i OPINION Castle INCORPORATING THE MID-WEEK M LV. CAMPBELL a. spar News PAGE A4, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1991 MEMBER OF THE 8.C. PRESS COUNCIL ESTABLISHED AUGUST 7, 1947 TWICE WEEKLY MAY 4, 1960 gn PUBL AUGUST 7, 1947-FEBRUARY 1 BURT CAMPBELL, PUBLISHER EMERITUS ~ = PUBLISHER, PUBLISHER —Dave McCullough EDITOR — Simon Birch PRODUCTION FOREMAN - Peter Harvey OFFICE MANAGER - Warren Chemoft (CIRCULATION MANAGER -~ Heather Hadley ADVERTISING MANAGER ~ Mark Davis ASHED SEPTEMBER 12, 1978-AUGUST 27, 1980 |, FEBRUARY 16, Nara MAY 1, 1901 Castoge EDITORIAL Another day, another fiasco Text. books on government will be written about British Columbia’s Social Credit government from 1986-91. However, the only way they can possibly be written is from the “How not to run a government” point of view. The Socreds’ uncanny ability to self-destruct in public shows no sign of abating with Premier Rita Johnston's recy- cled regime. Her hoped-for springboard into a fall election sm On 2060] 10) from this week’s premiers conference at Whistler has come in the middle with the revelation she hired a political adviser — at taxpayers’ expense — to prepare background for the conference. Peter Jones, a partner of Mrs. Joh 's ., er Bill Johnston (no relation), was hired sonie ¢ the fact the Premier already has several political and government advis- ers on hand to help counsel her about national unity, the Con- * stitution, economic and native issues. The premier refused to say how much Mr. Jones cost, say- ing only he was paid the going rate. His hiring has served only to tarnish the premier’s image and is an indication the Socreds have learned absolutely nothing about ethics during the last five years. “You don’t hire a PR person to fill you in on the Constitu- tion,” NDP Leader Mike Harcourt said in Trail during a swing through the Kootenays that continues today and Thursday. “You have good advisers who are already being paid for out of the public purse.” Honesty and ethics in government — it seems so very sim- ple. Why is-it the Socreds keep screwing it up? LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Tour enjoyed The Castlegar Rotary Club sponsored 15- year-old Brendan Rourke, one of 15 B.C. students invited to participate in a new annual program Adventure in Aviation, a four-day adventure organized by the Rotary Club of Abbotsford during the popular Abbotsford Air Show week. Each participant was billeted in the home of an Abbotsford Rotarian. The activities enjoyed by the young people included a trip to Seattle to tour the Museum of Flight at Boeing field and the Boeing Aircraft plant at Everett where the huge 747s are accelerating. With the widespread pollution of air and water, the breakdown of the earth's capacity to produce food, the growing holes in the ozone layer and global warming, no one can escape the consequences. Many members of the audience shared my dismay that, while governments around the world have access to this information, none of them is confronting and tackling the Toot causes. People expressed frustration and even I all of us and we must buy time to turn it around. Imperfect as it is, we have to take part in the political process. David Suzuki New Denver Dispelling rumors There have been numerous inaccuracies despair about government and politi shared my views that a solution will not be found until people begin to change certain The group also toured the air flight con- trol centres at Abbotsford and Vancouver inter airports. At V: they viewed the Canadian Airlines Inter facilities. The stud enjoyed special admittance VIEWPOINT Premier loses opportunity By GERARD YOUNG The Canadian Press WHISTLER — B.C. Premier Rita Johnson missed an oppor- tunity at this week’s premiers conference to win back disgrun- tled B.C. voters. Social Credit party strategists had hoped she might shine as chairman of the 32nd annual conference. A solid performance would serve as a springboard into an election, which must be called by fall. Johnston needed a boost since recent opinion polls suggest her government, dogged by scandal and internal squabbling, trail the Opposition NDP by at least seven percentage points. enlightened answers to ques- tions on the economy, national unity or aboriginal concerns. She was tentative, seemingly unclear about the most appro- priate response. Example: Her reply to the charge by Ovide Mercredi, Assembly of First Nations Lead- er, that white Canada has a legacy of racism. “I can’t say that I agree, | but I to the aerospace trade exhibition Air Show Canada displays in the new massive Tradex building in Abbotsford. The same day they were able to view the 30th annual Abbots- ford International Air Show. Highlight of the program was the oppor- tunity for each student to actually pilot one of the five Cessna aircraft provided by Coastal Pacific Aviation for the enjoyed familiarization