The Castlegar Sun ” Wednesday, February 3, 1993 MONEY MATTERS SELF-DIRECTED RRSP Why limit your | investment potential? It's a truism: the more you put into something, the more you And today, you have a chance to put more into your RRSP than ever before. Thanks to changes in federal income tax laws, most taxpayers can now contribute up to 18% of their earned income to an RRSP - to a maximum of $12,500 - for both the 1992 and 1993 tax years. The increased maximum is the government's way of helping you help yourself to a better retirement. This higher limit aliows you to make a higher annual contribution than in the past, for a bigger tax refund...and a faster growing investment. With a Self-Directed RRSP, you don't have to worry which institution has the best rate this year. A self-directed RRSP provides access to many financial institutions and financial markets to find the best rate for you. It therefore makes sense to consolidate all other retirement plans into just one plan that you and your Financial Advisor can monitor. The major advantages of Self-Directed RRSP’s are flexibility and the ability to choose from a broad list of eligible investments. The ability to change the mix of investments to correspond with changes in age, risk posture and economic climate make self-directed RRSP's the most flexible of all retirement plans So don't limit your investment potential. Learn how the new RRSP contribution rules and a self-directed RRSP can work for you. For a complete package of information, or for. no eost, no-obligation consultation, please call me at 354-4834 Rob Trickey Nelson, B.C. Bus. 354-4834 Eve. 365-0286 MIDLAND, WALWYN B tu E CHIP ™ Blue Chip Thinking le # trademark of Midland Walwyn Capital ine. THINKING™ Five P&T e SUN STAFF Lotto luck just won't die in Castlegar, after five sawmill workers have just $500,000. Three out of the five Pope & Falbot workers are brothers. The lucky group consists of luardo Chaves, Mario Chaves, Tony Chaves, Rob Parisotto and Chuck Tuma. All are residents of Castle gar, except for Tuma, who lives in Robson The quintet plays five sets of self-selected 6/49 numbers regu larly. On occasion, they als6 play the EXTRA. It was the randomly generated EXTRA numbers that earned them $500,00 on January 27. An accompanying three num- ber 6/49 match, made their total winnings $500,010. Tuma discovered the win on the morning after the draw. “I had the ticket in my pocket at work. My forklift broke down, so I went to the office and waited for it to be fixed. I was sitting at the desk and pulled out our group ticket to check as the announcer on the radio read out the EXTRA numbers. I couldn't believe my eyes! I called Rob Parisotto on the radio phone I had to tell claimed mployees share lottery win: Lotto luck abounds for (I-r): Mario Chaves, Chuck Tuma, Eduardo Chaves and Rob Parisotto. Missing is Tony Chaves. The five Pope & Talbot workers are the winners of more than $500,000 after matching numbers on their EXTRA 6/49 ticket. somebody. I said ‘Hey, I've got problems, get down here.’ Parisotto quickly ran down, thinking something had gone ter- tibly wrong. I showed him the ticket and he couldn't believe we had four numbers. After that, it Woodland Park Elementary students who received awards for the month of December are: Front (I-r) Casey Haines, Patrick Foster, Matthew Charest, Deanna Hickey, Jenna Zavaduck, Brittany Rudashy, Jason Barry, and Tyler Jenner. Back (I- r) Joseph Will, Megan Shmoorkoff, Matthew Fox, Dyana Doskoch, Adam Palesch, Joshua Zavaduck, Tim Cristofoli, and Elaine Miller was a matter of finding all the rest of the group members to tell them.” Each of the winners has special plans for their portion of the prize. Some of the items on their wish lists include: paying off the SUN STAFF PHOTO / Karen Kerkhott City will make decision on outstanding accounts next meeting SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor ceptance Rash Bureaucracy, said he sti refuses to pay the $1,700 bill he received from the city for An outstanding account between the City of Castlegar and resident Walter Flux will remain that way, since small claims court action has failed to settle anything Judge Ronald Fabbro said in Thursday's court action that he did not have the authority to rule on the incident, since it was an almost reversal situation Even though Flux owed the money, he was the one taking the city to court. The city meanwhile, refused to submit a court-claim that Flux owed money Flux, who is vice-president of the Coalition Unac water and sewer connection fees Flux, who was quoted a figure to have the job done, paid that amount only to receive another