MLA thanks Harris
‘but also lashes out
at Liberal policies

ROOKIE SKEENA’ NDP
“MLA Robin Austin “paid
tribute to the man he defeat-
ed during his Sept. 20 maid-
en speech to the provincial
legislature.

“IT would like to remind
members here that just a few
weeks: prior to the ‘election,
Mr. [Roger] Harris had suf-
fered a heart attack, had to
have a triple bypass and he
_Still came back to do what he
believed was the most im-

portant thing: namely, pub-

lic service,” said Austin.
_ “I'm happy to say that he

is fit and well and we look °

forward to his contributions
on economic development
within our community ’in
Terrace.”

‘But Austin also criticized

the former MLA’s govern-.

ment. for its handling of the
northwest ‘economy.
“The lack of employment

opportunities. resulted in a’

_ litany of problems, from low
school enrolment, rapidly

‘diminishing property prices,

families split up.to earn a
living, family breakup due
to financial stresses, to busi-
ness bankruptcies that. have

meant that many people have °

lost everything — including
their credit rating and their
chance to start once again,”
vhe said. . - ”
“I’m not solely blaming

’ the government for this state.

of affairs because, frankly,
things were not good in my
riding at the outset of this

administration’s . first .man-_
date — at least, from an eco-

. nomic point of view.”
“Where I do want to hold
- this government to account is
‘in their reaction or supposed
solution to the downturn in
the northwest economy that
was already in place.
“Rather |
our. situation, the problem
was:compounded by’ this
government by taking many
well-paid government jobs
and moving them to Prince

_ternet,’

-than alleviate”

Robin ‘Austin

George or. the lower main-
land, or providing access to
government services via’ a
1-800 number or via the in- -

’ said Austin.

He added that the budget
formula for rural school dis- .
tricts losing students resulted

“in a four-day week, “making

our children second-class |

citizens and. creating dif- --
- ficulty for parents in terms

of day care — not to mention

the larger class sizes that

resulted in the stripping of
teacher contracts throughout
the province.”

Austin also spent time
talking about what he termed

‘an unwritten social contract

in that local resources would
be used to benefit all of the

' province in exchange for lo-

cal jobs.

_ That contract is now be-
ing broken, Austin contin-.
ued, and used the issue of

_ potential power sales by Al-
can as an example.
“For over 50 years, the=

vast water resource of the
Nechako Basin has driven
the generators of Kemano
that ‘provided the cheapest
source of electricity on this
continent. This electricity

was then to be used by the
company to produce alumi-
num for export all over the
“world. :

“This was an example
of the foresight of previous
governments that realized

4525 Keith Ave.
. Terrace; B.C.. ,
638-1808 —

Bedding You Can‘t

“Gti”
To be Without!

_Oet OF Town Orders Welcome
1-800-418-1808

The Terrace Public Library

pregors

A Slide ; Show And Talk With

Pau Wu

author of

ONE RIVER

Two CULTURES ©

A HISTORY OF THE
BELLA COOLA VALLEY

illustrated with remarkable archival ,
photos as well as contemporary
images, this fascinating history will
transport you fo the Bella Coola
Valley —a place that is both striking
in beauty and rich in culture.

!

Time: 7:30

Place:

Monoay, Octoser 3, 2005
p.m.

Terrace Art Gallery
For More Information: 638-8177

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the & ona SF

Caneel Ore arte
—_,

Shareholders at the expense

-industry.”

tract,” said Austin.

‘ry was, in part, due to people

‘province, saying rural areas
-have suffered from lack of

-challenges facing aborigi-

-tion on the strength of voters

.to thank those who helped

ve °

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - AQ

that B.C. could use our natu-
ral resources to both provide
profit for companies and fuel

But the potential of Al-
can selling power elsewhere
now puts Kitimat, Terrace
and the northwest at risk,
Austin continued. =

“This government has
decided to. benefit Alcan

of B.C. citizens. 1 want to
be clear on this matter. The
people of Kitimat do not —
blame Alcan for this situa-
tion, they blame this Liberal __
government for not uphold-
ing the interests of British
Columbians in the adminis-°
tration of this important con-

He said his election victo-

voting against the prospect

of power sales. -
-Austin also spoke of the

urban/rural divide in the

government attention.
And he talked of. the ©

nal people in seeking to es-
tablish an economic base to
provide employment and a
sustainable future; =”
Austin defeated Harris
in the May provincial elec- °

from Kitimat. .
Maiden speeches by new
MLAs are a. tradition in
the provincial legislature,
providing an opportunity - ©

E & appuiances, |

© 638-1158 * 1 -800-813- 41158

TOTEM FURNITURI

4501 Lakelse Ave.,

elect them as well as:to pro-
vide information about their
constituencies.

terrace, B.C.

| OFFENCE: Te en Vp,
ENERGY “OFFENDER ; ;

ENERGY OFFENDER ESCAPES FROM CUSTODY.
*» REWARD OFFERED.

This shady offender, AKA the halogen torchiere, has robbed homes of power for too
long. Replace it with a compact fluorescent torchiere that uses up to 70% less energy
and we'll reward you with a mail-in rebate coupon. To get your reward, download a
coupon from our website or pick one up at participating retailers, while quantities last.

Alternatively, bring this offender to justice by. handing it over at'a BC Hydro Power
Smart event and receive in-store instant coupons of even greater value. * For locations
and dates, visit us online.

For more information, call 1866 256- 6235 or . a
visit www. bchydro.com. \

Conservation is the cornerstone of our plan to meet B.C.'s future electricity needs, and to ensure
that British Columbians enjoy reliable power, at low cost, for generations.

BChydro
POWER 5 SMART

Po as