OPINION PAGE A4, SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1990 MEMBER OF THE B.C. PRESS COUNCIL ESTABLISHED AUGUST 7, 1947 TWICE WEEKLY MAY 4, 1900 THE MID-WEEK 12, 1978-AUGUST 27, 1980 LV. CAMPBELL — PUBLISHER, AUGUST 7, 1947-FEBRUARY 15, 1973 PUBLISHER — Burt Camp#eil EDITOR. Simon Birch PLANT FOREMAN — Peter Harvey ADVERTISING MANAGER — Wayne Stolz OFFICE MANAGER — Linda Kositsin CIRCULATION MANAGER — Heather Hadiey EDITORIAL Begin by reducing national debt The July issue of Economic Analysis of British Columbia, a mon- thly publication of the Central Credit Union, has, as is usual with this respected journal, a number of very interesting articles, not the least of which is the special feature on ‘‘costing inflation.”” Noting that the Bank of Canada has been under terrific pressure to retreat from its zero-inflation monetary targets, the newsletter repeats the arguments of opponents of the bank’s policy that the costs of rising interest rates and a high dollar aren’t worth the costs. It notes also that those favoring the central bank’s policies point to the social and economic consequences of rising prices. Changing prices, the bank’s proponents maintain, can lead to in accurate or investment and pricing decisions. This, they say, hampers the long-run efficiency of the economy. Not all groups in society are-equally able to protect themselves from rising prices and so, they conclude, inflation is regressive. The economic newsletter reports that supporters of a zero-inflation monetary policy claim that since inflation, by its very nautre, is prone to spiralling if left unchecked, accommodating the current rate of in- crease (about five per cent) and proclaiming it acceptable is not a sustainable policy. Aiming at an inflation rate of five per cent, as an example, would take as much effort (if not more) than targeting truly stable prices, and would carry with it at least some social and economic costs. Thus, zero inflation supporters say, it’s an illogical policy option. Noting that there is probably truth to both arguments, the Economic Analysis of B.C. suggests that, in the longer term, ‘‘it is changing rates of inflation, not changing prices, which carry most of the economic costs and prompt most of the social hardship.’” It continues: ‘‘Economics can readily adjust to predictably in- creasing prices, providing those increases are moderate enough to allow for i ic activity (for severe enough inflation to require weekly wage adj would be costly, even if the changes were predictable).”” But inflation, as all Canadians know, rarely remains predictable. “Changing expectations tend to prompt escalating rates of inflation. Uncertainty surrounding the price level can hamper the efficiency of the economy (and) these risks are particularly acute in countries like Canada which have open economics and vastly different regions with diverse rates of econoimc growth.”” In cases where inflationary expectations are left totally unchecked, continues the feature article, ‘‘prices can spiral compietely out of con- trol, an event called hyperinflation . . . In countries suffering hyperin- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Society not involved The Castlegar Festivals Society was shocked to learn in a letter to the editor on Wednesday, Aug. | that trees were being cut down along the river at the Robson townsite. Robson residents can rest assured that neither the Festivals Society, the Sunfest organizing committee nor the drag boat race committee are in any way involved with that action. Marilyn Strong Publicity chairman Castlegar Festivals Society NDP action defended This Iris Bakken person is quite incredible. Sort of like a little child with a wonderful sense of imagination. She looks up into the sky and sees a cloud that has the very rough shape of an animal. Only instead of seeing something positive, she sees it as being a horrifying dragon with terrible claws feel c believe it is fairly clear that that is much more the real self then the image they put out in public. Amazingly enough, the Socreds seem to be quite good (or is it bad) at letting the public see their true selves. And it generally seems that they are not the sort of people I would be proud to know or trust running thy country. They are not people that I can with to make The NDP would never ina conversations or invade one’s privacy. But when conscientious decisions that are best for the earth, the environment, the children to be, the adults to be, and the whole human race as a spiritual entity struggling desperately for survival. Sihota praised My answer to Iris Bakken: where was she when the KGB under her loyal premier, Mr. Vander Zalm, stole