LOCAL NEWS OPINION Castlégar News PAGE A4, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1991 TAKING HIS CHANCES bina No becomes ‘ MEMBER OF THE ESTABLISHED AUGUST 7, 1947 PRESS COUNCK IST 27, 1980 THE MIO-WEEK PUBLISHER LV, CAMPBELL — PUBLISHER, AUGUST 7, 1947-FEBRUARY 15, 1973 EDITOR — Simon Birch PLANT FOREMAN — Peter Harvey ADVERTIC ING MANAGER — Wayne Stoiz OFFICE MANAGER — Warren Chernoff CIRCULATION MANAGER — Heather Hadley TWICE WEEKLY MAY 4, 1980 12, 19 Burt Campbeli EDITORIAL Time for Socreds to rebuild party Bill Vander Zalm is gone and British Columbia has a new premier. Rita Johnston, former transportation and highways minister, is Canada’s first woman premier. But where does the Social Credit Party go now? The party, during the past several years, has had far too many contradictions and those contradictions are now out in the open for all to see. The first job of the party, and those who would be its new leader, must include reestablishing Social Credit with its ideals, standards, considered policies and basic philosophy and ust work to reestablish the party in its predominant place in B.C. pi ics. One of the major purposes of party politics in any jurisdicition is to search out popular feelings and then, by legislative process, give expression to conflicting . These or policy prop must then be debated, refined and modified. Where possible, diverse views must be brought-into harmony and, where that is not possible, determinations must be made as to which set of opinions should triumph. The major questions for Socreds are then: ‘‘Who can best unify the party? Who can best provide Policy leadership? Who can best lead the party into the next election with the best possible chance of victory?”’ Mrs. Johnston will immediately come to mind, not having written herself out of the race when she successfully put her name forward for the position of interim party leader and interim premier. But with the deadline for an election only some six months away, Socreds must look for a leader who can rebuild the party, who is acknowledged not to be tied as closely to the outgoing premier as is Mrs. Johnston, and who has well electorate. 2 YY; Gi S WS ASS \ EE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Castlegar and District Golf Course maintenance worker Ashley Popoff knows he's taking his chances raking leaves near the 18th hole, and the sign only confirms that. CosNews photo by Ed Mills Weather record set Groups’ services are clarified The Kootenay Columbia Child Care Society (KCCCS) in cooperation with the West Kootenay Cerebral Palsy Association (WKCPA) and the West Kootenay Family and Childcare Services (WKFACS) would like to clarify the services these organizations offer to the West Kootenay. WKFACS, is based in Nelson. They operate the following: * Chestnut Hollow, an integrated group day care with 32 full-time spaces, eight of which are designated for special needs children. Children’s Centre. © Day care support service provides care. y with the Only one potential candidate, Grace McCarthy, has in our opinion, the best chance of successfully ensuring continuation of a free enterprise government in this province. Housing. © The Ministry of Health partially funds We hope she seriously s the chall and the B.C. Social Credit Party and the People of the province of British physiotherapy and children at Chestnut Hollow. and support for independent childcare providers, both of these programs are partially funded by the Ministry of Social Services and therapy for the outreach occupational therapy to Hobbit Hill * The Association also contracts physiotherapy and occupational therapy outreach services to the Castlegar School District. The KCCCS is based in Castlegar, and provides the following services: © Hobbit Hill Children’s Centre, an integrated day care for 46 children, of which 10 spaces are designated for special needs children, offering nursery school, day care and after school * The West Kootenay Infant Development Program, a home-based program providing services to children from birth to three years of age, who are at risk or have developmental delays. This program serves 45 infants throughout the West Kootenay and works closely with all the existing services in each community. Both On behalf of our three societies and our volunteer board of directors, I would like to thank you for your inuing support of our prog: If you would like any more information on any of the programs described please contact Penny Caron, WKFACS, 352-6678, Lillian Michallik, WKCPA, 368-3306 or Katrine Conroy, KCCCS, 365-8448. Kootenay Columbia Child Care Society Katrine Conroy Castlegar Please address ail 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. in 5 Cultural Centre. This week 630 p. (San) 199) by the government your income tax retui — Phone your 3122 oF 368-5301 7:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. (Wed) 9:30 a.m. (Fri) 5:30 p.m. (Sun) 1990 USCC Youth Feutvat (Part 5) — C continues of this annual event held at the Brilliant the featured artists are Men's Choir, Nelson's Ladi Grand Forks Psalmists. Produced by the USCC wi y. South Grand Forks Community. Choir, Kootenay hoir and -the Sign off. (Wed) 10:30 a.m. (Fri) 6:30 p.m. C. Winter Games — From Duncan, Presentation for the Figure Skating competitions. Produced by Duncan Shaw Cable. 