AG - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 18, 1996 Mills need help _ An open feiter to: David Zirnhelt Minister of Forests Dear Sir: The Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce is concerned. with ‘the recurrent uncertainty being experienced by the indus- tury in general and, more. specifically, the survival of forest operations in this area, We have two local sawmills, Skeena Cel- Juiose Inc. (SCI) and Skeena Sawmills (West Fraser), with combined employment of approximately 500. These mills provide considerable indirect employment for many . times that number, These employees sup- port a vital retail and service sector. We are concerned with the survival and long term viability of bese two mills. SCI’s parent, Repap Inc., is in financial difficulty. and is currently seeking a partner or buyer wilh cash resources to remedy its debt and operating problems. Skeena Sawmills has recenlly announced a minimum six-week shutdown due te poor operating results. Both of these issues have created an air of Mail Bag uncertainty and apprehension for the com- munity, our workforce and — local businesses. While there may be operational and other factor affecting the mills, we are concerned that much of the problem stems form stumpage rates, including the super- stumpage for Forest Renewal B.C., and un- compromising adherence to the Forest Practices Code. We urge you to ‘carefully consider the foregoing, and entertain changes that would ensure the continued viability of forestry in this area: We also ask that you consider compromise in your deliberations with the mill operators. Skip Bates, President, Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce It doesn’t make sense Pear Sir: I'm responding to Jim LeCleir’s earlier letter. In 1991 when we took office the province was $2.4 billion dollars in the red. Eight out of LQ previous budgets were deficit budgets. The federal Tories had off loaded billions in health education costs; that prac- tice has been continued by federal Liberals. If all these facts could be ignored then one might pretend that there is no financial crisis or lat is was all created by the NDP. Health spending has increased by $2 bil- lion in five budgets while other provinces have been cutting. Even Mills Memorial Hospital has received marginal increases and the operating funding for the CT scan- ner and a $600,000 teleradiology project. Before 1992 ithe forest industry was declared a sunset industry in B,C, by the very people you put iato office to protect it. Their solution was to increase cut levels when every forestry commission said we were culting too much to bave a sustainable forest industry. The NDP government introduced Forest Renewal B.C, over the objection of the right-wing opposition. Here we have a pro- gram designed to invest money back into the tree harvest — nal into company profils — protect the incomes of forestry workers and thus protect resource communities. It was intended that FRBC spend about $400 million per year, which because they were new and still had to set up an entire management structure, they have not yet been able to do. Surpluses have accumu- lated to the extent that the FRBC board unanimously decided to give some of the money to general revenue. How is that ‘‘stealing.’’ Your use of the word ‘‘steal- ing” is right-wing opposition exaggeration at best. You complain about our hospital having to be as efficient as any other in B.C, yet you don’t want the government to access the funds it gets from some other agency. I am expected to come up with more money for Mills Memorial, but I am also expected to atlack the government for ac- cepting funds that the FRBC board has de- cided it does not have the capacity to spend wisely. Does that make sense to yau? Helmut Giesbrecht, MLA for Skeena Fight college cutbacks Tear Sir: Tbe proposed round of government cut- backs at Northwest Community College seriously threatens the integrity of the uni- versity credit program, particularly second year offerings. Families throughout the northwest rely on the college to provide a relatively low cost, high quality introduction to- university de- pree programs for their children. High tui- tion and living costs in such centers as Van- couver and Victoria will prohibit or un- necessarily delay completion of post- secondary programs for many capable and motivated young people. As is common, administrative proposals for generating efficiencies discuss such strategics as ‘‘crealive ways of operating”’ (vague, if hopeful and upbeat), ‘‘co- operation’’ (a synonym for clients and em- ployees not objecting when services and jobs are summarily removed), “new tech- nologies’? (which usually means anything that uses electrons but that is not human). Conspicuous, too, by its absence is any suggestion that redundancies in administra- tion be ‘“‘streamlined.”’ ‘‘Bottom-line” considerations from the administrative hierarchy (whether ministry or local) tend to have driven the foregone conclusion thal numerous full-time teaching positions will be eliminated and programs will be slashed. Demand for the programs at the college has increased dramatically between 1992- 1993 (when the second year courses were first offered) and 1996-1997. The available service to our region bas been excellent. Our current government was elecled ona mandate to maintain support for public edu- calion. Contact your MLA and make that government accountable. Al Lehmann, Terrace are available in any amount. tanning session; waxing or perm, Santa knows the secret of gift giving. Get this reaction from everyone on your list with gift certificates from Images. 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