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PRINCE GEORGE
Citizen
Serving the Central Interior since 1916
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2001
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Minister discourages U.S. anti-dumping fee
Move would hamper chances to resolve lumber dispute, de Jong says
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff
B.C.’s forest minister warned U.S. officials Thursday an additional tariff on Canadian lumber imports for antidumping could derail discussions which are making headway on resolving the dispute.
The next scheduled discussions between Canadian and U.S. officials is set for Vancouver in two weeks.
“I put it to (U.S. officials) point blank: Our ability to do this is impacted in a very negative way if we are confronted by a significant antidumping determination in mid-October.” Forest Minister Mike de Jong told The Citizen from Washington, D.C. “I suggested to their negotiators they would have a much more enjoyable time in Vancouver if they found a way to delay or postpone that decision. I left that part of the conversation hopeful they agreed with that submission on my part.”
The U.S. Commerce Department has already slapped a preliminary 19.3% duty on Canadian imports over allegations the lumber is subsidized by low timber-harvesting fees charged by provinces.
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Canadian producers are also bracing for another tariff, this one on a claim by U.S. lumber producers Canada has dumped lumber below cost in the U.S. An American lumber group has asked for a duty of up to 35%.
However, de Jong said he is encouraged the U.S. has agreed to come to Vancouver for more trade talks during the week of Oct. 15, when he believes formal proposals will be exchanged. Discussions continue to centre on forest policy changes B.C. is considering — including moving to a market-based timber-pricing system. American producers have long called for Canada to price its timber on open markets and al-
low open shipment of logs to the U.S.
There’s likely to be a difference of opinion on what policy changes are needed, said de Jong. “There’s a lot of work to be done yet.”
Forest company CEOs echoed de Jong’s warning that a large anti-dumping tariff would scutde talks. Industry officials have already said an additional duty, coupled with falling lumber prices and lack of consumer confidence in the U.S. following the terrorist attacks would cause extensive mill shutdowns.
Already companies like Canfor, Slocan and Abitibi Consolidated have taken temporary closures in the North, where lumber production is a major economic driver.
Citizen photo by Brent Braaten
FROSTY FLOWERS — Larry Ward, a gardener with the city, cleans out one of the flowerbeds on Connaught Hill Park Thursday. The frost during the last couple of nights has killed most of the flowers.
Health sector concerned about frozen budget plan
by BERNICE TRICK Citizen staff
Health-care officials in Prince George are expressing major concern about the province’s decision to freeze the budget for the next three years.
Dave Richardson, CEO of the Northern Interior Regional Health Board, said a status-quo budget, without provisions for recent union wage increases, “would generate a $ 14-million deficit” in the Northern Interior Health Region.
“That would definitely mean cuts in services, and it’s very concerning,” he said. “There’s still a lot of information we don’t have, but we should know more next week when we receive our budget letter.”
Premier Gordon Campbell announced this week that spending on health ($9.5 billion) and education ($6.8 billion) will stay at this year’s levels for the next three years.
Other provincial ministries face steep cuts over the next three years to balance the budget by 2004-05.
Prince George-Omineca Liberal MLA Paul Net-deton said he can’t comment on specific concerns like wage increase provisions, but said he knows there are some fundamental changes coming up in the way health care is delivered in northern and rural B.C.
“Clearly, it hasn’t worked in the past, and although we were critical as the Opposition, it didn’t seem to matter how much money was spent — it didn’t seem to provide better health care.”
He said the concern of Liberal members “is that people in the North are entitled to the same level of health-care services as the rest of the province. I expect the changes will be instrumental in improving the health-care system, especially in the
GOERZ
Prince George region, which has been a case study in mismanagement,” Netdeton said.
Harry Hufty, Northern Interior Regional Health Board director, also called the decision a “concerning matter” when “we’re already running at a $6-million deficit.”
“We feel strongly that we’re already underfunded, especially compared to the Thompson Health Region — similar in population, service and facilities — that is budgeted at $172 million while we receive $152 million, with no explanation,” Hufty said.
