Page 188 The Castlegar Sun ‘Wednesday, October 6,1993 A PoLiticaL FEATURE =———=< POR THE RECORD = in anticipation of an election being called, a questionnaire was sent out in ea asked of each of the candidates; and all of the questions asked are pertinent lowing three weeks, the candidates who responded to our questionaire will will talk about the Canadian Deficit. rly August to Kootenay West candidates. There were five questions which were to those of us who live in the Kootenays/Revelstoke. This week, and for the fol- give their views concerning the questions tendered to them. This week, the candidates JIM GOUK * REFORM PARTY 4 torm Party ficit in three y tax increase st a hollow promise rm Party published a detailed ne of exactly how this will be mplished last April Summary of savings u deral deficit 1993 $35.5 billion; t projected revenue growth nservative 1994-97 -$16.5 billion Reductions required for zero deficit n three years $19.0 billion Operations, structure, programs of $5.7 billion Subsidies to business and special wernment. groups -$4.3 billion Federal transfers to individuals and provinces -$9.0 billion leral deficit in three years zero anadians now owe over $460 bil- nd the amount is increasing by $1,000 per second, 24 hours a lays a year. In the time that it read this article, Canadians 5,000 further in debt. This is t of the “tax and spend” philos t rvative and Lib- nts. We cannot continue than we bring in, and can't increase the taxes ire now. They are JACK ROSS GREEN PARTY n relation to the size of our economy, as measured by the Gross Domestic Product, the federal deficit is not abnor mally large. Nor-is the cost of social services growing excessively. So why all the fuss? The main source of clamor is right wing Tories who want a reason to cut social programs There are tax revolts because we do not trust our governments to spend money fairly and wisely. Most people do not object to taxes if they get value for their money The Tories have weakened the publicly owned Bank of Canada, and have favored the privately owned commercial banks. Once the Bank of Canada provided 50 per cent of gov- ernment borrowing, but now it has been reduced to only. two per cent, and the private banks provide 98 per cent. The profit goes to the banks, not to the public via the Bank of Canada. Restore the Bank of Canada and deficits will start to decrease More careful spending can cut government costs. Greens favor drastic cuts in military spending until we are left with the small amount needed for peacekeeping— less than $1 billion a year. Tax loop- holes for the rich, such as tax exemptions on private trust funds must be removed and would restore more than a billion to the public purse. Eliminate the administratively ind restore public confi cancel NAFTA and bring job: government has done » Mess up the economy best remedy is to E._\ BLAIRE SUFFREDINE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE the Progressive Conserva tive Candidate, I have been asked to comment on how to reduce the deficit. Com pare the situation of the Canadian econ omy to travelling down a steep icy mountain road and realizing you are going too fast. A curve is coming where you will go off the cliff. On the other side is a rock face. What do you do? Do you floor it and try to speed your way outof trouble as the NDP would? That would take you off the cliff. Do you accelerate slightly or do nothing, as the Liberals would? That would bring the same result in slightly longer. Do you slam on the brakes hard, as the Reform Party would? That would take you total ly out of control in an unpredictable direction. Logically you would apply the brakes gentlty in an attempt to bring the momentum down while retaining as much control as, possible The Canadian economy is like that car. If we try to spend our way out we will fail. If we slash spending we will likely cause a recession and may make the deficit worse. We propose to cut government spending in a number of areas, including'the phas ing out subsidies and programs which we cannot afford. We are reducing waste and the size of government This has already begun by the reduc tion of cabinet and the number of departments. We must also focus our spending on those areas which will sumulate economic activity in the pri This will increase th erated without increasing As the conomy iWnpr duce expenditur Jefict’ Over a teas ne without tax incr t Causing a recessior HEATHER SUGGITT NEW DEMOCRATS he best way’ to reduce the debt is to get Canada and Canadians back to work Debt-driven hysteria and the slash-and burn budget cuts would serve Canada at least as poorly as would a massive further increase in the federal debt A sudden, massive and indiscrimi- nate slash in the federal budget might achieve a short-term reduction in the fiscal debt, but it would increase Canada's human and environmental deficits and strangle the very weak economic recovery bow underway More Canadians would lose their jobs More Canadians would live in poverty. More children would be at risk. More Canadians would suffer because of deteriorating health care More Years of environment degrada- tion would pass The debt is the consequence of high unemployment, not the cause. New Democrats will re-orient federal economic policy, placing the priority on jobs. we propose to get the feder- al debt under control during the term of the next parliament through ¢ An employment strategy (NDP Jobs Plan) that