The year in review Hollywood actors and Ma homegrown ones ‘ brought drama to us in A look back Here are the thrills and spills of 2002 in the world of local sports\SPORTS B6 No more Digby |. A newly approved instrument landing system will eliminate most missed flights\NEWS A12 2002\COMMUNITY B1 $4.00 pius 7¢ GST ($1.40 plus 8¢ GST outside of the Terrace area) VOL. 14.NO. 38. > STANDARD nesday, December 26, 2004: Are Santa, North up for sale? IN A bold and unprecedented move, a special commission has recommended that the North Pole and Santa Claus be divided up into separate operating companies. Doing sc would mean not only more efficient operations, but would allow the new companies to seek out capital to make further improvements,. sug- gests the commission established by the National Governing Authority (NGA). “It is time we take Santa and the North Pole into the modern world. It is time to allow market forces to deter- mine the viability and sustainability of this enterprise,” added the commis- sion. The commission’s report is one of several underway examining The Way Nursing students selected PEOPLE FROM around the region began receiving word last week they've been accepted into the first-ever licensed practi- cal nursing, program al Northwest Community College. College officials say 24 people were chosen from more than 70 who applied. The college has set a tentative start date of Jan. 21 but that still depends upon gelling final approval from the B.C, College of Licensed Practical Nurses, which regulates the profes- sion in B.C. | Northwest Community College had expected that visit to take place before Christmas, but that’s no longer the case. Two people from the practical nursing college will instead be in Terrace and area Jan. 3 and 4. They’ write a report which will then go to the practical nursing coHege’s education approval com- mittee. That site visit is crucial as the college not only has to approve the curriculum, it also has ta inspect teaching facililies, ex- amine the credentials of instructors and visit the health care facilities in which students would take practical training. In the meantime, a co- ordinator for the program has been hired and inter- views continue for the two instructor positions, said Northwest Community College president Stepha- nie Forsyth, The college has also ar- dered the material it needs for renovations on what will be the program’s classroom. Things Are Done. “Just because Santa used to deliver a toy to every boy and girl, doesn’t mean that was right or economically justifiable,” noted the commission. “We, the NGA, promised we'd fook - at The Way Things Are Done and that’s what we’re doing.” “We. said we’d make sure that toys wauld get delivered to boys and girls where they need it; when they need it, but the situation has changed,” conti- nued the commission. “We'll still provide toys but it may mean children will have to travel to a central depot instead.” “Could not some children share toys? Perhaps there needs to be a freeze on the toy delivery budget.” “The toys will still be closer to home but how close, we don’t know.” The news has worried those who like The Way Things Are Done. They fear dividing Santa and the North Pole into separate toy manufac- turing, toy wrapping and toy delivery arms is the first step toward selling of the assets to the private sector. “Santa Claus and the North Pole belongs to everybody,” said the Save Santa Coalition (SSC) in a news re- lease, The commission is also investiga- ting other enterprises as well. It’s not convinced, for example, that Old MacDonald needs all of the animals on his farm. And it poinis to the Big Bad Woif and the Three Litile Pigs as a case study of how mismanagement has oc- curred, “Yow ll recall that not all of the houses belonging to the pigs could be sustained. It was just like the Fast Ferry Fiasco. Not all of thase hauses should have been put into service,” said the commission. “It’s up to us to huff and puff and blow those houses down.” This has been-a particularly troub- ling year for Santa and the North Pole. The elves, unsuccessful at negotia- ting a contract, have undertaken limi- ted strike action. They began by withdrawing all but essential wrapping services on toys. “We'll put that coloured paper around the toys, but no ribbons — that’s out,” said an official from the elves’ union. “We're here for the children, but we have to send a message ta the em- ployer.” And, in the face of a budget deficit, a core review is determining how many teindeer Santa actually needs lo fly his sleigh. “We have Rudolf, of course, and Donner and Blitzen,” said an official in charge of the review. “But Prancer? [s he necessary? There's some waste in there and we're going to find it.” That’s raised speculation the rein- deer staffing ‘level may be cut by at least 30 per cent or perhaps more. “It’s poing to be a different looking reindeer crew next year for sure,” said the official who promised more details | in the new year. g Santa magic IT’S A SIGHT that will melt the hardest heart. Every December, Rita Hall puts her Santa Claus collection on display at her Thornhill home. Thanks to the efforts of family members and friends, Hall's