I ESTABLISHED AUGUST 7, 1947 vEEK Ay Castlégar News PAGE A4, SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1991 MEMBER OF THE 8.C. PRESS COUNCIL ISHED SEPTEMBER 12, 1678-AUGUST 27, 1080 LV. CAMPBELL — PUBLISHER, AUGUST 7, 1947-FEBRUARY 15, 1979 PUBLISHER — Burt Campbell EDITOR — Simon BI PLANT FOREMAN — Peter Harvey ADVERTICING MANAGER — Wayne Stolz OFFICE MANAGER — Warren Chernoff CIRCULATION MANAGER — Heather Hadiey |Saowone TWICE WEEKLY MAY 4, 1980 rch yore EDITORIAL Access to info law necessary Several months ago we commented on the need in British Cc bia for guar public access to government in- formation. So we were pleased to read this week that B.C. Ombud- sman Stephen Owen released a report, Access to Information and Privacy, in which he “fair and effective’ access policy. the pi ial government It’s unfortunate, though, that Mr. Owen said the decision ether to enshrine the policy in legislation is outside his jurisdiction and must be made at the political level. Nevertheless, the ombudsman oleheartedly agree with. made some comments that we \“*We’ve had too much secrecy in our society. It’s time we en- joyed openness,” Mr, Owen said last weekend at a conference in Vancouver organized by the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association. In his report, the ombudsman points out that British Columbians currently have no absolute right to obtain information, a situation he ; rt b sets said leads to arbitrary and i what information to disclose. Mr. Owen says in his report policy in which exceptions are limited and specific, a mechanism in- the people who use it to sound so ry on the government should create a WS N \\ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Share questioned I am writing concerning the Share Our Resources Society chapters which have been springing up in response to the Provincial Parks and Wilderness for the 90s agenda. Sharing, now that is a noble word. It enables on everything in human terms. ‘What these ‘‘share’’ people fail to remember is that we share this earth with millions of other organisms. We are a part of ai ricate interplay of life, and the fact that we have a forebrain does not give us the unalienable right to use everything as we see fit. It must be remembered that rights dependent of government must be in place to review decisions in What could be more fair than sharing? In reality, which access was denied, and the privacy of individuals must be protected. Good suggestions, but they must be enacted in legislation. While most, if not all, governments in Canada at all levels say they’re in favor of open government, their enthusiasm tends to wax jand and resources in this province. In fact, a and wane in direct proportion to the type of information being great deal of the productive forest land in B.C. is sought. If it’s good news,.governments are more than happy to make it public. If it’s bad or controversial news, they tend to clam up. Making access to information law rather than policy would go a get its greedy fingers into the last bit of the pie. long way to prevent such inconsistencies. Murray Rankin, one of the organizers of the conference and an a living. We have been seduced into thinking that expert on the access to information issue, put it succinctly: “‘Policy is to do this we must have access to all the land and only as good as the whim of the people administering-it.”” One has only to look at Premier Bill Vander Zalm’s current con- flict-of-interest policy to realize how true Mr. Rankin’s comment is. VIEWPOINT Aristocracy alive and well By LEE MORRISON ‘Canada has never been a classless society. 4 In colonial times, military gover- nors, French intendants and minor English noblemen lorded it over backwoods farmers, trappers and traders. From Confederation until after the Second World War, the in- dustrial barons and merchant bankers of Montreal and Toronto — the ‘‘family compact’’ or, as they were known in Western Canada, the “vested interests’? — controlled not only the economy but, through their economic power, the government. Then, for 20 glorious postwar years, political and economic democracy flourished side by side. The political power of-the vested in- terests was limited, and they had begun to pay their share of taxes. Everyone paid taxes, but nobody paid too much. Government was unobtrusive, and a small relatively efficient civil service actually served the public. Early in the Pearson ad- ministration, the rot began to set in. Government began to intrude more deeply into private lives and to ex- tract an ever-increasing share of national wealth from the pockets of