4 »S a2 Castlegar News May 29, 1988 rn el Premier says media sensational By DAPHNE BRAMHAM Canadian Press VANCOUVER — Premier Bill Vander Zalm used a speech before British Columbia's newspaper editors on Friday to accuse the media of sensationalizing the news. He said the treatment his government gets in the serial out of stories about his dealings with millionaire restauranteur Peter Toigo as well as subsequent stories about Toigo's other business interests. BECAME NEWS Toigo's name became news when it was reported that Vander Zalm and his staff had on several occasions tried to, him in any way or indicates that he had done anything wrong anywhere,” he said, “But it was a great serial. It made good copy, It's what people like to read. It’s what people like to see on TV. So it juts dollars in the till.” Vander Zalm said that kind of reporting has nade him province's news pages and on its telévision screens is one of help Toigo buy, the assets of the B.C. Enterprise Corp/ /re-evaluate his view that CBC should be privatized. He said (including the sought-after former Expo 86 site if .the federally-owned network dealt with the issues more on the most frustrating parts of his job. “It seares me a little to see the trend developing of the media sensationalizing,” Vander Zalm told about 30 editors and reporters at The Canadian Press's annual regional meeting. “It's all the Watergate thing over and over again and the news is somehow lost in the process.” Replying to a question from Gordon Fisher, the Vancouver Sun's managing editor, Vander Zalm accused the Sun of mixing in editorial comment with its news reporting. He also said British Columbia Television was making a Vancouver). Vander Zalm took Toigo's bid directly to cabinet and then to the Crown corporation's board, even though there was an official bidding process underway for the Expo lands. Since then, said Vander Zalm, Toigo has been the subject of unfair front-page news stories and columns in the Sun and a major item on the nightly BCTV newscasts. “If you go through the stories and all of the columns about Toigo, you'll not find one thing that truly incriminates their news value. ‘ STILL LIBERAL “They're still very liberal... I know they have their biases, but they are reasonably honest,” he said. “I think that’s in part the difference between the CBC and BCTV. Maybe that balance we have (between private and public ownership) is not all that unhealthy.” The premier also jioned why a poll i by the Sun that showed his popularity had slipped was run on the front page, while a story on the news media's own low public credibility was buried in the back pages. Vander Zalm said the media are responsible for a public perception that his government does not have a long-term objective, But he admitted his 18-month-old government did not explain itself too well when it made sweeping changes to labor law, introduced a program to sell off government services and companies and move government offices out of Victoria, He also accused reporters of going out of their way to find divisions within cabinet and the Soviet Credit caucus over the abortion issue. Vander Zalm's policy of not funding abortions through medicare was opposed by some members of his caucus before it was struck down by the B.C. Supreme Coyrt. But the premier said his stand shouldn't have surprised anyone because he made his views well known before the leadership race and before the 1986 general election. s ’ ~ " . LIONS RESPOND. . - The Selkirk Lions Club has man; and Bill Kelley, board member of Castlegar donated another Emergency Home Response’ Unit to the Castlegar Home Support Association, for a total of nine units donated by the club. (From left) Leo Plamondin, incoming Lions 19EB zone chairman; Luc Lafreniere, incoming Lions President; John Holden, president of the Castlegar Home Support Association; Hugh Wilson, 1988 West Kootenay Trade Fair Chair- Home Support Association. The Lions Club challenges any other service club, organization, group or in- dividual to donate an emergency unit. The Lions donation was made possible by the public support of the West Kootenay Trade Fair which is the Lions’ main fund raising event LAWSUIT continued from front page more involved than that. He said he Pointed out that the regional district doesn't have the legal authority to operate a ferry. In addition, he said he raised the question of financing the $300,000-a year-operation. Vanderpol said he noted that the regional district budget has already been passed and it is too late to add the ferry operation. He said that problem would be part of the dis. cussions with Rogers. But Vanderpol said Rogers was firm in his refusal to meet with the regional district, noting if the regional board wants to operate the fery all it has to board chairman George Cady, but Rogers refused. As well, Rogers reit erated that the decision not to have the Ministry of Highways operate the ferry is irm.” Vanderpol suggested Rogers is “rea sonably angry” about the controversy and especially seemed to resent Mayor Audrey Moore speaking to provincial government officials about the issue. “He seems to resent that deeply,” Vanderpol said. . Vanderpol said Rogers acknowled ged the ad hoc