Partner! While most of us were happily and noisily welcoming in the New Year, an uninvited guest crept into our lives. Like a thief in the night, Bill 63 snuck into cour lives under the cover of darkness. But when the light of day shone upon the face of the new bill, the reality of its impact was only beginning to become painfully apparent. . With little fanfare, or hoopla, the NDP gov- erament pushed through a legislation that Slee este preel Snencial cule snd torn > an Tn fact, the only ones who will benefit from | @re bill are the Workers’ Compensation Board ¢WCB) and the Insurance’Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) who, we might seanind you, are both government subsidized, Bill 63 became law at midnight January 1, if you are a worker and you are injured while on the job, even if the injury is due to another worker’s negligence, you could lose up to 25 per cémt of wage loss benefits and $240,00 in general court.” Forget it! Under the new bill an injuged_wotker has to take their-medicine— there. is no legal recourse allowed. And so, slong with the pain and injustice of the injury, aot to mention the wages the persori has lost a lifetime, the injured worker has to swal- low 2 bistér pill. ¥ Isn’t it curious that both ICBC and WCB Financial reserves are almost nil, or that the ‘unfunded liability for WCB this year alone is fat least $250 million—some people speculate Ghat rate could be closer to $400 million. So who wins? Most certainly ICBC will Scan ot sad, and so weil WCE. I is cenain ‘that without having all those extra claims to {pay out, there will be less subsidy needed from tte NDP govemment coffers. How lucky for Shem—and how Sweakened by this heavy blow. And yet the 4very people who have dealt this blow will still dexpect British Cokimbian workers to camry the weight of this province upon their it is-a sad day indeed when the welfare of Acgepocatiqns comes before the meogs of the pa to q “Tm eovrsersgrme tt he ras sat ato aie . Sear te crescent ia which the error occurred, whether such error is dve and there shall be no damages. “No sweat” you might say: “I'll take it to / RATIER HGH DTWOTWINKS _ Looking into the crystal ball I's time, once the temptation of enoeting 3 a img about stringing together a series of news items that ended in bird cages across British Columbia during the past 12 — . in keeping with pasi prac- tice. regi than boring you with stale political tidbits, I 'd like to make a few, predictions of what might dritig. That know what hell I was talking about. Either way, it's morefun McCarthy will slug it out with other contenders in two separate contests to gaia their respective seats in the Both must win or their political life may be over. My first prediction: Both (Campbell and McCarthy will win, the former quite comfortably, the latter maybe just so. And if, by amy chance, former premier Bill Vander iapear enters the fray, Jose. The year 1994 will also sce the official birth of a new political party. My prediction mumber two - is that the party's birth will be fol- ties, Gordon Wilson and Judi Tyabji will launch the Progressive Democratic Alliance or PDA for shor. In a recent piece I already mentioned some of the less-than- flattering names PDA may stand for. Let's add Pretty Dead on Arrival to that list. Prediction number three is that the 1994-95 spring budget will be rplatiyely geeily 9 On taxpayers. won't be huge Lax increases and few nasty surprises. The NDP will try to set the stage for an elec- tion that will come within 12 to 18 months. Prediction number four is that the budget, no maticr how allur- ing, will make no impression on the voters. The NDP government will not be able to improve its image with British Columbians. ‘The public remains in an extreme- ly ugly and volatile mood and will lash out at any goverment. no on Sound will-continue to altract protesters who will contin- ue to be thrown in jail. And envi- ronmental groups will continme to Beyer Beware Hubert Beyer beat their anti-logging practices. yo Any hopes the NDP may have of bringing the green vote back into the fold will be dashed. Prediction numbcr six: The Commonwealth Games. to be held in Victoria this. summer, will be a resounding success. It's-one of the safer predictions. because people * love fun anid games. ‘That's why Expo 86 was such a smash hit with British Columbians. Prediction number seven is more speculative. Even though the Liberals are Her