ESTABLISHED AUGUST 7, 1947 ‘THE MID-WEEK Castlégar News PAGE A4, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1991 MEMBER OF THE B.C. PRESS COUNCH. TWICE WEEKLY MAY 4, 1980 12, LANT OFFICE LV. CAMPBELL — PUBLISHER, AUGUST 7, 1947-FEBRUARY 15, 1973 PUBLISHER — Burt Campbell EDITOR — Simon Birch PI FOREMAN — Peter Harvey ADVERTISING MANAGER — Wayne Stolz MANAGER — Warren Chernoft CIRCULATION MANAGER — Heather Hadley IST 27, 1980 EDITORIAL Housing headache not necessary The Selkirk College board and the college’s administration could have saved themselves a headache if they had called for tenders on the college’s student housing project. By not doing so, and by awarding the contract for the project to a Kelowna firm, the college has angered two competent local com- panies who submitted proposals for the student housing. College president Leo Perra, in a letter to Bill Berg, president of William Berg Construction Ltd. of Castlegar, which, along with Nu- Tech Construction Ltd. of Castlegar, submitted a proposal, said the college received several proposals which met most of the -college’s requirements for the housing project. However, Advanced Building Systems of Kelowna was the only proposal which met all of the college’s requirements, such as reinforced conerete construction, air conditioning in the student lounges and storm sewer drainage rather than surface drainage, Mr. Perra said. “‘The general appearance and layout were considered and the lower profile of a two-storey facility was given preference,”’ Mr. Perra writes in the letter, a copy of which was sent to the Castlegar News. The college has every right to specify exactly how it wants its student housing built and what it should include. But why not lay it all out in detail and call for tenders like the Castlegar school board, Regional District of Central Kootenay and City of Castlegar do when they want a major project built? The fact that the collége will borrow the nioney for the project from the provincial government and pay it back from revenue the student housing generates means the project won't cost the taxpayers any money. So we understand the student housing project isn’t quite the same as, say, the renovations to Stanley Humphries secondary school. But we hate to see local.companies lose out on major projects. If the college had issued a specific set of detailed plans and specifications for the project, we think William Berg and Nu-Tech probably would have had a better shot at winning the contract. And the college would have avoided the hard feelings it has created in the local construction industry. VIEWPOINT Proposed gun law unworkable By the Wildlife Federation Attempting to produce un- workable laws aimed at harassing law-abiding gun owners is the view taken by the B.C. Wildlife Federation of the efforts of federal Justice Minister Kim Campbell. Just réleased is the BCWF reply to the report of the special committee on the subject matter of Bill C-80. This bill is the federal government’s effort to bring in new firearms legislation which ran into parliamen- tary opposition necessitating a House of Commons special committee. “It is the belief of the BCWF that there is no need for additional firearms legislation which will only add to the bureaucracy faced by law- abiding gun owners across the coun- try,”’ said federation president Otto Andersen. “Enforcement is the problem. If the laws currently on the books were adequately used and enforced we would have more than adequate firearms legislation in Canada.”’ Despite the BCWF position, the ization’s firearms i has just completed an extensive review of the special committee report. In this review, the BCWF has answered every recommendation made by the special committee, 32 in all. Agreeing with half of the recom- mendations of the special committee, the BCWF believes that a major fault of the whole process is that too much emphasis is beirig placed ‘on the firearm and not enough on how it is used or misused. “‘For example, the special commit- tee talked a lot about storage of firearms,’’ said Ralph Charlesworth, chairman of ‘the BCWF firearms committee. ‘‘We do not believe that a firearm owner should be required to barricade himself or herself in their homes, but rather the onus should be on the intruder. “There should be mandatory, and automatically imposed, stiff senten- ces for criminals who are found guilty of stealing firearms, or being in possession of stolen firearms."" A strong advocate for firearms training, the BCWF was responsible for the CORE program in British Columbia.’ "The CORE program is mandatory for any person wishing to apply for a hunting licence and safe handling of firearms is at the top of its list of requirements. As a result of the CORE program, firearms ac- cidents among hunters has been markedly reduced. One of the many positive steps taken by the BCWF towards safer gun handling in Canada was the delivery of a proposed training program to the special committee. perepritltlbll ltl? ° inirremypplldes wines trill CMM Ul tltltgy Selkirk College's the Leo Perra has been selected to receive the Association of Community College Trustees Pacific Region Chief Executive Officer Award for 1991. of the She said some of the factors con- sidered significant in the board's decision to nominate Perra were his Fleet, Selkirk College board made the sur- prise announcement at the college’s regular board meeting April 16 in Kaslo. The ACCT is a North America- i college and from a number of com- maunity contacts. Perra has maintained a high profile on the provincial level in the ional. sector, wide i} with it D.C, The ion is divided into a “number~-~-of geographical regions, with the Pacific region including all of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, British Columbia and the Yukon. “The board was unanimous in its decision to nominate Leo for this award, but we had no idea what chance he had,"’ said Fleet, who Pp y serving on many provincial: commit- tees both within the Ministry of Ad- vanced Eduation, Training and Technology, and with education- related organizations, Fleet said. Last year, he was elected to his second term as president of the Council for Chief Executive Officers for B.C., an arm of the Advanced Education Council of B.C. Ad- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Definition debated Let me correct an by Ed upsetting would be a gross understatement. I know neither the alleged victim nor the Kania about the use of “thumane”’ in his letter to. the editor (Castlegar News, April 13). sic In my previous letter, I referred to the leg- hold trap and the reasons why it is still so commonly used throughout North America. I then said, ‘They even refer to the leg-hold trap as a humane trap and use this description just as Ed Kania uses for his new trap inventions. Humane it case. Neither do I know who is innocent or All children are encouraged by their schools and most parents to read newspapers. In one fell swoop, the Sun has undone everything that the schools have been trying to accomplish with their CARE programs. Our children are taught from is not. Cruel it is! The latter 4 or So I thought, referred to people calling the leg- hold trap humane. However, now that Ed Kania is claiming his trap humane one must question what is meant by “thumane.”’ The definition used by the Federal Provincial Committee For Humane Trapping states, ‘‘Humane death means a death during which an animal suffers minimal distress. This may be achieved by rendering the animal unconscious and insensitive to pain as rapidly as possible with inevitable subsidence into death."’ What is ‘‘minimal distress?’ What is meant by “rapidly as possible?’’ Hours or days? Is having the body squeezed to death now to be considered to be humane? No wonder that sone trappers are still calling the leg-hold trap humane with this kind of a loose definition. Does it kill the animal instantly upon the first blow? That is the question. If Mr. Kania has that evidence then and only then could he refer to the trap as humane. It may be true that the very few animals able to enter the Kania trap die ‘‘as rapidly as possible’’ or suffer ‘‘minimal distress”’ compared to an animal caught by the leg in a trap, but great care must be’ used to define the term humane. Indeed many would claim that any trap designed to capture animals for the fur trade should never be called humane. George V. Clements Executive Director The Fur-Bearers Story upsetting To say that the article in the Castlegar Sun regarding a sexual assault trial in Nelson was ten to report any form of sexual abuse because they are not “bad”’ and have done nothing wrong. I am fully aware that the trial is *‘public knowledge,’* but are all-the explicit, sordid details necessary for all to read? I am sure that if I wanted to know the minute details of what Clifford Olson did to his victims I could find out. But for all the newspaper articles I read on the case, I was never once subjected to that type of “public information,”’ not even in the scandal sheets. Sexual assault happens and it has to be stopped or dealt with by making it public, but this kind of irresponsible, sensational reporting does not solve the problem. As of last Wednesday, if one of my children were sexually assaulted in this town I would have a hard time encouraging them to testify now that I know the gross details and not just the assault would be published for their friends and foes to read. Josephine Miller Castlegar Details unwanted Apparently freedom of the press gives journalists the right to add more injury to the already suffering parties involved in criminal cases. I am referring to an article in the Castlegar Sun which appeared on the front page of that newspaper on Wednesday, April 17. I realize that the newspapers have the right to report on all ongoing court cases to inform their readers. I also know that this can be done in a more acceptable manner than was done in this case. Any potential witnesses in similar cases are certainly going to think very long and hard about coming forward if they think that all the graphic details are going to be splashed all over the front page. Both the accused and the alleged victim have families who have suffered along with them in cases like this one. Sensationalist-type journalism like this only adds to their pain and suffering. If “we as readers enjoy this type of writing we