OPINION

WEDNESDAY, Mar

editorial comment

capital plans.

ment in itself.

as possible.

But that’s not all.

will not become “lasts.”

A political
first in
Castlegar’s
history

It’s been called thé single most important
political statement that a council can make—
the release of its annual operating budget and

It was indeed a first in this city’s history.

Without a doubt, the budget holds the proph-
esy of future prosperity or economic failings
for any city, and Castlegar is no exception.

The budget is indeed important, but the way
in which this particular potential budget was
delivered to its taxpayers was a political state-

The fact that city council presented this bud-
get in a manner which had never before been
done in Castlegar’s political history should say
something to local taxpayers.

Six councillors and the mayor attempted, to
the best of their abilities, with the resources
and people they have working for them, to
answer all questions as openly and as honestly

For the first time in a long time, an easy-to-
follow citizen’s guide to the breakdown of the
budget was passed out to all residents who
attended the meeting—something which was
} both definitely needed and long over do.

Hats off to the civic officials who deciphered
these cryptic codes which were once unattain-
able to the common folk and put together this
“user-friendly” package for all to understand.

Hopefully the events which occurred on
March 2 have set a precedent, and if the citi-
zens of Castlegar continue to keep members of
city council on their toes, all of these “firsts”

S.I.

Published by The
on

1S POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT AND A
MEMBER OF THE STERLING NEWS SERVICE
Established November 28, 1990

Sun

Weekly
465 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, B.C. VIN 1G8

Glen Clark: Prince of Thieves

MLA Gerard Janssen paid a visit
to the Port Alberni Rotary Club yes-
terday and took the opportunity to
tell us about all the good things the
NDP is doing for us.

It was. in some ways a gallant ges-
ture as well as a hopeless one. For all
the club's hospitality and the pleas-
antries that are exchanged, both Mr

Nigel

Hannaford

Syndicated
Columnist

ee Oe
that had the franchi

Clark, Prince of Thieves,”

By the same token, there was little
enthusiasm for the repeal of Social
Credit labour legislation or the
increase of minimum wage to $7 by

for this year.)

Of course, Rotarians are
not noted for their anima-
tion; the average age of the
club must be about 61. So
leven had Mr Janssen’s
words been received as the
very essence of delight,
jone would have expected
little more than a grunt or a modest
nod of ap But it was defi-

to the Rotary Club, he ‘woald still be
selling watches and Mrs Trumper
would be the eighth Social Credit
member of the legislature.

tly, news that the com-
position of provincial boards and
appointees - some 4,000 in all -
would henceforth reflect the
province's ethnic and cultural make-
up (and would find the female half of
the human race equally represented)
was received with no more than a
polite question about whether qualifi-
cations germane to the task would
also be required.

A promise of tax increases in the
next budget was not news but did lit-
tle to improve the digestion and
some Rotarians probably took it per-
sonally when they were reminded
that NDP policy was to tax those
who could afford it to give to those
who did not have.

I can see the next hit for BC's bur-
geoning movie industry: “Glen

McEachen
wants senate to
use its muscle

MIKE DUFFY
Syndicated Columnist

There were more reported sight-
ings of Pierre Trudeau in the nation’s
capital in just the past week, than
there were of Elvis Presley at US

markets in all of the past year.

“The Trude” was supposedly
ensconced in a plush suite at the
Chateau Lauier Hotel, secretly plot-
ting with Liberal MPs and senators to
kill Brian Mulroney's latest constitu-
tional initiative.

But, after 16 years as Liberal lead-
er, Trudeau doesn’t have to come to
Ouawa to tell his former colleagues -
many of whom he appointed to “cash
for life” in the Senate - what he
thinks of the current constitutional
plan. They can feel the vibes all the
way from Trudeau's lair in Montreal

And if the reception begins to slip,
there's always the ever-loyal Sen.
Allan MacEachen ready to remind
them.

It was MacEachen, you may
remember, who masterminded the
1979 defeat of Joe Clark's budget,
the move which paved the way for
Trudeau's comeback from retire-
ment.

Now the brilliant MacEachen is at
it

“lt” in this case is trying to derail
Brian Mulroney's constitutional

bandwagon.

