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VOL. 27 NO. 46
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
City treads lightly on Thornhill By JOSH MASSEY A CITY of Terrace motion to not interfere with moves by Thornhill to become its own municipality shouldn’t block it from being involved in a study on governing options, says Terrace mayor Carol Leclerc. Speaking last week,
Leclerc said the study, to be financed with $60,000 from the provincial government, will need Terrace’s participation at some point. “It won’t be interfering if that study comes and asks us questions, and we provide information that is relevant to the study,” she said. “I just think you have to
be really sensitive to people, to situations,” Leclerc continued. “If there is going to be a contractor or an employee, or whoever is going to do the study, and they are looking to the city for information, then the city will provide that information.” The city’s non interference motion was passed
last December, immediately after municipal elections in which the subject of Thornhill’s future as its own municipality or joining the city became an issue. Moved and seconded by councillors Stacey Tyers and Lynne Christiansen and passed with the support of councillors Michael Prevost
and James Cordeiro, it said the city supports Thornhill “in choosing their own form of self-government and that we will not interfere.” The motion was opposed by Leclerc and councillors Brian Downie and Sean Bujtas. It was then amended in January so that the city
could at least take part in a study on Thornhill governance options. The Thornhill study was also the subject of discussion at the Feb. 23 council meeting in which Tyers filled in for Leclerc who was absent.
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Feds to trim border hours By ANNA KILLEN THE CANADIAN Border Services Agency (CBSA) has confirmed it will close the border between Stewart, B.C. and Hyder, Alaska overnight beginning this spring – but residents and business owners from both communities say the move will hold Hyder hostage and hurt tourism, industry and emergency services shared between the two communities. “After careful review the CBSA has decided to reduce the operating hours at the Stewart Port of Entry,” said a statement from CBSA media relations. “Representatives from the CBSA have met with some stakeholders to discuss the changes to the way we deliver service, including the planned reduction of hours.” That planned reduction of hours means the border – the only road entry point into Hyder and the only road connecting Stewart with mining and industrial projects located in Canadian territory on the other side of Hyder – will be closed between midnight and 8 a.m. beginning April 1, with CBSA citing, “an in-depth review of port volumes and passage statistics [where] it was determined that few travellers utilized the operation outside of the primary operating hours.” Currently, it is manned around the clock with visitors and residents checking in with Canadian border agents. There is no US border post at the crossing. People on both sides of the border say the planned reduction came without any substantial consultation – and little understanding of the necessity of open, all-hours road access between the two communities, who share almost everything including an area code, hydro, and emergency services, and are only three kilometres apart.
MARGARET SPEIRS PHOTO
■■ Higher! PRETENDING TO catch and throw a beach ball helped these Skeena Middle School band students perfect their timing last week in one of a series of workshops at local schools financed by the Dare to Dream Foundation and featuring visiting music instructors, the majority of whom teach at the university level. Concerts Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 at the REM Lee Theatre were the highlights of the week. There’s more school-based music this weekend when Skeena and Caledonia music students take part in a telethon to raise money for various school music programs. It takes place at the REM Lee Theatre from 4 pm to 8 pm on March 8 and will be broadcast on Cable 10 and on line.
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Potential hire
Royal Terrace
Major Midget
Look beyond disabilities when searching for employees \COMMUNITY A09
Queen’s representative Judith Guichon addresses Terrace Legion \NEWS A13
River Kings become league champions with nail-biter OT win \SPORTS A20