Books help show kids the world /25

Steffi cheers on her man at U.S. Open /8

Eco-group Katrina death wants fishers toll likely arrested /5 to rise /15
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 80 CENTS (HOME DELIVERED: 57 CENTS A DAY)

New year of school kicks off today
by PAUL STRICK LA N D Citizen st ff a Students return to school today for a half day of classes, says superintendent Dick Chambers. Start times on this first day of school varies slightly from school to school, depending on bus schedules and other factors. "It's the normal start time for each school," Chambers said. "If parents aren't sure, they should consult with the school." Classes will be dismissed during the school's normal lunch hour, he said. Buses will run in the morning at the normal time and be ready for picking students up during the noon hour. "I'm looking forward to a great start, with higher enrolments than we expected," Chambers said. "We've got some good programs ready to proceed this year. Our facilities are in great shape. "I'm looking forward to getting started." Buses in most cases will run along the same routes and at the same times as last year. One change is that there has been an extension of a bus route in the Valleyview area in the Hart, said Jane Anderlini, transportation administrator. She reminded motorists to slow down in school zones. "Be aware that school buses are back on the road, and remember to stop for the buses' flashing lights because children are crossing the roads." ICBC and the RCMP have provided `Slow Down' signs that will be placed on the grounds of all schools in the city to remind motorists to observe the school-zone speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour, Anderlini added. After a short day Tuesday, students will return for a full day of classes on Wednesday.
Citizen photo by Dave Milne

ALWAYS AND FOREVER -- Country sensation Randy Travis took to the stage Monday night at CN Centre.

Labour issues cloud start of school year
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen st ff a A strike vote by teachers on September 21 is not the way a new school year is supposed to start, said local education spokespersons. Labour tension is not the climate parents prefer on the first day of classes. It is the same tension that existed the last day of school in June. The ongoing talks between the B.C. Teachers' Federation and the provincial government's bargaining agent, the B.C. Public School Employers' Association, took a mutually agreed-upon summer break. They resumed talks on Thursday, but local interests do not know, yet, what is going on at the table. "I haven't had an update on how things went. I don't know if the meetings went beyond Thursday," said Karen MacKay, president of the Prince George District Teachers' Association. "The negations are going on over the next couple of days. I am aware of that but not the content of what is at the table," said Shirley Bond, B.C.'s minister of education and a Prince George MLA. Both stressed that no one wishes to see a strike, and even though one is looming it is not at all a forgone conclusion, even if the strike vote comes back 100 per cent in favour of job action. "No, no, no, no, that does not trigger a strike," said MacKay. "It only gives us the legal standing we need, it is a bargaining tactic, any actual strike action would take awhile to come around. Things are now and for the foreseeable future going to be school as usual." The last three teacher contracts have been imposed by governments of the day and Bond says -- apart from any of the current issues -- it's a broken system. "I reviewed what happened in 2001 and this is virtually a carbon copy," she said. "Since then we have the Wright Report in front of government that suggests some changes and that is being considered. Right now we have a system in place and I want to see that fully utilized, but yes there is also a bigger problem with the model. This puts parents and families into uncertainty at a time when that is not appropriate, especially with a history of unsuccessful bargaining. It moves us to do something so school years can start off with a positive beginning. Fixing the system for all British Columbians is ultimately the government's role -- to fix the model that is broken." "We haven't had a negotiated contract in the last nine years," said MacKay. "It would be nice to have a negotiated settlement. That is what teachers are looking for. That's the way it is supposed to go." From a child's perspective, walking into class with a big smile and the butterflies of the first day of a new grade is the way it is supposed to go. On that, teachers and provincial negotiators do agree. -- See related st ory on page 5

Local unions stage Labour Day rally
Locked out Telus employees on the picket line were joined Monday by a couple of hundred union friends. A support rally was held, organized by the Prince George District Labour Council. Teachers, CBC workers (locked out themselves), mill workers and other union professionals came by to bolster the ranks of Telus employees on the line. "It was done to show support for us," said Ron Williams, local business agent for the Telecommunications Workers Union which represents about 300 employees in Prince George affected by the job action. "This really boosts the morale on our picket line and for CBC's people to know they have people behind them. It is really important to see this show of support. It is Labour Day after all." The rally was held on the sidewalks and rear parking lot behind the Telus building downtown, Monday afternoon. Crowds were estimated at about 300 people at any given time. Telus employees have been walking the picket line since they were locked out six weeks ago. Williams says it has been hard on the pickets to be out that long with no movement to show for it, but there is a lot more ahead, he fears. "There has been no movement at the table, nothing from the company is six weeks," he said. "Early on we told our members it could be six to nine months. We are in it for the long haul." Some have already left the picket lines for jobs elsewhere, but Williams says the membership was given plenty of warning so many stockpiled resources to supplement their picket pay while they are locked out. Williams says the company has security guards watching their pickets at all times and even video taping them on occasion. "They (security) told us they were going to leave us alone today," he said. The event was peaceful and was aided by fine weather. Those assembled were treated to hotdogs, doughnuts and other refreshments and a warm atmosphere when the gathering disbanded in the early afternoon. Telus pickets will be back up at 5 a.m. today as they are every morning.

High : 20 Low : 6 page 2

free

shop !
FOR A YEAR CONTEST!

City hall hoists rainbow flag as part of gay pride events
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen st ff a The rainbow banner that is the symbol of gay pride around the world was flying its colours at city hall, this weekend. This is in stark contrast to the position taken by mayor and council in past years regarding acknowledging gay pride festivities. GALA North, the city's foremost gay and lesbian advocacy group, had been trying for years to have the city sign a proclamation supporting Gay Pride events the first week of each September. That was done up to 1999 but refused from then on, making the scene of the gay flag flying over City Hall surprising for some. "We reached an agreement with GALA North (and) this is the second year it has flown," said Mayor Colin Kinsley, one of the most vocal opponents of the proclamation in years gone by. He said the proclamation was politically charged and not all-inclusive in its wording. "We had discussions with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, who instructed us to fly the flag and issue a proclamation," said Kinsley. "I don't remember the details exactly, but that is what generally happened. So this year the flag went up Thursday or Friday." Kinsley says he still thinks the GALA North position on gay pride celebrations strikes a political pose more than an all-inclusive social one, which would be his preference, but "I have no hard feelings that we are recognizing gay pride in this way," he said. Kinsley himself did not sign the proclamation as that was done by an acting mayor. He insists that his "difference of opinion" is over certain political issues, not with homosexual residents. "The gay people of this city have nothing to fear from me," he said. "I will defend their rights and stand up for them against discrimination. They are equal members of our society."
Citizen photo by Dave Milne

INDEX
Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . . . 18 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . . . 3,5,13 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . 20-23 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . 17 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,15

0

58307

00100

8

The rainbow banner flew over city hall over the long weekend to help mark gay pride festivities in the city.

SWITCHBOARD: 562-2441

CLASSIFIED: 562-6666

READER SALES: 562-3301