CASTLEGAR NEWS, Febaury 28, 1982... ESTABLISHED AUG. 7, 1947 THE - CASTLEGAR NEWS TWICE WEEKLY MAY 4, 1900 Managing Edi nogin Advertising LV, CAMPBELL — PUBLISHER AUG, 7, 1947-FE6. 15, 1973. Poblisher — Burt Campbell —Ron Nor Editor — Lois is Hughes nager — Gary Circulation Moneger — Linda Kositain Glico Moneger — Elaine Lee - 12, 1978-AUG, 27, 1980 Fleming belong to the edvertiser. vested in and belongs to Castle News Uid.; provided, however, "hat copyright Inthe port and thal pert onty of engravings, elc. provided by A Will others follow? Castlegar council this week gave residents a preview of what they can expect on their 1982 tax notices when. finance and ad- Ald, Albert Calderbank unveiled the city’s provisional budget. Usually, a provisiona! budget is either a meaningless document designed to enable the city to con- tinue functioning while the real budget is drawn up, or a “wish fist” of all the things the city would like to do if it had unlimited funding, But this year's provisional budget is anything but meaningless or a wish list. Rather, this budget represents the maximum the city is willing to spend. tn fact, it is probably very close to the final budget to be brought down at the end of March — with the exception of the capital works program, which must still be cut in half in order for the city to kuep to its promise not to raise the mill rate. This year's provisional budget shows us more than just how much our taxes. will increase, It also shows us that council is apparently: making a real effort to hold the line on municipal spending. Though city costs will increase 15 per cent (and that is still quite an increase in‘a single year) the jump Meeting Ald. Len Embree's call for council to meet with BC Timber’s top-level management to discuss issues at the ‘company’s Celgar pulp and lumber divisions is a move In the’ right direction. In fact, the meeting is long overdue. Relations between council ‘and Celgar have deteriorated since the start of the foam pollution problem on the Columbia River. Every time” the foam appears on the river — which has been more and more frequent of late — council is beseiged with calls from irate residents. Yet, BC. Timber’s local management apparently hasn't seen the need to keep council abreast of the foam situation and doesn't seem as dramatic when we consider that council is faced with o 15 per cent wage boost. for” municipal staff which is. in. the second year of a two-year con- tract; a 23 per cent increase in police costs which are lish at the provincial and federal levels and the usual increases in goods. and services. Much of the rest of the budget is ._ in fact a “bare bones” budget, with recreation and cultural services kept to an eight per cent increase, and public health and welfare pulled in to a 5.6 per cent increase, But then C mean _LETTERS TO THE EDITOR : tut have every right to expect a tax break this year. Last year they were hit with a 10 mill increase — on top of the increase in their property tax assessments. But then last year's Editor, Nowe: The Nelson Chamber of C: ’ Service for tourists. and students our record for competence or incompetence . will not be determined by the opinion of one. person, * on an annual basis, the Nelson wasn't in the same shape. " + Castl - are cutting back in the face of a bleak 1982 and even bleaker 1983. They have every right to expect government at all levels to do the same — particufarly ly our Sno Fest Galtestiane which service some 10,000 people. Our annual Mid-Summer Bon- spiel Parade.is a;total success and we expect so will be our new Regatta. In addition, we‘ respond’ to nearly 20,000: inquiries annually, operate. a The Nelson . City brochure, -the * Nelson Heritage Tour brochure and the West Kootenay District map were ‘all new additions in 1981 to the tourist | promotional material available through the chamber office. Summer employment was ‘provided to approximately 12 students through grant moneys for operating the City of Nelson Campground and Cottonwood Lake Regional Park. ~ regional and school board gover- nments. 