"ROGER F HARRIS at the mothballed New Skeena Forest Products ‘tions has slaked his economic plan: for’ the region’on, a “rebound .

lant Skeena's h MLA and the minister of state for forestry opera- of "leasing driven, *Y. Victoria’ 8 timber takeback.. JEFF NAGEL PHOTO ©

from’ the § inajor. ‘licensees:”.
“Hanis, whose ministerial role is ‘to
ensure. the forest reforms, work: on-

( wane is’ “good. Right? apa f |
haps more. so. than. anywhere a
else right: now, “northwestern ee

: Central. ‘td the: concépt. is s thé“)
"province's 20 per. cent timber: ta-
keback. from. big. licensees.
_ Much. will. go-to-open: auctions. ~*
“through B.C.-Timber Sales: to ‘de- ae
velop” ‘market- based | ‘pricing “Po
“benchmarks for < stumpage.. But“ .1-
- more: will: - go to ‘First: Nations, “
- Coramunity’ ‘forests and_others.: . 7
Victoria has, beer steadily. ‘roll! 2
“ing out deals io hand timber over
to aboriginal | groups. On Jan.-20. ey:
‘was the turn, of the “Kitselas ‘and .
Kitsumkalum ‘bands next to Ter-.)
race to.sign.a deal’ with forests.
minister. Mike. de-Jong. It gives. <
“them 800,000" cubic: metres: of -°
timber over: five: “years’ ‘and. ‘turns: 2
over. $2.8 million ‘in: govertiment -
sevenup to the.two, ands’ over the. °

for: is ong roms 1 evel
tion’ to fla arrive. oe

e producer’ + = ‘the’ ‘former: Skeena’
‘Cellulose Row teflagged - New

George ‘Petty, who Gought-the bai-  -
‘led-outPrince Rupert pulp mill,
sawmills and timber fromthe pro=
Mince: for $8 ‘million; ‘have: strug~
gled: t6taise startup: financing. - —
“Ven zt and" :Petty, “who. once.
ran Skeena, ‘swept ‘back into the”
hwest it ‘in n 2002: promising trans-

con This is, ‘the ‘first visible on the. a
“ground: evidence’ ‘of ‘transfér-‘of., |
_ fibre to community- -based. busines-
ses,” said: Harris, : heralding. the
deal. .“It starts to: ‘pula: face to”
_what reallocation. will-look like?”
Before. becoming % a jusiior mini:
ster, Harris. had.been:. outspoken in”
“calling. on Victoria ‘to. accelerate “|
‘its timber reforms: Besides. being. |
- - catapulted: up ‘toa’ cabinet. seat
zand put-in charge of managing the °
- ground: level headaches “surround-
ing the. teforms, he has. persuaded
sy the: province. to. ‘make the: ‘north:
wet, the testing ground.» os
“Timber‘is being takeri back and ao
"peallocated here first,: with the rest
“of. thé province’ an estimated six
“months to.a year behind. |.
- Exactly. where. the. tittiber will “
come from.is in the final throes. of a
being, determined. : : =
But. Word. that: ‘West: Fraser: ‘and ra
‘Interfor will give up large” amounts
Of timber: here to, minimize their al
Z takeback i in, ottiet regions has: =

“On many fronts, they have de.

wage cuts” in exchange for: profit me
‘sharing.- ‘Lumber, and: “Pulp: market- .

Canfor and: CellMark,.

THE CITY of Terrace had New. ‘Skeena equipment seized late,
last year before. a Nege ordered ital returned. | .

= New: Skéena- now bioasts a 20
per’ cent: wage cost. advantage ~:
‘over.its Bi ic, ‘competitors and a:30 - -
pet-cent overall. ‘Cost’ advantage’ - -
when:and- if: ite can get up ‘and: tune

convincing: ‘the court: to pull ‘the ;
.-plug on the company’s owners:
- "The judge has. sét-a test” ‘of
. doomed ‘to. failure’,” he * said,
“adding opposing-towns-must. prove :
_there’s no chancé of success:
“That's, an. almost impossible
tesi,”. he said.’
“Talstra makes no’ apologies for
"pushing fora quick’ ‘end, adding...
the: liquidation, proposal: “was .esti-.
“mated to raise more than.$17 mil-*,
lion: and still allowed the’ prospect”.
‘of a further sale” ‘of. the: sawmill as
oa going: ‘concern.-

Skeena’ Ss secured debt i is sowed to:
“its parent. company, which, Veniez .
and Petty: also‘own, 3:

~ Liquidation: would fully repay
-Veniez* and: Petty,-.and™ much: of,
he unpaid property taxes.
Bur’ there’s. ino sign’ Veniez, and
Petty.‘dre ready" to. surrender: yeis
“Our ‘goal ‘is ‘to get: the business.
Up. and “those: “people back - ta"
Venie 2 stys, “That, is. our

