PAGE A4, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991

MEMBER OF THE 8.C. PRESS COUNCIL

ESTABLISHED AUGUST 7, 1947 TWICE WEEKLY MAY 4,
INCORPORATING THE MIDWEEK MIAMOR PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 12, 1870-AUQUSY 27, 1900

LV. CAMPBELL — PUBLISHER, AUGUST 7, 1947-FEBRUARY 15, 1973
Mig oF — Burt Campbell

MAN y'
MANAGER — Linda Kositsin
CIRCULATION MANAGER — Heather Hadiey

EDITORIAL

New eficiency
raises questions

There’s an air of increased efficiency emanating from city hall
lately,

It’s apparent at city council meetings but it’s not only coming
from elected officials — it’s coming from City staff. The latest in-
dication that the city’s new administrative structure headed by Gary
Williams is going to have a significant impact on the way Castlegar
does business came at council’s committee of the whole meeting last
night and it came in the form of a report from the city’s revenue
enhancement committee.

In a nutshell, the committee a
of fees for various services the city provides, such as burials Five d

ATISH
OFFICE

Wo)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

animal control, to bring the charges in line with other
and with the actual cost of providing the services.

The increases of 12.5 to 100 per cent for cemetery-related ser-
vices, such as the cost of plots in Park Memorial Cemetery and
charges for burials, may seem draconian. But the committee is right
in following the. principle of ‘‘user pays’’ in its recommendations.

It isn’t fair that funds from general taxation subsidize the
cemetery or pay to have an animal control officer chase down
runaway dogs. In the latter case, the irresponsible pet owner should
bear the brunt of the cost in the form of stiffer fines, something the
committee has recommended.

But the committee’s report also raises a couple of interesting

questions.

Since the city hasn’t amended the bylaws governing fees for Park

Memorial Cemetery since 1982 or animal control since 1981,

and

agreements to provide fire protection to Castlegar Airport and
Selkirk College haven’t been renegotiated since 1983, the questions
are, Why haven’t the changes been made sooner? and What other
fees for services need to be brought into the 1990s and in line with

other cities?

Cooperation needed

We were quite surprised by the quick
response lan Hamann, of the Arrow forest
district, gave to the letter to the editor concerning
Cayuse Creeks watersheds (CasNews, Feb. 6).

In less than a week, he wrote a response in
the form of a letter to the editor. It took him
almost three months to give us a response to our
concerns and proposals presented to the Ministry
of Forests and Westar Timber Ltd. in November
1990. After a promise given by Mr. Hamann and
two reminder letters sent by the Cayuse Creeks
Watershed Committee, we finally got a reply,
inadequate as it may have been.

In his letter to the editor, Mr. Hamann said
that his office ‘‘will continue to treat water
quality and quantity as the number one Briority in
all di use " (Why

VIEWPOINTS

B.C. forestry
enters new era

By HOWARD DIRKS
Provincial Secretary

There’s more to the provincial
government's new taxpayer protec-
tion plan than a freeze on taxes and
@ cap on government spending. But
no aspect of the 12-point plan is
more exciting or important to the
future of British Columbia than the
new five-year, $1.4 billion forest
renewal program.

Indeed, it marks a new era in
forest management, focused
squarely on value-added growth and
preserving the quality of life we share
as British Columbians. As an MLA,
I am convinced that the forest
renewal program — and the entire
taxpayer protection plan — is exactly
the right prescription to provide
economic security and stability in our
community during these trying
economic times.

Even though the forest industry is
the engine that drives our provincial
economy, it is not immune to the
challenges facing all resource in-
dustries today. High interest rates,
an uncompetitive Canadian dollar,
new environmental challenges and
questions relating to land title, old-
growth preservation and harvesting
Practices — these issues affect us all
and we must find ways of adapting
ourselves to the realities of aspiring
towards sustainable development.

