“a2 Sunday, December 29, 1991 @ THE FAR SIDE By GARY LARSON ‘77. gently down the steam.? J Port Sides. row row row your boa Slave-ship entertainers For theRECORD — Dalton plans @ Spokesperson says government's decision on ferry proves that Robson citizens get no respect Scott David Harrison EDITOR Terry Dalton is outraged. The spok son for the Rob: Raspberry Ferry Users Ad Hoc Committee says “Mike Harcourt has broken court battle court had said he agreed with Bill Vander Zalm that the ferry shouldn't be returned, that may have changed things. “I don’t think (the government) understands how bad its decision really is.” Dalton said the decision was a smack against the people of Robson. “The citizens of Robson have been treated unfairly for four years,” Dalton said, “The citi- zens of Robson deserve more respect that this.” He said the ferry was his promise.” Bewildered by a decision not to rein- state the Robson ferry, Dalton said he plans on taking the province to court. ‘The citizens of Robson have been Transport Ministry treated unfairly for four years. The °°'Y citizens of Robson deserve more respect that this.’ sunk only after going through all the neces- bureaucratic channels. Dalton said that leaves the govern- ment with “no place to hide.” — Terry Dalton Dalton said the nega- “We're angry that a clear promise hasn't been kept,” Dalton said. The promise Dalton is referring to is one made by NDP leader Mike Harcourt four years ago. On Nov. 9, 1988, Harcourt called the re- moval of the Robson ferry by the Socred gov- ernment “a mistake.” The then-leader of the opposition also vowed to return the ferry if his party was elected to lead the province. “We all believed that when the NDP came into government we could expect the return of the ferry,” Dalton said. “Certainly, if Mike Har- tive di could spark the first real battle between the New Democrats and the newly-elected opposition. He said following the government's decision, Liberal researchers were on the telephone seeking a reaction. “I think the Liberals are looking for an is- sue and this is a very real issue,” Dalton said. When the B.C. legislature opens in January, the Liberals will be armed with information on the Robson ferry. Liberal transport critic Gary Farrell-Collins could not be reached for comment. __An error in the editorial (Johnny Q. hit again) in the Dec. 14 edition of The News stated that severance pack- ages to 67 outgoing and re- tired MLAs will cost taxpayers $268,656.71 each. That is not the case. In fact, the cost to taxpayers is $26,865.67 per person for a to- tal of $1.8 million. The News regrets the error and apologizes to its readers for any inconvenience. Scott David Harrison EDITOR Ed Conroy is a disappoint- ed man. The Rossland-Trail MLA says the failure of the Robson ferry shows him that some- thing is amiss in his riding: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 30TH!! Congratulations Peter & Marilyn, on your 30th Anniversary. We all carry a part of you with us every day. Hope you have a wonderful anniversary and a future filled with joy. Love those who spent your money and gave you all that grey; Doug, Lynda, Cathy & Pat. mmunity solidarity. “It’s got something to say about community solidarity,” a frustrated Conroy said on the lack of wide-spread sup- port for the Robson ferry. “Here was a chance for every- one to come together and they didn't.” Conroy hinted that he was dismayed with Castlegar city infant under 2 ind under BEAT THE 1992 PRICE INCREASE! Buy your Bulk Swim Tickets Now 10 TICKETS (10% discount) 20 TICKETS (20% discount) Free Conroy calling for solidarity the government's decision, council passed a resolution against the ferry’s return. “I don’t want to point fin- gers at anybody” he said, when asked if the timing of council’s resolution worked against the ferry. “I have to work with everyone.” Conroy said people didn’t completely understand the is- sue. He said some people were under the impression that the return of the ferry marked the end of the pro- posed bridge. “It was not an either-or sit- uation,” he said. “ I think possibly if there was an error in judgement made, it was made by con- necting the ferry with the bridge.” Conroy chose to dispute his party’s statement that the province couldn’t afford the ferry. He said the $220,000 need- ed to run the ferry annually was a tiny drop in the gov- ernment’s financial bucket . “The ferry would have gone a long way to alleviate the problems we have in the short term,” he said, referring to traffic congestion in Castle- gar. “It doesn’t take too much crushed gravel to equal $250,000.” council. Three days prior to . sTevE WHITTLETON Soles Representative) Children 6 Student 7-18 Aduit Senor 65+ Family (max. 4) 1G.8.T. NOT INCL DED) TICKETS GOOD TIL THE