREE! 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