ordinary citizens. By 1965, the philosophy of ‘‘soak the people for the common good”’. was entrenched: In the next 20 years, the number of federal employees nearly doubled, annual federal tax revenues (and the salaries and benefits of MPs) were multiplied by eight, and our national debt rose to $199 billion from $17 billion. Since 1985, the national debt has risen another 43 per cent in spite of a 37 per cent increase in the annual tax take. Canada is hurtling toward disaster, but for most MPs, senators and senior bureaucrats, it’s business as usual. Like the ins of the industry. This would be fair com- ment if Canada wasn’t dying under their stewardship. Any group of cor- porate executives who performed as badly as this bunch would have been tossed out long ago. It now costs $210 million to run the House of Commons for a year. That is $712,000 for each MP. It in- cludes a personal tax-free allowance of $26,600, an allowance of $155,000 for personal staff, 64 round trips by air (first class of course) anywhere in Canada and the physical operation of the parliament buildings. But, you say, all of this couldn’t add up to-anywhere near $712,000 per MP. Of course it couldn’t. Where does the rest of the money go? Who knows and, except for us serfs and peasants who pay the bills, who cares? Not only does the new aristocracy receive generous pay and benefits — it treats the public purse with profound contempt. In the Diefen- baker years, social events at public expense were tightly controlled and generally frowned upon, but when the Liberals opened the white elephant Mirabel Airport in 1975, the price tag for their boozy celebration was $500,000. A trend was set. Now, each time the 11 first ministers get together for three days of wining, dining and nation building, we collectively fork..put about $300,000. When the Mulroney entourage, at a cost of several hundred tl 1989 fran- special jet flight cost the taxpayers $104,000. > When reporters questioned the ex- travagance, she chirped that she had decaying Manchu Dynasty in China, or the courtiers of Louis the 16th, they are blind to danger. Their energies are mostly devoted to iP ~ Qui ‘is alive and ‘well, and living in Ot- tawa! All of the top nobility, including Don Mazankowski, Joe Clark and these people do not want to share so much as to make sure that they get their share, This share society is supported by the forest industry, a group which certainly has its share of already under the industry's control. Now the forest industry is worried that it won't be able to In order to live, people must be able to make resources in this province and the entire world for that matter. We must refuse to be so beguiled and use our creativity and imagination to create ways of living that do not overuse, and abuse, the land. It dickens and saddens me to realize that there are people who think it is their right to use everything on this earth for their personal benefit and gain. It appals me to conceive of a world where people manage, manipulate and exploit every bit of the earth. We may not realize it in this society, but we are truly children of the earth. We need wildness/ wilderness to ground us and renew our spirits. Without this we forget who we are, which some of us seem already to have done. We are fortunate in this country to be able to have the chance to allow some of the land to remain unmanipulated by people. We have a large land base and a relatively low population. We are not forced as some countries are to have to use all the land and resources simply to survive. If we 7 allow this to happen in this country and thi province, it will be basically out of greed. It is sad to realize that when people try to establish parks and/or wilderness areas, they must be able to justify it economically. Wilderness has a right to exist just because it is. It is supreme egotism that allows us to presume to put a value and go hand in hand. We, unlike other organisms, have the ability to see the consequences of our actions. So far, most of us have been busy demanding our rights to use the gifts of this earth without being responsible for our actions. We have clearcut the forests, mined the soil for both minerals and food, and used the rivers and air for.our sewers. With this kind of a record as earth stewards, we must be very careful about handing.over our remaining wild areas to the care of groups such as the Share Our Resoures Society. Libby Ruljancich Deer Park First worst First Street is being considered as a possible site for the new Castlegar-Robson bridge. The bridge would cross the river next to the train bridge then