the Castlegar-Robson ferry in the early hours of the morning? Only the KGB used to do things like that. I bet you anything the NDP or Mr. Sihota would never have done anything like that. Look at other things (that are) happening in Victoria. Lucky us, people, that we have my dear friend MLA Mr. Moe Sihota and his sharp bedroom eyes. God help him. lion years tape Castlegar handed a leaked document, or as,in this case, a leaked telephone conversation, (on a very public open cellular phone line, I might add) concerning the integrity, honesty and lawfulness of our top law enforcer, then it is their duty to report it, just as a person would be obliged to report an assault in a private home on a wife or child even though they may have been invading the couple’s privacy by peering in a window because they heard something going on that didn’t seem right. and firey breath. Maybe that’s typic of many adults to take something wonderfully childlike, like ima and pervert it. flation, the most profitable economic activity i rather than the productive provision of godds or services.”” Acknowledging that Canada is in no real danger of reaching a state of runaway inflation, the Central Credit Union points out that our economy is, however, subject to many of: the problems that even modest inflation can inflict. Concluding that the Bank of Canada won't likely reach its stated goal of absolute price stability, the credit union affirms that the bank is nonetheless rightly worrying about the effects of persistent inflation, After all, quelling inflationary expectations always becomes in- creasingly difficult the more deeply ingrained they become. Current demand management in this country rests mainly with the Bank of Canada. In the meantime, the federal government (because of its budget deficits) is operating an expansionary fiscal policy. Concludes B.C. Central Credit Union’s special article: “The Bank of Canada’s desire to fight inflation would be made much easier by tighter (federal government) fiscal management, because the federal deficit is inherently inflationary. Reducing the deficit would allow a given level of inflation to be achieved with lower interest rates. “Both monetary and fiscal policy are ultimately the responsibility of the federal government. So, tacitly at least, the federal government supports an anti-inflationary demand policy. It would be a useful step to align its monetary and fiscal actions in pursuit of this objective (and) the best way to do that would be to begin reducing the national debt.’” ion, VIEWPOINT She, like so many Socreds, has taken this taped conversation issue (or should I say the release of the taped conversations) and really stretched the public’s tolerance by twisting and dodging around the real issue. That real issue is the revelation that the real person in charge of our law enforcement is at the pollirig station does not have the morals and ethical standards necessary to make decisions for the public. When a person does not know they can be seen or heard and that person acts in a certain way I Keith Light Winlaw We have seen the horrifying vision come to pass many times already and its time for the people to shake off the nightmare and wake up. We do have the power to shape our reality. A small of minority of arrogant people in power have been shaping their reality for years, and then forcing that on us. One way to stop it and shape our own reality Then this horrifying nightmare can end. John J. Argatoff Please address all letters to the editor to: Letters to the Editor, C P.O. Box 3007, Castlegar, 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 tlegar News, .C. VIN 3H4, in exceptional published without Nevertheless, 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. only will be pi cases will |. Only letters be the writer's name. the name, address and Senate should be democratic By HOWARD DIRKS Provincial Secretary British Columbians now have the opportunity to democratically select who they wish to represent them in the Senate of Canada. This is the result of a new law which I, as provin- cial secretary, was proud to introduce in the legislature on July 19, which calls for a province-wide Senate elec- tion at the same time as the next provincial general election. The name of the successful candidate will then be i to the prime minister for Pollution standards being tightened By Premier BILL VANDER ZALM Our government has become the first in Canada to release a list of the province's top polluters. The list is made up of more than 100 industrial operations and municipalities who are either not complying with their waste management permits or are deemed to be a potential pollution