A model for.
road to gold

= : “Stewart: Omineca Resource Road could be ©

7 _, built in the same way as a northeast gas. road”

1802 kilometre.

road.” stretching

“the >

_ “The Sieira- Yoyo Desean:
“ (SYD). Road ‘Outside of Fort:
» —-.Nelson:has: existed for’ years .’
oo aI mish-mash’ of different.”
“owners and Varying. mainte-

“: nance standards,

Lo While: oil: and: “gas explo
_ ~- ration: and: drilling: did take:
yey - place, overall work and’ pro}

“hampered. bécause

_— Of: the-lick ofa standardized:
road surface, oo
2°. That changed s sev eral years
os ago when the provincial -gove'.. |
.Séminent,-in'a move to” boost’
--0il-and pas ‘exploration,’ took. :’

* Over. complete ownership. *

ver-based . constriction - -giant

‘under'a [6-year agreement.

energy.and: mines « “minisiry

: _ acts” as: the- ‘financial « tie be. $f
“tween Ledcor and SYD road".
users. by, guaranteeing Ledcor Be

o aureturn on. its $40. ‘million. .:
7 capital. invesimenti in the:foad-

* and paying it a'minimum.an-
-nual amount for. maintenance

. “and ather.work;:

"2" In'retum, the pro ince col...
vd lects royalties from oil'and gas -
oe ompanies using the. road"as* :

"Well as Specific fees for mov-"
Ing drilling and. other, equip-

_. 7) Ment-along the’ road. ‘which ~

care then‘ passed. to: Ledcor..

“> Butthe province. also. ‘pro-

. ‘vides ‘oll: and” ‘gas ‘companies |
a 50. per: cent: rebate:-2 gainst an

from Fort, Nelson:
va -iortheast
a to’ oil ‘and “eae fields: could.
“> Seryeasa model fora similiar :

~.we@hturein the. northwest, :

vl then went to.the private:
sector; ‘selecting © - Vancou-. - ;
* stays with, the provi: gor.
-ermment.” be ,
“The: energy ministry's :
Tamara, Little calls the SYD ~
‘project.a P3, ‘which is ‘short |.
“for, ‘private: ‘public: partner. :

~ Ledcor Industries ‘this -year-ta”
_° Operate:and maintain the foad.”.

~ ‘Essentially’ the. ‘prévincial

‘from the province. ;
~The’ ‘province. . id ‘road,
: “users: have’ agreed to assume. °
the risk = and cost—shoulda’ ©
natural al catasttophe § suchas an

. _ those royalty payments. :

_ Royalty collections gath-*,
ered by. the energy ministry...”
“and then funneléd-to Ledcor ".
‘are to be between $8.and°$9 -
. million’ a: year,’ meaning the...
“50 per cent rebale offset is to’
., Cost, between $4: million and:
$45. million a year... j=) <=

That may. sound ike‘ a:
‘subsidy bist: the province has.
: argued that: resource compa-..
“nies, aré paying for the road,...
_ Meaning. thete ‘is ‘no taxpay- -

ers: money involved, and that

| Stories by Rod’ Link

ship. :

ahteed amounts, it receives

anticipated royalty. payments
_: from: ;inereased : oll-and gas
production would not be pos-
sible without having‘a proper.
a toad i ‘in the first: places).

~The toad remains’ open for.
“public use. and its ownership .

is oral- rich Toodoggone. areas" *|
“Northgate. ’ Minerals’ “al-*:-
“ready has -one- coppet-gold:.~
mine ine the. “Toodopgone,
~*Kemess ‘South, ‘and wants
‘to develop another roperty; Pe
~ > Kemess North,” ures
_ ‘Atnow ‘nicks ‘concenirate
along the. existing road ‘east
~ to Mackenzie, where it is.put
“on fail cars for shipment: to ay
-Quebec; smelier... :

“Everybody! has to take on
“some risk,” Little said. “The.
/proviiice: ‘guarantees some. ‘of
“the risk but-in this: case Led-.
cor assumed the risk for con:
struction costs and design,"” Boos
2 Ledeor’s: profit - “expecta-:
“tions, for example, rést within:
Its ability, to. meet: on-going
indintenance and safety.stan-:
dards vwithin-the annual Buar- .

