" TERRACE STANDARD. -_Business Review _| EH - Hummers onthe way THE HUMMER is coming here. Prized by 4x4ing celebrities Like Arnold Schwarzeneger, the vebicle first introduced by the U.S. military in the 1991 Gulf War will be sold and age at Terrace’s Peterbilt Trucks ealership. ~The Terrace outlet is one of four B.C. Peterbilt branches — along with Surrey, Prince George and Kamloops — to offer Hummer sales, service, warranty and paris support under the name Pacific Hummer, The vehicle is the civilian version of the U.S. military Humvee (High Mobility Multi-Purpose. Wheeled Vehicle) originally designed by AM . General Corporation in 1979 as a Jeep replacement. They come in several versions priced from $90,000 to HUMMERS will soon be sold an bilt dealership, It's one of four branches to handle the vehicles. Bt Sa Rich tieertels d serviced out of the Terracet Peter- $140,000, ‘‘The buyers range from the exotic car enthusiast, the ultimate 4x4 ad- “venturer, to a variety of commercial applications that require a severe ser- vice vehicle with unmatched ver- Out & About Building regs change ~MANDATORY home warranties and builder licensing - Tegulations take effect province-wide on May Ist. And that’s going to mean changes — particularly for owner-builders who account for nearly half the new homes © built in Terrace, says city building inspector Paul Gipps. Under the new rules, Gipps said, builders will have to “prove they're registered and that the unit they're starting will be warrantied before a building permit is issued, He said it appears owner-builders who don’t pay for war- ranty protection on their house will have to personally war- ranty the work if they sell it instead of living in it for the entire 10-year warranty period, “It’s fine if you stay in the house for 10 years,” he said. “But if they're looking at trying to make a buck, I think the rules are not so much in their favour any more.’? The rule changes Will be the subject of a free information session here Tuesday, Mar. 9 hosted by the new ~ Homeowner Protection Office. Time and date are still to ~ be set, but seats are limited, so register by calling 1-800- - 407-7757. Regulations are on the net at www.bpo.bc.ca. Job market was weak B.C.’s job market in 1998 was the weakest in 14 years despite the impression created by the widely-reported overall increase o£ 57,000 jobs, according to economists at Credit Union Central of B.C. Central economist Ken Peacock says the true measure of B.C.'s job perfromance can be found in average employ- ‘ment levels, not a year-to-year comparison. ; ~ Based on average employment levels in B.C. throughout the year, jobs grew by just 1.2 per cent. “This was the worst performance since 1984,”’ he says. _ Most of.the gain in conventional jobs came in the private ... sector, where employment grew by 13 per cent, or 30,000 - jobs, The nuinber of private sector employees grew by just 0.3 per cent, or 3,000 jobs, and much of that was in con- "struction spurred by provincial government spending. ‘Self-employment accounted for the remaining 24,000 _ jobs of the total 57,000 increase. The self-employed work ~ longer hours and are paid less, and many would prefer an employment position, the economists said. Growth in conventional jobs in the private sector has been stagnant for several years — the number of paid posi- lions at the end of 1998 was still below levels recorded three years earlier. “Renewed confidence is essential for the private sector to invest and increase hiring,’’ Peacock says. salilily and reliability,” said Pacific Hummer co-owner Terry Pasiuk. He said the plan is to have at least one Hummer at each location, but added it may not be until summer that one arrives in the Terrace branch. “Room to Grow" 999 NORTHERN WOOD FORUM Houston, B.C, April 22-24, 1999 ~ Plan to attend Touch Wood! It is a: Value-added Forest Products Conference Early Bird Registration Deadline March 25. - Student Wood Products Competition 12 High Schools Frorn Across Northern B.C. Wocdcrafter Competition Entry Deadline March | ; World-Class Gallery and Exhibition Free Admission Want More Info? Call the Houston and District Chamber of Commerce at (240) 845-7640 Get more info on-line at www. hiway 1 6.com/woodforum ; Register early as space is jimited COLUMBIA Mirwetry of Senet ABU BEE dnormucoa Pasiuk nated they'll be equipped to service any Hummers already in the norlhwest, ‘We're not sure if there are any in thal area now right now, but there are a few around Prince George,”’ be said. Tax plan use IS On AN INCREASING num- ber of local taxpayers arc taking advantage of the City of Terrace’s preauthorized properly tax payment plan. There are now about 240 homeowners and a handful of businesses on it, says treasurer Keith Norman, Besides avoiding one large tax payment due all at once, the main advantage of the plan is the high rate of interest the monthly pay- meuts earn while the money waits for taxes to come due, Right now the interest rate is 4.75 per cent — sig- nificantly more than any bank savings account pays. “That’s down a bit,” Nonnan adds. ‘lt was 5.5 _ Per cent at the end ‘of, the year,’ . The advantage for the city is that instead of receiving the rise | all of its tax revenue at once on July 1st, some of it is Spaced out through the year and that more closely fits the way it gets spent. Right now, Norman said, the city is receiving more than $59,000 each month under the plan. “Is been growing steadi- ly,” Norman says. ‘But a lot of people aren’t really aware of it yet.’’ He says he’tl set taxpayers up on the plan at any time of the year — not just at tax time. You can set your mouthly payment to any amount you like, although $50 is the minimum, Even if your plan isn’t set to ac- count for the full total of your anual tax bill, you can simply use it to reduce the size of the bill that has to be paid July Ist. W) ANNOUNCEMENT Columbia Autohaus Ltd, is pleased to welcome Gayton Nabess to their team of professionals. Gayton looks forward to the opportunity of helping you with all your motoring needs. $ SUZUKI Ask anyone who owns one? Columbia Autohaus Ltd. 4109 Substation Road, Terrace 635-5717 B cauliful B CY INNG J See us for your Bridal Accessories! We have the best selection in town. We will special order for you. * Brides * Bridesmaids * Groomsmen Book your Bridal party hair appointments early! 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