rv) Castlégar News PSION ; OPINION- _ Grants unfair Forgive us if we don't seem grateful, but B.C. Hydro’s offer to pay grants in lieu of taxes on its dams an rvoirs is not exactly generous. We don't share Minister of State for Kootenay Howard Dirks’ en- thusiasm with which he announced the grants — ostensibly a move to put all areas of the province on equal footing in terms of receiving taxes from the Crown utility. Mr. Dirks insisted the grants are not intended as an olive branch to the four regional districts — including our own Regional District of Central Kootenay — which have sued B.C. Hydro in an attempt to force the utility to pay property taxes on its Columbia River Treaty, doms. a ¥ We wonder, if the grants are not a peace offering, are they the first offer in what may become a give-and-take negotiation to even- tually settle the lawsuit? If so, the province has a long way to go, in our opinion, before the offer becomes fair Based on the puzzling formula of $250 per megawatt of pow: produced by the dams — or the potential of the dams to produce power if they do not have generators, such as the Hugh Keenleyside dam — the grants will funnel some $40,000 into the City of Castlegar's coffers and $155,000 to the RDCK this year. Those figures will double in 1990 as the formula increases to $500 per megawatt. But RDCK board chairman George Cady insists that B.C. Hydro — if it were taxed on its properties in the same way as West.Kootenay Power is for example should be paying $320,000 a year to Castlegar and o whopping $4 million annually to the ROCK. (West Kootenay Power — a utility one-third the size of B.C. Hydro — pays nearly $350,000 a year in taxes on its properties to the RDCK.) So the provincial government's assertion that the grants in lieu of taxes are an equitable solution to B.C. Hydro's free ride for more than 20 years in this area does not.answer the charge that the utility is not paying its fair share of taxes in this area, No wonder Mr. Cady is adamant that the ROCK K . with or without Columb h B di Lady. I'm which as you may featured in both Forbes magdézine and Barron's Am | trustworthy ? listed ons the VSE... know. was Letters to the editor regional districts y and East Kootenay P. y will proceed with its lawsuit until either the provincial government comes up with a better offeror until a judge rules what's fair Nurse says ads mislead public Advertisements recently published by the Health Labor Relations Association are grossly misleading. The advertisements were published in a number of British Columbia newspapers under the heading **How Well Paid are B.C. Nurses? HLRA claims that B.C the highest paid in Canada, and in cludes wages, benefits and paid time off in its calculations. This is misleading because, first of all, paid time off is not equally available to all nurses. More about that later. Secon: dly, benefit costs are always debatable, and—benefits are casual employees who make up a large proportion of the nursing force The only way to compare pay is by comparing wage rates directly. At the top of the scale, a British Columbia registered nurse gets $17.43 per hour and ranks sixth in. the Federally employed registered nurses in B.C. are paid $21.56. The job, the responsibility, and the stress are the same. nurses are non-existent for country Nurses do not fare welF in com Parison with other professions. HLRA draws a comparison with starting wages in a variety of occupations, all of whom rank lower than nurses. Even if we accept that nurses are first out of the starting gate, it does not follow that they have the same standing after, say, 10 years’ service At 10 years , a general duty nurse has been at the top of the pay scale for four years. A teacher has just reached the top of the scale, or is about to. The nurse, who started at $30,354, if he or she has a degree, is now making about $35,107. The teacher, with a four-year degree, started at $26,608 and is now making $39,622 (Trail figures). It is hard to believe that computer science (honors), engineering, and commerce and business administration graduates will still be earning less than nurses af ter 10 years’ service Paid time off (not vacation time). amounts to three 15-minute breaks per 12-hour shift. In most cases nurses do not get their breaks because of the demands of the job, and sometimes do not get their (unpaid) meals breaks either because there is insufficient staff to relieve them and the patient