-A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, July 2, 1997 Mayors call for more talks to resolve crisis Timber should stay with area operators MAYORS from across the northwest carefully maintained a united front Thursday in calling for a resolution of the Skeena Cellulose crisis. “This is a crisis for all our com- munities,”’ said Prince Rupert mayor Jack Mussalem., ‘‘When things get tough we stick together.” The conference of mayors was organized to review the situation facing the region’s largest forestry employer. They were also expected to adopt a report and recommendations drawn up by a ‘‘blue ribbon’’ task force of northwest forestry experis to ensure a more stable industry, But the report included proposals that went too far for some mayors. It’s being rejigged, and Terrace mayor Jack Talsira said they expect to release the revised document next Monday. The mayors dismissed suggestions the failure to release the report now means there are divisions in the group. “We are united,’? said Smithers mayor Brian Northup. ‘‘We support each other because without each other we don’t have much.”’ New Hazelton mayor Pete Weeber said that although Skeena Ceilulose has different operations in each com- munity, none of them will ultimately function without the pulp mill in Prince Rupert, “If we don’t have a home for the chips, we don’t have a lumber indus- ty,’’ said Weeber, ‘“That’s what binds us together more than anything else.” And Talstra said both Victoria and the banks listen more closely to the communities if a united front is con- - tinued. . ‘We are hopeful this will be of short duration,’? Talstra said of the shutdowns of company operations, ‘‘All the parties are still talking and as long as they're talking there is hope,’’ The Toronto Dominion and Royal banks say they won't give the compa- ny maney to continue operations without a deal in which unions would slash nearly 250 jobs at the Prince Rupert pulp mill and in which the pro- vince would baad over millions of dollars to upgrade the mill. The mayors’ conference adopted three resolutions, in anticipation of an eventual sale of the company’s assets: Mf The northwest timber supply, if changed, be allocated first and fore- most to facilities in the northwest. lf The government ensure the share of U.S. lumber quota given to Skeena Cellulose remain with operators in the northwest. m And any transfer of timber licences in an eventusl sale of Skeena Cellulose be contingent on payment of outstanding debt to local contractors and suppliers. Mussalem said it may be possible to reduce the impact on Prince Rupert expected from the banks’ demand that - the union agree to cut 246 jobs at the pulp mill there. Mussalem said he understands enough employees may leave through attrition or early retirement to make up as much as 100 of that total, The union is asking all employees aged 61 or over to consider early retirement, he added, Kitimat mayor Rick Wozney wamed that Kitimat is not immune to the difficulties, Besides being part of. the regional economy, he said, West Fraser’s Kitimat pulp mill is some- what dependent on trading chips with Skeena Cellulose, ; Port Edward mayor Ed Wampler said the district of Port Edward and the City of Prince Rupert are waiting for an order-in-council from the provincial goverment that would permit them to put a hold on tax sale proceedings scheduled to go ahead against Skeena’s properties there July 29. Terrace is owed $915,000 and has agreed to put a six-month hold ona 10 per cent penalty that would have been assessed for the company’s failure to pay by today, But Port Edward and Prince Rupert faced tighter restrictions on how much leeway they could provide because the company is already in arrears for three years worth of property taxes there. B Road work Local killed — in crash A TERRACE man was killed early Saturday morning in a head-on col- lision on the highway near Kitwanga. Duane Travis McCar- ron, 31, of Terrace, died instantly when the Ford driving collided with a westbound Jeep YJ, New Hazelton RCMP said. ’ Police said four. other family members in McCar- ron’s vehicle were injured, one seriously, and they were faken to. Mills Memorial Hospital. HIGHWAY 16 west traffic was single-lane alternating last week after the high- way there was dug up adjacent to the Canadian Tire construction site. Highways] crews are to widen the highway there and put in an turning lane for the store. A 36-year-old Vancouver man driving the Jeep received head and chest in- Juries and was also taken to hospital in