Trouble brewing over deal on international investment A i LITTLE-KNOWN provincial committee exam- ining a proposal which would change investment mies in B.C. is holding a hearing in Terrace Feb, 17, The proposal called the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) is an in- temational plan allowing a freer flow of international investment dollars through- out the world, But the-MAIL could very well take away any local de- cision making regarding in« vestment on any number of fronts, wams Skeena NDP MLA Helmut Giesbrecht who sils on the committee, Municipalities would not be allowed to put in any per- formance requirements on matters such as land use contracts,’’ said Giesbrecht. Aud stipulations for local hire on contracts let by municipalities, school boards and the like are also El bucks used wrongly, MP told EMPLOYMENT INSUR- ANCE premiums shouldn’t be used to finance the feder-- al goverument, says the Kitimat-Terrace and District Labour Counicil. In a -six-page letter delivered to Skeena Reform MP Mike Scott’s Terrace office last week, the council says a separate and indepen- _dent unemployment insur- ance commission should in- stead be created, Such oa commission “would cousist of a simple aud effective mechanism for seeing that contributions made by workers and employers ... are used for their intended purpose,’’ said council president Norm’ ’ Lavallee. The money not spent on employment insurance pay- ments has been shuffled off for years to general govern- ment revenues which helps the federal government - claim it is doing away with _the deficit, he said. And the current practice of keeping rates high, yet reducing the amount of benefits and the amount of people qualifying for bene- fits is-wrong, Lavallee con- tinued, “Insurance caverage and ‘benefit protection could be improved by up to $8 billion a year without touching the ‘$20 cumulative surplus,”’ Lavallee added, Cuts in benefits and qualification restrictions are hitting young people and part time workers the most, he said. “The nuinber of maternity claims dropped — from 153,000 in 1996 to 141,000 in 1997, a drop of 12,000 in just one year, Fewer womei working part time and with lower earnings are qualify- ing,’’ Lavallee said. - Fhe labour council presi- dent also decried reductions in training. programs, saying expenditures .. will have "dropped by more than $4 ° billion by 2000. Scott is in Ottawa for the “next several weeks. A copy of the letter was faxed to -him for his response, Treaty talk . INFORMATION sessions on the’ Nisga’a treaty are being held these week at Northwest Community Col- lege. One jis Feb. 11 from 7 ta 8:30 p.m. in Room 2001 of the cafeteria building, The second is from 2 to 3:30 pm, Feb, 12 in the same " room. They. are hosted by the Nisga’a’Final Agreement * public education team: Organizer Mae Derrick- said presenters don’t advo- cate for or against the treaty, but give an overview of. its main points, the historical context and potential im- pacts. on Nisga'a and nort- native cammunities. at risk, the MLA added. Ultimately, local decision , making on how local tax dollars are spent would be taken away, said Giesbrecht. The provincial legislative cominittee on the MAT has already held a series. of © hearings down south, -. A first report of the com- mittee released last week says while there should be rules -allowing” access to Canada: by international in-- - they vestors, should not Trade: Up to $5 ‘Value ¥ on Friday, February 1 only with this coupon. 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They're ‘meant to make people aware of the implica- ‘toiis of MAT, For more information, try ihe provincial government web site at -wirwJepis.cov.be.cafemt/ mai} Helmut Giesbrecht The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 10, 1999 - A7 Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Terrace Annual General Meeting Date: February 18, 1999 Time: 7:00 pm Place: Big Brothers & Sisters Office 4711 Lazelle Avenue We welcome everyone who is interested in our program to attend our annual general meeting. Nominations will be accepted from the floor, For information call 635-4232 “ 2th (§) SAFEWAY FOOD ADAG aco | HAM 160024! suggestions only. Aur MILES INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS NL, MANAGE GROUP, CANADA INC ‘AUTHORIZED USER eo 579. : New York Strip Loin Steak Valu Pack. 10.20 ’ Ready To Eat ‘| Prawns 1) Thawed for your convenience. Sat er Club nese Fresh Mushrooms 200 9 Pak, Product of Canada, SAVE up to 71¢ Satnteay 0 4 Price Valentine Cupcakes ; Package of 6. White or Checelate, ey nol be exacly a5 hayate. 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