9:30 p.m. (Wed) 1:30 p.m. (Fri) 9:30 p.m. (Sum) ‘Your Tax Return — Produced of Canada, this video gives you step-by-step instruction on how to fill out 10:15 p.m. (Wed) 2:15 p.m. (Fri) 10:15 p.m. (Sen) Sign Off — This schedule Friday at 9 4.m. and again on Sunday at 5 p.m. jm. T.V. Trader (Live) ‘buy, sell, trade into 365. repeated on By CasNews Staff Charging into March with unsea- sonably cool temperatures and_slip- ping out with record highs, Mother Nature lived up to the old adage, “‘In like a lion, out like a lamb.”’ it Canada’s Interior weather office at the Castle- gar Airport recorded March 31 as the warmest day of the month at 20.4C. The record for March is 21.7C, set on March 29, 1966. mt The coldest day last month was March 2 when the thermometer dip- ped to -7.6C, but that still had a ways to go before reaching the record low of -16 set on March 13, 1989, ‘the weather office said. Temperatures for the month over- all were slightly below normal resul- ting in a mean temperature of 3.1C. The normal mean temperature for March is 3.4C. , Total precipitation of 32.2 mm for the month was well below the normal of 58.1 mm, and because of cool temperatures, most of it fell as snow. There were 15 days of measurable Precipitation last month, which is a day more than normal but fewer than the record of 19 days set in March 1989. Set just last year, the record for fewest days of measurable precipitation in March is seven. Last month was duller than normal with 116.6 hours of sunshine. Normal for March is 122:6 hours. The brightest March on record was in 1969 when the weather office recorded 1976.9 hours of sunshine. March, 1972 was the dullest on record with only 85.4 hours sun. the law By the Recycle Advisory Group Ontario Environment Minister Ruth Grier recently said Ontario can no longer afford to squander valuable resources, and announ- ced that recycling will be made mandatory in most communities, businesses and institutions. She said that in the 1990s, we have no option but to accept. responsibility for a more efficient use of the earth's resources. Mandatory measures will be en- forced through the province's Environmental Protection Act, which authorizes stiff fines for violations. The province will increase its funding for waste reduction Programs. This news was warmly welcomed by many municipal leaders, whose community lan- dfills are nearly full in many cases. ® Mandatory separation of waste materials at large retail malls, construction and demolition sites, offices, hotels and restaurants, manufacturing industries and institutions such as schools and hospitals. * Waste audits will be required at most industries, institutions and commercial establishments. © Packaging users — including retailers and manufacturers — will be required to develop plans, to be approved by the ministry, that will reduce the amount of packaging in the waste stream by 20 per cent by the end of 1992. © Recycling will be mandatory in all but the smallest com- munities, including households, farms and apartments. © Communities will be required to set up composting- facilities for leaves and yard wastes, and incentives will be Provided to encourage more backyard composting. The writing is on the wall. Sooner or later other provinces, including British Columbia, are going to follow suit. Rather than waiting for our heads-buried in the sand, let's accept the fact that we must face the transition in the near future. NO FRILLS ¢ NO GIMMICKS Brand Name 5 Furniture Mattresses for less... A LOT LESS! PRICES as little as regular stores Castlegar «39 ocat 4445 Minto Rood =, 2@emnex (0) 365-6433 f= a programs are partially funded by the Ministry of Social Services and Housing. The WKCPA is based in Trail. It operates the following: 3 * The Children’s Development Centre, offering 65 full-time spaces, 15 of which are Vv i EWPO | N T designated for special needs children. Premier still Columbia would be well served by a favorable decision by Mrs. Letters MUST be signed and inci McCarthy. if sig id include the writer's first and last names, address * Physiotherapy and speech therapy services and a telephone number at which the are partially funded by the Ministry of Health, for writer can be reached between 9 a.m. and any children from birth to age five in the 5 p.m. The writer's name and city or town Castlegar area who require the service, as well as of resi only will be . Ont the children at Hobbit Hill and the Infant in exceptional cases will letters be Program. published without the writer's name. All three organizations are not fully funded Nevertheless, the