PUBLISHER JON JARRETT
SHARLENE IMHOFF
EDITOR

editorial comment

It’s show time

for Charbonneau

It’s the final countdown. Five days.

That’s how much time is left before Transporta-

Road travelled to the season

Somewhere along the road of life, you wake up
one day to discover you have arrived at the season
of the “aged”. Many of us never consider ourselves
aged, but someone will remind you of the wrinkles
and grey hair, however kindly. I looked up the defi-
nitions for “aged” in my Roget's Thesaurus and
was dismayed when I compared then to those listed
for “youth”. I think someone, much smarter
than I, should immediately take on the task
of updating the Thesaurus! It will suffice
here to sate that the comparisons are as a
wrinkled old prune to a rose fresh with dew!

How unfair! and how untrue! And yet, we
still place much emphasis on

A sweet young thing asked me for my
Seniors Card the other day and in three heart
beats my whole life slid out of focus! It was
one of the few times in my life when I had no
quick retort, for | was totally unprepared. I was
only somewhat mollified when she explained,
“Well, we have some pretty young-looking seniors
around here!” I considered just why I had reacted
as I did. If you are in the local shops on a Tuesday
you can expect to be considered a possible senior!
I should clarify that I am not a senior. I guess I
could be called a “Near Senior”. I like the term. It

makes us ALL near-seniors, thus removing any
possible sting.

The most basic need for a glorious old is for
early planning. It really is never too oom begin
to plan you life for all its Phases. Planning for your
later years is a relatively new idea, Our parents
thought that if they worked hard, saved their pen-

nies and did not

them of
financial security
for life. We now
know that financial
security must have
a factor for inflation
build in, or we will end up very poor indeed.

Our parents also were not so concentrated on
material things, beyond the necessity of finally
owning their home outright. Seniors today, who do
not own their own homes, face many hardships
they, perhaps, did not consider while in their high-
est earning years. Surely there can be no Canadian
left out there who seriously considers the “The
Government” is going to look after them in their

of the ‘aged’

old. age at anything but a basic level. That basic
level is very basic indeed.

There are many definitions for aged, most of
them inappropriately derogatory, but I have a per-
sonal definition, You know you have finally
arrived when you no longer fee! about
anything. I had that experience many years ago, so
I've been “aged” for a long time. Actually, seniors
will tell you it is a wonderful age. The children
have gone out into the world on their own quests.
Your life has settled into comfort, order and confi-
dence. Mistakes are made, but the effort goes into
figuring out ways to compensate for them, rather
than worrying about the fact you made an error.
You know that tasks are tackled one step at a time.
Time is now available in abundant quantities to do
all the things you have always wanted to do but
didn’t have the time or money for previously. With
a bit of good planning, the senior years can be a
truly glorious season!

Elma Maund is a communications consultant, a
facilitator, administrator and a writer. Elma has
travelled throughout North America, Asia and the
South Pacific and has coordinated numerous pro-
jects. She is presently coordinator of the local

Seniors Action Committee.

Anniversary voyage
by Spain turns into
‘political football’

Wednesday, February 19, 1992

The Castlegar Sun

Letters to the Editor

Page 7A

Canada Post

Dear Editor:

The arrogance of Canada Post
Corporation officials reached new
heights on February 7, 1992 when
they closed the Penticton, BC
Post Office with only one month's
notice, despite widespread protest
and a petition signed by more
than 10,000 in this community of.
27,000. Additionally, C.P.C. broke
their agreement with Penticton
postal workers who are supposed
to have 120 days notice of such a

wamed of similarly undemocratic
closures of the postal services
they have come to rely on. Cana-
da Post is instituting a 2 tiered

postal system in Penticton: only
the largest businesses have access
to a commercial postal outlet and
full-service by experienced postal
workers. Small businesses and all
other Pentictonites will have to
use the inferior non-standardized
services offered in four postal
franchises — a grocery store,
flower shop, pharmacy, and card
& gift shop.

Typically, a postal franchise is
only a sideline business which the
shop owner takes on to increase
the number of customers to his
store. Across the country con-
sumers can expect the following
problems with these postal fran-
chises:

1. Many more mistakes in
postal transactions by clerks with

getting closer to com

minimal training and support, and
a typically fast turnover because
of the minimum wages earned in
many franchises.

