Retired greyhounds seek homes /16

Seahawks prepare for big game /12

Ford slashing thousands of jobs to cut losses /15

Saudis, Chinese sign energy agreement /22
80 CENTS (HOME DELIVERED: 59 CENTS A DAY)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2006

PRINCE GEORGEPEACE RIVER
Jay HILL

Harper in; Martin resigns
OTTAWA (CP) -- Canadians have said goodbye to 12 years of Liberal rule and hello to a Conservative future, trusting Stephen Harper to deliver on his promise of squeaky-clean government, a crackdown on crime, and lower taxes. But they've also put the Tories on a tight leash, holding them to minority win in Monday's election -- meaning Harper will have to rely on the support of at least one opposition party to get anything done. The Tory leader won the election aided by badly needed gains in Ontario and a Liberal collapse of historic proportions in Quebec. He also dealt a political death blow to Prime Minister Paul Martin, who immediately announced he will step down as Liberal leader shortly, triggering a race to lead the party. Harper was greeted by jubilant crowd of supporters in Calgary. "Tonight friends, our great country has voted for change and Canadians have asked our party to take the lead in delivering that change," he said. "We will honour your trust, we will deliver on our commitments." Martin, 67, urged Liberals to be proud of the party's accomplishments -- and bide their time. "We not only believed, we acted on the belief that Canada is strongest as a nation and we endeavoured to ensure that no Canadian is ever left behind," he said in his Quebec riding of LaSalle-Emard. "There will be another chance, there will be another time." -- See LIBERALS on page 5

CONSERVATIVE
Votes: 22,409 59.9% of popular vote

i

OTHER CANDIDATES
Malcolm CROCKETT Nathan BAUDER

Harris returned for fifth term
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen staff Dick Harris has won his fifth consecutive election in the Prince George region, but for the first time in his life he will be going to Ottawa as a member of government. His overall percentage of the vote, 44, was less than in the past, but the margin between himself and his closest challenger was greater than the last election. More than 9,000 votes separated him from Liberal Simon Yu and the NDP's Alfred Trudeau, who finished in a near dead heat for second and third respectively, taking more than 10,000 votes each. "We're going to get a chance to put into reality many parts of the Conservative platform," Harris said at his victory party. Some of the more controversial planks they campaigned on, however, like closing down the much-maligned gun registry, might not happen with such a slim minority government. Harris said he felt "we can find 30 more votes out there" to end the registry, but each and every bit of legislation would depend on negotiation. It is important for him and for the Conservatives, he said, to strike up a good working relationship with the other parties in the House because Canadians expected a functional Parliament after 18 months of seemingly daily turmoil. The question of interest on the lips of many Harris followers was where he might be positioned in a Stephen Harper government that has 124 MPs to slot into a handful of cabinet positions. Harris is one of the longest serving members in the Conservatives' caucus, along with colleague Jay Hill, but Hill is already the party's House leader

NDP
Votes: 6,363 17.0% of popular vote

LIBERAL
Votes: 5,895 15.8% of popular vote

Hilary CROWLEY

Donna YOUNG

GREEN
Votes: 2,400 6.4% of popular vote

IND.
Votes: 359 1.0% of popular vote

CARIBOOPRINCE GEORGE
Dick HARRIS

Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

Dick Harris arrives at his victory party Monday evening at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club. Harris was returned as MP for Cariboo-Prince George.
and acknowledged pointman for Harper. Harris has been party whip in days gone by, but has not been high in the Conservative batting order lately. Har r is g r inned and shr ugged at t he thought of a cabinet post. "It's too soon to tell," he said. "I have a billion dollars in beetle money coming out here. I wouldn't mind being the point man on that ... No one in our caucus knows the beetle issue like me." The one incredulity for Harris was the strong showing by the Liberals. In spite of the multi-million-dollar sponsorship scandal and a campaign by Liberal leader Paul Martin that did not resonate well on the national stage. "I just can't imagine it," Harris said, shaking his head. "I can't believe how a vote for the Liberals wasn't seen as a vote for corruption." -- See CONTINUED on page 3

CONSERVATIVE
Votes: 19,629 44.9% of popular vote

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OTHER CANDIDATES
Simon YU Alfred TRUDEAU

