A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 17, 1999

Reform tags treaty

cost at $1

A NEW siudy paid for by a Refornn MP
cancludes the Nisga’a treaty would cost
$1.3 billion to implement -— at least $800
million more than the province's estimate.

The report prepared. for Delta MP Jolin
Cummins by R\M- Richardson and Assaci-
ales says the B.C. gavernment has grassly
underestimated what it is giving ‘up under
the treaty, particularly in terms of land aud
resource values. uo

The value of the nearly, 2, 000 square kilo-
metres of land :showld be more like $406
million, not the $106 million government
estimate, Richardson concludes.» ">. - .

That figure includes $268, million for the
forests on the land, it says:

The report also suggests that:

Mi the Nisga’a highway ‘paving. cost will
more than double.te about $87 million.

Bi the cost of compcusating third parties
will rise by’ $110 ‘million from current
estiniates of under $30 million.

@ Forest Renewal B.C. will likely spend .

$131 million in Nisga’a “lands in’ future’
years aud that cosl should be included in
estimates,

Wi giving the Nisga’a control over wildlife

in a larger 14,000. square kilometre area ~

should be quantified as a Lass to B. Co tax
payers of $208 million.
The report also concludes. that based on

those estimates, 'B.C.‘is shouldering neatly

75 per cent of the costs, while the federal
governnicnt is paying only 25 per cent.

Under the federal-provincial cost-sharing
agreemeal, that should be the other way
around.

If the federal government put up its share
based on the reporl’s estimates, B.C. would
be in line for an extra. $650 million, Cum-
ININS Says.

“They've saddled B.C. taxpayers with an
additional cost of $650 million to settle one
treaty,” Cummins said,

.3 billion

‘And it’s for the benefit of less than
2,000 people, That just doesn't add up in
my world,”

But aboriginal affairs ministry spokesman
Peter Smith said the study makes ‘wild and
wifounded claims’’ about the treaty’s cost.

“Tt seems as if these numbers are virutal-
ly pulled out of thin air,’’ he says.

The value the report places on the forests
given up assumes the Nisga’a would liqui-
‘date every tree in the lower Nass valley in
the first year, Smith said.

“That. doesn’t just ignore AAC (annual
“allowable cut) restrictions built into the
treaty, but ignore the physical impossibility
of cutting, harvesting and shipping every
tree_on Nisga’a land in that time,” he said,
‘*[t just doesn’t make sense, ’'

Smith said third-party compensation
estimates seem to have simply added in
Skeena Cellulose’s original demand for
compensation of $80 million. He noted that
was. when the company was owned by
Repap Enterprises, not -the provincial

_ government.

Smith said he can see no basis for inclu-
sion of $130 million frem FRBC.

_ “Theyre eligible to apply for FRBC just
like everybody else in the province,’’ be
said, ‘‘But they’re not assured of any
projects. There’s no obligation on our part
to provide FRBC funding.”

Smith says’ the road construction costs
aren’t part of the treaty.

“The treaty will create opportunities for
economic development and you need the
infrastructure in place to undertake that,’’
he ‘said. ‘There are assumptions in there
that onghl not to be made, ‘We stand by
our estimale and our valuation,”’

Cumniins paid $10,000 out of his MP’s
budget to commission the study by Victoria
economist Robin Richardson, a fonner
director of the Fraser Institute.

Locals top orthopedic

surgical list |

TERRACE RESIDENTS make up the
greatest number of people going to Kitimat
for orthopedic surgery, indicate stalistics
from the health ministry.

Overall, Terrace residents made up one-
third, or 211, of the 626 people who had
orthopedic surgery in Kitimat in 1997-98.

‘Kitimat supplied 198 patients, 78 came
from Smithers and 45 from the Hazellons.

OF all people living within the Terrace
area requiring orlhopedic surgery, 54 per
cent had procedures done in Kitimat, 13 per
cent had them done in Terrace and 12 per
cent on the lower mainland.

The statistics are to fon part of an com-
prehensive review.-of orthopedic: surgical
services in rural and remote areas, says
health ministry official Stephanie Slater.

“We really need to know what is going
on,’” she said.

The review will look at where orthapedic
services,are now offered, where they might
be located, what types of - orthopedic
surgery is done and how. rural and remote
use stacks.up against that of other places.

Preliminary data indicates the northwest
adinission rate for orthopedic surgery is
20.47 people out of 1,000 patients. That’s
more than the provincial average. of 14.7
people out of 1,000 patients.

Theré have been traditionally two
orthopedic surgeons in. the norlhwest —
one in Kitimat and one in,Prince Rupert.

The Prince .Rupert orthopedic service
handied 473 palients in 1997-98 with 44 of.
those coming’ from Terrace,

Controversy broke out last month after

in Kitimat

the provincial health ministry suggested the
Kitimat position be transferred to Tertace.