2. Less security for packages,
often stored within easy access of
anyone tempted to steal.

3. No guarantees for continu-
Ing service because shop owners
can go bankrupt, decide not to
renew franchise contracts with
Canada Post, or sell out their
Stores sometimes communities are
left with no wicket services.

4. Longer waits on lines as
postal customers queue up with
People buying gas, milk, flowers,
or what have you.

5. Difficulties in peak periods
like Christmas when franchise
outlets don't have the facilities or

expenence to handle volumes of
mail

6. Misleading claims by Cana
da Post Corp. that postal franchis-
es are an improvement because
they offer longer hours. This
Claim is irrelevant because pick-
up & delivery times remain the
sam nd there is usually no
advantage for example, to have
access to buying stamps at 10
P.m., when the mail goes out the
same time the next day!

In response to letters such as
this, Canada Post typically
responds with a news release stat-
ing that customer surveys show a
more than 90 per cent favourable
response to postal franchises. The
impression given here is that
Canada Post really cares what

Lions congratulated, Sun corrected

Dear Editor:

In the February 12 edition of
the Sun a picture shows the
Selkirk Lions Club receiving a
GO BC grant. It also indicates
Chairman Bill Horvath as Hospi-
tal Board representative.

Mr. Horvath was unable to
attend this function. The photo
actually shows Nick Oglow,
‘Treasurer and Executive Member

er with Ken Talarico, Administra-
tor and others.

The Hospital Board is delight-
ed with the outstanding work the
Selkirk Lions Club has accom-
plished to raise the necessary
funds for the purchase of this
Bus. Hospital Board Executive
members Merv Rush and Nick
Oglow have volunteered to pro-
vide liaison with the Lions Club,

ing Trade Fair.

It is expected that this new Bus
will be on display at the Trade
Fair. Members of the Hospital
Board and the Auxiliary will be in
the Bus during the three days of
the Fair. They will be providing
the public with information deal-
ing with the services provided by
the Castlegar Hospital and in par-
ticular, Mountain View Lodge,

to our health complex.

The fact that this part of the
faculty has a waiting list for
admission is a true indication of a
need that existed in our commu-
nity. A need that was recognized
by our Hospital Board and the
Central Kootenay Regional Dis-
trict Board as well

N. Oglow

plete privatization

people want. If this were the truth,
| ask you to consider the follow.
ing: Would Canada Post close
thousands of post offices across
the country as they have already
done, despite the near unanimous
protests of the communities
involved?

Communities wishing to retain
their federal postal services can
do so by refusing to accept the
Postal franchise outlets. Other-
wise Canada Post will be success-
ful in its plans to privatize our
Postal system by 1996.

the non-partisan citizens group
fighting to retain

essential services to

rural communities.

Robson, BC

Sandra Groepler, Volunteers Needed
Director for 3653 127 or

Rural Dignity of Canada,

CHICKEN TIME’S PEEL & WIN
“Peel & Win” a FREE Box, Bucket, Barrel or
peel your own discount of a $1.00, $2.00 or $3.00.
Everytime you buy a 9 piece box, a 15 piece bucket
or a 20 piece barrel, you “Peel & Win”
your own discount.
Everyone wins when they buy Golden
Delici Chi at Chi Time
Celgar & Cominco meal tickets accepted
Call us today! 365-5304 2816 Columbia Ave.

tion and Highways Minister Art Charbonneau
arrives in the area to hear local residents sound-off
regarding the transportation infrastructure needed
across the Columbia R iver.

Hopefully the huge amount of support the bridge
has received from everyone in both communities
of Robson and Castlegar will heighten Mr. Char-
bonneau’s awareness to this most pressing and
urgent need

If the Minister thinks for one minute that a sim-
ple cameo appearance will satisfy the desperate
oe of these ‘outback voters,’ he’s in for a sur- The Spanish government built replicas of the

Local residents and politicians have made it | we vite
Painfully clear that the wants and needs of this Mike Santa Maria.
local area can no longer play second fiddle to the Duff: the three tine
whims of a much louder, much larger coastal uly ships in
municipality. There's just been too many disap- Syndicated JW hich
pointments and too many failed attempts. Columnist J Columbus

The areas of Castlegar and Robson are starting to “sailed the
ocean blue.