concern. In addition, there are 68 operations some of which are technically in com- pliance with their permit and others where permits do not exist or are not required but are of concern to the ministry. In each case where there is a violation of the permit, the ministry is requiring the permit holder to correct the problem and comply with the condition of their permit Those operations not in compliance include 13 pulp mills, eight sawmills and nine municipalities. Another 11 are made up of various other in- dustrial operations Over the past year, the environment ministry has increased the number of staff devoted to waste investigations and the maximum fine for offences under the Waste Management Act has been increased from $50,000 to $3 million The NDP believed that a $1 million fine was good enough but we wanted it higher to send a message to in- dustrial operations that we mean business. We've tightened pollution standar- ds and enforcement to the point that there was a 370-per-cent increase in the number of charges laid last year. The government's aim is not to shut down the economy, but rather to clean up the environment and ensure a sustainable future. The release of the list of polluters is seen as part of the effort to educate polluters and offer them assistance in their.efforts to improve their operations. The enforcement efforts of our government will not be relaxed until the number of permits in contraven- tion is reduced to zero appointment to the Senate. The idea of democratically electing our representatives in Parliament is a an body. Under the British North America Act of 1867, the Senate was to be a chamber of ‘‘sober second thought’’ made up of worthy individuals, ap- pointed to the chamber because of their great talents and contributions to society. They were also to possess the financial means to vote indepen- dently of party discipline and other this unacceptable institution into something positive and construc- tive for partners in Confederation. The recent Senate vacancy created by the unfortunate passing of the late B.C. Senator Nancy Bell has given us a chance to begin this process, and that is why we have introduced this Senate election bill To avoid any unnecessary expenses it was required that they possess real property worth at least $4,000. This is still the case in the constitution today. Unfortunately, this ideal has never been reflected in reality, and the Senate has become a partisan and familiar one for British Ci For over a century, we have been elec- ting representatives at the local, provincial, and national levels; and yet the Senate of Canada — an in- tegral and powerful part of our federal Parliament — has remained ‘idden The fact that this undemocratic institution still wields considerable veto power over islation should be to British Columbians. And our Social Credit government will use this new legislation to bring about a process of in ap voters’ lists, setting up polling stations, and appointing elec- tion officials, the Senate election will be held simultaneously with the next provincial election. Candidates for this Senate nomination will have to secure the support of at least 25 voters in each electoral district in the provin- ce, to ensure that they can represent the interests of all British Columbians and not simply one or two major regions. This requirement is similar to one made in the Alberta legislation which established its senatorial elec- tions this fall. As an MLA, I believe that British Columbians deserve the right to democratically choose all of their representatives in Ottawa. This elec- tion bill accepts that principle and begins the process of true Senate reform. When this process is under- way, we will hopefully be able to take further steps to make the Senate more and i pI tative, and convince other provinces and the federal government to take action on real Senate reform. It is necessary that British Colum- bians participate in this process, and that our government continues to work hard to make the changes which will ensure that Canadians from all regions can live and work together to build a better, stronger and more equitable Confederation. This Social Credit Senate reform bill is an impor- tant step in that direction. Manitoba election call expected SON Premier Gary Filmon may say he hasn't made up his mind yet but everyone else at the Manitoba legislature is behaving as though it’s a question of when and not if a provin- cial election will be called this sum- mer Vacations have been put on hold and workers for the three major polit- cal parties are feverishly putting the finishing touches on campaign strategy Some members of the legislature have even