§ Cassiar Courier the Voice of Cassiar Country MAY 1982 10 cents Cassiar hospital NEW HEALTH CLINIC OPENS IN DEASE LAKE taken over by B.C. Government VICTORIA, April 16, 1982— Health Minister Jim Nielsen today anounced that the provincial government has signed an agree- ment with Brinco Mining Ltd. of Vancouver to establish a Hos- pital Society to manage and operate Cassiar Hospital as a public facility. Currently the asbestos mining company operates this seven bed facility in Northern B.C. as a private hospital. Cassiar Hospital is the last privately owned and operated hospital in the province. “Mining activity has resulted in a significant increase in the gener- al population to the point where up to 40 percent of the patients are not company employees” Nielsen said. “Under these circum- stances the Health Ministry feels it is appropriate that the hos- pital become a public facility.“ The change is expected to.cost the provincial government about $400,000 dollars a year. When the hospital becomes public Brinco will be designated as a _ Community Health District for either five years, or until a Re- : Gores District Hospital is formed, a Company has agreed to spreieeuke ocal tax base. ios ) SU port the hospital and has also agreed to pay 40 percent of the funding for any additions to the hospital during this five-year period. : - Brinco will provide sewage, water, power, laundry and cafeteria services at cost. Repairs and maintenance, garbage, snow remov- al and lawn care will be provided at cost plus 15 percent for administrative overhead. “We're hoping that Cassiar will shed more its company-towm connotations as the years go by,” says Brinco vice-president Brian Pewsey. “The hospital is one area which we feel could be better handled by experts in the field.” >> > — <--> R.C.M.P. NEWS March 29th, Plaza Mining jaeale es a break and enter of their office. — March 30th, an uninvited guest broke into one of the rooms in Bunkhouse 92. A charge of mischief has been laid. _ April 14th, a break-in occurred at 371 McDame. Approxi- mately $700 or liquor was taken. April 14th, during a family dispute in Good Hope Lake, a rifle was discharged. A charge of dangerous use of a weapon has been laid. April 14th, John VanDamrne reported his truck stolen. It was located being driven a few minutes later. The driver was charged with theft of an automobile and impaired driving. Since January .1982, this office has investigated 25 accid- ents in the Cassiar area. Most of these accidents are the result of river error or carelessness. Drivers are requested to pay special attention, especially at this time of year when road conditions vary from one extreme to the other. ~ Mike and Brenda Cain are transferred to Sicamous Detach- . ment as of July 1, 1982. DEASE LAKE AND AREA HEALTH CLINIC The new Medical Clinic opened in Dease Lake on April 1, 1982, with Dr. Tim Ridley being the resident doctor until May 7, when Dr. Sutherland will take over. Kathy Simmons, who was the part-time nurse in Dease Lake, will now be the full-time nurse at the Clinic. An “Open House” was held on Friday, April 16, to give everyone an opportunity to meet the new doctor and to see the community’s dream come true. The building has a lab, x-ray room, treatment room, exam- ining room and reception area, as well as a residence for the doctor. DR. TIM RIDLEY The physicians who will staff this facility will all be provided ~ by the College of Family Physicians, B.C. Chapter, which has al- ready received over 250 applications, according to a spokesman from the Ministry of Health. In order to gain certification by the College of Family Phys- icians, doctors must complete at least one additional year of post- gaduate work after internship, pass an examination and then do 50 hours of post-graduate studies each year after. . An official opening of the Clinic will be held at a later date. On March 23 Jim Fulton, VP. for Skeena, held a public meeting at the Cassiar Theatre. The topic for discussion was the proposed taxation of “Northern Benefits” and approximately 45 interested residents turned out to hear what this taxation will mean to us and what we can do about it Mr. Fulton did give some background on the subject. It became popular in the late 60's and early 70's for northern com panies to give certain benefits to their employees because of the isolation. In 1972 Revenue Canada put out a white paper which made it compulsory that companies inform Revenue Canada about the amount spent on benefits on the individual T4 slips. Then in 1978 the Federal Government and Revenue Canada an- nounced that these “Northern Benefits” would be taxed for 1978, This announcement was followed by a moratorium for 1978, 1979 and 1980 and then a further extension for 1981. However, on November 12, 1982, when the budget was handed down Mr, MacEachen announced that a- further moratorium would be in effect, but only for 1982 and only for those con- tracts already in effect prior to. November 12, 1982 Mr. Fulton stressed that everyone should recognize that it is the Government that has caused the agreements to be broken, not the Companies that negotiated the contracts. The taxation of the “Northern Benefits” will affect some four hundred com- munities across the country that are south of 60 but still consid- ered isolated. The amount of money involved in these 400 com- munities is approximately $100 million, which would work out at an average of $9,000 additional taxable income per return filed. Mr. Fulton said that in Cassiar the additional taxable in- come per return filed would be approximately $8,000.00. The Company here in Cassiar has been asked to provide statistics on the amount of benefits allowed, to the Minister of Mines, Mrs. Judy Erola. This would indicate that some decision is fairly immi-: nent and that decision certainly won't be made in the latter part of the year. It is, therefore, imperative that any objections be raised immediately. If we wait until October or November, then ve will probably be too late to do anything. The time for action is NOW. What can we.do? Our major weapon is our ability to write — and we SHOULD BE WRITING letters to the various ministers concerned, We should be sending information about the extra costs involved in living in Northern Communities. We should be asking the Federal Government what facilities and services they will provide for these Northern Communities with the extra re- venue received from them (at the present time we don’t get any, to speak of). Mr. Fulton recommended that we write to the Minister of Mines, Mrs. Judy Erola, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, KTA OA6, with copies to Mr. MacEachen, Minister of Finance, Mr. Munro, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, and himself, dl at the same address. Mr. Fulton also pointed out that it is very difficult for him to stress that his constituents are unhappy if he has no proof. He said that if everyone at the meeting wrote then he would have some ammunition to use. Of course, more than those present should write. This is an issue that affects each and everyone of us and it is up to every individual to do something about it — after dl, It’s our pockets that are going to be hit. “IN THIS ISSUE Page 2 Clinton Creek Update, Letters to the Editor. Page 3 Bits & Pieces, Erickson, Hospital Happenings. Page 4 — Lions and Lionesses News, Guides, Beavers. School News. Schmoo Daze Dease Lake Good Hope Lake Curling Dining By Candlelight é Star Gazing Page 6 Page 17 Page 12 Page 13