z or Wednesday! April 4; 1992 m ' J Ly a a. — SS s & Dave McCullough Publisher OurWiEWS AdrianRAESIDE A change for the better lhe insecurity and instability | of Castlegar’s forest industry got the news it needed Monday. On that day, Forest Minister Dan Miller finally gave his long-awaited seal of approval to Pope and Talbot’s purchase of financially-troubled Westar. To many, Westar’s departure will - be seen as a blessing. After all, the once-vibrant company did little to convince this community it was here to stay. Pope and Talbot, on the other hand, has given Castlegar every indication that it is here for the long haul. Like some sort of crowned prince, Pope and Talbot has paraded its keen ideas before this wide-eyed community, promising a prosperous future. It has announced plans to refurbish the Castlegar sawmill, to ensure its long-term economic survival. Pope and Talbot has also committed itself to the proper management of our natural resources — something Westar was found negligent of. Furthermore, Pope and Talbot has promised to maintain the high ers Caitlegar News S \ Dan Miller... are you there? I had , my first conversation with Forest Minister Dan Miller yesterday and it’s a conversation I won’t soon forget. Why, you ask. Well, let’s just say that it felt like six minutes of dead air. Truth is, ’'ve had more informative conversations with my nine- month-old niece who lives in Lahr, Germany. Okay,.so you think I’m being too hard, what’s new. s.D. HARRISON 7 Harrison Comparison I cam Scott. Scott David, as in Mary Jane. Miller: Oh; sorry again. eee The next three minutes were taken up with polite talk about Pope and Talbot’s takeover of Westar operations. For the most part I was impressed with the minister’s handling of But, by the time you finish reading this week’s ranting and raving, I can assure you that you'll be the questions, but then it happen. A-h-h-h! | As though he had been living under a have grown accustomed to. As a community, it is incumbent upon all of us to support Pope and Talbot’s arrival. Pope and Talbot is showing a lot of faith in Castlegar, we must do the same. equally as baffled as I. Let’s start at the beginning... Miller: David Harrison, please. SDH: Yup, that’sqne... actually it’s Scott David Harrison. / Miller: Oh, sorry David. It’s Dan Miller here. SDH: Hi Dan, you’re a hard guy to get ahold of. You must be pretty busy these rock for the past 10 weeks, Miller shocked me by saying the TFL proceedings were as smooth as a baby’s bottom...,a baby baboon maybe, Dan. Just where has the minister been for the past two and a half months? Forgive me for giving a darn, Dan, but the TFL proceedings were far from smooth. please see HARRISON page 7 Heather Hadley Circulation Manager Street TALK Burt Campb: Publisher Emeritus LV. Campbell Aug. 7, 1947- Feb. 15, 1973 Nedda Kinakin Castlegar “I have mixed feelings about it.” Question: How do you feel about the recent provincial budget? B.J. Kolman “Taxes are too high and not enough attention was paid to family allowances.” Monique Pellerin Castlegar I think no matter who’s in charge, governments must raise taxes.” Robson Leeanna Andreashuk Castlegar “I think it’s terrible. A lot of people are going to suffer because of it.” l@ Wednesday; April 1; 1992" Other VIEW Please address all letters to: Letters to the Editor Castlegar News P.O. Box 3007 Castlegar, B.C. V1N 3H4 or deliver them to 97 Columbia Ave. 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 Letters coWHE EDITOR lee eae Shopping a personal choice I am writing in regards to the cross border shopping issue. 5 I’m sick and tired of all the whining over citizens shopping in the U.S.A. and local retailers losing multi dollars because of this Stats Canada says there was a drop of 1 per cent in retail sales from Dec. 91. Let me suggest that the paltry dollars spent on shopping in the U.S.A. by Canadians is nothing compared to the hundreds of millions of dollars spent by company’s like Celgar for equipment bought in the U.S.A. for the new pulp mill addition. The millions of taxpayers money spent by our governments to buy anything from toilet paper to diesel engines for our railroads (Kenneth Dyer’s report, 1991). It’s alright for corporations and large institutions to buy U.S. but not for the ordinary citizen — a double standard, I believe. When Joe Worker from Canada shops in the U.S.A., it’s usually those who have trouble making ends meet — because of even increasing taxes. - The average Canadian also shops U.S.A. because the item may not be available here, it’s much cheaper, and you receive better service. ; Where can you find variety shopping in the Trail, Castlegar, Nelson area? Why should we pay 53 to 55 cents per litre for our gasoline here when you can buy Canadian gasoline in the U.S.A. for $1.09 a gallon. Chamber of commerces across Canada and some of the medias have been putting the consumer on a guilt trip ever since the Canadian economy went for a nose dive because of free trade and_ gross mismanagement of our economy. It’s not the fault of the Canadian who shops in the U.S.A. that the local merchants are hurting (if they are). It’s the to wear a smile to give some service, and some who outright gouge the public who have the problem. The marketing boards who protect prices at the cost of the taxpayers, so that many prairie farmers can live in Florida and run their operations by phone. Incidently, Woolco, K-Mart, Safeway, Costco and many more are U.S.