aa

_ Canadian. flag -is down,

New polic will also save time

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 28, 2001 -A3

ity cans proclamations

PROCLAMATIONS issued by city council and even the flying of flags on be- half of service clubs sre now a thing of the past.

City council has deci-_

ded to do away with pro- clamations and the flying of flags for various groups altogether rather than face the prospect of more legal challenges over its refusal to issue a gay pride day proclamation.

That refusal last sum- mer triggered an ongoing investigation by the B.C. Human Rights Commis- sion.

“Not doing it at all is the simplest option,” said councillor David Hull. “It’s either this or we either issue proclamations within the restrictions of the Charter of Rights, warts and all.”

Several councillors had been uncomfortable with a previous proposed policy that would eliminate pro- clamations but set up a “registry of observances” in which dates and events of groups would be recor- ded.

Some councillors felt that would still give tacit city approval to groups

whose activities they op--

pose. The new policy also

eliminates the flying of fiags at city hall on behalf of groups such as the Elks Club and local Sikhs,

City administrator Ron Poole said city staff now

‘won't have to spend as

much time scheduling pro- clamations or raising and lowering flags.

He noted so many groups had flags to fly it’s become a challenge sche- duling them.

“You never see the city flag flying because there’s almost always another group’s flag flying out there and half the time the “well” » Boole ‘said.

ag aie ay

orth aeMIa"OP'a Bay pride” yf préelamiation” constitiltés

TAKE A CLOSE | LOOK at this photo featuring Ter- race mayor Jack Talstra with a signed proclamation promoting scouting week. The prociamation was one of the last to be signed by Taistra now that city council has voted to do away with the ceremonia!

designation. Council took the Step to avoid the possible of more legal actions arising from its deci- sion last year to not proclaim gay pride day. Also gone by the wayside is the flying of organizations’ flags at city hall.

Gay group offers mediation

A LOCAL GAY support group is offering the city a less painful way to settle an ongoing human rights complaint over city council’s refusal to proclaim a gay pride day here last summer.

The Rainbow Committee of Terrace has offered to take its complaint to mediation, and avoid a full tribunal of the B.C. Human Rights Commission, said committee member Elizabeth Snyder. She said the group was re- sponding to a letter from the city that had raised medi- ation as an option.

If the city accepts mediation it might avoid much higher legal costs and the possibility of a hefty fine, such as the $10,000 the City of Kelowna was ordered to pay a group there in a similar case.

But Snyder said Terrace council would have to admit it’s wrong and do what it should have done in the first place. “We would like them to declare a gay pride day — that’s all,” she said. “We're nat looking for any financial

retribution or anything, We’re ‘not asking for money, |

we're just asking for them to declare the day.”

Snydez said all indications are the human rights com- mission is proceeding with their complaint. VA series\Of pridt‘decisins acrossCanada have ‘ruled

7

unlawful discrimination under human rights legislation.

Civic proclamations have been held to be a service ordinarily available to citizens. City council last July 10 voted against the local group’s request to proclaim Aug. 5 as a gay pride day,

The local request came after council a few weeks earlier rejected a province-wide request by Rainbow B.C. to have various towns declare gay pride days.

When some councillors rejected that request on the basis that it didn’t come from a local group, Terrace gays and lesbians banded together to make a local te- quest,

Human Rights Commission officials won’t even con- firm the existence of a complaint, but say it routinely takes eight ta 12 months to complete the investigation stage.

Human rights officers investigate complaints and can also act as mediators when both parties agree, said Theresa Boulard, the commissian’s acting communica- tion manager. If there’s sufficient evidence and no agreement has been reached through mediation, the compli laint gan, then, be sent to the bene Human

News In Brief

on more than 2,500 health topics, |. rs Or Poy os

That’s our river

LOOK CLOSELY next time you see a TV com- mercial featuring B.C. Liberal leader Gordon Campbell. If it's one where Mr. Campbell is beside a flawing body of water, chances are it’s the Skec- na River.

The footage was taken during a visit here by Mz. Campbell the first week of February, He’s featured in 15 commercials, some of which are now on the air and same of which are being held back for the soon-to-be called election.

The commercials are being paid for by the B.C. Liberal party, a contrast to others being aired to Promote various government policies and which ate being financed by the taxpayer. Critics of the fatter say that while those commercials may give information about government policies, they are in reality pre-election spots promoting the NDP.

Local man gets jail

LOCAL man, Ronald Jacab Therrien was sen- tenced Jan. 30 to 45 days in jail for possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

He will serve the sentence intermittently on con- secutive week-ends starting Feb. 2, 2001.

The 29-year-old man was also ordered to forfeit scales and cell phones.

Still in custody

THREE people charged with holding up the B and G Grocery convenience store Feb. 12 were in court last week.

Christopher Bernard, 19, and Clifford Warner, 19, both of Terrace were charged with the robbery.

.A 17-year-old Terrace male was also charged but

his name cannot be disclosed because he is a miner. ;

The youth was in court Feb. 20 and was denied bail and remains in custody.

On Feb. 21 both Bernard and Warner appeared for their bail hearing.Bernard was denied bail and remains in custody while Warner was granted bail.

Health guide on its way

to the northwest

NORTHWESTERN residents should soon be re- ceiving a 400-page bock of medical advice from the provincial government.

it provides common sense advice on a myriad of medical situations and, depending upon the cir- cumstances, is aimed at keeping people from hav- ing to visit doctors or hospital emergency rooms.

The latter goal is meant to save moncy and to ease workloads of doctors and hard-pressed hospi- tals.

Backing up the one-inch thick book will be toll- free lines so peaple can speak to registered nurses. Phere’ll also be a website containing information

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