The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 5, 1994 - AS

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CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD

The Mail Bag

One person takes the brunt

Dear Sir: .

It is certainly good to sec RCMP cleaning up the streets of Ter-
race. Now that they have the notorious ring leader of the 91 Hal-
loween riots behind bars I'm sure the citizens of Terrace will rest
easier.

I'm simply amazed» the RCMP picked one person out of th
hordes of youth destroying the main street tocharge,. -. - ~~~ -

Was it commendable that they should be that observant or was it
simply the skinny blonde kid with the biggest mouth, - :

In the 91 riots they reported as many as 750 youths on the main
street of Terrace Halloween night, and Mikey was charged. -

No matter, the sircets have been safe for the last two months.
Since Mikey took the rap [ wonder if the other 749 youths will help
pay (he $500 fine. After all that’s only 67 cents a piece,

; Mike's Mom,
V.A. Huscroft,
Creston, B.C.

Annoyed at post office

Dear Sir’

I have just stormed out of the main postal branch where one cletk
was leisurely handling a customer line up of |S people — five car-
tying heavy parcels.

I recently moved to Terrace and have occasion to visit the post of-
fice every couple of weeks. Regardless what time I visit there is al-

_ ways only one clerk and 4 line up of no fewer than six customers,
.On one occasion, while 10 customers waited, the one and only
clerk had a yelling discussion with a faceless person in back about
what type of donut she wanted for her coffee break!

In any other business, such horrendously bad service would soon
result in its closure, I guess we don’t have a choice but io deal with
Canada Post, but at least they could hire clerks who know the
meaning of service — customer service that is — nol self service!

lea made to keep core
park from construction

An open letter to: .
Mayor Jack Talstra
and council members

Re: Erosion of park area in
downtown Terrace

How sad it is that the only park
area in the core of Terrace is
‘slowly disappearing — it being
used for purposes other than

' Originally intended.

The two George Little
Memorial Parks were designated

on the original plan of the Terrace

‘lownsite and = subsequently
deposited in the land registry of-
fice,

‘Apparently where land in a
municipality is dedicated to the
public for the purpose of a park
by-subdivision plan and deposited
in thé land registry office the

municipality is entitled to posses- _
sion‘and control of such land for —

such purpose," ~

“The parks are known as Upper
and “Lower George Little
Memorial Parks. The Upper Park

. was a beautiful wooded area in

benches provided by George
Little. Each spring Mr. Little
would provide some of -his
workers to clean up this park.

The trees became over-mature
and council agreed that the trees
should be removed and that coun-
cil would plant more suitable
ITces.

_ When the Sande Overpass was
being built gravel was removed
from the park along Kalum street..

Lower Little Park appeam to
have been reduced along the
entire west border to provide
parking — probably dating from
the days of the old civic
centre/curling rink. Since then the
park area has been further
reduced by building our library
upon it-—a Centennial project!

Now there are plans to extend
the library building which will
mean even less park area for our

‘We don't disagree that our library services are in-
adequate but do think that other avenues could result in a
larger, more suitable building with parking.’’

Following this, an ice arena and
parking lot was built on most of
the level usable park area. Next
came the tennis courts.:

_ All ‘that remains is ‘hillside,
quite unsuitable as a relaxing

park area. Finally about 20 years
after the decadent trees had been
removed a few new ones have

citizens to enjoy. Over the past
few years the lower park has
blossomed into a little jewel.
It has become a place for meet-
“ing and relaxing outdoors. Most

‘days, weather permitting, youcam ’

see people with young children in
the play area and in the summer
people eating lunch, reading and
playing cards; using the park. Our

park are very well attended.

This letter is a plea to save the
remaining downtown park and te-
quesi that present plans to ex-
tended the library building be
reconsidered,

We don’t, disagree that our li-
brary facilities are inadequate but
do think that other avenues could
result in a larger, more suitable
building with parking.

