OPINION
ie

Castlegar News

PAGE A4, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1991
MEMBER OF THE 6.C. PRESS COUNCH

ESTABLISHED AUGUST 7, 1947 TWICE WEEKLY MAY 4, 1980
INCORPORATING THE MID-WEEK MIRROR PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 12, 1978-AUGUST.27, 1980

PUBLISHER, AUGUST 7, 1947-FEBRUARY 15, 1973
PUBLISHER, FEBRUARY 16. 1973.MAy 1. 1991

LY. CAMPBELL
BURT CAMPBELL

PUBLISHER — Dave McCullough
EDITOR — Simog Birch
PLANT FOREMAN — Peter Harve
ADVERTISING MANAGER — Wayne Stolz
OFFICE MANAGER — Warren Chernoff
CIRCULATION MANAGER — Heather Hadley

EDITORIAL

Gesture similar to
good deeds past

The offer by Argo Industries Ltd. to reconstruct the inadequate
causeway to Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park is, as described at a
Castlegar Rotary Club meeting ‘last week, ‘‘a far sighted and public
spirited gesture.’’

Argo, the excavation contractor_working on the site of Celgar
Pulp Co.’s expansion and modernization Project, is offering to
donate the manpower, equipment and materials necessary to provide
a new causeway connecting the park with the riverside mainland.

This commendable gesture is reminiscent of the generosity
provided by B.C. Hdyro and its major contractor, Foundation-Dravo
of Canada, during the building of the Hugh Keenleyside Dam.

The back nine holes at the Castlegar Golf Course- were built in
great part with B.C. Hydro paying for such things as the fuel costs
for heavy equipment used on the Project, while Foundation-Dravo
employees volunteered their labor and the company looked after
equipment maintenance and other costs.

It was also during this time that Castlegar was to become the en-
vy of all other West Kootenay municipalities in snow removal, a
reputation it enjoys to this day.

There again, Foundation-Dravo Provided hugh pieces of equip-
ment to windrow the snow up into the middle of Columbia Avenue.
It was then ‘easily loaded aboard trucks (again provided by the com-
pany) which transported the snow to a dump site near the ferries, a
site that is still used today.

As reported in last Saturday’s Castlegar News, Argo plans to
reshape existing contours to neat lines and build up the causeway at
an elevation higher than the Previous high-water level. It will also face
the upstream side of the causeway with large rip-rap, face the down-
side with small broken rock, and fill and compact the causeway itself
with good granular material.

Argo Industries is to be heartily thanked for its community-
spirited offer and we hope that some of its employees will feel so
welcome in our community that they will choose to remain here after

their work at the pulp mill site is completed.
Many construction personnel on the original Celgar project and
levside/K
y

EY WERE RID |

OF HIM FOREVER!

(

>

CAI

y

fa

pay 2

wv ep can
Asie
= willie

yn

wymition
itdooaoesiois
vyeeltn

hare

on
D conyprmLives,
Z

Turmoil overshadows throne speech

VICTORIA (CP) — B.C. Premier
Rita Johnston brought in her first
throne speech Tuesday, but her plans
for the new legislative session were
immediately eclipsed by the sudden
resignation of her finance minister
and the return of Bill Vander Zalm.

Hours before Lt.-Gov. David Lam
read the speech from the throne, Mel
Couvelier stepped down from the
finance post and then angrily said
Johnston had forced him to quit.

And in the legislature, Vander
Zaim made his conspicuous return to
the floor. He resigned April 2 after a
conflict-of-interest report found he
mixed private business with public
office in the sale of his Fantasy Gar-
dens theme park, but has refused to
give up his seat.

Before the throne speech was
deli » Vander Zalm said he

even more who were Pp!

on the Ki

Canal

Projects chose to keep their families in Castlegar after those project

were completed while they followed other construction

projects

around British Columbia and into other provinces.

