Ad - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 12, 2001 . TERRACE 1 STANDARD PUBLISHER: ROD LINK ADDRESS: 3210 Clinton Street Terrace, B.C. * V8G 5R2 TELEPHONE: (250) 638-7283 « FAX: (250) 638-8432 WEB: www.terracestandard.com EMAIL: standard@kermode.net Why the fuss? EVER HEAR of the Bowser Basin? If you haven’t, don’t worry. Not many people have. It’s a term oil and gas geologists use for the vast area north of Terrace stretching toward the Yukon border. What makes the Bowser notable, along with the Whitehorse Trough, south of the Yukon bor- der, and the Nechako Basin, south and west of Prince George is that they conceivably contain oil, natural gas and coal bed methane, a natural gas resident to coal deposits. Taken together, these deposits rival the amount of oil and gas said to be under the waters off of the north coast. All this comes from the Geologi- cal Survey of Canada, a federal agency. So, with all things being equal, there’s about as much chance of finding workable deposits off of the north coast as there is in the Bowser and those other places. And that leads to the question of why all the fuss about the north coast. The answer lies in a well-organized lobbying effort since 1996 on the part of a group of Prince Rupert residents con- cerned about the decline of its traditional resource industries. With no other economic bright lights — other than cruise-ship tourism — glowing, the group seized on the prospect of oil and gas dril- ling as a viable industry. It’s done a masterful job. So much so that the: green-tinged former New Democratic govern- : ment even cautiously embraced the idea that a’ long-standing moratorium on offshore drilling was worthy of investigation to see if it might be safely lifted. The new B.C. Liberal government has followed on the NDP track ‘and*is holding |--" meetings to gain public opinion on the subject. Environmental and native groups oppose the idea of lifting the moratorium, citing danger to ocean life over the prospects of a spill or other disaster stemming from drilling. Ownership, as in land claims, is also a factor here. This sets the stage for a classic B.C. battle, one that we don’t really have the time for given the other challenges facing this province. It’s a mystery as to why the new government wants to deliberately go out and poke a stick in the eye of environmentalists and natives given the speculative nature of offshore oil and gas. Indu- stry experts will tell you they’re more interested in proven reserves in the northeast than in the un- proven offshore deposits. Granted, the same industry people say the same thing about the Bowser et al. But there are far fewer environmental and other issues in explor- _ ing the Bowser than there are with offshore dril- ling. Better by far for the provincial government to shelve the offshore and pay attention to what might be found elsewhere. It’s less confrontation- - al and makes more Sense. PUBLISHER /EDITOR: Rod Link ADVERTISING MANAGER: Brian Lindenbach PRODUCTION MANAGER: Edouatd Credgeur NEWS: Jeff Nagel NEWS/SPORTS Sarah Zimmerman NEWS/COMMUNITY: Jennifer Lang FRONT OFFICE: Darlene Keeping & Carol McKay CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR: Terri Gordon ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS: Mark Beaupre & Stacy Swetlikoff _. TELEMARKETER: Stacy Swetlikoff DARKROOM/COMPOSING: Susan Credgeur AD ASSISTANT: Sandra Stefanik SUBSCRIPTION RATES BY MAIL: $55.15(+$3,96 GST) per year; Seniors $48.95 (+$3,42 GST); Out of Province $61.98 (+$4.34 GST) Outside of Canada (6 months) $152.34 (+$10.66 GST) i MEMBER OF B,C. AND YUKON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION, CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION ; AND B.C. 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The balléts are then coun-'~ " Spectat thanks to all our contributors and correspondents ooo far thelr time and talents. © ANP FREMIER CAMPBELL DEPUTY PREMIER CLARK, OFFICIAL | CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT: || Referendum is native-bashing VICTORIA - The so-called re- ferendum on treaties British Columbians are supposed to vote on is little more than a government seeking voter per- mission to bash the province’s aboriginals. It will cost $9 million to hold the so-called referendum, consisting of 16 questions. The . questions were arrived at by what was to be an all-party committee of the legislature, meaning that the two lone NDP members were supposed to serve on the commitiee, an invitation they wisely de- clined. I’m almost moved to say that by not taking part in this absurd and intelligence-defy- ing exercise, the NDP has atoned for many of the sins it committed during its reign. To start with, a referendum traditionally consists of one clearly-phrased question. As in an election, voters cast their ballots secretly at polling sta- tions, where serutineers watch ted, just as‘in a regular elec: tion, again under scrutiny, and the results released to the pub- lic. That’s the process, for in- stance, that was used in the Charlottetown Accord referen- dum. That’s the process used in many U.S. jurisdictions, where referenda are common. The so-called referendum on treaties with First Nations, on the other hand, consists of 16 questions, most of which ' the Liberal government: “the! (Hdn-native) pilblie’s supe ‘port to say no to any an all HUBERT BEYER are in the “do you still beat your wife” category. People are to answer the questions and mail in the questionnaire. While sounding almost in- nocuous, many of the ques- tions are loaded, For example: “Continued access to hunting, fishing and recreational opportunities will be guaranteed for all British Columbians.” if this isn’t an attempt