2 - Itis nice to see Castlegar council take the lead in budget restraint and we can only hope the other local levels of government will follow. © overdue supply local elected officials with full information. BC Timber’s decision to halt all retail lumber ‘sales to non- employees at the Celgar mill was “the last straw. Council apparently feels that with more and more decisions being made at the cor- poration’s. head office In. Van- couver, it would be more produc- tive to speak with top-level executives. They're right. i But council should also try, to keep communication lines open - with local management to try to head off ‘what could — in the long run — become even oa larger problem than either the foam or “the lumber sales. Lower interest ates: credited Public Accountents of B.C. We applaud the attempts by the provincial premiers to per- suade the federal government to lower crippling interest rates. The high interest rates have not been tu) fich 1, which is put forward as the major purpose for the high interest rates. In. fact, the higher interest rates have brought price increases which are driving trade unionists to seek even larger cost of living lower interest rates — will automatically result in o lower Canadian dollar in terms. of other world currencies, and that this in turn will have a serious effect on inflation by driving up the price of imported goods and the cost of borrowings in’ the USA. We say highly Center and a Contre Accommodation If in the opini of Frank Finney this’ record, denotes incompetence, then I Cominco employees ~ denied right — Editor, Castlegar ‘News: The events of last week cannot have passed the people of this area unnoticed. © - In one short ‘edict, the Taber (Relations) Board had , tation vote at Cominco. This shows the Steelworkers” attitude to one of the basic issues of the entire campaign — democracy. It is embarrassing tion those who would only ask why, when I telephoned | him on Feb. 17, 1982, to hopefully gain - some insight into‘ his criticism of the’: Nelson chamber, I was met with total silence from’ the other end of. the telephone. WF. Suftredine Right © to vote? Editor, Castlegar News:! Tam a resident and taxpayer of Area. 1 also hold & membership card to the’, Castlegar Library. Last week I went vote on the Library Referend: was told that I was not eligible Apparently, there: was" a\, boundary line drawn up to Loff Road. The rest of New layoff . scheme i By VIC PARSONS TORONTO" =!) With’ firings . and layoffs of ‘executives’ ‘on. tho rise, a company ‘has! come up ‘with a job ‘insurance plan that will pay full salary and fringe benefits to dismissed mana- § gers: for, up to two years. : The plan,’ called” CareerGuard and offered by the specialty insurance firm Gestas’. Inc.” of,.: Montreal, is: the brainchild of John Lorriman, a 36-year- old manager. who found” himself. dis- missed two. years ago from his position as‘a‘senior executive with a major life: insurance firm. Lorriman, mulling ‘over the events of his ‘firing, “noted that his: colleagues _ treated ‘him! with, the same ‘deference. he might receive ‘if he were dead — even referring to his going-away party as a wake.) 00 vi “I found myself. fighting the idea of ~ being fired just as I would fight death,” Incompetence matter of opinion : he ‘said.“So I thought. if death is insurable, why not‘a firing?” Before CareerGuard’ was’ launched, - Geatas Inc. referred to a number of surveys .and ‘statistics on executive dismissals and layoffs and found that in 1981: about -:44,000 ‘managers. and professionals were unemployed. That was. more than double the figure. of seven years ago. © Based on the rate of firing, the company estimated that one of every two managers and professionals will be fired at some time between the ages of 85 and 65. | But executives who find themselves out in the cold shouldn't all-be brushed " off as ineompetents, company. spokes- . Men say. “In excess of 85 per cent of firings have nothing to do with incompetence,” ' said Lorriman.: : "Studies in both the U.S. and-Canada have ‘suggested strongly that person- ‘ality conflicts are ‘the prime cause of > firings of managers. Other . major causes are a steady rise in the number us, who live past. this: (including all of Shoreacres and Glade) * were not eligible to vote.” Who has the right to draw up these boundaries? Who has the right to ‘deny toric principle in’ favor of pal reasoning. We.all know, as workers, the effect - of political reasoning. Working people all across Canada suffer from the “rea- soning” of high interest rates and unemployment. It is insidious that for tlie third time in less than 10 years Cominco employ- ees have been denied ‘the basic prin- ciple of unionism and democracy — the right to a secret ballot vote. Lynn Williams, representing Pitts- burgh USWA, celebrates .that. the Labor Board has denied a represen- denial ‘of the right.to sabes . How can ‘members who attempt to achieve change accept this edict, sup- ported hot only by Cominco; but alsoits - © : pars : 2 AVEUASHUTAOEUNDETUSONQOCEESGUOUELUGEULUCEOANCUEENRRESROCECOEETNSANT: strange bedfellows: the B.C.