Saturday, November 28, 1992 @ B.C. Hydro will seek increase despite caps Wi West Kootenay Power awaits Crown corporation’s next move Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER Power costs for area residents will rise if B.C. Hydro rates are increased. That message came from West Koote- nay Power’s Mike Bradshaw Tuesday. The director of community and public affairs was reacting to the Nov. 13 an- nouncement of rate caps for B.C. Hydro. A news release from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources called for a rate cap of one per cent above the inflation rate for this fiscal year and two points in future years. Peter McMullan, Hydro’s manager of corporate communications, said the rate caps do not mean B.C. Hydro is about to apply for an increase. But he said that application will come. “T can’t say when that application will be made,” McMullan said. “It could be January, February, March or April. But it’s like summer, you know it’s going to come.” Bradshaw said “there’s no question” WKP’s rates would go up if B.C. Hydro re- ceives approval to increase its’ water rates. “The ideal situation would be if we had the luxury of having our own dams and we could generate what power we need,” Bradshaw said. Of its annual power supply, WKP pur- chases 40 per cent from Cominco, self-pro- duces 55 per cent and buys the remaining five per cent from B.C. Hydro, according to Bradshaw. He said the costs of those three sources are pooled together. “(B.C. Hydro’s) increases are having a tremendous impact on the price of our electricity,” Bradshaw said. McMullan said there have been three rate increases in the past four years. He said rates went up three per cent in 1989, 1.5 per cent in 1990 and another 1.5 per cent in 1991. And although B.C. Hydro’s rates have not gone up in 1992, there have been in- creases by other means. McMullan said it was twofold — a 1.64 per cent water rental increase in April and a corporate tax in August. The two combined for an average 3.7 per cent increase, McMullan said. “The water rental increase in known as a flow-through increase,” McMullan said. “In other words, we are given a tax in- crease and we flow it on through to you.” Bradshaw said that impacts WKP. “It would increase their cost to us, and we would have to pass that on to our cus- tomers,” Bradshaw said. And although B.C. Hydro has not ap- plied to increase its rates, Bradshaw said power bills could rise from an “indirect tax increase.” Bradshaw said WKP’s facilities have been reassessed, and the latest increase he was aware of would mean that an ex- tra $1 million per year burden might be placed on its 110,000 customers. BEDWETTING CAN BE STOPPED For FREE booklet, send name, address, phone, age of enuretic to: THE ENURESIS CENTER 1315 Pembina Highway, Winnipeg, Man. R3T 5S3 WATERBED... + Heaters + Liners « Patch Kits + Pillows * Conditioner SHEEP SKIN @ Saturday, November 28, 1992 AroundTOWN Our person for. Our People Corinne Jackson 365-7266 SOMALIA NEEDS OUR HELP According to the International Red Cross, their relief campaign to Somalia is the largest effort in the organizations history, but much more work is needed. Red Cross speakers OurPEOPLE Corinne Jackson NEWS REPORTER astlegar residents have a new addition to their family. It’s not a bouncing baby boy, and it’s not a giggling little girl. Instead, Castlegar delegates have brought home a piece of paper that links us toa community of almost 400,000 people. The adoption ceremony with Yueyang, China, if you can call it that, took place Oct. 21. Those in attendance included Mayor Audrey Moore, Celgar Pulp Co.’s General Manager Jim Browne, Selkirk College President Leo Perra and Castlegar extends its worldwide roots with Stanley Humphries Secondary School students, Dr. Li explained the art of Chinese painting. Kinakin says, students who attended the class were in awe and had learned to appreciate something new. “The more we can do of that . the better,” he says. “We’re living in a global village. students the ability to respect them to assimilate into that global village.” Now that our new twin has been formally recognized, Fleet says she hopes the community Honorary Chairman of Yueyang Teacher’s College Elizabeth Fleet. important to the area,” he explains. But continuing, Browne, says “I’ve will take over from here and do all they can to welcome Castlegar’s new “Anything that would give our other cultures makes it easier for always travelled a fair bit as a personal addition. choice.” “I hope the word will get around that we According to Browne, each trip is a can build some very positive things,” Fleet learning experience which creates “a says. softness in any treatment of people. “I would encourage any interaction with Although our new sister city needs our help, we have a lot to gain from the relationship too, delegates say. According to Moore, while the relationship will extend to economics, are available to come and talk with local groups or school classes. As well, THROWS Blueberry Creek will go ahead with fire hall eg Scott David Harrison voting 88 per cent in favor of a Cook said the Blueberry