bill which was far more than the actual estimate Since Thursday, the city is putting together a report which will detail how the money should be collected from Flux, and other people who have out- standing accounts with the city. The report, which has to be approved by council, will likely be dis- cussed during the next city council meeting. There are about five outstanding accounts. Westar Timber fined under Waste Management Act a hole in the hose leading from the diesel tank to the Blue Goose tug boat refuelling Over the course of three days, the fuel leaked out of the onto the seeped into the river. SUN STAFF Westar Timber has been fined dock $30,000 under the Waste Man- agement Act after pleading guilty hole to discharging diesel fuel into the menting a clean-up. Crown Council Norman Yates told the court that the environ- mental impact of the spill was fairly low, but not insignificant “There was potential for seri- ous harm, and the impact would beach and Financial Advisor lower Columbia River. The incident dates back to March 1992, when the company allowed between 600 and 3,200 litres of diesel fuel to spill into the river. In Castlegar provincial court last Wednesday, Judge Donald Sperry heard testimo- ny that a Westar employee left a valve open On a diesel tank and that an animal had chewed Sperry said the company was negligent for not having a lock on the valve and the employee in charge of the diesel tank was not adequately trained to prevent a spill from occurring “A series of consequences caused the spill Sperry did say however, that once the spill was: noticed, the ¢ompany acted responsibly and spent more than $150,000 imple- have been minimized if the com- pany had taken more precautions and remedial actions when the spill first occurred,” said the crown. Westar Timber was represent- ed in court by a Vancouver law firm. Also in Castlegar to attend the court procedures was Westar President Peter Berry. Westar Timber has until March 31, 1993 to pay the fine. Young entrepreneurs coming to Castlegar KAREN KERKHOFF Sun staff Castlegar Chamber of ‘Commerce, Renee Read, said the conference is offered to students only as an Castlegar will play host to 100 would-be 16 when it sponsors a Young Entrepreneurs Conference at the Fireside Inn. The conference is sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development, Small Business and Trade; Industry, Science and Technology Canada; Employ entrepreneurs Feb. mal education. alternate option, and is not intended to replace for- “This conference gives them an opportunity to see what else is available. We still encourage them to further their education.” The conferences will include presentations, exhibits, workshops, and will also feature young and mortgage, fixing up the house; possible early retirement and helping their children. The winning ticket was pur- chased at Johnny's Grocery and Gas in Robson. Teachers and school board will talk Feb. 8 _KAREN KERKHOFF Sun staff On Jan. 28 labour negotiations between the Castlegar and Dis- trict Teachers Association and School District No. 9’had come to a complete standstill, with both sides claiming the ball is in the other's court. However, on Feb. 1, the two sides. agreed to try to settle their differences at a wpecting which is scheduled to take place Feb. 8 “After an informal discussion with the Superintendent yesten- day, we decided that we were going to look at each other's posi- tions and see if there was com- mon ground,” CDTA president, Bill Gorkoff Gorkoff was hesitant to call the meeting a negotiation, but he was optimistic that the meeting, which he termed a “clarification meeting”, might lead to further negotiations. “As long as we're talking it’s a positive step.” After negotiations broke off Thursday, Board Chair, Gordon Turner, insisted there is still room for negotiations, and verbally indicated the board's willingness to negotiate further. “We wel- come them back to the table.” CDTA said earlier they felt negotiations were “‘less than one per cent apart on the two year monetary package,” and Turner does not dispute that estimate “I think they're right, an agreement is very close. We need to just keep in there and keep plugging until we can reach an agreement." Turner denied the board is taking an adversarial position, instead cit- ing monetary restraint as a guiding factor in negotiations “The board is not taking a con- frontational position, we're try- ing to work within the monetary framework. We're willing to get back to the table and keep talking.” : Gorkoff said the board had made their intentions clear on Thursday, and it was the board, not CDTA who broke off