join Columbia Avenue via Ist Street. This site would have the greatest negative impact on most people. The area is one of the older sections of town and residents have lived here for many years, myself included. There are houses and a inium situated ing the river which could not be replaced by ‘‘fair market value’’ if they are expropriated. This site would not completely remove the truck traffic from the north end of town. Children in the area would still be faced with crossing a major truck route. The Ist Street site would produce the most environmental damage of the five sites being considered, according to Ministry of Transportation data. This damage would be to fish-spawning grounds near the mouth of Pass Creek. No choice will please everyone, but people are realizing that social and environmental concerns must take precedence when a project is considered. For these reasons I feel the Ist Street site would be the worst possible choice. Dave Syivest Castlegar People matter too Having attended the open house at the Brilliant Cultural Centre hosted by the Ministry of Transportation and Highways, I feel thata = number of issues arise from the meeting. Of the five proposed bridge sites, some will have an impact on residential Castlegar and others on residential Robson and Raspberry. I had hoped to see more information which addressed the concerns of residents. Questions which need answers include noise and vibration levels, ic traffic ibility, and si ks and paved shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists. The presentation seems to have been done with the chip trucks in mind. While most will wledge that i preci d the bridge study, it is important to remember that people also matter. The need for a crossing existed long before the pulp mill expansion. I strongly urge all those who may be affected by this project to accept the ministry’s invitation to attend the Castlegar public meeting, or write the project manager at 310 Ward St., Nelson, B.C. VIL 5S4, or phone 354-6443. Your ideas do matter! George Stein Robson Please address all letters to the editor to: Letters to the Editor, Castlegar 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 disclosed to the editor. The Castlegar News reserves the right to edit letters for brevity, clarity, legality, grammar and taste. REMEMBER WHEN Maroh 23, 1991 4 YEARS AGO From the March 22, 1951 (Castlegar News The Department of Public Works has placed a speed limit of 25 miles per hour on the TraiJ-Nelson High- way for protection of the black-top while the frost is coming out. It would be advisable to remember this when motoring, as last year’s speeders paid a fine of $50 for the violation — a costly fast ride. Oi Tie we Miss Sandra Lee Spence, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Spence, walked off with the honors at the Knights of Pythias Public Speaking Contest held in the Twin Rivers Hall last evening. The subject was ‘*Tur- ning Points In History."’ 25 YEARS AGO From the March 24, 1966 Castlegar News Between 15 and 20 per cent of local children have been away from school recently as a result of sickness and there seems little doubt that the district has been experiencing an in- fluenza epidemic, according to Dr. Nick. Schmitt, MHO for the West Kootenay Health Unit. . annual report for 1965. “It is anticipated"’ says the report, ‘that this new grade will materially assist our sales department during the next few years by broadening the range of pulps available for offer to @ competative market." 15 YEARS AGO From the March 25, 1976 Castlegar News Castlegar Midget Reps, who became the 1975-76 West Kootenay Champs by winning four games straight, are now heading for Quesnel for the B.C. Midget Play- offs. Local residents have one more chance to see these boys in action before the team leaves this weekend aan ‘a Local tk Columbia Avenue five years Forests wos putting its new the site on this week. When the Ministry of ice building. Local workers were upset that our-of-town labor was being used on the project. when they play the Commercial League All-Stars tomorrow evening in the Castlegar Arena. 