EDITOR The Blueberry Creek Fire Commission will go ahead with the construction of its hall. Fire Commissioner Bill Cook confirmed that Blueber- ry Creek residents will get the hall they voted for, despite the uncertainty of government funding. “If we’re going to have fire protection, we’re going to have to do it ourselves,” Cook said. Blueberry Creek endorsed a fire hall referendum Sept. 12, plan which would see it bor- row $140,000 for construction. That vote, however, was con- tingent on the government kicking in a $90,000 grant to help offset construction costs. That $90,000 grant is in limbo, though, subject to the scrutiny of provincial govern- ment cutbacks. “The loss of the government funds is definitely disappoint- ing but we're still going ahead with the project,” said Cook, pointing to an April construc- tion date. Creek Fire Commission is cur- rently considering two struc- tures — scaled-down versions of the Crescent Valley and Passmore Fire Halls. He said until further funding is found, Blueberry Creek residents can expect a bare-bones hall with a completion date of Septem- ber 1993. “We can afford to build something that will lock up and house the equipment, but we are hoping that it will be completed with further fund- ing,” he said. So, too, is the Regional Dis- trict of Central Kootenay’s As- sistant Administrator Barry Baldigara. Because’ the provincial government axed its GO B.C. funding program in 1991, Baldigara said com- pletion of a Blueberry Creek fire hall may be contingent on Victoria’s generosity. He said the RDCK would apply to the newly-established Community Facilities Pro- gram in the hopes of retrieving the $90,000 grant. Baldigara said the RDCK will make the grant application in April. 735 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar 365-5689 Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Service & Installation Second to None! special day. Thank You I want to say a big thank you to my family and friends, Also the Fiddlers for making my birthday such a LIZZIE LATTA rE N 365-5304 The Perfect way rv) to feed your family! Buy a family pak of golden delicious chicken, add fries, jojo's and salads and you have a full meal that is sure to please the Cee whole family. 2816 Columbia Ave. Castlegar Savings Credit Union is able to assist you with getting the best return for your investment dollars. For more details, contact either location of CASTLEGAR SAVINGS CREDIT UNION "Your Community Financial Centre” eT 601-18th St. 3026 Hwy. 6 Slocan Park 226-7212 Bc iw Environment 732-9253 GREATER VANCOUVER or 1-800-667-4321 s This Where Your Environmental Responsibility Ends? The blue box is just one way to reduce waste. Reducing and reusing are even better ones. For more information call the B.C. Recycling Hotline 100 per cent of all donations are going to the relief effort. Donations can be sent to the Red Cross at 625 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, B.C., VIN 1G9. DEALING WITHA DISABILITY A video presentation on attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity is being presented by the Castlegar chapter of the Learning Disabilities Association. The event is planned for Dec. 2 at Kinnaird Middle School for & 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. PUBLIC DISCUSSION Woodland Park Elementary is hosting an evening discussion entitled “How does a death affect my child.” The Dec. 1 talk begins at 7 p.m. and is open to the public, For more information call B. Parks at 365-8301. there is a lot more important reasons for the twinning. “To have knowledge and understanding is to have tolerance for people’s differences,” Moore says. “I think it just enriches everybody in understanding and knowing about what makes the world go round. “Citizens will have to learn about others if we’re going to live in peace and tranquility,” she says. he same comments can be heard by any of the other delegates, including Browne. Calling himself just a “small businessman,” Browne says the possibility of economic returns as a result of the twinning is there, but a much larger reward is to be gained. If city twinning works, Celgar may supply Yueyang’s pulp needs in the future, he says, pointing to the city’s already existing paper mill. “Even if we weren’t selling to them, we’d get a flow of information of what's Mayor Audrey Moore and Yueyang Mayor Ouyang Song sign a twinning Children in a Yueyang kindergarten were part of the welcoming “If we increase that quotient anywhere it’s bound to have a positive impact,” he adds. greeing that the ommunity’s economic future looks better with increased international connections, Mickey Kinakin feels students will be a major beneficiary. The School District No. 9 trustee points to the recent visit of Yueyang Teachers’ College president Dr. Li Ling Yan as a positive first step in introducing Castlegar students to | Chinese culture. ' During his visit other cultures. 6¢ Tf that involves meeting people here, that’s a step in the right direction.” agreement in hope that the relationship will create understanding . committee when delegates from their new sister city arrived.