Majesty's Loyal (and official) ition, and Gor- don Campbell will be in the legis- lature to lead his troops. the to provide _ won't get more than five or six seats in the next election. You're on, Clive: Dinner at the restaurant of the winner's choice. Yes, I know all about the last poll, Liberals in first, place and all that, but wait until Prime Minister Chretien and his Liberals bring down their first federal budget. Canadians will hate it and they’ll tar and feather any Liberal they can find. On to prediction number cight British Columbia's economy will continue to outdo that of any other province, but as said earlier. it won't do the NDP any good. Polities has become a blood spon. and the fic won't be dis- tracted by details such as good economic performance. job cre- ation, consumer confidence. good retail sales or foreign investment. Prediction number nine: The relationship between the NDP government and First nations will continue to be somewhat shaky. The NDP will try everything to please the First Nations, who will Sgereds will com the better opposition. Further to. that prediction, I am accepting a bet offered me by Lib- eral Clive Tanner. The bet stems from a recent column in which I McCarthy's leadership had a better chance than the Liberals of form- ing the next government. ‘Tanner bet me that the Socreds to push for more rights. One of the results may well be allowing First Nations to establish gambling casinos on reserve land, although I'm shying away from making that one of my predictiqns. And finally, prediction number 10, the safest of them all. This one is for the politicians: teres here day-in, day-out, week Conflict of interest evident in Bill 63 The ethics of my profession require me to state that nothing of what follows is legal advice to employee even if the negligent ing the accid the WCB head office parking lot in ‘Almest everyone | is unaware that when a person is injured in an automobile accident, even in the most severe way, the law provides ome very special circumstance img to and from work in the ordi- nary course of their ‘The practical effect of this is, if the injuries are catastrophic, the injered worker will lose 25 per cent of wages for life, and‘ will for general life. If the injury is catastrophic, the British Columbia Court of Appeal. our province's highest (ICBC) are For these two men, hav- ing tb deal further with the WCB was literally, a fate worse than On December 7, 1993, an gun gained oo ‘WCB and took hostages. On November 29, 1993, by both having very subdeagtial ed liabilities ave guaranteed by the Government of the Province of British Columbia. We know then that the WCB has - ase Comp On January 1, 1993, pursuant to Bill 63, 18,000 new employers and 150,000 new employees came under the mandatory supervision of the WCB. Simce December 6, 1993, I have bere epee 0 of begging the government of the Province of court has fixed present general damages at $240,000. For a young catastrophically injured. wage loss over his or her lifetime. together with the capitalized cost of $240,000 over his or her life- time would amount to multimil- lioas of dollars. This sum is lost to the injured. nomic ‘WCB are exactly the same eco- nomic 3 Workers’ Compensation Boards across Canada are, for the injured difficuk 16 mdaths two injured workers have shot and killed themselves in British C bia, to delay the coming into force of Bill 63 wot the many WCB problems, inctud- ing conflict of imesest. can be eval- uated, and. if found to exist, eliminated. To date the Govern- iment has ignored me. Having this in inind I wished to use this column to make to public requests. Firstly, and if he is willing to act. I would ask that the government of Canada, refer to the issue of WCB conflict of intcrest throughout Canada. Terry Dalton is a lawyer in Castlegar whw has been involved as an activist for a mumber of dif- ferent initiatives, including the Robson-Castle gar Ferry issuc Wednesday, January 5, 1994 The Castlegar Sun Letters to the Editor | More should learn from woman's serious injury Dear Editor: Shortly before Christmas a local citizen was walking her dog around Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park as she frequently does. Not ot far from the bridge entrance she slipped on the path, fell and, among other injuries, shattered her knee cap. Unable to move, and in excruciating pain, she called for help, but since it-was late in the afternoon