B.C. News Shorts Grants awarded to assist health research projects A total of $3.2 million in funding is awarded to 88 health re- search projects around the province by the B.C. Health Research Founda- tion. Health minister Paul Ramsey says the projects help the foundation meet its goal of pursuing better health for British Columbians through the sup- port of innovative research. Areas of study covered by the awards include mental illnesses, respiratory diseases, AIDS, and pediatrics, among others. New approach aims at lowering school land costs The B.C. government is tak- ing a new approach to land acquisi- tions for new schools in order to cut costs for taxpayers. Education minis- terArt Charbonneau says government will consult up front with develop- ers, municipalities, school boards and municipal planners on ways to acquire land for new schools at lower costs. Previously, planning and site pur- chases were done late in the develop- ment process, when land values had already significantly increased. Charbonneau says that with a school construction budget of more than half a billion dollars, government must ensure spending is done as prudently as possible. B.C. elects a majority of Reformers in federal vote British Columbians elect 24 Reformers, six Liberals and two New Democrats to represent them in Ot- tawa. B.C’s new members of parlia- ment include just three without prior experience in the House of Com- mons, as voters radically change the province's 32-member federal contin- gent. B.C. helps victims of India’s earthquake Premier Mike Harcourt presents a cheque for $250,000, on behalf of the people of British Colum- bia, to the Canadian Red Cross for the India Earthquake Relief Fund. Tens of thousands of people were killed in the catastrophe. Harcourt says the prov- ince’s contribution is a gift of friend- ship and is intended to provide hu- manitarian assistance for those who are rebuilding their homes and com- munities. Research grant awarded to B.C. nurses B.C. nurses get seven grants worth a total of more than $84,000 from the B.C. Health Research Foun- dation. The grants focus mainly on de- termining how patients respond to specific nursing practices. Health min- ister Paul Ramsey says the findings will increase the knowledge of health practitioners around the province and will help the health system be more receptive to the needs of British Columbians. Program announced for recycling A first-time joint recycling initiative between the B.C. govern- ment and Canadian Tire stores across B.C. is announced. The program pro- vides consumers with safe and con- venient disposal options for recycling oil, batteries and tires. Environment minister Moe Sihota says the partner- ship of government and industry is essential for cleaning up B.C. air, land and water. The 39 participating stores will monitor returns of used tires, oil and batteries and the results will be announced by the ministry in late No- vember. The Other Press November 16, 1993 Women encouraged to study science A document which provides information on educational programs across Canada and the US. dealing with science and technologies is released, with the aim of encouraging more fe- males to pursue careers in these fields. Prepared by the province, it describes community, public school and post-sec- ondary science and technical programs. it also includes and extensive annotated bibliography of resource materials deal- ing with women in these areas. Women’s equality minister Penny Priddy says many jobs of the fu- ture will require a scientific or techni- cal background, making it important that young women be encouraged to pursue careers in those fields. BC Tel’s rate increase opposed by province The B.C. government presented its argument against BCTel’s request for a 40% residential and 12% business lo- cal rate increase at a CRTC hearing in Vancouver. . Employment minister Glen Clark says BC Tel can already earn a fair rate of return without increasing local rates in 1993. He says the rate hike re- quest represents a revenue grab that will hurt people on fixed incomes, particu- larly seniors, and will harm small busi- ness - the people British Columbia is relying on to create jobs. The CRTC’s ruling on BC Tel’s rate increase request is expected early in 1994. Negotiations under way for commuter trains Employment and investment minister Glen Clark says the B.C. cabi- net has given BC Transit the go-ahead to negotiate a deal with the railways that could see commuter trains running be- tween Mission and downtown Vancou- ver in as little as two years. Clark says the government still has to reach a deal with CP Rail and Burlington Northern railways and secure federal money to- wards the estimated cost of $80 mil- lion to $140 million, and he wants Ot- tawa to kick in 50%. He says the prov- ince no longer has reservations about the trains following completion of a new BCTransit study that predicted sup- port from commuters and a reasonable cost. Independent scientific panel created to scrutinize: improved forest practices in Clayoquot Sound A panel of independent experts is appointed to the newly created. Sci- entific Panel for Sustainable Forest Prac- tices in Clayoquot Sound. Premier Mike Harcourt says the 19-member panel - consisting of scientists from B.C. and Washington state who are internation- ally recognized leaders in their respec- tive fields of expertise, as well as four members designated by the central re- gion of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council - builds on the improved for- est practices set for the area last June by the B.C. government. Harcourt says creation of the independent panel is a major step to- wards a sustainable future for Clayoquot, and providing reassurance to British Columbians of the most current and effective forest standards for the sound. The panel will provide progress reports on Jan. 31 and March 31, 1994, and will make final recommendations on new forest practices for Clayoquot Sound on June 30, 1994. 1995 BC summer and winter games sites announced The Comox Valley will host the 1995 B.C. Winter Games, while the ’95 B.C. Summer Games are going to Penticton. Sports minister Robin Blencoe says the games will leave each region with a legacy of improved equipment and facilities, as well as a financial legacy. He says a study of the '92 Winter Games in Vernon found they had a direct economic impact of $1.6 million, while studies of the 91 Summer Games in Coquitlam and the 92 Summer Games in Port Alberni found they had an impact of approximately $3 million. The 1994 B.C. Winter Games will be in Smithers, with the 94 Summer Games slated for Kelowna. Aboriginal justice report in Cariboo-Chilcotin released justice reforms in the Cariboo- Chilcotin and throughout the prov- ince. He says a working group has been formed to assess the recommen- dations, including aboriginal polic- ing, and a B.C.-wide consultation will be carried out on aboriginal legal services in an effort to understand and move forward on the specific legal services issues and requirements of aboriginal people. Attorney general Colin Gabelmann makes public a report on aboriginal justice concerns in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region: Prepared by a comission headed by Judge Anthony Sarich, the 62-page report deals with police-community rela- tions and the specific cultural needs of aboriginal people within the jus- tice system. Gabelmann says he hopes the report will stimulate aboriginal