They're already stretched to the limit Local courtworkers esc The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 27, 1999 - A3 DIRECTORS of the native [7 id courtworker program in | : B.C. will decide this week Whether begin laying off na- live courtworkers across the province, The decision comes after 34 courtworkers voted not to take a reduction in hours last week. “There is some threat of layoffs,” said Soren Bech, a BC Government Employces Union (BCGEU) spokesper- son in North Vancouver, The nalive courtworker program is short $300,000 — the equivalent, Bech says, of seven workers pro- vilicewide, If the directors don’t come up with the money some other way, he says, the first three posilions will go by . ihe end of March, 1999, But the north coast’s regional manager of the courtworker . program still thinks budget cuts will leave Terrace unscathed, “The high volume of cases makes us pretty firm,’’ Peters said. HER JOB SHOULD BE SAFE: Frances Stanley, Terrace’s community courtworker, outside the court- house, Stanley helps people understand the legal a ocealec system and sets up appointments with counsellors and legal aid lawyers here and in rural communities surrounding Terrace. Eliminating northern courtworkers would be more difficult, he said, be- cause of the larger distances between courts and the bigh volume of cases northern courtworkers face. They also, he said, take trips to outlying native com- munities like Aiyansh and Dease Lake on what are called circuits. Frances Stanley, Terrace’s community courtworker, sees about 100 people every month, counselling servi legal aid. gram),” said ‘*There’s a huge need for it (the courtworker pro- a half ago civil and family “People are unaware of Up to 80 per cent of the what to expect and some- people she helps are native. Part of her job is to make when they don’t have to Sure people who have never be.’? . been in court before know what to expect and how deat north coast programs didn’t with a confusing experience. face layoffs, she has been at She also refers people to her job long enough to re- and ..member the last round of times they can be defensive And while she’s glad budget cuts. She says about a year and the federal budget. Workers, she. said, used to be able to negotiate access aud child custody in First Nations cases. . Now, she said, youth and family advocates like Brian Grant in Terrace work be- tween the Ministry of Chil- dren and Families and na- tive families on situations like child removals, They are nat, she'said, al- court But she also said Terrace is Jucky enough to have cooperative judges who will explain the Jegal process to confused defendants. The Native Courtworker and Counseling Association of BC (NCCABC) pays for native courtworkers across B.C. and is financed by the Attorney General’s office in Victoria and the federal De- Stanley. court workers were cut from lowed to help families in partnient of Justice. Council’s silence on treaty slammed CITY COUNCILLOR David Hull is calling ‘council’s failure to take an official position on the Nisga’a treaty gutless and embarrassing. Hull tried Jan, 11 to resurrect bis motion, which was tabled at ihe Dec, 14 mecting, to take some kind of stand on the treaty. But when mayor Jack Talstra called for a seconder the four other councillors present sat in silence and the motion died without debate, “It was cowardly to be honest and it really shows a lack of political fortitude,’? Hull.said - later. “I find it just“iicrédible:"We go on for weeks and months about photo radar, Rafe: Mair: frée zonés, arid the’ social calendars of city councillors. We spend time on things that are. not even under the jurisdiction of the city, Yet - when something comes by that really does af- fect the social and economic future and wellbe- ing of Terrace and the area, we sit silent.” He had argued the City of Terrace: should be on record saying something about the treaty. Hull said bis motion left it wide open as to how the council could decide on such a state- Lift weights, OK lift your spirits! ; Heck time you're canyiay the: weight ol the world on your shoulders, let physiat acti Bghn the loa, Sharing e Hacthier Future” = PIRIEOSLTON, * RADELET & COMPANY Borrisiers & Solicitors Tax Law © Trusts « Corporate & Commercial 1330 - 1075 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. VE 3C9 2 } Phone: 604-689-0878 ment or how vague it could be, But that wasn’t cnough to comfort other coun- cillors who feared such a debate could divide the city. “T don’t think it can serve any purpose al this lime,’ councillor Val George said after the meeling. “‘If we vote as a council we really have to represent the feelings of the community, aid we'd really have to have some sort of referendum.”” | a "We've all said individually that:we support ’ the treaty,”’ George noted, “I don'*éthink-it adds |: anything to say it as a council.” -- Hull has been one of the most vocal council- lors in favour of the treaty, His motion was originally seconded Dec. 14 by councillor Ron Vanderlec, who was absent last week. Huil doesn’t plan to raise the issue again, ad- ding it’s clear the topic won’t fly with the ma- jority of council. He