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REGIONAL Dll of Fraser-Fogn
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PRINCE GEORGE
Citizen
Serving the Central Interior since 1916
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2001
80 CENTS (HOME DELIVERED: 50 CENTS A DAY)
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FACTBOX
City’s 2001-2002 budget plan
■ Operating budget: $71.6 million
■ Capital budget: $13.5 million
■ Property tax increase: 3%
■ Last property tax increase: 3.48% in 1997
eye on U.S. situation
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff
Prince George lumber producers have no plans to shut down sawmills in the face of low lumber prices and the threat of U.S. tariffs.
The five year softwood lumber quota agreement ends March 31, and a U.S. lumber lobby has already said it will launch a countervail duty case and anti-dumping charges, which could result in duties on lumber exports.
Canfor Corp.
— the largest lumber producer with six sawmills in the city area — hasn’t planned curtailments at its mills next month.
Canfor already temporarily shut down sawmills in the past three months, mostly because of lumber prices below the profit level.
“You could probably what-if-your-self-to-death, but we’re going to see what the world delivers here — whether it’s a countervail,” Canfor vice-president Jim Engleson said Friday. “We’re not going to pre-sup-pose anything or do anything until we see what the lay of the land looks like.”
Other local lumber producers are following a similar logic.
Lakeland Mills, The Pas and Dunkley Lumber also have no plans to curtail production, although all admit that could change if a duty is slapped
on Canadian exports into the U.S., their biggest market.
“We’re watching very closely,” said The Pas president Don Gould. “TTiere’s a tremendous amount of uncertainty.”
Gould pointed out that even if a duty is not ruled on by the U.S. Commerce Department until August — the most likely scenario—it could be retroactive.
Lakeland Mills president Keith Anderson said he’s encouraged by a small “bounce” upward in lumber prices, but the market picture remains uncertain because of the looming trade battle with the U.S. “We won’t know what’s coming down the pipe until it hits us in the face,” he said. Madison’s Canadian Lumber reporter listed 1,000 board feet of random length two-by-fours — considered an industry bellwether — at $210 US on Friday. That’s up from a low of $170 earlier this year, but still below profit levels.
And Madison’s publisher Laurie Cater said demand for lumber in the U.S. is flat because of the uncertainty of whether there will be a duty.
The uncertainty is also tough for the thousands of sawmill workers in the Prince George region, said IWA local 1-424 official Neil Meagher. “We’re waiting with bated breath to see what happens.”
JADRZYK — See page 13
Experts ponder the future of the forestry Industry In this week’s Saturday Report the end of softwood lumber agreement nears.
Property taxes rising 3%
Average-priced home could see a $20 to $30 increase
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff
City council this week approved more spending in 2001 to counter items like skyrocketing natural gas costs, which will bump an anticipated property tax increase to 3%.
It’s the first property tax increase in three years and will be somewhat offset KINSLEY by a decrease in
Fraser-Fort George Regional District taxes (see story on page 3).
“I think it worked out better than I originally thought given the huge increase in policing costs,” Mayor Colin Kinsley said Friday. “Staff has done some good work and council has been diligent in holding spending down. I think the approach has been prudent.”
In retrospect, perhaps the city should have increased property taxes slightly in the past two years to account for factors such as inflation, said Kinsley.
Under the increase, an average-
priced home could see a $20 to $30 increase to their property-tax bill. However, increases will vary as house
price assessments fluctuate from year to year. Business increases will also vary according to assessments.
The city had already been expecting a tax increase of at least 1.82% to cover increased RCMP costs and extra cash needed to take over sole funding of the Prince George Region Development Corporation.
During budget deliberations in the past month, council examined items that had not been included in the base operating budget of $71.6 million or capital budget of $13.5 million.
Items that were approved included $230,000 to offset natural-gas cost
$>r an outdoor ilso kicked in
increases, $66,000 for enhanced dust control, $41,000 for a^lower basket program and $40,000 ice oval. The city al $25,000 for a program to discourage prostitution. The $230,000 for offsetting natural-gas cost increases will hold user-fee increases at civic facilities like the aquatic centre t6 3% or less." ; .
The biggest challenge this year was dealing with a $631,500 increase for RCMP services — a result of wage increases and running a more fully-staffed detachment of 117. Last year, the RCMP’s budget was based on 108 staff members.
Hospital overflowing
It's just not safe to accept new patients: official
by BERNICE TRICK Citizen staff
Spring break means more staff shortages at Prince George Regional Hospital.
Dr. Jennifer Rice, medical director, Northern Interior Regional health Board, said staff shortages are so bad that it’s difficult to meet demands in a safe maner. “We have six nursing shifts unfilled and we expect that
number to rise over the weekend,” Rice said late Friday afternoon. “We are overflowing and are now in a position where we cannot accept any new patients. It’s just not safe.”
New patients requiring admission will be stabilized at PGRH and then sent to another facility to get their care, said Rice. Patients cannot be admitted when there isn’t enough staff to safely care for them, she said.
Ongoing shortages coupled with spring break are making it difficult to find the nurses that are needed to care for patients, Rice said.
Management, staff and physicians are working together to ensure the best possible care can be provided to the patients in the hospital during the shortage. Those who have life- or limb-threatening conditions will receive the necessary care, Rice said.
Citizen photo by Brent Braatan
LITTLE MICKEY — Matthew Couto, as Mickey Mulligan, takes part in the play Phil The Fluter that was performed by Nuala Power’s Grade 2 class at Sacred Heart Elementary School Friday. The class preformed plays, songs, dances and poetry in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, today.
TODAY
Cornered by Baldwin
canada.com
“Enough about God. Let’s talk about something you really know: rejection.”
Ann Landers..................36
Bridge.......................21
Business .................16-18
City, B.C..............3,5,6,13
Classified ...............19-23
Comics.................30,35,36
Coming Events..............2,36
Crossword ...................28
Entertainment 28-30
Horoscope ...................21
Lifestyles................35,36
Movies.......................28
Nation.....................7,14
Sports ....................8-12
Television...................29
World .......................15
Sawmills keep close
Museum open
The newly renovated museum called The Exploration Place was packed Friday night as members enjoyed all the new sights. One of the favorites was the dress-up trunk for kids like Scott and Sean Cawdell. — See story page 3
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