OPINION Castlégar News PAGE A4, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1990 MEMBER OF THI 1688 COUNCIL ESTABLISHED AUGUST 7, 1947 TWIGE WEEKLY MAY 4, 1980 INCORPORATING THE MI-WEEK MIRROR PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 12, 1978-AUGUST 27, 1980 LV. CAMPBELL — PUBLISHER, AUGUST 7, 1947-FEBRUARY 15, 1973 ete — Burt Campbell DITOR — Simon Birch NT FOREMAN — Peter Harvey ADVERTISING MANAGER — Wayne Stolz OFFICE MANAGER — Linda Kositsin CIRCULATION MANAGER — Heather Hadley EDITORIAL Chalk up a loss We're not surprised federal Transport Minister Doug Lewis has rejeeted Castlegar’s bid to keep air traffic controllers in the tower at Castlegar Airport. ~ After all, Transport Canada has the numbers. And, of course, in the end that’s what the whole issue boils down tos in the opinion of Transport Canada and Mr. Lewis — Castlegar doesn’t have enough ‘‘aircraft movements” annually to justify the use of con- trollers here. Mr. Lewis, as he points out in the letter below, says the overall traffic level at Castlegar Airport has decreased in recent years and is far below that required to justify the continued operation of both the con- trol tower and the flight Service Station, whose staff will move into the BRITQIN:.. canada. control tower as soon as ‘‘technical modifications”’ are That puzzles us because just last March airport manager John Perry, during an interview for our Progress Edition, told us the number LETTERS TO THE EDITOR of passengers going through Castlegar Airport has i last few years. That would seem té*indicate the airport is getting busier. Mr. Lewis also says his department’s efforts to ‘‘rationalize’”’ the Air Navigation System ‘‘have been supported by the major aviation in- dustry associations and . . . air carriers in the area who have generally supported this initiativ: If the transport minister is including the removal of the air traffic controllers from Castlegar in this ‘‘rationalization,’’ he’s sadly mistaken about the level of support the move has. We recall a meeting in Castlegar city council chambers last October at which commercial airline pilots, as well as private pilots and others closely involved with aviation here, said they’d prefer having con- trollers in charge at the Castlegar Airport. As well, Mr. Lewis ignores in his letter the expected detrimental ef- fect the loss of the controllers will have on the aviation program at Selkirk College, one of just six colleges in Canada offering such a Program, and the safe operation of the firefighting water bombers based at the Castlegar Airport each year during forest fire season. The list goes on. There are, in our opinion, overwhelming arguments in favor of retaining the controllers, convincing arguments which are much more than the whining of a small community about the loss of a federal ser- vice. Mayor Audrey Moore has promised to closely monitor the service at the airport after the controllers are gone. To that we add our promise to remind voters of Kootenay West-Revelstoke during the next federal election campaign of the insensitive treatment this riding received from the Tory government on this issue. VIEWPOINT Steam weeding It is with a great deal of pleasure that I write this letter. I have been informed that the Canadian Pacific Railway will be testing its new steam spray Program through our area this week. People may well remember the summers of 1987 and 1988 when the forces of our communities came together to deter the CPR weed spray program. As we await the outcome of the court Proceedings against CP Rail by residents in Sault St. Marie where homes were saturated with Spike, we can rest assured that such occurrences should never happen again. T am proud of everyone who participated in the two-year struggle which resulted in enough pressure to move CP to investigate alternatives to its chemical spray program. As well, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate David Polster, an-environmentat consultant, for his role in developing the steam program for CP Rail. This story is that each and every one of us should be proud of. It is not often that citizens groups are successful, let alone that their actions may benefit an entire nation. I believe that CP Rail’s initiative will pave the way for other rail companies to respond in kind Last year, a citizens’ action group, together with natives and the local rail unions, succeeded in forcing BC Rail to abandon efforts to spray Lewis de¢ides Editor’s note: The following is the text of the letter to Mayor Audrey Moore from federal Transport Minis- ter Doug Lewis containing the federal government’s reasons for removing the air traffic controllers from the Castlegar Airport. I would like to inform you that I have confirmed my decision to remove air traffic controllers from Castlegar in favor of a flight service station. The decision to convert the Castlegar tower was made as a result of a nationwide review of the range of air navigation facilities and services provided by Transport Canada. The purpose of this review is to ensure that required facilities and services are provided in the most cost effective manner. When surplus facilities are identified, resources can be re- allocated to sites where traffic levels justify