negotia- tions. “The board stated they refused to respond to the proposal we made. I don't understand what kind of double-talk we have there. I'm familiar with that game and we're not going to play. We responded—.it's their tum.” A meeting had been scheduled for Feb. 2 by CDTA to decide what action might be taken, but with the clarification meeting scheduled it has been cancelled. CDTA has been without a con- said Wednesday, February 3, 1993 Surrey man makes SHARLENE IMHOFF _ Sun Editor A Surrey man in Castlegar for business purposes has taken time out of his bysy schedule to make a plea to Castlegar residents. support us. ' Garry Salmond, a construction manager for Canadian Energy Services, was in Castlegar earlier this week on a business trip to the Celgar Pulpmill. While in town, he stopped at The Castlegar Sun office and requested a means in which to get a message out to local residents. Salmond belongs to a small group of dedicated individuals who are pressing for a revision of the Young Offenders Act, the leg- islation which any person under 18 is charged by after committing a crime, no matter how violent. The individuals who have started the fii ization, are police, badly beaten and stabbed in the back. His two friends were safe, since they were able to flee from the gang. When Chuck and Dona Cadman were ‘called to the hospital, they were told their son had been beaten up—they were ‘We are determined to go all the way on this.’ — GARRY SALMOND Friend of vigtim not at all prepared to learn once they arrived, that Jesse had already died from injuries to his heart and lungs. “They were expecting to meet their son at the hospital with some bad bruises and maybe a few teeth missing,” said P' family members of victims of crime. Salmond and his family are close friends of the Cadmans, whose 16-year-old son, Jesse, was stabbed to death as he and two friends walked home from a bus stop in Surrey. The attack was completely unprovoked, and unexpected. A gang of punks, as Salmond described them, just decided to cause some trouble. The result? Jesse was found by Sali d, who later that night had to wake his own 16-year-old son up from his sleep and tell him his best friend was gone “You never understand how something like this affects you until it's in your own living room. Then you have absolutely no choice but to deal with, it's quite a feeling.” Police have charged another 16-year old with Jesse's death The maximum sentence for any crime, including murder> under The Castlegar Sun GARRY SALMOND’ the Act is three years closed cus- tody (detention) followed by two years less-a-day open custody (supervised group home) It's this type of leniency that has the Cadmans, Garry and his wife Evelyn mond, and other victims of crime, wanting a change in the Act. The non-profit organization is suitably called CRY, and stands for Crime, Responsibility and Youth Salmond said he is hopeful that Castlegar residents will find time. to write either their local MP Lyle Kristiansen, Justice Minister Kim plea to Castlegar residents Campbell or even the Cadman family, expressing their sympa thy, and support for changes to the Young Offenders Act “We are involved because Jesse was close to our family. He was an excellent kid, musically inclined, a great soccer player This whole thing is a real shame But I guess his murder doesn't *have to be completely in vain. If people get angry enough, they'll write. I'm hoping that we'll get some support from Castlegar citi zens So far, the support throughout the province has been impressive Salmond said that the Lower Mainland CRY organization was initiated just days after Jesse's death, angen less than two weeks, 24,000 néfnes had been signed on a petition—some of those names came from Castlegar employees at the Celgar Pulpmill Even though Salmond believes the majority of the population would like to see a change to the legislation, he admits it's going to be an uphill battle “I don’t think this is going to be a short term thing. But we are determined to go all the way on this.” See Letters to the Editor Page.7A College transit system leaving students stranded KAREN KERKHOFF Sun staff Samy Bishay, a Selkirk Col- lege student, is frustrated with the bus schedule for the College, and has resorted to driving a beater truck whose insurance costs out- weigh the value of the vehicle. “Tt really is ridiculous, we invite foreign students dver here to attend college, and then we leave What Bishay is speaking about is the lack of service provided by the transit system which stops at the college five times a day. It is not just the number of times the transit system services the col- lege, but