committee brief sub mitted earlier this month, ,but simply replied: “I see it differently.” Meanwhile, in his letter to Rogers, Dalton points out that the Highways Dalton suggests the ferry is similar to a bridge and any closure must be met by two conditions: it ‘must be shown not to be necessary in the public interest; and the closure must be published in the provincial government Gazette. Dalton suggests that in order to determine if the ferry is not in the public interest, public hearings and an adequate investigation must be held. “That has not been done,” he says. Vanderpol said he hopes to have a reply to the letter early this week. In other developments, the Castle. gar Chamber of Commerce, the Castle. gar and District Development Board, do is write him Vanderpol also said he asked Rogers to discuss the situation with regional Ministry may have contravened the Highways Act in the way it closed the ferry and the Castlegar Downtown Business Association have all written Rogers protesting the ferry closure. Forestry talks upbeat VANCOUVER (CP) — Woodworkers and their for est industry employers end ed the first week of negoti ations for a new contract on Friday, optimistic about the prospect of an early set tlement After two days of bar gaining, Jack Munro, presi dent of the International Woodworkers of America, told reporters he was opti mistic there could be a set tlement by the end of June, when contracts with coastal and interior mill operators expire. “I think that’s possible,” echoed Keith Bennett, presi dent of Forest Industrial Rel; Ss, bargains for coastal companigs. “I think that's good, too. Bennett said hd was pleas ed with progress \made dur. ing the four days\of nego- tiations. “I thought that we had a good exchange on the union's demands and I thought the work was productive and I was quite pleased.” Asa basis for negotiations, the parties have the non binding report made in Jan uary by special commissioner Ken Mackenzie, including his recommendations on issues that prompted a 4'/-month strike and have not yet been settled LIMIT PRACTICE Mackenzie said employers should not contract out work that can be done within the bargaining unit on a cost effective basis. But be also said companies need to work with employees to set up flexible scheduling of shifts, and that companies should be able to give com pensation to workers linked to profit and performance in addition to compensation set Action ads for students free By CasNews Staff Are you a student looking for a summer job, but haven't had any luck? The Castlegar News is here to help. Students 13 to 21 years old seeking full-time and part-time summer employment may place a free ad in the Student Placement section of the CasNews’ Action Ads Students may offer their services for full-time or part-time jobs, such as babysitting, lawn mowing, hedge cutting or house painting. Simply phone the Action Ad number 365-2212. Students should be planning to resume their studies in the fall to be eligible. out in a contract. Munro said the union wants the protections against contracting out proposed by Mackenzie, but called the suggestions on flexibility and add-on compensation “indus- try nonsense.” But he added that those items would be dealt with as part of the “negotiating pro. cess.” On the first day of nego- tiations, Munro was upset by Court news- In Castlegar provincial court this week, Ivan Stooch. noff was fined $300 and placed on prebation for eight months after pleading guilty to carrying a concealed wea: pon. industry proposals that neg- otiations involving plywood workers be conducted separ ately. The matter was resolved when negotiators agreed to conduct the talks at the “main table” with contribu: tions from subcommittees of plywood workers and em ployers. Tourist Alert VANCOUVER (CP) Tourist Alert issued Satur day by the RCMP. The fol. lowing persons, _ believed travelling in British Colum- bia, are asked to call the per son named for an urgent per. sonal message: Joanne Guennette of Al berta, call Roger Guennette. Funeral Monday for Peter Markin Peter Markin of Ootis- chenia passed away Satur- day, May 28 at the age of 80. Funeral services will begin at the Castlegar Funeral Chapel on Monday at 7 p.m. and continue Tuesday at the Ootischenia Russian Hall at 10 a.m. with burial at 1 p.m. Sherstibitoff at Glade. After their marriage they moved to Ootischenia where he has since resided. He was a member of the USCC. Mr. Markin is survived by his daughter, Mary Koftinoff of Ootischenia; four grand children and four great in the Ootisch cemetery. Mr. Markin was born Dec. 15, 1907 at Arran, Sask. and moved with his parents to Glade as a small boy. He grew up and married Mary J. gr ‘en. He was pre deceased by his wife, one brother and one sister. