A12 THE FREE PRESS NEWS MAY 14, 2000 WCB goes for anti-smoking regs again The Workers’ Compensation Board is moving again to try and keep workers away from second-hand smoke. On Thursday, the board announced proposed changes to the Environmental Tobacco Smoke regulations. If these changes are made, employers in the public entertainment industry, including pubs, restaurants, bingo halls and sports facilities, as well as long-term residential care facilities and prisons, will again be required to ensure their workers do not have to go into rooms where people are smoking. “We have a long way to go before final regulations,” says Donna Freeman, who speaks for the board. She says by law the WCB must hold public hearings and accept written submissions from interested parties. After the hearings and a review of written submissions, the panel governing WCB will decide whether or not to change the regulations. The meetings in Prince George will be held on June 15, at the Civic Centre. Morning, afternoon and evening sessions will be held, from 9 a.m. to noon, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 0\J YARD ALERT EXERCISE As part of CN’s overall commitment to safety, CN Rail will conduct a test of its emergency alert system in the Prince George yard. In the event of an emergency, this system assists the safe evacuation of CN facilities located in the confines of our yard. On Tuesday, May 23, 2000 between 9:00 - 9:30 am and 6:00 - 6:30 pm, an emergency exercise of this system will be conducted for the purpose of testing the effectiveness of the emergency sirens and their internal communication systems. Businesses and residents in the vicinity of CN Rail’s Prince George Yard need not be alarmed by the sound of sirens emanating from the rail yard. The sirens are strategically positioned throughout the yard so all CN employees may hear the alarm. For this exercise there will be a siren tone, approximately 3-10 minutes. Anyone hearing the siren alarm at this time should be aware that it is a test and not sounding a real emergency. CN apologizes for any inconvenience that these important exercises may cause. Teachers bow out of budget process The Prince George school board is asking for help in making cuts to special education and the district resource centre, but so far, the teachers’ association says they won’t be a part of it. At a public meeting last month, the board announced they had been overspending on special education, and would cut about 44 jobs to try and funnel some of the cash back into the regular system. The cuts include the equivalent of 17 teachers’ assistants, 11 support teachers, 10 employees form the district resource centre, and six social workers. “Quite frankly, we did not feel we know how to implement all the details of this move,” school board chair Shirley Bond said at Tuesday night’s public meeting. “But we’re at a point now where we need to move forward, and we really need help as we move ahead.” Sandra Davie, president of the Prince George Teachers’ Association, compares the board’s request to “asking William Wallace to participate in his own disemboweling.” She fears the loss of teachers assistants, support workers and a centralized resource centre will create extra work for teachers and librarians, and students will suffer. Therefore, she will not commit the presence of teachers on any of the three committees formed to help the changes go more smoothly. Ms. Davie is hoping the changes aren’t written in stone, and can be addressed again when the next budget is discussed. Meanwhile, she says she will lobby parents, asking them to let the board know they don’t support the cuts. Featuring Members of the Prince George eCommerce Association www.piincegeorge.net/econifnerce —— Affordable Business Websites Hosting, Domain Registration, Graphic Design, Promotion, Ecommerce and Shopping Visit www.pgmoneysaver.bc.ca or call 962-5304 Interested in eCommerce? Join the Prince George eCommerce Association Membership benefits include: ■ ;M • Targeted internal training for businu® Website owners • Affordable advertising in ow bwaness card directory • Networking with otli® website owners and developers Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of every mo nth and are open to wobsite owners, providers, designers or anyone planning to take their business online. 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