No good reason to play recall Let our MLA do his job Dear Sir: The exercise of partisan politics is part of the bigh cost of democracy and I feel strongly that once every four years or so is often enough to pay it The use of recall in our region worries me be- cause of its partisan price tag and because of its ef- _ fect on the work of government, EI Nino a E ¢ * fy aL leet ae eM tan : Most people would agree that we have seriqus work to do in the northwest. Unfortunately, as hu- mans, we secm unable to resist the temptation to drop our work on important issues when we are given the chance to squabble. I have worked in public health in Skeena under both Social Credit and NDP governments. { have seen budget freezes, good programs suspended, poor ones initiated, and the abandonment of reason and orderly progress when the election game is on. I’m not sure there is a better system, but | am grateful for 3 or 4 years of relative calm between clections when we can get on with our work as fel- low cilizens instead of political adversaries. Whether I agree with his policies and whether I voted for him or not, I would prefer to allow my: MLA to get on with his job rather than pester him into political posturing on a full time basis. I believe effective democracy requires that we take our choices seriously and that we have the maturity to live with them. We don’t need to waste our lime with lawn signs, infomercials, and political spending between elec- tions unless there is a true emergency and strong _ evidence that a change now would be cost- effective. That is simply not the case here. If political players want to come to our region to play, let them do it at the proper lime. For us, now, the politics of recall is expensive and disruptive, and we are too busy to play. David Bowering Terrace, B.C. | Playing us for pawns Dear Sir: ~The campaign to recall Helmut Giesbrecht is an- other example of northem residents being used as pawus in a much bigger game. The recall efforts are being funded by special in- terest groups such as the Canadian Taxpayers Fed- eration and the Citizens’ Research Institute. Neither of these groups are from the north, yet both seem to believe we need a new MLA, My question is simple: how do they know? It scems to me the recaiJ effort is about special in- terest groups re-fighting the last election. It is not _ the Terrace St CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail Bag about representation. Our MLA convinced the government to negotiate with Alcan. Our MLA was instrumental in the effort to save Skeena Cellulose. This seems to me to be good representation. By contrast, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation are against the Alcan deal, saying it was bad for taxpayers. What about the taxpayers of Kitimat? Are we supposed to forget about their attack on our jobs and sign the recall petition anyway? In the last clection we elected Helmut Giesbrecht. He is doing a fine job of serving us and speaking up for Skeena, If special interest groups from the south do not like that, ] suggest they wait until the next election and work to defeat the government. Until then, kindly leave us alone. Don Philpott Terrace, B.C. Recall being misused An open letter to Lorne Sexton: ; I have the highest regard for you butI disagree with your interpretation of the recall process and what itis intended to be used for. Any law can be misused or misinterpreted as is unfortunately done so often. Following that I take issue with the slatement in your letter stating that an MLA caa be recalled for any reason at all providing that 40 per cent sign a petition. I suggest the intent of this legislation is to recall an MLA for specific non-performance of his dulies, serious neglect or perhaps taking bribes or some- thing Like that by a groundswell grassroots move- ment of disaffected voters. To use it to try to topple a government by a con- certed and orchestrated movement dy other political parties to focus on MLAs felt by whoever to be vul- nerable is a misuse of this legislation. You state that this is not about rerunning the clec- tion then follow that with a slatement your sources assure you that both parties on the right are com- mitted to running only one candidate to prevent splitting the vote, This sure strikes me as a rerun witha new and improved game plan. Jn reference to what you term a Jetter war by Mr. Giesbrecht, I do not agree with everything that Mr. Giesbrecht has to say but I admire and respect thal he has the guts to freely express his opinions even at the risk that it is not politically expedient. I have heard enough politicians write placating safe letters responding to criticism to make me sick to my stomach, I am aware that you are a strong supporter of Mike Scott. I went to the all candidates mecting in the federal election and left with the same fecling of admiration for Mr. Scott for having the same guts to say what he actually believes regardless of the Life chain called significant Dear Sir: The Terrace Standard has failed in its responsi- bility to give adequate coverage to a local event ad- dressing a crucial issue of our times, ~ The event was the Life Chain - 97, a demonstra- tion of pro-life belief and commitment that happens annually in communities across Canada. I stoad in the chill autumn air on Oct. 5 with 140 other citizens of Terrace, We stretched out along the highway from bridge to bridge holding signs displaying sincerely held beliefs about abortion. Our signs say, “Abortion Kills Children’, and “Abortion Hurts Women’’, While standing in silence and prayer during that _thme, familiar faces often driving by, I reflected on whal our demonstration meant to me and thase passing by. For me, I know life