24 Saturday, September 19, 1992 @ Socreds want Charlottetown Accord dumped — Scott David Harrison EDITOR The New Democrat Party has sold out British Columbians Jack Weisger- ber says. The Social Credit leader says Mike Harcourt showed his inability to lead the province by agreeing to the Char- lottetown Accord on Canadian unity. “It’s a bad deal for British Coluth- bia,” Weisgerber said. “Mike Harcourt failed miserably at representing British Columbia.” Weisgerber says Socreds can’t agree to a deal that gives Quebec a distinct society. clause and 25 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons, doesn’t recognize a triple-E Senate, grants Na- tive self-government without providing a definition or dollar figure to the Canadian populous and establishes a rigid amending formula which favors Ontario and Quebec. “Provinces and people in this coun- try should be equal,” Weisgerber said. “This deal isn’t based on equality.” Weisgerber said the provincial New Democrats have thrown their own stumbling block into the package by re- questing that the province’s six elect- ed senators consist of at least three women. “That make a bad deal even worse,” he said. “We think that is an absolute- ly regressive step for both men and women. “British Columbians should be able to elect whoever they want and con- ceivably they should be able to elect four women senators if they want. We can’t according to this.” Weisgerber said a vote against the Charlottetown Accord isn’t a vote against Canada. “We are being told that if we don’t do it this time, the country will break up,” he said. “Well, the country didn't break up after the Meech Lake Accord, why would it this time? “If we agree to this deal, we'll be re- ally painting ourselves into a corner. If it is accepted, all we are going to see is a Canada that will never change. The friction will continue and there will be nothing we can do about it.” @ Saturday, September 19, 1992 Scott David Harrison EDITOR Jack Weisgerber says the Social Credit Party got what it deserved in 1991. The party’s new leader says the October election which saw the once-mighty political force reduced to rub- ble was a valuable lesson. “The vote was definitely a vote of non-confidence in the party,” Weisgerber said Wednesday. “But, at the same time, British Columbians weren’t happy with the Mike Harcourt New Democrats as was evident with the number of seats the Liberals were able to pick up.” Weisgerber said the Liber- als managed to collect the “protest vote,” enabling the party to collect 17 seats in the B.C. Legislature and the lofty title of Her Majesty's Of- ficial Opposition. Sitting on the outside look- ing in is a strange position for the Social Credit Party, which once ruled British Co- lumbia as though it was its monarchy. That, says Weis- gerber, was the problem. “Quite honestly, the party lost touch with its members,” he said. “Those things hap- pen to political parties after being in power as long as we were.” Weisgerber said he would not blame former Premier Bill Vander Zalm for the par- ty’s downfall. Instead, he said “a whole series of so many things went wrong” during the Vander Zalm years. Weisgerber said the party will return to its roots to help re-establish credibility. He said the Socreds still have 45,000 members — the sec- ond largest provincial party in Canada béhind the Parti Quebecois. To do that, Weisgerber has been touring the province drumming up _ support among the party’s still-sting- ing members. “We're developing a con- stituency action plan de- signed to get more input from our members,” he said. “We want to rebuild the party with everyone involved.” Weisgerber, who spent Wednesday in Trail and Thursday in Nelson, said the party has to rely on its mem- bers if it hopes to regain pow- er. “The Social Credit Party has always been and will al- ways be the party for British Columbians,” he said. “The Social Credit Party has al- ways been able to speak un- abatedly about British Co- lumbia because we are a par- ty for British Columbia.” Weisgerber admits that he a tough road ahead of him, but he said the Socreds per- formance in the legislature, return to a grassroots move- ment and opposition to the Charlottetown Accord may be just what the party needs to resurrect the faith. “We are a_ British Columbian party and will continue to be so,” he said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are confident that we can beat the New De- mocrats.” GET ON THE TRAIN FOR THE CHICKEN BURGER SPECIAL Breast Meat. On a Sesame Includes a Choice cut of Seed bun with Lettuce, tomato and our own special sauce. Also includes your choice of Golden Crispy French Fries, our Delicious JoJo's or STOCKS LAST LIMITED SUPPLY — AM. ny on ang wine HIGHWA' 364-0202 CALL COLLECT 365-0202 Castieger y 364 2 Oy DRIVEN AN AM FORD LATEL “ 2649 Fourth Avenue astlegar, B.C. VIN 281 365-3563 NNIS BEDIN 7. 