« A2 Ss, . Castlegar News February 25, 1990 ¥ Commission to study health VICTORIA (CP) — A $2-million royal commission will spend the next 18 months looking at the B.C. health- care system, Health Minister John Jansen announced. “This decision to establish a royal commission was sparked to some degree by last Tuesday's federal budget with its unprecedented cuts to health-care fundi Jan- sen said. é “These most recent cuts coupled with many other social and financial pressures facing our health-care system have convinced us it’s time for an independent evaluation of the system.’’ The government was shamed into i a Some patients facing lengthy waits for open-heart surgery have gone out of the province to have operations done. The Health Ministry has worked out an agreement with facilities in Washington state to try to alleviate the ba cklog. “We've got problems right now that need to be ad- dressed by adequate funding,"’ said Anderson. He told a news conference the commission could be a ruse to keep down costs and fees for the province’s 6,000 doctors. Anderson said too many patients can’t wait for the to its commission because it had to admit there are major and urgent problems in the health-care system, said Dr. John Anderson, president of the B.C. Medical Association. report. 2 “The of the royal is an ex- cellent idea, but it is two or three years too late,’’ said Tom Perry, NDP health critic and a medical doctor. He said conflicts between government and health care workers could have been avoided had a commission been held two or three years ago. Jansen said the commission’s conclusions won't be binding. He said Tuesday's federal budget, which reduced planned transfer payments for health, didn’t Prompt the royal commission. But the reductions allowed him to sell the idea to cabinet. The commission will be asked to make recommen- dations to help the government break the current impasse in negotiations with doctors over fees, Jansen said. The government has approved 3.5 Per cent annual fee increases for doctors, retroactive to the end of their contract which ended April 1. That will cost the province $70 million over the next two years and result in suspension of negotiations with the Doctors have asked for about $220 million in fee in- creases over the next two years. Perry said the fee increases are reasonable because the government has’ alienated doctors so much that are But appointing a royal commission on health care won't do any good unless the B.C. government acts on its findings, says the man who headed the government's last examination of health care. “A royal commission is a good way to postpone making decisions,”’ said Dr. Richard Foulkes, who in 1972 was chosen by the NDP government to head a similar study. “*1 view it with interest but it sounds like it’s going to cost an enormous amount of money. I'm rather skeptical about it — it could be just another royal commission.”’ Logging attitudes skewed, experts say VANCOUVER (CP) — Attitudes toward logging have been skewed by overzealous conservationists and the media, a string of international exper- ts told a conference. “The environmental critics have Painted a long succession of gloomy scenarios over the past quarter-cen- tury,’’ Swedish forester Stig Hagner told about 600 people at the annual meeting of the Association of B.C. Professional Foresters. “*In attacking the forestry we prac- tise in the temperate forest zone, they have prophesied large-scale erosion, leaching out of nutrients and disease Open house continued from front poge public meeting, Parsons said last week. However, the committee’s mandate does not include holding public and the would rather participate in Celgar’s open house than conduct a meeting themselves, he said. —Craig Lawrence, spokesman for the Coalition for Information on the Pulp Mill Expansion, Saturday questioned the short notice being given for a public open house. “The public should be well infor- med, not barely informed,’’* Law- rence said. ‘‘This is a time to instill epidemics," Hagner said. ‘‘In fact, where forests have been managed in anything like a professional way, operations have usually been highly successful."” Hagner, director of forestry operations for one of Sweden's largest forest companies, said reforestation on Vancouver Island — often in areas clearcut decades ago — shows how management can work. Other foresters complained repor- ters add to misconceptions either by getting the story wrong or by giving too_much exposure to environmen- talists who know: nothing about the industry. FORESTERS BURNED A New Zealand forestry professor said foresters often get burned when they yiry to correct misinformation dispensed by the media. “Ordered rational statements and ions do not sell ad said Geoffrey Sweet, head of forestry at the University of Canterbury. “Persons with no_ technical knowledge and strange ideas could, as long as they had personal conviction, get media space well ahead of foresters."” confidence in the (review) process, not confusion."’ The open house is being advertised this weekend in local media. Lawrence noted the review process policies, which have recently been released in their final form, includé no mechanism to keep the public in- formed of what stage of the process” the company is going through. “That weight falls on the Proponent’s (Celgar’s) shoulders,”” he said. However, Lawrence added he is glad Celgar is holding an open house. “It’s about time someone else makes an effort to inform the public,”’ he said. Meanwhile, two members of the review committee, including co- chairman Frank Blasetti, a represen- tative of the Ministry of Regional Development, were in Castlegar Thursday and Friday to meet Celgar_ officials, citycouncil’s~ pulp mill expansion advisory group, and members of CIPE. Lawrence said the meeting with Blasetti included ‘‘about three hours of apologies’’ for how the review process has been handled. However, the meeting was infor- mative, he said. track. ciation of anti-abortion groups. for the feminists,’ physical or mental health. Campbell continued from front page victory in Vancouver Centre - that she was on the fast But few were prepared for her giant leap from junior minister of Indian affairs to the justice por- tfolio, traditionally reserved for old political hands. The hottest issue facing her will be one that bedevilled her predecessor, Doug Lewis — abortion. Like Lewis, she personally favors, unrestricted freedom of choice, a stand that earns her the denun- “What we had in Doug Lewis was an apologist said Margaret Purcell, vice- president of Campaign Life. ‘‘What we have in Kim Campbell is the feminists themselves.”” But again like Lewis, Campbell has compromised her personal views. She backs the government bill, now under committee study, that would allow abor- tion only if a doctor perceives a threat to a woman's for abortion. As a federal cabinet minister she has lowered the volume. In a Commons speech last November, she ex- Pressed pi “I have a horrible feeling that if you're in the cabinet you don’t have a choice,"’ said Jane Holmes of the Canadian Abortion Rights Action League, which opposes any criminal restrictions on abortion. As a Social Credit backbencher in the B.C. legislature, Campbell helped touch off a caucus revolt against Premier Bill Vander Zalm, when his gover- nment tried two years ago to restrict medicare funding in government — hoice views but by the compromise bill as “‘the best we can do.”’ She declined to commet further on abortion Friday. On more general issues — and especially on women she was more outgoing. “The importance of having strong representation of women in government is because women experience the world differentl},from men,”” she said. \ Budget continued from front poge going to take away the one you've already been given,”’ he said Vander Zalm also has tittle reason to criticize the cancellation of a federal matching-dollar policy for Canada Safeway ® Central Foods © Fields © Overwaitea © Shoppers ¢ Zellers © SuperValu Not all flyers recdive full dis W you did not iy such programs as hot school lunches since the province hasn't taken advan- tage of the policy nearly as much ‘as Provinces such as Ontario, which plans budgets with the policy in mind, D'Arcy said However, D'Arcy expressed con- cern over the Social Credit gover- nment’s attitude toward post- secondary education funding following the announcement of a cut in transfer payments. The Socreds have always said those Payments were not for any specific Program and could be doled out in whatever area Victoria saw fit to put them in, he said But now the Province is saying the funds that have been cut were those earmarked for education and provin- cial cuts may be needed in that area to RRSP. CASTLEGAR (01-18th St., 366-7232 CASTLEGAR SAVINGS CREDIT UNION “Your Community Financial Centre for Over 40 Years! SLOCAN PARK Hwy. 6 © 226-7212 Castlegar Branch will be open till 6 p.m. on March 1 to serve your RRSP needs. = G compensate, D'Arcy said, adding the Socreds have ‘‘never put enough money into higher education.” Kristiansen said. the nature