the actual schedule which has Bishay upset. “Some- times there are classes which go until 9 p.m. and the last bus leaves at 5 p.m.” Depending on the course load, or schedule students have, Bishay said many students have to wait up to almost four hours for the next bus. “Many of the students also have jobs, or families. Some of us don’t have the luxury to wait around until the bus comes.” Bishay said it just doesn't make sense economically, or environmentally to not offer an appropriate bus schedule to the college. “We end up with an incredible amount of traffic on the road, I’m talking about the energy angle. Then there is gas and insurance for students who drive, and most students can’t carry that added financial burden. Economically, every time you bring a student into town he has money to spend in town.” Bishay also said there is the old catch-22 when users request increased transit services. “The transit system argues there is a low number of users, but that is because people have found it to be unreliable, they’ve had to find alternate transportation. If they make the system user friéndly, then they will find more people will use the system.” There might be several solu- tions to the problem and one of them could include an agreement with a local cab company to pro- vide hourly services to the col- lege. “Castlegar Cabs is willing to back the idea, and they're will- ing to run the service on a break- even basis.” Another viable suggestion Bishay had was to build a bridge, which would link Selkirk College with Zukerberg Island, thus mak- ing access to the transit system and downtown core attainable Bishay's solutions are in theo- ry only, but he did say it would be nice if certain community factions would lend their verbal support. “It sure would be nice if City Council and the Chamber of Commerce would verbally back the need of increased service to the college.” Whatever the out come of the transportation prob- lems at the college, Bishay has one lingering question. “Who the hell wrote that system (schedule) Complex revenues exceed expectations by $50G SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor for a number of planned improvements and upgrades to those parts of the centte. Part of these It was a good year financially and District Community Complex. So good in fact, that revenue actually exceeded expectations by $50,000. Pat Metge, director of recreation of the Castlegar and District Recreation Department, attributes the increase in revenues to the high use of the facilities over the past year approximately $151,000. However, the extra cash brings that number up to beyond the $200,000 mark “We have been busy all year around, and almost every day we notice that more pe: using the facilities, but it was still see how much more in terms of dollars - The facilities belonging to the the ice surface, meeting rooms, the main hall and the concession. The concession increase, bringing in more than $3 Metge said the surplus in revenues will be rolled into the 1993 budget and will mc The estimated revenues were City considering giving Sunfest $10G for help to stay afloat Castlegar City Council has passed a recommendation to con. sider giving the Festival Society $10,000 to help it finance this year's Sunfest activities: Earlier in November, Dern Jackman, president of the Festi- val Society, and Craig Burton, a Sunfest organizer, approached the city and said the society needed at least $15,000 to help finance the Sunfest weekend, which usually takes place in June. Jackman also requested that the city provide access to any materials, equipment and people needed to help the soci- ety in its efforts to make the fes- tival a success. Festival Society members have voiced concems that sup port from the city in past festivals has been poor, as compared to the cooperation which the Festi- val Society in Trail receives from its city during Silver City Days for the Castlegar . improvements include upgrades to the arena ice boards and to the tar and gravel roof. “We'd also like to convert a couple of the smaller rooms into a larger conference room,” Metge said A number of projects were completed to the com. ople than ever are quite a surprise to complex include had the biggest 0,000 alone ore than likely pay plex in 1992, including the installation of an acousti cal sound system, purchase of a new scoreclock painting of complex lobbys, and construction of a proper pre-school room through renovating existing space. The complex tures, due to a number of unforeseen mechanical and building problems this year, which also weighed heavily on the budget : Metge said he is currently working on the 1993 