a2 Castlegar News November 30, 1986 } in bid for By The Canadian Press The B.C. Federation of Labor probably won't face a fractious leadership battle when its annual convention opens Monday in Vancouver. Ken Georgetti, the highly regarded 34-year-old leader of the United Steelworkers of America Local 480 in Trail, is unchallenged in his bid to succeed retiring president Art Kube Cliff Andstein of the B.C. Emplh A ] Georgetti unopposed presidency But the forest dispute will serve as a much-needed rallying point for the federation’s member unions, on the defensive after years of public and private sector restraint, Public antipathy towards labor unrest apparently is also producing caution. ‘The federation announced its members would begin action which could escalate to strikes to support the woodworkers, then called that plan off after the commission Union, will likely win re-election to the powerful post of secretary-treasurer at the five-day convention. Kube narrowly won a second term as president in 1984 after an ugly race against longshoreman Frank Kennedy and often had to struggle for support within the federation trying to heal its rifts. “My moving out will help the process to a great extent,” Kube said this week. Meanwhile, the four-month-old forest industry strike will overshadow other issues at the convention, said Kube. The International Woodworkers of America, which has 20,000 of its 30,000 members on strike, has just returned to the federation after a rancorous split two years ago. Hard feelings will apparently be forgotten as the 250,000-member federation closes ranks behind the wood- workers. Officials of the federation and 12 unions told a news was app But political scientist Terrance Morley said federation leaders also worrked about a public backlash. “I think you'll see a recognition (at the convention) that the world is not ready for the general strike,” Morley said. Fawkes said federation committee reports on the province's labor climate, to be tabled at the convnetion, are fairly positive. “The general mood is they've thrown just about the best they can throw at us,” he said. “We've not only survived, we've made some gains.” The return of the woodworkers will add more private sector members to a federation increasingly dominated by public service unions, as well as swell the federation'’s war chest. Kube said recruitment of other unions, such as the operating engineers and some construction trades, could boost federation membership to 275,000. One hut duled for the would End of Life channel TORONTO (CP) — After 13 months of struggling with the cable industry and facing an apparently apathetic public, the Life Channel has announced it will cease operations at midnight tonight. The pay-TV channel, aimed mainly at women between the ages of 18 and 49, said in a terse statement issued that “neither cable nor advertising revenue objectives have been met and operating losses have mounted to insupportable levels . . - “It is with deep regret that the shareholders of the Life Channel have been forced to make the decision to suspend operation of the channel on Nov. 30.” Resolutions adopted OTTAWA (CP) — Delegates to the Liberal Party convention adopted resolutions Saturday to end cruise missile testing in Canada and make the country a nuclear-free zone. The resolution to end cruise missile testing was passed by a show of hands but a recorded vote was needed for the more controversial motion to make Canada free of nuclear weapons. It was adopted by 567 : AGEN DEALERSHIP ON THE WAY By MIKE KALESNIKO Staff Writer A proposed Volkswagen dealership for Castlegar is in could would be located in the former Castlegar Chevron lot on the’ corner of Columbia Avenue and 4th Street now occupied by Waneta Plaza Toyota. MacLeod told the Castlegar News in a telephone interview approval “looks good” and a $150,000 expansion to the former Castlegar Chevron station should begin soon. “If we are p with the d we want then there are no problems,” MacLeod said, referring to the application made by Waneta Plaza Toyota owner Jose De Frias for the establishment. “We in the past have not had a good representative in that area,” said MacLeod. “We view Jose as a strong dealer.” De Frias, who has been selling Toyotas since 1977, said the new “full fledged” dealership should create about 12 full time positions. He added that he is pleased with the location and is excited about working in Castlegar. On the other hand, the establishment of the Castlegar dealership may signify the end to Lee's Auto-Haus, a Volkswagen centre in Nelson. As well, Cook Motors in Grand Forks, another Volkswagen centre, has already made plans