These men and their families have continued to make individual
contributions to Castlegar’s growth and well-being and we hope such
will be the case, too, with at least some of the employees of Argo and
other contractors who will be employed on the Celgar site.

hadn’t ruled out running for re-
election,

And NDP leader Mike Harcourt
suggested the whole cabinet could be
tainted by the Fantasy Gardens
scandal.

“‘There’s

no change whether

there’s Bill Vander Zalm there or
Rita Johnston or whoever comes af-
ter Rita Johnston if there is another
change of leadership as the Socreds
desperately try to cling to power,”’
Harcourt said.

“*It’s not just Mel Couvelier who's
involved in this cover-up, it’s the
whole cabinet."’

Almost forgotten amid the turmoil
was the throne speech, expected to
be a blue print for the Socred gover-
nment as it prepares for an election it
must call this year.

In the speech, Johnston promised
increased emphasis on the needs of
women and families and on the en-
vironment, the economy and
Canadian unity.

“My finance minister will present
to you a budget appropriate to the
difficult economic climate we now
face,"" Lam said as he read the
speech.

“It will be a responsible budget
and those who can afford to do so
may be asked to contribute a little
more so that vital and essential
Programs can be maintained and im-
proved.””

VIEWPOINTS

B.C. budget ‘all smoke and mirrors’

By MIKE HARCOURT

On the eve of a B.C. budget, the
Social Credit government is
desperately trying to divert attention
from what may well be the largest
budget deficit in our history.

A $1 billion deficit for this budget
year is staring them in the face, and
not one cent has been saved in a
rainy day fund to cushion the blow.
That's not a record the Socreds want
openly exposed to British Colum-
bians, so they’ve resorted to Pointing
fingers elsewhere. The target is their
favorite bogey-man, central Canada,
particularly the recession-fighting
budget of the Ontario government.

It’s ironic the Socreds would com-
Pare their fiscal management with
other provinces, considering their ac-
counting procedures are unlike those
used anywhere else. As the president
of the Certified General Accountants
of B.C. said after last year’s Socred
budget manipulations: ‘‘I can’t think

of a public accountant doing that
sort of thing in a private business
and I can't see any auditor allowing
it in private business. It’s all smoke
and mirrors."*

What we're seeing is a collective
Socréd_casé of ‘‘Zalmnesia.”’ First
they want everyone to forget their
support for Bill Vander Zalm. Now
they want us to forget what province
we live in.

British Columbia is not Ontario.
It may come as news for this gover-
nment, but Ontario has economic
Problems we don’t have here; many
‘are related to the Mulroney free
trade deal, and to their aging
manufacturing base hit hard by the
recession, resulting in plant closures
and job losses.

British Columbia is a more
Prosperous province, better situated
to deal with the Canada-wide
recession. Our abundant natural
resources, access to growing Pacific

Asia markets, and high international
and interprovincial migration have
spurred mew investment and
economic growth.

The real question is’ why the

BILL VANDER ZALM
+++ Created ‘Zalmnesia’

current government failed to put

money away to write down the debt

during recent prosperous years. In-

Stead, they chose to cook the books.
BS

and huge spending

while falsely claiming a balanced
budget. During their five-year term
of office, the government purpose
debt is expected to increase ffom
$3.2 billion to over $5 billion.

I believe British Columbians are
tired of financial distortions from
their provincial government. It’s in-
dicative of a Social Credit party that
will say anything and do anything to
hang on to power. It’s reported the
new Ontario government, which
inherited a $3 billion deficit, in-
creased spending 13.4 per cent to
help people hurt by a severe
recession.

Mike Harcourt is the leader of the
NDP party in British Columbia.

Reform party guins ground in East

Old line political parties beware —
there’s a new kid on the Political
block.

It’s called the Reform Party of
Canada and in the next general elec-
tion it will likely win at least fifty
seats.

That might seem like a brash
Prediction for a party that was only
formed four years ago and until last
month was restricted to Canada’s
west.