have only to go to the store and buy a National Enquirer or Star to have access to this kind of cruel and uncaring reporting. My children read the newspaper at night to take news clippings to school for their newstime. I am upset to think that as a parent we now have to Start screening not only TV and movies for our children but one of the local newspapers as well The damage that has been done to all parties involved in this case cannot be repaired but I will make sure that this type of reporting does not find a place on the coffee table in my living room. Bev Casler Castlegar Please address all letters to the editor to: Letters to the Editor, Castlegar News, P.O. Box 3007, Castlegar, B.C. VIN 3H4, or deliver them to our office at 197 Columbia Ave. in Castlegar. Letters should be typewritten, double- spaced and not longer 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 reached between 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 without the writer's name. Nevertheless, the name, address and telephone number of the writer MUST be disclosed to the editor. The Castlegar News reserves the right to edit letters for brevity, clarity, legality, grammar and taste. By the Recycle Advisory Group It’s a beautiful spring day. The snow is finally gone and the lawns are starting to look green. Your neighbors are all outside working in their yards. You've just finished washing your car for the first time this season. As you step back to ad- mire the job you’ve done you notice little particles of soot and flyash falling out of the air and sticking to your car. At this time you take a closer notice as to what your neighors are doing. One of them is bur- ning dried grass and pine needles. The wind alternately fans the flames for awhile, followed by periods of smoldering. The poor combustion conditions result in soot and flyash contaminating the air in the ‘entire neigh- borhood, including the particles falling on to your car. Ironically, this is the same ii considerate neighbor who lets his animals run through everyone’s yards and the same guy who makes too much noise on Satur- day nights. He’s certainly not your favorite neighbor. You_ wish he would compost his grass clippifigs, dried needles and leaves rather than burn them. You wish he knew that there was a special place at the Ootischenia landfill where com- postables could be put if he didn’t want to set aside a spot in his own yard. You also wish we had a bylaw which prohibits people from bur- ning materials in their yards. In short, you wish he’d get with it — burning materials in our yards is just not the right thing to do. Composting, rather than burning, is certainly the best way to go. Composting adds nutrients to the soil, whereas burning results in releases of particulates into the air. Backyard burning of leaves, clippings and needles is usually quite inefficient from a combustion point of view. Incomplete combustion often occurs, resulting in releases of carbon monoxide into the at- mosphere. This, as we know, contributes to the destruction of our ozone layer. Backyard bur- ning also produces ashes which may be messy to dispose of. Don’t be an_ inconsiderate neigbor. Don’t burn anything in your yard this year. If you haven't already started a compost pile, do it now. ‘Fast lanes' may slow business By TERRY O'SHAUGHNESSY the Canadian border retailers must be thinking that 1991 is the year the federal government decided to put them out of business once and for recurring United States. Revenue Minister figured in both scenarios. In response to the problem of to And like a bad dream, federal Otto Jelinek accounts. other border all. overly On the first day of the nex year, the much-maligned goods and ser- vices tax came into effect and vir- tually demolished what remaining vestiges of consumer activity were left in the Canadian economy. A scant three months later, a federal trial balloon was unveiled, that, in effect, would make cross- border shopping that much easier for consumers within driving distance of upon Jelinek’s new pilot project (to be tested first in British Columbia) will allow travellers and/or shoppers to be processed more quickly and easily through Canadian customs. This so-called Proach will dividuals to pass through customs completion of a declaration form while any ap- Plicable duties and/or taxes will sim- border “*fast allow lane’ ap- registered in- da to survive. According simple economist for the ply be charged to their credit card Jelinek hopes the project will suc- ceed and plans to expand the project checkpoints the country later this year. With the dramatic rise in the number of Canadians now driving south to do their shopping, Jelinek’s new rules will no doubt please many. Retailers along the border, however, must be wondering what they have to Federation of Independent Business, the ‘fast lane’ approach will ‘only worsen an already bad situation. “The number of Canadians shop- ping in the U.S. has soared during the past two years,’ Swift says, “and, as a result, our retailers are suffering through some very difficult times.’* adds that while cross- business to their American counter- Parts than ever before.’’ to Catherine Swift, vice-president of research and chief Terry O'Shaughnessy is a colum- nist for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Canadian By SCOTT WHITE VICTORIA — British Colum- bia gets its fair share of federal money, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney stated categorically Tuesday. Premier diplomatically minister she'd proof. And she’d like to see it in writing. In their first meeting since Johnston became B.C. premier April 2, the two political leaders Rita Johnston told the prime like to see the provincial matters and aboriginal issues. Johnston admitted she was “feeling rather nervous’’ about her first one-on-one with the prime minister. But that nervousness seemed to disappear at the end of the news conference Mulroney and John- ston held at the Empress Hotel. The premier raised her eyebrows when Mulroney disputed a question from one journalist who suggested the federal government was shifting the bulk of its spending on ship- building and maintenance to Canada’s East Coast “There is an equitable share of work that is distributed to both Halifax . . . and the West Coast,’’ Mulroney said. “I know that British Columbia is not being in any way penalized in respect to the distribution of this work British Columbia will receive its fair share.”” The prime minister added the share of federal spending in British by his gover- nment “‘increased quite substan- tially” to the tune of “hundreds of millions of dollars” over the last few months. time, Johnston, a former provincial transportation minister who often complained the province didn’t get its fair share in federal ship- building contracts, told Mulroney she would like to know where the money is being spent. “*l was going to ask you if you would provide me with the list of these federal contracts that have at come into British Columbia the last little while because it is a concern that I’ve had for-some particularly the building,” she said. “l'll be happy to,"’ Mulroney said with a laugh. Johnston asks for proof of Tories’ generosity one at the ready.”” The leaders Columbia. ship- in Vancouver. “Finance Minister Don Mazankowski ‘‘has “Good,"* said Johnston. also said discussed other funding issues, such as cost-sharing of the RC- MP forces in the province and a high-tech cancer treatment system the University of British Mulroney was in Victoria as part of his national unity tour that started earlier this week in Calgary and will conclude today The prime minister said Joe Clark, Canada’s new minister for constitutional affairs, will soon meet Johnston to get her views on Canada’s unity woes. they “British Columbia has always been very supportive of national unity issues, even though it’s thousands of miles away and of- ten times has good reason to be ey, with certain things,” he Former B.C. premier Bill Van- der Zalm backed the Meech Lake accord. Scott White writes for The Canadian Press. TAKE ASEAT AT THE RounD TABLE. PUBLIC FORUM Protecting the environment... The British Columbia Round Table on the Environment and the Economy needs your help to create a provincial strategy for Developing the economy... Can we do both? Interested groups and individuals are invited to make submissions on any related topic, either by writing to the address below, or at a public forum scheduled for this area. P; " but not required, and the Public is invited to attend. College 820-10th Street Monday June 3 :00 - 5:00 pm Open House Neilson Canadian International 2 7:00 - 11:00 pm Public Forum y Ji 10:00 am - Public Forum cont'd R®UND TABLE . +» let's find a better way For more information contact: British Columbia on the Round Table the Su and y ite 229-560 Johnson Street Victoria, B.C. V8wW3C6 1-800-665-7002 (Mon-Fri) EO PERRA + ++ maintains high profile <7 nae. NNT Wve any ad al HHS v nag Ahi’ Mani ny Mt 30,000 Yards Reduced! 5 Days Only! BRAND NEW! SPICY FRIES ditionally, at a time when other ¢n00 ¢e colleges were coping with prolonged ’ o 7 4 strikes, Selkirk College has managed to maintain a comparatively settled labor climate, Fleet said. © “ACCT required extensive details of the contribution made to the college and the province,’ she said. ‘It’ was a vary comprehensive nomination questionnaire.’’ k olumbia Annual General Meeting OOTISCHENIA IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT * Financial Report © Trustee's Report *-Election of Trustees * Appointment of Auditor 1:00 p.m., Ootischenia Hall April 27, 1991 PLEASE ATTEND BOARD OF TRUSTEES Perra will receive the award June 6 at the regional seminar for the Pacifi¢ and — Western regions ~in AR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1975-6th Ave. 365-6313 At last, a genuine spring CLEAROUT SALE Y ea Sa BY j aa “wi sigan sie ws ; ini W) Mannington Congoleum Armstrong Domcor Tarkett Peerless Imperial Classique Constellation Harding Connaisseur Collection Karastan Philadelphia SS PTT Mma Wed. -Sat., April 24 -27 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 28 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Horizontal & Vertical Blinds Levelor & Wyntek LOWEST PRICES IN THE KOOTENAYS! Hardwoods Finished & Unfinished Ceramic Tiles immediate Installation By One of 9 Professi Installers 365-2265 Buy & Sell.