to close. conference this week their unions will do everything votes to 410. possible to help the IWA, including regional work stoppages and illegal strikes. They said details would have to wait until discussion increase the per capita checkoff paid to the federation by its 400 affiliate locals to bolster its stretched $1.3-million budget. Delegates will also hear from South African labor leader “Grand Forks was looking to get out of business in late December,” MacLeod said. “But we just don't know about Nelson at this present time. Len Hopkins, Liberal defence critic in the Commons, told delegates making Canada a nuclear- GIFTS FOR NEEDY . . . Betty Maher, Joe Irving of Castl District t f Action Centre, and Tony Guglielmi of May Day Social Club select gifts for kids. United Streelworkers of America Local 480 donated $1,000 to the two organizations this week. The money will be used to buy Christmas gifts for needy children. Costews Photo by Mike Kalesniko Ken Georgetti, president of the United Steelworkers of America Local 480, sent sea. son's greetings and a cheque for $1,000 this week to two local organizations. The money goes to the May Day Social Club and the Castlegar District Unemploy ment Action Centre, and will be used to buy Christmas gifts for needy children. The money was raised by the union's entertaii Union donates money and social events in which many area resi- dents took part. All gifts will be purchased from local mer- chants. “Putting money that has been raised locally back into the local economy is a good Christmas gift to everyone,” said Joe Irving in expressing thanks to Local 480 on behalf of the Action Centre's vol- unteers. committee through bingos Tony thanks for “this generous LIC N C— 3.9% NO PAYMENTS TIL FEB TRAIL B.C. FIXED RATE Financing OM FULL PURCHASE PRICE 0.1.0. Tempo © Topaz Escort ¢ Lynx Ranger 4x4 & 4x2 (INCL. SUPERCABS) A.M. Ford Announces s Target Sale it @> DON’T LEAVE YOUR CAR PURCHASE TO CHANCE . Buy your next \ Vehicle from A.M. Ford In order to maintain its 1986 sales pace of 1 new vehicle per day, A.M. Ford must sell 37 new vehicles before Dec. 31. In order to facilitate this we are offering West Kootenay customers a Special Factory Finance Program on most ’86 and ’87 models NO DOWN PAYMENT 0O.A.C A.V. 9% 1987 cash donation” from the May Day Social Club. The two groups co-host Castlegar’s annual “Peace on Earth” Christmas party. The event will be held Dec. 14 at the Community Com- plex. A potluck dinner will be followed by a program of live entertainment, music for young and old and Santa Claus with gifts of fruit and candy canes for the children. Loto numbers The following are the Lotto West numbers drawn Wed nesday night: The jackpot of $309,283.40 was carried over The eight numbers drawn were 3, 17, 24, 29, 43, 44, 52 and 53. The bonus number was 20. Three winners of the five correct plus bonus number category win $2,120.80 each. The 45 winners of the five The 1,520 winners of the four correct category win $48.80 each. The 19,045 winners of the threp correct category win a prize of $5 each Next Wednesday's jackpot is estimated at $415,000 The winning numbers in Wednesday's Lotto 6-49 draw were 14, 20, 22, 26, 35 and 44. The bonus number was 40. The jackpot pool of $1,645,099.80 was divided into three prizes of $548,366.60, to two ticket holders in Ontario and one in Quebec. Court news Rebecca Wulf pleaded guil in Castlegar count of causing a distur. bance. Wulf was placed on six months’ probation. . 8 * John Rizzotti Sr. pleaded guilty to one count of com mon assault Thursday , day. during the five-day convention, which begins Monday. “I think the convention is going to mobilize some sort of action in support of the IWA,” Kube said in an earlier interview. “The IWA is in a fight for its life and the convention delegates recognize that.” He said an escalation would be aimed to stop the movement and processing of imported logs and might include pulp operations. Both the Canadian Paperworkers Union and the Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada — which does not belong to the federation — were among the unions Thursday supporting the IWA. Kube's followed e union reaction to the report of a provincial commission appointed to recommend a settlement to the dispute. In 1984 the woodworkers cut off all but token support for the ia labor ization after union presi: Jack Munro was dumped from his post as federation first vice-president in favor of Art Gruntman of the Canadian Paperworkers Union. The ouster culminated an internal feud between the federation and woodworkers, who felt cheated out of their fair share of at previous ions. The