load is too heavy HLRA says that nurses get a maximum of nine weeks of paid vacation. In fact, to qualify for this much vacation, a nurse must have 28 years of continuous service’ with the same employer, Given that most nur- ses are women, many of whom drop out of the work force for varying lengths of time to raise qualifying for nine weeks’ vacation is a near impossible attainment. HLRA says that nurses get employer paid education leave. In fact, there is no money budgeted. Therefore, there is no employer-paid education leave Nurses are entitled to sick leave and family illness leave. To claim the latter, ‘one must almost always be prepared to initiate a grievance. When nurses call in sigk, they are usually told ‘‘come in, anyWay, we have nobody to replace. you."’ How does the public feel about being nursed by sick nurses? Nursing shortages are a big problem in this Province and being ignored by HLRA does not make them go away Nurses’ main concerns are to attract new people to the profession and to retain those who are currently in ut. To this end, it is necessary that nurses" wages_and" ‘working: conditions be significantly improved. Misteading advertising by the group that represen: ts their employers will be sure tg drive prospective iurses into educatfan or any other profession that truly values their worth. The above has just scratched the sur- face of the multitude of problems facing nurses today. Why does it takea strike vote to have meaningful negotiations if you “Value Nurses’ Worth?” Sandra-Jean Jackson, R.N. Castlegar families, Statements confusing It is difficult to decipher why Castlegar Ald. Doreen Smecher would vote yes to a city tax increase and Castlegar school Smecher education tax increase Ald. Smecher says she is impressed by how carefully city funds are managed. Does trustee Smecher feel education funds aren’ managed Properly? Ald. Smecher Says an average home assessed at $50,000 will pay $18 more or 77 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. On education tax, the newspaper stated an aver home assessed at $50,000 would be taxed $57 trustee Doreen would vote no to an more. | am not sure | understand. If we receive a $50 homeowner's increase in our grant’ (which is specifically for education), the education tax increase (based on an average home assessed at $43,000) would be $7 or approximately 17 cents per $1,000. Why are the aldermen. putting the blame on the education-systém? I feel alderman/ trustee Smecher has a con. flict. of interest. Alderman/trustee Smecher should choose what is more important, education or city council Sarah Marsh Castlegar r WEEK MIRROR PUBLISHED SETPEMBER 12 Su Castlegar News MAEAABER OF THE 8.C. PRESS COUNCIL EWEEKLY MAY 4. 1980 978 AUGUST 27,1980 PUBLISHER, AUGUST 7. 1947. FEBRUARY 15.197: PUBLISHER — Burt Campbell — Simon Birch PLANT FOREMAN = Peter Harvey ADVERTISING MANAGER — Gary Fleming ICE MANAGER — Lindo Kositsin CIRCULATION MANAGER — Heather Hadley HLRA information angers nurses’ union Nurses in B.C. are extremely angry at the Health Labor Relations Association's latest propaganda We wish we got the-wages and benefits described in that ad. The un derfunding of the whole health care work in B.C. mean business system. makes access to many contract provisions impossible. Senior-level general-duty nurses earn $17.43 per hour. With benefits that puts us sixth in Canada and behind most other professions. This leads directly to a chronic shortage of nurses willing to B.C. nurses took a strike vote on May 17. We took this step to show HLRA that nurses in this province about working conditions. What we want is to go back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract. Nurses in this province do not want to go on strike and go through all the problems that providing essential services entails — but we will! Let’s stop this. The government holds the purse strings. It can spend the money on more beds it cannot staff, or pay health care workers the fair com- petitive salaries they deserve. Write your MLA, the health minister, and the premier to tell them to negotiate a fair settlement with B.C.’s nurses. Joan Hanson Chairman, West Kootenay Region B.C. Nurses Union wages and By MIRO CERNETIG VICTORIA (CP) — Cowboy boots and silk ties are the trademarks of Bud Smith, the Social Credit party backroom boy turned attorney general And the Kamloops cowboy — as his own staff call him — is likely to make a pitch at propping those well- polished boots on Premier Bill Vander Zalm's desk sooner rather than later, say the pundits “The polls are terrible," one veteran Socred back= bencher whispered as a phalanx of cabinet ministers JUD SMITH . .. ‘political hack’ 7 filed into the B.C. Iegislature for a question period **And the issue is always the same isn’t it? ‘Leadership. Something has to be done.”