In a recent presentation to the government’s committee on finance and government service, Hufty said he “hammered home” the need to continue the $ll-million contracts gained last year to recruit and retain physicians and health professionals. “It’s essential to our ability to recruit and retain professionals we need in this region.”
He said although PGRH serves about two-thirds of the province as a referral and trauma centre, “it’s simply not funded as such. We do have to ensure PGRH is funded at the highest possible level. We are the hub of health care north of Kamloops.”
Richardson said he is concerned how projects like the PGRH redevelopment, Omenica Lodge, the mental-health centre and the purchase of an MRI and other equipment will be affected. “These are tough times we’re going into and there are no promises.”
Richardson said he’s also worried about the future of the Northern Medical Program for training doctors at UNBC.
“There’s high anxiety right now until we get that letter next week. Once we get it we can determine the impact and start planning,” he said.
“If the (anti-dumping duty) number was to come in at some outrageous level — and I can’t tell you what that is, but you’ll know when you see it — then I think all bets are off in terms of constructive resolution,” Canfor president and CEO David Emerson said in a conference call.
— See story on page 14
Social worker going to World Trade Center
by BERNICE TRICK Citizen staff
Prince George social worker Brent Goerz is going to ground zero in New York City to help people there deal with the emotional fallout from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The 33-year-old quick-response social worker at Prince George Regional Hospital has been selected to be part of a 19-member team of the Greater Love organization in the U.S. “We’re not sure at this point what all our work will include,” Goerz said this week. “Right now we’re looking at equipping and training people in grief response.”
He said he expects pastors of inner-city churches and leaders of other social organizations to be involved.
“A lot of community organizations are having to deal with the fallout — like lay people and pastors — working with parents and kids who have been impacted by the event,” said Goerz. “We’ll be teaching how to talk to children and teens about this crisis, and how to meet their emotional needs.” Goerz was invited to be part of the team by a friend in Memphis, Tenn., who is the clinical director for the team.
“I’m excited about the opportunity but I’m nervous and overwhelmed by the immense need,” he said.
He leaves P.G. Saturday and meets the team Sunday. “We’ll be working Monday to Friday, and HI fly home Oct. 13.”
Team members are paying their own way at this point. “We’re looking at ways people can contribute with tax receipts,” said Goerz, who invites anyone interested in his trip to e-mail him at: btgoerz@pgonline.com
River Ranch will flow someday: developer
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff
Construction of the River Ranch Resort south of Vanderhoof can be completed if mortgage financing is secured, says Mark Cramer, head of a company trying to develop the project.
The mortgage financing is necessary because the B.C. Securities Commission has frozen $2.3 million that had already been raised for the ranch, said Cramer, who heads a number of Prince George-based financial companies. The companies were suspended earlier this year from trading securities under an investigation into the sale of $13 million in investments, including for River Ranch Resort.
“Everything is set, except to complete the lodge,” Cramer told The Citizen in a wide-ranging interview this week.
“If we got the mortgage and we got it right away, we could complete it over the winter and be open next year. That would be nice if we could get mortgage financing, but I’ll tell you we have mortgage finance people look at it and say, ‘Holy smokes, you want us to finance this tiling after all of this?”’ Added Cramer: “Come hell or high water, we’re going to finish this project regardless of how difficult people make it for us to do.”
Cramer said he’s certain he’ll be cleared when the B.C. Securities Commission holds a hearing next April, but in the meantime, the commission’s temporary restrictions have “effectively” put him out of business.
Cramer, his son Michael and another planner, James Fortin, face allegations they sold high-risk investments to unsophisticated investors and misrepresented a large hotel was involved in the resort development. Cramer disputed both allegations this week, saying the high-risk investments were suitable for their clients. “We would have never put them in, if we didn’t think they were correct for them,” he said. “I’m looking forward to going to hearing on this one.” The B.C. Securities Commission — a watchdog agency at arm’s length from government — has suspended IDF Financial Services, Capital Financial Securities and Comprehensive Financial Services from promoting or selling securities, except mutual funds, until the hearing in April. Another seven financial planners had also been suspended, but they reached a settlement agreement with the commission in August.
There’s also been a cease-trade order on the investment vehicles used to raise money for the ranch since April 9.
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