A2- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 27, 1994 Nisga’a talks cost at least $2 million MORE THAN $2 million is going to be spent negotiating the Nisga’a Jand claim this year. And the actual. cost may even be higher because not all costs are directly tied io the federal, provincial and Nisga’a negotiat- ingteams. The majority of the cost is in wages with travel and accom- modation also ranking high. The provincial budget alone is $1.2 million, says chief negotiator Jack Ebbels who manages an of- fice of more than 10 people under the jurisdiction of the aboriginal affairs ministry. “Approximately 57 per cent is in salaries and benefits and 11 per cent In travel,’’ said Ebbels. Another 20 per cent is being Spent on professional and con- tracted out services, Meeting expenses amount to two per cent while the remainder is going to finance activities un- der an interim protection measures agreement tied to the claim. That latter agreement provides the Nisga’a with a say in resource Nisga’a union takes aim at jobs in the Nass Vall A NEW union for Nisga’a who live in the Nass Valley says it can’t wail for land claims settle- ments to be signed. “We neéd to create employ- ment opportunities right now. We can’t wait for negotiations upon negatiations,’’ said Brad Tait of the Nisga’a-Employees’ Union. Formed last year, the union has several hundred members and most of those work for Nisga’a Economic Enterprises, a company owned by the four villages of the Nass Valley. The union’s emphasis is on finalizing a contract with Nisga’a Economic -Enterprises, signing Tecognition agreements with other unions and drawing up col- lective bargaining agreements with other companies in the Nass. ‘*We do live in the Nass and we want to have a fair chance to get jobs in the Nass,’’ said Tait. “Often companies will come to the tribal council and say they7ll hire Nisga’a. Then they'll lay them off after a week and truck in their own people from outside the Nass,”’ he added. Tait said the Nisga’a Tribal Council is more concemed aboul the land claim, meaning that other groups must work on employ- development within the claim ter- ritory and their costs are bome by the provincial government. Ebbels did note that general of- vfice costs are covered by the aboriginal affairs ministry’s gen- eral budget. While federal negotiator Mike Furey was reluctant to release this year’s budget because il has yet to be approved, he did say $1,056 million was spent last year. Nearly 20 per cent of that — $195,000 — was spent on travel while $873,000 went to wages and salaries. Another $18,000 was spent on public relations material and as- sociated items, “These costs don’t include temporary secondments say, for instance, IF we needed some tech- nical advice from Fisheries and -Oceans Canada,” said Furey. Nisga’a Tribal Council execu- tive director Rod Robinson wouldn't release what it spends on negotiations, saying it is a confidential figure. But he did say tribal council of- ficials spend a great majority of ment. “"We need to make sure there are employment opportunities now. And there should be training programs in place before the question is settled,”’ he said. "The Nisga’a people want jobs and they want to know how they oust. be qualified and that’s where the Nisga’a Employecs’ Union comes into piay,’’ Tait added. On the list of unions up for recognition agreements are the IWA, B.C. Government Employ- ees’ Union and the International Longshoremens and Warehousemens Union. “What we're proposing is that: if it is Nisga’a wood going off shore, it be handled by Nisga’a — longshoremen in the Nisga‘a watershed,’ said Tait. On the list of employment sec- tors being targeted by the em- ployees. union are iogging, shiploading, road construction and mainlenance, health services and mining. , The Nisga’a Employees’ Union has an executive and then shop stewards in New Aiyansh, Green- ville, Gitwinksihlkw and Kin- colith. Grant delayed - BACKERS OF the library expan- sion project are going to have to wait just a little bit longer to find out if a provincial government grant is on the way. A government committee of two cabinet ministers and two MLAs was to meet April 15 to consider a number of applica- tions, including the one from the library board. But there wasn’t a quorum and the meeting of the BC 21 Com- munity Projects commitice has ‘been re-scheduled to May 