Voters endorse Hill
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff Conservative Jay Hill easily won his Peace River-Prince George riding for a fifth successive term, helping his party win a minority government Monday. Hill beat out the nearest candidate by more than 15,000 votes. After nearly two decades on the outside -- Hill helped the Reform Party in its early days in the late-80s -- he will be on the inside of government. "It's exciting, I'm feeling relieved, vindicated to a certain extent," said Hill. "There's been naysayers every step of the way saying, `You'll never win government.'" Hill, who was leader Stephen Harper's house leader, wouldn't say if there was any word on a cabinet post. While Hill said he was somewhat disappointed his party -- which had been leading in the polls for weeks -- hadn't secured a majority government, he was pleased with the party's new toehold in Quebec and improvement in Ontario. The party won no seats in Quebec in the 2004 election, and improved to 10 this time. In Ontario, the Conservatives won 40 seats, an increase of 17, but still finished second behind the Liberals, with 54 seats. The Conservatives slipped in B.C., dropping to 17 from 22, where the NDP made a gain to 10 seats from five. Hill said he believes the Conservatives have a better chance of remaining in power as a minority government because of two key differences over the Liberals. The minority Liberal government lasted 18 months. Hill said there's no "residual" arrogance in the new Conservative party, and it's not mired in scandal. He said as a result, the Conservatives will be able to focus on governing. "We fought hard to build this party, bring it together and win the trust of Canadians, and part of that trust is to make Parliament work," he said from his hometown of Fort St. John. Hill also said the Conservatives will be able to work with other parties in Parliament, necessary to pass legislation and stay in power. "We're willing to work with all parties on an issue-by-issue basis," he said. -- See NORTHERN on page 3

LIBERAL
Votes: 10,509 24.1% of popular vote

NDP
Votes: 10,129 23.2% of popular vote

Alex BRACEWELL

Chris KEMPLING

GREEN
Votes: 2,416 5.5% of popular vote

CHP
Votes: 505 1.2% of popular vote

Bev COLLINS

Carol Lee CHAPMAN

CAP
Votes: 279 0.6% of popular vote

ML
Votes: 109 0.2% of popular vote

Don ROBERTS

FPNP
Votes: 95 0.2% of popular vote

Alaska Highway News photo

Jay Hill thanks supporters Monday in Fort St. John after being returned as MP for Prince George-Peace River.

High : 5 Low : -3 page 2

City council plans KGV commemoration
by MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff City council backed away Monday from a proposal to restore the original section of the old King George V elementary school at a cost of around $4 million. Instead, council endorsed a two-part motion from Coun. Don Zurowski to:  Work with the school district to preserve some components of the building and integrate them into the design of the new Duchess Park secondary school.  Create an on-site park commemorating KGV with sculptural characteristics and interpretive features. Both parts were including in a report from the community heritage commission on ways to preserve memory of the school -- namely the 1922 wing, which a consultant said held historical significance. Zurowski said c r e a t i n g a p a rk would also help meet the need for KINSLEY greenspace in the Crescents neighbourhood, while also celebrating the history of education on that site. Council had delayed making a decision for two weeks so city representatives could meet with Education Minister Shirley Bond to see if she could earmark any money for the proposal. In a meeting Thursday with Coun. Don Bassermann, Bond said that would not be possible, saying her mandate is edZUROWSKI ucation not preservation. However, Bond did offer to help arrange meetings with other government ministries or agencies. Cost of restoring the original 1922 wing of the building has been pegged at between $2 million and $4 million. However, Mayor Colin Kinsley contended $4 million would be on the low side given the rising cost of construction materials. He also felt that while the building held historical significance, it lacked architectural merit. "I think this is the best we can do with the situation," Kinsley said of Zurowski's motion. "I have faith in the relationship we have with the school district and the board and the staff that every effort will be made to commemorate this memory in a very, very classy and meaningful way." The school district, meanwhile, n e e d s to get a te n d e r fo r a n ew Duchess Park secondary school awarded by April 1 to get funding from the provincial government.

INDEX
Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . . . 16 Business . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-24 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . .3,5,13,14 Classifi ed . . . . . . . . . . .19-21 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . 17 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,6,7,14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-12 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

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