Terrace. RCMP Cpl G. Alford said police believe the Jeep crossed the centre lane FROM FRONT and the collision happened In the eastbound lane. BC Tel to jack basic line rate “It’s the Attorney General’s respon- sibility 10 defend the consumer in this process,"” Skelly says. “The individu- al has no other agency to appeal their case.” Skelly says he simply can’t believe how low key the changes have been and how public input has been vir- tually excluded, **This is disgusting,’’ he says. “The. CRITIC cannot be allowed to conduct, closed door mectings between them- selves and BC Tel.” But Joanna Wyatt of BC Tel says the Increases in monthly charges are necessary to balance out lost long dis- lance revenue. “Historically, profits from long dis- tance charges and some business lines subsidized residential service,”’ she FROM FRONT Twin rallies take School officials, doctors, pastors, teachers, lawyers, parents, First Na- tions leaders and government repre- sentatives have been invited to attend. Simpsen will be speaking about the “‘pro-homosexual lobby” and how it has opened “up the way for pro- homosexual education in public schools.” There is concern that this curriculum would redefine marriage and family, said a news release put out by organizers of the Textace rally. Earle Ratcliffe, a gay 19-year-old man living in Terrace, says going to school at Caledonia Secondary would have been easier for him if tolerance of homosexuality had been taught in the classroom, He graduated from Caledonia in 1995, and at the time hadn't ‘come out”’ yet, except to close friends. ‘‘A few students made life tough,’’ says, ‘However, with increased com- petition for long distance service, that's no longer possible.”’ Wyatt says it costs BC Tel about $30 per month to service a single line residential customer. That’s consider- ably less than the average charge of $19 — a difference which resulted in a $400 million deficit for the compa- ny’s local phone service in 1995, ‘We're looking at this from two sides,’ Wyatt says. ‘We're increas- ing local rates to move them closer to actual costs while decreasing long dis- tance charges. In a competitive world, it doesn’t make sense to price too far -_above or below actual costs.’’ But Skelly isn’t buying that argu- ment. He says BC Tel is just trying to raise the benchmark so -when other _telephone companies enter the local he said, with their insensitive com- ments. He thinks kids get most of theie intolerant attitudes from parents, but says that change has to start some- whee. When people are young it’s easier to change their attitudes, he says. He doesn’t understand why Simp- son’s supporters object to the teaching of tolerance. “T don’t sec what their problem really is. They're not trying to teach (students) to be homosexual,” he said. “Mast gay people know that can’t be taugit, just as they can’t be taught to be straight.’ Elizabeth Snyder, one of the organizers for the tolerance rally who is openly lesbian, said she wanted to “provide another view of what’s hap- pening in the schools,” adding there was 4 fot of fear and misinformation service market over the next few years there will be more room to manocuver, without losing much prof- It And he says the increases will mean poor people will have to go without telephones — further marginalizing them from mainstream society. ‘‘A large number of low income Ca- nadians simply won’t be able to afford basic telephone service,” he says. “*That isn’t right.’ Skelly hopes the Attorney General orders an inquiry. If not, he says the only recourse for the consumer is to put the heat on BC Tels long distance service, “People could move to another car- tier to protest the increases,’’ he says. “They (BC Tet) could wind up with a Tunawey train on this one.” on tolerance about the issue, She said there is no basis to fears that sexual orientation can be taught, ‘T's amazing there are any gay people at all. There are no role models for them.” She’s not sure how many parents ia Terrace would object to teaching tolerance of homosexuality, but said, ‘my sense is, as a lesblan, it’s not a large majority.” Sayder has lived in Terrace since 1982 and says she hasn’t experienced much discrimination, She couldn’t say whether people at the tolerance rally will picket or try to speak at the Kari Simpson forum. Tickets for the Simpson rally are being distributed by local organizers. No passes are required for admis- sion to the pro-tolerance rally. F150 pickup truck he was — mmission on... 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