. a2_CastlégarNews Morch , 90s a2 Castle Fraser predicts Socred defeat After the Supreme Court of Canada struck down federal abortion law, Vander Zalm said the provincial medicare QUESNEL, B.C. (CP) — Former highways minister Alex Fraser, under a cloud because of huge cost,overruns on the Coquinalla Highway, forecast Tuesday that the Social Credit government is headed for defeat over its policies, Fraser, who was dropped from the cabinet in 1986 but still sits as a Socred backbencher, lashed out at Premier Bill Vander Zalm, whose policies he said will mean the party won't be re-elected. In a telephone interview from Victoria with the weekly Cariboo Observer, Fraser said privatization of the Highways Ministry's maintenance division could alone cost the Socreds 15 Interior seats in the next election, and that Vander Zalm should have kept his “big mouth shut” on abortion. Fraser, 71 and battling throat cancer, was scheduled to speak in the legislature today on a motion that a committee of privilege should investigate whether he misled the legislature on the cost of the Coquihalla highway. He wouldn't disclose details of his speech but said he intended to “set the record straight on all the bullshit” over the highway. The road from Vancouver through the southern British Columbia interior cost about $1\ billion, almost $500 million over original estimates. “I feel honored to be singled out,” said Fraser, who speaks using an electronic voicebox after losing his larynx to cancer, “At least I will go down in history as the highways minister that built some of the best highwa through some of the toughest mountains in North America,” he said, “I was not a minister that did a lot of talking. I was a minister that did a lot of building, and I'm proud of my accomplishments. Fraser raked the Vander Zalm government over several of its polici He said privatization of highways maintenance is ridiculous, and predicted that future expenditures on provincial roadways will be minimal, The government is selling off its highways maintenance division in regional parcels to private contractors. Fraser said that, beginning in 1989, interior commun: ities will experience an economic drain because of the policy. From safety to lack of accountability, Fraser said interior British Columbians are in for “real trouble.” “I believe in balanced budgets and reducing the government deficit, but not at the expense of one ministry,” he said. Fraser also said Vander Zalm “should keep his big mouth shut,” on abortion, and that without his emphatic stand, controversy would have been minimal. AUSTRIAN TEAM . . . The Austrian women's alpine ski team was the first to enter the gym at Cominco Arena during the opening ceremony last night. The event marked the official beginning of World Cup week and provided local downhill enthusiasts an excellent opportunity to meet their favorite skiers. CosNewsPhoto would not fund abortions unless a woman's life was’ endangered, A B.C. Supreme Court decision this week foreed the government to reverse its policy, “A lot of Social Credit MLAs are really upset,” said Fraser. “I don't know where all of this is going to end up. I don't think the premier knows what he’s talking about, “But I do know it is time for this government to obey the law and wait for the feds to bring in new abortion laws, It's their responsibility, not ours. He also took a swipe at the government's decentraliza- tion scheme, which among other things creates, eight separate regions in the province, each under the guidance of cabinet-level secretaries of state. “The intention of decentralization is to usurp the elected officials,”, he said. “It-is intended to get all information flowing into the premier's office, where all voices will be united. “The NDP are right to boycott these decentralization committees. It's a move that squeezes out the MLAs of the province. In the Cariboo, Bruce Strachan was never elected to represent my constituents. Now he’s taken over.” (Strachan, who is environment minister, is secretary of state for the region which includes Fraser's Cariboo riding.) Kinnaird Hall fee schedule scrappe By CasNews Staff Castlegar council's parks and re. creation committee has scrapped a controversial new fee schedule ‘for Kinnaird Hall. Instead, the committee recom mended Tuesday — and council agreed — a proposal that established non profit youth groups holding regular meetings at Kinnaird Hall be allowed to use the hall for free. allowed to use the hall free for two events