Both the Liberals and the New
Democrats correctly sense the coun-
try is ready to give Quebec the word

Learning to take risks brings us to the season

1 am sitting, alone, at an outdoor
table, in the late morning, semi-tropi-
cal shade of a friendly ficus. It is
pleasantly cool here, away from the
Centre’s shoppers, and the skate-

forming a ring about a lush garden,
the central feature of which is shal-
low, sun-dappled fish pond. The
pond is directly in my line of sight
but lies beyond a stout, wire mesh
fence, so designed to keep out intrud-
ers. There is a handrail surrounding
the pool. Necessary. I suppose, but a
pity, for it spoils the view. The pond
is am architectural marvel, free-
formed and brilliantly lined with var-
iously coloured tiles and bits of rock
and glass. Brief flashes of bright yel-
lows. blucs and oranges indicate
tropical fish are exploring the pool. A
gently bubbling fountain blends the
moted voices and soft clamer of the
cappuccino cups and saucers. The
breakers on the shore below are more
felt than heard. a solid imtermittem
“boom”. I am lost in the ambience of

nitely the wrong audience before
which to boast of putting a stop to
the construction of golf courses, an
item with which Mr Janssen chose to
begin his list of his government's
accomplishments.

One thinks of Robert Southey's
line, “But what good came of it at
last?” Quoth little Peterkin. “Why
that I cannot tell,” said he. “But ‘twas
a famous victory.”

However, I digress.

It was the discussion of welfare
which showed clearly the difference
in attitudes which polarizes this
province.

Mr Janssen had explained that the
idea of hiking the minimum wage
was to make it more attractive for
people on welfare to retum to work.
The conversation continued along
the following lines.

“Mr Janssen, all that happens
when wage rates are raised is that
employers find ways to do the same

with fewer people. So jobs are actu-
ally lost, not created.”

Reply, “If that were so, McDon-
alds would not have just put down
the price of hamburgers.”

This red herring was easily per-
suaded to rejoin the school; as every-
body knows, the 79¢ cheeseburger
became the 89¢ cheeseburger about a
month ago and as much to the point,
it's hardly fair to characterize
McDonalds as a minimum wage
employer. That's where people may
Start, but those with aptitude are
quickly moved up the scale.

There then followed a discussion
of how much a person needed to earn
before they were better off working
than on welfare. It was a lot more
than $7.

According to a recent issue of BC
Report, a single woman with three
children will receive up to $1,266 a
month. She also gets medical and
dental treatment provided. Taking
just the cash, she would need to eam
about $8.50 an hour to do that well.
However, she now has all the
expenses of getting to and from work
and babysitting to boot. To defray the
latter, the government will pay up to
$1,600 a month for babysitting for a
woman who has been on welfare and
who returns to work, for one year.

These figures were tossed back-
wards and forwards and the apparent
futility of the government's position
emphasized.

Mr Janssen was firm, however.
The minimum wage had to go up, it
would work, people would be
coaxed off welfare.

He then concluded, “It has to be
this way. If I lost this job, I wouldn't

work for $5.50 an hour. I would go
on welfare.”

So there it is. That's the difference
between us and them. There are peo-
ple around who would do anything,
including work for minimum wage,
rather than accept a handout. There
used to be a lot more of them.

These days, though, there are a
huge number of people who think
otherwise and they are encouraged to
think that way by their leaders.
Indeed, there are over a quarter of a
million people accepting welfare in
BC now.

In the end, it’s a value judgement.
It’s hard to tell somebody they are
wrong to accept something that has
been offered to them by the govern-
ment if it is to their advantage and I
am also obliged to concede that if a
woman finds herself dumped and yet
can do a good job of raising three
children without a father on $1,260 a
month, she is coping admirably.

On the other hand, I personally
reserve my greatest admiration for
those individuals who struggle on in
a low wage job and trim their
lifestyle accordingly, rather than take
something they didn’t earn. If there
was more of that attitude in Canada,
it would be a better place.

Now, to conclude on an upbeat
note, good news for all you lady
truckers. Mr Janssen says that the
NDP is having trouble finding ladies
who can drive 18-wheelers to serve
on the Motor Vehicle Commission.
So, if you have your air ticket and
can stand all the good-ism, Mr
Janssen would like to hear from you.

Remember, you just have to be
female and drive a truck

“distinct” if only to get the constitu-
tional debate behind us.

The new constitutional plan
would give Quebec and the other
provinces sweeping powers over
everything from manpower training
to housing, tourism and inland fish-
eries.