started campaigning. “I’ve been out pounding on doors,"’ New Democrat Jim Maloway said this week, his cellular phone ringing every few minutes. One well-placed source in the Progressive Conservative party says Sept. 25 appears to be the date the premier has in mind, after the Sept. 6 Ontario election. After more than two years of tightrope walking by Filmon’s minority Conservative government, all three parties are well-advanced in their election preparations. The Tories hold 24 seats in the 57-seat legislature, the Liberals 21 and the New Democrative Party 12 NDP Leader Gary Doer has already taped some of his television spots and the Liberals have radio and print ads ready to roll. Liberal Leader Sharon Carstairs and her aides have been making last- minute changes to campaign literature this week. Carstairs, who says she too believes the election will be held Sept. 25, points to a number of recent announ- cements as proof. In the space of a few days, the government has announced it would spend $75 million on new hospital beds, build a $20-million holding jail in Winnipeg and overhaul the com munity college system “All of these things are really elec tion promises because none of them come to fruition until after almost all of the potential election days have passed,”’ Carstairs said in an inter view Tories unveiled a new campaign logo fast week that focuses on Filmon, with the party affiliation in miniscule print. it has been suggested Manitoba Conservatives are trying to distance themselves from their un- popular federal cousins. “There is every indication that we are certainly in very-close-to-writ period,"’ Carstairs said. The betting is Filmon will delay any announcement until after the Premiers’ “conference in Winnipeg Aug. 19-14 Despite recent polls putting Filmon and the Tories well ahead of the second: place Liberals and third-place NDP, Carstairs doesn't believe there are that many safe seats. “TE think that the writ itself, the election period, will determine how people vote. 1 think there is a fluidity in veters today that never existed 20 years age," August 4, 1990 Castlegar News AS NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS Creationsists seek proof PITTSBURGH (AP) — as well as di scholars and plain Garden-of-Eden- variety creationists are meeting to ponder dinosaur footprints, the af- termath of Noah’s flood and other evidence they say discredits the theory of evolution. About 300 people from across the United States and Canada are atten- ding the weeklong International Con- ference on Creationism, which features lectures on subjects such as the age of Earth. if we can show that the Earth is young . . . in the range of 10,000 years, that essentially excludes a four- e of dinosaurs on cave walls, show humans must have been on Earth to see the creatures, the researchers said. Their work runs counter to the scien- tifically accepted belief that dinosaurs became extinct millions of years ago, before man evolved. At a crowded session, geophysicist John Baumgardner detailed the changes in Earth's surface he said resulted from Noah's flood. He presented a three-dimensional simulation of the flood’s effects. Catholic church urged to end foot-dragging OTTAWA (CP) — The Catholic church has to end its foot-dragging in billion-year-old Earth,” co-ordinator Chris Brooks said Thur- sday. The argrument holds that mankind could not have evolved the way evolutionists contend it did in such a short period, he said. “Then what happened?’’ he said. “it’s either a Star Trek event — someone beamed us down here — or we were created.”” Creationists hold to a strict Biblical view of history — that God created Earth and the life on it, including man, in a short period of time — despite scientific evidence that humans evolved from lower life forms over millions of years. The dispute has caused legal, moral and educational battles. Creationists have opposed teaching in public schools of evolutionism as scientific fact. Anita Jones of Pittsburgh, looking through a stack of creationism books for sale, was sure Bible lore can be proven historically accurate. “*I totally believe,’’ she said. ‘‘I just need more background material from a scientific standpoint.’” Dan Mikal, a high school biology teacher from Antioch, Ill., said he came to the conference to reaffirm his faith and to collect material for use in his classroom. Mikal said he discusses both evolution and creationism with his students but doesn’t advocate his preference. “They shouldn’t be forced into a conclusion,” he said. ‘‘They ought to be forced into a choice.”” During a lecture session, a team of researchers presented evidence they said shows humans and dinosaurs