Let me make a prediction. Coming next from
Canada's “copy-cat™ loony left: “politically cor-
rect” historical anniversaries.

THRIFT SHOP

Castlegar & District Hospital

Opening in Marchl!!
Watch for Date and Time
1128 - 3rd Street - Behind Pharmasave
Back Door Entrance - PLEASE WATCH FOR SIGNS

The Hospital Auxiliary is now accepting alll resalable goods
including: furniture, household items and good clean clothing

Contact phone numbers:
Blueberry 365-6587
Kinnaird 365-8302 & 365-8117
Castlegar 365-8148 & 365-5147
Ootischenia 365-6475

of the Castlegar Hospital, togeth-

Christmas Seal support

Dear Editor:

The British Columbia Lung
Association's annual Christmas
Seal Campaign was very success-

and participate in their forthcom- _ which is a Telatively new addition

appreciated

appreciative.

On behalf of the BC Lung
Association and the people who
count on us, thank you again for
your support

Castlegar

's here rs
the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’
arrival in the New World were marked by a torrent
of debate and historical revisionism.

Revisionism on a scale certain to inspire ernula-
tion by Canadian leftists later this year, when
Montreal celebrates is 300th anniversary and
Canadians mark the nation’s 125th birthday.

Miami's celebration was to have been a
straightforward non-political event

Letters
Policy

Letters to the Editor are wel-
come on any topic of local or
general interest. Letters should
be double-spaced, typewritten,
or legibly handwritten, and no
more than two pages if possi-
ble. Letters will be edited in the
interests of brevity or taste if
necessary. All letters must be
signed, with address and tele-
Phone number. although names
may be witheld from publica-

cent increase over last year’s total.
i Seal donations fund
advanced medical research into
lung diseases such as lung cancer,
ful, thanks to the generosity of asthma, and emphysema, as well
contributors all over the province. as provide health education and
We are grateful to you and cx y progr hroug Sincerely,
your readers for helping to raise BC. Dr. B.E. Riedel
$1.42 million during the cam- If you were able to use any of Volunteer President
Paign that ended January 31, the association's Christmas Seal
1992. This represents a 6.5 per _ fillers in your newspaper, we are Did You Know That...

Wanted: alumni

by the Foundation in the last year.

*AWOLE!7...IDONT SEE ANY HOLE.
50-CALLED SCIENTISTS

disease and environmental

Wife abuse occurs in
families of all socio-
economic, education-

Drop offs are pted on Ss. 1y and Monday
from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Thrift Shop

Please contact above phone numbers for further information.

more understanding: we know the consequences
of his discovery. We are just able to sce the past
better. Moreover, he says, there are good people

deceit, intolerance
degradation

Open Letter to

realize that economic diversification is the secret
toa prosperous future. This diversification; Which
will include new ‘clean’ businesses, tourism pro-
motion and a more appealing downtown, all rely
on a much-needed transportation link between
Robson and Castlegar. To not get the bridge, nor a
return of the ferry, would indirectly remove mil-
lions of dollars from the area, not to mention the
bitter disappointment many NDP voters will feel.
But let’s give Mr. Charbonneau the benefit of the
doubt. After all, he has agreed to meet with us, he
says he’s willing to hear us out, and come to think
of it, he also knows the feeling of disappoint-
ment—that cancer clinic which will soon be locat-
ed in Kelowna was bound for Kamloops, the

riding for which Charbonneau is MLA.

The communities of Robson and Castlegar have
been working together—finally—to show support
for this common and important cause. We've made
the link co-operatively, now we need Mr. Charbon-

neau to allow a link physically.
Please don’t disappoint

five centuries ago. Volunteers manned the vessels.
and accompanied by a Spanish warship and an
Ocean-going tug, they re-traced Columbus’ voyage

Thousands of people turned out to see them
make landfall at this, the first stop on a 21-city
North American tour.

But rather than prompt a celebration by people
who are grateful their forefathers came to live
here, the trip has became a political football

And smack in the middle, North American
native, blacks and the usual crowd of leftist politi-
cians anxious to exploit any situation in order to
score a political point or two.