; earthquake’ or: flood Severely .
. damage the road. 0 ae,
The SYD: “Foad’ model, :
vith, some: variations,:: ‘could
apply to..a- - patchwork: road.
“network ‘called the’ Kemess.
toad of. Stewar-Omineca Re- a
-source Road... a fone
“le -would run. northeast ae
‘from Hwy 37, first on exists J 2
ing logging”.roads, then ‘on: J

4 new route that would go. |»
‘through ‘the headwaters of the, [7°55
Sustut ‘River before. joining =)" <°
the existing Omineca Mining: Pen
‘Road: about..250kilometres [°°
north of Smithers, That road.’~. |’

coritinués north ‘into the min-

A completed Siéwart-Om- :

‘ineca: Resource Road; ‘CON .
: necting: ‘to Hwy37 for access.’
“to the port at Stewart ‘would.
make for. an overall, cheaper.”

.:(ansportation | option *:for-.,
* Northgate! 3° Kemess North
. project.

But Nontgate says: it ‘is:

in no ‘position to “bring the: ©

a connection to “Hwy37: or:

‘shoulder * ‘maliilenance costs ue
“by itself. : -
vce “That's: resulted i in calls by. “
: northwest. municipalities for:
‘the province:1o take a “fead
role: in ‘developing’ a: ‘toad =
eh a user pay system: to re- a

coup « construction and | mi
> tenanee costs, *

“and .: development,

* possibilities: and: even éco-

t Existing
\. logging -
reads.

_ “about someone taking his ‘or her: life; os 3 .
Talivays: felt like my sister was the: brave gne z and 1 was a

“They. saya’ ‘connectia
10 Hwy37 would. spur other:

. development ‘along: ‘the ‘toad
_foute.and boost economic’ ac- =
olivily throughout the region.”

-* Proponents: talk - about “ine.

: oreased, ‘mineral ‘exploration:
Jogging...

urism potential. -

‘drawnup: tivo. years ago: \-:
‘pegged the, cost’ of building.“
“al well: -functioning- ‘Stewart=>
“Omineéa. Resource’ Road ate.
: around $40 million.

Does, it look for a | ya

an Roger: Hatris,

: said | last Week;

; of. TOVETIUG: :
forestry: ‘there: ‘and: for * ‘tou

7 well, ” “Hartis sald.

sideved ‘part of fils job,”

“These folks are ‘keen and feel comfortable with: a

“the: environmental. work that’s’ been’ done,". sald:
_ Calle 6 of talks she's s had with Northgate o officials. ee

“One: company, Northgate Mince:
alg, already says it would pay’ to use”
“What's: called: the” Stewait-Omineca’
“ Resource Road but-won’t build it.

“ “By ilsell, any Northgate toll mon-
ies wouldn't be’ sufficient ‘to repay °
for ‘any : -construction and: “mainte-.. :

nance -by another” company, “Harris ©

“You, really. need, a. certain level |
‘There. is- Potential for. -

16: ‘provide the monies, ‘fora private >
* builder and: operator: during: limes °
 when-toll ‘revenue ish’t sufficient,”
> -“Preally think ‘there's. a need to.
bon bring more.to the ‘lable. here,”. Harris.
i sald, of. any | involvement < on the. part

‘Improved..” a

"mess North.

of the province. HL really. think. We:
“have 10 Iead‘on this.”* °°
The idea’ of .a- alse pay road fas
“been ‘around for -years and:is’on the
“wish: istof local and: regional gov.
-emmients’and. businesses; a
Existing. logging® roads, jeading i
“ Hortheast: from" “Cranberry” Junction _
cover about-a third of the proposed }
“route, but another, 140'kilometres of Toad construction "and. a
“new. road would have to’be built and. .
existing: sections would: need: to bes

Harris. estimates the. ost at be.
“tween $30 and $40 | Thillion. _

2 Hopes are -high for: some Kd”
‘of Northgate :involvement because.
"of ‘its plans. to. expand beyond its:
current: Kemess. ‘South - -gald/eoppe
~ mine toa neaiy Property, called, Ke- 7

~ Northgate now trucks its coriven:

“trate ore.on a road east of its property’

..to Mackenzie where it is shipped to .

- Quebec for'smelting via CN Rail. .

“But: ‘the: Stewart-Omineca - Re.

“source: Road - running: southwest of:
_Ahe Northgate. holdings” ‘and comming

_ THIS BRIDGE is is on a resource road near Fort Nelson paid for - by using an innovative ‘ancag system aa

| Province should take lead on
-Stewart-Omineca road - +

THE. ‘PROVINCIAL: government

“may. end up. helping to finance the -
construction ‘of a: ‘road ‘that : would.-
Oper up'an ated-northeast, of here to.
- © mining: logging ‘and other resource
Use: industries,. says: ‘Skeena, MLA.

user | pay:plan. :”

" ister - Of; slate.