Indeed, most forest companies
would be the first to agree that we
must identify and preserve outstan-
ding old-growth forests, that we
must deal with native land claims
and that sustainable development
must be the goal. These same com-
panies would also admit the past
forest management practices have
not always been ethically or en-
vironmentally sound. Everyone
agrees that we have t&restock those
areas throughout B.C. that need to
be replanted — and we have been, at
an incredible pace. As well,
reforestation today is proceeding at
the rate of about four trees planted
for every one harvested.

The $1.4 billion forest renewal
plan means an extra $500 million of
mew money will be committed for
reforestation. Within the next five
years, two-thirds of the remaining
“‘not satisfactorily restocked’ (NSR)

HOWARD DIRKS
. ». ‘right prescription’

So, you asky what’s the next step?
What more can be done than cat-
ching up and keeping up with basic
reforestation?

First, we can make double sure
that the large companies who are
responsible for their own
reforestation .do what/they are
required to do under the law.
Therefore, government auditing will
be drastically increased from the
current level of about 100 harvest
areas to more than 4,000.

Second, intensive silviculture fun-
ding will be increased by 1,000 per
cent over five years. Four times as
much spacing will be done and three
times as much forest fertilization, to
help trees grow faster and healthier.

As well, extensive tree pruning will
be conducted to reduce tree knots,
thereby increasing the value of the
timber and producing clear lumber
for value-added manufacturing that
creates jobs in local communities.
Currently, B.C.’s value-added
manufacturing exports have been
growing at more than twice the rate
of provincial exports overall, but we
know we can do better. And we will.

Rounding out the program, the
Forest Service will work hard to
develop a complete ifventory of
second-growth forests, to identify
prime sites for intensive silviculture.

not all 2)

1 would like to ask Mr. Hamann when was
the last time his office did a measurement of the
quality and quantity of water in either Cayuse or
Little Cayuse creeks? When was the last time if
office took the initiative to ask the water users if
they were having any problems With their water
supplies? When was the last time the loggitig
method selected for a site was the one that would
have the least disturbance on the quality and
quantity of water? Since when has the approval of
approximately 37-hectare (98-acre) clearcuts
considered water as the number one priority?

If pictures could be shown of the logging in
our watersheds, the readers could see the
detrimental effects to the water resource, effects
that happen with or without Mr. Hamann’s
knowledge. If he could see the machinery being
winched out of the mud when it got mired down
in the spring, or of the rivers of mud flowing
through the cut blocks, and down skid trails and
roads, then maybe he would have knowledge.

If, according to Mr. Hamann, water quality
and quantity are the number one priority, why,
during our meeting of Nov. 3, 1990, did he imply
that we should not expect a $25 domestic water
licence to be as important as a multi-thousand
dollar logging operation?

It is hard for us to understand why Mr.
Hamann, and in fact much of the Arrow district

gets so ive when of the
public get concerned about the very water they
drink. If water is truly number one in importance.
why can’t they work with us in achieving this
goal?

As a group we are not opposed to logging in
our watershed. We just want it to be done with
the least amount of disturbance. It should be
noted by the Forest Service, Westar and the public
that the Cayuse Creeks Watershed Committee is
not made up of a bunch of troublemakers, but of
people from all walks of life — Westar employees,
local business people, a former forester, retired
people, a woodlot owner and others.

We have tried to be cooperative with the
Ministry of Forests and Westar, and we will
continue to do so. However, cooperation is a two-
way street. We must get beyond our interests
versus their interests and get a true sense of
cooperation, one where there is as much give on
their side as there is on ours.

Frank and Libby Ruljancich

Spokesmen
(Cayuse Creeks Watershed Committee

Keep deposit law

Another Pitch-in campaign will soon be
under way and we will all be encouraged to do our
part in cleaning up our environment. It seems like
‘a fitting time to bring to light an issue that will
affect us all.

Since 1970, B.C. has had a deposit law to
ensure that those responsible for distributing
beverage containers (bottles and cans) would take
them back for a refund, to be reused or recycled.
This has kept roadside litter to a minimum while
supplying incentive to those who chose to gather
and return them. This could come to an end very
soon.