of the budget will lead to a slowdown in the federal economy which is already headed for a recession and he is hopeful planned construction projects in West Kootenay, such as the Proposed Celgar expansion project, will help compensate for the expected increase in unemployment. As well, Kristiansen said a number of programs that have been at work in the Kootenay area have been or will ‘be hit by the spending cuts. A $47.7-million cut in the federal Department of Forestry may mean there will not be enough federal money for the renewal of B.C.’s FIRDA agreement, a_ federal- Provincial agreement on forestry and silviculture, he said. On Feb. 19, the Canadian ex- ploration incentive program, which in the mining sector, was cut, Kristiansen said. The program has Provided ‘‘a lot of incentive and em- ployment"’ in the Kootenay area, he said. As well, the mineral development agreement, an agreement to provide for maping and surveying of mineral deposits, will likely’ suffer from the cutbacks, he said. There has been a lot of .pressure locally to renew the agreement, he said. doctors, he said. ‘Anderson said the interim increase is less than the sOvernment offered two months ago and doctors will con- tinue to press for more money. Foulkes’ 2,000-page, two-volume he report called the health. system, provincewide fluoridation of riding water, and the phasing out of fee-for-service medical practice. = Victoria to fund shipbuilding program VICTORIA (CP) — The B.C. government moved Friday to keep the province’s shipbuilding industry afloat following the cancellation of the Polar 8 icebreaker project. And some industry members say the government announcement to fund a $70-million shipbuilding Program may ultimately be more of a boon than the iceb manager of Versatile Pacific's shipyard in Victoria. The initial program could lead to further replenishment of the B.C. Ferry Corp. fleet, which has vessels an average of 25 years old, he said. The Polar 8 was only a four-year project, Wells said. The cancellation’in the Polar 8 was “The provincial ‘government’ s commitment... may prove more beneficial,” said John Wells, general Spill cleanup begins VANCOUVER (CP) — Work began Saturday-to clean up about 40,000 litres of diesel oil dumped in Vancouver harbor in the port’s largest oil spill in 17 years. Port officials said most of the oil + Spilled Friday morning when a grain ship and a Polish fishing vessel collided in fog in Burrard Inlet. The oil fouled shorelines and dock pilings along the waterfront and covered about 100 water fowl with a greasy sheen. Vv Port Corp. i: Barbara Duggan said Coal Harbor was closed to boat traffic at 8 p.m. Friday as an extra precaution. An investigation has been launched but Duggan didn’t know when it will be completed. by Finance Minister Michael Wilson in his budget last week. The icebreaker was to have been built in North Vancouver and Victor B.C. Transport Minister Rita John- ston said Friday the new program in- cludes construction of two, 85-car ferries and an expansion of the Queen of Burnaby by 155 cars to a capacity of 292 vehicles. Apart from the program, the government will use a newly created group from the shipbuilding sector and unions to try to bolster the in- dustry. Johnston said she also talked with BC Transit about the possibility of adding a second SeaBus on the run across Burrard Inlet between Van- couver and North Vancouver. CALE TENDERS Tenders for the two new ferries will be put out next week and a contract let May 1. Delivery is scheduled for 1991 Service was to begin June 1, 1991 for one ferry with the second in ser- vice by mid-September of the same year In memory Lottery numbers The winning numbers drawn Tuesday in the eno lottery were 6, 8, 19, 22, 23, '3 and $5. The winning numbers drawn Wed- nesday in Lotto 649 were 13, 16, 21, 26, 35 and 46. The bonus number was 18. The jackpot of $1 ,949,984.50 was won by one ticket purchased in The four Extra winning numbers for British Columbia on Wednesday were 7, 50, 51 and 52. The B.C. Keno winning numbers were 6, 12, 16, 20, 21, 26, 39 and 54. The winning numbers drawn Thur- sday in the B.C. Keno lottery were 8, 11, 12, 20, 45, 49, $3 and 54. These numbers, provided by The Canadian Press, must be considered unofficial. Phries secondary school. Sheila Hale Sheila Hale passed away Feb. 14, 1990. She was born in Robson May 9, 1940 and attended od Stanley Hum- She held the position of secretary to the Castlegar airport manager for 15 years, moving to Vancouver to work with Air BC in July, 1989. She enjoyed aerobics, weight-lifting, handicrafts and her com- puter. Sheila was an energetic, out-going person who will be sadly missed by her many friends and relatives in Castlegar and Vancouver. She is survived by her mother Clara; brother William; daughter Sheryl; and other family members. She was predeceased by her fat William in 1957 and an infant brother in 1943 Cc took place in follow at the Legion Hall. Ave., Vancouver B.C. She enjoyed - A Memorial Service will held Wed. Feb. 28 at | p.