‘semble a plan.
“oe I'd: think -

. Spring,’

He aided. that: he’s ‘been impresied so ‘far. with
“explanations of environmental work: Northgate i is “
committed to doing. « so
” Northgate already fias one. e.coppei-pold: mine in a
the Toodoggorie, Kemess. South, bul wants to: de-,
_yelop’ Kemess North before the southern property
ods, mined out:
Ideally, it wanis ‘all environmental approvals in
‘place by the middle’ of: next yean,-says conipany’
‘Keiess North project manager Dave Hendrlks, =~:
«That's soit can begin work developing Keimess
“North while phasing out Kemess South, he added:
“ *Othenvise we'd be: facing: fayofts,"” Hendriks:
‘sald. ‘Phe company would also have to. mothball Its
equipment ntl its was seeded ag again.

-‘out on to Hwy37. north of Kitwanga”
~ would "be: Shorter; less" expensive.
for: ‘the: company and “much closer
- to-tidewater at Stewart for shipping “
concentrale overseas. ° “ “
There’ ‘aré also timber. resources
in* the’ area. which: could’. become.
economical-to.log “given
othe: right configuration of

‘Harris, who i is the min-

‘Operations, : says a cabinet
“counterpart, minister.” of
=state-for. mining Pat. Bell,

is Involved jin trying to: as:

‘be seeing: something next’
” said Harris, who
‘added that-a’ business case -
for any provincial financ- _
‘ing must ‘first be made.” ~
"He added that Northgate probably
“wants an answer to any. road plan as.
‘Soon as possible. ';
‘Dave Hendriks, who i is. the: prof

ferred. .

T's * a’ ‘chicken: and.” ege *
* quandny for the ‘provincial
: government.

revenue for Victoria. -

“Stewart ‘Onineca: » Resource . :
Road.? 22" 2

“But with: the’ “exception, of ,
"Northgate’s: ‘Kemess’ North’ |.
property, ‘no. other’ mineral  -
company along the route has: ~
- advanced its: plans far enough. oe
“to counted on. = 2 os
Timber values reniain fel: ;
: _atively, uncharted. and: some *:
Gitxsan’ house’ ‘groups.-who-
“Have traditional, teiritory:.in.

the area oppose the’ road. -

“The SYD ‘Road also’ in-:
volves’ just ‘one ‘provincial
ministry, energy . and. mines, :
because the ‘vast’ majority:
Of road: Users‘aré oil and gas’
“companies. The: Stewart-Om-. ;
“ineca ~ Road « would:, involve
_ nore? ministries, because: Off ¢
the resource user mix, adding’ mo
“to the ‘complexities of. juris- «
] diction, overall: ‘esponsibility
- and regulation. ves

“ect ‘manager for Northgate” 5 “Kemiess 7 ps
North. ‘plan; said the lack of a road. -
“won! tL SOP. development bun is pres :

“Shipping. costs now are $100. a
: ton, for concentrate throligh.to Que="-
bec‘ 80 0, having: the: option ‘of. going

; overseas ‘to Stewart is- -one:,

for. forest :

we: would

me, © Started.

-’ Roger Harris -

|: we 'd like," hesaid. > 2.
“| The ‘road: plans: have
-also been delayed. by. |...
. opposition . from :- some’...
Gitxsan: chiefs “on -envig
_ ronmental : and: ‘heritage,

" grounds. ~

. Gitxsan village. :

: grant. to conduct: an inter-

hale réview in the hopes’of bridging ~
“the: gap among heir. people over. the: |].
~~ issue: That ‘work has: yet to produce of
fesults,. aed

| MP pushes for decision. on Kemess mine

oe SKEENA-BULKLEY- -NDP.MP. Nathan Cullen j is.
“urging, the federal government to quickly decide *
oe, “how it will. conduct ¢ an environmental review, of ae
oo - proposed gold: copper mine northeast of here, *.-."
"Cullen: said it’s: important that Northgate Min--
* erals hears:soon how the federé!.government will
“treat its"proposal to:mine the Kemess. North cop
a per-gold deposit in the Toodoggone: - :
_ He saldya letter he sentto the federal: environ:
“ment, “department asking for‘action. should not be |
» taken as, endorsing the. project but should, be. con

~ Kemess South also: contains ore ‘that can sily +r
be econofnically mined in.conjuriction with.a’ new.