name, address and for the services we offer. Fundraising must be telephone number of the writer MUST be done to meet the needs of the children of the West | ‘/S¢losed to the editor. ; The Castlegar News reserves the right Kootenay. Each group works independently of the to edit letters for brevity, clarity legality, other, but all with the common goal of supporting : ‘ ’ grammar and taste. the services we offer to the children who use them. FERRARO'S CROISSANTS Are Back Again * Egg Salad Croissant * Turkey Croissant Both served with homemade fries © The Anchor parenting program. Both of these are partially funded by the Ministry of Social Services and Housing. © The Ministry of Health partially funds physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and a family support worker, extra fundraising is done to support speech therapy, assessment services and psychological services for the children at the Children’s Development Centre, as well as Valu CASTLEAIRD PLAZA cee 2 7 HOURS AVAILABLE AFTER 10:30 a.m. WE ACCEPT WESTAR, CELGAR AND COMINCO MEAL VOUCHERS 1004 Columbia * Ph. 365-8155 ‘ Nehuth os Brunch “ue 1:00 p.m 4466 vations 825 doesn't get it VICTORIA (CP) — Bill Vander Zalm still refuses to admit wrongdoing in the sale of his Fantasy Gardens theme park despite a scathing indictment of his business dealings while he was the premier of British Columbia. As his career crumbled Tuesday, the disgraced premier refused to acknowledge fault even though conflict-of-interest commissioner Ted Hughes had just finished blasting him in a 61-page report: ‘Regrettably, the findings are not what I expected,”” he said. ‘‘In Politics, there is no court of appeal in these matters.’’ Calm and expressionless, he continued: “I must live by the guidelines which I initiated. During my time as premier, I believe I have always served and acted in the public interest. “In that respect, I stand by my record.”’ No explanations. No apologies. No appeal to the British Columbians he all along maintained believed him about his business dealings with a Taiwanese billionaire trying to cozy. into the investment community. Had Vander Zalm read what Hughes said? Hughes found he breached numerous guidelines, mixed business with politics, varied his testimony, ignored his advisers and suggested he wasn’t in conflict because the public wouldn’t have known had it not been for the media. “It gets down to personal pride,” said Karl Friedmann, a former B.C. ombudsman who now is a political scientist at Simon Fraser University. “tHe obviously has a lot of followers who believed in him fervently like he was their Messiah. “I think he’s still trying to salvage their pride as well as his." Vander Zalm also couldn't quite bring himself to say he quit, instead stating he was ‘‘prepared”’ to resign. Friedmann suggests Tuesday's exit could be just another part of the passion play Vander Zalm launched when he announced on Good Friday he would ask the party to call a leadership convention, but would Stay on until a successor was chosen. Vander Zalm once challenged a reporter to tell him publicly what the conflict was, then he'd see him in court. After Hughes’ investigation blossomed into a police investigation, he compared his plight to persecution under Nazi Germany. Norman Ruff, a University of Victoria political scientist, speculates Perhaps Vander Zalm's choice of words on Good Friday was an indication he would still try to hang onto his leadership had the Hughes report vindicated him. Vander Zalm VICTORIA (CP) — Premier Bill Vander Zalm resigned Tuesday after a@ report found he had violated government conflict-of-interest guidelines. Seven British Columbia cabinet ministers have resigned i i f seats to 22 for the New Democrats, and not long after Vander Zalm had described being premier as “a piece of cake.” In March, Stephen Rogers resigned as environment and parks minister over conflict-of-interest allegations oO i during Vander Zalm’s tenure that began in October 1986. The government's problems began in March 1987, less than six months after Vander Zalm and the Social Credit party romped to victory, 47 8 shares he held. Rogers now is Speaker. In the same month, Jack Kempf resigned as forests minister over financial irregularities in his office expenses. Police found no Johnston is steady, loyal VANCOUVER (AP) — British Columbia's new premier. didn’t like playing with dolls as a youngster. She preferred blue ink. “I wasn’t a playing-with-dolls person,’ Premier Rita Johnston said recently when asked to recall the dreams of her youth. PROFILE Vancouver suburb of Surrey. Vander Zalm had become mayor the year before. She was a Surrey alderman for a total of eight years and made two unsuccessful runs for the mayor’s office after Vander Zalm left for Provincial politics. Known as a Vander Zalm loyalist, “I'd rather have a nice stationary set with pens and pencils to play with. I always leaned towards office work. “It’s basically what I’ve done since getting out of school.”"’ Johnston, 55, became Canada’s first. female provincial premier Tuesday when she was sworn in to replace Bill Vander Zalm, who resigned following a critical report saying he mixed private business with his duties as premier. “It’s a historic occasion, not only in British Columbia but in Canada, to See a woman sworn in as premier and I just think that’s super,”’ she said. Johnston’s association with Vander Zalm began in 1970 when she was elected to council in the Joh was one of three members of the legislature who supported the former premier during his successful 1986 bid for the party leadership. She was elected to the B.C. legislature in 1983. After the 1986 leadership contest, she was elevated to cabinet as municipal affairs minister, a post she held until the October 1986 provincial election. “I would hope he (Vander Zalm) thought I could do the job too,” Johnston said to suggestions her cabinet post was a reward for supporting Vander Zalm. In mid-1988, she again became municipal affairs minister. Since Nov. 1, 1989, she had been minister of transport and highways and also was deputy premier. When some Social Credit constituency associations held cf West K residents are fairly familiar with B.C.'s new Premier Rita Johnston, who has visited the area several times in the lost CosNews file photo few years. meetings earlier this year to decide whether to ask for a leadership’ review, Johnston was one of the cabinet ministers who attended, urging support for Vander Zalm. In 1989, she drew flak for make socialism work.”” Johnston, who has been married for almost 40 years, has three grown children. Before entering provincial Politics, she was the manager of a finance to dictatorships in Eastern Europe, where “‘even tanks and guns couldn’t pany and was the owner- operator of a mobile home park for 13 years. now heads scandal sheet Becomes eighth in party to resign wrongdoing but he did not return to cabinet. In July, Stan Hagen resigned as advanced. education minister after an investigation into his business disclosures. in-house investiga- tion found he broke two conflict-of- interest ~ He was back in cabinet a month later. Then in November, Cliff Michael resigned as highways minister after discussing a property sale with a West Vancouver businessman. An in- house investigation found he broke fir All was quiet for about two years, but then in September 1989 Bill Reid resigned as provincial secretary after money from his ministry went to a company owned by his former paign of wrongdoing and remained in the house, but did not return to cabinet. Next to go was Peter Dueck, in May 1990. He resigned as social services minister after a report that a medical. supplier paid his expenses during a trip to Europe as health minister. There have been government and RCMP investigations but no final resolution. Dueck has not returned to cabinet. In July 1990, Bud Smith resigned as attorney general amid charges he interfered in criminal Proceedings, actions which were revealed through Sureptitiously recorded telephone conversations. However, RCMP found nothing criminal and now he’s regional and economic development minister. LOGGING SAFETY SEMINAR Last Year. Over 1,100 Loggers Were Killed Or Permanently Disabled In BC. DATES & LOCATIONS: April 16: Cranbrook, Inn of the South April 17: Kamloops, Stockmen's Motor Inn April 18: Kelowna, Elk’s Hail April 23: Castlegar, Fireside inn TIME: 8:00 am to 4:45 pm GUEST SPEAKER: ; Mr, Robert Lindsay, Executive Director, Willamette Timber Association, Oregon, USA. FEE: REGISTRATION $30 (lunch & refreshments provided) PANEL MEMBERS: ives from the Ministry of Forests, Ministry of the Environment, and the WCB. PANEL DISCUSSIONS: © Landing sizes © Skid trails © Random skidding Who knows how many more escaped injury, even though they were unprepared. Together, we have to change that. Facing the Challenge of the 90s Plan to attend this vital one-day safety seminar for logging contractors, supervisors and safety officers. You'll learn about the responsibility of supervisors for training, how to plan a safe cable logging job site, logging safety programs, and training standards for falling and bucking. There'll be a guest speaker and panel discussions in the morning, followed by work- shop sessions in the afternoon. All designed to help you ensure the safety of your loggers. As well as your own For more information, call the WCB in Vernon at 545-1125 or toll-free 1-800-663-4452. To register, call the Interior Lumber Manufacturers-Association in Kelowna at 860-9663 or fax 860-0009. Sponsored jointly by: WORKERS BOARD &onx apply to mail-in co coupon offers. This offer does yclude coupons 2 SU *SuperValu will double the face value of any manufacturers coupon when applied to the chase price of the coupon ite store. This offer is limited rchased item. Offer does offers or free merchondis« one coupon pe ffered by other stores. (Nc xceed total item's value