A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 2, 1997 “Shell game’ budget cuts taxes, dumps costs onto FRBC By JENNIFER McCLARTY B.C. FINANCE MINISTER Andrew Petter delivered a budget last week that hands out a personal income tax cul of two percent. , That will put $128 per year back into the hands ofa family of four earning $50,000 a year. The B.C. government's deficit. for 1997 is projected ta come in at only $185 million —low given dire projections a few menths ago. But that. figure, was - achieved. by loading many costs onto other agencies. Key among them isthe slashing of $152 million from the forests ministry budget. Forest Renewal B.C., which is off of the governnient’s balance sheets, is to replace abaut $100 inillion of the cut for silviculture. Reforestation consultants slammed the- transfer of respon- sibility as a thinly disguised raid of FRBC coffers, Rob Roulstan, of Smithers-based Silvicon Services Ltd., said FRBC wus supposed to be tor innovative projects that went beyond basic silviculture. “With these cuts they (the NDP) are just offloading their busic program onto FRBC.1 don't see any difference bel- ween this and the proposed raiding of FRBC last fall,” he said, “It's just a shell game.” The government has also demanded greater dividends from Crown corporations like B.C, Hydro and B.C. Rail, even if hey have to borrow money to pay them. - Highways ministry spending has been cut by 19 per cent, because highways and roadwork will now be paid for by the B.C. Transportation and Financing Authority. Other budget highlights: Mi Close to 40,000 new jobs are expected to be generated. M@ Car insurance premiums, B.C. Hydro and university luition lee rates will remain frozen. Mi The total debt as of March 31-will be $29.4 billion. The forecast for March 31/98 is $30.9 billion: @ Overall spending in the next fiscal year is estimated to be $20,471 billion, down more than $100 million from 1996/97, @ Total revenue is estimated to be $20.286 billion, up 0.4 per cent from last year’s budget. i Spending on health care is up $300 million, Mi Just over $1 billion will be borrowed for new schools, roads and hospitals. B@ The Jabs and Timber Accord — still being negotiated with the forest industry — is predicted to create 21,000 jobs by 2001. The Guarantee for Youth program will spend $23 mil- lion to provide jobs for 12,000 youth. Wi The aviation fuel tax will fall from four cents per litre to three this year and two cents the following year. Fatal car crash A MALE TERRACE YOUTH is dead after a single car accident near Kitimat late Sunday afternoon on Highway 37, Four other passengers — also believed to be Terrace teenag- ers — were treated and released from hospital. The accident happened 1O0km north of Kitimat on a straight stretch of road near the Kitimat airpark, according to Kitimat RCMP Const. Cam Muir. The southbound car crossed the oncoming lane and rolled in the opposite ditch, FROM FRONT Offender changed name, seeks parole “These people may oy be in Terrace, Prince Rupert, Prince George, Vancouver. ‘We just don’t know,”’ One of Bobby Oatway’s victims in the Fraser Valley said she wants to know if Willoughby (Kevin Oatway) is released as well because the pair would likely end up in the same place. **Qur lives are at risk,”’ the woman said. Willoughby was a brown-haired, bluc- eyed, baby-faced musician when he lived in Terrace. And he was also a sexual predator who used his own children to lure other young victims to bis Queensway Ave. mobile home. The offences took place between 1974 and 1983. Willoughby was initially convicted and sentenced in 1985 to eight years in prison for sexual assault and gross indecency. Then two years later Judge Paul Lawrence sentenced him to life imprison- ment on three counts of having sexual inter- course with a female under 14. The girls Willoughby had sex with were as young as seven to their early tcens, The number of such incidents was ‘‘in the many hundreds, if not the thousands’’ Judge Lawrence stated on passing sentence. Psychiatric evidence. before the court in- dicated that Willoughby ‘‘offended as fre- quently as his human sexuality would permit; that it was not physically possible for him to offend more than be has in that period of time.”’ Psychiatrists said he showed no evidence of true remorse and described his potential for re-offending as ‘‘very high.’’ He was diagnosed as a fixated bisexual pedophile. In handing down sentence in 1987, Judge Lawrence also called out for care in dealing with Willoughby’s cventual parole eligibility. “Any doubts should be resolved in favour of the protection of the public, par- ticularly the protection of the children of ihe public,” ruled Lawrence. Caregivers vote to strike MORE THAN 40 community living work- ers in Terrace could soon be on strike unless an agreement is reached between their union and the government-funded Health Employers Association. ‘The workers are members of the BC Government and Service Employees Union. They voted 87 per cent in favour of strike action last week. The caregivers work with people who have mental and physical: disabilities. In Terrace, those workers are employed with Thompsen Residential and Community Services. Thompson runs three group homes, here including one on Spruce Street, The key issue for the workers is wage equal- ity, as well as benefits, pensions and job © security. “These workers are doing the same jabs, with the same clients as those in provincial institutions,” says union representative Soren Bech, ‘But they're doing it for much less money. and no benefits,” Bech. says money to pay home workers comes from the government. But the workers are getting paid about $5 per hour less than their counterparts in government-run institu- tions and-in some cases earn minimum wage. And Bech says these caregivers are working with clients who have been moved out of pro- vincial institutions to cut costs, Because the caregivers’ ‘work is considered an essential Service, strike action cannot be