B.C. blew chance to use SCI __ wood to pay for treaties: Gitxsan By JEFF NAGEL THE PROVINCE squan- dered a golden opportunity io use Skeena Cellulose timber to pay for eventual treaty settlements across northwestern B.C, one aboriginal leader says, Elmer Derrick, chief negotiator for the Gitxsan, says he and others repeat- edly lobbied Victoria — without success - to con- sider using SCI forest 1i- cences it already owned to help settle land claims, Rather than sell the whole operation to NWBC Timber and Pulp, he says, some or all of Skeena’s forest licences could have been given instead to the Tsimshian, Gitanyow, Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en. The timber would then have counted as a major chunk of future treaty sel- tlements for those native groups — like money in the bank that the government wouldn’t have to pay later. And Derrick said it would have been worth much more than the $6 million the province will get from the sale to NWBC, “Instead of giving away everything to [Dan] Veniez and [George] Petty for $6 million they could have wrapped everything up as a $60 million asset in trea- ty-related measures,” Der- tick said. What’s worse, he says, is Victoria may well have to pay again to get the timber back when it is needed for treaty settle- ments, or else face claims for compensation, “They’re going to find out they’re going to have to deal with our forestry interests and they're going to have to go back and buy some volume back from Veniez and Petty al infla- ted costs,” he said. “And the whole treaty process is going lo be ex- pensiveragain.” — Derrick said’ he remains” hopeful that the erovincial government may rethink . how it’s selling the com- pany befare it's too late, He said the government could still have reasonably Ca April is Dental Health Month ..aHaby your teeth BCiDantht. Helolng to make you smile, PITCH: IN" _WEEK April 22-28 www. pitch-in.ca Register “on-line” with PITCH-IN CANADAI sold off SCI’s mills separ- ately. Fibre flow agreements can guarantee Skeena the right of first refusal to the timber. And conditions tying some timber to local mills would have remained in place. “It was a cheap date for everyone,” he said. “It would have made us happy. We certainly would he said the idea seemed to get lost in the shuffle as Victoria negotlated with multiple buyers over the past several months, For four years while the government held majority ownership of Skeena — under both the NDP and now the Liberals - such a scenario was possible, Derrick says. “These people in Vic- “They're going to have to go back and buy some volume back from Veniez and Petty at inflated cost.” have kept all the profits here and enabled all the contractors to go back to work,” Officials in premier Gordon Campbell’s office liked the idea, as did en- terprise minister Rick Thorpe, Derrick said. But toria seem so hell bent on fighting the Indians they don’t see the opportunity for all of us to work toge- ther,” Derrick said. A court ruling earlier this year indicated aborigi- nal groups must be consul- ted when forest licences are transferred, As a result, Veniez has been meeting with native leaders. But Derrick said he still has concerns and the meetings did not amount to adequate consultation. He said Veniez refused to. release his business plan. Derrick said that's im- portant to assess the risk that Veniez and Petty. will bankrupt the operations as happened under their prior company, Repap Enter- prises. He said he’s also trying to determine whether NWEC will be required ta shoulder SCI’s full tree planting requirements. “We don’t want to be left with a bunch of weeds,” he said. “We have to make sure the for- est out there is not left de- vastated.” The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - A13 THE KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF CANADA www.kidney.ca Kidney disease strikes families, not only individuals, When a Kidney Foundation volunteer knocks on your door, please give generously, Dea TPASTERS. rO¥S q APRIL 20 - 27 BC .- Mageeins WEER 2002 7 NEW’ SUMMER SELECTION of Toys! vento * POOLS * WATER TOYS « BALLS ‘ a + PAILS * WATER GUNS « ETC. : 203 Lower City Centre Mail 632-READ 7378) Toll Free: 1-877-632-7323 SMARTLEASE 228" WITH $3,100 DOWN CShICS 2002 SONOMA EXTENDED CAB 180 HF Vortec 4300 ¥6 Engine > 4-Wheel Anti-lock Brakes * Air Conditioning » AN/ FHL Stereo CO Player + Tilt Whee! & Cruise Control + Full Instrumentation including Tachometer PURCHASE PACE INELUDES FREIGHT AND POI UP 10 48 MONTHSE ve devevive FIVE STAR SAFETY RATING* 188. 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