a higher level of service. Although the number of commer- cial flights at Castlegar Airport has remained relatively stable, the overall traffic level has decreased in recent years and is far below that required to justify the continued operation of both the control tower and the flight service station. The mix and level of traffic at Castlegar, which currently numbers 25,000 movements a year, suggest that a flight service station (FSS) is a more appropriate level of service. I can assure you that the conversion of the Castlegar tower does not represent a decrease in aviation safety. The continued operation of the flight service station at Castlegar satisfies all of the requirements to maintain standards of safety expected of Canadian aviation facilities. Transport Canada continues to face a shortage of qualified air traffic controllers, Air traffic services in Pacific region currently has a shortfall of 28 qualified controllers. The con- version of the Castlegar tower will help reduce this shortfall and will result in a more effective use of existing resources. Of the six air traf- fic controllers at Castlegar, one will be relocated to the Area Control Cen- tre (ACC) in Vancouver, one each to the towers in Vancouver, Victoria, Abbotsford and Penticton, and one has been offered a senior position in the Vancouver ACC as an instructor. As you are aware, air traffic patter- ns in British Columbia have evolved into a hub and spoke operation cen- tered on Vancouver as the hub. The ongoing shortage of controllers in the Vancouver ACC often results in traf- fic delays at many airports within the B.C. system. Control tower or not, traffic is often unable to move when the Vancovuer ACC is short-staffed. Consequently, it is essential to en- sure that controllers are employed only at those locations where they through the area. Pesticide appeals have been launched against CN Rail in the Kamloops and Kelowna areas as well as along the north line between Prince Rupert and Dawson. MP Jim Fulton, in a news release dated Aug. 17, 1990, describes a meeting that he had with Brian Smith, chief executive officer for CN Rail. CN is now researching the use of safe alternatives to chemicals including the use of electrocution or “weed zappers.”’ To quote Mr: Fulton, ‘Imagine a day when you take your family berry picking and no-one worries about eating pesticide residues. Imagine a railway line with safe vegetables growing alongside. Or how about a forest company that doesn’t poison the deer or fish; no more dangerous weed-killers on the children’s playground. It’s only a matter of time my friends.’ The CBC television program The Journal will have been i as critical. During my recent visit to British Columbia, I noted that Castlegar departures were delayed up to 40 minutes because of controller shortages in Vancouver. In other words, the controllers in Castlegar would have helped the community, and all British Columbia com- munities, more by being in the key hub The Castlegar controllers will be relocated effective Oct. 31, 1990. The flight service station will subsequently be moved to the vacant tower building as soon as technical modifications are completed. Transport Canada will continue to monitor traffic levels at the airport and will make any changes required in staffing, the type and level of service provided, and operating hours. May I also» add that Transport Canada is reviewing the criteria used in the determination of the requirement for control towers and FSSs. When available, new criteria will be applied to all sites, including Castlegar. I can assure you that if the traffic levels increase to the Point where controllers are required, the tower will be reconfigured for air traf- fic control. Finally, | should mention that my department's efforts to rationalize the Air Navigation System have been supported by the major aviation in- dustry associations, and consultation has taken place with air carriers in the area who have generally supported this it tive. I would also like to assure you that I will endeavor to respond to all of the comments that have been made to me on this matter. a segment on this issue within the next week. Once again, to everyone who made this victory Possible! Get out and welcome our steam machine when it arrives. Wayne Peppard South Slocan Traffic impact The citizens and-groups representing a pro- Celgar bias have commented that, in their opinion, the voice of the outlying communities should have a minimal impact on the decision-making process relating to Celgar’s pulp mill. Unquestionably, if all of the logging, chip-truck traffic plus air and water pollution was confined to within the limits of the City of Castlegar, this would be true. Unfortunately this is not the case. Celgar itself has accepted the fact that the outlying communities have legitimate concerns in this matter by taking its travelling open-house road show to Trail, New Denver and Slocan. It is also my understanding that the democratic process demands the involvement of all citizens with due respect being accorded to each citizen. Curiously, little concern has been expressed surrounding the issue of chip transportation to Celgar’s pulp mill. Such traffic will have a profound impact on the areas which will bear the brunt of this commerce. As noted by Celgar in the company’s Stage 2 Report: “*The major increases in the number of trucks on the road are expected to be on Highways 3A and 3 west of Castlegar.’’ This report goes on to note that **. . . large trucks typically experience the same accident rate as all other vehicles.” One presumes that an increase in truck traffic could also mean an increase in the accident rate involving these trucks. Celgar does not address the isstie of noise and air pollution resulting from this proposed increase in the use of chip trucks, In this same report, Celgar presents evidence which seems to prove that truck transport, as opposed to rail or tug transport, is by far the most economical. Celgar does not note that the economies of truck traffic are artificial in that the building, maintaining and policing of highways comes via the public purse. One wonders what the figures would be if either the private rail lines received public funding or if Celgar and the commercial users were responsible for the creation and maintenan road system for the transport of wood chij existing, parallel rail line is seriously under used and seemingly forgotten. Peter Maloff Tarrys False threat In connection with your coverage of the procedural meeting on the Celgar project review process, I would like to correct a misimpression left by the Aug. 18 article, ‘Threat of delay draws mayor’s anger.”” Mayor Audrey Moore manufactured a false threat from what actually constitutes a legitimate opposition to the flawed federal-provincial review of the proposed $630 million Celgar expansion Project. During the meeting, the Valhalla Society requested that the sutainability of the wood supply be included in the terms of reference of the hearing, and that intervenor funding be provided to assist public groups to interpret the complex analyses of the project. The forest management review is urgently needed because B.C.’s forests are already being overcut and the mill expansion cannot be based on a wood supply which cannot be sustained over the long run. What we are asking for has already been determined as constituting national importance — recent revisions to the federal environmental assessment procedures require full evaluation of the capacity of natural resources to sustain as well as ion of intervenor funding necessary to pay for this assessment. These changes have been made by the government because they are necessary if the environment is to be protected. These revised procedures also require a consideration of all available options. It is not unreasonable to request what will be required under the revised procedures and what has been demanded by an electorate about the envii effects oft megaprojects such as the proposed expansion of Celgar’s pulp mill. The new federal procedures prove that dealing with the sustainability of the wood supply and provision of intervenor funding are essential elements of a fair and effective public review Process. * Our position, and the documentation Presented in our report, speaks for the public interest, not for those concerned with their specific profits. It is clear that Celgar is the actual special interest here — not environmental groups which are working hard to prevent the mismanagement and squandering of what remains of our finite and irreplaceable water, air, wildlife and timber resources. Our forests are being seriously depleted and the fish in the Columbia River have already accumulated enough deadly dioxins from the Celgar mill to warrant warnings against eating them. We feel it is of urgent importance to have as thorough and fair a review process as possible. All of us are faced with the fact that huge corporations have the money to produce glossy reports in complicated scientific jargon. Most members of the public cannot understand these reports enough to tell if they are inaccurate or misleading, or, if they can, their criticisms are dismissed because they do not have the proper scientific credentials. It is only the threat of being challenged by other scientists working for the public which helps to keep both the companies and the review boards on their toes. Intervenor funding would help groups like the Valhalla Society to hire consultants to do this. It would be taxpayers’ money working to protect the and their big-money interests. My statement that the ValHalla Society could formulate its conclusion much faster if it could afford to turn this material over to experts was not a “‘threat”’ to delay the hearings if our demands are not met. It was a statement of facts to which we are as much a hostage as anyone else. The mayor of Castlegar is attempting to sabotage the legitimate public concerns with this kind/of ‘‘us-against- them’’ confrontation. This most essential issue must not be sidetracked with scare tactics. from itation by Grant Copeland Director The Valhalla Society New Denver Client state Recently I attended a meeting of farmers in Creston. Many of the questions at that meeting had to do with the future of farming afid bordertown retailing (local residents travelling to the United States to buy cheap food) in the era of free trade. These are hard questions to answer. It is no longer enough simply to icize the trade deal. I want, though, to bring everyone’s attention to the larger context. Our lives as Canadians are changing, and not just farmers and small retailers will feel the effects. Canada is outfitting its navy for war. The initial announcement that Canada would participate in hostile exercises in the Persian Gulf was made by U.S. Secretary of State James Baker hours before confirmation by our own government and without parliamentary debate. We are taking this action, it is said, to stop a hostile invasion of a country by a foreign power. Canada had no such policy in the recent invasions’’ of Grenada or Panama. Canada is in dahger of becoming what the world calls a ‘‘client state.’’ Bill Vander Zaim will not allow B.C. apple growers to exercise their legal right to protect themselves against the dumping of American apples in B.C. Brian Mulroney has allowed our salmon to be exported south unprocessed. (Will timber be next?) American canned beer is being dumped it B.C. at a loss, immediately threatening another $5 m payroll in Creston. Our foreign policy and our domestic policies are not disconnected. We are gearing up for war not to protect democracy but to protect U.S. interests — the same interests that are bankrupting our neighbors. We need changes at all levels of government. But even new governments will take years to reverse the present trend. In the meantime, I urge people to write to their MPs and MLAs to express their thoughts. I also urge them to vote with their consumer options, to buy Canadian fruit and to buy their beer this weekend in Canadian, recyclable and endangered bottles. Corky Evans Winlaw Corky Evans is the New Democratic Party candidate in Nelson-Creston. Please address all letters to the editor to: Letters to the Editor, Castlegar News, P.O. Box 3007, Castlegar, B.C. VIN 3H4, or deliver them to our office at 197 Columbia Ave. in Castlegar. Letters should be typewritten, double- spaced and not longer than 300 words. Letters MUST be signed and include the writer's first and last names, address and a telephone number at which the writer can be reached between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The writer's name and city or town of residence only will be published. Only in exceptional cases will letters be published without the writer's name Nevertheless, the name, address and telephone number of the writer MUST be, disclosed to the editor The Castiegar'News reserves the right to edit letters for brevity, clarity, legality, grammar and taste. PROVINCIAL NEWS Reid scrutiny continues VANCOUVER (CP) — It would be ** a frightening prospect’’ for former tourism minister Bill Reid to be allowed back into the Socred cabinet. That is the opinion of a prominent Vancouver lawyer, John Hall, who recommended Reid not be charged with breach of trust for his part in a lottery grant going’to a couple of his friends. Hall’s views were read into the record Tuesday by Bryan Williams, counsel for a commission headed by B.C. Ombudsman Stephen Owen. The commission has been asked to determine the circumstances surroun- ding a decision not to lay criminal charges against Reid. Reid channelled a $277,000 grant to ‘@ company owned by two of his frien- ds and resigned as tourism minister last fall when his involvement bécame public. The episode was exposed by the Vancouver Sun. Hall said it was good that the issue did not go to court, because had Reid been acqiitted, he may have gone back into the cabinet. Hall's statement said: ‘It would concern me if such a result (an acquit- tal) were taken to mean he was somehow cleared and that he should then be restored to a cabinet position. “I think this would be tragic for someone with his degree of per- spicacity as to what appropriate con- duct is to be permitted in cabinet. It’s a frightening prospect. **He’s acted improperly as I think clearly emerges from the report of the comptroller general. Hopefully the release of that report may ensure that he’s not put back in a position where he can abuse public trust and con- fidence in the way he did in this case."” Reid, now a backbencher, has an- nounced he will not seek re-election. in lottery funds to the company and should have faced criminal charges. “*Virtually every guideline that was ¢ for GO B.C. funding was violated in the manner in which this grant was given,’’ said Peck. “My conclusions were that there were inferences that could be drawn that could satisfy a judge or judge and jury that there had been a wrong done here,’’ he said. Deputy attorney general Ted Hughes, who consulted Peck, told the inquiry Monday there was no coverup and the decision not to prosecute Reid was made “honorably and fairly, weighing all the facts.”” Later in the hearing, lawyer Terrance La Liberte, representing NDP justice critic Moe Sihota, said Sihota accepts that the decision not to Prosecute was made the highest Another lawyer, Richard Peck, told the inquiry that Reid broke nearly every guideline fn channelling the $277,000 * of Hughes’ office. The NDP contended there had been a coverup and Reid should have been charged with breach of public trust. Owen is conducting an_ in- vestigation into the Crown's decision not to prosecute Reid over the distribution of lottery funds ad- ministered by his