TERRACE
1.34
$
S TANDARD
$1.20 PLUS 14¢ HST
VOL. 25 NO. 20
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Airport grounds WestJet chase THE NORTHWEST Regional Airport is backing off from any effort to encourage WestJet to add Terrace to its destination list. The decision, reached by members of the non-profit society that run the facility, was made after airport officials made a sales pitch to the airline at its invitation in late spring. Although airport society president Ron Burnett said it’s apparent WestJet regards
Terrace as a prime candidate for its new regional airline scheduled to start service next year, it’s going to be content to let WestJet make a final decision on its own without any local encouragement. He would not comment directly on whether the board’s decision is tied to any worries that WestJet service might harm local carrier Hawkair. Hawkair and Air Canada Jazz Express now provide
Vancouver-Terrace service. “I think the business case has already been made and WestJet had already done their homework,” said Burnett. “They’ve obviously realized this is a growth area. If they are looking for one airport, the Northwest Regional Airport is the one.” Burnett said there is public interest in having WestJet set up shop in Terrace, adding many people now drive to Prince George for WestJet flights and having the carrier
here would bring more traffic to Terrace. But it is not the job of the airport society to pursue carriers, he said. The society’s first role is to ensure safety, second reliability, and third is market surveying and research, he said. Terrace is one of more than 30 locations being eyed by WestJet for a regional arm to start next year using new Dash 8-400 aircraft. They’re faster than the older Dash 8-type aircraft now
in use by Hawkair and Air Canada Jazz. Hawkair, which is owned by a Smithers-based company that also owns Central Mountain Airlines and Northern Thunderbird, has begun promoting its regional roots in its advertising using the phrase, “When I fly, I support the local economy.” Hawkair official Rod Hayward said the airline is used to dealing in a competitive atmosphere and that the airline industry is changing
continually. “In some ways, we would stand at a better advantage because our cost structure is probably lower than WestJet’s,” said Hayward. “A brand new Dash 8-400, they’re not cheap.” A WestJet arrival would not be the first time three airlines have flown the TerraceVancouver route. Pacific Coast Airlines pulled out in March 2008, after barely a year. It cited low ticket sales.
College cuts battle ends up in court
SAMANTHA GARVEY PHOTO
■ Fishy business MARGARET KUJAT checks if this female sockeye is ready to spawn Aug. 21. The eggs of 105 females were collected and flown to Bella Coola where they will be reared and released as fry next spring.
ANGRY OVER layoffs, the Academic Workers Union, which mostly represents instructors, has filed suit against Northwest Community College. The union alleges the college board failed to adequately consult the institution’s own education council in course content and program planning for the coming school year. “The action comes as a surprise to the Northwest Community College (NWCC), since consultations with both stakeholders and the board were conducted during the deficit mitigation process,” said Denise Henning, president and CEO, in a press release last week of efforts that began at the beginning of this year to cut a deficit that would have been in the neighbourhood of $2 million. “I know that we consulted both the educational council and all stakeholders throughout this difficult process, but apparently the academic workers feel we have not adhered to the act,” she added of legislation governing the college. The Academic Workers Union filed legal action nearly two weeks ago under Section 23 of the College and Institutes Act, a section which sets out the education council’s role in course content and delivery and planning. The president of a provincial association of post secondary unions which takes in the Academic Workers Union says she doesn’t understand Henning’s response. “For Mrs. Henning to say she doesn’t know where the court application is coming from, that she’s surprised by it, I find that very strange,” said Cindy Oliver, president
of the BC Federation of Post Secondary Educators. “The act does require that administrators must get input from their education counsel when they are contemplating program changes.” Oliver alleges that college administrators did not follow the correct steps. “There are going to be some programs that are not going to be offered anymore and these changes are going to have serious effects on students,” she said. “Administrators made those decisions without the proper consultations.” The college’s education council is responsible for overviewing academic and technical training. “They have a very serious role to play in the governance of the institution and they’re an important governing body,” said Oliver. In response, Henning said that no program or course changes have been made. “There were no courses cancelled, there were no programs that were cancelled,” she said. “Obviously there seems to be a miscommunication.” Henning added that the board did consult during course and program planning, and that a representative of the education council sits on the college board. “To say that the board did not consult, that is a very inaccurate comment,” she said. This latest action is separate from the one the union filed against the college with the provincial Labour Relations Board by the Academic Workers Union earlier this year.
Cont’d Page A19
Choral donation
New lookout
Golf victory
Visiting vocal teacher donates a music library to community \COMMUNITY A22
Community backs forest service to replace mountain top building \NEWS A5
Terrace low-net winner is the youngest in the competition \SPORTS A35