23; 1992 Vandals strike WKP sites Corinne Jackson NEWS REPORTER Damage to West Kootenay Power sites will not scuttle talks between the company and the International Broth- erhood of Electrical Workers, both sides say. Those words follow a pair of Friday incidents which saw WEP service to the Big White ski area and parts of East Kelowna and Orchard Park cut off by vandals. Responding to the alleged acts of vandalism, an IBEW news release states “the union does not condone such action and hopes that cool heads pre- vail on all sides, including the public.” The power outages came just days after trouble on a Kelowna picket line. “Last week a person unre- lated to the dispute attempted torun over picketing members. of the union,” the IBEW re- lease stated. WKEP’s director of commu- nity and public affairs said that RCMP are investigating the dispute on the picket line. Mike Bradshaw also said that he was pleased with the union’s quick response to the acts of “sabotage”. “The union should be com- plimented for expressing con- cern over it and condemning that type of activity. “Incidents like that don’t help,” he said. “They don’t ben- efit anyone.” Castlegar’s IBEW shop steward said he was unaware of the Kelowna incidents. However, Michael McCorma- ck said that “we would not con- done any violence “We are strictly going through the strike doing what we can on the picket line mak- ing people | aware of what’s happening,” McCormack said. Bradshaw said that the union’s response shows that both sides are interested in re- solving the 10-week-old dis- pute. “We are making sure this is perceived as a: business process where the union has withdrawn services and the company is providing essen- . tial services. “Anything that would alter that balance is something nei- ther party is interested in.” The Big White incident was caused when a trans- former was cut with a hack- saw causing 1,500 litres of cooling fluid to spill, while the Kelowna crime oc: when a circuit breaker to a substa- tion was tripped, cutting off power. Pipefitters return to expansion site NEWS STAFF After two days off the job, pipefitters at Celgar’s expan- sion site have returned to Some 100 pipefitters walked off the site Friday and Monday following a dispute over turn-around fares. Every 35 days the workers are paid money that goes to- wards airfare and ground transportation to Vancouver. Project manager Rod Mear- es said Monday the problem was that some contractors were paying more in turn- around fares than others. After a hearing ofthe In- dustrial Relations Council on Tuesday an agreement was reached to give everyone the same turn-around fare. Meares said all workers will now get $321.55 for air- fare, and $46.50 for ground transportation. ho must register as a referendum committee?P Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER Gil Arnold is asking that assault charges be laid against workers with William Berg Construction Ltd. Arnold, the organizer for Local 2300 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, says he was assaulted during a heated exchange Thursday morning at the construction site of the new Castlegar Savings Credit Union build- ing. “I’ve asked police to lay charges of assault,” Arnold said. “A week from now we'll know if Crown will allow charges to go to court.” Castlegar RCMP say the union lobbied the workers at the construction site in an ef- fort to have them join the union. Police say a minor as- sault was reported but it is unknown yet whether charges will be laid or not. Bill Berg, owner of Berg Construction, denies there was any physical violence Thursday morning. “There wasn't any as- sault,” Berg said. “Things have since calmed down.” Arnold, though, . doesn’t agree with Berg’s version of events. “Mr. Berg is deluded,” Arnold said. “We simply ap- proached the fence Thursday morning and before we even touched it Berg’s manager exploded and picked up a piece of construction fence and assaulted me with it.” Arnold claims he was then fenced in the Safeway park- ing lot and told he wouldn't be let out. “They called the police and Bill Berg came down and in- sulted us,” Arnold said. “... one of Mr. Berg’s workers... came across with a hammer in his hand and hooked it un- der my left arm and jerked it hard and told me to +++ off.” Arnold says he went to the construction site with three other union members be- cause they “have an obliga- tion to help these people earn higher wages.” Berg was not available for further comment. @ Wednesday,-September 23; 1992 5a REFERENDUM COMMITTEES AND FEDERAL LAW NUC plans come under fire @ Ootischenia program fears for its life if Nelson gets degree-granting status Scott David Harrison EDITOR | The prospects of a degree-granting program at Nelson University Centre has Mickey Ki- nakin on edge. The director of the West Kootenay Teachers’ Education Program says Nelson’s hopes are Ootischenia’s fears. He says a degree-granti- ng program at NUC could be the end of a good “We're looking at this NUC thing and saying ‘what are they doing,” Kinakin said. He said if NUC admit that they'll need Sethe funding.” Should NUG. receive degree-granting status and provincial funding, Kinakin says the Oo- tischenia program could lose its piece of the pie. The government currently funds 40 graduates with the West Kootenay Teachers’ Education The Ootischenia-based program currently has 43 students enrolled. NUC, meanwhile, has some 30 students tak- ing unrelated studies. NUC, however, is look- ing to offer an education program if it gets gov- ernment approval. n took his concerns to the Regional District of Central Kootenay Saturday, arguing that its support of was able to grant teaching degrees, the Ootischenia- based program could fall to the wayside. “There is a di- rect conflict in the ‘NUC is using what I like to call flummery. They are saying that they can develop a university at no cost to the province. That’s not true.’ NUC would put the West Koote- nay Teachers’ Ed- ucation Program and some Selkirk — Mickey Kinakin “we can over- pool of money be- ing offered here in the West Kootenay,” Kinakin said. “This money can’t sustain two education programs. “There’s no way the government is going to fund us both. It’s going to come down to either or.” The West Kootenay Teachers’ Education Program has been operating out of Ootischenia Elementary School for the past three years. Together with the University of British Co- lumbia, the Open Learning Centre, Selkirk College and area school districts, the program offers students one- to two-year degree studies, complete with practicum training. Kinakin says the highly successful program could be phased out if NUC gets its way. “NUC is using what I like to call flummery,” he said. “They are saying that they can devel- op auniversity at no cost to the province. That's not true. I wish they'd just tell the truth and load the system and we can end up losing it instead of expanding it,” he told the RDCK board. “We have a very functioning education pro- gram here. We are already maxed out and we don’t need anymore.” Kinakin urged the board to reconsider its support of NUC. In areport presented to the RDCK, he asked board members to examine Nelson’s past his- ri ans that two university have already ed. He stated that Nelson didn’t need to see a third university shutdown. “If NUC is allowed to offer programs already offered by Selkirk and (the WKTEP) than we would be competing for government funding,” he told the board. “Don’t put us in a confrontational position. “If we try to overload the system we will ei- ther dilute it or destroy it.” . % Gee 2 365-5304 GET ON THE TRAIN FOR THE CHICKEN BURGER SPECIAL includes a Choice cut of Breast Meat. On a Sesame Seed bun with Lettuce, tomato and our own special sauce. Also includes your choice of Golden Crispy French Fries, our Delicious JoJo's or our Freshly made salads. FOR ONLY $3.99 So get on the train and head on down to Chicken Time. For 2 great meal at an affordable price. 2816 Columbia Ave. NOW STRIPPING 1985 HONDA CIVIC CRX 1982 HONDA CIVIC two door 1981 HONDA CIVIC four door 1980 HONDA CIVIC four door Western Auto Wreckers Granite Road, Nelson Ph. 354-4802 FOR ALL YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS ¢ Home # Tenant * Commercial Life * Travel * Rec Vehicle ¢ ICBC Autoplan* « Private Auto *We Provide a Flexible Finance Plan (Subject to qualifications) WITH TWO OFFICES TO SERVE YOU: CASTLEGAR SAVINGS INSURANCE AGENCY 607-18th St. Castlegar 365-3368 P.O. Box 98 Slocan Park 226-7216 oO LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Lumber Remanufacturing CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS Under the federal Referendum Act, any person or group that intends to spend over five thousand dollars during the referendum period, for the purpose of supporting or opposing directly the referendum question, must register as a committee. Applications for registration as a referendum committee should be sent to Elections Canada in Ottawa as soon as possible, and be received by October 26, 1992. All applications must be addressed to 1595 Telesat Court, Ottawa, Ontario K1A.0M6, or they can be faxed to 1 800 267-8549. Any referendum committee that submits a request by midnight on September 28, 1992, is entitled to be considered for free broadcasting time. A total of three hours of prime time will be divided equally by the Broadcasting Arbitrator between the committees supporting the referendum question and those who oppose it. To obtain additional information or an application form to register as a referendum committee, call this toll- free ber i 1 800 387-2323 or @ 1 800 361-8935. vo ne a Jean-Pierre Kingsley, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada di. tely: CANADA The non-partisan agency responsible for the conduct of the federal referendum Corinne Jackson NEWS REPORTER Too often we get caught on details and forget the real is- sue, school trustee Mickey Ki- nakin says. Kinakin is concerned that red tape will bog down a School District No. 9 program that would see young moth- ers return to the classroom. “Sometimes, in our hurry to be prudent we become lackadaisical and ask the wrong questions,” he said at a Monday meeting of the Castlegar school board. “It’s not what it costs but what it will cost not to do it.” Kinakin is concerned a Young Moms Program won’t get off the ground while the district tries to jump through bureaucratic hoops. “Somebody i is going to pay for this,” Kinakin said, warn- ing that the cost of long-term welfare payments to young mothers would far outweigh the costs of the program. The idea for the program was introduced by the Koote- nay-Columbia Child Care So- ciety after a study revealed that many young mothers wished to return to the class- room. program, she said the board must explore the larger issue of high school drop-outs. “There are lots of drop-outs and only some of them are single moms,” Horswill said. “I was hoping to look at what the needs of the rest of the “For us to slam the door on these individuals would be a totally wrong decision on the part of this board.” — Mickey Kinakin “For us to slam the door on these individuals would be a totally wrong decision on the part of this board.” Trustee Joanne Baker agrees. “We can’t afford not to do it,” she said. One trustee wasn’t as quick to endorse the Young Moms Program. While Bon- nie Horswill agrees with the drop-out population were.” The board agreed to move ahead with the Young Moms Program and will come up with enrollment figures for the provincial government by Sept. 30. The figures are re- quired for government fund- ing. A start date for the pro- gram has yet to be deter- mined. Te: Select Standing Committee on Forests, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources has been authorized by the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia to examine, inquire into and make recommendations with respect to the availability of lumber to remanufacturers in the province, and in particular, to consider: 1) the lumber supply requirements of the remanufacturing sector; and 2) the barriers or impediments to increasing the supply of lumber to the remanufacturing sector. The Select Standing Committee invites submissions with respect to all matters relating to the availability of lumber to remanufacturers. Written submissions will be accepted until October 23, 1992. Public hearing locations and dates to be announced. a gore “Sey PLEASE SUBMIT TO: Ms. Brenda M. Fraser Committee Clerk Room 224 Parliament Buildings Victoria, British Columbia V8vV 1X4 Telephone: (604) 356-6318 (call collect) (604) 356-8172 co Mr. Corky Evans, MLA Chairperson Facsimile: