Al4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 28, 1998 “TERRACE STANDARD Business REVIEW Out & About B.C. in a ‘mild’ recession B.C.’s economy is in a mild recession that will extend into next. year, concludes Helmut Pastrick, chief economist for Credit Union Central of B.C. The economy is forecast to shrink by 0.9 per cent in 1998 and grow by a meagre 0,3 per cent in 1999, “The forecast 0.3 per cent gain in 1999 is minimal and will result primarily from an end to the export decline, aided somewhat by consumer spending that is sensitive (lo interest rate lIevels,’’ Pastrick said. “Forecast risk remains on the downside.” While non-resource sectors are expected to grow, dif- ficult times are still expected in forestry, mining and house construction. Pastrick told The Standard he’s now looking far sta- bilization in commodity prices, a key to survival for northwest forestry companies and their sawmills. “Hopefully we've now secn the worst of the | decline,’’ he said, but added prospects for a significant rebound are quite low and are likely to remain that way until there’s improvement in Asian economies, Forecasts for countries like Japan and Korea in 1999 suggest around zero per cent growth, he added, with improvement in 2000 and beyond. ‘Two to four years from now things should be much betier in that part of the world,” he said, “‘But two to four years is a considerable time to wait.’’ Summit goes live on net BUSINESS LEADERS across B.C. who can’t get to the B.C. Business Summit '98 will now be able to par- licipate in key events over the Intemet, Live streaming video technology provided by B.C. ° Tel will be used to beam live video broadcasts of sum- mit events to anyone who plugs in. Scheduled for Nov. 8-9 in Vancouver, the summit brings together large, medium and small business lead- ers from. across the province in what's billed as a cooperative, non-partisan effort to create a strategy for economic renewal. Those who want to view the summit on the Interact can download the necessary software. The web site is at www.bebusiness-summit,com ~ ARCTIC SNOWPLOW: When the drifts start piling high, you can count on ARCTIC Snowplows to break through, Built to withstand the rigors of our hard winters, the ARCTIC Snowplow Is constructed of durable steel Avallable for most light trucks. E CALL US TODAY 635-6334 4 ry AUTOMOTIVE & INDUSYAiAL SUPPLY Smelter plan is shrinking Alcan eyes smaller expansion ALCAN has scrapped its original plan to build a $1.2 billion second smelter north of its existing plant. The company is now look- ing into more modest expan- sion options, most Iikely a smaller expansion of the ex- isling smelter in Kitimat, And Alcan officials are wamiing the end result may produce less employment than the 400 jobs originally envisioned. “T think we’ve come to the conclusion that dream, if you wish, is just uct pos- sible,’”? Alcan expansion study team director Roger Bennett said of the second smelter possibility. The company must ex- pand operations in Kitimat if it is to take advantage of the province’s agreement to provide 175 megawatts of cheap power for expansion, replacing what the company would have had if it had built the Kemano Comple- tion Project. That deal was concluded a year ago after Alcan threatened to sue the province for hundreds of millions of dollars for its de- cision in 1995 ta cancel KCP. ‘'We have a strong com- mitment to try and find a way lo expand = our aluminum smelting in B.C., and our priority is Kitimat,” Bennett added, “Obviously we have an agreement wilh the B.C. government to havé some energy to do that and we want to utilize that,’? Ben- nett said. The scale-down in plans raises questions of how big the project will have 10 be and how many jobs it will have to create to qualify to get the power, Provincial government of- ficials had no immediate answers last week, saying they’d have to look into that issue. Bennett said construction costs for the second smelter proposal were too high, the actual price of some equip- ment was more than anticipated and the site pro- posed was just too soft, He said preparing the site to support a foundation would have cost up to three times as much as to put it on more solid ground. “Byen then our consul- tants said they wouldn’t recommend it,’ Bennett added, It was likely some sections of the foundation