‘ Feder- ation of Labor ant the CLG (Canadian Labor Congress) The voice of Teton dissidence belongs at the ballot box, not’ in: corporate boardrooms, | *. Turge all tesidents of the. Kootenays ‘ to protest. this denial of democratic process. David Cox , Box 883 © Rossland ‘ X “vote? the e of Area/I the right to N. Lenkianoff All letters to the editor must be signed and include the writer's full name and address. In very exceptional cases letters will be published without the writer's name,. but the name and ‘address must be disclosed to the editor. “The newspaper reserves the right to “edit letters for reasons’ fof space, clarity is a0 and grammar. 5 UU ame Small business needs help — Editor, Castlegar News: - Small business is in trouble. Interest * rates, invenaty, costs, red tape re- small business owners and : managers during March... We will travel to various and vital ac of key sec- tors of the provitcial economy, and a deepening recession — all these create problems for small business. Small business at help. It’s badly that the level of the Canad dollar is more affected by con- fidence or lack of it by traders on. the world money market. First of all, we Canadians need to believe in ourselves and portray that poise and contidence in all our inter- incredses in negotiations. Inflation will be in Seer Small pines needs to be heard. Thave the! honor ‘of {being chairman of the 0; on regions and will — in private and in public — listen to the-concerns, the ideas, the problems and the plans of small business. We are now. planning our schedule of hearings across British Columbia. During the first New Democrat administration,-we were proud’ to - initiate such innovative prograniies ied the B.C, Dy In the future, these Srosrama may require change and redefinition. New, policies‘will be required'to guarantee . \. small business its place in.the sun. We need your advice. “ We would ‘like to hear from: you directly. To contact the new standing: committee on small business, please “call me in Victoria at 87-6065 or write to the address) below.” company | direction or production meth- ods. + “Firings related to these causes have increased sto the point, that: perfor- mance is not a factor in most cases of managerial or professional. termina- tion,”’a' report by Gestas says. With that’ comforting Thought in “mind, the company launched the insur- ance program, which now is available « _ through about 7,000 agents and brok- ers across Canada. Seven major insur- ance companies with total ‘assets of. $600 ‘million are involved. Under the program, the insured executive pays a premium of-1.8 per cent of gross. salary, based‘ on. a minimum of $26,000 anda maximum of $100,000 income a year. ‘At $40,000, for example, thé annual premium. ‘would be “the benefit period ranges from six *months, if you have been in your. fob. less than’a'year, to two years if you have been in’ your’-position for. five years or, more. .Payments: would -be equal to an executive's full salary after taxes, plus bonuses and 10 per cent to ‘cover fringe. benefits. - There are:some rules, however. ‘The plan will only: cover executives up to. ae 62; employees aren't sup- to'profit from their firing;, there is'a 180-day waiting period before ‘you are eligible: for < benefits; you ‘can't collect if 'you are dismissed for intox- *- feation, insolent behavior,. dishonesty, fraud, conflict of interest ‘or deliberate: and ‘unwarranted | disobedience; ‘and coe tesa fe been small business. I write to advise your readers that we will he meeting with ness and low interest loans to farmers and other smail businesses. Victoria, B.C. ory 1X4 as nuclear energy hazard, war or riots aren't covered... }(Cansaten Preas) We ) Support a strong C but federal staggering if the present continues. Our problem is not in- creasing wage settlements only but massive price increases also. 8.C. Hydro, B.C. Tel, food stores, school taxes, water taxes, mortgage interest and virtually every commodity you and | pur- chase in regular daily living has seen significant price spirals. Reagonomics has shut off the American economy because our best customers in the USA are not buying our forestry and other products. There are several economic philosophies, and we do not claim to be experts in any of them. However, os accountants for small and medium size businesses across Canada, we see first hand the disastrous effects of high interest rates upon our clients. High in- terest rates are. pushing small policies by both old-line political parties seem lacking in vision and 1 leadership. If’ Pp g fails