Several big businesses (B.C. Soft Drink

In return, they have promised to donate $5
million in support of blue box recycling programs.
This may sound like a lot of money but when it is
spread out over the entire province to take care of
all beverage containers, it is a drop in the bucket.
We cannot afford to see this law scrapped.

Former minister of environment John
Reynolds was a strong supporter of the deposit
law. Unfortunately, he no longer fills that
position. Our government commissioned a team to
compile a report to find out which would be more
efficient — the blue box program or expansion of
the deposit law. Two weeks ago, the report was
handed in. It favors the deposit law.

1 urge all individuals, schools and groups to
think about what the end to refundable containers
will do to our countryside and beaches. Pitch in!
Drop a note to our premier and tell him we need
to expand the deposit law to cover all beverage
containers instead of eliminating it.

Laurel Edwards
Grand Forks

Practices stupid

I found the recent TV program Voices in the
Forest very informative, factual and well
balanced. However, the B.C. Council of Forest
Industry is very upset. Why? Because David
Suzuki and the CBC have had the guts to show
the truth in living color about forestry practices.
Of course, a clearcut does not have any color
except on a corporate profit sheet where it is black
on white. Pretty, eh?

Multi-national corporations have had years of
high profits and an ever-increasing annual
allowable cut because of the sympathetic attitude
of the Ministry of Forests. But, even though the
logging rate went up, the employment figures went
down, partly because of modernization but mostly
because we don’t have a ‘‘value added”

Red Cross update

As regional director for the Red Cross, I want
to keep local residents up to date on what is
happening in the Persian Gulf with efforts to
assist victirns of the conflict.

First, I’d like to thank the people in the

I area that hgve several
thousand dollars to date toward supporting this
work. The Castlegar News has been helpful in
letting them know how to contribute.

‘Camps to.assist displaced persons and
refugees are now up and running in Jordan, Iran,
Syria and Saudi Arabia. Hundreds of thousands
have passed into Jordan and recently thousands
have begun to arrive at the Iranian border. In
these camps workers provide food, shelter, basic
medical care and will help with repatriation.

Medical teams and supplies entered Iraq
through Iran by convoy on Jan, 31. Working with
the Iraqi Red Crescent, international medical
teams are assisting casualties of the. bombing.
Another medical team is now in the Gaza Strip to
provide surgical care to the local Palestinian

ion in the ied ‘itories. Medical
staff are also in Saudi Arabia.

Prisoners of war on both sides are protected
under the third Geneva Convention. To date,
more than 800 Iraqi prisoners have been visited by
the Red Cross. Unfortunately, the coalition
prisoners in Iraq have not yet been made
available. Red Cross workers in Iraq are appealing
for POW rights to be honored.

Two Canadians are working with the Red
Cross in the gulf, in Bahrain and Syria, and 32
more are briefed and on standby to go.

Blood supplies are topped up and will be
provided upon request. Extra clinics are not yet
needed, but we hope the public will fully support
current clinics.

In one way, each of us is a victim of this war
— as images of suffering reach us, each of us can
feel for those in pain. However, the direct victims
of this war are those who are killed, wounded,

in the forest industry.

For every 1,000 cubic metres of wood cut in
B.C. we have one job as compared to 3.5 in the
United States and 2.5 in Sweden.

A multi-national corporation looks at a forest
only as a timber supply without any loyalty to
local communities. Former premier Bill Bennett
stated in the late 1980s that “B.C. is not for

le."’ But today an alarming picture emerges: 43
per cent of B.C. forest industry assets are
controlled from outside Canada and 27 per cent
from Eastern Canada.

That leaves about one-third of the control
within B.C. but not at community level. Since
Claude Richmond is not doing anything for the
forests, his title should be changed to minister of
forest industry. The same for Cliff Serwa, who is
actually minister of corporate environment.

