PRINCE GEORGE
  High today: 1 Low tonight: -8 Details page 2
Citizen
 Serving the Central Interior since 1916
 THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2002
School shortfall continues to rise
                                                                                          by PAUL STRICKLAND Citizen staff
    School District 57 will submit a balanced budget to the Ministry of Education even though it may have to take dramatic measures to meet an expected $9.1-million shortfall, says superintendent Dick Chambers.
    Education minister Christy Clark said school districts must submit balanced budgets by the new June 30 deadline. She emphasized that no deficit budgets will be accepted.
    “It is the law that boards have to submit a balanced budget unless they get ministry approval to do otherwise,” Chambers said.
    However, each time the board receives a new communication from the ministry about funding for next year, the expected shortfall for the 2002-03 fiscal year grows.
    At their February meeting, trustees were told the district would likely face a $7.2-miilion shortfall for the next fiscal year. After SD 57 officials travelled to Vancouver March 1 to receive the details of their funding formula and allocations for next year, they learned the shortfall for 2002-03 would likely climb to $8.6 million.
    Then SD 57 administration received a letter from Clark, stating the government will cover the 50% increase in Medical Services Plan premiums
  for district employees only until June. After that, the district will be responsible for covering the $500,000 cost, Chambers said. As a result, the shortfall for the 2002-03 is now $9.1 million.
    “A challenge of that magnitude is going to require dramatic measures,” Chambers said. “And it isn’t just this year. We’ll have a similar challenge next year, when we anticipate a similar amount to be required to be cut,” he continued. “The third year, 2005-06, we anticipate about two-thirds of that amount will have to be cut. It’s an extraordinary challenge.”
    Secretary-treasurer Bryan Mix will make a brief presentation to the school board March 26 giving details of the final estimate of what the shortfall will be for the approaching new fiscal year, and those details will be referred to the board’s expanded committee of the whole on budget matters for deliberations.
    In late February, it had been expected that 119 staff from all levels would have to be laid off to meet a $7.2-million shortfall. Mix said he could not give an exact figure of staff reductions required to deal with a shortfall of around $9 million.
    “There might be other approaches besides people where we will be able to make savings in some areas,” Mix said. “Still, it will be lots.”
Layoffs start at CNC
                                                                                                 by BERNICE TRICK Citizen staff
    Several College of New Caledonia faculty members were issued layoff notices Wednesday and more are expected today. Al Idiens, economics instructor, said he is expecting his pink slip today.
    “I know several have already received them in the business division,” said Idiens, who didn’t have an exact number. “This doesn’t necessarily mean that these people will lose their jobs. What it does is put CNC in a position when it can institute layoffs as needed — probably July,” said Idiens.
    Dr. Terry Weninger, CNC president, said earlier the collective agreement process requires layoff decisions to take place before March 31, which is the end of the fiscal year. He said the collective agreement requires looking at alternate strategies and exercising bumping rights, and that could delay final outcomes to July 31.
    It’s all part of a restructuring plan to address a $1.2-million deficit faced annually by CNC.
    But Weninger said at the time the details could not be made public out of respect for individuals affected and to comply with requirements of the collective agreement.
    Weninger said CNC had issued about 30 layoffs and reduced hours in other case prior to March 1.
    The staff cuts were made mainly in programs that had been funded by the provincial government, which cut $8 million that been used for special projects like the summer works program and institution-based training.
    Idiens, who’s been working under a two-year contract that expires in April, said he’s been anticipating his notice for some time.
    “But there’s still a little pain that goes with it. I enjoy more than anything teaching students and 1 just hope that I don’t have to change careers.”
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  New Air Canada jets ready to take flight
                                                                                          by KAREN KWAN Citizen staff
   Air Canada Regional will begin serving Prince George with more “passenger-friendly” jet aircraft next month, when the airline retires its aging fleet of Fokker F28s.
   Starting April 7, four British Aerospace 146 jets will fly from the city, in addition to one of the older jets. The announcement reverses plans last year to phase out jet service to Prince George.
   “The 146 is far superior for comfort,” said Peter McCart, regional manager of commercial and community relations. Passengers should notice a marked difference, with a wider aisle, roomier seats and a quieter engine, said McCart, who spoke at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday. Duration of flights will not be affected, he added.
   A 76-seat aircraft, the British Aerospace also offers eight executive-class seats, whereas the 63-seat F28 consists entirely of economy-class space.
   McCart said the newer jets will serve the city “until further notice.”
   A new, direct route between Prince George and Fort St. John, served by the BA146, was also announced Wednesday. Beginning April 7, the airline will offer one daily round-trip flight between the communities. Currently, passengers flying between the two must connect through Vancouver.
   The flight is scheduled to leave Prince George around 1 p.m., with an hour turn-round time, meaning same-day return isn’t feasible. “Eventually, it will evolve into a more business-oriented schedule, leaving in the morning and returning in the evening,” McCart said.
   Last year, the city lost almost one-third of its direct air links after Air Canada Regional dropped six daily flights, as part of a massive downsizing undertaken by parent company Air Canada.
   In September, the airline said it would bring in Dash-8 turbo-prop service to Prince George when it grounded its entire jet fleet by the end of 2002.
SO CENTS (HOME DELIVERED: 54 CENTS
                                                                                     Citizen photo by Brent Braaten
                                                       Paris Garcia, 10-months-old, received help from Northern B.C. Friends of Children.
 Healing heart
 Friends of Children helps local infant
                                                                                                 by BERNICE TRICK Citizen staff
    Little Paris Garcia is tiny for her age, but she’s catching up fast.
    Last November, the 10-month-old from Prince George underwent surgery for a “substantial-sized” hole in her heart, said Paris’s mother, Carol.
    “Her condition was causing the blood to be circulated back into her lungs instead of throughout the body, so she didn’t get the proper oxygen or nutrients. Her lungs were working too hard, but they’ve started to get back to normal,” said Carol.
    The problems began when Paris had her six-week checkup.
    “Doctors noticed a heart murmur,” said Carol, explaining a series of tests followed.
    Paris was then referred to a cardiologist from Vancouver who comes to P.G. several times a year, and he said she would need heart surgery, which took place on Nov. 1, 2001.
    “Everything went well. Doctors stitched a permanent patch over the hole, and now, four months later, she’s starting to gain weight,”* said CaroL
                                                                                      Carol and Victor, Paris’s dad, are sharing
  their story to promote awareness of how the Northern B.C. Friends of Children reaches out to help children needing medical help away from home.
    “Our financial position was difficult at the time we were told Paris would need heart surgery at the B.C. Children’s Hospital,” said Carol, explaining Victor had a hip replacement and had been off work for some time.
    “That’s when we went to Friends of Children and they helped us with travelling arrangements and accommodations at Easter Seal House. Without them we would have been hard pressed to even get to Vancouver,” said Carol who, with Victor, spent two weeks in Vancouver.
    “I want people to know that Friends of Children is here to help, and 1 want the people to know that when they donate to Friends of Children, you know what the money will be used for.”
    ■ Northern B.C. Friends of Children will be holding its third annual Kiwanis/Friends for Children Golf Classic on May 31 at Aberdeen Glen Golf Course.
    Individuals or organizations interested in sponsoring a portion of this sell-out event can call the office at 564-2217.
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