Consider, however, Canada’s
volatile political situation. The
national debt is soaring past $400
billion; Quebec is moving toward in-
dependence; Prime — Minister
Mulroney and his governing Tories
are growing weaker. with each
Passing month and the Liberal and
New Democratic parties are bur-
dened with lackiustre leaders.

Add to this equation the Reform
Party; with its popular ideas on
reducing government spending,

decentralizing power and making
Politicians more accountable to the
People and you have the makings of
@ powerful new political force.
Indeed, the Reform Party recently
surged past the Conservatives in the

* national opinion polls and is firmly

in the lead in the Prairies with 43 per
cent.

In the near future, it could also be
the number one party in Ontario.
Reform Party meetings there have at-
tracted huge, enthusiastic crowds.
Riding associations have been set up
in about 80 of Ontario’s 99 ridings
and close to $00 Ontarians join the
Party every week.

A recent national poll Suggests the

Calgary and to appoint westerner
Don Mazankowski as Finance
Minister were attempts to undermine
the Reform Party in the west

His ploy is unlikely to work,
however. Canadians are disillusioned
with the Tories because of their per-
sonal dislike to the prime minister,
high taxes and government spending,
and secret constitutional deals.

The only way Mulroney could win
back some ground from the Refor-
mers is to make fundamental fiscal,
constitutional and political changes
to his discredited agenda. Cosmetic
changes won’t cut it.

In the meantime, expect the
Reform Party’s phenomenal growth

Reform Party is "7
from all three mainline Parties.

Clearly, Prime Minister Mulroney
recognizes the potential threat of the
Reformers to his Party. His recent
decisions to move the headquarters
of the National Energy Board to

to i You can also expect
some major changes from Mr.
Mulroney.

It’s amazing how the spectre of
imminent electoral defeat focuses
the mind of a politician.

David

Harcourt was predictably unim-
pressed by the speech.

“It’s hard to take the throne
Speech seriously when you've got a
government in chaos,"’ he said.
“‘What I heard this afternoon was
the same old thing from the same old
gang, a whole bunch of recycled
Promises.’’

The government boasted of its
economic policies, saying it has the
best financial record in Canada.

Ironically, the boasts came just
hours after Couvelier quit for the
second time in the last two months.
Johnston said he had breached con-
fidentiality by passing along a memo
on Faye Leung, the real estate agent
in the Fantasy Gardens sale, to Van-
der Zalm’s office.

Couvelier has maintained all along
that he did nothing wrong and he
reiterated that point Tuesday.

“The fact of the matter is I was
fired,’ he said. ‘I did not volun-
tarily resign.””

Couvelier’s successor, John Jan-
sen, the province’s former health
minister, said the budget will be
delivered as scheduled May 16.

“‘Improved economic performance
will require a concerted commitment
by all governments to prudent finan-
cial management,”’ Lam read.

“It will require efficient gover-
nment operations, the making of dif-
ficult decisions when necessary and it
will mean holding firm to the critical
Program priorities that have made us
unique in North America.””

As Lam read his speech, several
hundred people — teachers and
members of other unions — demon-
Strated outside the legislature against
the government's wage restraint
legislation.

The legislation limits public-sector
wage increases to ability to pay. Ken
Novakowski, president of the B.C.
Teachers Federation, said it has
caused chaos in the school system as
wage settlements in some school
districts have been rolled back.

British Columbia’s priorities in-
clude a new focus on women and
families, the government said.

Johnston's government is making
@ comprehensive child-care strategy a
Priority and will work with business
and community leaders to deliver
quality child-care services.

And Carol Gran, minister respon-
sible for families, will be busy with a
B.C. Retirement Savings Plan Act,
which will help those not con-
tributing to a plan, especially parents
caring for children at home.

Funding and services for victims of
family violence and sexual assault
will be increased.

And Joknston plans to involve the
federal government in several joint
Projects, such as the environment,
the economy and the constitution.

Socreds hold 42 seats in the B.C.
legislature. The NDP has 26 and one
is vacant.