each year other than regular meetings. two weeks ago. As well, the committee recom However, that received little support from other aldermen when it came before council Ald. Len Embree was the most voeal critic of the fee schedule. He said then he had concerns about the hall when it switched from the city’s control to the regional recreation commission. mended that non-profit community groups requiring financial assistance approach the administration and fin. ance committee for grants to cover the hall rental. Embree said sudden” fees for The committee had earlier sug: gested established non-profit youth groups be charged $5 per meeting and that the Brownies, Girl Guides, Bea. vers, Cubs, Scouts and Air Cadets be mendations. peared well founded because “all of a groups were introduced. However, Embree said Tuesday he is pleased with the new recom- “We're not out to gouge any local a organizations that have been using that facility,” he stressed. “And I think that- ALEX FRASER .. lashes out needs to be said. That's a community facility. It's well used, it's well respected and people want to feel that it's still theirs; it's theirs to use.” Ald. Lawrence Chernoff, chairman of the parks and recreation committee, pointed out that the original fee schedule wasn't intended to “penalize” groups, but just to give the recreation commission some “direction.” Chernoff also noted that groups using the hall for less than three days for a single event will be charged for only one day. He said it will enable groups like the Castlegar and District Hospital Auxiliary to set up their event and take it down over three days but be charged for just one day. “We didn’t want them charged on daily basis because community groups put things back into the com. munity.” recommendation his concerns ap. non-profit youth Vander Zalm seeks help from teachers VANCOUVER (CP) — Premier Bill Vander Zalm is sending letters to teachers’ homes asking them to explain the government privatization program, some teachers say. “In your special role as an educator, you can offer a unique perspective on the privatization issue,” Vander Zalm states in the letter. “Others are counting on you to understand the facts on privatization and to know all sides of the issue.” Teachers in Victoria, Van Surrey, and Campbell Rivers have reported receiving letters. Vander Zalm explains in the letter his reasons for favoring privatization of many government services. He invites teachers to send for more information from the government. “Putting out one party's policies as a preferred ap- proach (in classroom teach- ing) strikes me as a very, very dangerous precedent,” said Charles Hingston, pres ident of the British Columbia ZN ON STAGE . . . Rossland’s Kerrin Lee (left), Laurie Graham and Karen Percy line the stage at the opening ceremony for the Husky World Downhill in Trail last night. Every racer was Presented with a set of earrings. The presentation was followed with an Italian dinner and entertainment. CosNewsPhoto couver, North Vancouver, School Trustees Association. RED MOUNTAIN continued from front page $5.50 per hour. “We hadn't had a wage increase in five years,” he said. Wages and benefits will increase for all Red M i — ski tive NDP say Bennett gdined VICTORIA (CP) — Former premier Bill Bennett's de cision to build the billion-dol. lar Coquihalla highway was made for political and per sonal gain, the Opposition NDP charged Tuesday “There is no question this (the highway) was a prime political goal of the govern ment of the day to build the highway and to build it prior to an election and pre sumably get the benefits of that election,” Bob Williams, member from Vancouver East, said outside the legis lature. Completion of the high way's final phase will shift the economic centre of the southern Interior from Kam loops to Kelowna, where Bennett has large land hold. ings, Williams told reporters. Bennett's personal benefit from the highway “is cer tainly a very significant side effect of that public policy,” said Williams. Bennett was en route to his home in Kelowna from East. ern Canada on Tuesday evening and was not immed iately available for comment. Williams made the charges in the legislature during a rancorous debate over whether a committee of priv ilege should determine if a former cabinet minister ‘mis. led the legislature on the highway's cost. The New Democrats also said that Premier Bill Vander Zalm's Social Credit govern. ment abandoned its leader. ship role by not calling for a