We understand that Gim's
restaurant might be available and
would probably be less expensive
to purchase and renovate than the
present amount budgeted for li-
brary expansion. This building is
close to the park and has off
street parking. Other property
close by may also be available,

So please give this letter some
serious consideration. We request
also that council give the people
of Terrace an opportunity to ex-

..press their views on the preserva:

tion of this park ‘before it is too
late. _
, * Julia E. Little and
sis.” Claire Tooms,

fortunately, we have to pay the price.

There are two clerks who are good at’ their jobs. One is a young

man who is prompt, efficient and, on one occasion thal I saw,
switched effortlessly from English to French to help a bilingual
customer. ,

The other is a tall young lady with long brown hair who always

has a smile, friendly greeting (or apology for the delay) and is also
prompt and efficient.. — : ;

They both deserve a pai on the back for doing a good job while

mainlaining a professional demeanor and making the customer feel
welcomed, ° an oe

Mary Anne Skill,
Terrace, B.C,

-~ Air fare horrifies

DearSir:.

The northwest is one of the nicest areas in Canada to live in. Un-

Recently I purchased an airline ticket to go to Vancouver. Be-

cause I will not be staying over on a Saturday, my flight cost is
3648.42. Now why the Saturday? Iam ata loss,

My concern is not with the travel agents, as they are doing their

job, and very well. My travel agent, Terrace Travel, has always
helped me greatly, and for that I am grateful
oT But theaizlines;: this! hal! thse! somethitig! different: ‘For“anojher
-” *$420,T could:fly to London, England and then onto Glasgow; Scot
land, and return back to Terrace. The distance involved overseas is
tremendous, compared to Terrace/Vancouver.

grateful.

To the airlines, I ask you to consider giving the folks here in the

north a break. I further realize now that Terrice has the CT Scan,
the airlines will lose some customers. Already, as | write, the CT
Scan has processed more than 81 patients, and a majority of those
patients would have gone to. Vancouver. So please, consider the
northem folks. Too many people seem to forget.that yes, there is
life after Prince George. re

been planted along with some

grass and shrubs, ve Terrace, B.C,

the 1930s and 40s with tables and Canada Day celebrations at the

A letter

a Charles F, Meek,

" government?

Forest code foun

An open letter to:
Premier Mike Harcourt,
Victoria, B.C.

Dear Sir:

Re: Proposed Forest Practices

. Code, '

The introduction to the FPC in-
dicates that there has been little
enforcement ability with the

legislation as it currently exists:

this is not true. .
‘I -have seen instances where

_ ntire operations have been shut
_ down, or where hefty fisheries

fines and stumpage penalties have
been levied.

Perhaps there has been a lack of
will or desire on the part of the
ministries to enact these
penalties, and I do not see the

 FPC creating this will. .

~The FPC document also refers
to a system of incentives and
penalties in its introduction (Prin-
ciples— Item 11, and Objectives

_ > Item 7). This is the only time
' that incentives are referred to,

Please provide an explanation
of why such an important topic as
incentives for enhanced stew-
-ardship of our forests is not dis-
cussed anywhere clse within the
Frc;

There is no discussion of how
the FPC will deal with the Small
Business Forest Enterprise Pro-
gtam (SBFEP): will the SBFEP
quota be penalized if infractions

. to the code occur? Will tickets be

issued by forest officers to the
How can the
government fine itself up to one
million dollars?

I feel that there is the potential

‘for some conflicts of interest

and/or a serious lack of
credibility regarding this issue
unless further clarification is pro-
vided.

How will two ministries be able

to jointly approve/enforce the
- policies described in the FPC? I

am not in support of this concept,

ag I'see it simply creating a
” bureaucratic nightmare.

Instead, I believe that while the
curtent system (a leader ministry
with referrals to other mini-
siries/groups)' has inefficiencies,
it could be streamlined: I recom-
mend that it be retained, at least
for the interim.

