RICHARD McALARY economic prospects dim Economic forum i is a real SUCCESS - Besa from page Al before heading into the other Barts of the Kootenays. --As well, Rooney said the Blocan Vailey has a $5 million annual agricultural potential according: to a recent econ- ‘omic: study for the area. He ‘said that’s one-quarter the annual output from the area’s dominant employer — Slocan Farest: Products. :- Other lists also sup- predominant in the Okan- agan Valley.-He pointed to the possibility for an over- night campground and a marina facility. should the new Murphy Creek dam fi- nally go through. However, Maloney said it all takes “initiative” and he urged the local businessmen to “get off their butts.” “It would sure be nice as a not to have to _ ported an’ agriculture-tour- ism economic base for the ” West Kootenay. 5 i: Car dealer Gary Maloney, * another panelist said, “Tour- f ism is: probably. the easiest : way we can get a quick fix in on. some of the. economic _ woes.” However, “Maloney: said it ‘means Castiégar mi develop an. identity. identity; but in order to et. the economy moving, .“ have to improve the wea of this community,” he said. * He suggested setting up fruit atands such be those 80 worry whether 50 or 60 guys will be laid off,” he said. * Central Kootenay Regional District . economic _develop- ment officer Stefan Lauer said the region's economic opportunities lie in forestry, agriculture, tourism and the area's unique blend of sec- ondary industry — its ar- first tisans and cottage industries. Lauer said the forestry in- n ‘dustry shouldn't be seen as. just lumber and pulp, but also as cedar siding, shakes, custom furniture and other forms of forestry diversifi- cation. “We do have some other options for the forest indus- a “ PETER CHITTAM = optimiatiess: try in this district.” He said local artisans are one of the area's best soc- ondary pointed out 75 per cent of the business licences in Kaslo are.- - held by residents who work out, of their homes. He said a group of 70 local artisans recently met in Castlegar to form a Koot-- enay-Boundary Artisan Alli- ance to actively engage in marketing products outside this area, He said the alliance is also working at establishing a fine. arts centre in the Slocan Valley. k Laver said there are also economic benefits from the area’s education centres, and noted that in Nelson alone students spent’ $2.8: million last year. Meanwhile, Selkirk Col- lege economist Larry Brown said the key to tourism as a strong economic hase is “co- ‘operation.”. * merous ‘local _ achievements through cooperation and said West Kootenay:has si highest unemployed 5 By CasNews Staif Economic prospects in the Castlegar area — and B.C. as a whole — are pretty dim, according to Richard Mc- Alary, chief economist for the B.C. Central Credit Union. » MeAlary told about .150 residents at a public econ- omic forum Monday that the province is currently in a re- cession: and isn’t likely to . come out of it for at least another six months to a year. : His comments were sup- ported by his latest economic analysis for the B.C. Central Credit Union. The analysis shows the “West Kootenay with the largest, unemployment Fate in the province for 1981. The West Kootenay had 10.74 per cent of its work Hforee off the job last year, Can- He said the Canadian econ- omy isn’t going to recover because it is tied’ to econ- omies elsewhere in. the world. “All. western ‘nations are currently: suffering a down- turn. . . caused by tight money and ‘high interest rates,” he said. As well, he said the Rea- will be about the same a year from ‘now. “Meanwhile, Peter Chittam, a small business consultant for the Ministry of Industry's small-business development :section, was much more op> . timistic. Chittam said, “Out of econ- omic: bad times come great opportunities.” -He pointed ag that macy: to change the economic or- der, and that means ‘tough times ahead. “It’s a fact of life in B.C. The events in the U.S. have. more effect on our economy than either Ottawa or Vic- *toria.” He added another +r ‘reason for