further inquiry into about $500 million in cost overruns on the highway. COST MORE A commission which re. ported to the government in December found that the first two phases of the highway cost about 40 per cent more than the $540-mil- lion estimate. The road, pushed through a rugged mountain valley, was rushed to completion in time for the opening of Expo 86. The Socreds responded by accusing the New Democrats of a personal, “headline grab- bing” attack on 71-year-old Alex Fraser, the former highways minister who now sits as a backbencher. Fraser, who is battling cancer which has already led to the surgical removal of his voice box, was in the legis. lature Tuesday. He was ex. pected ta speak to the motion today. Moe Sihota, who made the motion for the committee, said the government should have ordered a further in quiry after the original com mission “took the matter up to the cabinet doorstep gnd chose not to go any further.” The commission concluded that the legislature was mis: led by the documents pre sented to it and that the true costs of the highway were not reported in a forthright way. RAPS QUEST Government House Leader Bruce Strachan called the Opposition's motion part of “their insatiable quest to be political voyeurs, to continue to peek here and there and cast innuendo and asper- sions Both he and Finance Min- ister Mel Couvelier urged the defeat of the motion. “It (the Coquihalla) surely doesn't deserve the attention it has been given,” Couvelier said. “The case for the motion has not been proven “But | most importantly, who are we talking about but one of the great heros of British Columbia politics. I think ‘it's time to end this needless charade.” NDP House Leader Mark Rose called Couvelier's re- marks “a tacky, spurious appeal to sentimentality.” P patrol, cafeteria workers, lift oper- ators, bar staff, and “eat drivers.” The increases in wages amount to between 75 cents per hour to $1.50 per hour depending on the position, Gaudert says. The lowest starting wage will be As well, the The contract provides for a five cent an hour increase per person in the employee benefit package. Effec- N 1988, benefits will increase three cents and the remaining two will go into effect November 1989. system implemented in 1986 has been eliminated under the new contract. The union had agreed to the system at a time of the mountain's financial dif- Elsie McMurphy, _presi- dent of the B.C. Teachers Federation, said the pre- mier's action “just sounds really weird. “It seems a very, very strange way for government to operate,” McMurphy said. “Is Vander Valm rewriting the curriculum unilaterally?” The letter is nervy, said Ken Denike, chairman of the Vancouver School Board. “I'd be very concerned about bringing what is pat- ently political material into the classroom,” Denike said. BILL VANDER ZALM . . + Privatization ‘ficulties. Employees wanted to make sure wages of employees increase as they advance. BRIDGING continued from front page ive's earlier ion for an individual progress program. The program is also designed to provide children with problems in the Grades 1, 2 and 3 with more individual attention. “If there is a need for these two-tiered wage CDTA continued from front page could be given to those with heavily weighted classrooms so “that children capable of normal achievement are not ‘lost’ in the confusion caused by children with problems.” “Bring in a part-time teacher,” suggested Adams. When teachers were asked in a CDTA questionnaire to list the five most important items, more prepara- tion time, more learning assistance time, elementary school counselors and improved facilities were listed in order of preference. Adams agrees an elementary school counselor is needed. “Every teacher told me the same thing: There are kids with behavior problems and social problems,” she said, although she added that there is someone who does testing for intelli. problems testing.” psychologist. 