Legislative Library, Parllamant Hligs., 50) Victoria, VB8YV 1Lk4 ue C. Distributed Bright and Early Every Thursday. Morning at “The Crossroads of the Kootenays” TIME TO GRIN “I set out to find a friend, but I couldn't find one. I set out tobe a friend, and found friends every- where.” VOL, 92, No. 9 TWO SECTIONS (A&B) Ray CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA,. THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1978 Be 25 CENTS m| Phillins Promises More T By RYON GUEDES Editor The provincial government +will have “further talks" with the city on Castlegar's need for a new water supply, Economic Development’ Minister Don Phillips promised Monday. Two hours after a meeting with city council .representa- tives who. called the environ- ment ministry's consideration of a well near Selkirk College‘as a possible city water supply “cockeyed” and “a delaying tactic", Phillips admitted to a Castlegar and ‘District Cham- ber of Commerce-sponsored luncheon audience the govern: - ‘Cockeyed’ Well Scheme ‘A Delaying Tactic’ ment had not yet located a suitable source, “I've thoroughly discussed your water problem with your mayor and alderman,” the minister told the audience. “I guess I'd have to say that . maybe both your mayor and we haven't mode as much progress as we thought we might make,” . Phillips said the problem did not concern his portfolio but he added that he was sympa- thetic “because water supply _has_a_ big bearing on the | Project May i Start in 7979 Construction of a new firehall and garage at Castlegar Airport may start next year—if the money is, available—according to federal Transport Minister Otto Lang. A Feb. 10 letter to the city from Lang said the project, requested by city council's airport committee, “is included in our : 1979-80 program forecast and its implementation is contingent .. upon the availability of funds and national priorities." + City council Tuesday approved committee chairman Ald. Gerald Rust's recommendation that the city send “a stronger ; letter" to the transport minister along with data on-airport traffic. *t Council also vated to send copies of the letter to the Cities of Trail” + and Nelson seeking their support, as well as to the provincial : government and the B.C. Aviation Council. City administrator Bill Krug said the cost of the firehall and . unknown, *) garage is estimated at “more than $100,000" but the exact cost is ' Second Access Route ~ Could Cost $100,000 . Use of a CP Rail road as a : second access to the Shewchuk : subdivision could lead to ex- : penditures of more than $100,- : 000, a Woodland Drive North : resident told city council Tues- day. ‘ Engineer G..T..J. Hughes, : criticizing the proposal made by :, Fairview Street resident Tom * Good Feb. 16, said the city's development of ‘the road into a 12-foot-wide single-lane route would - ultimately. lead ‘to its development as ‘a two-lane highway. “The first accident that occurs on this narrow, gravel- led all-weather road will gener- ate pressure on this city council to widen the road to two lanes and He said Good's “premise that safety be a primary objective” would require a two- lane road, for which he esti- mated a cost of $72,000. The added cost of property exprop- tiation could require city .ex- penditures of more than $100,- ° 000, he said. “Asa taxpayer I am holly opposed to such a burden “feel all the'citizens of Cas! ‘should have an opportunity to express their opinions on such an expenditure,” Hughes said. He: said he had not ex- perienced “any but the most modest inconvenience” in using Woodland Drive .North, the only access route, in his 22 years of residence in the sub- division. He also criticized the necessary private property , to do so,” Hughes said. “At this point the account- ability of city council for a major direct traffic route ser- ving CanCel pulp and sawmill operations and the Keenleyside Dam is a staggering and inti- midating prospect. From then the development of the Junc- tion of Highway No. 3 to relieve both this traffic and the resi- dents of the Castle Bar sub- division is but a short logical promotion.” Good's that the road was included in a map of the city. Z “The map which I pur- chased from the city hall has never shown a road access to huk subdi myself dre that ic future of this area.” CENTRE OF ATTENTION during:the and wife Maureen McTeer is. Mss Peggy” B: eo berival; patlantly.: “walted .Friday,.afternoon.for..the. 01 pposi m Leader along with many her a ui Castlegar Airport. Pegay performed [it The Progressive Conser- vatives expect good results in B.C. and up to 35 seats in Quebec in the next federal election, Opposition Leader Joe Clark said Friday. The 38: year-old MP for the Hughes said. “Mr. Good was ill-advised to develop his prop- erty on the basis of a map given free at the Caldset Groceteria.” Council referred Hughes’ presentation to the works and services committee for con- sideration along with earlier submissions, Gas Franchise. Cut Would Cost $44,000 The B.C. Energy Com- mission's decision to phase out over five years the franchise fees paid.by natural gas sup- pliers to municipalities means +—an eventual $44,000 loss in city “ revenue, Ald, Gerald Rust said S tuesday The city would receive its 1978 franchise payments from.. the company but reductions, * based on the 1978 amount would be made in subsequent years, he said. Mayor Audrey Moore told council the commission appears to be ii on @ nego- ser- hai, tiated vices aad finance said the franchise fees paid to the city by Inland Natural Gas to be reduced by 20 per cent per year—represent two tax mnills “that will have to be picked up somewhere else.” between an energy supplier and a municipality. Council supported Rust's motion that the city consult its solicitor on the