OPINION January tA} eet tii ett ieee The Soe eee: age shell Well. Lately, I've been trying to explain the two party system to my cousin, Ned Nork. I start- ed with the Wigs and Tories. I've seen a whole lot of wigs in my day and a whole heap of poor darned if I know What a someone means “Story” and “s". Maybe the went 8 al editorial comment It’s now or never The office of Transp i ry Arn Charb has aed ‘the will be enroute to this area February 4. This means the citizens of both Robson and Castlegar have exactly 20 days to prepare for what could determine the future direction of this area. It might-mean the diff ¢ between de growth and prosperity or recessive stagnation and a con- gested Columbia Avenue. If this area can not secure some sort of link—whether it be ferry, bridge or tunnel for that matter—to allow for con- nections, a lot of development will head straight down the toilet. Both communities have too much to lose. Castlegar would see a quick finish to Downtown Revi- talization, a refreshing face lift this community desperately needs. Because another outlet is needed for traffic in the downtown area, only phase one would be possible of the entire revitalization scheme. The domino effect prevails here. fc loses D i di coaaed tot aang Gos ae ioe es Tourism plays a big part in Robson as well. Johnny's Grocery and Gas and the Lion’s Head pub look forward to visitors every summer. As does Scotties Marina and the ‘Arrow Lake Industry would fee! the frustration of what could have been a much easier transport route for large trucks and many employees. Let's face it. We have everything to lose if either the bridge is not built or the ferry is not restored. Mr. Charbonneau has to realize, it’s got to be one or the other. We can’t let gjm leave us empty handed. : Obviously the people of Castlegar and Robson care about the future. If they didn’t, the last council meeting (with a record attendance) would have been empty—a sheer sign of apathy. Tt would be great if at least that many people met Mr. Charbonneau at the airport (if that is indeed his travel mt). Chances are the minister would be unsus- pecting of such a gathering to show so much support for a cause. It would also be a plus if some businesses down- town could display messages of support for the link in their windows—since they too have much to gain. Get involved! Get busy now! We have 20 days. it also loses > — The G Sun TS 1S POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT AND A MEMBER OF THE STERLING NEWS SERVICE Established November 28, 1990 Published by The Sun ‘Weekly on 465 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, B.C. VIN 1G8 but I'll be we do kav 8 Howse of Commons was ds and casae un qu aul tank een ene ‘commoners ing the same. Ci nights are just like the Wild World of Sports, with tag teams and huddles and penalties for hugging. But for the most part, the _ violence is kept at home where it belongs. At least there's enough shouting very least, give a cheesecake calendar in the opposition oppose. ‘After all, it's their job to squabble. Wait a minute, my cousin, Ned, says I've got polly-ticks all wrong. He says there are the people who are old enough to drink and do; there are also the people who are too young to drink and do. Then, there's the reform party: They're the ones on either side of the face who ink the grace i Sreceer on te Dang. ‘You leave the farm but the prob- parliament are going to be showing a bit of ankle. lems are all the same. The only difference is if the (My Auntie Edna, who is eighty-six and hates critters are four-legged or two. politics, says it’s too little, too late.) They also something to WAVE IT YOUR WA... WE WONT This is the season to get involved and support your community And so we begin another year! 1992 promises to be an exciting year for Castlegar and District Seniors, for this is the year we move forward with a new Seniors Centre. This Seniors Centre, presently proposed to be decreasing but increasing. As the ber was very important, for it d, b senior pop to grow, many changes will take place in the communities around us, for in num- bers. there is strength. It's time to not added to the existing R Complex, will become a reality. This building will come into being not because the government wants to give it to us, but because the seniors of our area have been asking for better premises and working hard toward that goal for some time. Also, this is not a facility for the use of just those seniors who live in Castlegar but for all the seniors that live in communi- ties throughout our two regional dis- trict. By a recent count,there were over two thousand seniors in our area! That's a lot of voices! That's a lot of power. The number of seniors is not pre- sent, that seniors in our area are very interested in having their own space, in comfortable and Pleasant sur- ively and efficiently, so so that volunteer efforts can be directed away from the other services to the community in general and seniors in particular. But before all this can take place, there is much work to be done. The Steering Committee welcomes your input, your ideas and assistance in describ- ing the type of facility you want to ‘The meeting of seniors held at the Recreation Complex in late Novem- see ped, the of services you want available from those premises, and the many programs which can be focused there. Every senior in the area, by now, will have been asked to complete a short