5 YEARS AGO From the March 23, 1986 News Wearing signs saying ‘‘Local jobs for local people,’’ about 35 people — most of them unemployed — marched past the Ministry of Forests Property on Columbia Avenue Thur- sday to protest the use of out-of- town workers for the construction of the ministry’s new office building at the site. Challenge continued from page A4 are among the hardest hit. While the provinces’ greatest ex- penditures are in the areas of health and education, taxpayers pay for” education through property taxes and fund health care via sales taxes and payroll taxes. According to John Bulloch, president of the Canadian Federation especially onerous because of the way they discriminate against small, labor-intensive firms and give an un- fair advantage to large capital- intensive companies. And when municipalities resort to hikes in commercial property and business taxes to offset provincial funding cutbacks, they are also im- of. Ind it’s the payroll and property taxes that hit small businesses the hardest. Payroll taxes, says Bulloch, are posing taxes which are extremely i and ing to small firms. Bulloch points out there are several good reasons why the provin- ces and municipalities should altogether avoid falling into the tax- grab-trap. “Canada is fighting a recession, a time when tax increases are acutely felt. and harmful to any quick economic turnaround,’’ he says. ‘‘As well, small businesses are already overtaxed by g and thus, hard-pressed to continue creating jobs for the economy, let alone survive. “Despite what they are saying, the provinces’ do have a choice in Aristocracy. continued from page A4 bill last year was a staggering $527,073,913. (This includes the $3,776 travel portion of Marcel Masse’s $13,000 trip to attend the Oscar ceremonies.) Scores of similar examples of wan- ton waste of public funds have been documented. Nickel and dime stuff, you say? Perhaps in the world of multi-billion dollar deficits it is, but it is symptomatic of the rotten mess that has to be cleaned up. Until costs are controlled at the top, the hun- dreds of thousands of people who regularly dine at the public trough will not tolerate restraint. Leaders who will not lead by example cannot lead at all. So, why will Reform party MPs be any different from or better than the current crop? Why won't they be seduced by the system as soon as they arrive in Ottawa? Well, for one thing, nobody sacrifices time, energy and money to build a movement like ours unless he or she is devoted to principles, and one of our principal principles is cut spending. ° Secondly, our party constitution is crafted to prevent the stacking of nomination meetings by opportunists motivated only by the desire to win. Finally, the Reform party will be the first party in Canadian history to recruit candidates on the basis of merit. Our nominating committees will act as personnel agencies. Poten- tial candidates will be interviewed and their qualifications and referen- ces checked as though they were ap- plying for i iti of ‘costly, responding to the federal gover- nment’s austere measures. They can be destructive and short-sighted by imposing new taxes and cutting tran- sfers to theit municipalities, or they can be constructive and follow the same tough-medicine route the federal government has finally chosen to take, Positive cost-cutting actions such as contractifig-out selec- ted government work, reducing sub- sidies and grants to businesses, put- ting caps on civil service salaries, and resisting the temptation to bring in bureaucracy-building programs would go a long way towards achieving government ef- ficiency.”” A 1989 survey conducted by CFIB showed that an overwhelming 97 per cent of small- and medium-sized fir- ms support deficit reduction through expenditure restraint and not tax in- creases. With several provincial budgets expected in the next few months, Ci i will i watch to trust. Although no party member can be denied the democratic-4ight to seek a nomination, power trippers, con artists and high profile light- weights will certainly be discouraged. Will the three traditional parties make similar commitments? Lee Morrison is a member of the Reform Party of Canada executive. see if their respective governments are serious about fiscal restraint and responsibility. After all, they helped get ‘us into this tax mess, and: it’s their job to help get us out. Terry O'Shaughnessy is a colum- nist for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. D.sar-D DINING LOUNGE OPEN DAILY AT 4 P.M. * LICENCED * 365-3294 CELGAR, WESTAR & COMINCO MEAL VOUCHERS ACCEPTED Located |} Mile South of Weigh Scale in Ootischenia sermetearaisarasnse \ME TRV REMEM| P MILKSHAKES BER: “ANYTIME IS CHICKEN TIME” 2816 Columbia Ave., Castlegar 9° UNTIL MARCH 31/91 365-5304 Suzuki's show sparks complaints VANCOUVER (CP) — The Canadian Radio-television and Set ph Pets T hasn’t heard so many complaints sin- ce the short-lived television series Freddy’s Nightmare. But this time the complaints aren't over the violent escapades of a disfigured fictional killer with razors for fingernails — they're