“Still elusive is ‘the. money.”
“Noone thought. that.we would
go. through’ another Christmas uh
without ‘being, ‘in: full “operation

Pritice: ‘Rupert: citizens tried: to

‘pitch in: last. summer; They. voted

in: ‘a referendum. to. -borrow ’ $20,
million to ‘finanée’ the. company’s’
“startup, By last. October the com-
pany had abandotied that- option: in
favour. of pursuit of conventional."
investors . ‘and. ‘loans. ‘The: vote, ao
Seems to have’ largely. been ¢ one. of a
confidence.’ intended ‘to’ encourage “
reluiciant “investors to: Open, their.

; His ‘claims: io be 4 in , fiegotia:
“tions with an- assortment of. forest.

oe companies. ‘and: ‘financial institu: :
‘tions around ‘the world: were bols-
“tered: in: “January: when Te mbec'

“What.do"you thinik i is Yong e ens
‘ough: Cem wait?” Talstra, _asked;.
“Should “we? waitone “year?
Should we ‘wait two ‘years? Somé-_ ;
-where you. “have to’ draw ‘a’ line.

“Contractors wtio may. ose ‘yor |
7 ‘lume: are anxious, ‘but’ Harris: re-:
mains’ upbeat the revolution. in nthe |
woods will-work, 0008 :

, Shae hag be:

. ‘The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 19, 2004'- = vo
CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD -

The Mail Bag

Return clothes, please

Dear Siri, .

“This'is to the: person ‘ehio, stale: my ‘som
and. that person's parents. 1¢a Conky” hope. that. your,
. need for new clothes was ‘green: than. my-son ‘Se
. He received new: arty, took: “shorts. at ispting., break’
“and. wore tiem one Wednesday Ane ‘2b, for the fits

swimming. ‘that; day ‘and -wlien i came'¢ ‘pouty th
etson who took -his ‘clothes was ‘kind endugh’ fy leave’

iothes — :

his: unders;, §0X, “shoes: and: towel. My ‘son: had: ‘10 gO” : a

home in a wet: ‘bathing. sult and-a. wet. ‘towel: ‘He is.9:'
ears old, We are, of limited funds and, new ‘clothes : oe
are a treat. T can ao imagine: being ‘a: _parent. and” not
notice ‘my: child showing up ‘with ‘unfamiliar ‘clothe
~ If the story 1s: that a! friend’ gave the, clothes: to him
ther asa: responsible: parent: T would follow, Up: ‘with ae
call: to the’ parents ‘ofthe giver. Clothing i is expensive:
and, many. families can't afford. fo give clothes away
They: -are usually ‘passed.down,- * cs
‘Lam shocked ‘to. find that people: are. willing’ to-take.* -:
“the: clothes of -child. 1 heard. from'-a: friend: that :
‘someone, ‘stole her daughtee’ s,-shocs- -at: school: Hei
~ primaty ‘school daughter walked hoine’in’socks..
» Can't-parents™ notice: ‘when= thelr. ‘children have |
“something they didnot provide? Somethin
_. amazingly. “given’™ to. their. child
I should: have ‘given’ “my. son. : money to. Teck up. ‘the |
Tocker. . ‘However, ] never: “fathomed:: that childrens,
“clothes would ‘be. taken: Yous ‘can. bet I’ willbe: oiy the:
watch for those. khaki gicen- aimy: ‘colour: herts with.:
‘the, unique. ‘pattern and the:olive green t-shir since I: °
have. hot seen. them here i in the: ‘stores... ~ Be
If § someone. was: to. return’ the: army. IGok, shorts and
“the “distinctive ‘Olive green aeshirt: “with. the’ ‘lie-dye’
spattern; dirt- bike: | pic‘and: orange: mote ‘cross. lettering; 7
‘the best’ idea would: be to put thein:-in. a bag,’ and. :

twas. oe

_ discreetly: drop - them: off. atthe: ‘pool: The’ staff wil Be

keep them thereuntil T pick’ ‘them up. We-both would:

appreciate: that.-No questions. ‘Just a happier: boy: ‘than

ithe ‘ one. who went. home, ‘wel, cold:and distraught. ©...
oS Trish Coffey, Terrace, Bi

“Sportsplex. blues
“Dear Sir fe at mo
“Two ‘weeks. go 1 ead. in: the: ‘paper the. city. Phas.
hired an-architect to-design the sportsplex. Last week:
oT read ‘the: city has: quietly, ja Ked. Up: the cost: of the:
f multiplex..- ae . ;
. Ffeel- deceived. ‘Our. mayor ; and “council: fave ‘said
“that thetaxpayer wouldnot have to foot-the bill. They
“have raised’ $700,000 ‘out, ofthe $2'900,000 necessary
for the: project. Leaving the’ project $2,200,000 short:
* {Rumour-has it-that Alcan is‘donating- $450, ‘000. atid :