a slow recovery is that even if the U.S.’ brings its economy around, the Cana- ihda. That eine to the 3B.C. average cf 6.69 per cent. ° "In fact, the only other region close. to the West Kootenay rate was the near- by Southern’ Interior; which had a 10.58 per cent un- employment rate. And MeAlary said the fu- ture doesn’t look any better. - “The outlook for increased employment levels during 1982 is directly tied to gen- eral economic recovery,” he said. “We anticipate unem- ployment levels to increase in B.C. before they level off sometime in the next couple of months.” McAlary said he toured BC Timber’s' Celgar mill and ~spoke with a number of workers there. He said the saddest comment: on our economy is that the workers “don't know . why they're back to work.” He said every major lum- ber mill in the province is: losing money — including the Celgar mill. “How long this can con- tinue, nobody knows.” McAlary . said people should realize the ian't “going to have a re- covery tomorrow.... there's just no fundamental reason to have @ recovery tomor- tow.” a: . dian won't/pick up for another six months after. said. “We're looking at least'the * balance of this year” before , the seonamy here: vturns around, he said. On mortgaie: Frits): Me- Alary said’ his ‘guess'is as good — or as bad as any- body's. He said New York ! econ- omists say, mortgage rates will continue, to decline slightly — pothaps to 16 per | cent — before picking ‘up again after the summer. He added housing prices will also-remain stable this year, and predicted that the price of a-house bought now ing the'same ‘arobises asthe “industries and - ' that same ‘cooperative spirit an now be focused.on econ-. Cable takeover Cable West is now under new ownership, the Castle: help’ maintain equilibrium’ ng Canadian cable, com- p insofar as sizo id: con- "Edmonton-based Capital Tv Cable Ltd. ‘The move makes Capital one of the five largest ‘cable companies “in the. Pavers f with more than’ 200,000. sitb- Valhalla Park the key ue he glass of water when you sit omic development and job ?.°] creation’ “on a “continuing basis.” He ‘said.we should make our tourist attractions. better known to tourists, both those travelling through the area and those who aren't aware of the West Kootenay. He suggested an extensive tourist brochure including all the sites and: attractions. “It’s a matter of letting the tourists know we're: there.” Brown said a tourist booth on the western approach to Castlegar from Grand Forks would be beneficial, One resident, Frank Fin- ney, chastised the local Chamber of Commerce for its reaction ‘to his. Proposal to arrange. a 1,600-person con- ference in Castlegar. Finney ‘said: he tried “to raise the topic with the local chamber president but was: a :put off. twice. |" . needs ‘the ‘space for local. Brown pointed out the nu- ° z f He said he finally gave up. He called the West Kootenay can‘you find a hotel of any size with sn indoor pool?” Brisco: also suggested es- tablishing ‘a: veterinary col- lege here. There are only two others in Canada and the de- ‘mand for training is enor- mous, he said. |, | ‘The five - - panelista ' - ‘Rooney, | Brown, Mal Lauer, and Mayor ‘Audrey Moore — decided to form an . ad hoc committee along with moderator Harold Webber to >put the ideas generated at the forum into practice. The group meets tomor- row night to act on a number of. suggestions. LIBRARY SPACE continued from page Al a “single eight-| -by-11-foot room, Space problems - have forced: the ‘library to: curtail 10,000, square "toot . library the travelling’ brary | ‘service ~ from Victoria. . She said Victoria ‘used .to ¥ send 200-300 “books every: 199 SMOKED MUSSELS sceeresecs CANNED PICNICS “PLUMROSE. 1LB. TIN....csseceeees DAD’S COOKIES ASSORTED FLA\ FLAVORS. 4506 CHEERIOS (BREAKFAST CEREAL. 300 Gi ROLLED OATS | $4.69 | ELANES OF WAM G9° | CORNED DEFT 910? CHILICON CARNE $419 STs ‘SOFT COOKIES $429 RED ROSE. 60 2-CUP GAUZE.......-+ ‘ COTTAGE CHEESE FIVEROSES FLOUR 10..55%° SUNRIPE ROBIN HOOD. 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