final budget for the Recreation Department, and hopes to have it completed by the end of February When the budget is completed, it will need approval by the Castlegar and District Recreation Board before it is presented to the Regional District of* Central Kootenay, which levies taxes on behalf of the recreation commission also had an increase in expendi OUTLOOK: The forecast for Wednesday: Cloudy with a few sunny breaks and scattered showers or flurries. High temperatures near 4. An upper Mild. temperatures will persist. WEATHER disturbance approaching from the coast should provide mixed precipitation on Thursday. Sunny breaks should develop in its wake on Friday. Temperature: Max/Date Min/D: 3.6/25 Precipitation: Rain Sunshine: Number of Hours 1.2 REMARKS: Forecast provided by The South. Snow 16.6 2.6 A LOOK BACK AT THE PAST WEEK: ate Mean -3.5/25 14 Total 19.2 Normal Number of Hours 12.1 Warm air moving over the snow covered terrain strengthened the surface inversign. This resulted in low clouds and caused problems for air travel. Highway travel was satisfactory. Mild temperatures were welcomed by most after such a long stretch of cold. East Interior Weather Office at Castlegar, B.C. ARROW LAKE RESERVOIR FORECAST mean temperatures almost 2 full Temperature High Date 20 Low 5. 10 Precipitation Rain Snow Total Precip Sunshine WEATHER OF JANUARY 1993 A predominantly northwesterly flow across the interior kept degrees below normal. Frequent bands of moisture off the Pacific made snow events common but most of those snowfalls were small. There were several exceptions. The most notable was on the 19th and 20th when 34.6 cm's of snow fell and shattered a daily record. Due to the colder tempera- tures the winds felt significantly high however the totals show a mean wind speed slightly below average. Hours of bright sunshine were only one hour off the long term average. Record Day Year 10.0 16 1974 1.0 16 1981 70.8 186.7 124.4 1983 1969 1992 71.2 1980 Local MLA has no problem with appointment of American to Hydro board SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor Rossland-Trail MLA Ed Con- roy said he supports Anne Edward's move to submit an American to the board of B.C Hydro. Cranbrook businesswoman, Judy Urban, was appointed to the B.C. Hydro Board last May, after her name was submitted for refer- ral by Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Anne Edwards, who is also the MLA for the Cranbrook area. The appointment came under Hills, who is the Kootenay Liberal President, said his major concer surrounds the fact B.C Hydro will be involved -in upcoming downstream benefits negotiations with the United States. The issue of downstream benefits will be of major impor tance to B.C., and in particular the Kootenays, which has a major stake in the Columbia River sys tem. Hills said that Urban's appointment to the board will allow her to become involved in making crucial decisions and forming policies—which could affect the Kootenays directly ing member of the Cranbrook uility for more than 30 made a big difference in Conroy's opinion of the appointment I think [Urban] is a good choice,” said Conroy, who said he also discovered that Urban is planning to become a full Cana- dian citizeg As l that of some te Hydro have n i comr years, has her position will be jay to day manager of ical operations of B.C. y Urban’s position will to do with negotia- kind, particularly those of downstream benefits.” tions of ar ED CONROY fire from some Kootenay resi- dents, including Cranbrook businessman Bill Hills, who said the appointment should have gone to a Canadian—even bet- ter, a Canadian who is living in the Kootenays. The appointment seemed inap propriate to Conroy as well, until he spoke directly wit Anne Edwards about it on Monday the Discovering that Judy Urban who is classified as a landed immigrant, has been a contnbut packs muct reality says he has n with it I believe Conroy admits that perception nore weight than but after understanding appointment more fully, he problem dealing we have a capable, qualified woman to do the job,” said Conroy. Judy Urban is a certified gen- eral accountant and according to Anne Edward's office in Victoria, she will be using those skills in her new position. PPWC says talks are progressing KAREN KERKHOFF ment and Immigration Canada; Pacific Northern Gas, B.C. and in Castlegar, the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce Federal Small Business Minister, Tom Hockin elaborated on the importance of encouraging young people to consider starting their own business. “Young people have the creativity and the energy needed to get our economy