TERRACE
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VOL. 25 NO. 2
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Treaty talks lack fish deal NEGOTIATIONS LEADING toward treaties for Kitselas and Kitsumkalum lack a crucial element – provisions covering the right to fish. And while negotiations are continuing without fish provisions, there won’t be any final treaties until fishing rights are included, say those involved in various aspects of land claims negotiations within B.C. A key player in the effort to negotiate treaties in B.C. says fish aren’t included because the federal government is waiting for the results of the Cohen Commission, which
is examining the decline of the Fraser River sockeye fishery. Whatever comes from the commission’s recommendations and how they are accepted by the federal government will then guide its policy on fishing entitlements, says Sophie Pierre, chair of the BC Treaty Commission, which is a neutral body that oversees treaty talks. But it’s going on three years since the Cohen Commission was formed and it could be several years yet before the federal government comes up with a fisheries policy once
the commission submits its final report this fall, she says. “It is frustrating,” said Pierre. “It is all well and good to have these studies but in the meantime, negotiations have to carry on.” She said fish are such an important part of aboriginal history, culture and way of life that it is impossible to consider the idea of negotiating a treaty without including details as to how the fishery will be managed. “Clearly you can’t have a treaty without fish,” Pierre continued. “When we ask the federal negotiators, they can’t tell us any-
thing except they are frustrated as well.” What the federal government has done is suggest that fish provisions are carved out and only dealt with after a final agreement has been reached. And some First Nations are deferring fish provisions as they work they toward final agreements. But neither option is ultimately workable, says Pierre. “Sooner or later you will need to address fish,” she said.
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City sticks with roadwork plan BY LAUREN BENN
MARGARET SPEIRS PHOTO
■ Speaking out ROSALIE GAGNE, Chantal Poulin, Jena Callbreath and Gabriel Gagne show their posters to raise awareness about Joseph Kony, a guerrilla group leader, who has been accused with his Lord’s Resistance Army of abducting children to be soldiers in Africa. Several Jack Cook students held their posters up for drivers and pedestrians to see on the corner of Sparks St. and Lakelse Ave. April 20.
THE CITY of Terrace is sticking to its plan to fix up more roads than first anticipated. “We’ve just had roads that have been so deteriorated over the years here,” said mayor Dave Pernarowski of the move to add projects this year that had at first been slated for future years. “We just need to get in and jump on it.” The city’s draft budget contains $2.5 million for projects involving either repaving or total road reconstruction. The largest amount, $1.1 million, will be spent on paving and pulverizing in which a machine chews up existing asphalt and part of the road base which is then used to form a new base for asphalt. The roads to be pulverized include two blocks of Agar Ave. from Molitor St. to Braun St., the 4600 and 4700 blocks of Straume Ave. and McConnell Ave. on the bench from Marshall St. west to Kalum Lake Drive. “We’ve got a whole bunch of them (this year),” said the city’s roads foreman Henry Craveiro. “We try to pick roads where we feel the base is suitable.” By suitable, Craveiro is talking about roads with a base that needs minimal work before pavement can be laid, either in the form of pulverizing and grinding into the base, or milling the top layer of asphalt and laying on top of it. “We call it a mill and fill,” said Craveiro. Another $635,255 will be spent on milling a road’s surface and putting on a fresh asphalt overlay. Locations for this work include Lakelse Ave. from Eby St. to Emerson St., Kalum St. from Lakelse Ave. to Park St. in addition to a small bit of Sparks St. in that area, and Sparks St. from Lakelse Ave. to Lazelle Ave. There is one major road reconstruction project this year and it’s taking place in the Horseshoe on the 4500 Block of Scott Ave. from Kalum St. to Hanson Rd. This will also involve work on the underlying water lines.
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End of an era
Chosen one
Strong swimmers
Longtime bedding plant nursery owner says farewell to her business \COMMUNITY A18
Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen named opposition House leader \NEWS A16
Terrace Bluebacks attend a swim meet in Prince George \SPORTS 30