At2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 2, 2003 New forest rules free up the flow of logs THE MOST sweeping forestry changes in 50 years handed down last week were largely in line with advance expectations. Here’s a summary of the changes: Mi Logs will .no longer be tied to specific mills to protect local jobs. Timber cut can be sold for process- ing anywhere in B.C, Some mills are expected to close as a result. But advocates say it sends the right log to the right mill, boosting efficiency. M Companies will no longer be threatened with loss of cutting rights if they don’t log a certain amount over five years. That means opera- tors will be more free to cut when prices are high and shut down in bad markets. But timber that firms choose not to cul will be taken and offered to others. @ Twenty per cent of all timber held by major companies will be taken back and reallocated. Ministry officials say it will be representative of each licensee’s timber — not just undesirable wood. , M About half the timber taken back will go to an auction system designed to make more wood avail- able at market prices and deliver a reliable pricing. system to guide LAUDO BOTELHO drives a forklift joaded with lumber at the West Fraser sawmill in Terrace. JEFF NAGEL PHOTO stumpage rates. The rest will go to First Nations, community forests and wooadlots. Eventually up to 45 per cent of B.C.’s timber may be avail- able on the open market, rather than tied up in long-term licences. M@ Licences can be broken up and pieces can be sold off, Some say that will lead to more efficient use of the forests. Others say companies will sell timber rights for big profits that the taxpayers should get. The old five per cent clawback on li- cence transfers is gone. @ No change to present log ex- port rules. @ A $275 million transition fund will be set up, $200 million will compensate forest companies for the clawback. $75 million will aid work- ers and contractors. Ottawa rethinks offshore drill ban THE FEDERAL govern- ment wants to review its moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling. The March 28 announ- cement by federal natural resources minister Herb Dhaliwal, mirrors a review already underway by the provincial government of Monuments Bronze Plaques Terrace Crematorium 4626 Davis Street Terrace, B.C. VBG 1X7 if funerdl Senice §=Phone 635-2444 © Fax 635-635-2160 Assodotion its own moratorium. ’ At stake is a potential for a thriving offshore oil and gas, generating jobs and income at the north end of Vancouver Island and on the north coast. But any exploratory drilling has been barred by the two governments’ bans. MacKay’s Funeral Service Ltd. | Serving Terrace, Kitimat, Smilhers & Prince Rupert ~ Concerned Personal service in the Northwest since 1946 24 hour pager “This process is not a decision on whether or not to lift the moratoria, but tather a means to fully ex- plore the issues and views of British Columbians,” Dhaliwal said. . Also planned is a re- view of the science rela- ting to offshore oil and gas. The prospect of drilling has raised worries by en- vironmental, fishing and native groups — and federal environment minister David Anderson who, like Dhaliwal, is from B.C. Details of how the re- view will work will come later, said Dhaliwal. Car crashes are the number one killer of youth in B.C. The number one Kiler of youlh in B.C. is car crashes. Each week one to two young pecple aged 13 0 21 die in motor vehicle accidents and over 200 are injured. Many are disabled, There were about 8,250 youth car crashes in 2001 resulting in 77 youth falalilies and 10,435 injured. Cne in five new drivers will be involved in a crash In their first two years of driving. A large number of the crashes will occur on Friday or Saturday nights and passengers are taking an equal isk. The vast majority of crashes are the resuit ol unsafe choles associated with driving and being 4 passen- ger in a vehicle, Some examples of unsale choices ata overestimating one's ability, underestimating road risks and the perception that risk taking is socially acceptable, The major risk factors ate excessive speed and danger- alcohol impairment, Many groups and organizations ar working with young people to help prevent carerashes, Awareness is being raised regarding youth road safety through TV ads and olher media. A group making a major commitment to this cause is the CounterAlack and Roadsense Sociaty of BC - C.A.R.S. BC, {wwvw.carste.org) It Is @ network of youth read safety groups active in ovar 200 BC secondary schools, The various groups involved all have a similar massage and it dees seem fo be having some effect. The latest five year sta- tistics show injuries and falalilies have beendecreasing. Between 1996 and 2001 deaths dropped by 18% and youth Injuries by 26%, Batter as that may be, Much more Is required to prevent this great loss of our youth, All drivers andin particular inexperienced clivers must comply with the rules of the road, When the tules are followed drivers have a better chance of anticipating what the other driver is going to do. ~ Everyone in the vehicle must wear their seat belts, Wearing It mans you will be twice as likely to survive a crash. ~ Limit distractions, Dislractions, euch as cel phones or emotionally charged convarsalions while driving will take aitention away from the task of driving, ~ Reduce speed lor the road conditions. Don't let pear pressure make you a stalistic, For sale stopping leave at least two seconds of space between your car and the vehicle In front. Increase it to three seconds at higher speed and more if nead be. ~ Do nol mix driving with the drugs and or alcoho! censumption. Do nol ride with impaired drivars and make every efford to keep them aff the road. me roles JNSURING @ SAFER BC” wis Wena & SMITH INSURANCE AGENCIES: ous driving which includes driving without due cafe and attention and drug or — . ry “ e 7 Vitamin EF oe 6, . 400iu - 100% Natural Fi f An estimated 2 million Coral Calcium 73 Coral Minerals & D3 99 100% Eco -Safe 2x60 Copsules | 99 90 Capsules 29.9 i Canadians have Type 2 A Diobetes. Are You at Risk? i Type Il Defense isextusiveto [' Be Songster's ond contains FenuLile! B Gymname Sylvestre and more. 3 | 99 150 Capsules 101 Greig Avenue, Terrace 635-5070 Sale Prices in Effect until April 13, 2003 while supplies last