flights over the Fraser Val- ley. Gordon Grierson Abbotsford All should vote On Saturday I spoke to an audience in New Denver about the environmental crisis engulfing our planet. Thave since talked to people who were concerned about my comments on the politi- cal level, and I would like to clarify them. I gave proven facts which document how severely our i Bho already been guess everybody has a way of looking at things,” she said. “If you're living with it, you took at things a little different- ly.” Mercredi and other native leaders had just elaborated on native concerns in a historic The two-day 8 corifer- ence, which ended Tuesday, held out the possibility for the start of a comeback. But Johnston came across as “Rita Johngon the leader of the Social Credit party, not Rita Johnston, premier of B.C.,” said Norman Ruff, a University of Victoria political scientist. “I don’t think it helped,” said Ruff, who watched television coverage of conference. I think she’s been taking bad advice.” While other premiers-sur- rounded themselves with gov- ernment advisers, Johnston rarely was found without her new political image-maker at her side. Ci i Itant } Peter Jones was hired to aid her ‘during the conference. He also has been retained to advise her during the B.C. election. Top election strategists also were never far away during the One source mier said her handlers “were reasonably happy with her per- formance,” in that she didn’t make any major gaffes. It was her first rat conference. But she didn't source said. Johnaton provided few with the pi Johnston further muddied her position on Quebec. She vis- ited Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa earlier this month and seemed sympathetic to his province’s constitutional re- quirements. She backtracked when she came home. Her posi- tion is hard to decipher. “Much has been written and Th broadcast, in this province at least, about my recent visit to see Mr. Bourassa,” she told pre- miers in her opening remarks. “First I was bashing him, then I was knuckling under. “The truth of course is that British Columbia and Quebec have much in common while at the same time Mr. Bourassa and I recognize and respect, the dif- ferences between our regions and our people.” Johnston had a chance to gar- ner some publicity when hun- dreds of seniors demonstrated outside the conference over con- cern about the demise of medi- care because of federal funding cuts. Yet, it was Ontario Premier who trotted out in the chilly drizzle to congratulate them for their defence of medi- care. degraded. This d d des about the nature of life on earth and our species’ role in it. I emphasized the need for a broader glob- al vision that will require p the recent incid vis- iting tree planters and local youth at the New Denver campground. The executive of the Slocan District Chamber of Commerce wishes to dispel some of those rumors. <4, in our belief and Value systems. Since each community is part of the present destruction of life support systems of this planet, we must begin at the community level to work towards this transformation. No major party is seriously considering the fact that we live in a finite world that cannot sustain continued economic or popu- lation growth. I believe the deep solutions will come from grass-roots concerns, but we need to buy more time. Therefore, it is cruciglly important that overyous participate in elections. This making clear concerns for the environment, ing that each didate address the issues of growth, the vital role of wilderness . and biodiversity and the need for The ii began when one young area man entered the campsite of the East'Indian tree planting créw and began: haranguing them about an earlier problem. The crew forcibly removed him from the camp and he reported the incident to the police. Against the advice of the RCMP, he gath- ered seven or eight friends and returned to the camp. There were numerous onlookers and the small group of participants in the confronta- tion when the police arrived. In the ensuing scuffle, two men sustained minor cuts and bruises and several small pickets were removed from the Japanese garden tea house. That was the extent of the damage an injuries. After the local group dispersed, the police remained at the campsite until 3:30 a.m. The ii igation is inuing and ch economics. It is a copout to dismiss the political pro- cess as irrelevant or corrupt — we all have to vote while working for the big The opposition New Democratic Party i is not perfect by dny means, and has not grasped the nettle of addressing the impos- sibility of, or the lack of necessity for, steady growth; but clearly there is a big difference rapidly all over the world. ‘As a result, hun- dreds of thousands of people have already suffered disease or death from poisoning, it and the current government. The Socreds have irrefutably shown they are dto tion