co- exited. The group said human and dinosaur footprints were made side- by-side thousands of years ago along a Texas river bed. “The idea of them being contem- porary would shake up the whole evolutionary theory,’’ said Robert Whitelaw, a retired Virginia Tech professor who did radiocarbon dating on the project. to i of sexual abuse of children by priests, says one of three bishops named to study the problem. Bishop Adam Exner of Winnipeg told a news conference Thursday he was surprised by the slowness with which in against 20 priests, members of a Roman Catholic lay order, and others, in that province. The Canadiar. Conference of Catholic Bishops wants to ‘‘en- courage dioceses not.to drag their feet — when a case comes up to take ac- tion immediately,”’ he said, “‘We want to provide them with deli and ideas on how to responded to allegations that ultimately led to criminal charges react." A seven-member made up of Exner, two other bishops, a nun, a priest and two laymen, has been appointed by the conference to study the issue, Exner gave no indication when the group will file national guidelines. He dodged several issues — in- cluding priestly celibacy, co-operation with police and child welfare authorities, and financial compen- sation for victims — raised by a chur- ch commission that looked into the Devine sure Tories can win Sask. election HUMBOLDT, Sask. (CP) — Premier Grant Devine admits he has a long way to go to win the next elec- tion, but he sees an opportunity big enough to drive a truck through. But at least one of his senior cabinet ministers thinks Devine should wi until next year before calling an election, the party will be ready to go this fall. The most recent public opinion figures show the Conservatives with only 18 per cent of the decided vote, behind the Liberals at 23 per cent and the NDP at 53 per cent. But Devine doesn’t buy those num- bers. He thinks the Conservatives are “‘a little behind’? the NDP in some places, but ahead in others, and “*we're third nowhere. “Our consultation with the public shows us behind but doing well, and we’re competitive. It also shows us that there are some very real openings for us.”" openings for us.”’ Devine wrapped up his four-day caucus retreat in Humboldt saying the Conservatives are the party best able to take a strong stand on economic issues important to Saskatchewan. For example, he said his rural caucus is in a better position to lobby for farm subsidy relief to boost grain prices. “The new reality is, by gosh, we CENTRAL FOODS Swor-Easy £0005 | SPECIALS Sunday, Aug. 5-Wed., Aug. 8 SIRLOIN STEAK szzsev.sz saxo: $2.98 MNT, wea de BARON OF BEEF szzs:x.:s--- COOKED HAM 2... sco cesnve FLETCHERS BOLOGNA........ POTATO CHIPS .....2..s COFFEE............. ee | well T° nodD 21.28 91.69 COFFEE MATE ....... FRUIT DRINKS ....... ORANGE JUICE i.e. cern ICE TEA MIX ..... FRUIT SNACKS excvsisecrees, sw 82.49 SOFT MARGARINE ............°1.19 BLUE GREEN BERRIES | GRAPES. | POTATOES . 9 ¢ 10..°9° 19 10 1 98 10 limit quantities Prices limited | CENTRAL FOODS a peor 22.98 ma droo9 9° Pg w°3.29 PRICES ot C SUN., MON... i. TUES., WED. 2717 “i 10 a.m.-6 p.m. better have one strong voice here and somebody better be filling in the vacuum. And it is there to drive a truck through, and we're going for™ it.” Devine refused to give his preferen- ce on election timing, but the party will have all its candidates nominated by the end of September, said party president Earl Silcox. While there are only nine nominated so far, most rural incum- bents will return and a big push to find urban candidates. Prisoner sticks up for Nazi TORONTO (CP) — A former Nazi rocket scientist treated prisoners in his factory with ‘‘esteem and respect’’ during the Second World War, a deportation hearing was told. Arthur Rudolph ‘‘stood up for us prisoners,"” Gerhardt Schramm, a prisoner at the factory, said in a statement. Rudolph, 83, is accused of per- secuting slave laborers at Mii But in a statement from Schramm read by Rudolph’s friend Hugh MclInnish, the former prisoner said: “He treated us well. He never mistreated prisoners . We had esteem and respect for Mr. Rudolph.”’ Rudoph has testified that he im- proved working conditions while he was operations director by in- an underground rocket factory. After the war, he moved to the United States and helped develop the Saturn V rocket which put astronauts on the moon Rudolph and his wife, Martha, 85, were detained July 1 at Pearson In- ternational Airport after arriving from Germany. Canadian immigration laws deny entry to people believed to have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity. 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