Highlights include
budget targets |

VICTORIA (CP) — Highli of
the throne speech opening the B.C.
legislature on Tuesday:

© The May 16 budget will be
“‘appropriate to the difficult
economic climate’’ and those who
can afford it may be asked to con-
tribute more to maintain essential
Programs.

© A three-year program will im-
Prove subsidies to families and
provide quality child-care services to
working parents.
.

building prog: will be
along with a school lunch program.

© Funding and services for victims
of sexual assault and family violence
will be increased.

* A business women’s advocate
will be appointed to improve access
to private sector financing for
women.

¢ An international effort will be
Proposed to attack water and air
Pollution along the entire West
Coast.

* A legisl: will be

savings plan |
will assist people not contributing to
such plans, especially parents caring
for children at home.

* More funding for school

set up to consider British Columbia
ideas on constitutional reform.

* Access-to-information legislat-
ion will be introduced.

May 8, 1991

It's springtime. We've put our
skis and winter clothes away, and
we've taken out our bikes, lawn-
mowers and garden equipment,
Somewhere in. the transition
we've noticed that there is a lot
of clutter in our garage or
basement. We have just realized
what many people realize every
spring — it’s time for spring
cleaning. It never fails to amaze
us how quickly we tend to ac-
cumulate a lot of things that we
really don’t want or need any
more.

We could put all of the unwan-
ted items out on the curb on gar-
bage day, but why throw out
things that are perfectly usable by
someone else? In fact, wouldn't
it be great if we could actually

Sell these things and get a few
dollars. Why not have a garage
sale?

Garage sales can be fun and in-
teresting experiences. They are a
great way id’ dispose of your ex-
cess items without adding to the
ever increasing amount of
material filling up our: com-
munity landfill.

If you don’t think you have
enough unwanted items to hold
your own garage sale, why not
get together with one or more
friends or neighbors and spon-
sor.a joint effort?

It’s as simple as putting an ad
in the -paper saying when and
where and what time the event
will be, Then set your items out
on display with price tags on

Garage sales cut throu

them. It is really amazing what
People will buy, especially if the
Prices are reasonable. Also, be
Prepared to do business an hour
Or so before the advertised start
time, since there are usually some

bargain hunters who always want
to be there tirst to get the best
deals,

Try it — you'll like it,
especially if you haven't done it
before.

Economy drives shoppers south

OTTAWA (CP) — When the
going gets tough, it’s said, the tough
go shopping. And. more and more
Canadians are trying to beat tough
economic times by going shopping in
the United States.

The recession, the goods and ser-
vices tax .and tough provincial
budgets are just some of the reasons
shopping south of the border has
become so attractive.

The current 52 million annual day-
trips by Canadians to the U.S. could
jump by two million this year, says a
study prepared by the federal
Revenue Department.

High taxes on Canadian goods are
the main reasons shoppers are taking
their dollars to malls in American
border cities, says Windsor, Ont.
mayor John Millson.

Millson heads a coalition of 14
mayors of Ontario border com-
munities meeting Revenue Minister
Otto Jelinek today.

St

It’s estimated the province will lose
$1 billion in retail sales this year,
which translates into $50 million in
Provincial tax. That could climb to
$1.5 billion by year’s end, Millson
said Tuesday.

And more Ontarians will be
driving south after tax increases in
the recent Ontario budget, Millson
added, in part to buy gasoline that
can cost 31 cents a litre in the United
States compared with $5 cents at

~ home.

Jelinek said he’s prepared to listen
to the mayors but wouldn't discuss
Proposals he'll make.

“At this point in time, I’m not
writing anything off,’ he said, but
added people shouldn’t expect a
clear resolution to cross-border
shopping at the end of the meeting.

The Revenue report tried to
determine the combined effect of
freer trade on goods brought back
into Canada and of the GST on

| Castlegar Aquanauts

License No. 763214

Canadian goods.

It found that the price of U.S.
goods will drop more than those in
Canada and Canadians could save

Effect of the GST.

