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. Advertising is accepted
on the condition that in the event of
iypographical error, that portion of the advertis-
ing space occupied by the erroneous item will
not be charged for, but the balance of ihe advar-
tlsament wit! be paid tor at the applicable rate.

Advertisers, must assume responesiblilty for ar: ~

rors in any classified ad which ls supplied to the
Terrace Review in handwritten form.

in compliance with the B.C. Human Alghts Act,
no advertisement will be published which

discriminates against a person due to age, race, .

raligion, color, sex, nationality, ancestry or place
of origin.

4535 Greig Avenue,
Terrace, B.C.
V68G 1M7

Phone: 635-7840
Fax: 635-7260

ee

One year subscriptions:
in Canada $39.00
Out of Canada $100.00
Seniors in Terrace and District $30.00
Seniors out of Terrace and District $33.00
GST will be added to the above prices.

(covanian QN7RO0RS IN
WUE TO CARRY AT
BOMB pISPASAL

PIRI PILLAR
5

Qo x

\ ON
Lim,
FS . \
i

« Bee
b

—~\ 4

ed

_ = v4 | \ Menee '
Se

TRICKY?... 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