taken until’ minimum staffing levels are established. That slep is required by law to make sure the people who tive. inthe homes are not put at tisk by a strike.: aoe Mediation talks between employers and the inion are tentatively set to begin April 8. Spring Style . | Muir said. ‘FROM FRONT ‘Domtar offer foiled merger : evelalion early last week that Avenor ignored its proposal » for a new three-way merger of Avenor, Repap and Domtar -Inc. — a third Montreal-based forest company controlled * by Caisse. : Avenor officials said they wanted to complete the Repap - takeover before considering other offers. -, Repap shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of the deal. :: Skeena MP Mike Scott, who went to the Repap share- : holders meeting in Montreal to fight the proposal and > highlight he plight of northwesterners, didn’t get far in his > mission. Scott had proxies from three northwestern Repap share- * holders and hoped to vote those shares against the deal and : speak on the proposal. + The proxies were deemed invalid, however, because they ‘ weren't registered by a broker. And Scott never got a * chance to speak, : “Tt lasted all of about 25 minutes,’’ Scott said. t+ He said he was “astounded”? by the entry of Domtar into ‘ the picture, adding the Repap rollercoaster ride is under- scored how disconnected northwesterners are from where " the decisions are being made. -: “There's a high stakes game being played,”’ he said. ~**All of the players of that game are situated in Montreal - although the effects are being felt in northwest British > Columbis.”’ -> ‘We don’t even know who all the players are, Every so . - pften we find out there’s someone new sitting at the table. “ Ze m absolutely astounded at the events.’’ > Scoit said he’s now hoping the restructuring of Repap : B, C. will be successful. : “I hope that at the end of the day the ownership of » Repap B.C, ends up dn the hands of British Columbians ‘ ‘ rather than in the hands of people from Ontario or Quebec ~ ~ or wherever.” 2 Quebec-based pension fund Caisse de depot, which holds +10 per cent of Avenor’s stock, was instrumental in tor- = pedaing the deal. : > Its fund manager vowed to vote against the deal after the wate THE POWER OF ONE Ara you Fired of not having the body you've always wonted? If you wont to build muscle moss, lose weight, or just one your musles..then this is he fiiness program for you. Wa will design a rine week filness program specifitaly for you thal has guoronteed results. | You will not be disappointed. Just send a short description of yourself and your goals, “TL plus atheque oF money order for $14.95: ” "THE POWER OF ONE 8 PO Box 877 ” . - Stawart; BC. " Yor WO “ “Ples allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery. Treat yourself to a new a look for Spring. Whether,its a new cut, colour or perm, let us help you discover a totally new you. |. See our new selection of beauttind giftware arriving daily, From jewellery to vases to picture frumes to ceramic angels. \p, We have the perfect gift for any occasion. HAIR GALLERY 4711D KEITH AVE. 3729 James W. Radelet RADELET & COMPANY Baristers & Solicitors Tax Law+ Trusts * Corporate & Commercial 1330 - 1075 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. VEE3C9 Phone: 604-689-0878 Fax: 604 689 4396 ALL YOU NEED ATOZ A ~- Abrasives B - Batteries C - Chainsaws D - Drill Bits E - Extension Cords F - First Aid Kits G - Gloves H - Handcleaner I - Ignition Parts J - Jeans K - Knives L - Lawnmowers M_- Measuring Tapes N - Nails O - Oil Filters P - Paper Products Q - QLinks Ratchets Rain Gear Roto Tillers Rivets Radiator Hoses Rakes Rigging Shackles Rafting Dogs Rail Road Spikes Rust Remover ta Respirators few Radiator Caps Rags Rubber Buffer . Rust Chek " ‘Rubber Plugs Rubber Boots 442T HWY 16, TERRACE TEL, 635-7383 ° FAX 635-4076 CO hem ORR REO AE HER EESS LEED OO SRAD TERETE SID OPES ESE REE SEPT HE EH EH TET EE PE GCHS SHS EES e DIDN’ T * ano D GETTING . . re ee ere ee ee Te eee eee Tee TP errr ree rere) SEAT ECUP TTPO CT HATE MO CHT IG HEHE SHPO IE SERRE E HOH Oe waeeeaeeeatauanspeceasas You can still feel that way. At GM Goodwrench Service, we're committed to making sure you have a positive experience everytime you visit us, For. starters, our technicians are Factory trained on the hew computerized anilJock braking systems and have the specialized equipment to service them, And the price we quote you is the price you pay. Period. POS MAS ee Hee eeSeEESSSEHASESHAEEAAAERAESERESERSRED OT ES POUU TO ERC errr reer errs BRAKE 169° SERVICE LIMITED LIFETIME. WARRANTY: * Parts & Labour included * replace front pads or rear shoes with GM AC Delco broke lining * re-surface drums or rotors if necessary * inspect and lubricate hardware * inspect master cylinder, calipers and brake lines “road test * limited lifetime warranty on GM AC Delco brake pads and shoes * applicable to most GM cars and light duty trucks, 4x4's and 3500 series excluded * shop and environmental charges included * taxes extra * dealer may sell for less *Covert AC Delco brake perds/ shoes for as tang as you own the vehicle whan prafessionally installed SCOTT KOPP MOSER ED TPT TAT EPEAT RE HSH ATER PEO METH F eH TENE ETE OREe HT EE Ae LUBE, OIL & FILTER DONE.IN 29 MINUTES OR LESS OR.THE NEXT ONE'S FREE 15 point inspection includes: * quality GM oil filter, lube chassis and up to 5 litres of GM Goodwrench Premium metor oil * top-up windshield washer fluid * check the following fluids: brake, power staering, differential, transfer case, transmission * inspection of: tires, air filter, coolant, hoses, windshield wipers, drive belt, baltery, lights and indicators * shap and environmental . charges are included. synthatic oils and ciesal engines axciuded * taxes axtra * decler moy sell for less + ss MAKES POPC ORA EERO MHC TER EAE AHT ERAS AOR ER RAMEH ED EET S DE ERCP ERS E REF EF ETRE RET E TEES HIP TT EH HIS SEOs CH eteiEe $99 coreuee TOP heewenateneemeneeene POUT TTTUTTTIVITTT TTT rer Peer re ee SENSE eh GOoD