In the eyes of these people, Columbus wasn't a
daring explorer, he was an exploiter.

In his book, The Conquest of Paradise, author
Kirkpatrick Sale’s Columbus is a venal, cruel and
inept man who failed to understand the Eden he
had found and brought to it a European legacy of

Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, of England's
Oxford University, says that’s bunk. “No Society. is
ever free of man’s inhumanity to man, not even
pre-Columbian America. The bloody excesses of
warfare and empire-building in native America are
too notonous for any but the most naive to be mis-
led,” he wrote in The Economist.

And even if North America 500 years ago as the
great place the “politically correct” now hold it out
to be, is i fair to apply contemporary ethical and
moral standards to the past?

Pierre Trudeau answered that question for
Canadians when he told Japanese who had been
interned during World War II that he could only be
held accountable for his actions, not for those of
his political forefathers.

But here in Miami there is no Trudeau Prece-
dent, and the debate ragés:

Sale says there is no other way to view the past
than with the eyes of the present. We.now have

and bad people in history

Sale has plenty of challengers.

Historian Michael Gannon at the University of
Florida says; History is the recording of the past,
pure and simple. History as a mule doesn't judge
except by the standards of time. It’s unfair to
impose the standards of today on someohe who
was operating by his own best lights at the time

New Democrat MP Jim Fulton - normally a
Pretty sensible fellow- has demanded Spain for-
mally apologize to the natives.

That decided it for me.

Rather than offend the political police, Heather
and I will settle for a drive by rather than a person
al inspection of the Columbian replicas

Our close-up boat inspections will come instead
at the Miami International Boat Show, which is
underway on the other side of the harbor.

Power (boating) to the people!

i
The jer Sun
Zii\s

§S POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT AND A
MEMBER OF THE STERLING NEWS SERVICE
Established

465 Columbia Ave., Castlegar. B.C. V1N 1G8

From Boris Yeltsin to West Kootenay Power

West Kootenay Power and Boris
Yeltsin; what's the connection? In
short, foreign ownership. We got it,
while Boris Yeltsin wants it. But his
economy desperately needs foreign
investment, while the Canadian
economy needs it a great deal less,
and is increasingly harmed by it.

Foreign investment in an under-
developed and disorganized econo-
my can create ivity imcreases
that will feed people and generate
more domestic self investment
Everyone wins. But that describes
the former Soviet Union states, not
Canada Yet we have the most for-
eign ownership of any Western
Nation, and continue to allow —
exacerbated by free trade — ever
more foreign ownership and control
of our already developed economy

West Kootenay Power (WKP) is a
perfect local example of the most
common foreign investment in
Canada — a takeover rather than the
creation of new productive capacity
No new jobs were created when the
American firm Utilicorp bought
WKP; no new manufacturing plant
Or power generating facilities were
buik. Only legal ownership changed
hands, leaving titular control here in
the Kootenays. but ensuring that
Profits flow into forcign hands

This is not to denigrate WKP’s
Canadian component, run by finc
local people with a headquarters in
Trail and professional staff across
the Kootenay and Okanagan. But

and how Canadian monctary policy

and eventually social policy are
to a point not tolerated by
any other Westem nation.

Kootenay

Commentary

Gerald
Rotering

In exploring these issues, let us
give credit to Canadian nationalist
author and publisher Mel Hurtig.
who provides the most up-to-date
documentation in his book “The
Betrayal of Canada” (Stoddart Pub-
lishers, $24.95 hardcover), which
analyses The Canada-US free trade
pact and its disastrous impact on our
economy and — probably — our
sovereignty. Chapter 16 of the Free
Trade Agreement is key because it
liberalized our foreign investment
rules.

So, what's the problem with for
eign ownership? Many things. start-
ing with tax avoidance within
Canada as wholly-owned sub
sidianies transfer profits to parent
firms m the lower-tax United States
A great cxample is Safeway, which
in its 1990 annual repon enthuses
about its Canadian component
assuming a S4%4 millon debt. That
debt partially funded a dividend of
$538.7 million paid to its paremt
company in Oukkwnd. California

It all becomes clear pretty quick-
ly. Safeway in Canada has a huge
new debt to carry, thus reports lower
profs and pays less Canadian tax

Meanwhile, the parent company
Pays a lower rate of tax or pays a
nice dividend to shareholders. Who
picks up the lost potential tax
revenue in Canada? Of Course
— you and me.