967-7187 EVERY MON., TUES. & WED. ONLY DURING SEPTEMBER Large Sundae or 16 oz. Coke Float Keep the Collectable Glass or 12 oz. Blizzard FOR ONLY Castleaird Plaza Phone: Castlegar, B.C. Dairy -in Your Queen Corinne Jackson NEWS REPORTER West Kootenay Power and its two striking unions are wait- ing to hear from mediator Don Cott before they head back to the bargaining table. Last Sunday, Cott met with the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers and WKP for 10 hours. Both sides left af- ter 5 a.m. feeling that a settlement was getting close but said more meetings were needed. ‘ The Office and Technical Employees’ Union, however has not had any calls back to the table, the union’s community di- rector said. “There are no plans to get together at this time,” Paula Stromberg said. She also said there is no reason to meet with OTEU mem- bers at this point. “Our shop stewards are in touch with the members but there is nothing to meet about. “They voted to go on strike and they’re collecting strike pay,” Stromberg said. Since last week’s session, the IBEW negotiating team has been meeting among themselves, the union’s assistant busi- ness manager. “When we left the company on Monday we left with some ideas to research and we left something with them to think about,” Brian Robson said. WKP’s director of community and public affairs was also happy with the meeting with the IBEW last week, but said further meetings have not been scheduled. “The session on Sunday was called by the mediator and he can call them at any time,” Mike Bradshaw said. He said that “in the meantime construction at the head of- fice in Trail is going ahead.” Recalling troubles when the project first began, Bradshaw said “there have been no lines up recently.” Striking IBEW members began secondary-picketing when excavation at the Trail site began. The Industrial Relations Council agreed with the WKP request for legal relief. “So far all of our employees who are on strike have co-op- erated,” Bradshaw said. “We sure hope that continues as we try to negotiate a set- tlement.” (OULE sz MASSAGE WEEKEND WORKSHOP: An overview of the philosophy and history of massage including the physiological processes and pain tension cycle. An introduction to palpation, acupressure and reflex point theory; also including the practise application for massage strokes. Sat. & Sun., Sept.-26 & 27,9-4 p.m. $75. GOAL SETTING WITH FOCUS: Learn how to set goals utilizing all your capacities. Tues., Sept. 24 and Oct: 1, 7-9 p.m. $20, room B14. INTRODUCTION TO MYERS-BRIGGS PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPE: Participants discover their own per lity type pref and learn how to relate to different types of people. Tues., Sept. 29, Oct. 6 & Oct. 13, 7- 9:30 p.m. $25 plus $5 for materials, plus GST. Room B14. HOSPICE TRAINING PROGRAM: Hospice is a group of people who support the terminally ill and their families. Volunteers are an important part of the hospice movement. This training covers all aspects of death, dying and grieving which volunteers will need to help patients cope with impending loss. Mon., Sept. 30, 7 p.m. (free introduction evening) Mon. & Wed., Oct. 5 - Nov. 4, 7 - 9 p.m. (10 sessions) $3 per class or $12 for the series. This program will be held in the Hospice Education Room at the Castlegar Hospital. BEGINNERS SPANISH: Planning a trip to a Spanish speaking country? Come out, learn the basics and get around in style. Thurs., Oct. 1 - Dec. 3, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. $45 plus GST, Room S-220. BEGINNERS WATERCOLOUR: Learn to use the exciting, challenging medium of watercolour. Sat. & Sun., Oct. 3 & 4, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. $55 plus GST. Room G17. INTRODUCTION TO UPHOLSTERY: Come and learn basic upholstery methods and complete a project at the same time. Projects are limited to a simple, basic stool or kitchen chair. Bring your project on Oct. 6 to go over equipment needed. Tues., Oct. 6, 7 - 9 p.m. & Sat., Oct. 17, 9 - 5 p.m. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER CALL: CASTLEGAR CAMPUS - 365-1261 PRESENTED BY : CASTLEGAR ihe News ANG ($) SAFEWAY Place a Classified Ad in the Castlegar News or the West Kootenay Connector and your name is automatically entered. You could wina.. . 3-MINUTE SHOPPING SPREE at the Castlegar Safeway! RULES AND EXEMPTIONS 1. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older 2. One entry will be placed in your name for each classified or ad series you puchase. 3. Free Ads — such as lost, found and employment classified exempt from this promotion. 4. Commercial Classified Ads exempt from this promotion. 5. Tobacco products will not be included in the Shopping Spree prize. 6. A dollar amount for meat products will be awarded in addition to items collected in the 3-minute Shopping Spree. 7. Employees of the Castlegar News and Canada Safeway are ineligible for this promotion. The winner will be announced in the Wednesday, November 4 edition of the Castlegar News and the Thursday, November 5 edition of the Kootenay Connector. our Freshly made salads. FOR ONLY $3.99 E> So get on the train and heed on down to Chicken 4 Time. For a great meal at an affordable price. 2816 Columbia Ave. brazier 365-5522 Cake Orders WE TREAT YOU RIGHT The Shopping Spree is scheduled for Saturday, November 7. 365-5304 Ly Selkirk College |