would settle in faster than others, More so than could be al- lowed, Bennett said the expansion team will spend the next six to nine months deciding what to do next. It could be a smaller ex- pansion, with different smelting technology, in- tegrated into the existing smelter site. Box 22, IMPROVING Terrace, B.C. Major Credit Cards : YOUR Accepted ODDS V8G Ano ° a _ weer =| AGAINST © Anne Evans Your donationis _ANDSTRORE | CANADA'S 638-1966 tax deductible Your In Memoriam gift is a lasting tricute. Please send your donation to the address above, along with the name and address and the name and address of the next-of- [’ today’s competitive job market, you have to show employers you have the skills they want and that set you apart. That's what you get with the Certified Management Accountant’s program — the credentials you need to keep climbing in an ever-changing business world, And best of all, taking that first step is a lot easier than you think. To learn more about the CMA program and the CMA’s | Associate Accounting Technologist (AAT) Program, please join us for an information session: Monday, November 2, 1998 Northwest Community College 5331McCoannel Ave., Terrace, BC 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Room 108 For more information or to register for the session, call Holly at 1-800-663-9646, local 274 or e-mail: holly@cmabc.com. Certified Management Accountants of British Columbia CMA 1575-650 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, BC V6R 4W7 a (Visit our web site at: www.cmabe.com Take Your Time. Freedom 30 gives you all the time in the world on your first 30 calls every month. You talk as long as you like - or norar all. There's no hurry. Freedom 30 also gives you up to 1000 minutes Rei of free weekend calling each month. wea And additional airtime (if you need it) is only 30 cents a minute. . "30'"°- KEITH AVE. MALL CITY CENTRE SKEENA MALL TERRAGE KITIMAT TERRACE 635 5333 632-5000 635-4948 Cling plan ond $49.95 loki phone based oa north conhad. teas only CAC Wes — bal ck oak 4641 Keith Avenue, Terrace, B.C. VBG 1K4 Monthly service fea, long distance charges und faxes extra, Annual system acress fee of $48 opplies. Cancellation Fee applies. Limited time offer "| Kin, for an acknowledgement card. Anything Else Is Just A | Glorified Snowblower. Purchase your new sled before November 15 and get $200 in FREE Polaris gear or accessories. 1999 700 RMK as low as $2.29 a0 Based on $1,000 down for 48 months 0.A.C. ‘POLARIS ‘Financing Available OAC. Lease Options, See Dealer For Details. AUTOMOTIVE & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY AUTO PARTS. & SERVICE CENTRE > 635-6334 - 632-2224 4641 Kelth Avanus, Terrace, B.C. 149B Clty Centre, Kitimat, B.C. Members of the Nisga’a Nation Referendum Vete Notification on Nisga’a Final Agreement and Nisga’a Constitution November 6 & 7, 1998 Advance poll October 30, 1998 _ Polls will be open from 8 am to 8 pm The polls are located in each Voting Area as follows: Voting Voting Voting Area Location Official. Gingalx Recreation Centre- Meeting Room Dale Johnson Gitlakdamix Gitlakdamix Band Office Chambers Louise Martian Gitwinksiblkw Salvation Army Hall Elaine Moore Laxgalts‘ap Recreation Centre - Band Room Tracey McKay Prince Rupert/Port Edward Fishermen's Hall Val Stewart Terrace NIC Local Office Daphne Stevens Vancouver Friendship Centre - 1607 E Hastings Edna Tait New Westminster First Nations Urban Community Centre Edna Tat 301-668 Carnarvon St. NOTES e Any Nisga’a person who is at least 18 years old, and has applied to be enrolled under the Nisga’a Final Agreement, may vote. | ¢ Eligible voters residing outside the communities listed above will receive a mail-in ballot, ° Eligible voters who will be absent during advance and general voting days may request a mail- in ballot by calling the Referendum Office on or before October 30, 1998. © Elderly or disabled eligible voters who are unable to leave home moy arrange to vate at home. Call the Referendum Office to make arrangements. . For More Information Call REFERENDUM OFFICE Corinne McKay, Referendum Commissioneror ss Esther Adams, Administrative Assistant = Nig a Phone: 250-633-2287 Fox: 250-633-2504. Toll Free: 1-877-633-2287 ; ‘Adoption Commies . OT Referendum Office LE Letited ak: : loki Recreation Cenire In New Aiyansh; BC eons (Use side entrance)