sur- vey and to: it off at the Recre- ation Complex. In addition to this, there are many ways in which seniors can help. As winter deepens, we will be seeking out activities to keep our spirits fresh and our bodies agile. If you feel you can contribute your ideas and energies, the Steering Com- mittee will need many helpers in the months ahead. This is not the season to isolate yourself in your cosy nest. This is the season to get involved! Your community needs your support Elma Maund is a communica- tions consultant, a facilitator, administrator and a writer. Elma has travelled throughout North America, Asia and the South Pacific and has coordinated numerous pro jects. She is presently coordinator of the local Seniors Action Committee + The future of a proud people in doubt Foreigners fishing off Newfoundland’s cod fishery and livelinood News that the loony-left Animal Rights Militia had struck in Alberta came as Fisheries Minister John was unveiling plans to save - not lab rats - but Canada’s mighty Northern Cod. of animal suffering that is this candy’s main ingredient.’ These misguided creeps claimed “countless rats” had been “frozen, starved and injected with various sity of Alberta said that although testing included animal trials the tests did not hurt the animals. “We were just measuring what they can tell us with regard to their metabolism.” = If as the experts claim, Cold Buster can help stranded motorists A few years ago this same kind of soft-headed thinking was used by animal-rights activists to force an end to the annual seal hunt in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The result was less cash and more misery for Atlantic fisherman. ‘This winter it is not the livelihood of the seal hunters that is in jeop- the USSR) and Japan join those from North America, northern Europe, Spain, Portugal, France and Britain in fishing, and as it turns out - overfishing - these waters. The foreign overfishing is so seri- ous, some experts say the cod may become extinct in two or three years. That's serious stuff for New- foundiand where the fishery is as as the auto industry is to Ontario, or the grain trade to the prairies. But trying to talk Spanish, Por- tuguese, French and Russian govern- ments into following the rules hasn’t worked. Now, instead of toe political and pany pr arc to save this Crosbie Anti-sealing protesters success- fully used that go-straight-to-the- people technique, as have anti-trapping groups, natives opposed to hydro-electric develop- ment and others. Begging Europeans to pressure their own governments to stop over- fishing won't be easy. But the alter- native is the loss of Newfoundland’s slender economic lifeline. If managed properly the Atlantic cod fishery would go on providing food for millions idefinitely. But in this greedy time, few foreigners give a damn about the fute of the cod, or of Newfoundlanders. This is the kind of ‘an, that should stir with a social will go over +n heads of foreign directly to the people And it has prompted Crosbie to adopt some of the seal protesters’ own Newfoundiand's Grand Banks are an international treasure. Fishing fleets have been drawn there for who consume the cod. Says Crosbie, “bizarre as it may seem to us, many fishermen in Spain We're talking about the future of & proud people, to my nothings 5 tdi Jon 10 Nowiventhand tab shies whole world! Wednesday, January 15, 1992 The Castlegar Sun Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: The recent public meeting with City Council was both ' inspiring and enlightening. Most of the questions asked "were valid. However, with a few excep- tions, the answers given by the Mayor and Council were either ‘ evasive or_incomplete.The Mayor's statement of being involved in long term planning brings up more and.functional building. In a tie breaking vote, the Mayor made the following statement; THE CITY DOES NOT NEED AND WILL NOT NEED ADDI- TIONAL OFFICE SPACE. With this decision, the City Works Crew proceeded to demolish and destroy a valuable City asset. This decision was morally wrong and has proven to be Just ‘a few years ago, when two members of our City Coun- cil and I vigorously argued that the new Library then planned, + should be built of vacant land available in town. The then existing library building which was built and paid for by the citizens of Castlegar, cold be used for other Municipal pur- poses. Home Support Services wanted space there and the City Engineering and other depart- ments could have been accom- modated there as well. This haber a well built, well ly stupid. Today, the alternate proposed sited for the Library are still vacant. mean- time, according to the Mayor, our City is paying over $50,000 per year for a place to hold Council meetings and would like to spend about two thirds of a million dollars of your money to accommodate the engineering and other departments of the City. This type of long term plan- ning we can do without. Since there are. no provisions for recall of our elected officials for incompetence, perhaps pub- lic ii in our Munici- pal affairs will instill some common sense into the decision making process at City Hall. ‘Attendance at council should result in better planning N. Oglow Castlegar Selling something? DON'T TEAR DOWN THIS LIBRARY Use our money for construction not dest- ruction. This is a community asset that could be used for other purposes. Our new library should be built on vacant lana Phone 