Ontario's revenue minister will ask
the federal government to collect the
provincial sales tax at U.S. border

3.8 per cent by shopping below the
49th parallel.

“Buying goods in Canada will
generally become more expensive in
comparison with buying the same
goods in the U.S.,’’ says the study,
marked draft and entitled Relative
Prices and Same Day Travellers —

gS to try to di: cross~-
border shopping. But that. plan is
already meeting with American op-
Position. A
Collecting the eight per cent On-
tario sales tax would ‘‘violate the
spirit of free trade between our two
countries,"" U.S. congressman Bill
Paxon said Tuesday in Washington.

Pilot seminar

The British Columbia_ Aviation
Council is inviting all private pilots
to attend a seminar June 7 and 8 at
the Dawson Creek Airport.

The agenda includes a review of
the Rendezvous 92 project com-
memorating the SOth anniversary of
the Alaska Highway, and discussions

about airplane repairs, weather-
related problems and navigation. A
workshop on search and rescue will
be capped off with a demonstration
by the 442 squadron from Comox, a
news release said.

For more information,:contact the
council in Richmond.

ment Bank representative 4

will be paying your com-

munity @

few days. C.

sit in the next

We’re out to meet you!
at Castlegar on May 15, 1991
A Federal Business Develop-

management
(counselling,
a |

today and and training).

: 426-7241

COMMITTED TO YOUR SUCCESS

Telephon

arrange an appointment
to discuss financing and

services,

planning

@ Make patterns in minutes!
® Discover money saving tips!
@ Learn designer’s secrets!

@ Fit pants perfectly!

ATTEND ONE 2 HOUR CLINIC
FOR ONLY $5.00
NOVA MOTOR INN, TRAIL

TERRA
MONDAY, MAY 13 — 7:00 p.m. ONLY!

SANDMAN INN

TUESDAY, MAY 14 — 1:30 P.M. or 7:00 PM.

No Reservation :

ZI

CLIP ENTIRE AD AND RECEIVE
2 FREE PATTERNS

CGuvvvwvewww

nN

Provincial Secretary. Stan Hagen,
Affairs.

minist
Lands and Parks. Larry

Cabinet shuffles
ministers again

VICFORIA (CP) — Members of the B.C. cabinet and their
Portfolios, following a cabinet shuffle Tuesday:

Rita Johnston, Premier. John Jansen, Finance. Jack Weisgerber,
Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources,

Bruce Strachan, Health, Seniors. Russ Fraser, Att General.
Dave Mercier, Environment. Claude Richmond, Pores. -

Lyall Hanson, Transport and Highways. Ejwood Veitch,
Education; Advanced Education
and Job Training, Science and Technology. John ‘Savage, Native

Howard Dirks, Development, Trade and Tourism. Jim Rabbit
Labor and Consumer Services. Norm Jacobsen, Social Services amd

Solicitor General. Carol G
ler responsible for Women’s Pr:
Chalmers,

Affairs, Recreation and Culture.

BINGO

Saturday, May 11

Castlegar Arena Complex

$1000 PAID OUT

JACKPOT *6500
60% PAYOUT * EARLY LAST BINGO

iRDS
60% PAYOUT SPECIALTY GAMES
Early Bird 6 p.m., Regular Bingo 7 p.m.

To Property Owners
And Residents ~

(PASS (NORNS) CREEK)

Robson Raspberry improvement District gives notice
to all property owners adjacent to Pass (Norns) Creek
that regular inspections of this watershed will be un-
dertaken. Any property owner allowing the deposit of
on i ding d
agricultural waste, or any other pe of material con.
taminating Pass (Norns) Creek will be reported to the
Ministry of Health and action will be taken, including
Prosecution, to remedy the contamination of this
Creek. Any infractions may be reported to the Robson
Raspberry Improvement District, Phone: 365-3404 or
the Ministry of Health, ss." Health and Environmen-
2:

tal Officer, phone: 365-

Dated at Robson, British Columbia, this 29th day of
April, 1991.

