WEDNESDAY November 1, 1995 Vol. 5, No. 50 ghey awn alanis, tt x bh Monday night. ~ KAREN KERKHOFF BUSINESS SUNNY Weather Faculty gives notice Talks break down between instructors, board s—in the previous contract. Sun Staff “Last year, there was a zero per cent increase. The Selkirk College has been served 72-hour strike notice. The notice was served Monday after the Selkirk College Faculty Association and the college board came to no agreement during contract talks last week. In an earlier interview, SCFA president Bev Onishak told The Castlegar Sun the college board said it’s unprepared to agree to a 2.8 per cent year before it was 1.8 per cent. We've been getting less than inflation.” Jim Ford, chief negotiator for SCFA, said the out- standing issues are job security and inflation protec- tion. “The concerns about job security and inflation pr ion are with seven other colleges who are part of a synchronized init strategy.” The SCFA has been without a contract since The Maple Leaf Forever - Sandy Lalonde shows her support for Canada: by putting a flag on her work counter. Lalonde, a native of Buckingham, Quebec, organized a Red and White Day at work Friday. Her efforts and those of other Canadians paid off as Quebec voters rej jected independence by a narrow margin SUN STAFF PHOTO Trent Bancarz increase March 31. d Onischak That's totally plait lly ¢ ing ii lack of increas- aly 1g KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff After four months of negotia- tions between the Communal Doukhobors of the New Settle- ment and the B.C. government, a memorandum of understanding has been reached. Zak Ackerman, a member of the New Settlement negotiating team, said the agreement marks an historic milestone between the people and the government. “J believe this is an historic muve-“Phe~ government “is respecting the Doukhobor faith and culture. Until now, the Doukhobors in Canada have just been stomped on.” The negotiations have put to rest friction between a g Seventy. the occupied land will be trans- ferred from the government to the society. The society will then pay fees to the government for “services,” said Ackerman. This, he explained, is “in keeping with the ‘I believe this is a his- toric move. Until now, the Doukhobors in Canada have just been stomped on.' — ZAK ACKERMAN New Settlement spokesman -two hours after the notice is served, the SCFA will be in a legal position to strike. Doukhobors, province reach deal Doukhobors than “ownership.” “The congregation will form a land stewardship by "Grace of God’ which is a form of occupa- tion which does not represent or imply ownership and integrates the land and people into a rela- tionship that enhances humanity and earth alike rather than exploiting one to the benefit of Ackerman added the agreement satisfies legal requirements regard- ing tenure, while allowing the communal Doukhobors to live on the land withour Ackerman said the tenacity of facilitators Susan Mulkey and Judith Ceroli helped’ bring about the of the Doukhobor faith which insisted on land-taxes and a people, who through their beliefs abhor the idea of paying taxes. The understanding, which has been ratified by both parties, involves land currently occupied Core now ‘clean and green’ TRENT BANCARZ Castlegar. Sun Editor “Downtown Castlegar looks fabulous,” he said After four years of barricades, detours and other inconveniences, Castlegar has a downtown to be proud of. Mayor Mike O’Connor, MLA Ed Conroy and George Rilkoff cut a green ribbon during Wednes- i ies and a revital- day aft 's ized city centre was open for business. “I wish to thank the citizens for their patience over the time,” said Mayor O'Connor. “The spirit of co-operation has continued throughout the project.” Conroy added sprucing up the city core will attract future business and presents a good image for Hospital runs surplus merchants. Ron Ross, a downtown businessman, said busi- ness Owners co-operated well during the project and he thanked both the previous and current city coun- cil for seeing the project through. green. “It’s not the same town anymore. I’m glad to see Castlegar has taken the lead in downtown revitaliza- tion. It’s a new lease on life for Castlegar.” The revitalization project started four years ago and is now complete at a cost of over $5 million. Funding came from the city, province and downtown The new slogan for downtown is “clean and at the New Settlement near Krestova. Now, a “society” will be formed in which the interest of and principles and will virtuall: tum the title into anti-ownership.” There would be restrictive covenants on the land which would ensure “ownership” by an individual or group couldn't occur. This, said Ackerman, is more latable to the 1 “Their diligence and persever- ance helped to keep things on track. They were an integral part of the process. “The people can live the way they want to live without owner- ship and not have to live in fear of the government.” The next set of negotiations: will deal with unoccupied land at the New Settlement. KAREN KERKHOFF i Sun Staff period, Castlegar Hospital has a surplus of $113,942 in its budget. Admini Ken Talarico Castlegar and District Hospital has 113,942 reasons to smile. At the end of the seventh fiscal warned board members even there is a current surplus, things could change quickly. See HOSPITAL A2 “Although we're showing a healthy surplus, that could change.” He explained staff sick days Utility fees climb four per cent TRENT BANCARZ Sun Editor Castlegar homeowners’ city utility bills will be $14 higher in 1996 Annual fees for water, sewer, garbage collection, landfill maintenance and recy- cling will total $371 next year compared with $357 in 1995. It’s an increase of four per cent 1996 continues a trend of increases going back to 1990. Since 1990, annual utility fees have more than doubled and are the result of a growing city, more demand on services and mpanying necessary and capital projects, explains a memo to council from the city’s administration. “Legislation, i demand, di for imp Services, en and replacement/updating are some of the fac- tors which determine the utilities and their user fees,” stated the memo. “The city’s need for commitment to-water, sewer and waste management programs/projects ins high, and ly, will be high for the foreseeable future. The city does not have large reserves available and Projects at hand will eliminate or substan- tially reduce any available reserves.” Jim Gustafson, city administrator, point- ed out while utility fees have increased sharply, municipal taxes have remained flat. Gustafson did not rule out more utility hikes in future years. “We have to start a replacement program soon,” he said. “We haven't done any replacement of water mains yet and some of these are getting to be 50 years old now and are nearing the end of their useful lives. “I guess the good news is the municipal tax rate has remained flat.” The city already upgraded both the north and south water treatment plants under the federal infrastructure program and plans to construct a new reservoir in the north end to improve fire flow capacity for the south- em portion of the north end. Later in the meeting, council accepted the tender from Kerr Wood Leidal Associates of North Vancouver for designing the project at a cost of $27,235. KWL's was the lowest tender. For all your local news and sports — The Castlegar Sun Clean and Green - From left, Mayor Mike O'Connor, George Rilkoff and MLA Ed Conroy cut the ribbon to officially open Castlegar's new down- town. The revitaliza- tion project is now complete after four years of barricades, detours and construc- tion dust. The project cost $5 million.