Significant discus-
sion/expansion on the topic of
dual authority should occur be-
fore it {s enacted as part of the
Frc,

For example, how — will
redundancies be avoided? Will

work order is cnough fo make
people aware that a problem ex-
ists, and discussions regarding the
appropriate action should occur
prompily thereafier.

How will the ministries provide
for the staffing required to prop-
erly police the code? Wiil more
staff be hired on, and iF so, will
they be qualified? Will existing
staff be shuffied, thereby short-
changing other departments and
processes?

Also, how will accountability of

“I do not believe that forest management will improve
asa result of the forest practices code. In fact, I believe

the opposite will result.”

joint signatures be required for all
aclivities or will specific lopics
be the responsibility of specific
departments?

While I agree with the concept
of ministry ficld personnel having
some power of enforcement in
the Geld, I do not agree with the
system as described in the FPC,
as it provides for penalties which
are far {oo severe without ade-
quate opportunity for discussion.

The currently existing ability of

forest officers to. issue a stop.

those people who are approv-
ing/disapproving forest manage-
ment proposals, or who are ¢tn-
forcing the code, be ensured and
monitored? ,

As far as I can tell, the system
of public. involvement. as de-
scribed in. the FPC has not
changed from the current system.
Therefore [ can see no reason
why there should be an increased
‘level of public participation in ihe

planning process. Please provide ©
me with a.description of how .

s

ishy

public (not special interest group)
involvement will be increased via
the FPC,

I support the concept of the
FPC: a document which takes all
the existing legislation, regula-
lions, etc. that apply to the forests
of B.C., and puts it into one
single place.

This would meke everyone's
job much easier, and allow more
time to be spent on forest man-
agement activities,

Unfortunately, I do not believe
that forest management will im-
prove as a result of the FPC. In
fact, I believe that the opposite
will result: less time will be spent
In the woods applying forest
management principles, and more
lime will be spent in the office on
administration and bureaucracy.

One other comment: I believe
that much of the concern over the
need for a Forest Practices Code
would not have occurred had the
forest indusiry, Ministry of

‘ Forest, Ministry of Environment,

Lands and Parks, and Department
of Fisheries and Oceans ‘worked
logether in formulating plans and
had open discussions.

~ Instead, some (not all) individu-
ils within these. groups have
taken adversarial —_ positions,
resulting in . distrust and

_ animosily.

Until the adversarial attitude in
our Forests is eliminated, it will
be difficuit, {f not impossible to
practice truly integrated,
sustainable foresiry, regardless of
what legislation is in place.

In the final measure, the future
success of forest management in
B.C, will depend on. whether

- people listen fo each other and

work together.
I-do not sec how the Forest

: Practices Code in ils present pro-
_ posed form can provide the in-

centive for multl-group - co-

- operation, and ask (hat you re-
evaluate It from that perspective.

Rick Brouwer, R.B.F.,

Terrace, B.C,

THE START IS FOR PEOPLE LEARNING TO READ

_ The Start

Baby gets a seat.

THE FIRST baby born in 1994 gets a special gift. Il is a car seat.
Car seats can save a baby’s life. That’s because a car seat keeps a
baby from being thrown through the air if there is an accident,

Studies show that nearly one half of all car seats were not'put in

right. And the studies found that nearly one in five young children
were placed in the wrong kind of seat, ;

The car seat for the New Year’s baby is donated by doctors, Doc-

tors incach town and city have done this for 11 years,

And, parents will also get good advice on how to install a carseat

the right way.

Brand spanking new |
THE TERRACE fire department has a new vehicle, It is called a

rescue truck. The department bought this truck to replace an older
one.

‘The new vehicle cost $130,000, But fire chief Bob Beckett says

the truck is moncy well spent. .

new. truck. has: lois of space for equipment, including the

Jaws of Life..And {t bas a pimp to spray water or foam,
" 'Therd is still some work nesded on the truck, That means {t will

~ not be used for another month or so...

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