by fo. g6 special hunting and fishing tights for aboriginals, recog- nized even by the courts, I don’t know what is. Here’s number 13: “Affordability should be a key factor in determining the amount of land provided in treaty settlements.” It’s not that difficult to ima- gine how this goverament, which apparently can’t afford to protect children, will apply . “di the answer ta that question. Natives comprise about four per cent of British Columbia’s population. This so-called re- ferendum will ask 96 per cent what to do with the four per cent. If ever there was a loath- some process, this must be it. 1 am revealing no secrets when I say that not a few non- native British Columbians har- bour resentments against abor- iginals. The derogatory remarks, the racist jokes don’t surface with the frequency they once did, thanks, in part, to enlighten- ment, and due to the political correctness police, but make no mistake, there is still a hard core of people who dislike anything Indian. They, too, will be asked to . answer to the 16 questions. And answer them they will. T may not like every aspect of the Nisga’a,a Treaty, but it was the result of genuine, cut- and-thrust negotiations con- uctéd bY people: who star that is deeply rooted in the more radical elements of the former B.C. Reform Party is distasteful. It is tantamount to Robert Mugabe holding a re- ferendum on what to do with the white farmers of Zim- babwe. _ It goes without saying that Jadian leaders are not amused by the so-called referendum. Bill Wilson, First Nations Summit leader, called -it stu- . pid, racist and morally re- pugnant. The exercise, he said, casts natives as second-class citizens. ; Gerald Wesley, an elected First Nations Summit task farce member, said he’s all in favour of educating British Co- lumbians about the treaty pro- cess, but he added that even - some of the language in the committee report is offensive. In the vision statement, for . instance, there is reference to “claims” of aboriginal title, this despite repeated court de- cisions reinforcing the validity of aboriginal title. , Wesley doesn't believe the word “claims” was used inad- vertently. “Behind these questions there are hidden agendas aimed at putting government in a position where they can ‘say they have the support of the people,” he said. : The questions, he added, provide an opportunity for ra- atted .* ‘cism. and. there: is some Sispy- ‘out fiom vastly opposite: ‘points "Han thatthe province iestey ine aon, FOr the Liberals to seek public reassurance for a policy to force, First Nations, into wiih- drawing, from the treaty, pro- cess. : Whenever a majority ‘is asked to vote on the rights of a minority, the outcome is bound to be undesirable. I have no-in- tention of filling in that odious questionnaire. Beyer can be reached at: - E-mail: liubert(@coolcom.cam; Tel (256) 381-6900; ‘ Web hitp:/[www.hubertbeyer.com Pioneers living THE PRODUCERS of last year’s Pioneer Quest TV docu- mentary about two couples homesteading for a year on 40 acres in the bush near Argyle, Manitoba realize many of us watched the programs with empathy. We enjoyed the pioneers’ successes; cried over their set- backs. To satisfy our lingering cur- iosity, the producers filmed a one-hour update to let us know what the couples are up to since last May. The documen- tary aired December 4 on Life Channel. The older couple, Tim and Deanna Treadway, still live in their comfortable home in On- tario. Six surviving homestead . hens occupy a backyard coop where their familiar clucking brings back happy memories for Deanna. Treadways’ single change upon their return to twenty-first century life was to give away many of their extra posses- THROUGH BIFOCALS CLAUDETTE SANDECK] sions. Other than that, Tim says they'll not make any major changes in their life- style for a year. Eager to share their home- steading experiences, they give as many as 15 talks and demonstrations weekly to school kids and other groups. Tim also sells willow craft boxes, baskets he fashioned during the long winter hours in simple lives a one room cabin. Tim’s single bow to moad- ermity is a voice-activated computer. Prompted by his homesteader joumal, he’s dic- tating a book about their year roughing it. Deanna will add her thoughts and feelings to his manuscript. The younger couple, Frank - and Alana Logie, packed up, left Ontario, and moved to Winnipeg where their home- steader’s pay of $100,000 fi- nanced a modest house. They installed a modern wood stove in the kitchen, influenced by the wood stove that kept them warm during one of Manitoba's coldest winters, Alana returned to work as a psychiatric nurse. Frank, a for- mer millwright, signed up for three years training in-psychia- tric nursing. Their goal was for both of them to nurse in a northern community where they could return to life in a remote log cabin. Unlike the Treadways, the QPurRQudaRee Logies have no desire to.lec- ture or to write about their un- ique experience. Both couples claim .one lasting benefit: a closer bond with their spousé after spending all day, every day together. . - Along with their producer, the four returned to the hame- stead for a visit, to check. out their cabins. Remarkably, everything was intact. Tread- ways’ bed neatly made up with a Hudson Bay blanket, gleam- ing Gem jars marching along a cupboard shelf, windows. still weathertight. . Both couples were outdoor types before they were chosen to be homesteaders. ° . Now they’re even more keen to live simple lives, spend more quality time with each other, and bypass the bustle of chasing a dollar for a dallar’s sake. ; oe No doubt our inner desire to live likewise is what kept us following their Pioneer quest so closely. ;