Conservation office doors closed to public LOCAL RESIDENTS will get that long distance feel- ing if they wish to speak with or see a conservation officer here. All calls are now being sent through a Victoria- based call centre and it will either dispatch offi- cers or make appointments for office visits. . The decision to close off the offices follows a budget-trimming core re- view of the service, “We think this is the most efficient way to man- age their services and time,” chief provincial conservation officer Mark Hayden said. “We want to maximize the time they spend in the field and minimize the time they spend in the office.” Office time is meant to deal with specific appoint- ments or to prepare paper- ‘work for cases and not to handle public inquiries, Hayden added. Ironically, the conser- vation office here is loca- ted in the the province’s Access Centre. It’s designed to have a large open common area surrounded by counters providing easy access to a variety of provincial gov- ernment services. One of . those was the conservation officer ‘service. Also shut off from the public are other provincial environmental officials. As it is, conservation officers have already trim- med their outdoor re- sponses to wildlife situa- tiens where there is real or potential harm to humans. Hayden said that even if people could call their local conservation office, there’d be a good chance the officer or officers would be out in the field. _ _ Budget cuts to the ser- vice have also meant of- fice closures and layoffs, r part time, with the officer moving out to Terrace the end of November until the following spring. That means the Terrace office will have three offi- ‘cers on duty for half of each year. And although the Houston and Hazelton of- fices have been clased, TV ads smacked HEALTH CARE unions are angry at the $435,000 being spent by the provin- cial Liberal government on TV ads about health care. Both the Hospital Em- ployees’ Union and the B.C. Nurses’ Union say the money should have been Spent instead on medical procedures, The ads began running last week and have an- other two weeks to run. _ They don’t contain speci- fics, but are meant to as- sure people the provincial government is doing some- thing to improve health care and do direct viewers fo a website. And they go against a promise made by Premier Gordon Campbell that tax money wouldn't be spent on promoting the government. “No amount of advertis- ing will convince British Columbians that they have a plan to improve health care for patients and - seniors,” said Chris All- nutt, the business manager for the Hospital Employ- ees’ Union. B.C. Nurses’ Union offi- cial Jean Smith said the ads are misleading. Health services minister Colin. Hansen said the money comes for a public relations budget and not from his ministry. “But Pll be the first to acknowledge it is the taxpayers’ money,” he added. The website listed in the TV ads generated 27,060 hits in less than a day of their first airing, said Hansen, Hayden said the Atlin ” office will now operate So The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 21, 2002-A13. . MacKay’s Funeral Service Ltd. Serving Terrace, Kitimat, Smithers & Prince Rupert Monuments Bronze Plaques Terrace Crematorium Concerned personal service in the Northwest: since 1946 4626 Davis Street Tarrace, B.C. VBG 1X7 i} Funeral Sevke = Phone 635-2444 © Fax 635-635-2160 Association 24 hour pager LOCKED DOOR now marks the location of the con- servation officer service in the access centre. If you want to see an officer fram now on, you'll have to call to make an appointment. those officers have been * moved to Smithers. “We still have two offi- cers in Dease Lake and two in the Charlottes,” said Hayden. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Terrace Symphony Orchestra will be held Wednesday, August 28th at 7:30 p.m. in the Old Terrace Standard Building behind the Royal Bank. All Symphony members and interested people are welcome, as are new symphony players. Please call Bonnie Juniper at 635-9649 __ if you need more information.. Celtic Harp Classes For Children No musical experience needed. Harps available for rent. For information, call Robin 635-4261 i. ew HOUSE OF COMMONS , Andy Burton Member of parliament for Skeena Constituency Office 46454 Lazelle Ave. Terrace, 8.C, VG 156 Phone: 1250) 635-1601 Fax: (250) 635-4109 Toll Frea; 1-800-66]-2208 E-mail: andy@and burton.ca Website: www,andyburton.ca oS ©. Sophia’s Dance) ! in Studio Offering /, Jazz Dance Classes me Register now for 2002-2003 Only say $45 per month plus GST > Ages 5-18 years Limited spaces available! Quality dance instruction at the lowest price in town. To all our Customers: We would like to express a heartfelt “Thank You” for your patronage. Over the man years we have been doing business wil you, we have gotten to know most of you quite well, We will miss chatting with you as we worked on your communication needs together. We will be here till the end of September. So pop in to say goodbye. The Terrace Phone Mart Staff Betty, Debbie, Dianne and Leana ce TELUs” Fully Qualified Stylists With Years OF Experience THORNHILL TRANSFER YARD The number of buses stopping at Thornhill Junior . Secondary School has been reduced by a total of 10 buses. — © Mornings from 18 buses to 11 - e Afternoons from 20 buses to 17 © First Round 11 to 10 * Second Round 9 to 7 Three bus lanes will be utilized at Thornhill Junior Secondary for dropping off and picking up students. The lanes to be used are the three closest to the highway. [aoming [Lane i(Hwy side [Lane 2 (ilddie) “Tlane 3 (School side] High Scho! E 4/Jackpine B:05 Ta[Riverside J &:07 Hotsprings : 3/0ld Ramo 6:09 10|Gossen 44 8 32/Kleanza North : 2|Usk 6 8:18 31|Overlaad East Hotsprings : 12\Rivarsids 8:30 Afteroon (Lana tiHwy Side [Lane 2 (Hidde) [Lane 3 (School Side) S2tKleanze North 3|Cid Remo 2:47 al Jackpine Bi Hotsprings 2:48 8/East Kalu : 2{Uak 2:50 i] High School 7(New Ramo 12] Riveraide 31[Overioad East Usk a : 10|Gossen 3:40 32(North Kleanza Highschool : 3/Old Remo 3:50 8] Hotsprings Jackpine qe SHOW ROG, o* | THE BADDEST ARCTIC CAT What Snowmobilings All About” * Lightest In Class © 499 Lbs. ° 151 x 2” Track * 150 Hp. * Drop & Rolled Chain Case’ * Light Weight Twin Engine ¢ Adjustable Ski Stance 39°-41” Recreation: pecialist: Phone 635-3478 Fax 635-5050