to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the electors, we will find power shifting .to: those who do. And on the provincial scene, short-sighted. “‘balunce-the- -budget" policies at the expense of the poor will not help our economic recovery. We call for a lower interest rate including a statutory ceiling home mortgage interest. A lower priced Canadian dollar, if this is the result, will have a net benefit to the B.C. economy. We also call for a halt in all tax and price in- creases by B.C. government ministries and crown corporations. The B.C. government must lead, not follow in keeping taxes and price increases down, not just in kesping public service wage set- into t of unbearable demands upon cash- flow and uncertain sales prospec- ts. . Small business is the back- borie of the Canadian economy. If small business fails, the recession will be here well into 1984, Some have suggested that down. We call on governments at all levels not to retrench but to create new jobs now by getting the economy back into high gear..We | should join our European friends too by urging President Reagan to ease off on his policies which are hurting the economy of the world. ( FRED MERRIMAN a) Bennettheaded inright direction arising from disasters such «. necessary to make any public announcements. WV had hoped that the government would have long before now. However, better late than never. Like Reagan, at least you are now headed in the right direction. Meantime, would you please answer some important questions for me. Why do mechanics in the B.C. Hydro garages in Victoria play _cards all day? Why does raw sewage clog u| in You are doing the correct thing, Bill. However, it really wasn't" and expertise of governments which seam incbls to manage their. financial affairs. When are we going to have legislators who will do the right thing — which is quite often not the politically popular move. You may have started with your Bill. ts Dave Barrett is correct in calling you. down for demonstrated ex- cess in your own office. You should take immediate ue to: presse restraint before preaching it. up the ond around Victoria? Why have you allowed the BCGEU (B.C. Gover- Union) to ? Why has the OO oil government pushed so much nerommployimer onto lower levels of government without -the ability to_pay for those respon- sibilities? ey Why has Cabinet and all legis! i d th i very attractive salary increases when all else must cut back? How are and then speak calmly of 12 Per cent moderation? Why does the Municipal Finance Buthority not encourage sinking funds and early retirement of ‘debt. Why does the provincial gover- nment not encourage and onaeatiatet the ability to arrange at least some capital projects from revenue. Why must everything be financed by mortgaging the future? | understand that school buses are financed -over 25 years. The equipment itself is retired in perhaps 15. It sound _ illogical to me. The most difficult fact for me to assimilate is the abun- dance of expertise that each legislator brings round about and yet ee of the most obvious questions go unanswere s 2 5 ig the Many of us on the street are you able to increase water fees 300 per cent in two successive years.” \ can see great the being demonstrated in school boards all ane the ioroety Here | go again with more questions. Why should it cost $3,000 per student in. 1982.A private school education including room and board is perhaps $4,500 and they ‘must guarantee an educated student. why, did no one find it “expedient to set guidelines tenia before now’ . Ihave so man questions to ask; Perhaps the, tirat ministers should ask the federal government why the Canada Pension Plan is underfunded and that the premiums are used to run the daily operation. Why is family alle allowance still being issued to thousands of families , who are very:well able.to pay their own way. The administrative bur- den for this-single department, must be considerably, more than: the some $20 being paid for each child, which is just added to taxable in- come anyway, big You may “have started something Mr. Bennett. | hope it doesi , Stop here. One of three parts - Impact: of inflation “Faced wtih ‘tha highest ‘ “inflation rate in the country, Pretaier Bill Bennett of Brit- ish Columbia‘{recently | an- nounced a limit on wage in- creases for provincial . civil servants. This story, part one ofa three part series, looks at the impact of inflation in B.C, By MADELAINE DRONAN | THE CANADIAN PRESS YANCOUVER (CP) — If people at Statistics Canada in Ottawa: had been listening hard enough, they’ might + have heard a collective