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PRINCE GEORGE
Citizen
Serving the Central Interior since 1916 ‘ / I /
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5,1997
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FOOD
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FINANCES
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen Staff
Mayor Colin Kinsley was grilled Tliesday night on everything from twinning the Highway 97 bridges to expanded gambling.
The mayor reassured the Prince George Construction Association at a dinner meeting at the Ramada Hotel that twinning the bridges was still a priority.
He also told the more than 60 people, in response to a question, that he was not happy expanded gambling was coming to the city.
Kinsley said he welcomed any support in pressing the provincial government to start planning the addition of bridges north across the Nechako River and south over the Fraser River.
“I feel a little like a voice in the wilderness,” said
Kinsley, who was the invited speaker at the meeting.
Twinning the bridges was part of Kinsley’s election platform a year ago. He said he’s been told by Highways and Transportation Minister Lois Boone there is no money to twin the bridges.
But Roger Klein told the mayor twinning the bridges should be a top priority because traffic is already a problem. It was a sentiment echoed by others.
If work doesn’t start soon, the bridges will be built five years too late, said Klein.
Kinsley was also grilled about the 53 slot machines being brought into Wagers Casino in the Ramada Hotel.
He explained gaming was a provincial government responsibility.
The city has already told the NDP government it
doesn’t want slot machines, said Kinsley.
“They’re not listening.”
Kinsley explained he was against the expanded gambling because less of the take was going to charities and the city would be left to deal with the social issues.
Dave Lloyd, the chair of the Prince George Drug and Alcohol Society, revealed at the meeting the society had received an unsolicited grant from the government for $80,000 to help counsel people with gambling and addiction problems.
The mayor was also asked why the city is developing a subdivision in Heritage, when private developers could do the work.
Kinsley said from time to time the city has become involved in development, and some havq argued it’s kept house prices down in the city.
Wood shortage sparks 116 more layoffs here
by KEN BERNSOHN Citizen Staff
Almost all employees at Canadian Woodworks will be laid off for most of November, says company president Arnold Zwiers.
Although the provincial government recently announced a timber sale to the company,
Zwiers said 116 employees were laid off on Tuesday because it will be some time before that announcement translates into logs in the mill yard.
“We’re short of enough (raw materials) to run at minimum production, so until we get lumber in the yard for remanufacturing, we’ll have to shut down,” said Zwiers.
“The recent announcement will enable us to do that (reopen soon).”
Zwiers hopes to be able to call back the mill employees by the end of the month.
The Northwood Upper Fraser sawmill burned down in January. It had traditionally been Canadian Woodworks’ major source of raw materials.
“We’ve been behind the eight ball ever since Upper Fraser burned down.”
The Northwood Upper Fraser sawmill burned down in January. It had traditionally been Canadian Woodworks’ major source of raw materials. Zwiers said Northwood has worked with him to minimize the impact of the fire.
“They’ve been very accommodating in helping us get started again,” he said.
The Upper Fraser sawmill is now back in production, so Zwiers doesn’t expect this shutdown to last too long.
Canadian Woodworks makes the wood stock used in windows and doors, plus specialty products including guitar tops, mouldings, laminated panels and specialized sizes of wood used in bed frames.
Citizen photo by Dave Milne
CHEERS FOR COUGARS — Sue Jensen cheers on the Prince George Cougars as the Western Hockey League team keeps the action fast during game Tuesday against Saskatoon Blades at the Multiplex. The Cougars won it 7-5, bringing their record to 11-8-1, tied for second place in the west division. Story, page 8.
Hospital waiting lists long, but improving
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen Staff
Prince George Regional Hospital’s surgery waiting periods are longer than the provincial average but they’re improving, says the medical staff president.
“Our waiting list is decreasing, and we’re doing quite well,” Dr. Jan Burg said.
Health Minister Joy MacPhail released a report on B.C.’s surgery waiting periods this week, saying the waits on average were about the same as three years ago.
PGRH’s waiting list went up in the past two years because several surgeons left the city, citing unhappiness with the NDP provincial government
and hospital cuts.
The hospital has attracted a new slate of surgeons and a sixth operating room has been opened this year, which has helped the hospital perform more surgeries, explained Burg, who couldn’t supply exact numbers.
The hospital is battling a deficit of $1.8 million, which could translate into problems for operating time, he said.
The province, local administrators and politicians have assured doctors there will be not cuts in services, said Burg.
The Northern Interior Regional Health Board didn’t have waiting period numbers to compare to the provincial average.
FACT box
Average B.C. surgery waits:
Hip replacement — 9.4 weeks Knee replacement — 11.3 weeks
Plastic surgery — 6.1 weeks Bone surgery — 6.0 weeks General surgery—2.9 weeks Eye surgery—5.6 weeks Women’s reproductive system surgery — 2.6 weeks
Urinary tract surgery — 2.7 weeks
Ear, nose and throat surgery — 4.3 weeks
From B.C. Ministry of Health
The hospital’s executive director, Alex Berland, wasn’t immediately available for comment.
MacPhail said in a news release the report showed there is work to do in some areas, but it demonstrates the health care system is working.
MacPhail noted that the exception is heart treatment.
The B.C. Medical Association, which represents about 7,000 B.C. doctors and surgeons, called the report a “cruel hoax.”
BCMA president Dr. Granger Avery said when you add up the time patients wait to see a specialist, then wait for diagnostic equipment and finally wait for treatment, it’s a lot longer.
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London Drugs opens with n high-tech look
Don’t let the name fool you. London Drugs is much more than your neighborhood pharmacy.
The new store at Parkwood Place, offering opening specials all week, has seven departments, including a digital photo finishing section, the second of its kind in North America. It also has audio/video, computer, housewares, cosmetic, convenience food and pharmacy departments.
There’s also a small coffee shop where customers can surf the Internet during shopping breaks.
The name didn’t fool about 150 eager shoppers lined up and waiting for the doors to open Tliesday morning for the first time in Prince George.
They began lining up well before the official opening ceremony of the 32,700-square-foot store.
Mayor Colin Kinsley was on hand to cut the ribbon and officially welcome the new business to Prince George.
The store, which was established in 1945 as a small neighborhood drugstore in Vancouver, employs 75 local people.
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Citizen staff photo
London Drugs officials came In full force to officially open its newest store Tuesday In Prince -George. From left: John Vasconcelos, business unit manager, Vancouver; Wayne Powell, chief operating officer, Vancouver; Mayor Colin Kinsley; Nell Cartwright, store manager; Clay Thompson, district manager, Edmonton; Dick Vollet, general manager, Vancouver; and Tony Mlllano, retail operations, Vancouver, join In a quick ribbon-cutting ceremony before ushering eager waiting customers through the door.
PAGE 13
Focus on the city: ‘Super’ curling
PAGE 3
Mall fountain cash helps United Way
■ The owners of the Vancouver Canucks made Pat Quinn the fall guy for the struggling team’s woes by firing the president and general manager after 10 1/2 years on the job. Nothing changed on the ice though, as the Canucks lost 2-1 to Washington for their eighth straight defeat. /8
■ Money guru Mike Grenby practised what he preached when he sold his trusty 1983 Tercel. In the first month he spent $100 on taxis, buses and car rentals, but he says he’s saving nearly $100 a month by not paying vehicle licensing and insurance, not to mention about $200 for depreciation, gas, car maintenance and repairs. /29
“I bet it fell off a plane."
‘Twin’ the bridges, mayor told
■ Almost all beans are low in fat, high in protein and fibre, andare loaded in complex carbohydrates thought to increase metabolism and speed up the burning of calories. /28
Cornered by Baldwin 1997
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