and widespread devastation of the envi-“ are anticipated against several members of the local group, none of whom is under 18. The chamber of commerce, along with the citizens of the New Denver area, deplores this violence, particularly when racial or other minorities are involved. The chamber ive feels that the incident was well handled by the RCMP and that they deserve the support of the community. Blair Nelson, President Ray Williams, Vice-President Slocan District Chamber of Commerce Rae thinks he made allies Ontario premier says he has support for strong central gov't Suzuki visits protesters Geneticist says he supports Hasty Creek water users David Suzuki, a renowned Canadian geneticist and host of dents who are blocking the con- struction of a logging road into their watershed. ‘The camp was established on Aug. 19 when more than 250 people blocked the entry of Slo- can Forest Products’ road build- ing equipment into the small watershed near Silverton. The company immediately sought an injunction to remove the blockade, but the presiding judge decided to hear both sides of the dispute before making a decision. The hearing is scheduled tomorrow in Vancouver. Suzuki, who spent part of his youth in the Slocan Valley, spoke to a large audience in New Denver on Saturday night. He visited the Hasty Creek camp Sunday afternoon and told organizers he supported their to have a DAVID SUZUKI - . must take conservative approach Alliance. “We must take the most conservative approach in view of our ignorance. “People like yourselves are the true conservatives,” he told the group. “The extremists are those who think they can barge sive watershed plan in place before any road building or log- ging activity begins. “There is lots of evidence now in B.C. that we have much to learn about how a forest works,” Suzuki said in a news release issued by the Hasty Creek Watershed Committee and the Slocan Valley Watershed WKP unveli By CasNews Staff West Kootenay Power's plans to build a $4.5 million head office in Trail indicates a long- Sorm commitment to remain a in and the forests with their existing knowledge. “What we need are more les of ities that ag groups within the Slocan Valle: The alliance and its member groups have been working for nearly a decade to ensure that adequate planning precedes any industrial activity in valley that are | d for in. licensed watersheds unti] the problems have been resolved. In June, after four years of participation on a watershed planning committee for the Springer Creek area near the Village of Slocan, all but one of domestic and agricultural use. “We want to make it clear that we are willing to accommo- date | ing if it is d d the partici water users called for a halt to the committee's activities. “We were working on a short- term logging plan, not a long- appropriate within an accept- able watershed plan,” said Jim Rutkowsky, chairman of the Hasty Creek Watershed Com- mittee. “Our goal is long-term planning which will ensure that we can continue to enjoy all the benefits that the forests pro- vides us, including quality water and a healthy forest-based econ- omy.” Despite the objections of water licensees in the Hasty Creek area and watershed groups throughout the Slocan Valley, the forest and environ- ment ministries, along with Slo- can Forest Products, have approved a plan for road con- struction and logging in the watershed, claiming that the resid concerns have been are dealing with the land-use issues that face them.” The Hasty Creek action was organized by the Hasty Creek Watershed Committee and the Slocan Valley Watershed Alliance, a coalition of water- “We had seriously looked at the Okanagan Valley to get close to our largest market,” Brad- shaw told The News in an inter- view. , the vane tiesene of community and public affairs says. “I think it really does make a statement for the entire Koote- nays that West Kootenay Power is here to stay,” Mike Bradsh I d, the y opted for its historical roots. WKP began operating in 1898 after building its first power plant on the Kootenay River 30 miles upstream from Trail. Since then, the power y’s head office said. WKP announced its plans for the new four-storey, 50,000- square-foot building on Trail’s riverfront at a news conference last week at Trail city hall. The utility had considered moving its head office to the Okanagan. has been located in the area, first in Rossland and for the last 60 years in Trail. “Our interest wag in staying - here,” Bradshaw said, The utility’s head office is currently located in the Waneta Piaza Mall. WEP president Joe Drennan accommodated. However, the watershed term watershed protection plan,” said Richard Allin, co- chairman of the watershed alliance, The B.C. ombudsman is cur- rently investigating a complaint, lodged by the alliance, that the current ministry procedures are inadequate. The watershed groups argue