sign of relief from the Weat Coast when they announced in mid-February that the -na- tional economy has begun to show. some signs of life. It: was a tentative _an- nouncement to be sure, but the residents of the proyince with the highest inflation rate in Canada are looking for encouragement * wherever they can find it. sae Inflation aside, British Col- umbia is suffering: from de- pressed : world lumber: and metals, markets. which - spell doom and gloom® for. B.C.’s:: resource extraction economy. Add to that the effect a-world _ oil glut is having on natural gas exports and the picture looks bleak, Statistics. Canada caleu- lated the 1981 inflation rate. in Vancouver. at 145 per to ‘reward. productivity. ; Seent, But ‘in many’ areas of. her family's diet — they eat the ‘province, where trans- other sources of protein and portation | cdsts.+ drastically that meat has become a lux- increase the price of food and _ury — and clothes are bought manufactured products, the’ at second-hand stores, Rent rate is much higher. increases also. forced them Businessmen are tighten- into a less-desirable neigh- ing their belts, workers are borhood. asking for higher and higher Canada’s average inflation ‘wage increases just to keep rate was 12.6 per cent last pace,.and the consumer is year. Inflation is not a pHen- doing whatever he can to get omenon peculiar to B.C. but by. it has an extra bite when you : ANNOUNCES RESTRAINTS bine it with 4 suffering - Fe: ‘Premier Bill Bennett an- source company. nounced in mid-February a On the surface, organized program to fight inflation in labor fared better than most ‘the Bulls ine by re- last year. Figures from the’ and ploy Council of B.C. + Limiting spending to.12 per show that the average wage cent. increase in negotiated settle- In legislation to. be intro- ments was 16.6 percent. duced: at the legislature's CHANGES UNDER, next ‘sitting, wage increases SCRUTINY ¢ will be limited to10 percent, However, this figure is put plus or minus two per cent to in better perspective when take into account such fac-. widespread layoffs are con- tors as skill shortages and sidered. While the 50,000- past experience.’ A further. member Wood- : add two per cent and com- ” says only about 10 of its 870 members ‘went bankrupt or drastically changed opera- tions last year to .counter - inflation. But there was wide- spread belt tightening. Perhaps, the biggest prob- lem for businessmen is re- placing and maintaining in, ventory while prices increase constantly. Some try to get by with less inventory, which ‘has the unfortunate side ei- ‘fect of. reducing customers because of the lack of selec- tion. Others try to absorb higher costs, putting a large dent in profits. A common practice among B.C. farmers is. to borrow against equity in their farms. ‘This is viable as long as farm values’ continue: to increase. Bot the day of reckoning will come if land prices start to alide. "> A farmers’ spokesman said farmers, ‘like many; regard {nflation as: a temporary two per cent will be available. workers of America ‘got’ a 15-per-cent increase after a ‘In introducing the package six-week strike last summer, : on’a_ prime-time television . 31 per cent of the member-" broadcast, Bennett said it ship: have been laid“ off ‘would..curb the appetite of because of the forest indus- the public sector. The private try. slump. sector,"however, must fend Business too, has felt the for itself. pinch. The provincial division For one single mother, in-- of the Independent. Canadian fiation has meant‘a change in Businessmen Association: cwhich may be true: if the positive’ signs detected by. Statistics Can- “ada ‘continue through 1982. THEORIES DIFFER Where inflation. goes from here, however, is open to speculation. An .economist with the | Bank of B,C. predicts it will BC. Securities Ltd.- Merrill Lynch ‘said. last quarter, conventidnal:: wisdom says: @ prudent strategy for stock market investors would be to delay. . investment: decisions ‘until the fall, Merrill Lynch said. But the firm said it recommends investors ‘start a. strategy of progressive accumulation, within a 10-per-eent’ maximum downside parameter. “We all recognize the timing imperative, the cost of being too early,” it said. “However, what is often under- . stressed is the cost, of being too late.” EDAR HOMES By Linwood eed wth Ba i un re s. _. SPECIAL CASH REBATES —Limited Time Only— Professional design team ct your ser- vice to custom plan your home, DS: | MAGLIO BUILDING CENTRE LACE * 1406 Columbla Ave ..... FISHING TACKLE . 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