system is under review. Federation communications director Tom Fawkes said the wounds will be healed with the return of woodworkers to the executive. Bad feelings have lingered since Munro's abandonment of the Solidarity movement, a coalition of labor and social groups which fought Premier Bill Bennett's restraint program in 1983. Jay Naidoo and likely pass a resolution condemning apartheid. Tribunal turns down takeover TORONTO (CP) — In its first decision ever, Canada’s new competitions tribunal has turried down terms of a $66-million takeover of Palm Dairies Ltd. by four, com- peting western dairy co-oper- atives. Palm Dairies is based in Calgary and has a plant in Nelson. It was sold to the four co-operatives earlier this Union Enterprises had bought Palm last year as part of a “poison pill” to ward off an unwanted takeover by Unicorp Canada Corp. But Unicorp won the takeover anyway, and decided to sell the poison pill assets, in cluding Palm. A consortium formed by the four co-ops submitted the winning bid, but that raised concerns about the level of year for $66 million by Union Enterprises Ltd. of Toronto. The terms had been nego- tiated between the co-op and Cal Goldman, director of the competition for the dairy in dustry . The federal bureau of com and Ottawa's chief compe- but worked out a proposed titions petition brought the case to bureau of competitions policy the competitions tribunal, TORCH continued from front poge interested will select the day they wish to run in the relay. Hasham said a draw will be held to select the successful runners for each fast cereal.” Elsewhere, Torch Relay organizers will be seeking applicants to carry the torch during the three-day rehearsal run through the Kootenays Jan. 27-29. “We have approached the public in that area to apply for running positions (for the rehearsal),” he said. The successful applicants will run one kilometre each. The rehearsal is the being held to test the relay route. The relay rehearsal will begin at about 7-8 a.m. each day and about 100 kilometres will be covered each day. The first day will see people running it “a frill.” costs.” planet.” SUZUKI continued trom front poge toothpaste,” or “50 brands of break Suzuki also said the advances in science and technology are accom panied by costs. He pointed to Expo 86 and said that while it was widely praised in the media, he considered “It wasn't serious; it gloried in the (benefits) technology without looking at the In fact, Suzuki said lurking behind “glittering” another reality. “We are now approaching a rate of extinction as occurred when the dinosaurs disappeared from this He said scientists estimate that by 1990 one species of plant or ani mal will be going extinct every hour. “Within 30 years there will be no wilderness areas left on the entire planet.” He added that within 150 years 50 per cent of all animals and plants will be extinct, “and within 200 years 80 per cent.” Suzuki said man cannot continue to hammer away at the environ ment. “We now bludgeon nature into submission,” he said, adding: “It is no longer resilient.” And he said man cannot continue with current technology while fail ing to deal with its costs. of science and achievements is from Warfield to Creston. continued trom front page stops chewing and watches us pass. Things must have been the same for the buffalo when the very first trains roared across the prairies. Unlike the trains though, the new bus hardly makes any noise. Still clean after only three days, Zoobkoff explains that it's a 1981 model that sat unused in Victoria. When Castlegar purchased it there were only 6,000 kildmetres registered on the odometer. On a busy day, the bus can hold up to 70 passengers, “standing room only.” “I haven't had a bit of trouble in the snow with it either,” he says. After a few thoughtful moments he quietly adds, “And I've never had a dry run.” Sharon Rayner, a waitress for Iggie’s, climbs aboard at Robson/Pass Creek. Oddly, she was waiting across the street from the bus stop. “I don’t trust that corner,” she says, referring to the spot the bus stop is situated. “Some people don't drive very well. “I have to work at 11:30,” she says, adding that this is her first ride. “I don't drive.” She waves to her father who is installing yet another bus stop sign near Robson. “I think it will be convenient for me.” After a short trip through Robson it's another sign change and off to Brilliant where a man, standing almost in the middle of the road, stops the bus to ask for a schedule. “Here,” says Zoobkoff, handing him four or five of the red pamphlets. “Give some to your friends.” We head out on the highway again, up