no one heard her, so she was in considerable danger of Fortunately, before darkness closed in,-she was found by a young than, who, after putting his coat around her, called the ambulance)to Chapel Housé. This is a litigious age we live conditions, did not take her to the hospital for extensive surgery. in, While the lady's injuries were serious, they might well of been fatal. Moreover, the fact that she was very familiar with the path and © was well aware of the two short, but treacher- ous sections which occur during thaw-freeze I would suggest therefore, that the city extend its excellent worker maintenance on a fall. the parking lot and bridge to the two short sec- tions of the path, a few minutes extra work, as well as put a little sand on the steep road to the Furthermore, I would suggest that walkers wear cleated boots, and, for extra safety that they inform someone else if they ps the beaten path or elsewhere ‘ ‘In the meanwhile, much credit ‘must go to + the lady's rescuef (name: unknown) for his prompt and quick actions. He deserves the thanks of all of us. going off J. Charters, Castlegar’ The challenge has been met! The following is an open letter to Castlegar Fire Chief Gerry 1: Rempel: ‘The. article Reflecting in Reso- lutions “Who's promising what this New Year's Eve,” dated December 29, 1993, states your resolution, “I'd like to lose some weight, and challenge other Castlegar Firefighters to do the same.” Asa ‘volunteer firefighter at the Pass Creek Fire department | accept your challenge to lose some weight. Now I realize that this challenge is not within your d that P and I you had hoped for: an internal ce, $0 I will understand if you decide NOT to go head to head in the long road to stimsville. T have to wam you that for the past three years I have lived up to my resolution of totally neglect- ing my body ‘while I indulge in everything fattening. However, with your challenge, my New ‘Year's Resolution has changed. I plan to be very successful. So Mr. Rempel, just how much weight do you want to get rid of? I hope to hear from you very . I wish you good luck and wishes in 1994. Jenni Rempel Elizabeth On Sunday, January 2, 1994, Elizabeth Makortoff of Pass Creek, B.C. passed away at the age of 85 years. Funeral service was held on January 4 and 5 at the Pass Creek Hall with burial at the Pass Creek Mrs. Makortoff was born September 12, 1908 at Verigin, Saskatchewan. She moved with Makortoff . her parents to Ootischenia where they lived for about a year before moving to Grand Forks where She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Walter and Elaine Makortoff of Kelowna; she grew up. On De ber 22, 1930 she married Nick Makortoff She was a member of the USCC and enjoyed cooking, gar- dening and sewing, making her famous sunflower pot holders. Ruby Marshall n-law, Ethel (Bill) Mar- 1995, Ruby preety of poset passed away at Mount St. Francis Hospital at the age of 82 years. Mrs. Marshall is survived by three sons and daughters-in- law, Lorne and Anne of Olds, Alberta, John and Francine of Castlegar, and Bert of Red Deer; three daughters and sons- in-law, Anne and Bill Hubert of Robson, Irene and Jim Mar- shall of Boston Bar, and Edna Bruce of Langley, B.C.; 24 grandchildren; 27 great grand- children; a sister, Louise Wil- son of New Zealand; and a Gerald Frampton Gerald Frampton died Decem- ber 20, 1993, at the Castlegar and District Hospital after suffering from a lengthy illness. He was 62 years old. Mr. Frampton lived in Castle- gar since 1963, after relocating Mere from Newfoundland, where he was born in 1931 and educat- ed in his trade of Industrial Painter. Mr. Frampton is survived by two brothers and one sister. A memorial service is being held at St. Rita’s Church, located at 513—7th Avenue, on January 11 starting at 9 a.m... tin of Olds, Alberta. Funeral service was held at the Castlegar Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, January..4, 1994 with burial at Park Memorial Cemetery. Mr. Bob Sahlstrom officiated. Mrs. Marshall was bom March 26, 1911 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She lived in many places throughout Canada as her father was a supervisor for Burns Meat Packers. In 1936 she moved to Rivervale and in~1940 bought a farm in Blueberry Creek. In 1966 Mrs. Marshall moved to one daughter and son-in-law, Mabel and Leo Plamondon of Castlegar; a step-daughter and her husband, Verna and Harry Brown of New Westminster, ‘ie