“i; What: J, find : outrageous. ‘is: that, the ‘existing. ives»
- facility-is “under, utilized and we are building. another:
» Sheet, of ite: ;

“They: talk: ‘about energy’ Ost, sdvings 40. -the hine ‘of
$140, 000 per year. Net operating . Ost. may: be*lower’ »
but’ ‘corresponding revenues’ seem. lo be: overstated:
The city. has increased - revenu ojections . for ‘ice | a
> rentals;: ‘How do. you" ‘inerease: revenbes ‘in ide rentals -:
‘when: you--are not using. -you ‘e sling - sheet to.

i
lt
{

I

i

i
i
1

1

‘

i

a First Nations ‘group’ is* “donating $400, 000": in: kind. So S ”
“now we! are $1,250, 000: ‘short. moe cet ea Fey 2s ee a -

i
7
;

“Capacity? Where. dre'the people going. to come from’. a a

to. fully: utilize ‘this complex?! :
: Council,’ ‘why not let the laxpayer decide: “After all.
you ‘deceived “US: by: saying swe. “would: ‘rdise’ the.
$2,000;000. Or is it: $2,900, 000? - Who knows now?. Te
‘do know’ this’ taxpayer. has no stomach for any: more’,
taxes -when * ‘the ‘economy.’ is’ on its: knees, dn ‘the -.
| northwest. a “
-The’-cost, of, the sportsptex: started: al 84, 000; 60.
“now: the project is- $4,900,000. Who is. to’ Say. it won't .
‘be. $6,900,000: or :$7,900,000 by :the time. this is
‘finished. ‘Council's: stories. are: ‘getting very: +hard to
“believe, especially sitce.-the “public. hears’: something
. different every. week: ‘Does: cily ‘council’ think: that the --

_ taxpayers. really support a | spartéplex? r 50,: let us, the oo

taxpayers: decide.
! ‘John. Malo, Ferra B.C.

Wait until next May
‘Dear Sir: oe
Team: a “phaimacy ‘technician with: the. “Hospital
“Employees” ‘Union. What”: people. celther, don’t ©

“| \understand: or don’t: care ‘about ‘is thal. the: technical.

“Andina: sensé: iv 8. A, -8E :
scale revolution ~ in contrast. to™.
~.Canfor’s. “unveiling: of ‘the : largest’ a

~ -saivmil in the world’ in Houston,” ”-

- | “Bigger is better in the interior;
* where: the. fibre’ basket -is: differ-

' says mayor Jack’ Talstra. ..

eB Gt the. reality. for us is bigder-is- “| :

‘better jhasn’t been a wintier here. we.

fos “Smaller i is where we're-going

“to sée'thé niche markets evolve,"

Harris predicts.” “If we cut:more

- than ‘what.we cut'last year-and get: © “["

“back: towhete. the. [annual., cul}...

“should be: in the ‘northwest ‘there's -~
lot of: work. for t a lot :

. We're:saying ‘we should: draw the:
ling, here: because: we’ tiave: $17, 2
‘ million i in: hand.! heen ey

geome. ‘the. “wearblet ,
commodity
: horthy west...

“Since. then” -patienes’ has: ‘be:
“come ‘the: scarcist comimodity. An,
3! the! northwest, : as\-mayors :and .°
‘workers: alike increasingly. consid-: ©
‘er. the: ‘region: paralyzed -~ if not:
held hostage ~ by New. Skeena, »
‘ Tired of waiting. ‘for more ‘than’:
$20 million: in outstanding. proper-.:

in “the: northwest ine,
“dustry, some Signs. Of. progress:
~ have begin’ to emerge, 2
". West..Praser is. logging” ‘and,
“milling: here’ ‘once’ “again after ‘its:
.. Terrace: sawmill ended. “an: eigh
month shutdown: “originally trig-
~pered by. a strike: cat its - ‘Kitimat “

“ng. C CEO. Prank Doitoit: ett ‘med
» his company: is looking at buying

ty ‘takes tobe paid, Prince: Rupert, -
‘Terrace, “Port Edward and: New.
Hazelton’ moved i in‘concert.in.No-
vember to seize, mobile: equip:
ent. from New’ Skeena’s yards,

though B.C. Supreme Couit oo

Tembée. Was. founded: in: 1973.
‘when: awarkers, unions ‘and. -entre-
preneurs Lama forces sere a