on the bridge and back down to Selkirk College, hoping for students ——ON THE BUS this time. “Tm the only guy who gets to take pretty girls home everyday,” Zoobkoff says with a laugh We pull up in front of the college. Harjasjik Nijjaer, a second-year computer information student, climbs aboard. She says the bus is a blessing for her, since winter driving is often difficult. “It solves the ride problem,” she says. She bought her tickets at the college at 10 for $20. By 11 a.m. we are back on Columbia Avenue. “We're right on time right now,” says Zoobkoff “Right on the minute.” He looks at his watch and smiles. A retired couple boards at the plaza. Ivy and Al Meredith have lived in Castlegar only one year, moving here from Burnaby, and neither has driven a car in the past 10 years. “Cataracts,” says Al Meredith and he points to his right eye They plan to use the bus two or three times a week “It sure beats walking,” says Al. “And I think it's a good thing for seniors. “I told our daughter in Toronto just last night that Castlegar now has a transit system,” he says and grins. The two live near Arrow Wrecking, a long walk from the plaza. The bus finally stops downtown. It's 11:15 a.m. and Zoobkoff only gets a 15 minute lunch break. He explains to the passengers that they may remain on the bus if they choose, then he gets off and closes the door. “About making up that time,” he says. “I wasn't speeding so don’t think that, it’s just a miscalculation in the actual scheduling.” He says hello to a friend and walks up the street leaving Castlegar's only transit bus idle for the first time im hours. free zone means Canada would have to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Pope makes statement ADELAIDE (REUTER) — Pope John Paul, in the most controversial statement of his two-week foreign tour, called Saturday for traditional lands to be returned to Australia’s aborigines. Speaking in Alice Springs, the pontiff strongly supported aborigines in a controversy over land rights. His statement seemed a direct challenge to Austr: 's Labor government, which earlier this year backed off from a pledge to pass legislation giving aborigines legal rights to their traditional land in all the country’s six states. Sarah gets wings LONDON (REUTER) — Prince Andrew has presented his wife Sarah, the Duchess of York, with her pilot's wings. Sarah started flying lessons in October, fulfilling her pre-wedding promise to get more involved in her husband's career. She is expected to get her full pilot's licence soon Andrew, a Royal Navy helicopter pilot. who fought in the 1982 Falklands War, married Sarah Ferguson in July Vatican faces shortfall TORONTO (CP) — The Vatican will face a financial shortfall of $56.3 million this year, says a Canadian cardinal who describes the popular notion the Vatican is materially wealthy as “simply a myth.” Roman Catholics throughout the world will be asked to help curb the Vatican's deficit, which has risen “out of sight,” Gerald Emmett Cardinal Carter told The Catholic Register in the weekly newspaper's latest edition The situation is so severe the church has been forced to sell off some of its real estate holdings and Pope John Paul has had to repeatedly dip into a fund of “free will offerings” sent to him by the faithful Carter said Most generous man The most generous man in the United States is banking heir Paul Mellon Mellon, 79, was awarded the title by Town and Country magazine in its December issue. He is credited with donating more than $300 million to charity in his lifetime. Mellon led a group of 186 people who made the list of “the most generous living Americans” for giving $5 million or more to charity in their lives Army chief comments MANILA (AP) — Armed forces chief of staff Gen Fidel Ramos said Saturday the military must not become a power broker lest the country turn into a “banana republic” condemned to perpetual instability the Philippine news agency reported “Iam sure that you and I do not want to have that kind of arrangement in our country,” the government run agency quoted Ramos as saying PNA said he made the remarks to a group of soldiers who joined him in an early morning jog around a suburban military camp. Koreans arrested SEOUL (AP) — Riot police bent on foiling a major anti-government rally fired tear gas Saturday at thousands of protesters at two dozen sites in Seoul and arrested nearly 2,000 people. Injuries were reported Demonstrators flung stones and Molotov cocktails at police Lee Min-woo, president of the New Korea Democratic party, warned if repression continues, the party will no longer seek change through dialogue and compromise, but will