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church with coffee to In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Vancouver General Hospital, 855 W. 12th Polly Osachoff Polly Osachoff of Vallican passed away Thursday, Feb. 22, 1990 in Kootenay Lake District Hospital at age 86. Mrs. Osachoff was born in Blaine Lake, Sask. on Dec. 25, 1903. She and her husband came to Vallican in 1943. and was a chi Fanny; seven ig and ter member of the Passmore Senior Citizens Group. Mrs. Osachoff is survived by her husband Wasyl; three sons, Fred and his wife Mabel, Nick and his wife Nellie, and John and his wife and a brother, brothers and a sister. 10 gr John Konkin of Prince Albert, Sask. She was predeceased by three Funeral services will begin today from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and con- tinue Monday from 10 a.m. to noon. Funeral services will begin today from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Thompson Funeral Home and continue Monday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Passmore Hall. Internment will follow in Slocan Park Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Thompson Fune. ul Service. Workers drink radioactive water POINT LEPREAU, N.B. (GP) — NB Power officials were scram- bling Friday to determine how many workers drank radioactive water from a coffee-room cooler at the Point Lepreau nuclear station. At least seven people were contaminated after drinking water laced with radioactive heavy water. Larry Boudreau, spokesman for the utility, said two workers were exposed to to the annual dose limit while the others had much lower levels. But the Atlantic Television System reported late Friday that one worker received three times the acceptable dosage. The figure couldn’t be confirmed by NB Power or the RCMP, who were investigating how contaminated heavy water got into the water cooler. Reforms not over in Bulgaria SOFIA (AP) — Bulgaria’s ruling Communist party has agreed to get its rep ives out of the — a key demand by the i — and ‘lections by one month, infor- med sources said. The Communists’ Supreme Council, in a closed-door meeting Friday, agreed in principle to give up the party’s right to organize in fac- tories, enterprises and administrative units. The council, which replaced the policy-setting Central Committee under a decision by a recent party congress, proposed the measure be in- cluded in a next law on parties expected to be adopted during a National Assembly session beginning March S$. The Supreme Council proposed to hold Bulgaria’s first multiparty elections in June, not in May as previously announced. However, the opposition has repeatedly called for elections to be held in November, the sources said. Mourners pay respect to| Duarte SAN SALVADOR (AP) — Hundreds of mourners thronged a church to pay respects to former president Jose Napoleon Duarte, who tried and failed to ease the searing class divisions that sparked a crip- pling, decade-old civil war. Duarte died at his home Friday after a ong battle with cancer. He was 64. Two of Duarte’s six children, Alejandro and Napoleon, accom- panied by leaders of the Christian Democratic party he helped found, carried his flag-draped coffin to the Don Rua Roman Catholic church in the blue-collar neighborhood of San Miguelito. Massacre photo wins CP award TORONTO (CP) — A Controversial photo of a student slain in the at the Uni of N in De has been named The Canadian Press news picture of the year for 1989. Showing a dead woman slumped in a cafeteria chair while a man in the background takes down Christmas decorations, the pheto was taken by Allen McInnis of the Montreal Gazette. s It was widely published and sparked a flood of letters and calls from readers across the country and around the world who found it tasteless, sensationalist or insensitive. The photo was taken through a window in poor light and the vic- tim’s features were not visible. Romania cracks down on protest BUCHAREST (Reuter) — Romania’s beleaguered interim gover- nment announced measures Friday aimed at cracking down on