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Castlegar Funeral Chapel. Colleges receive $8.3m increase By CasNews Staff and Néws Services Advanced Education Minister Stan Hagen announced this week an $8.3 million increase to cash-strapped com- munity colleges. However Selkirk College has not yet been informed how much — if any — of that money it will see. Selkirk College President Leo Perra said Friday he hasn't been officially informed of the change in the provin. cial budget which had originally al- lowed for a two-per-cept increase to college operating budgets. “They're supposed to be making some policy changes,” Perra said, adding he expects to be ififormed early this week. Perra said he doesn’t think he will be notified of any dollar figures pertaining to Selkirk College, just ministry re- quirements designating how to allocate the $8.3 million. The increase was announced by Hagen following a government study of post-secondary education that found the colleges were under pressure to enrol more students. “It is our intention to ensure that the demand is addressed,” Hagen said. BOMBSHELL continued from front page CanPar has installed a new 1,136- metre-long private rail spur at its Grand Forks plant to handle increased production of the wood fibre materials it produces. The company has pre- dicted it will require 800 to 900 rail cars for shipping finished product in 1988. By 1989 the company expects it will require as many as 1,200 rail cars to ship its product — a figure which more than doubles the 441 cars CanPar used in 1987. When Verigin was questioned by CP Rail lawyer Norman Mullins about the possibility of switching his shipping contract to trucks, Verigin said the trucks are not a good alternative because of the expense and the difference in size between a truck trailer and a rail car. “Our product fits better on a rail car,” Verigin told the hearing Friday. “We can lay two five-foot-wide panels across the width of a rail car but not in a truck.” When hearing chairman Erik Nielsen asked Verigin if CanPar has explored truck rates, Verigin replied: “Only by phone. The railway far better serves our shipping needs.” CanPar has also recently received an additional $2 million — on top of the $2.8 million it received last fall — in interest-freg loans from the Canada- further commitment, Verigin said, that proves the governments are confident of the company’s manufacturing abil. ities. But the companies weren't the only intervenors at the hearings. A group representing five unions which oversee railway employees presented a brief and were cross-examined by CP Rail lawyer Mullins. In its submission the Joint Alliance of Railway Unions — representing the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of Canada, the Trans. portation Communications Union and the United Transportation Union — said the groups are concerned about jobs for union members if the railline is abandoned. “Another factor is the unemploy ment which will result if this applica tion is approved,” the brief stated. “There is no doubt that layoffs will occur in the rail industry as a direct result of this change.” The exact number of union employ- ees who may be affected by the abandonment of the Boundary Subdiv- When he commissioned the study in April, Hagen called on colleges and in stitutes to examine their abilities to cope with an expected increase in demand for enrolment this fall. Earlier, a report from the B.C. Association of Colleges predicted that up to 3,500 full-time students would be turned away from courses for lack of government money. The report, prepared by govern: ment:-appointed members to college boards, was submitted before the provincial budget revealed in March that colleges would receive only a “slight” increase this year. Hagen said the budget originally gave colleges a two-per-cent increase, but “at budget time we didn't know what the enrolment pressures would There are 15 colleges and three in. stitutes in B.C. The provincial government's contri bution to their operating budgets, be. fore the announcement and before $2.6 million was restored to the B:C. In- stitute of Technology last week, was $287,111,400, said Jim Soles of the ad. vanced education ministry's funding and analysis department. ‘ “The flip-flops are a sure indicator of bad planning or no planning, and crisis planning,” said Darlene Marzari, New Democratic Party critic for post-secon- dary. education. “The, monkeying around with BCIT generated so much public opposition that he was forced to give more to colleges.” Marzani (Vancouver-Point Grey) said the $8.3-million increase is an im. provement, but colleges will still see lineups of students in the fall. She charged that the increase was the “bare minimum” that would “save the government from embarrassment. “We're still nowhere near catching up to have a system we can be proud of.” Hagen said his study — the report of which will not be made public — was intended to find out if the money allocated in the budget allowed for “in- creased enrolment pressures. “I told the (college) presidents and chairmen of the boards that I was pre- pared to go back to treasury board and cabinet (for more_money),”_be said, adding that cabinet approved the in- crease. \ ‘ ision was not available. The brief also charged CP Rail with “some creative bookeeping” prompting Mullins to take the offensive when cross-examining Jim Robertson and Lewis Schillaci of the union joint alliance. “What do you mean by creative bookk ?” Mullins ioned. “Is it misleading, deceptive? Are you charging CP Rail with fraudulent bookkeeping practices?” Robertson answered Mullins’ char. ges after a long silence in the room. “I