is a gift. To give life to a child is to gift a family with a totally unique buman being, a litle one who gives so much meaning and purpose to our lives. To say ‘Yes’ to life, in spite of whatever hardships that means is an act of hope and courage. To say ‘No’, and choose abortion, comes from despair, helplessness and someclimes supreme selfishness. So many driving by showed that they too believed in what we stood for by honking horns, thumbs up and slowing to a crawl. Some, on the other hand, tumed their heads away or down jnto their laps. No wonder, in the 25 years of legalized killing of the unbom, so many lives have been personally affected by this skewed act of misguided compassion. Legal or not, abortion remains an act that can leave one scarred forever. No matter how it is rationalized, ‘we weren’t ready, how will I tell my dad, what about my career, my education, I’m too old, 1’m two young,’” the legacy of abortion is 100 often shame, sadness and regret. Many cars had children in them. I could imagine them reading a sign, being confused, turing to mum or dad aad asking ‘‘mummy, what's abor- tion?”’ Will she tell him the truth? Truths like — abortion is the killing of an unborn baby at any time in the pregnancy, for any reason but mostly because the birth mother says she does not want it. Most importantly, will she tell him life is from God and anything He makes is good? oe, Isobel Brophy Terrace, B.C. possible political harm. I’m surprised you don't recognize that Mr. Scott and Mr. Giesbrecht have the same qualities. [ think we are singularly blessed to have an MP and a MLA with character regardless of their political persuasion. You speak of non-performance saying that we have not had any representation for six years now. ‘You are forgetting the Skeena riding bad the op- portunity to vote him out in the democratic process if they felt he had non-performed or failed to represent us in the first term. They hired him for an- other five-year term. You may disagree with the way he is representing us but he is representing us and was given a second term to do so. If you are not happy then the next election will provide another opportunity to try to unseat him. I am not a big fan of the NDP. However, | am a fan of the notion that the laws be used for their in- tended purpose. You indicate you would not like to keep an em- ployee for five years who was unsatisfactory and that this recall] would not cost taxpayers. I believe that if you hired an employee for a five year period and it was found by the courts that he had been fired without just cause it could be very expensive. I believe that when you agree to hire a person for a five-year period you cannot decide a few months later that you don’t like the general way he’s per- forming the job as you have made an agreement to evaluate his performance over a five-ycar period. You can only fire hira for just cause. I have yet to hear the just cause for what we in- tend to fire this man that we hired for a five-year period. I wonder what the courts will say and how much it will cost if you are wrong? Even you agree the chief electoral officer says there must be a reason. Some vague complaints about non-performance may not be specilic enough. What would happen if Mr. Giesbrecht was removed and years later the courts made a decision that this recall was in fact politically motivated? Could we as taxpayers be sued for damages? We’d better think about this. Knowing you on a personal level J am quile con- fident that you will not take any personal offerse by this lelier as we simply have a disagreement and I admire you also for taking a stand. J look forward to a response. John Pequin Terrace, B.C, No voter misguided Dear Sir: In regards to Claudette Sandecki’s Oct. 29, 1997 sae oe andard, Wednesday, November 42,1997 - AS . column ‘Here’s why we voied no”’ I'm afraid Ms. Sandecki is really grasping at straws looking for a reason to justify the no vote. “The Charlottetown Accord’, ‘Chamber of Commerce endorsement of amalgamation’, doesn’t like the mayor of Terrace, but it tly became ap- parent when she dragged the two communities’ emergency services into her column. If Ms, Sandecki is so well informed she would know that the City of Terrace would not help itself to Thornhill’s mew fire trucks. The fact is, these new fire trucks were purchased by the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, and not Thomhill, Several of these vehicles were purchased for the purpose of providing fire protection in the Gossen area and out at Jackpine and the take. If Ms. Sandecki had looked closely al the map which showed the proposed amalgamation area, she would know these areas were not to be included in the amalgamation, and therefore would not become part of the new municipality, It is quite apparent Ms, Sandecki is not as in- formed as she would like us to believe, particularly on condition of the vehicles operated by City of Terrace. It would go along ways in broadening Ms. Sandecki’s vast span of knowledge if she would venture over that great stretch of water called the Skeena, make that long journey into Terrace, to view Terrace’s vintage vehicles. 