ministry. Reid resigned last fall after the $277,000 lottery fund grant went to a recycling equipment company owned by his campaign manager and another friend. The RCMP said charges should have been laid but the Attorney General’s Ministry decided against them after consulting Peck and two other independent lawyers. Ace Henderson, counsel for com- ptroller general Brian Marson who found Reid’s actions were improper, said he recommended against criminal charges because he did not believe Reid acted dishonestly. “*He steered a business opportunity to two of his friends,’ Henderson said, ‘That is irregular and improper as the comptroller general said. August 29, 1990 FERRARO'S Your satistaction is our main concern CASTLEAIRD PLAZA “Better you bet” Get all 4 roceries purchased entities you to products at these super low prices get2 3 of each with $75.00 THE MORE YOU BUY, THE MORE YOU SAVE! Big Dipper all flavours ice cream 149-2 aia @ BRIEFLY From Wire Service Socreds blamed Hamilton. In the ad, intended political commercial. the lights. VANCOUVER — The loser in VANCOUVER — A chameleon who starred in an anti-NDP Political ad was worked to death, says Lifeforce director Peter The animal rights advocate says no other animals should be exploited for political gain. The chameleon died after playing the feature role in a Socred-sponsored pre-election ad. Brrougoconsistency in the NDP, the chameleon changes color with each conflicting NDP statement. Hamilton said the reptile was treated ‘‘callously.’” “*They kept on forcing the animal to repeadedly walk out of frame facing the camera,"’ he said of the eight-hour shoot. But Socreds say the reptile’s death was probably unrelated to the “*We were told that the animal had some sort of health problems,’’ said Jess Ketchum, Socred director of operations. Ketchum estimates the animal spent only about 15 minutes under Vant loses Socred nomination PRINGE GEORGE — Neil Vant, minister, has lost the party’s nomination in his South Cariboo riding. The former highways minister was dumped by more than 300 votes Sunday in favor of Donna Barnett, the mayor of 100 Mile House. Barnett said, ‘What I did is I went out and I sold myself to the people and I believe the people showed the confidence in me.”” More than 500 people voted, she said. Loser plans to contest vote for star's death former Social Credit cabinet the battle for the Social Credit in the Burnab: for the next provincial election. have to check this out,”” Westminster. Ron Gray says he believes there may have been at least two people from outside the riding who should not have voted in the nomination Gray polled 189 votes to Nicole Parton’s 190 on Monday. Parton is a former columnist for the Vancouver Sun. “There appear to be possibly two irregulari Gray said from his Chilliwack home. Gray's campaign manager, David Donovan, said one person who 4, voted was from Vancouver and another was possibly from New Cy riding wants a new vote. ies and obviously we Answer to Sunday Crossword Puzzle No. 432 A ORD DGERESE OWOEG) OEE DR SRWOEIMES m}@| mii O} DOW OSES BWweo Ol>i- OR> = zi>1O >| Dl >I OBE RWOWOEIMES E T H A N M E R [3 Ss UE LIE UR All NIE =[a)m/|m| a} D/O. almlol—/54 OOMMEIC Dim) XK! yim) Dw) Ojm|m|simlalDio|x N (2) N c E Di>|]a) alolm! | to Sunday, Aug. 26 C: SLOGAN OF HARDWORKING BUTCHER WHO SOLD CAKE: FOR WURST.” ON THE SIDE: “FOR BATTER OR Castlegar Christian Academy Registration: Kindergarten to Grade 12 1990-91 School Year Tuesday, September 4 9 a.m. to 12 Noon OR PHONE FOR APPOINTMENT, 365-7818 or 365-2374 Registered With B.C. Government University plans being delayed PRINCE GEORGE (CP) — Unex- pected difficulties, not lack of money or commitment, are delaying the land assembling for a new northern univer- sity, the chairman of the interim governing council said Tuesday “I originally predicted we would put the site selection to bed by Sept. 1 and at one gtage thought it would be even earlier, but that’s proven to be impossible," said Murray Sadler of the university of northern British Columbia “I'm hesitant to give any more predictions because I don’t want !o get a reputation for raising false «x- pectations."” Advanced Education Minister Bruce Strachan, who represents Prin- ce George, and Mayor Joan Backhouse, say it was unrealistic to believe a site would be announced by Sept. 1. But Sadler said the problems do not involve lack of financial commitment from the Social Credit government. “*That is not trag and, hopefully, it will never be true. We have not asked the government for money yet."’ Determining the cost of servicing the five sites being considered is one reason for the delay, Salder said. UNITED SUY ($) SELL Furniture Warehouse No Frills - No Gimmicks “FURNITURE HELP YOUR CARRIER Your Castlegar News car- rier will be collecting for the paper during the next few days. The job is made easier if he or she doesn't have to make a second or even a third call Please consider your car- ri He or she is an indepen- dent business person and they don't earn their profit until you've paid for your paper. That's why they'll ap- preciate it if you're ready tor them the first time they call. Castlegar 4445 Minto Road MATTRESSES for less... A LOT LESS! 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