guess what we meant was that when we said creative bookkeeping we meant that when the company projects the-cost of operating the line there are (o real figures to base the costs on, it's all projections. Those figures aren't available to us.” The joint alliance of unions made a strong plea to Nielsen that the railroad not be abandoned, not only because of the jobs which may be lost, but also be. cause of the effect the closure would have on the industries in the area. The provincial government took a strong stand against abandonment when Henry Ropertz, manager of rail policy for the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Highways, made his remarks Thursday. Ropertz argued that the federal gov. ernment had given the Agency power to decide the fate of the Boundary line without first studying the effects of in creased road traffic. “To date, the federal government has not announced any details re. garding money appropriated by Parli how much money will be devoted to this program. No details are available as to what criteria will be employed to allow affected parties to qualify for funds,”. he told the Agency Thursday. “It is difficult to determine how any decision can be reached at this hearing while these key questions remain out standing.” Lyle Kristiansen, the NDP candidate for the new Kootenay West-Revelstoke sion.” Kristiansen also said an increase in truck traffic caused by the abandon- ment of the Boundary Subdivision would put more pressures on the high- way between Grand Forks and Castle- gar. He said truck traffic is already a hazard in the area and cited the recent sulphuric acid spill in Castlegar and the stove oil spill that contaminated Blue- berry Creek's water supply late last year. “In the name of the public interest and public safety, in the name of the communities, businesses and families threatened by the proposed abandon. ment, the NTA must deny CP's ap- plication,” Kristiansen said. Tim Barry, special assistant to Koot enay West MP Bob Brisco, submitted a brief on behalf of Brisco at the hearing Friday. Barry said CP Rail's “tradition of abandonment” is nothing new. The rail company has gone out of its way to make its services in the area non: profitable so it could officially abandon the Boundary Subdivision, he said. “A review of the CPR tradition of abandonment will demonstrate a pre- dictable and frequently-repeated pat- tern. That pattern consists of the gradual, or not-so-gradual, withdrawal of services — be it the availability to provide rail cars of appropriate size or be it the problems of a large number of bad order cars, thereby making fewer cars available .”" Barry told the hearing. “All of the above really means abandonment of customers and aband onment of service leading to an ap plication for abandonment of the line.” Barry went on to say: “I believe one of the reasons why much of the Boundary area lumber is now being trucked or railed to the United States is simply because the CPR chooses to be non-competitive.” Mullins said despite the cases pre sented by the intervenors at the hear ings CP Rail should be able to abandon the’ line because it is unegonomical. Mullins remained extremely confident the agency will decide in favor of the riding, presented his brief Friday and echoed the sentiments of the -busi. nesses. “The economic expansion expected to occur in this region over the next severals years would be jeopardized by the abandonment of the rail line,” Kristiansen told the hearing. “The NTA should consider this fact and recognize the human cost entailed in abandoning the Boundary Subdivi Rai pany’s for aban- donment. “I trust the Agency will let us know the decision two weeks in advance when it is decided CP Rail will be able “to abandon the line,” he said in his final summation, The Castlegar hearings. were the first for the newly-formed federal Agency and its decision on CP Rail's application for abandonment must come by the end of June. Briefly Bennett appointed VANCOUVER (CP) — Former B.C. Premier Bill Bennett has been made a director of one of the few glamor stocks trading on a sluggish Vancouver Stock Exchange. Murray Pezim, chairman of Delaware Resources Corp., said that Bennett has been appointed to the company’s board and granted the option of purchasing 33,250 shares of Delaware over a five-year period at $15.68 a share. Delaware closed Friday up $2 at $20 —' the stock's high point to date — on volume of 294,550. If Delaware's price remains at $20 and Bennett exercises his option, he would pocket around $132,000. Exercise of the option is subject to shareholder approval. Gerow resigns VANCOUVER (CP) — Jack Gerow has an- nounced he is resigning as secretary-business mana- ger of the 27,000-member Hospital Employees Union, a post he has held since 1974. Gerow cited family and health reasons for stepping down. He did not set a date for his resig- nation. The union, the third largest in British Columbia, represents workers at 214 acute care and long-term care facilities. ‘Drug testing considered BANFF, ALTA. (CP) — The federal government is considering mandatory drug testing for thé military, says Health Minister Jack Epp. Epp said there is a case for testing the military and workers responsible