1 guarantee Ms. Sandecki she will be pleasantly surprised. A point to ponder — could the real reason that Ms, Sandecki is against amalgamation be that, if she had to reside within a municipality with rules, the business she runs from ber home may not fall within the guidelines of s Home Occupation By- law... Eimmmmmnm. Sandy Ireland Terrace, B.C. Change is inevitable Dear Sir: The municipalities in the Toronto area have amal- gamated. The change was inevitable, the same will happen here unless Terrace and Thombill join forces now. I have owned at Jeast a dozen houses but I would be hesitant in buying one in Thornhill until itis part of a proper sewer system. To realize the true value of your home and for health reasons you must get . away from the septic tank. This area will become one big centre and there is no doubt in my mind that Terrace will be consider- ed the hub of the northwest in a short time. Once we have become one city we can do things like buy the airport snd carry out major develop- ment such as that being doze at the airport in Van- couver, L used to be an alderman in the City of Thompson, Manitoba, which was considered a “‘model’’, so J do have a bit of an idea a5 to what I am talking about. I would suggest that a group be formed, apart from any local government, with a mandate to look at every aspect of development, with a priority of creating jobs for our local citizens. Andy Nabess Terrace, B.C. ANTI-ABORTION protesters lined Hwy 16 on Oct. 5 for the annual Life Chain de monstration. IF THE SCIENTISTS are right, we should be in for one of the mildest winters ever. El Nino —the Spanish term for a large mass of warm ocean water that forms in the South Pacific every few years and _ disrupts normal climate patterns — is ¢x- pecied to mean warmer than seasonal weather in B.C. for the next few months. UNEC environmental sciences profes- sor Peter Jackson says the effects should be most pronounced in the central interi- or, where average temperatures could be as much as four or five degrees higher. But even here, there should be a sig- nificant effect, with average tempera- tures bumping upwards two to 2.5 de- grees, says Environment Canada regional climatologist Eric Taylor. We may not sce a significant drop ‘in precipitation — something that is ex- pected further inland. But what docs come out of the sky *~ should tend to be rain rather than snow. ® That’s because much of the snow that does fail here in the winter comes when temperatures are just below freezing. “You will have more days above freezing through the winter than normal,’ Taylor said. ‘Aad that may translate into a higher percentage of rain days as compared to snow days.”” In the month of January the Terrace airport records an average of seven days of min and 15 days of snow. - “That may change to something like 10 days of tain and 12 days of snow,” ine Says Taylor. In Kitimat, he added, the average Janu- is WINTER IN Terrace can mean challenges for everyone. Even this road maintenance vehicle found Itself In the ditch at the south end of the Sande Overpass one year. A weather condition called Ei Nino may mean same- what less snow in the area this winter. ary secs nine days of rain and 12 of Snow, ’ “You may see that reverse,’’ he said. “You may have 12 days of rain and nine of snow.”? Jackson says the effect on this part of the north coast is less strong than further Into the interior because of the moderat- ing influence of the ocean, Jackson said scientists began measur- ing the beginnings of this El Nino several months ago. “The one that’s just starting is the strongest one on record,’’ Jackson said, adding the last time there was one even close was the winter of 1982-83, one of the mildest ever. - . He said there was what climatologists consider to have been a small, weak El Nino that lasted from 1991-94, giving slightly milder conditions in those years. The weather phenomenon occurs roughly every five to seven years when the prevailing westerly tude winds in the equatorial direction. That results in a lange mass of warm water, about one-and-a-haif times the size of the United States, drifting toward Peru, When it reaches the continent, the water flows up the coastline, resulling in extreme weather conditions. Dubbed El Nino (Spanish for ‘‘the Christ child'’) by Peruvian fisherman because the water mass usually arrives in December, it was first observed as early as the 1600s. Although ski hills down south fear a terrible season, El Nino Isn't expected to be catastrophic for Ski Smithers or Shames Mountain. **It may produce more snow than less snow,”’ says new Shames Mountain gen- eral manager Rene Farwig, A Bolivian native, Farwig knows his El Ninos and says their higher altitude effects on ski resorts are notoriously dif- ficult to predict But the wacky weather may affect fu- ture salmon runs, says Department of Fisheries and Oceans scientist Dick Beamish, The warm layer of water, which is about six inches deep and stays on the surface of the ocean, alters the whole ocean structure, Beamish says. Changes region normally blowing ; toward Australia relax or even reverse: in ocean currents, the food chain and the distribution of fish occur, he says, ‘In general, El Ninos are not good for salmon, particularly bad for chinook and coho at the southern end of their range,”’ he says. / Judging from the results of previous El Ninos, less fish may survive in the oceans, he says, leading to smaller runs in the Skcena system and elsewhere. For coho, the impacts can be scen next year, while it may take several years to Spot the effects on chinook, as they have longer cycles. Beamish stresses that El Ninos are only part of longer weather cycles in the trop- ical Pacific which continually affect fisheries all over the world, For example, he says, La Ninas — the opposite of El Ninos — also play a role in the fisheries’ results. La Ning occurred in 1996-97, he says, bringing cooler occans, more snow and rain, and hurricanes in southem arcas, such as Florida. SNOW STATS Just how much snow do we get here? The Terrace alrport records an average of 403 conti- metres over the course of 65 days a year. — Kitimat gets an average of 47 days of snow a year, but gets more of it on those days — a total of 548 canti- metres a year. , promises a milder winter