Comparing modern Casablanca to the legendary movie /35
SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 2006

Residents keep Rick Hansen's dream alive /13

New books offer parenting tips /42

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Forest sector safety falls through cracks, inspections discover
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff WorkSafe BC has found there are gaps on who is responsible for safety at forestry worksites in B.C., as well as issues around training and supervision, following more than 300 inspections this year. The inspections were part of the agency's forest compliance strategy, launched in January, in the wake of one of the worst year for forest worker deaths in the past two decades. In 2005, 43 forest sector workers were killed on the job. Most of the worksites visited by WorkSafe BC were operated by more than one employer, yet officers found only 63 per cent had written agreements designating prime contractors responsible for the co-ordination of health and safety on the site. And alarmingly, said WorkSafe, 24 per cent of interviewed workers reported that they hadn't received adequate safety training for either the work they were doing, or the equipment they were using. Another 17 per cent of workers were not supervised. "Our investigation and inspection activities have confirmed that the root causes of most forestry accidents are the same today as they were 75 years ago -- a lack of adequate supervision, training and safety planning," said Betty Pirs, executive director of prevention for WorkSafe BC. She said the new compliance strategy will increase the awareness of the different players responsibilities and ensure all parties are held accountable for their safety performance. "And that means looking beyond individual worksite," said Pirs. "WorkSafe BC will follow the line of accountability wherever it leads -- from logging camp to the corporate boardroom," she said. For example, Pirs said WorkSafe believes there's an incomplete understanding of what is the role of the prime contractor, and what it means to accept that role. The land owner or tenure holder, usually a forest company, must also ensure that prime contractors have the capacity to undertake the job, she said. -- See FEWER on page 3

Citizen photo by Dave Milne

ON THE WATCH -- A bald eagle sits on its nest near Cluculz Lake. The same nesting pair has been returning to this nest for many years and has produced two eaglets each year. The new chicks should hatch soon.

Federal cutbacks threaten soup bus program
by STEPHANIE MORGAN Citizen staff The local Community Linkage Soup Bus program may become a thing of the past, thanks to budget cuts to the National Homelessness Initiative. The federal government cut funding by 30 per cent, affecting programs across the country. In Prince George, the $13,800 normally granted to the local program is gone. "It definitely cannot run at full capacity," said Earl Lambert, organizer of a fundraising initiative at Carrier Sekani Family Services to keep the bus on the road. Lambert said $20,000 needs to be raised locally to continue the program. "Up to this point right now we've raised $6,100. Any donations from individuals, $10, $20, whatever. It all adds up." Carrier Sekani, along with the Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association, are holding a fundraising event July 18 at the Roll-a-Dome. The association applied for a social grant from city council, but was denied because food banks do not qualify for the social grants. Though the goal may be to raise money, it is also to raise awareness regarding homelessness. "With a decrease to this year's budget, I feel it would be great for the community to assist in finding solutions," Lambert said. Homelessness is a major issue not only locally, but across the province. The soup bus program assists the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless. The bus grants 575 meals a week. Last year there were about 29,900 meals handed out. "I think one of the major concerns with the homelessness program is that without it there is a great deal of affect to the children of the community, because many of the people that come to our program have children," said Megan Hunt, a Carrier Sekani family support worker. "I'm confident that the Prince George business community, and local service providers are committed to ensuring that services to those in need continue," Lambert said. Entertainment at the fundraiser will be provided by aboriginal country singer Mike Gouchie, two-time Juno nominee Marcel Gagnon, and there will be a theatrical performance from local troupe Street Spirits Theatre Company. The dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. with entertainment following at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75 for the dinner and entertainment or just $25 for the entertainment; tickets can be purchased at both Carrier Sekani Family Services and the aboriginal employment offices. Should you wish to donate or assist with the event contact Lambert at 5611199, or by email earl@csfs.org.

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Visit impresses research group
by MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff Any illusions that Prince George is still a "dirty mill town" were erased for 48 representatives of the National Research Council, who attended three major conferences in the city this week, says their chaperone. Not only did they encounter some cutting edge technology and a first-rate university, but also a surprisingly livable city, said Michael Kerr, who co-ordinated the NRC's industrial research assistance program in Prince George. "They were really quite surprised," said Kerr, who is also the president of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. The group, who were mainly from the Lower Mainland area, was drawn here by the fact that Forest Expo and conferences on bioenergy and geographic information systems were being held in the city. "Forty of the 48 had never been to Prince George and the other eight hadn't been here for years," Kerr said. "And what they were looking for was what's the future, where technology is going." Twenty-one were here for the bioenergy conference and 10 for the GIS conference. With the help of a rented school bus, Kerr took them on tours of Canfor's pulp mill and cogeneration plant, the Brink Forest Products fingerjoint plant and the Pacific BioEnergy Corp. pellet plant. -- See UNBC on page 3

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INDEX
Ann Landers . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Business . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-24 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . . .3,5,13 Classifi ed . . . . . . . . . . .17-20 Comics . . . . . . . . . . .32,43,44 Coming Events . . . . . . . . . . 30 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . 31 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-12 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,28

Citizen photo by Dave Milne

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RACE FOR THE BAG -- Will MacFarlane from the TAPS (Transitional Alternative Program: Secondary) team tries to beat Duchess Park secondary school shortstop Mark Zacharuk back to second during the 17th annual alternative education softball tournament Friday at Freeman Park. Student teams came from all the school district's alternate programs, said Ivan Strom, vice-principal of community alternative programs.

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