violent Street protests, including jail terms of up to seven years for storming public buildings and tal ng hostages. Ina point decree, the pi government pledged firm action against violent demonstrations and said it would immediately tighten security around official buildings. The special decree followed a Bucharest demonstration last Sun- day, when pi 's burst into and took a vice-premier hostage for several hours. Under the decree, demonstrators entering public buildings illegally face a jail term of up to three years, with four years added if violence is involved. Cigarette company charged EDMONTON (CP) — Canada’s second-largest cigarette manufac- turer has been charged with illegal marketing practices. Rothmans, Benson and Hedges Inc. has been summoned to appear in Court_of Queen's Bench in Edmonton on April 3 to enter_a plea to three charges under the federal Tobacco Products Control Act. The company is accused of offering cash rebates to tobacco pur- chasers, placing extraneous information on cigarette packages and ob- suring health warnings with discount stickers. If convicted, Rothmans faces a fine up to $5,000 and company executives could be imprisoned for up to six months The charges were laid after a complaint by Action on Smoking and Health, an Alberta-based anti-smoking group. Residents get compensation HAGERSVILLE, Ont. (CP) — The Ontario government is of- fering immediate compensation to residents who fled their homes near a huge pile of burning tires, but the fire’s long-term effect is a bigger worry to the community. “If the water-table is contaminated by that fire, I'll be going to the government for far more than $20 a day,’ retired teacher Léo Tyson said Friday. ‘‘We're facing the possibility of a contaminated water sup- ply. “‘How far would this compensation go then?”’ Under the plan announced Friday by Solicitor General Steven Of- fer, evacuated residents would be eligible for hotel room expenses- regardless of the rates — or $20 day for each adult and $10 a day per child if they stayed with friends. Most evacuees moved in with friends to escape the fire which of- ficials fear could burn for months. Minister halts deportation TORONTO (CP) — Immigration Minister Barbara McDougall has halted plans to deport a convicted cocaine dealer to Colombia, prom- Pting criticism that Canada isn’t serious about fighting the illegal drug trade. McDougall intervened on behalf of Miguel Garcia, 27, who received a four-year prison sentence after being convicted of possession of a kilogram of cocaine for the purposes of trafficking, said ministry spokesman Rita Mezzanotte. A deportation order was issued against Garcia in July 1988, seven months after he was released on day parole in Toronto. Mezzanotte said she couldn't discuss the particulars of the case, saying the minister will review Garcia's progress while he undergoes a five-year rehabilition process for landed immigrant status. “*His case was reviewed quite extensively . . . and it seems it was quite a deserving case,’’ she said. Mandela to meet leaders JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Nelson Mandela met Friday with liberal white and mixed-race members of parliament who have been shunned by some black militants because they take part in a legislative body that excludes blacks. Aides to Mandela, meanwhile, said the African National Congress Jeader will leave next week on an 18-day, four-country trip, his first abroad since his release Feb. 11 after 27 years in prison. He plans to fly Tuesday to Lusaka, Zambia, to meef leaders of African countries and confer with the exiled leadership of the ANC. He is also scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister Joe Clark in Lusaka. Let's hear it for the band s the Rail Station as visitors were treated The Castlegar Accordian Band | entertains in the local Rail Station which was the hub of as the city ge Week. The band was just one of the attractions history. — cosivews Photo by Ed Mills to a variety of displays chronicling Castlega: alm appealed for MOSCOW (Reuter) — Soviet Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov has appealed to his fellow citizens for’ calm during pro-reform rallies plan- ned across the Soviet Union this an almost daily campaign for months against the secessionist moves in the Baltic. But the Kremlin shifted last week to a barrage of warnings against of action unrest during Sunday’s national day mi. “T think ict petsca. every citizen in our country should stop for a moment and consider what is really happening here,”’ Ryzkhov said. ‘In the wave of transformation sweeping across our country, we must learn to distinguish between what is positive and what is merely destructive.’’ weekénd amid orities’ warnings of severe action” against violent protesters. Ryzhkov’s televised appeal Friday night was the latest sign of Kremlin alarm over rallies planned in about 20 cities, including Moscow, today — a week before local and regional elec- tions in the three more important Soviet republics. Several powerful Communist party officials are expected to lose March 4 elections in the Russian Federation, the Ukraine and Byelorussi Two of the Soviet Baltic republics whose separatist- demands have posed major headaches for President Mikhail Gorbachev held elections “Saturday. Soviet Moldavia votes for a new regional parliament today The Soviet news media have waged Nicaraguans decide their future today MANAGUA (CP) — After 11 years of revolution, war and economic collapse, Nicaraguans. will decide their future this weekend in one of the most closely watched elec- tions in history Most pots indicate President Daniel Ortega and the Sandinistas will win handily, but speculation on the margin of victory varies widely and there are often more undecided voters than supporters for either party. The 1.7 million Nicaraguans registered to vote today, particularly rural campesinos or farmers, keep their thoughts.to themselves, in ac- cordance with the Nicaraguan adage, “*flies do not enter a closed mouth.’” Violeta Chamorro, widow of the crusading editor of the opposition newspaper La Prensa, leads the main opposition party, the National Op- position Union, or UNO. The UNO is a coalition of 14 political parties united only by their opposition to the Sandinistas. Chamorro, a silver-haired 60-year: old who favors wide-brimmed straw hats, has been campaigning from a wheelchair after a fall that shattered a kneecap. Chamorro is not a_ natural Politician — she was at home listening to the radio when she heard she had been chosen to lead UNO. She reads awkwardly from notes, glancing down constantly. But her patrician bearing, famous last name and plat form have compensated for her lack of charisma. Her promise to abolish compulsory military service strikes a popular chord in a country tired of war. And she links the Nicaraguan election with the moves toward democracy in Eastern Europe. INFLATION DOWN Her strongest weapon is the economy. The Sandinistas have reduced inflation to a mere 1,600 per cent this year But Ortega, nicknamed the rooster and introduced at rallies with a cock’s crow, is a much better campaigner than Chamorra. And the Sandinistas, who overthrew the right-wing, U-S backed Somoza regime 10 years ago, are much better organized Yes, the economy is in bad shape, they admit. But independence from Yankee imperialists does not come cheap. KISHINEV, U.S.S.R. (CP) — nationalist As Soviet Moldavia prepares to vote in its first democratic election today, the republic’s Communist party is on the run, It is on the run from itself and from—its—past:— But —party—chief Pytor Lushinsky hopes to renew inist traditions. » Lushinsky has for- med an alliance of sorts with the a candidate. dependence. Moldavia goes to the polls Moldavian Popular Front. And so close is the alliance that the front is not even runniag “He's not against us,’’ says Gregori Petrashku, a front leader Neither— party —advoeates—in- Both want a new Soviet federation that would give political and economic autonomy to the 15 republics. Lithganians appear set in their vote today{to elect-a parliament with a mand@e to regain the independence they I@st in 1940. About 600,000 Estonians ~re eligible to take part.in a special vote tor a new Congress of Estonia designed to be independent of the government in Moscow. PLAN NEW PARTY In the third Balticrepublic, Latvia, radicals said an Independent Latvian Communist party conference would copen_to decide how-to form a multi-party election since 1917 is bet- ween the ruling Community party and the Sajudis mass movement. Both are committed to breaking away from Moscow's rule. Wilson proposes ministers meet OTTAWA (CP) — meet provincial finance ministers who are angry with the federal government's move to curb transfer payments Michael Wilson says he wants to The federal finance minister said he will be happy to listen-to complaints that anaie increases—in. federal will force p Fr sto raise taxes of cut services. “At this point, I haven’t heard back from any of them,” Wilson said. ‘I've just extended the invitation to them on budget night, but I imagine that we Beet together."