365-5266 G BOOKS & ESPRESSO GARAGE SALE Great January bargains on hundreds of book titles. Fiction, childrens, health, & more. Prices reduced to 50 % OFF Real savings on new books plus hundreds of used books from 10 cents to o buck! REAL SAVINGS From now till Jan. 19 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK NICK OGLOW in downtown Rossland Ferry committee has community support Dear Editor: I am writing in response to Mr. Lang’s letter of Jan.8/92. Since I made the “Walk ‘N Chew Award”, I feel I should answer for it. The ‘award’ was p to lobby, negotiate, or legally pres- sure the government in any way possible to have the ferry rein- stated. The committee has no direc- tion or authority to soy or do Mr. Harcourt for his silence on the Robson ferry issue since forming government on Oct.17/91; and for him reneging on a promise to reinstate the Rob- son ferry. Do we for the majority of Robson residents? At the last town hall meeting regarding the Robson ferry, the Ferry Users Ad Hoc Committee was not given a majority — it was given a unani- mous vote. The motion was for the committee to continue to thing else the pro- posed bridge, so on this issue I speak only for myself. Mr. Har- court has shown that he will not keep his own promises, so why would he feel obligated to keep a promise made by the previous government? The government will be reviewing all major highways projects prior to March 1992. In a press release, Art Charbonneau (Minister of Transportation and Highways) says there will be three things taken into account during the review process: 1) safety, 2) traffic congestion, and 3) whether the project will con- nect major urban populations. Based on that criterion I feel our bridge may be in more jeopardy than the ferry has ever been! So you see Mr. Lang, I, for one, will not wonder why. It is up to us to try and keep our government honest and accountable. If Mr. Lang feels we are ill advised then perhaps he should call a-town meeting and as a community we can decide how to proceed from there. Thank you. Les Schultz Robson Cross border Shoppers should take safety Dear Editor: . ~ T would like to take this oppor- tunity to express my support for your decision to exclude US advertising from your paper. In my field (Children’s Auto- motive Safety), I occasionally deal with people who have bought items from he States, with nothing more than in mind. It seems folks do not want to think about the issue in more depth. No-one wants to feel that the $100-$200 they spend south of the border could help to put their neighbour, best buddy, or father-in-law out of work. Also, many safety standards in the US are lower than they are here. Folks come to me for replace- ment parts, to help bring their “great deals” up to Canadian Standards. I will not assist them in their endeavour. I feel it is important to make a statement about my commitment to not only purchase locally, but that Thanks for your concern Dear Editor: On behalf of the Concerned Citizens Committee of Castlegar, we would like to thank all the citizens who attended the t- ing with city council on Tameny 7 7, 1992 and expressed both by their attendance and by their questions that we the citizens of Castlegar do care what goes on in our city. We would like to remind you of the upcoming budget meeting in March that again will.be open to the public. Thank you. ferences in a product even if it looks the same on the outside. To their credit, many people say that had they known that the carseats were not the same in the states, they probably would not have bought there. In closing, I would again like ing ago: thank you for continuing, your, support for the community who supports'you. I really believe that issues like cross-border Tarry’s Woodcraft (Bankruptcy) Highway 3A Castlegar, B.C. (Tarry’s B.C) SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 1992 AT 1:00 PM SHARP + Window Stock + AirKing Model 202 Air Compressor + (3) Chopsaws + Radial Arm Saws « (2) Rockwell Table Saws + 18" x 6" Planer + Gen- eral 8" Jointer + 42" x 100" Sandmaster Machine + Air Tools + Nailers . Staplers + Routers + Hand Tools » Clamps * Moulding Powermatic Sin- gle End Tenoner + Dust Collector » Rockwell Model 28350 Bandsaw + Filing Cabinets - Desk + Office Equipment & More. Phone 861-3377 John Ritchie, Auctioneer for more information. Kokanee Equipment Ltd. Voluntary Closure (owner retiring) Highway 3A, Nelson, B.C. (Taghum B.C.) SAT. JANUARY 18, 1992 AT 1:00 PM SHARP * 1988 Dodge Model 150 Pickup + 1981 Dodge 250 + 1990 7,000 Ib Equipment Trailer - 3 Ton & 1 Ton Cargo Van Trucks + 300 AMP Hobart Gas Welder + Pedestal Grinder - Welding Ultragraph Patter Cutter - 200 AMP Wire Feed » Power Hacksaw » Anvil * Metric Seal Driver Kit - Shop Gantry * Power Wrench + Tap & Die Sets « Shop Benches + Parts Washer + 1" Socket Sets * Jacks » Hones + Pipe Thread- er * Shop Tools + Micrometers * 60 Ton Shop Press + Pressure Washer + 10 Ton Floor Jack + Come-a-longs * Sandblaster + Balance Scale + Drill pe + Fyel.Tanks - Gates Hose Crimper + Fittings + Pullers + Miczo§iche «,Shelving,+ Office Safe - Fire Safe - Filing Cabinets + Pho- Machine + "Phowe System + (2) Computers » Desks + And More. "May be viewed on site Friday, January 17, 1992.Phone 352-5391 for more information. need our attention, and every- thing that we do can make a dif- ference. Anne Johnson Kootenay kidSafe, Trail mn Ce. 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