Golf grant draws heat from critics THE SKEENA VALLEY Golf and Country Club has sur- faced on a list of Canadian golf courses that federal Refonn party critics and others say improperly received federal job creation money. The golf club here got $456,854 over the last two years . to.expand the clubhouse and pay for part of the cost of ex- panding to 18 holes. The money came from the federal government’s Transi- tional Jobs Fund. Reformers and Canadian Taxpayers Federation officials said the total $3 million that went to several courses in- cluding this one is an example of the governing Liberals using taxpaycrs’ money to subsidize a sport of the affluent. “The rich and powerful are benefitting from taxes that are paid by the lower and middle class,’’ said Alberta Reform MP Joha Williams. ‘‘t find it objectionable.” Bul Skeena Valley Golf and Country Club manager Bruce Carruthers says golf is not an elite activity — at least nol in Terrace, “They’ve got it pushed where golf is for the affluent,” Carruthers said lask weck. ‘‘That’s just wrong, We’te a blue collar town and 98 per cent of our members are blue collar members.’’ He said the fedcraf money is helping create three to four more outside jobs maintaining the course plus another six to eight inside the clubhouse. And he says the course expansion helps make Terrace a more liveable place overall. , Skecna Reform MP Mike Scott — who sometimes polfs at the course here — said he supported the club’s applica- tion, but added he always supports every grant application referred to him by constituents. He took that approach, he says, after trying but failing to gel Parliament to end the practice of MPs giving their opinion of grant applications. He said there's toa much chance for conflict of interest under the present system. “Tdon’t want to put myself in a position of determining who should get granis and who shouldy’t get grants in this tiding,”’ Scott said. ‘‘As a result of that every application I have ever been asked to concur in] have.’” “Tdon’t have the time, expertise or the staff to review all these applications and delermine whether they are ‘worthwhile causes,’ he added. Scott says the job creation money is most often chan- nelled to Liberal ridings and amounts to ‘‘nothing more than federal pork barrelling.’’ Still, he says, he doesn’t agree with making a specific is- sue of golf courses getting the money. “IT don’t think it’s fair to single out golf courses and point the finger at them,’’ Scolt said. ‘‘What about ski hills? And if you’re going to do that what about other recreational facilities?” Carrulhers says the golf course is on targel to open with 18 holes next summer. Work seeding fairways got delayed somewhat by bad LOCAL GOLFERS are fighting back against reports that a federal job grantused fae ocd OPNei SIR E weather this summer, but they’re still.on-track, he sald...... ... {0 expand the clubhouse and pay for part of the expansion to 18 holes is.an 7 . “We're targeling to be open by July 1st; 2000,’ hé said. “abuse of tax money. Local club manager Brice Carruthers say critics are wrong “We will have our driving range completed by next year — in calling golf an elite activity meant for those more affluent. The Skeena Valley as well.’” Golf and Country Club received $456,854, FILE PHOTO T’S BACK TO COLLEGE? college students. Hanky’s would like to welcome you back to town with a college student weekend. . Friday, September aa'ae Located in the Coast Saturday, September 11. Inn of The West The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 8, 1999 - A3 News In Brief Send them back — MP SKEENA MP Mike Scott has a simple response to the rectirring problem of ships full of Asians heading for the B.C. coast: send them home. “All those refugees should be given clean clothes, hot showers, a couple of hot meals and then they should be pul on a-plane and sent back to wherever they came from,”’ Scott says. “We should put thy smugglers in jail and throw away ihe key,”’ he added, ‘And we should have the boats seized, impounded and sold for whatever they can get lo pay for the plate ickets to send these people back.”’ Scatt said if Canada operated in a ‘‘resofule manner’? ihe problem of these migrauls secking refugee status would never occurred in the first place. “What our govemment’s immigration policy bas done is reward bad behaviour,’ he said. “And when you do that you can only expect more of the same.” Man gets jail A PRINCE RUPERT man was sentenced to four con- secutive months in jail Aug, 24 on two theft charges. Jeremy Corbin Gunanool pleaded guilty to stealing $35 trom the purse of a Bank of Moutreal staff member in Prince Rupert July 7, He also pleaded guilty to steal- ing $153.69 from a waitress’ cash caddy al Prince Rupert's Highliaer Hotel lounge Aug. 3, Gunanoot’s lawyer, Scott Mulder, said his client stole the money to pay for a six-year heroin addiction, which he will seck treatment for in prison. Gunangot, who is on social assistance, is also re- quired to return the stolen cash to his victims. Air quality index BC ENVIRONMENT statisticians rated air quality here good for 83 per cent of July. The air quality, measured by the number of dust par- ticles in the air, was recorded fair for 13 per cent of the mouth and marginal for four per cent of the month, On July 9 Terrace’s air quality jumped to 135 air par- lickes, That’s 110 particles greater than Heath Canada’s allowable level after which asthma aitacks, breathing- related hospital visits increase. Although Joseph said it’s difficult to pin point why the air quality dips, some typical summer contributors include pollen, backyard burning, road dust, increased trattic and fuel exhanst. Union targets NDP THE LARGEST union in B.C. says it'll play a big role in (he upcoming provincial NDF leadership race. Barry ONeill, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees In B.C. says it isn’t happy with what’s been going on lately. “We're hoping that the leadership process will re- energize the party, and that wider aew leadership this government will be able to properly turn its attention to the needs and concerns of working British Colum- M S ae vt CUPE represents the majority of municipal and edu-~ calion employecs in the province. 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