1988/89 budget for that’s the rumor,” budget constraints nce: “What they really need is someone days where times who can do psychological and social Adams said child care workers “have certainly made the difference,” but can't be expected to do the job of a The board, which will submit its next week, did not give the CDTA much encouragement. “We can't have less (teachers) and added that she has heard that a few teachers will be retiring this year, but will not be replaced. Adams says she made the same Presentation to the board last year “We when there were 20 fewer classes that exceeded recommended levels. She says she understands the wishes it could spent more on staffing. “This was a school board in the pinching pennies,” she said. children to get in small group situ- ations to get on individual programs then I almost plead with you, please provide them with this opportunity. These are the years where we can help them the most. “If you identify the problem at a later date sometimes it is very hard to reverse the process of low self esteem,” she said. However, the forum gave no en- couragement as to the availability of funding for additional programs. Trustee Rick Pongracz said he would be providing false hope if he indicated there was funding for such programs at this time. : n hardly hang on to what he said, “unless either the taxpayers are going to pay more,” or other programs are cut. “I feel badly about that,” Campbell said later. “Because I feel those 13 children, if testing holds true, would really benefit from the program. There is no doubt in my mind.” ministry approval said Adams, who on the board but were good were y.. JUDGING FROM the four visiting Rotary Exchange students, Castlegar is the best thing since the VCR, Simone Ratis of Brazil, Johanna Makelin of Finland, Kinuyo Miyajima, of Japan and Mike Laler of South Africa all visited Castlegar council ‘Tuesday night and had glowing reports about the city and its residents. “I just love it here,” said Johanna. “I don't want to go back home. Simone said much the same thing. “Everyone is so friendly it seems like you've known them for 100 years.” Kinuyo, who leaves for home on Friday after a year here, said Castlegar is her “second home town.” But she promised to return. And Mike, who is the most recent arrival having been here just one month, said he has been overwhelmed by the reception he's received, especially at Stanley Humphries secondary school where the students “just opened up to us.” Mayor Audrey Moore presented the four students with baseball caps with the slogan “Hooked on Castlegar” stencilled on them, a Cas fish fly and city pins. THE CASTLEGAR CPR bridge has had a bit of a face lift. Repairs to the railings on the walkway were completed Monday. The Ministry of Highways in Rossland says this is part of ongoing. upgrading to the bridge which will continue as needed. HARRY MURPHY is Nakusp's Good Citizen of the Year for 1988, A MOVIE company has been stationed in Nakusp for the last week making a ski movie. MGA, Multiglisse Adventure, of Les Praz de Cham. onix in France specializes in ski/adventure movies. Mono:ski and downhill chases of bad guys vs. good guys dominate the movies. About a dozen skiers and production people are staying at the Kuskanax Lodge and using Kootenay Heli- ski equipment. They will be in Nakusp until Friday. SINCE THE fire department in Nelson was made famous by the hit movie Roxanne last year, fire chief Harry Sommerville has been a hot property, Hundreds of tourists and letters, mostly from fire departments in the United States, have swamped the fire hall. “We're pretty casual around here and didn’t know what to expect. We certainly weren't prepared for this response,” Like comedian Steve Martin, who played a modern-day Cyrano de Bergerac in Roxanne, Sommer- ville is no slouch in the nose department. “They thought the good Lord said hose when they meant nose,” character, Sommerville, 51, doesn't spring into karate action when someone mentions the size of his nose. Since Roxanne, the fire chief has become a one-man chamber of commerce, being quoted in magazines and even writing a travel article for the Orlando, Fia., Sentinel. AIR CANADA has reached agreement with the Castlegar News and community newspapers across Canada to implement a national awards program called Air Canada's Heart of Gold Award. The program will be launched in later this month in more than 700 Canadian community newspapers. Advertisements will call for nominations of individual Canadians who have helped others or have in some way contributed to the improvement of the quality of life in their communities. The ads will describe the program and will include forms for Canadians to submit nominations of people they feel deserve recognition as outstanding citizens. Air Canada’s Heart of Gold Award program is a joint project of Air Canada and the Castlegar News. All nominees will receive Heart of Gold Award certificates, Nominations will be accepted at the Castlegar News office. The Heart of Gold Award winners will be selected by a panel of judges representing newspapers within the region. Air Canada’s decision to initiate the programs followed it 50th anni 'y eek i “The airline wants to recognize outstanding people from all walks of life who have contributed to a better Canada,” the company says. Maddocks heads committee By CasNews Staff elected at last month's annual throughout Central Koote- The $561,600 will be used SPRING SAVINGS SPECIALS ry jiment? Come of fee \ and Cookies! PICNIC PORK STEAK sys BLADE STEAK CANADA... crane Aig, $35", T: ROAS $948] STEWING BEEF ,,.._ $915 CROSS RIB. BONELESS ... kg.