-owned _| companies are one’s whose profits don’t stay in Canada. To those who say, “If we want to enjoy our social benefits we now have we must shop in Canada,” I say this: I, like many others, pay for our medical, I pay land taxes for hospitals and roads etc., I pay my share of the national debt, I pay PST, GST, environmental tax, dog licence, vehicle tax, ICBC, gas tax, hunting licence, driver’s licence, marriage licence, taxes on taxes, income tax, death tax and living tax. I believe the freedom to shop where I wish is my choice. I earned the money and I'll spend it where I wish to. No lobby from unsuccessful business will dictate where I shop. Like choosing your doctor, or what type of car you buy, you have freedom of choice. It’s not a privilege as some think, but.a right. Many Americans spend thousands of U.S. dollars in Canada every day, at Ainsworth Hot Springs, golf courses, resorts and local businesses. They aren't called. cross border shoppers in their country. Lesley Draper Castlegar Mills hits the mark Re: Ed Mills’ column on Doug Flutie. _ Thank you for that most entertaining article on Doug Flutie. I have to agree with Sports Editor Ed Mills on most of it. I feel that he was a total jerk when it came to negotiating, and that the B.C. Lions’ were better off not signing him. ** T still think he’s one hell of a football player and I’m going to stick with that. I feel that if he definitely believed in loyalty, he would have signed with the Lions’ right away. - No Ed Mills, I don’t think you've “lost it,” but there is something else you should find amusing. As for being “crushed’, I don’t get “crushed” as easily as you may think, although I am very, very upset that he did not sign with the Lions’. As for his talent, I think saying that he’s T hope to chat with you again sometime. : Jennifer Chernoff Castlegar Oh, by the way, the Canucks are looking pretty good these days, don’t you think? Recycling day arrives ; The Kootenay-Columbia District Boy Scouts would like to remind everyone about Recycling Day on Saturday, April 4. Please bring newspapers and flyers only, sorted into different bundles, to the RDCK Recycling-Depot truck at Safeway between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Even if you have only a few newspapers, come out and talk to members of the Recycle Advisory Group and learn what you can do about recycling. Let’s make this a community event! A. Maloff District Council Proud to be Canadian Canadian citizenship has always been a source of pride and a common bond among Canadian ns. Today the strength of that bond is being test- ed. But in the process we are rediscovering the common values, goals and dreams we share as Canadians. More importantly, we are redis- covering that we live in a country where we can all realize those goals and dreams. Canada is a society built upon equality. It is a society in which each of us has the same op- portunity to work, to learn and to contribute. We all have the same opportunity to partic- ipate and know that it is our effort and ability —not our skin color, or religion or accent — that will determine our success. ‘ National Citizenship Week is a time to re- flect on the opportunities we enjoy every day and a time to value our citizenship. By partici- pating, by exercising our citizenship, we help ensure that we will always live in a Canada that encourages everyone equally to fulfill thei half the talent. of Ismail” isn’t totally honest. He proved to be the most outstanding player in the league not only to himself, but to the whole league. He provided us with plays that will be remembered for a lifetime. I have one thing that I would like to point out: I was a Lions’ fan before Doug Flutie came along and I'll be a Lions’ fan long after he’s gone.- Thanks for remembering me in your article. I really enjoy your writing, opinions and wit. potential. . National Citizenship Week, Canadian Citi- zenship: Take it to Heart, will take place from April 12 to 18. The-theme encourages all Canadians —citi- zens by birth and by choice — to renew their commitment to their citizenship. National Citizenship Week 1992 is a great opportunity to get involved in your community. Celebrate being Canadian and take your Cana- dian citizenship to heart. Gerry Weiner Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship 1 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 anonymously. Even in those cases, the name, address and ~~ phone number of the writer MUST be disclosed to the editor. The News reserves the right _ to edit letters for brevity, clarity, Harrison continued from page 6 If anything, Dan, the TFL rollercoaster for unemployed workers of decision. Castlegar and area who were left hanging by threads while what information Miller was receiving during this process. heels? Miller everything he needed to know? Based on conversation I had with Miller, legality, grammar and taste. Tl let you decide... g SDH: So, a lot of people up proceedings were an emotional here were critical of you, saying the you took you’re time making a Miller: That’s all news to me. important isn’t the criticism but ‘the end result and for the first time in the history of this province there was wide-spread input from everyone concerned Think about it. Castlegar , joined together to fight for Pope . and Talbot’s takeover of Westar’s operations. As a community, we wrote letters, SDH: Really? You mean you you lollygagged your way toa didn’t hear about the union, city | decision. is wonder just representatives and citizens Real: t leads me to wonder just saying you were dragging your Miller: I never heard any of Were Paul Ramsey, Ed that. In fact, I thought we were Conroy and Corky Evans telling proceeding quickly. SDH: Are you surprised to the hear that there was criticism? Miller: I suppose there is criticism everywhere. What is regarding the use of our resources. eee asi iller-had kicked into political mode, I knew the conversation had all but come to a close. Any hopes of pinning him down were lost. Regardless, I can’t help but think that this 10 week process has , -showed Miller’s ineffectiveness as a provincial r. signed petitions, attended public hearings, made phone calls and even threatened to pieket-our- MLA office: Castlegar united to ensure the survival of its forest industry, taking the lumps of insecurity and doubt along the way. For Miller to suggest the process was nothing short of smooth is a slap against those people who helped preserve and protect 280 local and loyal jobs.