Business "REVIEW _ | Customs rule threatens | | Rupert’s container port | 3 __. By JEFF NAGEL » 7 Krusel said: it! ‘s doubly ‘unbeliey- “AL this paint in. time Canada: - i. PLANS to build a container port in: able. that one arm of the federal-pov-’ Customs seems to he digging their . . 7 Prince Rupert are threatened .by Ca- ernment is undermining. the: drive, for: “cheels.. in-on the container: traffic * nada’ Customs’ insistence. ‘that. ‘the a containerization While. other, arms. al side.” ‘Krusel ‘Said. ; “port pay: to provide: cusioms: setvive the government: are pouring in? “grant The irony,’ he said, is aif Prince fe there. ee: _Money to get it: builte: een os Rupert. doesn't open the® container : ‘oe UAT star situation Prince Rupert P Port: "The container project: has: ‘already: terminal because: of. the.customs ©. -z “Authority. president. Don Krusel ‘calls: ., received. $800, 000: from. ‘Ottawa’ $ a unbelievable,’ since Ottawa provides” softwood. relief. fund: for: ‘detailed en Pos the. same service: for: free at ‘existing ~-/ginecring work. It's, also to: be aided a) ports like » Vancouver. There’s* no “by: proceeds: from: the provincial: Bove ~ charge ‘there ‘for federal’ inspectors ernment’s sale‘of" B.C.Rail: ms B - that-check. Suspiciou " mainers : fora On: the:one: ‘hand "you: have “er "contraband. 3 “Stain levels: of government's supporting “He. said the’ ‘problem “i is: . Canada: “basic _Custoins: is under a tight: budget and”: fy. has set'a: policy. that. it will charge: to ports a cost, recovery ‘fee. ‘on’-Wwhat the : agency: ‘deems to-be riew services. Krusel said: cote oe *Tes’a- slap ‘in: the: face for: north ~ And you | shave. ‘another - “arm, of em communities: whio- dre’ ‘trying to: “government: ‘that -is “possibly” killing - “work: their” way out-of these: econo-.” the’ ‘project’: because. they want, jor nic difficulties,” ‘Kruse said. “Théy..” charge:for -the-sérvice,” y -ag fara ‘Alberta.’ “should be helping’ is-— not tying. Io: “Cusloms: officials ° ‘had Bp inna: 10 : “keep: us. down oii the. gtound.” te vs apply ‘the: same. logic’. to Prince ‘Ru- \cKrusel. estimates the - customs spert’s.: cruise - ship -- -business -and charge could siphon. off 40 to 60'per charge: around: $2; 000: for every: ve “cent ‘of the ‘port's revenue: from ran=./--$el"that docks. 00.0 ‘couver.—.where. Canada ; Ci will’ process them fof: free: is," ‘Kritsel: ‘said, a" Td. ‘Be alice economic’ benefits: 10. “the @ ite * Aorthwestern. part oft Canada “Moniieal. and: Halifax.” “Fores called the container port a key io And. that: throws. the’ viability: ‘of: half’ ‘thé: port's. revenue ‘from: ‘the. - the ‘whole* project into question just~ cruise industry and délivered:a- major. -as-.the port ‘authority. is reaching’: the "blow to, the half-built, Atlin’ ‘terminal. a point where :it--must decide’ whether, “But. the. .pori ‘authority ‘torivinced:Ca-. Of Not. to. break: ‘ground: this, summer: .. ‘nada. Customs: it. had -already : ‘been “Ht is to, ‘be completed by. the end ‘of: providing. similar’ service before and 2005...’ feo that its thereforé nota new servi fo “WE need some ‘resolution ¢ on ‘this “and is:exempt. fron the charge: “ preity: quickly $0 : "we can’ make ay, “wise: investment, "he said: - ” haven’ t beet 80 lucky. million, per. year. rinual: payroll of $34:5:million: - i recovery ove Me he: said... “3. C:. WILL “exploré. the ere ‘ala “eliamber une 10, talk. iovth hem,” Hatris. * ‘possibility * ofa: separate >. ‘chéon- last week. a 6 don? *t said. “And Tf We" can. ne-. deal : with the: U. Ss. to.end * pectations.” . - He ‘made: “the: ‘cotriments 7 after a visil to'B C2 by.U, S. But | forestry: operations” “There. ‘iss still'a: school. of guide” stumpage « ‘rates, “tninistet ‘of state. “Roger -‘commeree- department ‘un- ~. Harris isn’t ‘making | any’ big*: -detsecretaty. Grant- Aldo®. ~ ruling of NAFTA [rade. a = : ‘predictions, those: talks ‘will ‘nas, who came to examine. sjudicators, he’ added, : US! “have hurt. or closed .. we “gone ‘through the- false . a scores. af mills ACrOSs B. Cc. ber. pricing § system. ee alarms »Skeena’s: MLA: = Att, means. we’ re e going | ‘|The. Board of Directorsof Terrace Co: “Op. ‘has. responded: many. calls from 7 oe members’ regarding the recent Notice.of Annual Meeting and ‘notice. of, closure ‘of | the Home Centre: Asa ‘result ‘of the questions raised by. members the: ‘Board: ‘decided, -[ to issue. this. Newsleter to further fea the’ circumstances - leading t6.the decision... “rege to: sell 1c. etroleum: assets | : and dissolve the’ coroperative, ‘The Home. Centre ~ : ae i _| ‘The décision’ to-close-the- Home ‘Centre. ntinual, losses at’ | the Home’ Centre. ‘These losses have been accumulating’ each-and every: yéar since - |. 