:baidy. such as Kemess North, Hendriks continued. '
-“Theie are advantages i in ‘co-milling and. that is"
bringing’ the unit costs down quite.a bil,” he said,
“The lifeof Kemess South would be extended," ~
-. Northgate | wants Kemess North up-and running i ee

a by’ the last. quarter of 2006 while it Is projecting an
end of the. Kemess South life by 2009...) le!" tes
—.. Hendriks: said thé Kemess North project review a ee
: will be done by the federal and rovincial govern ‘
“merits at the same'time:: : : oe
“There wont’t: be any: cluplication,” he said and:
hat should’ mean for a quicker r review" nc :

road. will: ‘spur develop. )
nent? Or does it first. wait for
» more developers. to ‘step | for-.
vard béfore commiting. gov 3
-émment money? .
«In :the ‘case:-of ‘the: syD.
wigs Route i ‘in the northeast, com-...”
“panies were already: tapping.
_ oil and gas. and the province ~|-:
knew but ding the road would”
: ‘produce: more ‘adtivilyy gener
*vating .more :tax*and. royalty *].

_ existirig road portions::to an. ‘*: “An: engineering estimate

> accepted ‘standard, construct ..

Harris.

‘Olhers favour the idea’ 7
“which. provide jobs, bol- |.
|: siér tourism, and: could.” [7
" Open-up access to an old in

“les been 18 months.
since: Gitxsan leaders pot:
© ar$300,000 -provinclal ap

“". The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 1, 2004 - AS
asm rerrrspreerr ra ceceerra era creer

_ CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD _

_The. Mail Bag

_ Reach out for help.

a : Dear Sir.

|. inher despair, took her ow life.” “
- For years I-felt so “guilty: “ds: if could: fave’ ‘andl should: F

. . 4 have nade a difference, If. only” ‘L. told her that I loved, r a

“only "held her close, if only. we clung together, ifonly

: “the.vay, she did.-1 still'feel the. pain-in, my heart when I hear - oe

; : the coward. The oie who’ didn’t have the courage to take ~

lonely. Lwas grieving just. the way she had beens <0

“" + Teenage partying hel ped to.dull the pain, One time I was |
10 'so. depressed, l' asked God to'take tne home; right there and
“then. | remember being so tired of. living’ and I was only: 14,

~ ao said, “Lord, [3m 80. lired. This hurts so much;-Gad, take
. Well; he. never. shot down a bolt of

‘me home. right now,”
: lightning, sol had to: endure the pain , a
{oo Today, 26-years later, have son whois is sixteen, He's |
-. Slightly, older. than my: sister was when™ she ‘took her life.

SP Lavouldn’t know. how to go’on. living: if I had 10- endure .
° losing a child- this. way: “Sure, life hurts: ‘But it: gets better, |
“too. When you're trying to heal a broken hedrt, time takes -

‘forever. to move. But’ when you ‘re ying to enjoy yours chil-

oye “dren, lime-flies. “° :
“| 4 If Phad any: words of encouragement for someone who a

1 is hurting so‘bad that. they just want to end their-lives, [° ds
say; “don't do itGod loves you... “And so doa lot of other. a

-” leave this earth, Once-you are gone, you aré gone. Nomore -.
_ smiles,’ ‘hugs or. kisses, rio. more ‘I love you's. "Think.about ~~
_ those you’ ll-leaye behind. Spare then the pain”. | ~-. o
“1 Lay: choose life, Get yourself into some counseling: ve
You. are. worthwhile, “And :¥ou are loved, Sometimes. it .
an may" “not, seem, dike-you are and it may: seem like-everyone-
is against ‘you “but endure. Their ‘opinions | will eventually -
“change. “There is no. reason whatsoever that. ‘sorteone has
_ to.go tothe measure of Suicide; Calla. friend. Calla family: :
member ‘Spill: your guts: Talk to.someone. :).’*.:
Tell yourself, “lam. worthwhile ‘and the. last. thing! 1 want:
a to. de is hurt my loved ones-and ‘pass my pain onto. them.” -

“

| hope this helps someone who may: be hurting and 1
fope it sives tf them the courage lo reach out for help.: :

“Make the right decision:

“Dear Sir: “es
Tam Nisga’a. citizen arid ‘Tortner. chief eouncitlor ‘For 7
“New Aiyansh. ‘Tran in. this ‘Nisga’a: election. for the same,
~ position, am orie that truly. respects our: traditional laws :
and our Nisga'a laws, a

. just gore through’i is’oné.we ‘will: hever ever be’ proud ‘of
- because of the many indiscretions, inconsistencies. and-the -
‘many inistakes thatavere made: vresilting:int wat. Metidve’ sgt
Aan invalid: election, Unless SOMeOne proves ¢ ‘other, visa, this;
Will not be true self. government. for our ‘Nalion. ° Ta

oh believe that every one: that. wag" entitled: ‘to: yole was. -
“not given that opportunity. There were. many concerns and’ ©