This is not news, although it
may startle many of us. Rev-
enue Canada has for decades
struggled to plug loopholes,
but it can’t change the funda-
mental situation. Even 10 years
ago a Revenue Canada official
told a House of Commons commit-
tee that he could collect billions if
his department had the staff to police
inappropriate such transactions,
much less deal with the legal trans-
fers of Funds. When national policy
encourages foreign ownership, as it
has with our Conservative govern-
ment, what can Revenue Canada do?
With a huge portion of Canadian-
American trade being between par
emt and subsidiary companies, many
firms employ a variety of mecha
nisms to use thei Canadian branch
plants to best advantage, while trans.
ferring most profits south. Terms for
some of the more fancy methods of
sliding money south before the
Canadian tax collector arrives ar

double dipping”. the “Dutch treat
and the “rhythm method” They all
mean fess Canadian tax and more
Amencan profit

As this trond Continues. of Cours
some non-nationalist capitalists
within Canada (hello there. Fraser
Institute and CD. Howe Instaute')
would say the solution ts to further
harmonize Canada’s tax structure
with the Amencan. But that would
undermine funding for the social

Programs that make Canada the
humane nation we value. Unless we
change course soon, all of us might
as well kiss national health care,
decent welfare, and unemployment
insurance programs goodbye, while
leaning the words to the Star Span-
gled Banner.

Remember that once upon a time
Canada had an agency that at least
tried to ease this trend; it was called
FIRA, or the Foreign Investment
Review Agency. As you'll recall,
Brian Mulroney's Conservative gov-
€mment changed in into an invest-
ment promotion agency called
Investment Canada. And boy, has it
been a success! To March of 1991, it
has authorized (promote?) 3,734
acquisitions of Canadian firms,
while rejecting not a one. Of those
92.7 per cent were outright
takeovers, while only 7.3 per cent
were new business investment in
Canada.

And how far has this process
gone? Well, our own Financial
Post's 1990 500 list of supposedly
Canadian companies shows that 268.
or 54 per cent, are foreign-owned
while another 88 are partially for
ergn-owned. It's gotten to the point
that in Europe — where govern
ments are unabashedly nationalist
compared to we Canadians — they

all growing foreign owne rship “the
Canad We maght almost
tec! honoured

Gerald Rotering is a fermer
maver of Nelson and Constituency
Assistant to the New Democrat
Member of Parliament Lyle Kris

hansen

Kootenay Residents:

In order to develop an alumni
base, the Selkirk College Founda-
tion would like to establish com-
munication with all students who
attended Selkirk College before
1990. This information would
also assist those who are interest-
ed in establishing reunions.

If you have not been contacted

Please provide us with your name,
address, program, and year you
received you diploma or certificate.
Please send information to
Selkirk College Foundation Box
1200, Castlegar, BC VIN 3J1.

Dale Schatz
Executive Director

Hat snatcher sought
by upset children

Dear Editor:

Someone stole three hats from
the dressing room of our PeeWee
House Team during the practice
hour of 7:15 - 8:15 p.m on
Wednesday, February 12. These
hats, a Chicago Blackhawks, a
Cleveland Indians, and a Chicago
Bulls, were valued by our chil-
dren and we would really appre-
ciate having them back. Anyone
who may have information

regarding their whereabouts
Please contact me at 365-3569.

Thank very much.

Laurie Watson
Castlegar

see following page

TOWN HALL MEETING
Robson Community Hall
Feb, 24, 1992
7:00 P.M.

Columbia River Crossing

Guest Speaker:
Hon. Art Charbonneau
Minister of Highways

Plan to Attend!

al and cultural back-
grounds.

Castlegar Women’s Association
365-2104

Castlegar Arts Council

Children’s Choir

tion for valid reason by the
approval of the editor. Send let-
ters to. The Castlegar Sun, 465
Columbia Ave., Castlegar,
B.C., VIN 1G8, or drop them
off at the office

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legar Foods’

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