A6 Terrace Review — Wednesday, April 24, 1991 An experiment in consensus "The future lasts along itme.” T — French historian Louis Althusser he three negotiating teams charged with settling the Nisga’a land question are on a monumental undertaking, not only seeking consensual solutions on matters that have divided our society for centuries but also embarking on a new and untested ptocess for achieving that agreement. The creators of the framework agreement which will govern the process seem to have done well, combining adequate representation on all three sides with the streamlining necessary if the talks are ever going to reach a conclusion. The decision that the progress of negoti- ations should be public will enable us to watch what promises to be a fascinating exercise over the next two years, and perhaps to lea something that could be transplanted into the way we govern our- selves. If the framework they are using is successful, it will stand in stark contrast to some of our current governing institutions. Consider, for example, that after two years this community still hasn’t found (and approved) a suitable location for a new Corrections Centre despite overwhelming batches of public hearings, representations, studies and discussions. During an equal period of time, the Nisga’a negotiators propose to have an agreement-in-principle covering a newly-created type of jurisdiction for nearly 10,000 square miles (there will be a decision on all that area whether the Nisga’a proposal survives in its opening form or not), governing all the people and resources it contains. I€ they succeed, it should give us cause to question seriously the conventional manner in which we make decisions on contested issues, and reason to leam by example. The negotiations are hedged on all sides with hazards, but the intent to resolve the Nisga’a land issue expressed by all three sides is encouraging. The primary hazard lies, oddly enough, off the main table with two of the players — the federal and provincial govern- ments, who are doing their own hostile dance over the cost-sharing formula for public bill of settlement. A long-range view would take into account the savings, not the cost — in social and economic stability and the quality of life, along with the eventual dismantling of some very burdensome bureaucracies. Whatever the outcome may be for the Nisga’a, they have set an example that is worth following — negotiation. Public hearings, necessary as they may be in some instances, seem uncivilized by comparison. Congratulations to the lobbyists T he Terrace contingent attending the Minerals North con- ference in Stewart seems to have been an effective one — Terrace has been chosen as the conference site for 1992. Minerals North drew 165 delegates this year, along with trade show participants. And it didn’t take a convention centre to get the confer- ence here, just persuasion. ernrace Established May 1, 1985 The Terrace Review is published each Wednesday by Close-Up Business Services Ltd. Publisher: Betty Barton Editor: ; Michael Kelly : ‘Staff Reporters: =Tod Strachan, Betty Barton * Natlonal Advertising: Marjorie Twyford Local Advertising: Jack Beck/Mar| Twyford Office/Typesetting: ~ Garrte Olson Production Manager: Jim Hall = Production: Charles Costello, Gurbax Gill, Ranjit Nizar Accounting: Mar| Twyford, Harminder K. Dosanjh ’ Art and Graphics: Marlanne Brorop Weston ‘Mark Twyford, President Close Up Business Services Ltd. Second-class mall registration No. 6896. All material appearing in the Terrace Review is protacted under Canadian capyright Registra- tion No. 382775 and cannot tegally be repro- duced for any reason without permission of the publisher. Errore and omissions. 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NAH... THIS NS / 1S ASNAP..L USED T0 vac gf WORK INTHE CANADIAN, eee — GIN. FEDERAL” PROVINCIAL. RELATIONS MINISTRY... WY, S w, Down by the River watching the issues flow by Commentary and analysis by Terrace Review staff ‘WASHROOM WISDOM No need to go into any great description on the washroom facil- ities at George Little Memorial Park. There aren’t any. For some, this is tragic. But for others, it’s a sign that sanity still prevails. Proponents ‘of the most recent project, which is still in the pro- cess of almost happening, say a separate $45,000 to $50,000 build- ing in the northwest comer of the park is what'we need. But oppo- nents to that idea, who are divided into two basic groups, say the first group is wrong. These latter two groups are divided between an external attachment to the band- shell and: one at the side or rear of the library. No one, that we’re aware of, is opposed to the basic concept of washrooms for the park. An internal city memo, though, released with the minutes of the March 6 Community and Recre- ation Services Committee minutes, might offer some insight into the various options. It is to be hoped that this insight will help to speed up the decision-making process so a project of some kind can get underway. The memo, is from building maintenance supervisor Brad North to director of operations and offers the following: Washrooms are needed by the Farmers Market for about 20 Saturday mornings a year, during bandshell events, which are hard to attach an annual number to; during Riverboat Days, when there is much activity in the park; and often throughout the summer by casual visitors, pic- nickers and "frisbec-ers". As a matter of recorded history, , Se UU EEEREE SEI aEERAREEERER EERE REEL North points out that the first Letters to the editor will be considered for publication only when signed. Please Include your telephone number. P ; " The editor reserves the right to condense and edit letters, Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Terrace Review, En washroom solution. an external addition to the library, was offered up a number of years ago but was scrapped when talk of library expansion began. Next came the bandshell option, but this didn’t materialize because at the time there was a lack of funding. And then came the presently held idea of a separate building in the far corner of the park. First, the library connection, from North’s perspective: coupled with an overall expansion design, wash- tooms easily accessible to the general public would be more economical to design, build, and heat than all other options con- sidered thus far. And, says North, "Would probably look the best." The idea has more going for it, including the fact that vandalism would be less of a nuisance duc to the proximity of library users and staff. And a drawback: “Our pre- sent needs for washrooms would not be met until the (library) ex- pansion went ahead," says North. But, "...for the long-term needs and appearance of the park this option makes sense and should not be shelved merely because it is not immediately realizable." A cement block building in the northwest comer of the park might be more "immediately realizable"... but there are these facts to con- sider, It would be about 20 feet high and in a presently open area of the park, and even though it would be closer to the Farmers Market, it would still be on the opposite side of the street. North admits this location is Close to power and water. And that corner of the park isn’t being used for anything else, at present. "But," writes North, "this option would preclude any other use for this area in the future." And, "To choose a site because utilities are close is not the best long-term plan.” North says he has discussed this option with Terrace architect and guest writers ee by Tod Strachan Royce Conde, and there are several things on which they agree. * Among them, vandalism and main- tenance costs at this location would be “horrendous”. And, with this advise in mind, putting a perma- nent $50,000 structure in the north- west comer of the park is worth some sober second thought. This still leaves the bandshell option, of course. But North and Conde agree that there would be a "horrendous" vandalism and main- tenance cost attached to this idea as well. Along with this, it might offer additional vandalism opportunities by providing access to the band- shell roof, the construction cost would be about the same as the northwest corner idea, and it would preclude any other additions to the bandshell such as a performers’ practise, waiting and change room. Block buildings at the bandshell or in the northwest comer would not be easily heated and would therefore be prone to condensation problems for much of the year. And finally, if the Farmers Mar- ket is a guiding factor in the choice of a washroom location, for the problems that might be caused, the bandshell is only slightly closer to the Farmers Market than the library and the difference really shouldn't be considered a problem. What might be considered a problem by some, however, {s the fact that even though we are ex- pecting a library expansion referen- dum this fall, we can't be certain it will pass. And even if it docs, it’s certain to be some time before park washrooms, assuming they're included in the plan, would be available for public use. — Continued on page A13