~ New. Skeetia “has sold its Kies
“Wwainga sawmill, -which has long “fo
been a Profitable miller of north-
wm West cedar, to “Surrey: :
based’ Westex’ Alberta:
Lida. -subsidiary: of”
Westex. ‘Timber. Nearly
30 workers ‘are-now back
at work -in. the: mill’. and
loggers aré- jn the bush:
To. his: -doubters, Veniez
‘says he dnd -Petty.conti=
nue. to. put their: “money
where: their mouths: are: a
“Tf George Petty: and. top

“Bales the equipnient

“feturned, the move. ino a “Access 10: ‘timber, will encour:

" age-inore people. to:start Mp: mills; :
es and begin to-make innovalive use’
of the wood supply; he’says,. Ad
“irig.:to. that is: the: prospect of: a
its. * “container port in: Prince: Rupert
; Within two years, eet

ae we think: you'll ‘see~ ‘the: dyna v
ye mics. of. the community change]:
wite. -quickly,”. Harris says.."T feel:
a pretty. good, about the second. half wos
of the: year: for. the: northwest,” whe

ee ‘scrutiny: of court: F
appointed | monitors. a
The: ‘judge has’ since.
“granted: a pair of 60-
wo day’ extensions to cre-
. ditor: ‘protection... The
“company. comes back
‘to court’June-13..
a “Terrace: ‘mayor Jack. *
: Talstray ‘who. opposed *
-. the extensions in favour-of. a iqii-
" dation,, hopes’ the. end. i is near ‘but: |
fears New” Skeena's. fefinancing ’
~.;. could drag’ out for. moiths -yet,”
~"Jeaving -the, sawmill | here. down, :
~ until sometime in 2005. : vee
“ He--now™ doubts - ‘city “couneil |
- “will, succeed any: time ‘soon An. o

money lus. interest, and
run, we could-have' done:
“that today, we: could: have ‘dorie
that/a year ago," ’ Veniez. says,

~ And it's true, “Although this:
the third’ time-in: seven years: the”
-aperations.. have.been™ ‘ins. bank:.
2 tuptey: * protection,.-this. time: there
“is. no-redl outside debi, aside. from
sungale Property MaKe

- ‘Dan Venlez

“his nvestors: while’ [umber ‘and
at markets remain on a tear?”
. Wilk Harris’ ‘transforindd: indu:: _

tinber from: big. Take wide and
“pul itinto the! hands. of new,. sinale:,
ler Operators. “And wateh. a new. i

10: the polls next. ‘spring?!
'“ Both: men*-have’ been .
“big, but will have to Start, deliver: we
cing results: very: soon.. an ar

"new: players: in the: game who ‘are :
“going to be. quicker | to adapt; ‘and-t
do 1 think: you: ‘lt: See that come

staff : ‘including © biomedical: -engincers, . ai sensed
“practical: nurses,- ‘pharmacy ~ technicians, lab’.
- technicians; ete.’ are. ail: being hit-much: harder with
= this: Jegislation-than-anyone else. -..

Our laundry, ‘dietary,! and: housekeeping ‘staff wilt
‘still ‘be earning higher. wages shan- their’ counterparts’.
“across Canada. with a 13, per. cent. Wage: cut. However, L

“provinces. The higher" the’ ‘education: ‘and experience:
you. have, the Jower: you: 20... eee :
Part ‘lime. slalf will, further: get cul. ‘bccauie will,
lose; thé. hours. that-the full timers. ‘will extend. by.
“What ‘aggravalis. ‘fe -Mmore™ than: atty(hing, though,- is
‘that I am‘told at: ‘every: lével«that: Ihave ho voice, [ -
have consistently been told: there's. nothing we can: ‘do.

about it, Af. we: don” th ‘Like what. happens, to us-we-are =.

told that. 's, too bad and. we cin: Say “something i in: the ,
‘provincial: election: next May. : :
~..°] feel Jas though L-have ‘beth ‘raped: and then: told
‘that because’ L-wore, ‘thie: wrong), shirt,-1 ‘deserved | it.
Furthermore; there is ‘nothing E:can:do.to: ‘stop. it and: I.
will continue: to- be. raped: “until: ‘May. when I get.a.
“chance to “speak up- about it, is, this Awhat democracy
‘is? Bt {heaght we all had voices. “°°
ae {Nicole Abrshamesik, Terrace, 5. Ce

. ay any

7 TR “About the Mail Bag

ne The Terrace Standard walcomes ‘letters. Our. -
‘|. addréss is’ 9210 Clinton. St., Terrace, B.C: VEG
_ §R2, You: can. fax-us- at: 250: 638-8432 ‘or:
_Us.at newsroom @ terracestandard: com. -
‘ “attachments, | please. We: need your :name:.

- address. and: phone’ number for verification. Our
‘| daadiing is noon: | Friday or ngon: Thursday. iF Wts.e a
= tong: weekend... a oo

vbr

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