Ministry halts push to merge agencies

Too many factors
ignored — report

THE PROVINCE has retreated

from plans to save money by forc-
ing together agencies that do work
for the ministry of children and
families.

The ministry’s contract amal-
gamation drive had aimed to reduce
the number of contracts from
12,000 province-wide to a smaller
number and save millions of dollars
in administration.

But it sparked a backlash from
those agencies, who in Terrace in-
clude groups like the Terrace Child
Development Centre and Terrace
and District Community Services
-—an umbrella agency that receives
more than $4 million of its core
budget under the ministry's con-

tracts.

Children and families minister
Lois Boone last week said the pro-
vince will halt the contract and pro-
gram restructuring as laid out.

The move came in response to an’

independent review that found the
ministry’s stated goal of making
services better fit the needs of
clients got confused with the appar-
ent goal of saving money,

“Considerable concern exists
among service providers that the
real objective of the initiative is to
save money,’ the report said,

The DiE. Allen report also said
the government assumed adminis-
trative savings would happen and
overlooked the danger of increased
costs through things like combining
unionized and non-union service
providers, severance packages for

LIBRARY SAYS NO

those put out of work, and the loss
of volunteers who work with some
agencies.

It also found there was in-
adequate consultation with clients,
families and service providers,

Boone said all service providers
are being offered contract exten-
sions to Sept. 30, 1999 while the
ministry embarks on a longer two-
year review of how to restructure
its contracts and programs,

“{ acknowledge the concerns
contained in the report,’ Boone
said. ‘And I am committed to find-
ing more efficient and consultative
ways to deliver integrated services
in line with our number 1 priority:
the health, safety and well-being of
children and families,’’

Terrace and District Community
Services Society executive director

Mike Beausoleil said it appeared
the government was finally listen-
ing to concerns that sparked much
anxiety among agencies and their
employees.

“Tt caused complete chaos,”’ he
said. ‘This seems a little more
hopeful than what we’ve been deal-
ing with up to now,”

B.C, Liberal critic Christy Clark
said the government’s plan to con-
tinue with the restructuring process
means continued uncertainty,
anxicty and fear for agencies.

“The minister is still threatening
them with the spectre of change,”’
Clark said. ‘The children’s service
sector must now prepare itself for
another 24 months of uncertainty
with some vague threat of amal-
gamation hanging over their
heads.’’

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, July 15, 1998 - A15

Lock Out Auto Crime

Secure Your Vehicle
Night and Day. Road ‘*
it Makes a Difference. Sense

City’s condom
machines on way

CONDOM MACHINES
will soon be in place at the
Terrace arena and the
aquatic centre, but not the
public library,

City administrator Bob
Hallsor said the city left the
decision on installing the
machines to the library
board afier city council first
approved putting the ma-
chines in city-owned buiid-
ings.

Library board members
passed a motion by a 9-3
vote June 25 to not allow
vending machines of any
type in the library — includ-
ing condom machines,

An earlier vote May 21st
on. installation of condom
machines in the library had
resulted in a tic,

Library board member
Dave Warner said the latest
motion probably passed be-
cause of ils more general
nature and a larger number
of board members in at-
tendance.

Warner said he saw the
machines as being a step
towards being involved in
retail sales —- something the

also concems expressed that
the machines might attract
people to the library who
have no interest in the li-
brary’s traditional services.
And he said staff felt
they’d be made responsible
for any problems with the

machines.

While the library won't
get condom machines,
Smithers-based supplier
Bob Miners is expected to
place them at the pool and
the arena very soon.

City parks and facilities
manager Dale McFadden
said they'll go into the-
downstairs men’s and
women’s washrooms in the
arena lobby, and into the

two public washrooms at the
aquatic centre.
And they won’t contain
strictly condoms, either,
McFadden said Miners
can place a range of produc-
ts in them, adding tampons

may also be placed in the ‘
machines in the women’s
washrooms.

He said the machines
won't cost the city anything
and that in fact Miners’

‘Thank You

The Royal Canadian. Legion would like
to thank the following musicians for
volunteering their performances at the
“Frank & Vicki Jerome Benefit Dance”
held June 27 at the Legion.

Rene Lucier, Norm Desjardins, John
Herioux, Darcy, Paul, Bruce, Frank,
Doug, John Gillis, Lola, John Campell,
Arlene, Rene Therrian, Lucelle, Shawn
& Claudine, Mike, Floyd, Borderline-
Wayne, Wayne Jr., & Jack

Images by Karlene
Welcomes
Terri Lynn Bahr
to their
team of stylists

Terri Lynn will be starting at Images
as of July 6 and welcomes all past
and present clientelle.