thriving again because they have no preconceptions about how to do business, only ideas shaped by their generation. They're also not as afraid to take risks as older people often are, and this is crucial to succeed in business,” said Hockin. successful B.C. entrepreneurs, tract since June 30, 1992. Still no charges laid in head-on collision Even though Patrick Hickey's Condition is upgraded to satisfactory, there are no immediate plans to discharge him Hickey, 25, had been transferred to Spokane’s Sacred Heart Medical Centre after he and his fiancee, Sonny Straughan, had been involved in a head-on collision with a pickup. The accident occurred near Fairview when the driver of the Pickup, a ’ Genelle man, attempted to pass a vehicle, when he was blinded by blowing snow, and collided with Hickey's Honda car 5 Hitkey's fiancee and the driver of the * pickup had been admitted to Castlegar and District Hospital, but have since been 1 released. ] The name of the Genelle driver cannot 4 be released as charges are pending Sun staff Pulp and Paperworkers of Canada, Local 26, and Selkirk College are making headway in negotiations which have been ongoing since Dec. 1992 PPWC president John Cher- nenkoff, said the talks are pro- gressing, and he is optimistic that a settlement can be reached. “The talks seem to be heading in the right direction. Things are pro- gressing smoothly.” Chernoff hopes the talks will continue ami- cably, but said the outcome of the talks depends on the negotiators. “There are not many issues left, it can go quickly or not. It depends on the stance each side takes. Not wanting to jeopardize negotiations, Chernoff declined to comment on the outstanding issues of the contract. The 122 members of Local,26, which is comprised of support staff, clerical workers, and maintenance person nel have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 1992. There will be another meeting schedule between PPWC and the college Feb. 5 NDP candidate gives thumbs down to Bill C-91 KAREN KERKHOFF Sun staff Most of us know the Canadian health care system needs revamping in order to survive tough economical times. But the thought that our health care system could end up being a clone of the American health system leaves most of us paralyzed with fear, while visions of bankruptcy after a serious illness fill our heads. New Democratic candidate, Heather Sug- gitt, charges the Conservative government is attempting to do just that...merge our health cafe system with the U.S. through the proposed introduction of Bill C-91 ‘The multi-national drug companies claim they need patent protection to recoup costs of research. They say they are willing to invest research and development dollars in Canada. But Brian Mulroney's bill does not require a minimum amount of research and development investment.” Bill C-91 is the federal government drug patent legislation that might be the vehicle to give brand name pharmaceutical compa nies exclusive patent nghts for 20 years to any medications they develop Exclusivity to a patent allows the company which medication the opportunity to recoup the 1 necessity, it teveloped the Costs associated with development of the drug. The grace period which is currently allowed is seven years which an adequate amount of time to recoup these s considered costs. Owner and Pharmacist for Castlegar won't be any other medications on the market like it for many years, and basi- cally. they can set their prices as high as they want. Five years should be enough for the pharmaceutical companies to recover their costs associated with devel- oping the drug, then the generics should be allowed to come in.” A recent study puts drug costs for Cana- da 35 per cent lower than the United States. If Bill C-91 does pass, Canadian drug prices might equal those of the U.S., an increase which could put some provincial pharma- Pharmasave interview with Sun ff years was an unnecessary and amount of time for “Twenty patent protection. As it 1s now, the companies price their new medications higher to start a price increase on the patented medica tions that coming out will be very high. There Tom Bilr aid in an earlier that he felt 20 I xCeSsive a drug patent much too long for years 1 for a price drug I don't think you will find are already out, but the ones care programs at financial risk Provincial and territorial ministers of health are recommending their own amend- ments to the Patent Act. They include a call review board with strengthened powers, and a federal and provincial strate- gy to control prices. The NDP have lobbied against the exten- sion of patent control. Bill C-91 is currently in Senate debate.