°547/ip, SONGLEEE 2055. cuteshe, CORN ED BEEF Pom st. PaThicK’s Daye 97%), $359 A FREE CABBAGE WITH EACH PURHCASE OF CORNED BEE GUESS THE AMOUNT OF EASTER EGGS IN A JAR AND WIN 1 OF FOUR MAPLE LEAF PLUSH TOY EASTER BUNNIES! SHRIMP MEAT CHEDDAR CHEESE 88° PREVIOUSLY FROZEN MLD ie ee: GRIMMS MILD, MEDIUM OR OLD. .......... — CENTRAL DELI DELITES — BAVARIAN MEAT LOAF GRIMMS GRIMMS LONG MONTREAL STYLE PEPPERONI CORNED BEEF ¢ well $] 09 FRESH PORK 5359, 9 59 $459 LETS ,..,, $198 94?" Iw, SAMPLING GRIMMS OLD FASHION HAM SLICED OR SHAVED 100 G. 99 . MARGARINE PALM. SOFT. ........... 100 G. IGE CREAM ..2 lb. TUB Castlegar resident Richard Maddocks was elected chair- man of the Central Kootenay Community Futures Com mittee, replacing departing chairman Tom Baybutt of Nelson. Neil Surgenor of Nakusp was elected vice-chairman and Castlegar's Harry Stan took the treasurer's position. Maddocks is economic de. velopment officer and Stan is executive director of the Castlegar and District De- velopment Board. The new officials were committee meeting where Baybutt reported on the implementation of the Bus- iness Development Centre and the Self Employment In- centive programs. Baybutt congratulated committee members for their dedication and commitment for last year’s work. The committee will be focusing on the Community Initiative Program and the Training Option as key areas in 1988. Madd indi nay to discuss the Commun- ity Futures program during the next two to three months. Earlier this year the fed eral government approved $2.1 million over the next five years for the Community Futures program. Nelson, Castlegar, Kaslo, Creston and Nakusp will re- ceive a maximum of $1.5 million over the next five years to establish a business nt centre and at the meeting he would strive to meet with groups P $561,600 over the next year for émployrhent ‘initiatives. for people on Unemployment Insurance or other forms of social assistance who want to test new business ideas. The first year of funding for the business development centre will total about q PER. ASSORTED FLAVOURS. —_—_————— 284 mi CAMPBELLS CAMPBELLS SOUP CHICKEN NOODLE OF CHICKEN. 284 mi . $400,000. Funds for followii 4 years will depend on the success of the centre and the demand for its services. Information on Community Futures may be obtained at the business development centre of the Kootenay Reg- ional Employment Develop. ment Agency in Nelson. SPAGHETTI OR MACARONI. CREAMETTE . 907 G. SPAGHETT! SAUCE MUSHROOMS. HOMEMADE FLAVOR |. _ 750 mi APPLE JUICE SUNRYPE 1 LITRE — SUNRYPE — RASPBERRY, GRAPEFRUIT, BLACK 2 CURRENT COCKTAIL, APRICOT NECTAR, ORANGE COT, APPLE COT, UNSWEETENED ORANGE JUILE .._. YOU'RE INVITED Let the Downtown ECONO BOX SPECIAL only 9 Pieces of Golden Chicken Battered in Our NEW GREAT SPICE! Reg. Price $11.59! FOR SUPER FAST SERVICE PHONE AHEAD © 365-5353 . THE DOWNTOWN = 88° VELVEETA CHEESE SLICES $2 99 IMPERIAL CRISCO MARGARINE SHORTENING 32.9198 | 3x... 52% ROBIN HOOD 0 $ 4s CAT FOOD ¢ PUSS ‘n BOOTS. ASSORTED . 436 G. TIN 59 ALL PURPOSE. OLD DUTCH ¢ mrreeee POTATO CHIPS 7 UP OR PEPSI 2 $] 99 ae som 69° COTTAGE CHEESE ox. sm .*1.39 | Formers iiss $ | 98 ICE CREAM ASSORTED. 1 LITRE... a $1.49 OXYDOL $4 9 9 — BAKERY — = MoT CROSS BUNS coren...........51.99 | ORBOLD ER BUNS con, 54°29 CARROT CAKE... 219 {PINESOLE = = $319 CENTRAL FRESH PRODUCE POTATOES cm 10..99° ALBERTA GROWN. No.1. RED GRAPES GREEN PEPPERS APPLES ast. | 39° meme 39° eee |) 86. 99 GOLDEN RIPE RDEN CORNER KRAFT PROCESSED. 500 G. ....... CASCADE . DISHWASHER DETERGENT. ... 1.4 Kg. CREST OOTHPASTE REG., MINT, GEL, TARTAR FROM CENTRAL AMERICA VALUE ........ PRICES EFFECTIVE THURSDAY, MARCH 10 THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH I3 Foods = YOUR COMMUNITY AWARD WINNING FOOD STORE - BUSINESS HOURS Mon. Tues., Wed. & Sat. SY FOODS | ier %a.m. to 9 p.m. SHop-L, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES. SUNDAY A.M. TO SPM.