.: lots which resulted in some of the ballots-not allowed to be -
; counted becatise of the mistake of: the. election office, : .
The people of: Nisga‘a Nation and the. rest-of the coun-

‘Nisga'a justice is going to. resolve. his. problem. .

i offices of the Nisga’ a Nation. J only’ pray that the right deci-

a : sion is made to show that.we are an open, honest, transpar- IY
q.. ént, truthful and a proud people as. we continue tc toexercise
"Pour rights é as‘a truly self. governing nation. :

We put out trust in people that. hold. offices:o of authority. -

oe based on the: highest standards of, values and: principles,

mt want’ to be able. to” move “ahead swith respect that ev-

‘y Dear Sir:

: noticed the part on the value of the:pol seized. .

; § 150 an ounce for a total value of $2,400.

a ‘plant for‘a total of seven ‘pounds worth $12,000.to: $13, 000, 7
:Sald by. the pouid or about $17,000 if sold by the ounce: >"
TASK yourselves i in-whose best interest is it to have cxag-
a gerated figures.-I also wonder how. much’ manpower and.

“missing persons. Highway: 16 and others) and: “unsolved .
- murders are on the books:in-thisarea, © «0-0? : a
Nott to mention ‘meth labs arid crack. houses,” ep
Bob Erb, B. C/fTerrace Marijuana, Party, _
ne . on ~ Terraces BC ns

, _Driver caution urged
5 ie Dear Si _
re | nearly: got hit i in the crosswalk at the: Grelg anid Emer:
. 5 ‘son four-way stop..Thefe’s no reason why this should haye ;
“happened, It was ‘daytime and | was clearly visible.”
: “Fhe driver of the blue car came up to the stop sign and |
L kept on turning. around the comer. It didn’t slow down and
1 clearly, did not notice ‘me. Ii’ tired of, playing Russian-
: Rouletté whet using. crosswalks around town, I know other 7
People who fave been hit.
Drivers should pay ‘alténition’ ‘and be careful of what's B0-
~ ing on around: them.’ No one, wants their day to. end badly
“ahd I'in worried that this’ is sexacily: what’ s Boing to happen ca
some: day =: _

’ x. A Peale, Terrace B. \C. _—

About t the Mail Bag.

Terrace Standard - “welcomes: Fetters, © .

The: Our

Vote can. fax’ us: at. 250:638:8432:. oF e-mail’ us’ at: -

« newsroom@terracestandard.coi. Noatiachments, please.’
Name, address andphoner nutaber required for verification. .

Inthe Winter of. 1978. our. mother passed away, she’ was ee 7
“ only’ 32. years old, She left behind five young Birls.: There a
Was more to come. though, Six weeks later, ny alder: sister: :

didn’t abandon ‘her, then maybe’ she wouldn't have left us _

“my, own: tife. Sure, Twas hurting,’ too. T fell'sio alone. and a

* people — people who would miss. you dearly if you should: co

5 ‘Pray to God to hold you in his‘arms and guide youlowhere ~~
ever itis 'you: need to Bo. ‘When He is Feady| he will bring ee

ape you ‘home. It isnot upto yous. oo
-That’s not the case here.
“Ore: bodies. like Doubles:
star Resources’ Sustut Copper ©

a oe B. Young-Mereer, Terrace BC. oe
deposit could benefitfrom the oa

.. Lam ashamed | to" say. the election f ‘process that y we. “have oe

+ questions prior to the-eléction. that seem to have fallen on. ~~
a deaf ears; ° During (he: actial. election’ there:was corifusion. ~ -
' about the procedures’ of. voting: and: misprims on the-bal-

“try are watching with greal interest.on. how our ‘system of |: ;

We are: truly going tobe tested as to the: integrity of the aan

= eryihing’ that has ‘happened was dane in. a ‘fair truchfut and: .
: - above all, respectful way re eG
; ‘Brian Tal New Miva B C, Co :

of read- with interest, “ind di with’ a grain of cal ‘the’ Noi, oy a
: 17. article: about: a man ‘sentencéd: for having 2 a Brow up. le:

Sixty-four starter. plants, one‘ineh’ to three. ‘inches ‘all, ;
-P turnéd into'a IZ. hour flowering. cycle would yield maybe ere
“one-quarter ounce per. plant fora.total yield of 16. ounces ‘at ae

» The two to four foot plants yield two'to four ‘ais per. .

_ other resources wefe used’on this. pot case; when so' many. ." ° —

“Address is. 32/0: ‘Clinton: St. Terrace, "B.C. V8G* SR2.: -