The ministry feels Terrace is a more logi-

cal place, said its officials, as it has a strong
cast of supporting specialists and because
the city is centrally located in the north-
west, But Kitimat health and community
officials protested the proposal, causing the
ministry to retreat.

“Kitimat “Health Council official Linda:

Coles says the orthopedic surgical service
is a key component to other services.

Without it, Kilimat’s anesthetist wouldn’t
have cnough business to work full time and
could very well leave, she said,

And that would mean an end to proce-
dures. such as epidurals for women in
labour, Coles continued,

‘‘We have a lot of specialized equipment
and a lol of training has gone on over time
to bring about a well-equipped surgical
team,” said Coles,

The hospital has also integrated the
orthopedic service with a Workers’? Com-

pensation Board-sponsered work rehabilita-

tion and coaditioning program.

‘Having the orthopedic surgeon for this
is a very important component,” said
Coles.

All told, there were 1,256 orthopedic
surgical procedures in the uorthwest last
year. And there were au additional 354 pro-
.cedures involving people from the north-
_west done elsewhere.

Mills. Memorial Hospital handled 71

orthopedic cases, Of thal amount, 51 people —

came from Terrace.

until Octob

AV INCL
No Interest,’

No Kidding!

er Ast, 1999. p

~ Get amazing deals on every 1998 and 1999 Ski-Doo® snowmobile
instock, Choose up to $1000 in Genuine Ski-Doo parts, clothing

Special Savings And Clearout Floor Models _
In Every Department Of The Store

interest
For One Full Year* OAC,

On a wide selection of La-Z-Boy recliners, reclining sofas,
stationary sofas, loveseats, wing chairs and classic chairs.

Down

Interest

Payments
Until Aug. 1, 1999* OAC
On All variate Gp

MJENN-alR fFrigidaire
HOTPOINT MAYTAG acare |

Ne 0%

For One Full Year* OAC.

On all dining & kitchen furniture instock
- Plus special select floor model discounts

Save up to 44”

off list prices on Springwall
Chiropractic & Simmons Beds

~ Select Model Clearouts
- Plus Nothing Down - No Interest -
No Payments Till August 1, 1999

gsr O70

Interest
For One Full Year* OAC.
On instock Ideal, Ashley, Wedgewood & Palliser

Bedroom Furniture
(Sorry Canwood Furniture Not Inchided)

esti" 0%

Interest
For One Full Year" OAC.

On all instock Stylus & Coventry Sofas - Loveseats
and Chairs. Plus Clearout Prices On Select Models

SIMMONS

Down
Interest
Payments

Until Aug. 1, 1999* OAC

On all Canwood Solid Pine Furniture In Stock.
Plus select floor model pieces to be cleared out.

Down
interest
Payments

Until Aug. 1, 1999" OAC

On ail instock Renelle pine futons, matching pine
tables and shelving units

NO on ()%

Interest

For One Full Year* OAC,

On all instock coffee-end & sofa tables, Plus select
floor models, scratch & dent pieces to clearout,

Song accessories. ..Or, No Money Down, No Payments and No Interest
“Until October 1,1999...0r up to an $800 cash rebate.' Plus, we'll
<7 extend. your warranty coverage fo March 3ist, 2000.

Hurry! Offer ands March 1, 1999.**
SKP-H00,

“panmanniin. oe.
“REGREATIONAL PRODUCTS al
TERRACE EQUIPMENT SALES
7 4441 Lakelse Ave. Terrace Ph: 635-6384

421994, Borbatdee: Inc. A fighls reverent Trademarks of Bombarcher inc, andion aMfiates, Offer avaiable 1118094 bo 109 Mpericiptbng Desert On avaiable few.
unused HB and 1099 Bik Doe snovemobées, arckusing a0 1994 end 1999 Mini 2, a8 1998 and 1989 Tunaea and Turdem P1099 Crand Touring SE and 1999
ORE G00 models Quatiied cvatinaré ary choose le kecenee Ether Ride Fret fancied. & Cash rebate Wd 1 $800.00 oF up to $1000 00 worth of pinuing S00 party,
Cothing of aterssonet based on Manviectuters Suggesied Fetal Price. Qualied customers sriectng Fle Fret wil pry na coven paryireecit wkd wil ruahel tee erexithly
fymenis ted pay ra ken st unt Ortobar {1909 on reread instpirnget s25en contracts purchased by eed aisigned 10 Boméarcier Capriat Ltd, testing weary
: OrotH A Hap c lt cred rd rm a a and ea, REACT Beer,
: »_ Bare rede wept: & sarscostrg desir i detads

* 0% ; Interest j is : based on 12 equal monthly p payments OA. C,

Totem’s Countrywide

Furniture & Appliance

(7
_
he nd | 5
aay
a anv

4501 Lakelse Ave. Terrace
1-800-813-7158 » 698-1158