collection has now grown to 600 differant items ranging from hand-crafted figur- ines and framed crass-stitches, to earrings, salt and pepper shakers, playing cards, and mops. The best part? Her children never have io won- der what to gat her far Christmas. “Our crew will work over the holidays,” said ariother college official, Look at new SCI bidders, towns urge Talks are on only with Mercer By JEFF NAGEL ‘NORTHWEST towns are pressing Victoria to consider new bidders for Skeena Cellulose, and not just Mercer International. Mayor Jack Talstra said he and other mayors want a mecting with the premier to-urge that all bidders be trea- ted the same. *Pul all of them on a level playing field and may the best one suited far the communities up here prevail,” he said, , Three new bids were filed by a deadline of Dec. 19, after Victoria’s pledge to negotiate exclusively with Swiss-based Mercer expired Dec. 15. But the province quickly rejected them all and said it wus continuing talks with a subsidiary of Mercer to con- clude the SCI sale as quickly as possible. Government spokesman Lucy Stevenson weouldn’t di- vulge why the new bids were rejected. But she said part of the reason for rejecting what she ' called three “unsolicited proposals” was the difficulty in meeling a Feb, 12 court-imposed deadline for comple- tion of the SCI sale. Stevenson wouldn't disclose other reasons for the re- jections, citing confidentiality when asked how large a deposit the province was requiring. Talks with Mercer are continuing rapidly, she said, but couldn’t say whether the talks are up against any particular deadline. How long talks can continue will likely depend on the consent of the TD Bank, a major creditor, which can ask for a court hearing any time to quash creditor protection and place SCL in bankruptcy. The most advanced rival bidder, NWBC Timber and Pulp Ltd., said it is seeking a meeting with competition Ss minister Rick Thorpe in an effort to get him lo reconsi- der ils proposal. Talstra said the bids by both NWEBC and Toronto- based Forest Capital Ltd. are intriguing enough he wants Victoria to take another look at them. “Although exclusivity has expired it really seems like it’s still in place,” Talstra said. “The government as J understand it simply won't talk to the other parties.” NWBC’s offer, obtained by The Terrace Standard, in- dicates it would pay a non-refundable deposit of $1.5 million, NWBC president Dan Veniez called the amount “pretty damn substantial” but noted a Ictter from the province’s lawyers Monday indicated new bids had to include a $4 million non-refundable deposit and any sale had to meet the Feb. 12 deadline. Continued Pg. A2 Brian Laptson. He satd the college re- mains optimistic about the start date of the program. — Planning for a licensed practical nursing program at the college began in the spring of 2000. ; College officials exper- ienced several ups and downs, but efforts took off at the end of August when ihe provincial government announced it would pro- vide the college: with money for a January: start Teachers action to hit sp By JENNIFER LANG STUDENTS returning to school in the new year will find that a range of after-school activities are on hold as teachers escalate their fob action. — The B.C. Teacher’s. Federation decided last week to withdraw volun- lary activities after the provincial La- bour Relations Board (LRB) ruled. teachers can stop performing extra- curricular duties under essential ser vices legislation. ° .. The. move goes Into effect Jan: 7 the: first ay students: retire: fo! classes. after, the holidays. [t means school sports, after-school drama and music programs, clubs and other extra-curricular activities will be affected as part of the second phase of a job action that began two months ago. Teachers will still be required to per- form some activities, including lesson preparation, planning, and marking. “Teachers are well aware of the value that stiidents and. parents place on our sponsoring of voluntary extra-curric- wtilar: activities,” Terrace District Tea- ~~ chers? Union president | Frank Rowe said ~ last: week. Teachers regret this step has become necessary in order to put pressure on the bargaining table, he said. “We don't want to go on strike, we want to negotiate a settlement,” The bargaining unit representing school districis, the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association, rejected the teachers' last wage demand of a 23 per cent over three years. Withdrawing extra-cutriculat duties is just the firsi step in the second phase of... the their job’ action plan. “ In January, the LRB will determitie.. 7 how. essential services legislation. ‘would . orts, music affect a proposed full withdrawal! of ser- vices, Rowe said the threat that the provin- cial government may take steps to im- pose a contract remains. “We can’t forget thal Lhe government is waiting in the wings with ils sledge hammer,” he said, “If they swing it, it will harm relationships in public educa- tion for years to come.” The last time teachers in Terrace wenl on a full-scale sirike was in January, 1989, That lasted one month. Teachers ‘here also staged a one-day withdrawal of services in 1991.