* He said he believes provincial treasurers will accept his plan to-cut $2.6 billion over two years from planned federal transfers to the provinces to help pay for health care, welfare and higher education. “Bottom line, I think they'll say: Well, you've got to do what you have to do.’ OXEN GORED Wilson's provincial couterparts complained loudly after he presented a budget Tuesday cutting planned tran- sfers. But Wilson said in an interview that the provincial governments will have to be part of the solution, not part of the problem “Look, we live in a political world; the rhetoric flowing out of the budget is not surprising.’’ he said. “But they understand the magnitude of the federal government deficit and they understand the importance to them of getting interest rates down.” He also said his budget shows there is light at the end of the tunnel in controlling the national debt “We're going to turn the corner in a very, very real way,"’ Wilson said DEBT SLOWS “The debt of the country will be growing slower than the economy is growing for the first time in 20 years."* He added that the debt was increasing three times as fast as the economy when the Conservative came to power in 1984 That meant the federal government was walking uphill trying to }beat the deficit as interest charges rose. more quickly than Ottawa's ability to pay, said Wilson “But now as we turn the corner,” we're starting walking downhill."* And despite low opinion-poll showings, the finance minister predicted that the Conservative government will be rewarded at election time for making tough decisions “The next election is a long way away, so | don't think people are thinking in terms of an election right now,”’ Wilson said “CONTROVERSIAL “There's a lot of things that are controversial here and it’s not surprising that the popularity of the gover nment will be low.” British Columbia Finance Minister Mel Couvelier has been cool to Wilson’s invitation to a meeting, contained in a four-page letter, saying that talks with the federal minister would be a waste of time Couvelier added Wednesday that provincial finance ministers should get together quickly to find ways to deal with the budget measures. Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon made a similar call, Tig to use two premiers’ conferences in Manitoba to lobby against the federal decision to slow the increase in transfer payments ‘We're gong to be tatking about a jomt, concerted effort,’’ Filmon said PM holds news conference OTTAWA (CP) — Prime. Minister Brian Mulroney took personal blame for his government's unpopularity and rapped extremists on both sides of the national language debate Friday, during his first formal news conference here in more than three years. Dressed in banker's blue, a gold watch flashing from under a well-tailored cuff, Mulroney amiably took questions for about 45 minutes in the National Press Theatre. Only hours before, he had announced a shuffle of his second-tier cabinet ministers that even he admitted was devised to help his government recover from rock- bottom public-opinion ratings. “IT would not be inclined to blame any given minister for the low state of affection in which we're held across the country,"’ Mulroney said. ‘I’m probably the principal culprit when it comes to that.” Dropping popularity is caused by unpopular Policies, he said, adding that his government has little choice but to take actions many Canadian’s don’t like. The most recent poll is a Gallup survey published Thursday that suggests the Conservatives could be their lowest ebb ever — 19 per cent approval amos decided voters. VOTE REMOTE But Mulroney said polls don’t worry him too much with an election off in the distant future. Mulroney said some of the 15 cabinet changes were needed for housekeeping reasons — there had been two empty portfolios — and other ministers were getting tired of their jobs But it was language, and the rancor that divides French- and English-speaking Canada, that dominated the news conference. Predictably, Mulroney said the Meech Lake con- stitutional rd, while ‘‘imperfect,”’ is the best way of settling Quebec’s qualms about Confederation. Asked about the spreading trend of English-only i in Ontario and the backlash against French-only laws in Quebec, Mulroney said in- tolerance must be condemned by‘all Conscientious Canadians. But he denied the country’s malaise is any deeper than it has been in the past and suggested language and culture will bedevil the prime minister of Car de generations from now