Gov't owed $557M PROVINCIAL government isn’t doing a goad job of collecting money it is owed, says provincial auditor-genera! George Morfitt. Although the amount owed the province has doubled in the past two years to $557 million, it doesn’t have a good collec- lion system in place, he said last week, Morfitt said there’s no in- centive for ministries to chase bad debt of more than 90 days because all of what they collect goes right to the province’s general revenue account. “Tf an official in a minis- try puts more people on col- lecting receivables, they lose those people for pro- grams the ministry may have and they don’t get to keep what they collect,” said Morfitt, He's suggesting that debt collection activities now handled separately by mini- Stries be consolidated into one central agency. Or, . Morfitt continued, ministries should be able to keep a portion of what they collect. The province risks cash flow problems and losing the effectiveness of some of its programs if it docsn’t find a better way of collect- ing bad debt, he said. Morfiit noted that some of the debt increase has come from new or changed government policies. One such change came in 1996 when the government made it mandatory for people to sign up for. the Medical Services Plan. That’s resulted in large tumbers of people not paying premiums with the result the debt appears on government books, . Mere government resources are also be devoted to welfare overpay- Inents and: if the people can’t pay, that’s treated also treated as debt, said Morfitt, He also said there are growing numbers of former students not paying back student loans. : These loans are made by banks but guaranteed by the Province so after. bank fails to collect, it is covered by the province and the" amount appears as debt, “In some cases, it could be as long as 38 months when a loan in default ends up with the province. And that can make it very hard to trace people,’’ said Morfitt. The auditor gencral is curious to see what will happen with unpaid motor vehicle fines now that the motor vehicle branch has” been taken over by ICBC. The motor vehicle branch now tracks unpaid fines via a computer system which flags people when they come in to renew their driver’s licences. They..are required to pay the fines or face not having their licence renewed. “Til be interested to.see if debt collection improves, . We found that only half of ~ the people owing such fines are people with a valid driver’s licence. CORRECTION NOTICE WE WISH TO GRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING INOUR CURRENT "CHECK GUT THESE SAVINGS" FLYER Page 1 - 4-Head VCR, 48-2131-0. This product Is nota HI-FI VR as iffus- trated in tha ftyer. Page 5 » Halrestting Steam Set, 99 4230-8. Copy reads: 20 rollers. Should read: 14 rollers. : Page 10 - Citien 2.0 Co Ft Microwave, 43-1764-4. Copy reais: 1100 walt, Should read: 1000 watt, WE WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING IN OUR CURRENT “RIGHT TOOLS, RIGHT PRICES" FLYER Page 7 - Wizard Toot Kil, 5445092. |. Copy reads: 141 accessories. Should q - read: 63 arcassortes, WE WISH TO DRAW YOUR ~ ATTENTION TO THE FOLLCWING IN QUA CURRENT "WRAP IT UP NOW" FLYER Page 14- Coke Battle Glasses, 42- 4493-2, Copy reads: reg. 10.09, sala 8.78. Should read: 8,69 ‘Low Prica’. WE SINCERELY REGRET ANY INCONVENIENCE WE MAY HAVE CAUSED YOU, Lol cn Zo A6 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 16, 1998 » Snow job This machine scoops up snow that’s WHEN IT does snow, the city has a variety of equipment to clear the streets. for transport to an area where itis piled until spring melts it away. been pushed into the middle of streets EEE Ski for free’? You bet SKIERS ARE getting a bonus from Shames Mountain this Friday in retum for helping out the Terrace Churches Food Bank. Dec. 18 is a free ski day for those who bring non perishable items for. the food bank, says Shames Mountain manager Dar- ry} Tucker. The combination continues a tradition of a free ski day when the mountain first opens and provides a way of helping the food bank going into January, he said. Skiing begins at 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., the normal operating hours of Shaines. *"We hope to be able to put the food right ‘into a van and take it into town that day,”’ said Tucker, , ‘The. Terrace Churches Food Bank is run by the majority of the areas churches, oper- ‘ating one week a month during the fall and winter with the exception of December. It -defers to the Salvation Army Christmas hamper program that month. , ‘Gil In The Window, Terrace’ = snapshot by her mother, Northern Photo offers 1-hous service on all commonly uscd filins. 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