* Such leadership talk had subsided recently in the marbled foyers and broadloomed boardrooms of the legislature. ED HOPES Many thought the balanced budget in March and a high-profile role as environmental crusader, following the oil spill in Alaska, would help Vander ZaJm recap- ture the public’ s imagination. But now there are rumblings another political fire storm is ready to break over the leadership of Vander Zalm, whose back-slapping style and 100-watt smile have been by a distracted, manner of late vacant political scientist at University of Victoria. ‘He's down in his cabin while the third mate is running the ship. “*We may see a leadership convention as soon as the summer and Bud is definitely the leading contender for the throne.”” POLLS BAD NEWS Polls, the snapshots-in-time publicly spurned by Vander Zaim, have®uggested for months that the Social Credit government is in deep trouble. A recent sampling of 807 British Columbians across the province suggests Vander Zalm and his government are trailing the New Democrats by 21 per Bud Smith coy about ambitions ~~ ‘After these latest polls Vander Balailooks jieéthe captain of the Exxon Valdez," says NorntanRuff, a centage points. The poll is deemed accurate within 3.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20. Another poll, which surveyed 601 people, showed the NDP ahead by 17 percentage points. That poll was said to be accurate within four percentage points 19 Limes out of 20. Smith — a self-described “political hack”’ — is usually thefirst name on anyone's lips as the likely suc- cessorto Vander Zalm, who has givercontradictory an- swers about his future. At times the premier muses about returning to his Fantasy Garden World, a tourist sitein a Vancouver suburb, At other times he says he will fight the next election PREMIER TRUSTS Vander Zalm, who elevated Smith to his cabinet post, clearly has a measure of trust in his attorney general, well known for his political savvy. During question period the premier frequently leans over to take advice or notes from Smith, a master at cireumven- ting opposition questions Smith, 42, who spent two years as principal secretary to former premier Bill Bennett, has a tendency for long-winded answers that often sound like baf- flegab. He appears bemused by speculation that he lusts for Vander Zalm’s job. When asked about running for premier, Smith will lift his cowboy boots on to the edge of his desk, lean back in his chair and change the subject with a smile. **You serve the office you'rein,"* he says in earnest, looking remarkably like former Ontario attorney general Roy McMurtry “‘That’s the most important consideration. Your ‘own needs have to be subordinate.’ It’s the stock answer from Smith. Some observers don’t buy it ‘Sure he's running,” says another veteran Socred backbencher “*When there’s a leadership race, he will bein it.”” But Smith won't be alone. Former attorney general Brian Smith, former cabinet minister Grace McCarthy, Social Services Minister Claude Richmond and Finance Minister Mel Couvelier are all believed to be working behind the scenes, solidifying support should a leadership race materialize. But Bud Smith js|unlikely to get the support of Remember When? 40 YEARS AGO about bicycles being ridden at night out adequate lights. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride @ bicycle propelled by- muscular power on any street within the municipality from one-half hour after sunset until dne-half hour before sunrise unless such bicycle is equipped with a head lamp mounted in front of the bicycle and capable of being seen in front under normal atmospheric con- ditions for a distance of two hundred feet. eae Le May Day Queen chosen: Miss Margaret Williams was chosen as 1,.0.D.E. May Queen and will be crowned at the ball park on May 24th. Her attendants will be the Misses Nettlie Brodman, Marcia Bell, Gerry Defoe, Lorraine Martini, Alice Zait- soff and Helen Markii O96 Members of the Castlegar Co-Op Retail Society, at their semi-annual general meeting, pledged that suf- ficient funds