launch a campaign to overthrow the government major opposition WEAVERS’ DISPLAY . . . Ruby Marsh shows how to card fleece Saturday at the Selkirk Weavers and Spinners Guild's annual sale and exhibit. Display was one of several staged by the Guild. CosNews Photo Letter to the Editor New library needed This letter will hopefully answer some of the concerns expressed about the new library. The premise that the entire matter is based upon is that the present structure falls well below provincial standards. The staff and volunteers, who do an excellent job, are forced to work in conditions which are substandard and archaic. Library patrons suffer quietly while books they want are kept in storage due to lack of space. Reading and study areas are nonexistent and books are difficult to get at due to shelf cramping. A new library will not only correct these and other problems, but will allow for im provement and expansion of services that are already of high standard. The concern about the location is a valid one. However, contrary to some opinions the library board and council have been very sympathetic to this concern. Many locations and alternate ing foundations. buildings were thoroughly researched, with the present downtown site being the best overall choice as it would not require an increase in funding to buy a lot which is not owned by the city. Money has always been the biggest hurdle to overcome and adding land costs to construction costs would have put the project out of reach. From the very beginning, it has been our intention to preserve the present building. It is unfortunate, that based on professional advice provided to us, we had to recognize the fact that the building was not suitable for expansion and therefore we were advised to build a new structure which used the exist The building has a very limited use due to its size and nature of structure. Sentimental value. while not to be callously dismissed, had to take second place, with priority being given to attaining a building that met all the criteria. The criteria for construction was decided upon after a great deal of thought, discussion, study and professional! advice. It is therefore, not to be ignored We need a new library to meet the present and ever increasing user needs. To come so close after so much has been done by so many, would be a disgrace. City council has been a valu able ally in this endeavor. No one wants to see this project die without putting in every effort to see it suc ceed. To this end, we are going to investigate further government fi nancing, as well as possible local fund raising. We need the moral as well as financial support to bring to fruition something everyone can be proud of Deborah Chmara, chairperson particularly community's De Frias explained that Nelson is different from the proposed Castlegar establishment in that it is only a parts and service centre and not a complete dealership. UtiliCorp would welcome Soviets PENTICTON (CP) — The senior vice-president of an American company which wants to buy West Kootenay Power and Light says he would clap and applaud if the Russians bought a utility in his country. Jack Baker of Kansas City-based UtiliCorp United made the comment during a B.C. Utility Commission hearing into the proposed sale of the utility by Cominco Ltd. UtiliCorp, with more than $900 million in assets in several states, has offered Cominco $80 million, $30 million more than the book value for West Kootenay, which serves 97,000 customers in the British Columbia southern Interior. The Electrical C ‘s inti ii asked the commission to postpone a decision for six weeks so it can prepare a bid. Association lawyer Jack Woodward told tl commission it must hear details of the association's. bid, Baker was asked by intervenor Sue Irvine how he would feel if a Russian company called Comrade made a bid too big for anyone else to match for his local utility. He said he would clap and applaud enthusiastically because that would mean “the inflow of somebody else's money” into his country “To the best of my knowledge a Canadian or anyone else can come in and acquire a utility in the United States at any time,” said Baker, but added the sale would be conditional on getting regulatory commission approval. Meanwhile, the commission plans to hold further hearings in December or January to finish hearing A evidence on the proposed takeover. Castlegar ECA group formed Gerry Abele, founding member and executive man ager of the Electric Con. At an organizational meet sumers Association, was in ing later that Castlegar Thursday with his Castlegar and District chap Canadian alternative to the ter elected its