planned fee reduction. Rocky Alta., who with his wife Maureen McTeer toured Castlegar and Trail accompanied by Kootenay West MP Bob Brisco, said B.C. voters want a change in nation- al government and between five and 85 Quebec ridings have an anti-Liberal Party bias. “We're ina state of crisis in the country, and it's realized in B.C.,” Clark told the Castlegar News at a press conference. “We offer the only realistic Phillips—who apparently had just learned that the well tests the economic develop- ment, municipal affairs and environment mihistries said - would be completed in early February had not even started met with municipal and Chamber of Commerte officiuis from Castlegar, Grand Forks and Trail Monday morning. * Mayor Audrey Moore and Ald. Albert Calderbank domi- nated the meeting, also attend- ed by the Castlegar News, with criticism of the provincial gov- ernment for ils delay in con- caidering funding for lie city’s proposed Arrow Lakes water syslem. Asked by Phillips whether the water in the Selkirk College well was sweeter and fresher than the city water supply, Moore said its quality was uncertain, “There are all sorts of assurances that have to be given and I think they're im- possible as far as well water is as McTesr. expressed concern ‘that the little gi muse revel ‘been freezing while on the tarmac. L are.lacal sotieials and. sti membel Tory Leader Cites Anti-Liberal Sentiment PCs See ey B.C. “Mandate opportunity to have that change in national govern- ment.” The PC leader -said New Democratic Party leader Ed Broadbent “has admitted that nobody expects the NDP to form a national government.” He said the NDP had changed in the last few years from a populist party with deep West- ern Canadian rocts to one “dominated by a_ particular dogmatic view of how. the country should be organized.” “It's going to be important, I think, for B.C. and other provinces where the NDP is a factor to recognize fi first that the NDP can’t win by itself and second, that the party has changed dramatically from the part that Tommy Douglas knew . and led.” Public dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Pierre Elliott ‘Trudeau was “very substantial” and “deserved”, Clark said. He noted that although Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis had developed a respect and trast for PC premier Bill Davis, “! unfortunately don't have nh feeling about my adversary.” After the press conference, Clark told an audience of about 250 at Selkirk College his party will be devoting particular attention in Quebec to ridings “that have shown some disposi- tion to turf out the Liberals from time to time.” Communities Must Plan Their Own Economic Futures “In the past our strategy has been to take a riding that has some promise of voting for us and to drop some big-name candidate in there,” he said. “That hasn't worked.” “So what we're doing now is identifying those ridings we have a chance of winning and we're putting in the field good, strong local candidates, people who are known and respected in their own localities.” Over the last 15 months, the opposition leader said, the strongest political party in 1 Quebec “has been the unde- cided party", which comprised 42 of the province's voters. “Those people left some (Con't. Pg. A2, Col. 5) Help Offered to Self-Starters * Help is available’ to those who help themselves. ~ That was Economic Devel- opment Minister Don Phillips’ message ‘in a Castlegar and, District Chamber of Commerce- sponsored luncheon speech here Monday. In one of a planned series of speeches to Chambers of Commerce throughout the pro- vince, Phillips stressed that B.C. i The federal transport ministry will be asked to protect the city from liabil- ity for Castlegar Airport employee negligence. Referring to the Feb. 11 Pacific Western Airlines plane crash which killed 42 passengers and is still under investigation, city council members voted Tuesday, to request the ministry include in the city’s new lease for the airport a clause “saving the city harmless” from liability. Council Seeks Way To Avoid Liability The motion was in re- sponse to a letter from airport manager John Mich- elson, who suggested the city determine whether it had “adequate coverage in case of a catastrophe.” Council also voted’ to ask the ministry “to stipu- late the amount of liability insurance to be carried by the city and that any claims in excess of this amount be the responsibility of the MOT" if the clause was not granted. must take the initiative in attracting industry in addition to qualifying for newly-available provincial gov- ernment assistance. Phillips said the govern- ment recognized the need for assistance to communities out- side the densely-populated * Lower Mainland in attracting small industry and improving their business climates. The B.C. Development Corporation was made responsible [or devel- oping industrial land in B.C. and the provincial government signed last July the Industrial Development Subsidiary Agreement, with the federal regional economic expansion ministry, he said. Tt is aimed mainly at trial land and to help small is available for low-cost loans to in those ties,” the minister said, “And it is designed to overcome the dis- advantages to businesses of locating away from the‘highly- developed centres.” Under the $59 million cost- sharing agreement, $30 million + assist in securing industrial parks, $15 million for specific industrial sites, $9 million for construction of com- munity industrial malls, and $5 million for provision of advance factory space, Phillips said. “To help the small busi- Don Phil help themselves to bring on indus- 4. BC. second br brightest star.” nessmen we have the Assis- tance to Small Enterprise Pro- gram which provides $5 million in the form of