Looking back — | Continued from page A14

The CounterAttack program was possibly a little more effective. Fewer road blocks nabbed more drunk drivers, we were told in 1988. The message was the same in 1989 and in 1990 RCMP were able to report no fatalities. There were, however, 18 people injured in 13 collisions.

In January, 1990, another safety campaign began. Clunkers, junkers, rust-buckets, beaters and heaps were faced with extinction. Road- side vehicle safety checks had - begun and it could cost as much as $500 if owners didn’t repair iden- tified defects within 30 days.

Around the region, it was in 1988 that government agent Randy Trombley and Elmer Derrick, chairman and CEO of Gitsen In- dustries were named liaison officers for the North Coast eco- nomic development region by _ Minster of State Dave Parker. Main concems of the development region council at this time’ were the GATT fisheries ruling, CBC's redistribution of staff, forestry and health care.

In 1989, the North Coast Regional Advisory Group of around 70 individuals was reduced as an efficiency measure to only 10 members by our new minister of state, Terry Huberts. By 1991 there was little change in the direc- tion of this group, though. Fores- try, fisheries and aquaculture, native affairs, tourism, transporta- tion and education were still the main topics of discussion. - ~

Still, some. members or the native

community were not impressed by . cording ‘to’ Brophy, the charges:

any forward movement by the North ‘Coast advisory group... or anyone else for that matter.

Hairy Nyce and Gordon Sebas- tian were a part of this group. . During the January 1991 Kitimat- Stikine Regional District board meeting, Sebastian asked if anyone” actually believed that the native population was an important part of the economic and cultural fabric of the northwest in the eyes of

" government and some parts of the business community.

Every one of dozens of brochures printed annually, said Sebastian, flaunt the virtues of big business, but fail to recognized the value of the native community. As an example, he held up a copy of the regional district’s "Outlook 1990" and pointed out that while there were numerous references to fores- try, fisheries and tourism — more specifically Alcan and the Kemano Completion Project, Eurocan, Repap, Westar and Westmin — but only a vague hint the native population even exists. Ksan Vil- lage. was named as being included in the region’s "varied inventory of tourism attractions".

On the local political scene, "choice" was the buzzword for NDP faithful a year ago this week. Mike Corbeil tossed his hat in the ring; he would challenge Helmut Geisbrecht as the NDP candidate to take Dave Parker to task in the next provincial election. A nomi- nating convention was set for

March 31. F community, Sunday shop- ping was the latest topic

of discussion in 1989. It was

or the local business

- vice was announced. A 34 million § Bell IFR 212 twin-engine helicop- J

December, 1988, that the B.C, Court of Appeal opened the gates to legal Sunday business opera- . tions and even though the decision was under review by the Attorney General several stores were open Sundays in the Terrace area. Pacific Northern Gas and the Kitsumkalum reserve launched the 1990’s with business agreement. After a few delays and a lot of red tape, Pacific. Northem Gas announced a year ago this weck that a natural gas connection would be made to Kitsumkalum Village.

A completion date for the project, |

though, wasn’t named.

In 1988, Mills Memorial Hospital received a grant of $180,000 to cover extraordinary operating expenses due to the scrapping of emergency care user fees. In 1989, new services were introduced at MMH. The hospital was named as ore of 32 in the province that would begin a self-help diabetic program and a new medevac ser-

ter would be stationed at Prince Rupert and would offer a 24-hour medical evacuation service. Something a little more contro- versial also made the health care news a year ago this week,: This was the citation issued to; MMH

nurse Isobel Brophy by the Regis- J

tered Nurses’ Association of B.C. The citation advised Brophy that an inquire would be held in Vancouver on Feb. 12 to determine if she was guilty of” conduct con- trary to the ethical standards. Ac- “were related to advice on abortion she - allegedly offered MMH patients ‘during a 32-month period.

= .dyeqtion, was . running E ampothly in 1988. NWCC

was beginning an internal ‘review that promised a brighter. - future. Caledonia Senior Secondary | School was gathering material; related to the history of the school. : A book was to be published in 1990, And the Skeena Junior Secondary library went high tech. Included in their array of new

equipment were four new com- ' puters, three printers, a modem, a

micro fiche projector, a micro fiche projector/printer, and a CD- ROM reader with the complete

22-volume American Academic —

Encyclopedia.

In 1989, though, the skies darkened. This was the year of the teachers’ strike and there was concem for the effect it might have on students. Particularly Grade 12 students who were to write government exams. Review work was difficult, if not impos- sible. And if the strike continued there was the question of where and when the exams would be written and who would supervise them.

The focus shifted to post- secondary education in 1990. By this time a year ago, the northem university Implementation Planning Group had filed their recommenda- tions with Minister of Advanced Education Bruce Strachan a north- em university looked like a go. According to Strachan, a main university and satellite campuses could be in operation by Septem- ber, 1991.

ly

Some time ago, Terrace city council asked the province if they could be included in the tripartite land claims negotiations involving the governments of B.C. and Canada and the Nisga’a Tribal Council. City council didn’t want an independent fourth party status,

only a seat with the province to sit .

in on the negotiations and to observe how a settlement might affect the city.

Premier Bill Vander Zalm has now responded to that request, but city aldermen aren’t really sure if they're to be included in the talks or not.

"We're next door and the out- come of those negotiations might affect Terrace and the surrounding area,” says mayor Jack Tulstra. "We felt we shoud have some

here with one of two bears ahd a salmon he carved home on Nelson Rd. in New Remo. He began the first | and subsequent roadclearing with a backhoe formed huge for carving. Frank says he began carving figures into the packed snow windrows on the Copper Mountain road about two years ago. He uses a hand his animal figures, modelled after stuffed animals collected by his mother. When he's not

carving figures, Frank spends his recreational time building model ships.

City’s position in Nisga’a land talks still uncertain

Twenty-seven year old Bell Pole peeler and part-time ice carver Frank Freiburg Is seen. over the Christmas holidays at his parents carving Dec. 17 after a heavy snowfall blocks of compacted snow perfect

input."

The premier’s answer: "I recog- nize that these negotiations involve the northwest of British Columbia and understand your particular interest and concem. The land claims question is a complex one which has remained unresolved, resulting in economic and social uncertainty for both Natives and non-Natives."

vander Zaim then assures coun- ci] that as the province defines their negotiating role, Minister of Native Affairs Jack Weisgerber will be consulling with "represen- tatives from the Native community, local government, industry, labour and many other groups”.

The premier’s response is incon- clusive, says council. And there is a considerable difference between

saw, a hammer and a spade to create - |

being @ part of the team and being consulted during the process.

But there is one more paragraph. "The composition of a land claims negotiating team will be con- sidered as the Government of British Columbia continues its consultation process," Vander Zalm writes, "and I appreciate the constructive suggestions you have offered in a spirit of openness and cooperation."

"We're not sure what this letter says," concludes Talstra. "The composition of the team will be considered as the province con- tinues it’s consultation process’... I think this means perhaps their

negotiating team in not yet in-

place."

Council simply received and filed Vander Zalm’s letter for informa- tion. |

h. “a