for public safety, but he opposes general drug testing in the workplace. Asbestos study set NANAIMO (CP) — The chairman of the Nanaimo school board says he will ask trustees to take part in a joint, independent investigation of asbestos levels in district schools. Jamie Brennan said he will recommend next week that the school board join with the Nanaimo and District Teachers Association and the Canadian Union of Public Employees in funding the study. “The study should be done so there will be no doubt that our facilities are safe,” he said. The union and the teachers’ association said in a joint statement earlier in the week that the Workers’ Compensation Board had found school buildings in the Vancouver Island community to be safe. Officials defraud bank TORONTO (CP) — Two Toronto bank officials who allegedly defrauded Canada Trust of approxi- mately $4.5 million have disappeared without trace after taking the money out of the Swiss bank account to which it had been siphoned. Canada-wide warrants have been issued for Arthur Bertram, 33, and Kenneth Wood, 31, who are jointly charged with fraud. Police say the former loans officer of a Canada Trust branch conspired with an associate at another bank to set up phoney lines of credit at the bank. Burglar nabbed TORONTO (CP) — A burglar who forgot he couldn't swim when he plunged into the Humber River can thank police officers for his life. Of course, they were also the reason he took the impromptu dip. Barrington Turner, 24, of Toronto, could have drowned if the police hadn't been around to pull him out, defence lawyer Den Danson said. He told a district court judge Turner “forget he couldn't swim” when he fled police chasing him after a robbery. Turner pleaded guilty to breaking into a food store. He will be sentenced Sept. 9. Broadbent snipes parties CORNER BROOK, NFLD. (CP) — No Conser- vative or Liberal within kilometres of the New- foundland New Democratic Party's annual convention wa$ safe Saturday as federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent sniped at anything even tinged with Con. servative blue or Liberal red. Asa small but noisy crowd of about 100 delegates chanted his name Broadbent proclaimed the party more than ready for a federal election whenever it's called. “The NDP is ready — not to be second or third but to form the government of Canada. If we think the Conservatives are bad just think of the gang they replaced,” he said. Soldier shot NICOSIA (AP) — Police killed a Turkish soldier Saturday after he tried to rape a Greek-Cypriot woman, shot to death a national guardsman and wounded another, Greek-Cypriot officials said. Government radio said police stormed the wom. an's house in the village of Athienou southeast of Nicosia several hours after the guardsmen were shot. They shot and killed the soldier after he tried to open fire on them, said the radio, quoting government officials. Syrians enter Beirut BEIRUT (REUTER) — More than 4,000 Syrian soldiers peacefully completed the second stage of their thrust into Beirut’s southern suburbs on Saturday to end warfare between rival Shiite militias. There were no reports of even a single shot being fired on the second day of the Syrian deployment, which d around of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, which means Party of God. “The security plan is going well,” said a Syrian army major as he watched the soldiers move in. legal refugees caught HAMBURG (CP) — West German authorities have foiled a plan to smuggle more than 260 Asians, mostly Sri Lankan Tamils, to Canada aboard a ship, police said Saturday. = . Meanwhile, police were looking for a 38-year-old Tamil suspected of organizing the trip, spokesman Bernd. Metterhausen said. The suspect, who was not identified, is believed to have, arranged a similar passage of Tamils to Canada nearly two years ago, Metterhausen told reporters. In August, 1986, 155 Tamils were taken by ship from West Germany and abandoned in lifeboats off the coast of Newfoundland. They were rescued and permitted to stay in Canada. In Ottawa, Michel Pichette, an External Affairs Department spokesman, said the West Germans “have been briefing our people in Bonn,” but he wasn't aware of the substance of the briefing. “It is in the hands of the West German authorities and we have full confidence in them,” Pichette said. Metterhausen said police discovered the plan shortly before the refugees were supposed to board a ship in Hamburg’s harbor early Saturday. Most were found in an abandoned hotel in Hittfeld near Hamburg. RAISES SUSPICIONS A patrol of plainclothesmen noticed a suspicious-looking column of two limousines and a van driving through Hamburg, the police spokesman said. They followed the convoy and discovered the group in the abandoned building. “The building was full to the roof.with asylum seekers,” Metterhausen said, adding that the group consisted of 257 Tamils, five Indians and two Bengalis. FIERCE COMPETITION . . . Woodland Park elementary school students compe’ a skipping race during the school's Track Meet Friday. Other events included a wheel- barrow race, beanba: toss, hopping race, marble and spoon race, three- race, slow bike race, high jump, running dash, parachute