a of Creston: ten grandchildren: and nine great grandchildren. they’ made. their’ permanent home’ * in Blueberry Creek. After the death of her husband in 1978 she continued to live in Blueberry until moving to Calgary in 1988 Mrs. Marshall lived in Calgary for one year and moved to Parskville where she lived until returning to Castlegar in 1993. She had served as secretary of the Blueberry Irrigation District and was a member of the Caniean PTA. She enjoyed pinpoint, knit- ting and crocheting. In lieu of flowers, contribu- tions may be made to the Cancer Fund, Box pin Castlegar, B.C.. Victoria and to Rich d in 1969. In 1970 they returned to the Castlegar area, and in 1972 were under the direction of the Castle- She was predeceased by her husband Nick; sons John and George; daughters, Mary and Helen; her step-son Nick; one brother, and one sister. In lieu of flowers, contribu- tions may be made to the Cancer Fund, Box 3292, Castlegar, B.C.. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Castle- gar Funeral Chapel IMAGES BEAUTY SALON /%e Call now for an ‘peed wuatltonarors : Specials Te Division of Vital Statistics mfecvgay for an ws tearege who would enjoy the gratif serving as a ped aheeemeee 52 the Ci ey sathegee The reccesafl individual will form civil ates: within their community on behalf of the Division. QUALIFICATIONS: Retired or semi-retired individual that is professional eager to provide this important public service in a and Must have skills and be self-reliant, mature and well pastes « SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Resident of the City of with possession of a valid drivers licence. | roth uals must havea ble location/ civil marriages, as requil Interested individuals are aan to respond by January 28, 1 Arnold Kirby Division of Vital Statistics Victoria, BC BC Ministry of He Minty Reuponae fr Phone: 868-7798 Toll Free: 1-800-663-8328 participating, please submit your resume to: ° Read Ventures 412 Beresford Cres Castlegar, B.C. V1N 2V5 Deadii to také place on Thursday, January 20, 1994. There will only 12- people d to par in this p receipt of resume. ine for pting day, January 19, 1984. Appffcants will be ssauind for interviews which are be No phone calls please. Each applicant will be contacted upon ARE YOU UNEMPLOYED AND LOOKING FOR WORK? Read Ventures will be coordinating a project based training program, sponsored by Employment & immigration Canada. This program will provide you with new skills, training and experience to help you find a job. if you are intergsted in TT ATTENTION NON-PROFIT CLUBS, GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS The Castlegar Sun is pl d to offer you the use of our display window. Your display may be left for a month — you set up and remove. For more details _ The Castig stl dar Sun ATS 365-5266 “OPPORTUNITY Cast. ee CASTLEGAR ARCHERY CLUB holds weekly meetings Tuesday and Thursday at Kootenay High Country, 1106 - 3rd Street. Info: 365- 2477 CASTLEGAR SENIORS ASSOCIATION #46 Business Meeting January 6, 2:00 p.m. Whist - 7:00 p.m. January 13, PRICES EFFECTIVE THURS, Foods - 635 Columbia Ave., FRI, SAT, - IAN. 67, 8, 1994 ‘Castlegar * 365-5755 6 - 355 mi cans ¢ While Stocks Last 3 DAY SUPER SPECIALS Orange Crush ¢ Grape Crush ¢ Hires Rootbeer * Cream Soda $4.49 *1.49 Country Harvest Snack Crackers 200 gram:- Assorted WE HAVE CABLE CHAINS WOMEN’ S$ AGLOW January 12, ladies welcome. Co 1994, 10:30 a.m. @ as you are. Phone 365-3279 Pla Legion "Coie aye Ordinary Women. All or 365-5456. RETIREES: COFFEE'S ON! Monday thru Friday around 10 a.m. at the Castlegar Station Railway CPR Museum. Come out and visit with your fellow retirees! (This ad donated by Burt Campbell, your CIBC Retirement Specialist) Gold Mine POPCORN Foremost ' BUTTER Coming events of Castlegar and District non-profit groups and organizations may be listed here. The first 12 words are $5 and additional words are 15¢ each. Boldfaced words (which must be used” for headings) count as two words. Subsequent weeks are 25% oft when booked at the same time ( no copy change). Please note ads must be PREPAID. Deadline is 11:30'Monday for Wednesday's paper. Please bring in or mail your notices to: i 465 Solvmpie Avenue a stiegar, B viniGs 12 1/2 Lb. Bag $5.99 $2.69 454 gram Fob the Woet Kootenay Advertiva for boxt wookd SPECIALS We reserve the right fe limit quantities. HOURS: Mon. - Thurs., & Sat. 9 - 6, Fri. 9 - 8 OPEN SUNDAYS - 10 AM - 6 PM