OPINION Castlégar News PAGE A4, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1991 MEMBER OF THE 8.C. PRESS: — ESTABLISHED AUGUST, TWICE WEEKLY MAY 4, 1 INCORPORATING THE MIDWEEK MIRROR PUBLISHED SerreMBce ta, 1870-AUGUST 27, 1980 LV. CAMPBELL — PUBLISHER, AUGUST 7, 1947-FEBRUARY 15, 1973 PUBLISHER — Burt Campbel! ‘OR — Simon Birch PLANT FOREMAN — Lin Hi ADVERTISING MANAGER — EDITORIAL Premier's plan lacks substance Ereaier Bill Vander brungind Ho point plan to protect British but unfor ly vague initigaives that ‘could bode well fon the West Kootenay. The most significant part of the plan from a West Kootenay per- spective is the premier’s announcement of a $1.4 billion, five-year reforestation program. Forests Mini: Claude Ri: d will details of the plan soon, the premiér said last aren in: his provincewide address, which sounded a lot like the kickoff to an election As such, the initiatives were, of course, sketchy at best and we'll have to wait to see if there’s substance to the rhetoric. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Whether or not the premier’s plan comes to fruition di as well on whether the Social Credit party forms the next government, which recent polls indicate isn’t likely as long as Mr. Vander Zalm remains the party’s leader. And he apparently will, judging from his comments last night following his speech. The premier also said there’ll be more emphasis on energy con- servation and alternate sources of energy, such as the burning of wood waste to generate electricity, commonly called cogeneration. Local politicians have long touted the development of such an energy source here in the West Kootenay and one project is in the works at Westar Timber’s Southern Wood Products sawmill here. Support and encouragement of such projects by the provincial gover- nment can only speed them along. One thing remains certain in the wake of Mr. Vander Zalm’s speech — he must call an election before October. How soon probably depends on how well the premier can sell his economic plan to the public. VIEWPOINT Speech vintage Vander Zalm By GORDON GRANT VANCOUVER — It was. vintage Vander Zalm. The Pepsodent smile with a hint of adorable impishness. Unbridled op- timism. Unflappable. Gee whiz, aren’t we lucky to live in .B.C.? Especially with a Social Credit government headed by Bill Vander Zalm. The premier gave a 15-minute speech on provincewide television Tuesday and then spent about 45 minutes evading questions while telling viewers what he wanted them to hear. Vander Zalm outlined a 12-point plan to shelter British Columbians from the ravages of taxation and in- BILL VANDER ZALM 7 1 flation. Then, while an- swering questions from three repor- ters and smiling condescendingly at the moderator when she tried to get him on track, he expanded on his plans. He promised a tax freeze and an- nounced a reforestation program worth $1.4 billion over five years. Other goodies included a freeze on salaries and ‘benefits for government members and senior public officials and a vague reference to wage restraint in the public sector. It all sounded like the start of an election campaign, a campaign he has to face before October when the government's five-year term is up. ‘The_province’s—economy- is—in better shape than any other provin- ce,”* said Vander Zalm. “We are the best province,” he told one of the questioners. ‘‘You wouldn’t argue that and I ask you like I have asked everyone else, would you live any other place?”’ For the first 15 minutes of the questions, the reporters asked about the sale of Fantasy Gardens, owned by Vander Zalm and his wife, Lillian. He had maintained that he had a minority interest but it later became known that he, in fact, owned more than 80 per cent. When he found himself in territory he didn’t much care for, he flashed the patented Vander Zalm smile and called the questioner by name. “What was the conflict? No beating about the bush, to the point Jack?"’ (Jack Webster was one of the questioners.) But did it sell with the voters who elected Vander Zalm and his party in read like an_ election Manifesto,” said Norman Ruff, a political scientist at the University of Victoria. ‘‘The premier made a whole series of policy proposals . . . if there is an immediate, positive reaction then we are in for an early election."" He added that “‘if people were looking for a real, new coherent direction, I don’t think it was there.’” “Shallow and vague,’’-commented Mike Harcourt, leader of the Op- Position New Democrats, adding that it was time Vander Zalm called an election. This was the Bill Vander Zalm of old. The guy whose strength is his personality. He wrote his own speech and his answers were off the cuff. That’s what he does best. Vander Zalm was -asked whether he will lead the Socreds into the next election. “Do you think there's much doubt? Of course I'll be there. Ill be there for the victory celebration — and you are invited."" Only time will tell whether the per- formance was enough to overcome deep-rooted problems in the party, a Party that recently has been in disarray while questioning his leader- ship. There have been about a dozen meetings of riding associations to vote on a special--resolution to determine whether there should be a that there every case members havé voted in favor. However, 75 per cent is needed to require a review. Plus ca change... George Richards’ letter on Iraq and the folly of selling arms abroad (Castlegar News, J brought back to me memories from the mi when I was in my early teens in Winnipeg. At that time, the street railway company was bringing in rubber-tired buses and phasing out the iron-wheeled street cars, the kind being resurrected in Nelson today. The thousands of tons of steel rails being removed from the roadways were sold for scrap, with most of it going to Japan. Some of those who watched what was going on in the world objected to this, but my father used to laugh at them and say, “Don’t worry about it — we'll get it all back.” I am also reminded of an article I read in the Globe and Mail a few days ago, just after the Patriot anti-missile proved itself so spectacularly. In this story we learn that the Patriot “tis pure gold for its prime contractor, Raytheon Co. of Lexington, Mass., which makes the guidance system,”’ and that ‘‘Subcontractor Martin Marietta Corp. of Bethesda, Md., which assembles the missile in Florida, also stands to in.’’ Most of the development cost. "about $11 bi US were picked up by the U.S. Army, using public money of course. We are also told, in a quote from the writer who covers international arms deals for Defense News, a weekly trade paper of the weapons industry, that ‘‘It (the astounding performance of the Patriot) will unquestionably boost foreign sales — there’s no doubt.”’ Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. Fred G. Marsh Castlegar No proof Referring to the Province of B.C. news release 1990 No. 44 headed “B.C. Takes Action on CO2,"" I don’t see any concrete Proof that the British Columbia government is taking steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The Carbon Dioxide Inventory for B.C., Prepared by B.H. Levelton and Associates for the B.C. Energy Ministry, points out that the pulp and paper industry in B.C. is the worst air polluter. The expanded mill in Castlegar will Produce enormous amounts of carbon dioxide and one heavy diesel chip truck will produce 26 tonnes of carbon dioxide during a 20,000 kilometre run. With projected 90,000 truck movements (coming and going) averaging 400 km around Celgar by 1993-94, it would convert into 46,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum. In just a one-year period, over 46,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide will pollute our air unless Celgar uses alternate chip transport. How committed is this government? Take a look at the alarming figures in the Carbon Dioxide Inventory for B.C. If the government is serious about greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide it must support chip transport to Celgar by barge and/or rail. In the proposed transport scheme by Celgar, the taxpayer is footing the bill for highway improvements — repair, repaving, congestion, a new bridge and extra ferry service — and will endure more air pollution. This government has a unique opportunity to make a positive contribution to our air quality. Will it do it or will it fail as so many times before? Please, support an alternate chip transport for Celgar and not just use words but take action. Under section 172(2)(b) of the National Transportation Act, the province could step in to save the Boundary subdivision rail line. Instead, the government of B.C. is standing by idle while the branch lines are being destroyed. Doesn’t it have any vision for an energy efficient transport system which also would cause a lot less air pollution? Gunter Retterath Winlaw War is failure War is an expression of failure, not an opportunity for success. We recognize that the planet is suffering from an ecological crisis and any behavior which further endangers our ecological balance is an extreme act of irresponsibility. The Green Party of B.C. believes in striving towards a goal of nuclear and general disarmament and world peace through the non- violent resolution of conflict. While armed forces have traditionally been used to protect us from threats to our security, we recognize that today the major threats to security are threat of war, the depletion of our resource base, and deterioration of our atmosphere, water and soil. Greens are working towards world Peace by means of verifiable and civilization, towards a peaceful planet. The Greens shall support the policy of active non-aligned neutrality for Canada — the active Promotion and practice of neutrality between warring nations and military alliances, Donna Whitta per Andrea Wright Green Party candidate Kootenay West-Reveistoke Goal almost met Amid much local uncertainty about the economy and great concern about the world situation, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the whole community in and around Castlegar for once again showing their care and concern for those less than fortunate in our community. Again this year, residents and businesses dug into their pockets and supported the United Way campaign which came very close to meeting its fundraising goal. Many in our community are currently uncertain about their own financial future, but gave what they could nonetheless. Those who receive services from the various United Way agencies will benefit as they have in years past from the help and assistance which this community can truly take pride in. From all of us within and connected to the United Way, we want to thank all supporters for providing this ‘‘bright light’’ of hope. Castlegar and District United Way LOCAL NEWS By DONNA ZUBER Staff Writer When Shawn Aasen was born five weeks premature, he couldn't breathe on his own. Within hours, the doctors deter- mined his heart was the problem and flew him to Vancouver. Shawn had open heart surgery thie next day. His mother Linda said she never put much thought into heart problems before she had Shawn. “When you think heart, you think of older people,’’ she said at her home in Robson. ‘It never really occurred to me that it af- fects babies too."" February is designated Heart Month by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Aasen says she now appreciates how important the annual fundraising drive is, “I take a look at my little boy now, if there weren’t the fun- ding, I wouldn’t have hint here,” she said. ‘I’m very grateful. Probably quite a few years ago he wouldn’t be here.”’ Shawn is now 16 months old. He is small for his age and gets sick often, but otherwise is doing fine. Linda and Kevin, Shawn’s father, expect he will have another operation when he is about five. The first operation, to widen Shawn's aortic valve, was successful but it could be better. They hope research will make the next operation his last. And that's what the foun- Raising funds for research hits home for local family Linda Aasen credits research by the Heart and Stroke Foundation for airing Shawn achance Gt life. —casnews photo we'll have any problem,”’ Kem- is attributed to research and ball said. education, Kemball said. dation is working towards with its fundraising. Sharon Kemball, coordinator for the West Kootenay region of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. and the Yukon, said this Over 90 cents of each dollar raised goes towards research and Funds will be raised in education. The goal for B.C. is Castlegar through volunteer can- $7 million. vassing of residents as well as businesses, and a Curlathon is Heart disease and strokes are being held Feb. 10. In May, year’s goal for Castlegar is the No. 1 killers in B.C., during fitness week, a Dance for $10,000. Last year, $7,500 was claiming an average of 130 lives Heart will be held with all raised. in the province every week. That Proceeds going to the Heart and “We have twice as many can- figure includes a 50 per cent drop Stroke Foundation, she said. vassers this year so I don’t think in the number of strokes, which Chris and Rob MacPherson are organizing the sixth annual Curlathon, for the third con- secutive year. Chris said they hope to push last year’s total of just under $5,000 over the $5,000 mark. She said the event has been “very successful’? in previous years, and includes prizes for the most pledges and best costume, and a turkey shoot. “The foundation wouldn’t be if it weren't for the community of volunteers,’* Kemball said. Big Dipper e ali Navours THE MORE YOU BUY, THE MORE YOU SAVE! perbunch il PRODUCE , os red delicious es 2 9 .C. grown * Canada fancy * Mcintosh apples pan lama 5 9 kg. 1.3070. grown * commercial mac, spartan bulk apples 9..99 BAKERY — YOU USE CASTLEGAR NEWS CLASSIFIED CALL 365-2212 SAVE A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS WHEN B8 Please address ail letters to the editor to: Letters to the Editor, tlegar News, P.O. Box 3007, Castlegar, B.C. ViN 3H4, or deliver them to our office at 197 Columbia Ave. in Castlegar. Letters should be typewritten, double- Spaced and not longer than 300 words. Letters MUST be signed and include the writer's first and last names, address and a telephone number at which the writer can be reached between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The writer's name and city or town of residence only will be published. Only in exceptional cases will letters be published without the writer's name. Nevertheless, the name, address and telephone number of the writer MUST be Greens wish to obtain secure peace by means of non-violent political processes. Greens recognize Canada’s unique position to play a vital part in the social evolution of to the editor. The Castlegar News reserves the right to edit letters for brevity, clarity, legality, grammar and taste. Soviet Union faces choice between democracy, dictatorship Gorbachev suggests suspending press freedom By CHRIS MORRIS MOSCOW — The Soviet Union is at a crossroads and the choice is clear: democracy or dictatorship. Twenty people have died in the Baltic republics because of the Soviet military crackdown. President Mikhail Gorbachev has appealed for order, but Soviet troops continue to occupy buildings in Lithuania and Latvia. The embattled president stunned , the country last week by suggesting a suspension of the press freedom law, @ cornerstone of the glasnost policy. He said coverage of the crisis in Lithuania was inflammatory and calm could be more quickly restored if the news media were under state coming."’ Gorbachev himself has echoed that warning. “If we have strong government, tight discipline and control over the execution of decisions, then we shall be able to ensure normal food sup- Plies, rein in crime and stop inter- ethnic strife,’ he said in a recent tet! we fail to achieve this, dark forces will take Qver and the state frightening to people here as it is in the West. Gorbachev has always said that the transition from to liberal requires a difficult balancing act. It seems at the moment that the balance is tipping dangerously towards civil war. bachev order the attacks in the Baltics? If he didn’t, tias he lost-con- trol of the military? A senior western diplomat said the answer remains a mystery. increasing the element of coercion,” he said. “How far do they intend to go?” tatorship,"’ ‘the diplomat “These forces will replace Gor- bachey."* Gorbachev CARL'S TAKING CARE OF No. 1 WINTER SALE PRICES SAT.. JAN. 26 THROUGH TUES.. FEB. 5 SOLARAY COOL SPRAY Humi 3.8 Litres &7.SLitres NO FRILLS © NO GIMMICKS Brand Name Furniture Mattresses for less... A LOT LESS! $499 TYLENOL CAPLETS $699 SINUTAB PRICES as little as regular stores ‘oad _ an 365. 6433 24's. Reg. $7.99 my VITAMIN C Soiree * white * whole wheat sliced bread fresh bokery assorted muffins 570g toot xO pkg. of 6 1 i] 6 9 © regulor cut * family pack t-bone or frozen New Alka Selzer CK’S COUGH SYRUP Childrens 100 mi FORMULA 44D VICKS VAPORUB Glide on Tube. 35 mi CHLORASEPTIC Sore Throat Spray. 100 mt Reg. $999 boreal SALE DRISTAN wowsreay ae ba NOSE SPRAY ‘DRISTAN yasurs. $399 Reg. $5.49... 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