that until the investigation is complete and the process improved, no further industrial activity should be allowed in licensed watersheds in the Slo- can Valley. Representatives from Hasty Creek and the watershed alliance met in late July with SFP management seeking a delay in the Hasty Creek road building, but so far the company says it will proceed as planned. The alliance is finalizing a plan- groups say several probl exist with the provincial govern: ment’s current planning précess, and that no further road build- ing or logging should take place said the plans for the new build- ing “re-affirm our commitment to the city and the area through this long-term investment.” “Ninety-four years may seem like a long time in one place, but we hope to be here serving our customers for another 90 years,” Drennan said. “This is our home.” West Kootenay Power’s new building is the first major busi- ness improvement under Trail’s ning y manual of its own which, it claims, will spell out how water Coutral F YOUR COMMUNITY AWARD WINNING FOOD STORE TO SCHOOL CONTES WIN A COMPUTER TURKEY BREAST nanets COAST ot 59 can be p d while ing for other forest uses. s plans for new office tion of a two-level parking facili- ty at the time WKP undertakes construction of its new head office. “Funding for a downtown parking facility has been in municipal reserves for many years so this new parking struc- ture will have no impact on tax- payers,” Trail Mayor Sandy San- tori said. “This is a win-win situ- ation. It’s a creative solution to the challenges facing West plan for downtown revitalization. Trail.intends to co-fund a 4s downtown parking structure in iy Power and the City of Trail We couldn’t be more pleased with the solution.” With downtown land for with the develop ment of WKP’s new head office. The city will contribute $700,000 towards the construc- devel in short supply, Trail had deferred using the waterfront Esplanade site for a please see WKP page AS LEGION (Except Band Mights & Special Occassions) Coming September Meat Bingo + Garage Sale HIGH ARCTIC FISH & SEAFOODS - CASTLEGAR - Monday, September 2 : Vacant lot north of Shell Service By KEVIN WARD e Canadian Press WHISTLER — At-a ski resort nestled in British Columbia’s coastal mountain range, Ontario Premier Bob Rae thinks he’s developed some allies among” Canada’s leaders for central government. It’s a concept that flies in the face of Quebec’s demands for more power to protect its dis- tinct language and culture, bet Rae is sticking to his guns, ing a fire sale can’t be he held on federal powers if the country is to remain together. “I think the very com- mitment that I’ve felt here by the premiers . . . is a very strong concern about national pro- grams, about what it is we share as Canadians,” Rae said Tues- day at the 32nd annual premiers conference. "I think it’s much stronger than we've been giving it credit strong for.’ § Since his election one year ago, Ree has been battling against federal cuts in social programs that forced Ontario to find an extra $3.6 billion in its last budget just to maintain wel- fare programs. In his debut as the first socialist Ontario premier to attend a premiers conference, some of the major themes Rae has been touting found their way into the final communique. _A push he began in concert and others for a first ministers conference on the economy to federal economic policies now has support-of premiers from across the country. As well, the premiers agreed the next round of constitutional negotiations must deal with a wide range of problems facing Canadians and cannot be Quebec's di d And Ontario's strategy of linking national unity to eco- nomic issues was also echoed by the other premiers. However, there were dis- agreements — most notably a division over how Ontario wants to handle native issues as few premiers jumped to support Rae’s drive to entrench the right of natives to self-government in the Constitution. But the main thrust of Rae’s constitutional proposals — namely wa's taining Ottawa’s peg) in. his speaking against the ‘seeenon of a “checkerboard Canada” of rich and poor provinces. “The national institutions that built this country together are being eroded,” Ghiz said lat- er, bemoaning cuts to the CBC and Via Rail. His plea must have be music to the ears for ‘Oni delegation — which a charter to protect shared: must be preserved — has many of the premiers singing from the Ontario's bid to strengthen federal institutions has from the smaller Atlantic Lipase which need shared- programs to maintain medicare and welfare. Prince Edward Island’s Joe Ghisz made the most el ie for them written into > the It’s a position that Rae’s advisers believe could get e wider support by the time the Premiers meet next year in Pitch for national unity by main-) Lighten up with « Lindal Cedar Sun- Room. 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