Last week the prime minister told
the Tory caucus his power-sharing
plan offers Quebec nothing that
Trudeau wasn't ready to give Quebec
back in 1980. And the Pm said he
has the Trudeau offer in writing.

So, if the Liberals can’t complain
about the transfer of powers, how do
they slow down, and maybe even
stop, the deal?

By making Senate reform the
deal-breaker of 1992.

The Senate already has a range of

colours, scents and sounds.
Suddenly I am aware that two

Maund

dressed in “board shorts” and a T

many Australian boys in mid-sum-
mer. He is cating something from his
Jeft hand, his igit hand grasping the
handrail as he slides his bare feet
sideways along the rim of the pool
The lithe girl wears a frilly dress with
petticoats, shining patent leather,
white shoes and socks. She is eating a
biscuit, which she switches to her left
hand and tries to reach up to grasp the
handrail with her rig. She doesn't
quite make it. The boy dexterously
edges along the pool edge and the girl

important powers. But, because unul
now senators were appointed rather
elected, those powers were rarely
used.

Now, in addition to being elected,
MacEachen says the Senate should
be effective.

Specifically, he doesn’t want the
House of Commons to be able to
easily over-ride Senate Legislative
vetoes.

The government would allow the
Commons to overturn any Senate
vote by a second majority vote in the
Commons. The Liberals fear any
easy over-ride means a Senate with
no effective power.

MacEachen wants a reformed
Senate to have a true veto on legisla-
tion, and a suspensive veto on money
and budget bills.

struggies to follow. Neither speak. As
I watch, the girl falters. Loses her bal-
ance and falls into the pool! Before I
can react, she’s in — onto her knees
in the shallow water, — and out. The
boy looks back and says nothing, nor
does he move. The little girl makes
not a sound, but scrambles quickly
out of the water. She spots me mov-
ing toward her, whereupon she starts
to cry. “I fell in!” she sobs. She is
sopping wet. “Indeed you did” |
reply. “Are you okay?” The fence
between us forms a formidable bari-
er. I shall have to walk around to a
gate to get in to that pan of the gar
den. I'm dressed for business, not
conducive to vaulting over fences.
though | could if really pressed. The
boy stands, watching me and his sis
ter solemnly. | say “Where's your
mother?”

I am now aware there's a man
standing beside me. He clutches at
his hean, as if to say “That gave me
such a fright!” Obviously he's not

At that moment,
comes into view, hearing the wailing,

“Mommy”

(A “true” veto means the Senate
could vote to kill a proposed law out-
right. A “Suspensive veto” would
allow the Senate to delay for six
months, but not kill, “money” bills,
the degislation that allows the govern-
ment to spend money.)

David Elton, of Calgary's Canada
West Foundation, warns that to win
approval among most Westermers,
the basic principles of Triple E —
elected, but also including equal and
effective - must be respected.

Elton and his group will be lobby-
ing Mulroney and the provincial pre-
miers to harden up the Senate reform

lan.

And he'll have new allies in his
push for an effective Senate.

Those old friends of Western
Canada - the Liberals.

of confidence

probably suspecting/fearing the
worse. She takes in the scene, the
very wet little girl and shrieks “What
have you done?” “I fell into the pool
and I'm all wet!” says the little girl
and cries harder. “Are you hurt?” says
the Mother. “No!” says the little girl.

“Well, says the Mother, You won't
do that again, will you?” “Well, let's
go off and get you cleaned up!” says
the Mother, leading the girl away.

Now I wonder. What lesson is this
little girl learning today? Mommy
dresses her in clothing she thinks
appropnate. The girl, thus, has sever-
al handicaps. Bare feet are much bet-
ter for gripping than are stiff new
shoes Her brother, older,
adventurous and more agile, was
loading her. whether intentionally or
not The little girl wants to follow,
but she’s smaller and cannot reach
the handrail. Her dress is surely a
hindrance. as she couldn’! see where
to place her tect! Will this lithe girl
grow up learning to take risks? Will
she strive to be the best she can be?
Will she become a leader?

more

Wednesday, March 4, 1992

The Castlegar Sun

Letters to the Editor

Page 7A

7

Castleview Care Centre - Fix the problem instead of the blame

Dear Editor:

T cannot let your recent article
on the well-being of Castleview
Care Centre go unchallenged

The administration of that pri
vate care facility unfairly
declared opens season on the
Ministry of Health and its offi-
cials — the Central Kootenay
Health Unit, the City of Castlegar
and everyone else within firing
distance

While I am perplexed by such
a ‘blitzkrieg’ call for assistance, 1
am completely clear about the
unfairness of their allegations.