But back to some more bad news on forestry.
‘When it comes to research and development, the
U.S. and Sweden spend more than 50 times as
much as B.C, — 50 times! Forest management
and intensive silviculture are not faring any better.
For every cubic metre of wood cut, B.C. spends
$2 compared to Sweden’s $6 and New Zealand's
$10.

The present government and the forest
industry have no intention to change current
clearcut logging practices — it’s the fastest way
for profits. It is also stupid and short-sighted.

After the ion of comes

or live in i fear for their lives.

The Red Cross does not take sides in this or
any conflict. We offer assistance impartially to all
victims — with each individual who needs help
being our concern. Humanity in the face of
organized inhumanity.

If you want to help, make a donation to the
local Red Cross or through any chartered
Canadian bank — mark it ‘‘Persian Gulf Crisis.”
Gary Ockenden
Regional Director
Castlegar

Ruth rated X

Like most people in Castlegar, I welcomed
the idea of having two newspapers in town.

However, I was very discouraged to discover
that the Castlegar Sun uses the Dr. Ruth column.
The content and language is very sexually explicit
and definitely inappropriate for a family
newspaper. There are many other sources
available for people who want this kind of
information. | like to encourage my children to
read the paper, but I certainly don’t want them
getting their sex education from Dr. Ruth.

Please, all concerned people call the Castlegar
Sun and let it know that we want our choice of
two local papers that we can feel comfortable
leaving on the coffee table.
Dixie Penner
Castlegar

another disaster called slash burning which assures
the of any I micro
seeds and nutrients.

After replanting, and to speed up the grab for

destroys the
natural composition of the soil. Fantastic! And
they have the nerve to call this ecological disaster

hope that the public is not fooled by the multi-
million dollar campaign to put a smoke screen
over the B.C, forest disaster. elongated

community
forest boards to ensure jobs and a multitude of
other uses,
Winlaw

Please address all letters to the editor
to: Letters to the

“s name and city or town
of residence only will ished.
in exceptional gfe ofa: oe

PROVINCIALNEWS

NDP vows not to make same error

on wage controls issue

By GERALD YOUNG

VICTORIA — Wage controls — they're the
worst nightmare for the NDP in British Columbia.

Just try asking Dave Barrett, the usually can-
did, always outspoken former B.C. premier, about
public-sector wage controls.

“He doesn't want to comment on past
history,”* said Barrett’s secretary Joyce Thomas,

Not surprising.

During a campaign swing through the provin-
ce’s Kootenays in 1983, Barrett made an off-the-
cuff-remark about dismantling the Socred gover-
nment's wage restraint program.

Bill Bennett, who was then premier, couldn’t
believe his ears. His own campaign had stagnated
and his popularity was tenuous.

Bennett jumped on the remarks. And Barrett
never regained the momentum.

Social Credit gained four more seats in the
election — to 35 — and almost 50 per cent of the
popular vote, The NDP wound up with 22 seats.

Barrett left provincial politics soon after and
is currently a member of Parliament for a Van-
couver Island riding.

“If Barrett got laryngitis the day before, he
would have won the election,"” says Leonard
Laudadio, a political economist at University of
Victoria,

Barrett's experience has given current New
Democrats something to think aboyt.

NDP Leader Mike Harcourt and finance
critic Glen Clark are guarded about commenting
on the Social Credit government's 1991 version of
wage controls.

Finance -Minister Mel Couvelier has hinted
that public-sector increases may be generally
limited to Tour per cent a year. He has provided
few details of what the government calls the Com-
pensation Fairness Program, and instead is
dangling the bait before the NDP.

He said legislation is required, but the
legislature has yet to be recalled.

The NDP says Premier Bill Vander Zalm is

The NDP remembers well Dave Barrett's off
the cuff remarks on wage and price controls
in the 1983 election campaign, because they
probably cost the party the election.

spoiling for a fight to provide the election issue
that has eluded him for a year.
An election must be held
Speculation is it will be this spring.
For three years public opinion polls have
suggested the NDP leads the Socred government
by more than 10 percentage points and that Van-

this year.

der Zalm's leadership is the only issue.