to finance the building of an addition to the present Co-Op Store and the installation of the equipment necessary for the operation of a com- plete butcher shop. 25 YEARS AGO From the May21, 1964 Castlegar News One of the Orthodox Doukhobor communal houses in this area should be opened certain hours of the day during tourist season as a tourist at- traction, the Castlegar and District Chamber of & meeting last week Jack Hipwell said that possibly a Russian-style supper could be served to tourists or at least a bowl of borscht. He said the building could be decorated with such pictures as those of the wheat fields which used to thrive in the area and pictures of Peter (Lor- dly) Verigin. There’s a new look to the Castlegar news this week. Anew type face is being used for the news material. The new type is much larger and easier to read although it does not také up much more space in the newspaper. “The decision to purchase the new type at a cost of some $500 was decided upon in line with the Castlegar News’ continuing policy to provide one of the best weekly newspapers available anywhere,”’ said publisher L. V. Cam- pbell. 1S YEARS AGO From the May 23, 1974 Castlegar News Bob Brandson Memorial Pool is to open tomorrow with free public swimming this Saturday. This was reported to council Tuesday night in a written report by Ald. Mike Livingstone, who was ab- sent due to illness. A proposed million-dollar expen- diture by B.C. Tel in a projected development in periodic stages from 1976 to approximately 1982 was heard by council Tuesday night at its regular meeting when a rezoning hearing was held. The long-range proposal called for a telephone exchange, plant centre, dispatch building and truck garage to be located on land adjacent to the railway tracks that divided the two former towns that now make up the City of Castlegar. * 8 6 A break-in reported on Wednesday morning of last week, when forcible entry was made through the rear door of Bob's Pay ’N Takit located on the corner of Pine St. and Columbia Ave., is still under investigation . Reported missing is $30 t0,$35 in cash as well as meat and assorted items estimated at approximately $100. A cash register was also thrown over the bank by the railroad tracks. SYEARS AGO From the May 13, 1984 Castlegar News Federal Conservative”leader Brian three of those key colleagues ina : He and Richmond have a distant, cold relation- ship. McCarthy and Brian Smith have no love for him, having been stymied in their own leadership bids in 1986 when he stunned everyone by throwing his weight behind Vander Zalm. MAY COST HIM Some say those frosty relations will be Bud Smith's downfall in a leadership showdown where trading delegates is essential without 4 first-ballot sweep. Such rifts on the government bench have delighted the New Democrats, who ,try to cast Smith as machiavellian, a ruthless enemy to anybody threatening his tireless path to the throne. “1 think Bud Smith is motivated. by one.desire, which is to become the leader of the Social Credit par- ty,’ said Moe Sihota, the NDP justice critic. “Every move he makes is calculated to achieve that goal."* Smith, who demonstrates little patience in the legislature with the often petulant Sihota, views such criticism as unfair “Is that what people think? hope not, I don't even have a copy of Machiavelli he says. will visit the West Kootenay this week. Kootenay West Conservative Association media chairman John Donald said Friday that Mulroney is scheduled to arrive at the Castlegar Airport from Salmon Arm at 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, where he and wife Mila will be greeted by local school groups who will present flowers and gifts. ete! « r The Women's Access Program at Selkirk College will be eliminated after June 15, despite the insistence of Program members that it provides valuable counseling: services for women. Cutting the Women's Access Program came about as part of a $400,000 reduction in abe collega s administration department, said the college's dean of program services, pent Castlegar News 4s 2 May. 24, 1989 COMMUNITY NEWS Trees for tomorrow More than 50 local Scouters and their parents turned out May 13 @t Deer Park 13 kilometres north of Syringa Creek to plant trees @s part of the Trees for Canada celebration. Colormix Signs donated the Trees for Canada sign which was placed at the site. Forester Stu Clow assisted the Scouters in planting the trees. The Forest