Carol Zimmerman, Secretary
on behalf of the Trustees
Robson Raspberry improvement District

\ PUBLIC NOTICE
= SPRING CLEANUP

The City will be sponsoring a Spring Cleanup Week. Those who
wish to participate are to phone City Hall (365-7227) between
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 P.m. on May 6 to May 10, 1991 to
register for this free service. Actual up will take place
during the week of May 13 to May 17, 1991.
During this event the following types of refuse will be picked
up.

— GARDEN DEBRIS

— BULK Uso UMITED TO OLD FRIDGES, STOVE AND

MATTRESS!
— HEDGE AND TREE TRIMMINGS
The garden debris and hedge/tree trimmings must be bagged.
bundled or boxed (Maximum weight — 40 Ib./unit; maximum
length — 4'/unit) for ease of handling.

urposes either secure or remove the doors from the
stoves.

For safety
fridges a

we would preter rig tha relves be placed ot the front curb side
ut alleyways wi Permitted (Please specify location and
description when phoning in. My

INDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Me

PREMIER JOHNSTON,

T'S TIME TO PUT
ANOTHER BAD BILL
BEHIND YOU

If the Social Credit government has really changed,
Bill 82 will be repealed during this session of the Legislature.
More than 300,00@ public sector families,
targeted by the Vander Zalm administration,
are waiting. And watching.

F the Social Credit government has

really changed since the departure of

Bill Vander Zalm as Premier, Bill 82

(the so-called Compensation Fairness
Act) will be repealed during this session of
the Legislature. But if this law remains in
force public-employee families will receive
a clear message that a conscious decision
has been made to continue the confronta
tion.

Public sector wage
increases are moderate
Wage increase comparisons over the
Past ten years show that average public and
Private sector wage increases are almost
identical (less than one percent difference)
Obviously, public sector wage in
Creases are not out of line with the private
sector. And that’s why Social Credit Labour
nister Jim Rabbitt and many of the prov.
ince's leading economists say Bill 82's wage
controls are unnecessary.

Bill 82 should be repealed.

Women workers
are hit the hardest

Half of all public employees are
‘women. Many of these dedicated British
Columbians work with the very old (in
nursing homes), the very young (as child
¢are workers) and with the sick (in hos:
Pitals) and earn low wages. In fact, many

appointed bya
disgraced former
Premier, has been
given dictatorial
powers...”

—

female public employees’ pay cheques are
below the poverty line.
\ ~The Compensation “Fairness” Act will
lock them into their present low paying
job ghettos

That's outrageous. Bill 82 should be
repealed

Bill 82 ignores the people
you elected in November

As a result of Bill 82, the school board
and the municipal council you elected last
November cannot conclude a contract with
your community's employees. One man,
appointed by a disgraced former Premier,
has been given dictatorial power to over.
turn the decisions of the people you elected.

What's more, this heavy-handed
intrusion in local community labour rela-
tions comes from a government that self.

righteously proclaims its belief in a free
marketplace

If the Social Credit government means
what it says Bill 82 should be repealed

Bill 82 threatens the
quality of public services

Public employees across British Col
umbia are attempting to negotiate collective
agreements without knowing what t
Commissioner will consider “acceptable”
to the government. This nerve-wracking
situation leaves hundreds of thousands of
B.C. families in a position of nervous
apprehension.

Meanwhile, worker morale continues
to fall and public services suffer. Women
workers wonder how much longer they
must wait for pay equity. Important work.
place health improvements are delayed
And employees focus their day-to-day con
cern on the uncertainty of their families
pay cheques.

The Compensation “Fairness” Act
allows one man’s whim to determine the
future of more than 300,000 British Colum
bia families. Meanwhile, public employers
are surrounded by confusion as they try to
determine budget and spending priorities

Bill 82 is creating chaos in our public
Services. We are now seeing costly court
battles over this undemocratic, unfair law.

Bill 82 is unnecessary and unaccept
able. It must be repealed

_ REPEAL BILL 82

CANADIAN UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
British Columbia Division