But Harcourt is no Dave Barrett.

His critics say he is non-commital and
evasive, but also concede he is unlikely to offend
voters,

Moe Sihota, NDP justice critic,
partY won't get burned again,

“Dave made a mistake and it cost him an
election, but the political climate is different.”

For starters, Sihota believes, rookie Labor
Minister Jim Rabbitt has already defused the
situation by saying he philosophically opposes
wage controls.

Also, the government’s credibility is too low
to sell controversial programs and the NDP has
sound alternatives, Sihota suggests.

Still, Laudadio warns it would be suicide for
New Democrats:to dump too much-on Couvelier’s
program.

“If they didn’t learn from the Barrett ex-
perience they deserve to lose,’’ he says.

The NDP, however, has a dilemma.

The party is recognized as defenders of labor.
And there are 270,000 public-sector employees.

Some labor leaders are already furious about
the prospect of wage controls. Such restraints
almost resulted in a general strike after Bennett’s
re-election.

On the other hand, argues Laudadio, controls
are popular with the private sector during an
economic recession. Most people don’t like to see
big wage hikes in the public sector when they must
endure layoffs, rollbacks and pay raises that don’t
match cost-of-living increases.

The best strategy for the NDP might be to
“‘choose some peculiar aspects of injustice in the
application,’’ Laudadio said, ‘‘not criticize the

insists his

Revenue Canada, Taxation operates Seasonal Tax
Assistance Centres that can help clear up any
questions you may have on your 1990 Ho Bsc
people have set up an office in your

Providing the information you need free on ed as
well as a selection of extra tax returns, schedules,
forms, booklets and bulletins. Come in with your
questions, along with all relevant slips and receipts,
and get the answers you need to fill in your return

correctly.

SEASONAL TAX ASSISTANCE CENTRES

February 25, 26 & 27

WANETA PLAZA, TRAIL

February 28, March 1

CHAHKO-MIKA MALL, NELSON

Service available in both English and French.
Information disponible dans les deux langues ofticielles.

A on
Service). Ple

pre
to your inc

policy itself.

“For instance, if they (Socreds) step too hard
on the civil servants — say, for instance, teachers
get five per cent and civil servants get three or

Castlegar News

There's something
for everyone!

365-2212

four per cent — then criticize the unfe of
that.””

BURNABY (CP) —

Gardens sale is

Nicole
Parton said Tuesday she is with-
drawing as a Social Credit can-
didate because Premier Bill Van-
der Zalm did not leave ‘office
while his conduct in the Fantasy

being in- “I cannot reconcile such an in-

parliamentary democracy that

demands a member whose
behavior is in question step down
until that time that his or her
name is cleared,’ Parton said,
her voice trembling and with
tears in her eyes.

dividual’s determination to
remain in office with my personal
sense of what is proper and

Parton jumps Socred ship

ethical, or with what is
the Social Credit party
the people of this province.”
Parton, a high-profile former
newspaper columnist,
Burnaby-Edmonds
twice. The second time was Dec.
11 after her initial one-vote vic-
tory was challenged in the courts
by loser Ron Gray.

best for
and for

won the
nomination

lapel

PREMIUMS
Who pays more? Why?
Based on past experience and
projections, ICBC requires

APPRECIATION

SENIOR

Thurs., February 21

“10%

DAYS!

Off Your Total Food Bill*

* 10% off discount does not apply to fluid

milk or cigarette purchases

* 10% off discount applies to only those
grocery orders with a minimum value
of $15.00 to a maximum value of $75.00
(excluding fluid milk and cigarette

purchases)

Complimentory

Coffee and
Cookies

agucansemnnanns
reas

obeeh hsodepaety

4.5.per-cent more.premium
income in 1991 - 3 per cent to
pay for claims and improved
Autoplan benefits, plus 1.5
per cent to offset the impact
of the federal Goods and
Services Tax.