Like all health care facilities in
the province, the Castleview Care
Centre properly reports to and

relies on funding from the Min-
istry of Health. This is the same
department of government which
helps set capital funding priorities
in communities around the
province on the advice of region-
al bodies such as Regional Health
Planning Councils, Health Unit,
Hospital Planning Councils, the

Castleveiw has dealt with their
Own priority process since it was
on the drawing boards. It was
advised by the Ministry of Health
of the level of funding it should
expect while it was in the plan-
ning stages. It now finds itself
over-built and is looking for a
government agency to pick up the
fi hontf:

1 Health Com-
mittees, other advisory regional
groups and organizations. Deci-
sions made by the Ministry of
Health are based on recommen-
dations/priorities identified to the
Ministry by these regionally

Sorry, but this isn't the Cana-
dian Football League. There are
no gate equalization payments.

We, in the health care industry,
live within the rigorous financial
constraints of a cash-strapped

group
and not by one or another facility
in isolation.

DENNIS PEREPELKIN

Hope and prayers continue

Dear Editor”

The family of Dennis Pere-
pelkin wish to thank the commu-
nities, RCMP and all the friends
and relatives for their prayers and
heantelt support in our continued
search for Dennis.

As we have not given up hope

and strongly believe Dennis still
alive, we ask for your continued
thoughts and prayers for Dennis’
safe return,

Dennis, we love vou and miss
you, please let us know you are
alll right

The Perepelkin Family

Obit —————
Peter J. Poznekoff

Peter J. Poznekoff of Shoreacres,
BC passed away Thursday, Febru
ary 20, 1992., at the age of 91 years.

Mr. Poznekoff was born June
29, 1900 in Saskatchewan (village
of Pakrovka). He moved to Glade,
BC in 1912 married Polly Kaza-
koff in 1925. They resided in vari-
ous places in the Kootenays;
Ootischenia, Castlegar, Krestova,

South Slocan, and in 1981, he
moved to Shoreacres where he
lived his final years with his son
Peter and his family.

Mr Poznekoff was a member of

We pay close atten-
tion to the capital and operating
Priorities set by government offi-

cials, The Ministry of Health offi-
cials I deal with don't deserve the
kind of innuendo fired at them in
this article. While I empathize
with the predicament in which
Castleview finds itself, my

tion should stop trying to fix the
blame and start trying to fix the
problem they created for them-
selves.

As for the last blow thrown at
the government's decision to fund
$1.3 million in Trail, this, too,
was done with the support of
regional organizations after
regional health needs were
assessed and priorities were
established by the above listed

regional bodies. This psychogeri-
atric facility is to serve the Cen-
tral and West Kootenays and not
Trail alone

Administration at Castleview
fails to understand that the
approved funding is not for addi-
tional intermediate care beds and
therefore it would not help
Castleview to reduce any waiting
list that may exist. The approved
$1.3 million is for a Psychogeri-
atric Unit which requires a spe-
cial design to meet the special
needs of patients suffering of
chronic mental illness. Any facili-
ty designed for intermediate care
would need to be modified in
order to be able to care for psy-

chogeriatric patients.

As pointed out by a pe |
ment official, waiting lists are no}
necessarily a bad*thing. Finally,
in my opinion, most health pror
fessionals who deal with the Cen;
tral and West Kootenay Health
Units would agree that the
Administration of Long Term
Care and the assessors, as well as
the Director of the mental Health
Care Centre and his staff are fair
in their judgement and do not
deserve the type of criticism
implied in your article.

Yours truly,
Paul Carect

oooee

Consistent weekly reporting on educational issues needed

Dear Editor:

I enjoyed L. Marchand-Bark-
er’s article in the Feb. 26 Sun, p.
4A, offering a bit of the parents’
and teachers’ perspective regard-
ing Year 2000.

