: “t abpbiteht tar New Skeen

A2- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, July 14, 2004

From front

Taxes. key to New Skeena _

“All four municipalities are -acting ‘in concert: ‘said.
_ Talstra. Court-appointed monitor PricewatethouseCoop
ers is acting as an, intermediary. ae
“Tom: tell you 'we_are- yery hopeful: a deal: will be >

‘reached i in the néxt-bit — maybe’ a week,” said Talstra. -

‘New. Skeena. president. Dan Veniez, also. speaking 2
late: last week,’ said’ He. was “encouraged. by. a ‘press: te- a

“lease issued by the City of Terrace July, 9."

“New Skéena: and the -miinicipalities have been nego: :
tiating over the: past week: to-deal, with a. forward plan. for ;

erational. soon,” the: release ‘said.

““Tertace would be pleased. to see: ~an agreement and ,
welcome. Woodbridge » as an investor in: the’ northwest,” it.

_adds,

“That? cer ail accurate, ‘a said Veni There's a

strong interest al getting. this dowir so that. it tenets © =

everybody.”

_A crucial player j in’ the: Hiegotiations: is: the provincial .

government, : represented by: Skeena Liberal MLA and
cabinet minister. Roger. Harris.’

That's because. municipalities are legislated. creatures i.
of the provincial: ‘government: and. cannot forgive taxes .
all by themselves, Such-a: venture; ‘if. itis becomes part :
of a: negotiated setllement in some, fashion, requires: the obs
_ approval of the provincial government, chs

Back: tax. issue.

‘never came up |

_ THE: WOODBRIDGE. Company never did: approach the“
city to inquire about New Skeena’s nearly $30 million ‘in. f.
‘unpaid municipal: properly taxes when it” protied the

company” s health in the spring... -.
And it hadn’t.as:of late last: week, either.

: “Tcan"t speak | for, the others (municipalities). but they |
~ have not contacted: Terrace: and I: suppose there are. reas

sons for that,”- said. mayor Jack Talstra‘tate last week,

~ “We are in‘negotialions with. New-Skeena-and maybe |
they: don’t todo. an end:run: We're’ just’ focussing ouref- -
forts on the: Degotiations, q don’ t know what Bees. in their")

. heads,’ hé.said..”

Ina July 5 letter to New. Skeena. ‘president Dan Ve- ni
hiez, Woodbridge‘ company president W.. Geoffrey. Beat-
tie said his: company had. Spent more * than $500,000 on
' “legal, financial’ and engineering consultants,” ~ ee

“After approximately 90 days” of. extensive investiga-
- tion, ‘our. due “diligence . Belivities are” ‘substantially -

| FIRST NATION'S SOUVENIR & GIFT STORE

‘complete;"- Beattie: said. :

New: Skeena’ Ss. misnicipal debt ‘includes taxes “and °
penalties for the past three.- -years‘and’ an. ‘outstanding bal- |
ance from -a’ previous: ‘tax: repayment plan which was

never fully acted upon.

Last fall; “when. New ‘Skeend: was. in discussions with -
-Eastern- forest: products’ giant Tembec over a possible i in- :
.vestment, the municipalities ‘acted to $eize the sompa- ;

ny’ S assets as a security against: taxes: owing. :

_ Tt-was one of the: Teasons ‘New: ‘Skeena sought. creditor 7

- protection.”

era said negotiations. indervay to. setile. the. prop Pe ye,
‘ormal plan of ar- eee
fro Hit behind

y tax issué’ will: form-p part si By fot
ato onle iit

‘creditor Protection.

No foregivenes
_for-late payment

TWO PROPERTY - -owners ‘won't receive any’ leniency ;

. ftom. the.city when it- comes to their late: taxes.

Homeowners Sherty~ and Ken Mitchell’ had asked’ "
council to forgive a. $300 late: penalty, saying they, had |
“intended. ‘to. pay’ by’. the ‘deadline. = and had the Property :

tax ‘ehéque written: oli. wo weeks prior.”

\ But the-pressutes of applying ‘for.a ‘new. job’ and ‘inik- .
-ing preparations to’move. meant they didn't notice a form. :
‘telling: them of the, Friday, duly 2 cutoff: date, until that *
‘night. : Lo. a
“J. immediately came: into city hail and: -paid the taxes .
-Monday- moring ‘at,9:30-am., July'5;, 2004," It. was this’
day that we lédrned. we:-had.t0 pay an additiorial $300, in: |
' penalty for one.day- in. arrears,” wrote Sherry Mitchell: - T
"We. have: always .paid’ our taxes on time. in- ‘the- past’ |
and: this was an: honest mistake: ‘on our part. I would exe Pe
“pect that: this: penaliy fee is: “primarily ‘directed ‘at those , |- :
‘or. rin arrears," she ade a

‘persons: who a are chronically. la
ded.

“But: city: ‘officials told. council members the “inte ipen-
“ alty. ‘is: in accordance: with: provincial ‘regulation’ ‘as Sel. “

down in legislation:

- “Due: ‘to: the. above: information, we: ‘recommend that” .
the’ 10: percent: penalty not be réversed;" “officials futy ;

Degerness and Ron Poole’ advised council:

Wallet lost on July. 8.

A WALLET was. Jost in the “parking: lot” of the: voi TE
access centre.on a 8. There's $a $25. reward. for its: resi
: turn. Call 638- 6558." ayy

Ticket location addition - ,

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Tues - ‘eritoam- épm
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1960 Hudson Bay Mtn Rd

Sales - Rentals = Repairs
847-3678 or 800-748-2333

a Smithers (ski hill road)

~ one: point, ‘suggest that New ‘Skee
year" s.worth of taxés. :

“years, ¢ cone. year shy ‘oft the: three-year, ‘deadline. after
“which: “properties” are put: up for ‘sale to recoyer, Anpaid

taxes as set.our in: provincial legislation.”
_ the company. ‘and’ remain confident the’ mill will. be. op: we

“two; years! “worth of taxes-.are paid. That would Tequire
. “the legislated approval ‘of ‘the province.

- We: cannot. ‘forgive’ taxes ‘all: on: our: ‘own, We need :
‘thie province,” said Talstra:-. a

Tag on, ake eof ] ‘eracetandardcom ot

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“Although details of negotiations were nal st being re! 2
léased as of late last week, the Muinicipalities did;-at pe
ceena’ “Pay: al least one.

That: ‘would: place the. company. in arrears. for just two .

Municipalities: have also ‘suggested: deferring - -dny
planned tax :sale-until: next-year, provided a minimum. of.

Also involved a are’ school taxes which remain in unpaid.

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