interest-free, forgivable loans up to $30,000,” he said. "This is basically to encourage and ‘assist in the establishment, modernization, and expansion of small busi- d," Moore said. “You can't tell when you draw down a well whether it is going to continue to perform at that level, or whether it's going to ks on City Water be like all the other wells in this area.” “We've had a very, very bad time with wells over the last 17 years,” she continued. “And I think the people are backing up and saying they don't want any more.” Asked by the economic development minister who would pay the estimated $2.7 million cost of the Arrow Lakes water system, Moore said the provincial government “has all sorts of ways” of arranging funding. {Con't. Pg. A2, Col. 1) ‘Area Needs Natural Growth of. Industry Structural changes and a natural industrial growth pro- gram would increase federal economic development policies’ impact on Kootenay West, Opposition Leader Joe Clark told-reporters Friday. Clark, who with his wife Maureen McTeer accompanied fellow Progressive Conserva- tive MP Bob Brisco in a’ quick tour of Castlegar and Trail, said at a press conference federal department of regional econo- mic expansion programs had failed to bring new sustained growth to target regions. The PC leader cited the uncertain future of the mining industry, and the ,continued high rate of unemployment in the Kootenay West area as problems his party's changes to the DREE program would remedy. “[ think that we would certainly be keeping some aspect of the national DREE. policy although there may be some structural changes in the by the. e Caatlee News about the PC position. “What I'm interested in doing is creating a national that makes it easier particularly’ for small i to get economic development © about 250 at Selkirk College following the press conference, the opposition leader said his party’s small business Program . would help to provide economic bases for residents of smaller communities. “One of the reasons I'm so determined to try to make it easier for small business people to be attracted and helped in this country is because we have not given away our small communities yet,” Clark told the audience. He warned of the “high social costs” of moving people into large urban areas, and noted that professionals are showing a tendency toward THE INSIDE * FRE To finance : a $2 :billion tax’ cut ina Progressive Conservative government, ‘A Page BL « FENCES: Not — enough and to carry on.” He said a PC government would be prepared “whether under special tax contracts or other means” to establish the bases they need to grow naturally in the region. In a question-and-answer session with an audience of (pret rHaetemttor eettrentiers eter | | City Boundary 4 Extension is | * Near-Complete ¢ City council approved § Bl Tuesday the final steps re- ‘quired to complete Castle-, i] EB gar's 1,000-acre boundary a @ extension. i] a In response toa Feb. 20 @ Bletter from R. W. Long, & Edeputy minister affairs 8 I minister—enclosed with the Ml Ol official letters patent re- — E quired for the extension § B south to the Trowelex Rent- § als ared and west to the lf @ former Verigin property— & B council i all Pp ion for our parks, age e FINALS: The Castlegar Rebels lose their second game in a_ best-of-five series. : Page AG F e FRENCH: And other top- ical natjonal issues, i Page Al4 |: Ann Landers ... Page AS BillSmiley .... Page B2 Classified Ads, Real Estate, and Automotive. . . Pages A10-Al11-A12-A13 Editorial Pages Ad-AS | One Man’ 's Opinion | Pulpit and Pew | thn Sports .. Pages A6-A8-A9 Telenews .. . Pages B3-B4 Weekend Weathercast MIXTURE of cloud’ and sunshine today as the colder Arctic air deepens over the ti city census of the reidenis ' an the new area and publica- of a statutory declara- | tion in order to qualify the @ Q area for per-capita-govern- § § ment grants. =e ll region. This cold- er air is fairly dry, 30. a good amount of sunshine can be expected for'the weekend. For convenient home delivery of the Castlegar News, call 365-7266. $ nesses in the ing or processing sector or involved in the maintenance and repair directly related.” “This money is to assist the entrepreneur, the small fellow with an idea who can't quite get it off the ground,” Phillips said. “If we as a gt Mobile TV Studio Promised to Area A mobile television studio for. the Castlegar-Trail area was want to assist any segment of our community, we do not want to kill that entrepreneurship, that spirit of individuality.” In addition, the BCDC has a $20 million program offering low-cost loans of $30,00 $250,000 to businesses seeking 0 among the service promised by Community Video at a Canadian Radio-Television and Tele- communications Commission hearing in Kamloops last week, Ald. Bud Godderis told city council Tuesday. Godderis, who at last Monday's hearing submitted an intervention against the cable television company’s application for an increase in subscriber fees, said Community Video had agreed to his requests for for local Channel 10, in addition to promising the studio, which he had not P Li establishment of manufacturing * facilities, he said. Also under the IDSA, $3.85 million is provided for "The company agreed to hire an additional technician to share Channel 10 program director Ed Chernoff's workload in providing public access to Trail, Rossland, Fruitvale and Castlegar, Godderis said. He said the mobile studio would allow Channel 10 more research on oppor- tunities and their feasibility in target areas, and $2 million is available to assist in the estab- (Con't, Pg. A2, Col. 5) ge of the area. canal approved Godderis’ motion that the city write to company president Bob Lamb asking for a detailed outline and timetable for introduction of the planned changes.