Surely there are more readers
besides myself who will enjoy

consistent (weekly) reporting on
educational issues. Please consid-
er incorporating an educational
column, one which would explain
various policies, ph

Further, I personally welcome
the presence of a student on your
staff. In addition to her own writ-
ing, I hope she will locate sub-

and les from a

special projects and insights for
the personal experience of teach-
ers.

broad base of students in our
community. I would like to see
works which reflect the intellec-

Students require info on Gevelo ping countries

Dear Editor:

Our school is going to be
involved in a six-week program
of study on the topic of World
Hunger. We would like to get in
touch with individual who are
native to “Third World” or “least
developed” countries, or with
anyone who has lived and/or

worked in any of these

This unit of study will begin
on March 23 and end May 1

If you would like to share your
knowledge with us, please phone
me at 355-2231, or write to me at
the following address: W.E. Gra-
ham School Box 10, Slocan,BC
VOG 2C0.

In appreciation

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the Variety Club
of British Columbia, I would, like
to express our heartfelt thanks to
the Castlegar Sun and the people
of Castlegar for your incredible
support of our 1992 Variety Club
Telethon.

It's often been said that in dif-
ficult economic times people
have a deeper appreciation for the
needs of others. The truth of
those words certainly came to
light in thissvery challenging
year.

With your generous help we

for most of his life. He also
enjoyed gardening which he did
until his passing.

Survived by his son Peter
Poznekoff of Shoreacres, two

the Christian Cc ry of Uni-
versal Brotherhood which later
became known as the Union of
Spiritual Communities of Christ
He was a logger and mill worker

Gary Wayne Jackson

Jackson, on December 25,
1991, Gary Wayne Jackson of
Robson, BC passed away at the
age of 56 years

Mr. Jackson was bor June 9,
1935 at Duncan, BC. He grew up
and spent most of his earlier
years in Chilliwack. He married
Maria Anna Dargis at Chilliwack
on August 30, 1952. During his
life he worked on construction
projects and came to Castlegar in
1962 to work on the construction
of the Kinnaird Bridge and the
Hugh Keenleyside Dam. After
the bridge and the dam were
built, he went to work at Comin-
co as a welder when he worked
for 16 years. He was a member of
the Royal Canadian Legion of
Castlegar-Robson

He is survived by his wife,
Maria Anna at the family home
Two sons, Gordan of Genelle and
Kenneth of Bdmonton, two
daughters, Linda Lucas of
Edmonton and Shirley Salekin of
Robson. eleven grandchildren,

FIND IT IN THE
CLASSIFIEDS

<% C >
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Volunteers Needed
65-3127 or

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one great granddaughter, two sis-
ters, Faye Swain and Doris
Reeves and one brother, Keith
Jackson.

A private family service was
held and cremation has taken
place

Cremation arrangements were
under the direction of the Castle-
gar Funeral Chapel

\.
4 &.
r 4 ae
Friday, March 6th

7:30 p.m.

CONNIE SCOTT
IN CONCERT

Tickets: $10.00; $12.00 at the door
SO get your tickets early!

*HALL STATIONERY

& GIFTS

*SUPER-VALU (downtown)
*PARSLOW LOCK & SAFE
“YE FLOWER SHOPPE

-THE HOLMESTEAD RESTAURANT

*L&J BOOKS

“BON TON MEN'S WEAR
*TERRA NOVAHOTEL
“WILLS FURNITURE
AND APPLIANCE

Polly Malekow of Cres-
cent Valley and Lillian Poznekoff
of Kelowna, six grandchildren and
five great grandchildren, one sister
Natasha Lactin. Mr. Poznekoff was

were able to raise an incredible
$3.9 million to benefit British
Columbia's special children.

Than you again for helping to.
make this year’s Variety Club
Telethon such a great success. We
are truly honoured that you and
the people of your community
have found the good work of
Variety Club worthy of your con-
tinued suppor

Sincerely,

Peter Legge

Chairman

1992 Variety Club Telethon

predeceased by his wife Polly on
December 22, 1991, a sister, Nora
Tayzoff, brother, Alex Poznekov
and Grandson Phillip Malekow.

Funeral services were from the
Shoreacres Hall Saturday, February
22, 1992 at 7 p.m. and continued
Sunday, February 23, 1992 at 10
am. with burial at 12 p.m. in the
Shoreacres cemetery.

in this project
wend’ be very appreciated.

Sincerely yours,
Patrick O’Neil
Vice-Principal

W.E. Graham School

eens

tual and artistic efforts of young
people. :

So far, in both Castlegar
Papers, it is the precedent to feas
ture sports as The High Profil¢
Item: the most newsworthy of
events. ‘
Barbara Murdock

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