CITIES PLOT STRATEGY
A one-day financial and legislative summit today, organized by Union of B.C. Municipalities, has been called:
■ To protest 1997 cutbacks and to develop strategies to ensure there are no further cutbacks;
■ Discuss needed legislative refoims that will free local government from unnecessary provincial supervision;
More than 200 municipal officials from throughout B.C. will attend.
“When you have members from Fort Nelson to Cranbrook, from Prince Rupert to Tahsis all sending mayors, senior administrators and other representatives,
it shows dramatically the breadth and depth of concern among local governments,” said UBCM president Gillian Trumper who is chairing the meeting.
The agenda:
■ Discussion of cutbacks and the real impact on British Columbians;
■ Discussion and adoption of individual and common strategies to protest the cuts;
■ Reports on UBCM executive activities including recently commissioned independent studies on subsidies provided by local government to the province.
Who’s attending from here:
Mayor Colin Kinsley and city manager George Paul.
by BERNICE TRICK Citizen Staff
Prince George and other B.C. municipalities have a one-year reprieve to take on the responsibility of maintaining some arterial roads now done by the province.
The province has decided to defer the transfer to Jan. 1, 1998 to allow time for more consultation with municipalities, Highways Minister Lois Boone announced Wednesday in a video news conference in Prince George.
Last November the province decided to transfer the responsibility of some arterial highways in the province to local governments as part of restructuring of grants and municipal programs.
Since then, municipal officials have expressed concerns about downloading.
The postponement stems from a recommendation by the joint provincial-local government council established last October at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.
Acknowledging municipalities have concerns about the process, Boone said the delay is a way to ensure a smooth, fair transition to the “new funding arrangement.”
The only Prince George road affected is 3.5 kilometres of the Old Cariboo Highway running from Johnson Road near the airport to Highway 16. It will cost the city an estimated $28,000 annually to maintain.
But the province’s deferral doesn’t mean the city will save any money.
Although the province has offered $5 million in equalization grants to help municipalities take on the new responsibility, those grants will be
reduced by the amounts used to maintain the roads this year.
“(The grants) were to cover work which we will continue to do in the ministry,” said Boone, adding meetings will be set up with the affected 73 municipalities.
“It’s still a cut, no matter how you cut it,” said Mayor Colin Kinsley.
“They’re going to charge us for doing the work for us, which, in my opinion, is wrong because the city might be able to do it cheaper than the province,” Kinsley said.
The postponement came one day before a B.C. mayors’ summit meeting on finance and legislation in Vancouver.
“It’s (road maintenance downloading) still going to be a hot topic because nothing has really changed,” said Kinsley, adding the other big issue will be the reduction of revenue-sharing grants.
The province is cutting annual revenue sharing grants to municipalities by 60 per cent.
Prince George’s average annual grant from the province has been about $3.2 million. The reduction means a $1.9-million shortfall in city coffers.
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■ If it’s the beginning of a new year, then RRSP season isn’t far behind. Read Money columnist Mike Grenby. /13
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■ An international TV auction devoted entirely to Beatles memorabilia will take place in Tokyo on March 22. /22
SPORTS
■ The West Division outscored the combined East-Central Divisions team 7-5 Wednesday at the WHL All-Star game in Spokane, Washington. The Prince George Cougars were represented by defenceman Joel Kwiatkowski. /7
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Citizen photo by Brent Braaten
GOING, GOING, GONE — Rob Ingham raises the ladder on a fire truck that will be replaced with a new $1.1-million model after city council approved the expenditure Wednesday during budget discussions. The RCMP also got some good news. Story, page 11.
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen Staff
Alcan filed a writ in B.C. Supreme Court Wednesday to protect its ability to sue the provincial government over the cancellation of the $1.3-billion Kemano Completion Project.
The giant aluminum-smelting company stressed the move was precautionary, and its first interest is still to reach a negotiated settlement with the government.
“We have explained to the government we wish to continue negotiating. . .but that we had to take this step in order to protect our legal position,” Alcan spokesperson Kathie Bourchier said Wednesday afternoon.
Premier Glen Clark called the move hardball tactics and said all negotiations are off until Alcan with- “We're pre-
draws its suit.
“We’re prepared to pared to nego-negotiate but if they pursue tja|e b„t jf they litigation then we 11 see #
them in court,” Clark said. pursue litiga-
But Education Minister Paul Ramsey - the govern- tl0n then Wf 11 ment’s point man on the see them ill
project and a Prince George . „
MLA — had a more moder- COUrl.
ate message Wednesday
afternoon, mentioning no Premier Cldrk
ultimatum tied to the removal of the writ.
Alcan always had the right to go to court, said Ramsey from Victoria, just as the government has the right to introduce legislation.
The former environment minister said he’d prefer a negotiated settlement, but it must include better protection for the Nechako River and be tied to a job creation guarantee for the Northwest.
“If Alcan accepts those two goals, then we can, I think, continue profitable negotiations. If not, we both have other options.”
The NDP government unilaterally scrapped KCP in January of 1995 over concerns about salmon stocks.
Alcan said it had already spent about $535 million on the project, which would have increased its electricity-generating capacity for its smelter in Kitimat.
At stake in negotiations — ongoing for the past two years — is compensation for the lost generating capacity and downriver issues including discussion on a Kenney Dam cold water release facility near Vanderhoof.
While the talks stalled during the election last spring, there have been dozens of meetings between Alcan and the government, and negotiations had continued in early January, Bourchier said.
She said Alcan had been advised by its lawyers to file the writ to preserve its legal options because a two-year statue of limitations would expire today.
While Alcan has set no deadline for when it wants a settlement, the filing of the writ has introduced because action must be taken on the writ within 12 months, explained Bourchier.
“We’ve been patient, but there is a limit to patience.”
With Canadian Press
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23,1997
"Half way around the galaxy he goes to save a couple of bucks.”
Roads: Gov't delays ‘downloading’
Announcement made on eve of municipalities’ ‘summit’ meet
Alcan paves way for Kemano lawsuit
Premier answers ‘hardball tactics’
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