"NEXT ROUND OF HIGHWAYS CONTRACTS STARTS —

Legiglative Library. Parliament Buildings Victoria B.Cay

VOY 1x4 OT

EDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1991 i. 7, Issue No. 10

MCU TFN

Phone 635-7840 Fax. 635-7269

Serving the communitles of Terrace, Thornhill, Usk, Cedarvale, Kitwanga, Meziadin, Stewart and the Nass Valley

75 cents

Police — |

costs could

goup $250,000

THE CONTRACT COST OF POLICE services for the city of Terrace may go up more than a quarter of a million dollars this year if the federal government has its way.

The 10-year contract between the federal government and B.C. for the provision of RCMP services to local governments expires at the end of this month. B.C, Solicitor General Ivan Messmer told the Terrace Review Monday that the federal government is taking a tough stance in favour of increas- ing the local share of RCMP costs from 70 to 85 percent.

For Terrace, Messmer said, that would increase the annual contract costs by $267,000, a 21.5 percent increase.

"We acknowledge some things should change," Messmer said, "but it is our opinion that the cost share should remain the same.

"The reality is, the federal government says this is its final position. We're at an impasse."

Terrace city administrator Bob Halisor said the matter was dis- cussed as part of a draft budget review by city council Monday night. The mecting was held behind closed doors, as is usual for preliminary budget meetings, and went on past midnight.

Hallsor said contract police ser- vices cost the municipality $1,118,000 during the past year, and a total of $1,390,000 when city-employed support staff and other items are added in. The city receives about $200,000 from rent on the RCMP building, an amount Halisor said goes into general revenue, The city is also paying off the debt on the new building.

Mayor Jack Talstra said council has anticipated the increase by building a contingency fund into

the budget, but it’s a difficult — Continued on page A2

Terrace actors Gloria Mertens, Annette Canute and Marianne

Brorup Weston ham it up in anticipation of International Women's Day, March 8. The three are getting into character for

Talking With, a play of 10 monologues, all the characters

te

female. The production will be showcased at the Skeena Zone Drama Festival April 18 and run again in May.

HUGE LAND CLAIM DECISION FRIDAY

Friday at 9 a.m. the Gitksan Wet’suwet’an will see the end of a $14 million, 64-year court battle for aboriginal rights. If they win their case, the Gitksan Wet’suwet’an will in effect have jurisdiction over 22,000 square miles of northern B.C. covering an area from the southern boundary of Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park to the northem boundary of Tweeds- muir Park.

But in reality, what the Gitksan Wet’suwet’an will have really won, is the status of "people", according to Gitksan Wet’suwet’an executive director Don Ryan, mak- ing them worthy of the attention of federal and provincial govern- ments. In other words, land claims negotiations can begin.

The situation will be similar to that of the Nisga’a, who are cur-

rently negotiating a settlement with the two levels of government. The road to negotiation for the Nisga’a was a court case beginning in 1969 that cost $3 million.

Also hinging on this Friday's B.C, Court of Appeal decision, says Ryan, is future action against the Sustut-Takla Forest Licence. He says court action to stop log- ging in that area commenced some time ago, but they were told by the court that no action could be taken until a cutting permit had been issued. A Forest Licence with no cutting permit doesn’t violate any aboriginal rights the Gitksan Wet’- suwet’ alt might have, the courts have ruled.

According to Ryan, if Chief Justice Allan McEachern’s deci- sion Friday goes In their favour,

—- Continued on page A2

Port plan to be made public today

The details of the Kitimat Marine Terminal Development Plan, which have been kept under wraps since the co cept began with the formation of a port development committee last year, become public today.

As part of the Major Project Review Process, the prospectus for the project will be available for public scrutiny in Terrace at either the public library or the Ministry of Environment office in the B.C. Government Access Centre.

The plan was formulated by a local committee led by Skeena MLA Dave Parker and based on two reports by Sandwell consultants of Vancouver, one report on markets and feasibility, the other on local social, environmental and economic impacts. The committee, consisting of representatives of local government, industry and native organizations, evolved into the present Kitimat-Terrace Port Society, which under the terms of the plan would be the governing body of the port.

Parker said he visualizes the development as a commodity port similar to Fairview Terminal in Prince Rupert, but run under the B.C. ports policy instead of the federal Port Authority. Parker indicated the government would provide infrastructure for the port "to the gate" and leave the remainder for private enterprise.

No estimate of the cost of the project has been suggested to date by Parker or members of the port commiltee.