2000-and now ‘total-an accumulated, loss of $915,092;: Everything possible-has been, ‘| done to. improve’ the ‘operation’ atid 3 no“ hope:-of ‘further ‘operational ° T: improvements, The. Home Centre operates ov eased building. and. this lease -] expires: in. September. of this: year... The: Board ° ‘could: notin good conscience enter” _ |) into’a‘new lease knowing that this; could-commit the ¢o- ‘Operative: to;even more |. losses: in the’ future: .As-a. tesult we directed: the closure. of the. Home Centre. -Curréntly’ we’ have. ‘atotal: inembership: of 4,892 members, 6,518: members are - ‘inactive, and 2;464° members'are active. Thesé. fi igures tellus ‘that the majority: of our. membership: no longer requires. the services ‘of our ‘gperations’ we currently have: * today and. with the closure.of the. Hone Centre Operations would: further ' increase, the. amount, of, inacti e members wee eg ES oe 1% Once the: Home: Centre: is closed, the ‘only t remaining: openition and assets “of the « cos: -opetative would be the ‘cardlock’ and land ‘that it sits“on,: The Board. considered ., a Operating the. cardlock. as the only: remaining: asset, ofthe. co-operative and yes,-we f- ‘could continue to operate. the’ cardlock, ‘but the’ petroleum business ean _-he avery | highly. volatile ‘business and the cost of having. toemploy a Manager and: associated: staff.to operate: the detailed’ bulk: inventory program and all accounting functions. In J, caddition there’ are: costs for: system upgrades and otlier improvements on the current...” *cardlock, site, This would reduce: the earning potential -of:this Operation and ‘provide | litle return: to those fembers’ utilizing the: cardlock:. The huge: ‘Majority of our. fuel of . sales is to corimercial ‘trucking operators, so when considering that. the future. assets. J-- of our, co-operative -would: only amount lo a: Catdlockoperator.at'w high'¢ost and) J 7 mainly serving commercial iccounts: spromipted the’ Board to: ask. Federated Co- | -. | operatives’ to. prepare scenarios to'see ‘what would happen ifwe were to-sell off the [- 4 petroleum, operation. .to..a™: ‘heighboring : sister Co-op; -svhich is. “quite “large: in-.] -| . petroleum. and have ‘them *operate_it.as an ongoing operation, ‘and what-effect‘the |. “| sale of the petroleum: assets, Would: have, ‘on our. abilit¥ td: repay. the” Meniber's © Equity; The projécted balance sheét' indicated: that! the ‘sale of. petroleum assets," ak liquidation of: ‘inventories ; and: refund. of FCL:sharés should provide. a finds to‘ J): “[- repay all of the Meinber's Equity..In: short, the: -pétroleum operation’ would continue | to-cperate, you. could become: members: “of the new. Co-op-and continue to utilize “DP the cardlock-and you could ‘receive all: of your Member: Equity, and. perhaps, more.. » based on dissolving | the. old: Co-op.". e - Based: ‘on ‘the aforementioned, “the. Board { elt that eaiig ihe repayment, of the. - Member's. ‘Equity: while -contifuing ‘with.a:Co-op, petroleum ‘presences inthe }- + community was: the wise and diligent proposal. lo put forth: to the- members atthe .f {April 20th Annual Meeting. “Its, imperative that you exercis “Association, to vote on: the pioper, ‘decision, Fegarding ou ; “We ‘look forward’ to your input. arid. ‘guidance: ‘at t oy “Anni 2004 at 7:30, PM. Elks, Halt on N Tetra 5 "your: flght 5a member of-the Terrace. Co-operative yo y fund : Respectfully submitte , “The Board of Directors Terrace Co-op-. ; tae charge: the: same’ ‘containers. il: would - ‘have’ handled “will sul. ative iti Van- 2 “What: I find’ totally. unacceptable ‘e is: the» discriminatory approach. to." quite: ‘salisti d. if every- =. hady paid: equally,” he said. “Then’ f° J ‘could:-compete dn~a devel: playing - -f. ‘Yield with the.’ Tikes: of Vancouver, . development: opening up all’ kinds of | 7s Krusel says-the $80, million ‘eon: ~ ing the.container términal.’ Hoe That would have’ sucked: away! tainer: terminalis projected ‘td-gener- * ~ -ale economic benefits worth - cane as oHe «said: it will ‘Greate. 350 ‘direct. ; jobs at -the. términal’ alone “with: an | [u's almost: ‘incotnprehensible -that Canada: Customs. would be put- |. ““ting that type of economic. gener- | “ So“far: the ‘container ° pork: plans “dling: capacily at-risk with their i cost “back of 20 per. cent vor “big: “firm's: licences, are ‘geared “want to. raise: anyone! s ORE Bolial, ‘a deal. ‘that: works ~ Io-inegease - the amoint‘of.) fF ; fore the’ province, : we're, limber, sold“in open auc-. | oo bw tions; Priges. there. -will “thought: to: wail: for: the next. -which B.C: hopes to de- °° fend BS. market: based: 1 it expors 7 ot cont rath ‘umber'to the >” ce : i Terrace 2 Standard, Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - A? ‘ ‘98 DODGE NEON * payments fram aaa “ZERO AVA L [UWORK: UDRIVE} powN PAYMENT Thanks for gatting me approved when no one ele caudal. 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