will increase revenues and reduce spending on income support by creating 500,000 additional jobs ¢ Tax reform to share the tax burden fairly * Consistent, sustainable low interest rates ¢ A program to get the federal gov tament’s house in order have released a paper on thi uilable if you want to see detail on the proposal. ‘For a vy telephone 352-9979 BRIAN ZACHARIAS CHRISTIAN HERITAGE PARTY believe the root cause of our debt crisis is a moral crisis. We must self- restraint and a sense of per- sonal responsibility. Public servants must lead by example and have a deep personal commitment C.H.P. advocates a constitu- tional amendment to make it illegal for governments at all levels to pass deficit budgets, except in the event of national disasters re-establish We must downsize govern- ment and freeze all govern- ment spending, including allowance for inflation. We advocate zero-based budgeting for all government departments (having each item justified on the basis of cost or need) We must phase out all gov- ernment grants to special inter- est groups and corporation over four years. Deregulation of interprovincial trade and more government support for small business We must have more taxation or large corporations. From 1984 to 1990 federal taxes on individuals nearly doubled. On the other hand, corporate taxes increased only marginally from 15 billion to 16.3 billion. Is that fair? In Canada we have to re establish the work ethic with proper stewardship of our land, where there is tremen dous potential for employment ind a reduction in social pro gram spending al SPORTS LOCAL ____ POLITICS Castlegar Dynamo have sights set on league final Nothing funny about killer board game, local demands Woman puts ownr own game-plan I action/3A Dave Barrett pinch-hits for candidate Heather Suggitt WEDNESDAY October 13, 1993 The Castlegar Su VARIABLE Weather 3A fol. 3- No, 47 ‘The weekly newspaper with a daily commitment’ 75 Cents + G.S.T. Housing demand skyrockets SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor Thinking of buying a house in Castlegar? Well, it appears, so is everyone else, as this community's frenzied real estate market shows no sign of slowing down, despite predictions that it would after the completion of construction at the Celgar Pulp mill In fact, local Realtors are experiencing something new in Castlegar—having more buyers that there are available homes to sell. Hence, some Realtors are calling past clients to inquire if they would con- sider selling. . National Real Estate Service Agent/Owner, Barry Brown, said Castlegar is now a tough market due to demand, but little supply. As an example, Brown stated that no matter what price range is considered, there are only between one and three available list ings—and they sell quickly. “We list a house and it’s gorle. We assumed the market would slow down after the pulp mill con struction was finished. We were wrong.” Instead of leaving Castlegar after the completion of the mega-project, many employees from the con- crews and nt remained here and decided to relocate their families from their previous community to Castlegar. Brown cites other factors as well. Before starting Escaped young offender caught! A former Selkirk College student who escaped from custody in June while facing charges of breaking and entering; threatening; unlawful confinement; sexual 2 ult with a weapon; theft under $1,000 ssion of stolen property, was found in tore in Burnaby after an eagle-eyed police officer recognized the’ youth from posters released earlier. The youth, who's charges stem from an August 1992 incident in Castlegar, now faces five additional charges; two counts failure to attend court; one count failure to abide by curfew; one count failure to attend college and; one count failure to report to bail supervisor. Crown Counsel hopes the youth will appear in Nelson court this Friday. Collins will then travel to Nel- son for an open dinner meeting at the Heritage Inn, while Sat urday’s schedule calls for a breakfast meeting at Revel stoke’s Regent Inn Suffredine acknowledged that the Reform Party will be a major topic for discussion when Collins arrives. “As the election draws closer it is important for the voters to understand the difference between Kim Campbell's plan and Preston Manning's plan,” SUN STAFF Kootenay West-Revelstoke PC Candidate Blair Suffredine will be getting some federal support from Health Minister Mary Collins, who will be in this riding October 15 and 16. Collin’s two-day trip will include an open-line radio show on CKQR and a chance to speak directly with Castlegar and area residents at the Fire- side Inn at 4 p.m., October 15 the bridge construction, the Ministry of Transporta- tion ripped out 14 older houses along the banks of the Columbia River to make room for an overpass and bridge work. Castlegar is not only becoming an attractive place to relocate for retirement, it is also Starting to retain its own seniors, many of whom would normally leave to retire in the Okanagan But it isn’t only senior citizens who are finding the quality of life in this small Kootenay city attractive Brown said many young families are also relocating here from the Okanagan as well as from Alberta “There are definitely young families coming to town. Because the Kelowna market is still quite strong, See HOUSING 3A said Suffredine. “Mary Collins will be outlining how Preston Manning's plan would hurt seniors and women, and