Monday to Friday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

I~ ohlowo

library doesn’ido. .... . ..-.».-Tetums a percentage, of each
And he said--there were machine’s profits.

4652 Lazelle Avenue, Terrace
635-4997 « 1-800-251-4997

SKEENA CONCRETE PRODUCTS LTD.|

3751 Old Lakelse Lake Dr. Terrace, B.C. V8G 5P4
Fax (250) 635-4171 Ph: (250) 638-8477

CALEDONIA DRY GRAD 98

We wauld like to thank these
additional sponsors for contributing to
the success of our evening.

Terrace CO-OP

Garden Centre

Blo Leb

Wednesday, July 15 - Saturday, July 18

rid

Bavarlan Inn, BC Hydro, Canada Safeway,
Coast Inn of the West, Dalry Queen Brazler
Restaurant, Dr. D Fisher/Dr. R. Tobata,

Dr. J. Zucchlattl, Isobel Johnson, J&F Distributors,
Ken Dean, Link Window Coverlngs, Northcoast
Health & Fitness, Pizza Hut, Ralner Glannella

&

Systems, Royal Bank, Skeena Hotel, Terrace
Builders, Terrace Furniture Mart, Terrace Ready
Mix, Tiillcum Twin Theatres, Tim Horton's, ICBC.

We had such a wonderful response
from the entire community.

WINNERS OF THE NATIVE ART RAFFLE:

First Prize- Native Print Sue & John Hailey
Second Prize- Brooch Mary Stroomer
Third Prize- Basket Keith McAra
Fourth Prize- Wooden Spoon Rab Shibii

We'd rather sell it than move it!

Located in The Terrace
Shopping Centre

smpery 635-1700

to

On Trees, Plants & Shrubs

athleen

Steer Manure
3 20L Reg 3.99

“$99

Headquartered in Richmond on the immediate outskirts of Vancouver, the Workers’ Compensation Board of BC
is a provincial statutory agency committed to prevention of workplace injury and occupational disease, and to
providing quality rehabilitation and fair compensation to workers injured in the course of their employment.
Visit our homepage at www.wcb.bc.ca

Green Leaf Patch

Lawn Seed
2ke Bag Reg 13.69

he WCB has identified a need for a number of full-time, sessional and

part-time positions potentially throughout the Province and specifically
in Cranbrook and Terrace. They call for enterprising physicians witha strong
pioneering spirit, to work with existing medical advisors in various
communities. Seiected physicians will assist in the development and
implementation of a new case management approach to workplace injury
and disease.

Full-time, Sessional & Part-time

MEDICAL
ADVISORS

Working closely with an interdisciplinary case management team whose focus
is the safe, timely and durable return-to-work of injured workers, you will:

» engage in collaborative, pro-active individual case planning with attending
physicians and other health care providers e examine injured workersto |
provide attending physicians and the case management team with diagnostic
and treatment advice « emphasize evidence-based practices and goal-oriented
outcome analysis e perform educational presentations to colleagues and WCB
staff to build the concepts and promote the practices of case management,

In addition to an unrestricted licence to practice medicine in BC and effective
team-based problem-solving skills, you ideally have: « formal training and/or
experience in occupational medicine « additional training in musculoskeletal
injuries and family medicine e an understanding of modern concepts of
rehabilitation of soft tissue injuries as exemplified by the WCB’s “Continuum
of Care” initiative « familiarity with Windows 95 and Microsoft Office
programs.

/ Sea Spray Kelp
1/2 L (Makes 100 litres)
Reg. 9.95

“on P88
Top Soil r|

Play a key part in driving a
paradigm shift {n the delivery of services
fo injured workers & their employars

© Cranbrook (Full-time)
* Terrace (Full-time)

30L Bag Reg 4.59
W WORKERS'

COMPENSATION

BOARD toatinu

‘or $ 3 49
The WCB is commitied to employment equity objectives and invites applications from all qualilied applicants

a : a Hours Of Operati
— —__ 4617 Greig Ave., Terrace Mon Sat 9 am; 6 pm

Ph: 635-6347 ~ Closed Sundays

An informational meeting is planned far early fall to provide interested
physicians with the Board's vision for rehabilitation of workplace injury
and disease,

A competitive safary and benefits can be anticipated. If you are interested
in these opportunilles, please contact Dr. W.P. Neufeld, Senlor Medical
Advisor, at (604) 279-7627,

MI1909