Service Predicts a 90 per cent “take or successful growth for the trees. Duff McDonald provided a lunch after the planting. welcomed At the weekly meeting of Wed- nesday, May 17, five new members were welcomed by the membership of the Selkirk Toastmasters Club The five new members are Clara Lifely, Bob Osmachenko, Anna Maciaszek, Lana Halisheff and Stan Maciaszek. The induction ceremony was conducted by the club’s ad- ministrative vice-president’ Tony Guglielmi, club president Madeleine Harlamovs prepared for the occasion a cake which was served with tea and . the-break andi was ap- preciated by all Don McDowell, a relatively new member, presented his fifth speech, on “Vocal Variety.”” 13 acres Industrial Riverfront Kamloops, B.C. ideal for frvekios: | equipment, cement, etc, $130,000 US. Will trade tor Kootenay waterfront or Nelson/Kaslo Residential, Call 403-594-0851 or Box 1960 Medley, Alberta, TOA 2M0. . $] 88 kg. 9424 /n. PORK LOIN or Half NEW TOASTMASTERS . . . five new Toastmasters Club. Left to right a tena b. 1, ere @ Clara Lifely, Bob Osm d to the Selkirk henko, Anna Maciaszek, Halisheff and Stan Maciaszek. At the far right is vice-president Tony Guglielmi. — DELI DELIGHTS — COOKED HAM MAPLE LEAF. SANDWICH STYLE SLICED OR SHAVED i Sb MEAT LOAF OVERLANDER BAVARIAN we 66° Falling trees disrupt power . By CasNews Staff Residents of Robson, Raspberry, Pass Creek, Brilliant and some parts of Ootischenia were without power last Sunday night due to trees falling on lines at, two different locations. One tree fell on a line at Pass Creek and the other at Lagoon Road, said Doug Fergusson, district supervisor for West Kootenay Power. The power went out at 6:15 p.m. and was off for about 2/2 hours, although power was restored to Brilliant in about an hour Fergusson said WKP received numerous calls from people who were “not too happy” about being in the dark He said the utility had several calls from Pass Creek residents who repor- ted “real strong winds’ before the power went out. He added that WKP has’*‘a lot of trouble" with trees in the summer. CASTLEGAR Chamber of Commerce Hane OG DO YOU WANT TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY? YOUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEEDS YOU! Individual Memb For More Information Call CASTLEGAR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE rshi HAWKI PSI or 7 UP rec. /oier. 12-355 mt TINS . Pius verosit®9.48 POTATO CHI PS NALLEYS DINNER BUNS surx. 00z RAISIN BREAD - 200 g. Twin pax 99° 450. toar 99° $1.59 Central Fresh Produce HEAD LETTUCE cauir. crown no. 1. eatedege CORN ON THE COB cauie. crown no. 1. kg. $1.08 1.496 4 cons *1.00 $35 PRICES EFFECTIVE Tracy Burgess belore Tracy Burgess after. Heritage meeting June 15 The annual general meeting of the Castlegar and District Heritage Society will be held June 15 at 7 p.m. at the Railway Station. The purpose of this meeting is for the election of new directors and executive RUBBER STAMPS CASTLEGAR NEWS 197 Columbia Ave. Phone 365-7266 INTRODUCING WEIGHT NEW 1989 QUICK SUCCESS PROGRAM. ‘Weaght Watchers wants you to be happy. That's why we made this year's New Quick Success* Program even better than last year’s. ‘With ow ‘weight fast So come into one of oar convenient locations today. SAVE $11.00 Pay only $11.00 to join WATCHERS” rowen effective program, there's an even easier way to lose (GOIN NOW FOR HALF PRICE] Join by June 17 at these convenient times and locations: Nordic Hall “Tue Call Toll Free: 1 6:30pm -800-663-3354 Ss THE NEW QUICK SUCCESS* PROGRAM “Feet so = e tademarks, 501 W. Appieway Ave. 765-5888 5204 E. Sprague Ave. 535-0176. Northtown Shopping Center 489-6275. SANDPOINT Bonner Mal 265-4633 ] University City Mall 928-4491 We honor most vision care insurance plans. Certain limitations apply. Ask tor details. 365-6313 a ones Swor-kasy F000! @ the right to limit quantities s limited to stock on hand OPEN SUNDAYS CENTRAL Foops ‘ommunity Owned & 2717 Colum! ce (Everything ORDERED SOLD fo the BARE WALLS TU i\ 10 cut Here's Your Invitation to Win a Beautiful Prize! First Prize: 14” Color Cable Ready TV Second Prize: Microwave Oven Plus...3 Other Great Prizes! Prizes Awarded: June 24, 1989 Come to Our Store Today! Shoe Salon Where foot fashion begins 465 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, B.C. Phone 365-3411 STORE HOURS: Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday 9:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.