about David Suzuki, geneticist and host of The Nature of Things. Suzuki seems to be causing a stir among forest industry companies and at least one national banking headquarters in Toronto. The commission so far has received 33 complaints about Voices from the Forest, a two-hour Nature of Things program shown Feb. 3. Freddy Krueger, movie and elevision character, is close behind CBC, which has received 75 letters of protest, to respond in writing to each complaint. It plans to review the show, which focused on logging practices i . .. show causes controversy British Columbia. The program was critical of clearcut logging, in which all the trees in a specific area are oved. “a says the commission. The CBC could be asked to “‘air another show to give the other view if it was required,”’ he said, adding that was not likely. Many complaints Canada Lid. Ltd. Provinces face tough challenge Pierre Pontdriand, director general of information services for to the com- mission were also sent to Nature of from the Nature of Things and aired on other CBC television shows. Jim Murray, executive producer of the Nature of Things, said the in- dustry campaign was ‘‘an attempt to intimidate and make people ner- vous.”* But Murray said he has teen assured by the CBC's advertising department that companies are lining up to advertise on the popular show. “It’s a very hostile, negative reac- tion that the forest industry has taken, and it reveals how sensitive they are,”’ said Murray. Murray said he felt many of the critics only picked up on what they to. the presidents of the I Only the CIBC so far. has asked that its advertisements be pulled B.C.’s chief forester, John Cuthbert. CRUISE April 11-19, 1991 — 9 Dey DBL /TW: $825.00 pp June 11-24, 1991 — 14 Dev TLEFIELD, fashioned CHUCKW: WYOMING, and SOUTH DAKOTA!! DBL /TW: $1219.00 pp Ex le of the wilderness scenery te include o GET. STEPPING (DOL Twin: $2029 pp WODNEY TOURS Z\ 1355 Bay Ave., Trail 368-6666 OREGON /CALIFORNIA COAST & SPRINGTIME ON THE ISLAND Vancouver Island Tour includes Whale-Watching in Ucluelet, si Powell River, Comox, Chemainus, Nanaimo. Double decker tour YELLOWSTONE /BLACK HILLS Join us 08 we tour to YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK and the BLACKHILLS of SOUTH DAKOTA, Travel bock to the days of the OLD WEST . . . CUSTERS BAT- . . the home of CALAMITY JANE and en JAGON BAR-B-Q. Highlighted BLAC PASSION PLAY in SPEARFISH. Many more sights to see in MONTANA, GREAT NORTHERN ADVENTURE dune 30-July 23, 1991 — 24 Day ACQUAINTED CRUISE. GAMBLING ond CHORUS on at DIAMOND TOOTH GERTIE'S in DAWSON CITY et GOU the QUEEN OF THE ' NORTH down B.C Join us and imagine the fost rugged days of the GOLD RUSH ERA West's Travel 365-7782 t-seeing in Victoria. ‘an old- by the stirring KILLS old-fashioned We have Easter baskets We hove pre-wrapped skets with an CARL’S EGG-CEPTIONAL EASTER SPECIALS! Choose from a large selection at Carl's! EASTER EGG COLORING KITS Dudley's Bunny Patch Color eggs the Traditional way. No vinegor required — crystals dissolve in cold water. x Swirl an Egg Kit * Bee F See Sony YOUR CASTLEGAR SAFEWAY WISHES YOU A HAPPY EASTER Open Regular A Hours Except Good Friday open ( 10 a.m.-6.p.m. CLOSED SUNDAY MARCH 31 — SAFEWAY MEATS — Toupie Grade TURKEYS. Frozen * 3-5 kg. $2.60/kg. Or — DELI FRESH — Potato Maple SALAD HAM Fletchers © 100 G. Country Kitchen 39 139° — FRESH BAKED DAILY — Easter Layer CAKE “- Parker House ROLLS 7-Inch Baked Fresh Per Dozen 6°? 1 99 — SAFEWAY PRODUCE ALWAYS THE BEST — U.S. Fresh Fresh YAMS |Tomatoes Medium ¢ 73¢/kg. 28 oz. Basket 477 Our Floral Depart. has a great selection of Easter Lilies! — BUDGET STRETCHERS — Motts ¢ Clamato JUICE Regular & Extra Spicy 1.36 L. Limit 1 Over limit $1.98 5 78 Miracle WHIP Regular or Light 1 Litre Jar 34s Taste Tells i ; Pineapple Sliced, Crushed or Tidbits © 540 mi 2,1* Parkay Margarine 3 Ibs. Limit 1 Over limit $2.38 478 FRAGRANCE SPECIALS FOR MOM'S EASTER ADVERTISED PRICES IN EFFECT SUN. | MON.| TUES.| WED. | THUR.| FRI. 24 | 25 | 26| 27 | 28 | 29 SAT. 30 Mon. to Wed. & Set. Thursday & Friday |. to 6 p.m. We reserve the right to limit sales to retail quontities. pom sperreps eee Challenger py TERRY O'SHAUGHNESSY would be to thrust further tax in- to tool arow country when When federal i regular commercial Mights “were ce ee cee Early bird discounts on specified tours * All prices are based on double occupancy ‘erhaps ALL TOURS, NON-SMOKING ONBOARD COACH See your travel agent for details or CALL 1-800-332-0282 ALL TOURS SUBJECT TO G.5.T. WHERE APPLICABLE. SAFEWAY We bring it all together ¥ CARL’S PLAZA DRUGS Plaza RL’