Each year, ICBC
determines which coverages,
territories and vehicle uses
have increased or decreased
in relative claims cost.

If your premium is changed
more than the average, it is
because of the various factors
which affect insurance rating:
the value, age and use of your
vehicle, where you live, what
coverage you choose and
where you are on the Claim-
Rated Scale.

pout

Compulsory Coverage
The largest part of ytmy basic
Autoplan insurance is made
up of liability coverage (to
protect you if claims are
brought against you by
others) and No-Fault Acci-
dent coverage. Premiums for
these coverages, including
extended liability, are being
increased, on a province-wide
average, by 4 per cent for

claim-free motorists. As we

= Qluttoplan ©

Underinsured Motorist
Protection (UMP) will cost
$4 more.

GST Impact

When you buy yodrAutdplan

insurance you will Adt pay the

7 per cent GST on your 1991
ancial

a ad hs at cease

ees Spopaped perme ren

| 1991 atoplan Chanees

Short Term Savings
Prior to January 1, 1991 a
surcharge of 5 per cent of the
annual premium has been
charged to people licencing
and insuring their vehicles for
periods of less than 12 months
(short term licence and

transactions of this nature are
exempt.

However, ICBC will be
required to pay the GST on
many goods and services it
purchases.

ANY GOOD
NEWS?

Yes. More and more people
are participating in carpools
and we've made a change that
will make carpooling an even
better deal. In the past you
could drive a vehicle rated for
“pleasure only” to and from
work on only 4 days ina
calendar month. We've in-
creased that to 6 days so that,
even in the longer months of
the year, four carpool mem-
bers who own pleasure-rated
vehicles can share the driving
to and from work without
rerating their vehicles, as long
as each of them drives to work
not more than 6 days in the
calendar month. The change
to 6 days also applies to some
other vehicle use classes. Ask

above. def
upon where you live and the
coverage you choose, the
change in your premium may
differ from the average.

Collision &
Comprehensive
Each year about a third of all
vehicle models are “aged”
and the collision premium is
adjusted to reflect decreased
value. Collision premium
increases may apply to other
vehicle models.
‘Comprehensive coverage
premiums are also adjusted to
reflect claims experience.
vehicle value, use and
territory. Sharp increases in
windshield, theft and
vandalism claims have led
ICBC to increase premiums
for Comprehensive coverage
by an average 15 per cent.

Auonlan age :
your »plan agent to be
sure you are rated correctly

Increased Weekly
Benefits

As of January 1, 1991
accident victims who qualify
will receive increased
compensation for lost wages.
ICBC is increasing the max-
imum weekly indemnity from
$200 to $300 provided that *
does not exceed 75 per cent of
the victim's gross weekly
income at the time of the
accident. This applies to all
new claims as well as to all
outstanding claims. Payments
will not be retroactive

but will start at the new

level as of January 1991

GICBC __-

s ce). This surcharge has
been reduced to 4 per cent
(minimum $20) to make the
short term option even more
affordable.

WHAT ELSE?
Territories
For insurance rating purposes,
BC is divided into 14
territories. In the past your
Autoplan agent asked where
your vehicle was principally
operated in determining your
premium. Now, for most
vehicles, the territory is
defined as where the vehicle
is “garaged” that is, “primarily
located when not in use”. In
most cases, this would be the
vehicle owner's home
address. This and other
territorial changes have been
made to accurately reflect
claims experience in different
parts of the Province.

New consequences

of misrating

ICBC has established a new
procedure to deal with the
serious problem of deliberate
misrating of vehicles. If you
make a claim and your
vehicle is found to be
misrated, you will pay ten
times the difference between
the cost of the coverage you
were carrying at the time of
the accident and the coverage
you should have had, with a
minimum of $500 and a
maximum of $10,000.

The bottom line - be sure
your vehicle is correctly

*

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