Council questions
Wapiti Forest decision

by Nancy Perkins

Many months ago the Ministry of Forests and
Lands made a decision to place some of the lands
surrounding Tumbler Ridge back into the Wapiti
Forest Boundaries. The Ministry consulted the Dis-
trict of Tumbler Ridge, asking for input into their
decision.

Council wanted a portion of the lands in question to
be deleted from the forest boundary, with the intent to
designate it as a wildlife and recreational reserve.
Some of this land is situated close to the Murray River,
Flatbed Creek Park and the district acreage lots.

The reasoning behind Council’s proposal was that
some of the area is already designated as a wildlife
corridor, and they wanted some of the area to be left
for recreational purposes.

However, Lands and Forests did not agree with
Council’s proposal and said all the land would go back
into the Wapiti Forest.

Upon receiving this decision, Council’s other alter-
Native was to try and have some say in the multiple

Funds
approved

Health Minister Peter
Dueck has announced a
major funding initiative
woth $1.8 million on an
annualized basis to im-
prove mental health ser-
vices in British Columbia
hospitals.

To strengthen existing
mental health resources,
$597,434 will be given to
six hospitals in the 1988-
89 fiscal year to imple-
ment new psychiatric day
care programs. ‘‘The
Ministry of Health recog-
nizes the importance of
community-based mental
health services, and we
fully intend to continue
these new program ini-
tiatives in succeeding bud-
gets,’’ said Dueck.
‘Psychiatric day care
programs are an impor-
tant part of the care
system for people with
mental illness, providing
on-going treatment, moni-
toring and _-~ rehabilita-
tion,’’ the Minister said.
“Some patients are able to
live at home and_ use
hospital facilities during
normal working hours, °
thus relieving demands at
hospitals for acute care
bedspace.”’

A new 12-bed inpatient
psychiatric unit will open
at Dawson Creek and Dis-
trict Hospital this Novem-
ber. Approved operating
funds for the unit will be
$278,421 for this fiscal
year and $840,000 on an
annualized basis.

Steak

@§

}

Community Centre employees confer with
each other during another day at work

Reservations recommended

resource management of these lands surrounding
Tumbler Ridge. Council wrote to the Ministry and
requested a detailed management plan for the area.

Council has just received a letter from John Mallett,
Operations Manager of the Dawson Creek Forest
District which states there is no such plan.

Alderman Southard was dismayed at the fact that
no plan has been developed for this area. Further, she
was surprised the Ministry would even admit to this
oversight.

Council feels this area of land is important to the
residents of Tumbler Ridge, and would very much
prefer it be left out of Forest and Lands, for once it
goes into forest, it will become difficult for the District
to have any valid input. Also, if the Ministry feels it
should go back into forests, this makes it even more
imperative that there be a plan to insure the land is
managed properly.

Council has decided to set up meetings with both the
Ministry of Forests and Lands, as well as meetings
with the Ministry of the Environment, to try and deal
with this problem in a more satisfactory way.

activity.

LICENSED
PREMISES

Cacellent Dining

Seafood Special Coffees

Catering available

OPEN Mon.-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

215 Main St. Tumbler Ridge 242-3433

SUMMER STOCK
GREATLY REDUCED

OPEN

Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

245 Main Street, Box 1330
Tumbler Ridge, B.C. VOC 2W0

where the Centre is hopping with hockey

August 9, 1988, Weekly Record - 3

City

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