Business REVIEW Resort -. . plans a go, firm says CONSTRUCTION is expected to go ahead this spring on Seven Sisters Ventures’ $35 million wildemess resort despite the resignation ‘of one of the company’s founders. Vice-president Titus Nelson said he had decided to pursue projects in the U.S. rather than the Seven Sisters trail project northeast of Ter- race, Nelson has been replaced on the board of directors by Margo Bates- Froese. “The initial private offering financing of the project is proceed- ing as planned,’’ said Seven Sisters Ventures president Art Bates. “Primary work for the tramway and foad access is expected to begin in the spring of 1998,” The project consists of 55 miles of hiking trails, a main lodge, four trail lodges spaced 10 miles apart, and a series of tent camps and alpine heli- cabins. Bridges include a series of suspension bridges and an aerial tramway crossing the Skeena River. Bates predicts construction will take two years and provide L00 jobs. Up to 200 full and part time jobs could be created when the resort is in full operation, he said. The trail network and lodges would all be in the mountains on the north side of the Skeena River, be- tween Dorreen and Cedarvale. The company has been granted a five-year licence of occupation from the province to conduct commercial backcountry tourism in the area. It also bas a framework agreement for cooperation with members of the Gitwangak band. Province se Treaty benefits big, Gosnell tells Chamber THE NISGA’A final treaty agreement will soon become reality in spite of its opponents, according tribal council president: Joe Gosnell: And he says that’s good economic news for Ter- race and the whole province, Fresh from his opening speech to APEC leaders, Gosnell addressed a Chamber of Commerce Iuncheon here last week. Iv’s been more than two years since he last spoke to the chamber. Back then he had pe ct some harsh words for critics of Nisga’a nego- tiations and Terrace city council for not being sup- portive enough, But this time Gosnell appeared more op- & timistic and less accusing, Joe Gosnell “The agreement we signed in 1996 is real. Hopefully we will soon see it completed,’’ he said. ‘*This will be a monumental achievement for Cana- dian socicty.’’ Gosnell pointed out that, econom- ically and politically, the world is rapidly changing and with a treaty, the Nisga’a, and B.C. will change with it, ‘*Russia ‘has collapsed. We have a black majority in South Africa — something many said would never happen, And with the continuing mectings of APEC we are seeing the blossoming of China,”’ he said. ‘‘Now the First Nations of Canada are enter- ing the picture.” Gosnell said that a treaty would ‘cll the world that the northwest is open for business, and remove some of the uncertainty ‘that he says clouds the region, “‘An honourable and fair treaty will send a strong message to the boar- drooms in Canada and international- ly,’” he said, ‘Not only will it create certainty, but it will save money in the long run. Those who say it’s too much should look at the costs of the current system,”’ There are still some who say the treaty and the treaty negotiations are costing the province too much, while others say the Nisga’a are getting too little. “I say they are both wrong,’” Gos- nell says. ‘A compromise is the price we pay for the justice we have sought.” And he attacked those who say the Nisga’a are getting too much, Their - goal, Gosnell says, is to scuttle the entire process and they have waged “‘a campaign of fear and disinforma- tion’’ towards that goal. If the treaty were to fail, Gosnell asks, ‘‘Where is economic security and social stability? What is there for business people like you to invest your hard-earned dollars in?”’ Gosnel! says the Nisga’a have put their faith in the Canadian legal sys- tem, and he’s confident it will prevail, “We are not a violent people,’’ be said, ‘“You have never seen us block- ing roads or stopping traffic, We have a deep respect for the law that governs this country.”’ And Gosnell says when the final treaty is ratified, it will offer a fresh start for the Nisga’a and Terrace to build and improve relationships. ‘We have dealt with Terrace businesses for 40 some odd years and we will continue to do so,’’ he said. ling off its vehicle fleet assets for possible sale was The Terrace Stand ard, Wednesday, December 10, 1997 - A9 Your copy of our Winter/Spring Brochure is coming December 17/97 in The Terrace Standard paper. -If. you do not receive a copy and want to be put on our mailing list, call 635-6511, local 5340. Nerthwest £4 * a THE PROVINCE is now analyzing bids for a massive privatization of its entire fleet of | government vehicles, On the block are 4,700 passenger cars, light trucks, and 4xds that would be bought by the successful bidder and then leased back to the province. The sell-off would likely taise a large sum of money — likely between $50 and “$100 million:—= but commit. the government to annual lease payments. Finance ministry assistant deputy minister Steve Hol- lett said Friday the province expects to make a decision by March, in time for the next budget. Hollett denies suggestions “that, the:vehiclescll-off is aimed at raising ‘money. to help balance the provincial budget. He said the decision to ex- amine various government announced last spring. “Tvs strictly a cost ef- ficiency issue,” Holictt said. “Are we better off to awn our own Vehicles or are we better off to sell all of these off and enter into lease arrangement?’? Existing maintenance con- tracts would be honoured. 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