walk anda bike decorating contest CosNews photo by Bonne Morgon New problem in U.S. Soviet summit talks HELSINKI (CP) — President Ronald Reagan's summit with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev ran into an unexpec. ted snag Saturday as U.S. officials disclosed prospects had faded for signing three secondary arms control agreements. Meanwhile, in an interview with Soviet journalists shown on Soviet television Saturday, Reagan told an audience estimated at 200 million that he could not have envisaged a trip to Moscow before Gorbachev. “Very frankly, I have to say I think there is a difference between this general secretary and other leaders of your country...I don't think they had any dreams of perestroi (Gorbachev's program to restructure Soviet society).” Reagan also expressed hopes for “more openness and the allowing of people to practise religion in the ways they choose” in the Soviet Union. The hew problem on arms negotiations emerged on the eve of the summit and on the same day that the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet ratified the medium-range arms control treaty. PACTS IN JEOPARDY U.S. officials said chances had evaporated for signing an agreement on advance notification of ballistic missile tests by the superpowers. Moreover, they said two lesser arms-control measures may not be ready for signing, as had been hoped. Although none of the three agreements would have been considered major advances, they would have given the leaders grounds to, boast of progress on arms control issues — particularly in view of the failure of the superpowers to conclude @ treaty to curb strategic nuclear weapons. Aside from the arms agenda, officials said they did not expect “announceable progress” on differences on human rights and regional disputes. In a development that could further dampen the climate meetings, the Soviets hinted Saturday that they might halt their withdrawal from Afghanistan if neighboring Pakistan failed to stop aiding Afghan rebels. Although a Foreign Ministry statement carried by the official Tass news agency did not mention the United States, it also appeared aimed at American aid channelled through Pakistan. REAGAN UPBEAT Nevertheless, Reagan was described as upbeat, rested and “very well prepared” for the talks, which begin this afternoon at the Kremlin. Reagan leaves for home Thursday. Despite the snags in arms talks, Reagan predicted the superpowers eventually will conclude a treaty to ban the most dangerous weapons in each other's arsenals — the long-range, or strategic, missiles. And Lt.-Gen. Colin Powell, the president’; national security adviser, predicted there would be “: ional Another police source said 269 refugees were involyed 250 of them discovered in the abandoned hotel and 19 in ‘the van. Documents in the ‘three vehicles disclosed that the group, which included men, women and children, was supposed to board the 300-ton Lupa, a West German-regis. tered ship. Metterhausen said police had received several tips in recent weeks that there were plans to smuggle a large number of Tamils to Canada. Police sources said officers in Hamburg and the neighboring state of Lower Saxony became suspicious that a refugee smuggling attempt was imminent two weeks ago when carloads of Indians, Pakistanis and Tamils were observed arriving in the region. Alberta forest fire threatens Indian reserve SUNCHILD RESERVE, ALTA. (CP) — This is war. And for those battling a raging forest fire here, staying at the base camp is like living in the middle of a military zone. With the beating sound of choppers carrying water and buzzing air tankers overhead, platoons of firefighters rest by canvas tents drawing idly on cigarettes or dozing unti Ithey are called for duty. Forces to battle the fire were increased to 475 as the fire grew to 8,700 hectares Saturday, said Greg Anderson, Alberta forest service spokesman. The fire — more than 150 times the size of the sprawling West Edmonton Mall — has been burning out of control about 220 kilometres southwest of Edmonton for three days. More than 650 residents of the Sunchild and O'Chiese reserves have been evacuated and are not expected to be able to return home for the next two days, he said. They are staying in arenas and hotels in nearby Rocky Mountain House, Alta. RCMP are investigating the cause of the blaze, Anderson said. As the shift in winds sent gusts from the south, firefighters were confronted with more reserve houses to the north that needed protection. The homes were wetted from water trucks to keep them from burning, Anderson said. DIG TRENCHES The increase in the fires’ size is in part attributed to the regulated burning officials did Friday, Anderson said. Firefighters were digging trenches and burning trees and grass to stop the spread of the flames. At the camp, firefighters lounged among stackeds boxes filled with canned fruits and vegetables,: cigar-shaped fuel tanks and neon-orange safety hats. “We're bored,” admitted Colin Chambaud,-45, whose wrinkled face has witnessed more forest fires than he can remember. He's worked more than 20 years as a volunteer firefighter. RIDING continued from front page If six are added, five would represent Vancouver