first executive proposed sale of West Koot Chairing the local associ held by the B.C Commission Utilities night, the Air Canada VANCOUVER (CP) tentative AirBC and Air Canada have announced a agreement under which Air Canada will acquire 100 per cent ownership of the regional airline The owners of AirBC are the Jim Pattison Group Details of the agreement were not released Group president Jim Pattison said in a prepared statement that the “time has now come to see (AirBC) consolidated with the excellent services and the enviable reputation of Canada’s national airline.” Air Canada president Pierre Jeanniot said that like other commuter airlines in Air Canada’s network, AirB( would be operated as an independent entity, with the local management retaining control over the operation of the company AirBC president Iain Harris said he was taken by surprise I was stunned, I guess, at the change in orientation and at the same time we're excited about the opportunity that’s in store for the company and its employees and the province of British Columbi: Both parties said they were aiming for Jan. 31 for the completion of the agreement. The deal is subject to a number of federal government and regulatory approvals Meanwhile, Canadian Pacific Air Lines Ltd., reeling from the sale of its major West Coast commuter ally to Air Canada, is in the throes of reducing its debt through buys AirBC the sale and leaseback of long-and medium-haul jet aircraft James Finance Inc., Inc. of Toronto, has entered into a purchase and 20-year leaseback contract with CP Air for one of the airline's Kelly, vice-president of Xerox Canada said his company. a unit of Xerox Canada McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 long-haul aircraft. The arrangement will put $50 million into CP Air's bank account At the same time, a spokesman for Citibank Canada Leasing Co. of Toronto, confirmed that an agreement in principle has been reached for the purchase of two CP Air Boeing 737-200s jets for a total of $35 million CP Air had purchased the medium-haul jets from Quebecair — a Quebec regional carrier recently bought by Nordair-Metro, a commuter carrier in which CP Air has a minority interest. The aircraft will be leased back to CP Air for 12 years. “CPAL is not publicly traded, so the aggregate impact is not going to be that great, but the fact that they are addressing (the debt) situation is good news.” said airline analyst Tony Hine of McLeod Young Weir Ltd. of Toronto. Coming on the heels of confirmation that AirBC, the airline's West Coast commuter partner, is to be sold from under its nose, any morale booster is welcome at CP Air's headquarters in Vancouver enay Power and Light Co. to an American buyer A local chapter of the ECA was formed following a public information meeting attend ed by 50 area residents who came to hear Abele's pres entation at the Canadian Le gion Hall The newly-formed Castle gar and District Electric Consumers Association joins some other 5,350 members of the association to initiate a direct purchase of WKPL by consumers of the power utility A resolution from the floor, passed unanimously, called on Premier Bill Vander Zalm to reconvene the legislature and have a full debate on the “BC power corporations, in par ticular WKPL, should be British Columbia, or at least, oper following principle: Canadian owned and ated Copies of the resolution will go to all involved muni cipal councils and regional districts asking for their sup port. Minister of Mines and Energy Resources Jack Da vis and NDP Leader Bob Skelly will be asked to sup port the request to the pre mier All involved MLAs and MPs will receive copies ask ing them to intervene on the group's behalf at the hearing ation is Joe Irving, co-ordin ator of the Castlegar District Unemployment Action Cer tre and presently chairper son of the Nelson, Trail and District Community Based Economic Development « mittee. Pat Romaine was cle vice-chairperson. Carl K son accepted nominatio treasurer Harry Killough — who b been active locally on behal of the regional ECA. headed by Abele, a from the Creston area cepted a position as coord ator of the membership drivs in the Castlegar area All elected table off are residents of Castley A research team was put together to help prey material for the the B.C. Utilities Comn to resume in January The ECA “managed an extension on publ ders on the power u said Abele. from the Penticton Had it not he WKPL would be seid UtiliCorp A meeting of the a chapter of the ECA is tenta businessman hearing recently ¢ hearings held tively scheduled for Dec 11 at the Legion Hall Mean while, a membership drive forthcoming immediately