4, says Skeena NDP MLA Helmut Gies- NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR NEW COMMUNITY? Call “Wetone Wagon Phone Elaine 635-3618 _ Phone Diana 638-8576 Phone Gililan 635-3044 Our hostess will bring gifts and greetings, along with helpful community informa- tion, j brechi. **We’re still on the list and I’m Still hopeful. I’m really confident it will come across,”’ he said. Latest construction figures put the total project cost in the $1.743 million range if a planned base- meat is deleted. Already committed is 31.235 million in borrowing approved by city and regional district tax- payers two years ago. That’s becn bocsted by $150,000 through promised donations by the regional district, city and library board. their time on the claim talks, The tribal council does receive an annual grant from the federal government to cover ils general administrative costs and it does receive specific grants for specific projects. As with other native groups, grants for negotiations going to the Nisga’a are considered an ad- vance against any cash that forms part of a final agreement. In other words, monies now for- warded to the Nisga’a are to be deducted from the final settle- ment. , Martyn Brown, a staffer with the newly-created Reform Party of B.C. caucus of MLAs in Vic- toria, was critical of the way governments account for land claims negotiating costs. Two provincial government minisiries, cnvironment and forests, have separate accounts to finance land inventory and valua- tion projects, he said. “We know within those there is work going on with land claims. We just don’t know bow much,” he said. cy . Hi His Brad Talt ANGLERS SHOULD pick up a copy of the Jatest fish- ing regulations because there are a couple of impor- tant changes, says local con- servation officer Ken Fujino. In the past anglers had to buy a special $3 stamp only if they wanted to catch chinook (spring) salmon. But now that stamp is re- quired to catch any salmon, including coho, chum (dog salmon) and ~ pinks {humpies). The old six-day short-term licence has been replaced by two new alternatives. Anglers, particularly tourists, can buy a one-day licence at $5 per day or an 8-day one at $15, The regulations can be ob- tained from the environment ministry office at the access centre on Eby St. or from any store selling fishing licences, kk kkk Following last -month’s budget, the government an- nounced hikes in the cost of almost all fishing licences. The basic annual licence for B.C. residents has been _. Fishing regs changed increased $4 to $23. Seniors face the steepest jump, to $5 from just one loonie but the disabled will still have to pay just one dollar. Out-of-province -Cana- dians will have to pay $28 for an annual licence, $20 for an 8-day (up more than a half) and $10 for one day’s ' fishing. The annual cost for for- eigners is up $7. to $40.with the 8-day licence now $25 and the one-day $10. The surcharges for fishing specially classified rivers and streams are unchanged, all Mother’s « Reservations Recommended « 10 am to 2 pm AT OUR MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH BUFFET "1.00 from every Brunch goes to B.C.’s Childrens Hospital Terrace Co-op SPORTING GOODS 635-6347 Come see our booth at the ‘94 Trade Show! See our displays of outdoor producis, fishing tackle and recreational merchandise. . Coleman Products 2912 Molitor Street TERRACE INN ' 635-6630 4551 Greig Ave. } Terrace Co-op . HOME HARDWARE | "635-9595 HOURS: Men. to Sat. 8am-6pm Sunday ll am- 4pm ~'* Taymor Tents * Taymor Products * Coolers and Jugs _* Fishing Tackle * Deep Sea Tackle See what’s new for 1994 from our Sporting Goods Department! + DOOR PRIZES INCLUDE - CD PLAYER - BUGLE BOY JEANS & MANY MORE ITEMS *.__ Visit us at the Trade Show April 29, 30 and May 1 Guess the weight of the insulation and have a chance to win a Portable C.D. Player! Apr. /94 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th Zith 22th eore ee ee -H- 4 ROAD REPORT Motorists are advised to watch for frost heaves and rough and muddy sections as § the frost leaves the ground, Expect winter conditions during night time hours. Watch for maintenance crews patching and repairing other winter damage. To report road hazards call 638-8383 during office hours. After hours call 1-800-665-5051, NECHAKO J a BROUGHT TO YOU BY: NORTHCOAST ; af EONS TRUCTION SERVICES Your Road Maintenance Contractor