YEAR 2001! CASTLEGAR & DISTRICT {OAM) VERIGIN OS Sto ordnotor 2649 Fourth a venue Castlegar, 8.C. Vin 251 365-3563 @ Sunday, December 29, 1991 3a CALL THE NEWS @General Inquiries 365-7266 Ociassifieds & Delivery 365-2212 @News 365-3517 i SecondFRONT | Scott David Harrison EDITOR Citizens waiting for a bridge to connect Castlegar and Robson are in for an unpleas- ant surprise. port Mini Art Charb says the brakes have been applied to the project which would see a bridge built by 1993. “What I am saying to Castlegar and any oth- er municipality, and it is stated plainly, is ‘no you can’t go away thinking 100 per cent such and such a project will be built,” Charbonneau said. “(All projects) are caught in the review process and you will know in March which ones will proceed and which ones may have to be de- layed.” The bridge project is just one of hundreds across the province being reviewed as the New Dever government wrestles with a growing leficit. Word of a project review is the second bomb dropped on the area by Charbonneau. On Dec. 20, he announced that the Robson ferry would not be reinstated despite a three-year-old promise from Mike Harcourt. The news hasn't gone unnoticed by Ross- land-Trail MLA Ed Conroy. “Not only do we not have a ferry, but now our bridge may not be built,” Conroy said. Charbonneau said, as tough as the news may be to swallow, he is treating Castlegar like any other community. “Until the budget process is complete, Iam not indicating to any icipality, any mayor or any regional district throughout the province which projects are going to be ap- proved! next year and which ones are not,” he sail “It will all be looked at at once,” Charbon- neau continued. Castlegar-Robson bridge on hold? “We'll see what kind of allocation the Min- istry of Transportation and Highways gets and then we'll look at our priority list-and-we'll go down that priority list and draw a line.” Aelined harb on where a Castlegar bridge ranked on the ministry's list. But-he did say the bridge “is one of several high priority projects being examined.” Charbonneau agreed that something must be done to ease the traffic headache experi- enced by local drivers. He added that he is concerned about the number of chip trucks that rumble down Columbia Avenue en route to Celgar each day. “A lot of projects are being put on hold await- ing the review process, it’s not just Castlegar,” he said. “Every part of the province will be treated fairly.” JUST KIDDING : News photo by Matthew Hampi These two seem to be more interested in what's going in front of them than in the action at a school function at the Community Complex.ex ° 365-5210 OUR HOURS ing to do with. Jonathan Green NEWS REPORTER ing C on a road i One road is making some Slocan Valley residents a little unhappy. Aspur road built for logging near a chief source of drinking residents wondering if the Hasty Creek will ever be the same. Last month, officials from the Ministry of Forest's Castlegar branch and Slocan Forests Products accompanied members of the Hasty Creek Mi ion near Silverton. Allin said. Hasty Creek committee will ‘wait and see’ @ Monitoring committee says spring runoff will be the true the creek, one that SFP agreed to, but one the government wanted noth- test for Slocan Forest Products spur road “They were very reluctant to address issues raised by the residents,” “The lack of responsiveness from the ministry hasn't been encour- water has In addition to the road concern, residents pointed out that stumps and slash from the road building were piled up against live trees which, if left, can endanger the trees. “It kills the trees, basically,” Allin said, “Live trees won't last very long.” He added that after the existing trees have been cut and removed, the group’s focus shifts to what’s left standing. The inspection came following completion of roadwork in the Slocan Valley watershed for 1991. During the tour, the committee discovered problems it had warned the government about prior to road building activity this year. Cc " . Th f ee me and Slocan Valley Watershed director Richard Allin said one of the problems lay in the building of a road too close to the creek. : “The potential for erosion is quite significant,” he said, “It could cause a lot of trouble.” The i had suggested an alternate road location away from “Once the road is done, our main concern is protecting the forest that remains.” Allin said that, for now, all the committee can do is sit and wait until the snow starts to melt, raising the water level in the creek and bringing ero- sion levels up until they peak in May and June. “We have to wait until spring and see if the concerns were real,” he If those concerns are real, one road in the Slocan Valley will make some already unhappy people even unhappi