suburbs, while the other would come from Vancouver Island, said Fisher, a county court judge appointed last summer originally to investigate how to eliminate the province's 17 dual-member ridings. But in September, cabinet agreed to Fisher's request to broaden the scope of his investigation so he could study all 52 ridings in B.C. The 45-page preliminary report will be followed by more public hearings this summer before Fisher makes his final recommendations. In his initial findings, Fisher recommended: Abolishing all dual-member ridings e Keeping representation from the interior of the province unchanged. e Restoring one historic provincial riding name in Vancouver — Burrard — and keeping alive one which is being abolished federally — Kingsway. The name Vancouver movement not a breakthrough” toward the proposed Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty Powell said he still believes there's a possibility the accord could be signed before Reagan leaves office next January. He suggested progress was likely during the week on ways of keeping track of two elusive strategic weapons: land-based mobile missiles and cruise missiles fired from aircraft. He also said the United States has “some ideas worthy of discussion” for resolving the ambiguity left at the Washington summit over what type of Star Wars tests would be permissible. That is a major obstacle to a strategic arms pact. Powell said the U.S. proposal involved the use of sensors to give the Soviets a feeling of confidence about what the United States was doing. CELEBRATES PACT With the absence of any significant agreements, the summit seems likely to be capped by another celebration over the treaty Reagan and Gorbachev signed last D ber to eli intermedi ‘ange nuclear missiles, the first superpower arms in 16 years. would be dropped from all but one of the city ridings. e Eliminating “Gracie's finger” — a strongly Social Credit digit-shaped area in Vancouver which juts out from the old Little Mountain riding into Point Grey. It was created when city boundaries were redrawn in 1978. Fisher's proposals would keep riding populations everywhere within 25 per cent of a provincial average obtained by dividing the total population by the number of legislative members. At present, such populations range from 87 per cent below average in Atlin in northwestern B.C. to 63 per cent above average in Surrey-Newton, a Vancouver suburb Under Fisher's proposals, both North Coast-Strikine and North Peace would be 23 per cent below the new average while Burnaby-Willingdon would be 16 per cent above. Fisher proposes two of the five new Vancouver suburban seats be in Surrey, to give the municipality a total of five, with one new seat each for the North Shore, the Burnaby-@oquitlam area, and Richmond. He recommends no increase for Vancouver, which now has 10 members, but rejected proposals which came mostly from Social Credit representatives to simply divide the existing five dual-member ridings within their existing overall boundaries. Fisher said this would have resulted in unacceptable population 8 CHALLENGE continued from front page neighbors who exercised asking the rest to do their 15 minutes and turn in the scores. “We promoted like crazy,” said La Moel. Although Nelson more than doubled its numbers from 2,766 participants last year to 6,274 this year, it weren't quite as aggressive as Tra Nelson had two telephone lines open until 11 p.m. and the Aquatic Centre and a golf gouree encouraged and re- corded results. City employees, the recreation department and the Kins. man Club helped. About 52 businesses indicated they would encourage em ployee participaction and two high schools telephoned in large numbers. “It was a fantastic turnaround, “said Nelson Ald. John Neville. “We've got a pretty good envir. onment and the people are getting concerned about health.” Neville said community spirit con tributed to Nelson's win over Trail and Castlegar. “Part df that’s really the challenge — the friendly rivalry,” he said. Neville, a physiotherapist, was sur. prised that Nelson came out on top. “The thing just grew as the day went on,” he said adding that they were third in the running during morning hours and gained a lot of momentum in late afternoon. Neville said, “we all feel better” when we are active and Nelson should be even better organized next year to record more healthy, happy people. In the Fraser Valley, he proposes dividing each of the existing dual member ridings of Delta, Langley and Dewdney in two within their present boundaries. The current Central Fraser Valley riding would be extended eastwards towards Chilliwack and then divided in two, based on Matsqui and Abbotsford. For Vancouver Island, Fisher is suggesting a new riding of Malahat stretching north and west from Greater Victoria, to give 13 members instead of 12. In the north, he recommends that Atlin, the riding with the smallest jon in the province, be bined with another sparsely populated seat, Prince Rupert. The area would be known as North Coast-Stikine and would become the largest seat geographically the province, at more than 174,000 square kilometres. The current largest riding is Peace River North, at just under 161,000 square kilometres.