also said it appears backroom negotiations took place to ensure the issue wasn’t even 2 Program Manager - Province of The main function is to support emp ple in Terrace by training them to fin Phone: 635-7995 Or Terrace & District Community Services Society -INTERCONNECT- Accredited Post Secondary Training Institution with the For further information regarding this program Roger Leclere B.C, loyment-disadvantaged peo- d and maintain employment. Fax: 635-1516 Serving the needs of people wit Terrace & District Community Services Society ~MENTAL HEALTH REHAB SERVICES- Interim Program Manager - Pam Bibby THE STEPPING STONE CLUBHOUSE THERAPEUTIC WORK PROGRAM -. CONSUMER & FAMILY INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM - h chronic mental illness, debated. Hull noted council members usually will at least second a motion for the purpose of discussion even if they plan to vote against it. **L like to do city business in public not behind closed doors in whispers in coffee shops,” Hull added, He said the issue was not just abont the Nisga’a treaty, but all the others that will follow in this region. “What message docs that send out to the “Tsimshian people, “whose. claims’ totally” sur- * round Terrace? And the Haisla’ to the south of us and the Gitxsan“lo the east? What does that ‘say to them? We- don’t really care about. your process either?’’ , That amounts to bad manners, he added. ‘I'm disappointed for this council,” he said. “T’m disappointed for the citizens of Terrace, whose political voice is silent. And I'm. dis- appointed for the Nisga’a people, who consider us friends and neighbours, but who have friends aid neighbours who don't secin to care.”’ PA Lonsumers Oigest~ gist au News In Brief Parks under assault . ‘IMAGINE setting out for a hike in your local provin- cial park and being stopped at the gate. “Your trail pass please,’’ says an attendant, . That’s the danger the Valhalla. Wilderness Socicty says B.C, is heading for in a new program called the Parks Legacy Project. Socicty official Colleen McCrory says the provincial governnicnl is planning to exploit the users of B.C.’s parks in favour of big, business. “The intent is to milk park users of funds through a proliferation of entrance fees, park user fees and fines, and numerous other schemes to sell services and ray accommodations,”’ McCrory says. And, she says, B.C,’s grizzly bear population Is espe- cially at risk because park development and increased tourism displaces bears and habituates them to humaus, causing them to be killed, Man arrested for assault A 38-YEAR-OLD Terrace man faces assault charges after a foot chase on Haugland Avenue. Officers were called to a home in the 4600 block of Haugland at 4:42 a.m, Friday, Jan. 15 in response to a report Lhat ¢ woman was alllegedly being beaten, Wien officers arrived at ihe scene, a man ran off and ashort foot chase followed. Take the island route " TO GET to the airport servicing Prince Rupert, you first have to go to the shopping centre and check in at an airline counter. And then get on a bus which took you fo a ferry to cross the harbour to Digby island upon which the airport is located. But that will change as of April 4 when Canadian Airlines and Air B.C. shuts down those check in facilities at the Rupert Square Shopping Mall. Pas- sengers will now be checked in once they reach the air- port. This has Prince Rupert city council worried because il will now have to provide shelter those waiting for the bus to the ferry, And there are worries the incovenience will drive more people away from using the airport in the gjrst place. " Airport sweeper bought PRINCE RUPERT'S airport is geting a a $164,900 runway sweeper thanks to a federal government pro- gram. ; Although the airport is now owed and run by a sepa- rate authority, il still has access to a federal grant pro- gram for larger capital purchases. ~ That program is open only to those airports now owned aud operated by separate authorilies. Tape tax delayed ALEVY ON blank tape and CDs has been put off untiJ Dec. 31 or until the federal Copyright Board sets an amount. Consumers and stores had been subject to the levy as of Jan. 1 even though nobody knew how much it was Supposed to be. That'll be the job of the Copyright Board which has public hearings scheduled to begin fate this spring. The Jevy is to be divided among performers, writers, lyricists, clc. who often miss out on royalties because their music is illegally copied. Several groups are requesting exemptions, includitig churches who tape sermons for shut-ins and software compani¢s who use blank CDs for programming. “H product olgne dictoted the marketplace, than this car would Les blockbuster.-Road& Trotk “Patented Miller-Cyela f Listedos one of Ward's ten Bust Engings ~* SEMHINDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM ‘and ol. PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.mazdo.co tj EASE’ ASK YOUR DEALER ABOUT MAZDA'S UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE GRAOUATE PROGRAM. aa wt AN “Offers availamle o7 retail perc tiasesieases of any new 1999 Marda G7A Le 1678099 Mardy Prol)g! 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