A2- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 28, 2001 Rate hearings Mar. 6

Groups gear up for battle over natural gas increases

A LONG list of people, politicians and companies have registered to fight na- tural gas price increases at a public hearing here Mar.

In all 42 individuals and groups have requested in- formation and indicated they may want to speak at

the B.C. Utilities Commis- sion hearing on a series of gas rate increases reques: ted by Pacific Northern Gas.

Three interim increases, totalling 42.5 per cent for residential customers, have been imposed since Oct. 1 in advance of the

No challenge for NDP nomination

HELMUT GIESBRECHT will be unopposed in his quest ta represent the Skeena riding for the NDP in the next provincial election.

Giesbrecht, elected in 1991 and in 1996 now the highways minister, was the only person to file his pa- pers by the deadline tead- ing up to the party’s March 3 nomination meeting.

It’ll be held at the Elks Hall and provincial NDP president .Bruce Ralston will be the guest speaker, says Skeena NDP consti- tuency association presi- dent Gail Murray.

The occasion will also be used to raise money for the upcoming provincial election.

“Tt doesn’t look too bad, I’m confident that when the time comes, we'll be able to fight the election,” said Murtay of the party’s bank account here.

She said the consti- tuency association mem- bership stands at approx-

Helmut Giesbrecht

imately 200, a figure that’s been fairly consistent over the past decade.

Meanwhile, the NDP in the North Coast riding make their selection March 10 in Prince Rupert.

And two weekends ago, North Coast Liberals chose Bill Belsey to be their candidate in the provincial election.

He narrowly defeated Prince Rupert mayor Don Scott by five votes on the third ballot.

Health criticism comes under fire

CITY COUNCILLOR Lynne Christiansen found herself accused by her fel- | low councillors Friday ‘of - aiding a “witch hunt" over local health. care woes.

It began when David Hull said posters for a Health Watch rally Satur- day indicated Christiansen would speak as part of the city's new task farce on health care expectations.

He and other council- lors said the task force was formed strictly to deter- mine what a reasonable level of health care should be and not act as a launch pad for rhetoric and at- tacks on health officials.

“Tt sounds like we're still part of a witch hunt in the community,” Olga Power said, adding she agreed to a task force pro- vided it didn’t turn into “constant negative” at- tacks that detract from the “very good care” being provided.

Christiansen said post- ers for the rally were in- correct and she’d speak as city health liaison, not on behalf of the task force,

“Pm not sure what you’re calling a witch hunt, ” she shot, hack, add- ing the’ entire town’ ‘has made its opinions cleat through a series of_rallies and petitions.

“Do you never say any- thing positive?” Power de- manded.

Christiansen asked how indentifying problems can be considered negative, adding it “becomes a posi- tive thing” when that leads to solutions.

Christiansen pot some support from mayor Jack Talstra, who while agree- ing the task force must re- main separate, said conti- nued pressure and vigi- lance by local people is a good thing.

And he said Christian- sen shouldn't censor her- self,

“I think she can say what's been happening at the meetings and if she has some personal opi- nions, she should say what those are.”

Christiansen kept her comments at the rally very

brief. HOr

for che many meoda af your hair

hearing,

If the commission ap- proves smaller increases, customers will be refunded the difference.

The list of intervenors at the hearing include Ter- race mayor Jack Talstra, regional district represen- tatives, and officials from municipalities as far away as Houston and Fort St. James,

Corporate participants include Skeena Cellulose, Methanex Corp., West Fraser Timber and Eurocan Pulp and Paper, and an as- sortment of energy compa- nies.

Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce

president Justin Rigsby is .

also to speak on behalf of

chamber members. “What’s happening with

natural gas is potentially

crippling to a lot of busi- |

nesses,” Rigsby said, “We've got enough diffi- culties up here without adding more difficulties to making business work.” He said big industrial

corporations may be better ]

prepared to make a techni- cal argument to “modify

‘their gas rates, but he said

he’ll seek to make sure small businesses aren’t left out from any relief.

“If everyobody shuts their doors around here no- body is going ta benefit, least of all the gas pravi- der,” Rigsby added.

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