how it would impose billions of dol lars in tax increases onto the backs of working families and small business people.” Suffredine will accompany Collins on her travels through Kootenay West-Revelstoke “Now is the time when undecided voters begin to make their choices,” Suffre dine finished In an effort to honor the community of Castlegar and the surrounding area,Canadian Regional Airlines is now carrying the name of Castlegar throughout it's Western Canadian network on one of it's Dash Eights. On hand for the unvieling of the Spirit of Castlegar was (I-r): Castlegar and District Development Board Chair, Dave Gairns; Ron Armbruster, Manager of Customer Service and Sales for Canadian Regiorial; Castlegar Mayor Audrey Moore; NDP MLA Ed Conroy; Incoming Chamber Presi- dent, Ken Geddes and the Pilot, Captain Bruce Lane. Spirit in the sky. SUN STAFF PHOTO / Sharlene Imhott Federal Health Minister to vouch for Suffredine Mary Collins SUN STAFF PHOTO order to catch diesel spilled at the hospital Members of Castlegar's fire department place a ‘boom net' in the pond near Zuckerberg Island, in Hospital fuel spill could net fines Officials still investigating SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor The investigation of a diesel spill into the pond near Zuckerberg Island continues this week, and officials are refusing fo comment, at this point, on the issue of fines Members of Castlegar’s Volunteer Fire Department, Public Works crew and officials from the Ministry of Environment were called to the Castlegar and District Hospital after the diesel spill was reported at 10:40 p.m. last Wednesday night. Fire Department Captain Ray Hackett said a call was received for assistance after nurses on duty smelled diesel in one wing of the hospital. Initial reports estimated that 600 gallons of diesel had spilled from within the generator room (a diesel generator acts as a power back up), and was running across the hospital grounds into the storm drain. The amount was later recalculated at 400 gallons. As well as soaking up what was immediately located on the hospital grounds, volunteer firefighters, under the direction of the Environment Ministry, immediately set up a ‘container boom’ in the pond area under- at Zuckerberg Island. “Because we got the boom in place so soon and the water level of the Columbia River is low, we were able to contain the diesel as it came out the end of the storm drain after flushing it through,” said Hackett B.C. Environment Safety Officer, Ed Stockerl, said that although much of the spill was cleaned up Thursday and Friday, the boom net would be kept in place thoughout the Thanksgiving weekend so that “minor quantities of diesel still flowing through the storm drain would neath the suspension brid, be contained.” “In this case we are fairly fortunate that the area is separate from the river,” said Stockerl, who, along with Castlegar Conservation Officer Barry Farynuk, took water and soil samples for further damage assess ment. An initial on-sight investigation by Farynuk showed no evidence of immediate damage to wildlife, but a more thorough investigation is John Van Putten still underway Officials at this time are unsure whether the spill was a result of equipment failure or human error. Farynuk said it would be premature to comment at this time whether charges against the hospital would be laid Time running out for capsule? SUN STAFF Castlegar RCMP Corporal Al Hudema, has stated police have received information regarding Castlegar’s stolen time sule and the brass plaque that covered it “Somebody has alerted us that someone may have knowledge of the missing time capsule. At this time we are unable to either prove or refute this information.” The time capsule which was stolen sometime around Septem- ber 14 had been placed in the brick wall of the Castlegar News building in 1979 by then Premier Bill Bennett, with the help of the wife of the founding publisher of the Castlegar News, Mrs. L.V. Campbell. A brass plaque mark ing the occasion was then bolted into the brick wall Among some of the items which had been in the capsule were newspapers which con tained stories recording historic moments in Castlegar history coins which were dated 1979, the new Mid Week Mirror, and other pertinent Castlegar memorabilia. The time capsule was sched- uled to be removed April 20, 2029. Castlegar RCMP are con- tinuing their investigation Home sweet home _ Four weeks of hard work by Clarke, age 11 (in door- way) and Cole Stanbra, age eight, went into the con- struction of this wood heuse. The two made creative work out of the chore of stacking wood at their family home on Arrow Lakes Drive. SUN STAFF PHOTO / John Van Putten Amazing Grace en route to Castlegar SUN STAFF Castlegar is among the four communities that Grace McCarthy will be visiting, Octo- ber 14. A Social Credit leadership candidate, McCarthy is spend- ing all of October travelling acyoss the province on a ‘Take Back B.C." tour that will end in Comox, October 23. While in Castlegar, McCarthy will be meeting with members of the Social Credit party tq discuss future plans to rekindle a cam paign based on individual free enterprise In a press released received late last week detailing McCarthy's travelling itinerary, the candidate states that NDP decisions in Victoria are having devastating consequences across See SOCRED Comics Editorial «++ GA Sports ........-.00000000. BA Weather . -- BA Profile .