‘ Castlégar News March 2, 1988 Socreds VICTORIA (CP) — Premier Bill Vander Zalm, saying a difference of opinion is inevitable, has played down a rift in his caucus over his controvers' legislature. abortion statement to the The speech was condemned by Russ Fraser, a Social ivided on abortion policy “However, the caucus is united in (the) stance we've taken with respect to it and I've not heard of caucus members walking away from the decision that’s been made by government with respect to abortion funding.” Of 33 Social Credit members surveyed on the premier’s Credit member of the legislature, and was criticized for lacking “compassion and understanding” by another caucus member, Cliff Serwa (Okanagan South). Several other members said they objected to the premier’s graphic descriptions used in Monday's speech. Others said the abortion .issue is making them feel increasingly uncomfortable. But Vander Zalm, while saying he is concerned over the caucus rift, said differences are inevitable. speech, one unequivocally opposed its content, six exp: “I didn't like it,” Fraser said. “I thought the speech was objectionable in fact. It went, in my view, beyond the bounds of a ministerial statement, Serwa said Vander Zalm’s abortion policy is too restrictive and his speech lacked compassion and should asked whether they supported Vander Zalm’s statem: Fourteen Socred members and cabinet ministers, they endorsed and supported the premier’s speech.” Two Socreds, Speaker John Reynolds and deputy speaker Austin Pelton, could not comment because of their non-partisan positions. The remaining Socred members could not be reached for comment. some reservations, while eight refused to comment a, id “I expect that there is a real divergence of opinion and that really we're one end of the spectrum to the other in caucus much like out there when it comes to the question of abortion or how it’s best dealt with,” Vander Zalm said. The strongest criticism came from Fraser (Vancouver South), who joined fellow member Kim Campbell (Vancouver-Point Grey) as the only caucus members to denounce publicly Vander Zalm's abortion policy. have ip! more fl Vander Zalm said if the majority of caucus disagreed with his policy it would be a source of worry but “if it's one or two or three caucus members that's perhaps in some respects not comfortable but nothing that I worry about.” Several Socred members and cabinet ministers issued no comment — Attorney General Brian Smith, Finance Minister Mel Couvelier and Cliff Michael (Shuswap-Rev- elstoke.) Others said that, while they supported the premier’s abortion policy, they had reservations with some of the content and wording of his speech. They included: Duane Crandall (Columbia River), James Rabbitt (Yale-Lillooet), Dave Mercier (Burnaby-Edmonds), Jack Weisgerber (South Peace River) and Doug Mowat (Vancouver-Little Mountain.) Several Socred MLAs said they unequivocally sup- ported the premier’s policy and his statement. They were: Nick Loenen (Richmond), Environment Minister Bruce Strachan, Provincial Secretary Elwood Veitch, Norm Jacobsen (Dewdney), Agriculture Minister John Savage, Social Services and Housing Minister Claude Richmond, Okanagan South MLA Larry Chalmers, Forests Minister Dave Parker, Ivan Messmer (Boundary-Similk- ameen), Dan Peterson; (Langley), Advanced Education Minister Stan Hagen, Angus Ree (North Vancouver-Cap- ilano), Harry DeJong (Fraser Valley) and Health Minister Peter Dueck. Municipal Affairs Minister Rita Johnston said she didn't hear the premier's speech so couldn't comment on it. She reiterated her support for the government's position on abortion funding. NATO urges Soviet arms reduction BRUSSELS (CP) — Leaders of the western alliance endorsed U.S. efforts to i new arms red level far in excess of its needs for self-defence, directly our security as well as our hopes for change in the today and demanded sweeping cuts in the Soviet Union's vastly superior conventional forces in Europe to rule out a surprise attack. Within hours of opening their first summit talks in six years, the leaders of 16 NATO states, including Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, declared that Soviet conventional forces “cast a shadow over the whole of Europe” and must be reduced heavily to ease the imbalance in East-West military strength. These proposed cuts, they said, “will entail, for example, the elimination from Europe to tens of thousands of Warsaw Pact weapons relevant to surprise attack, among them tanks and artillery pieces.” The overall aim of the talks was to demonstrate allied unity in advance of U.S. President Ronald Reagan's planned Moscow summit meeting with Soviet leader Mikhail Gor- bachev in late May or June. But there were nagging differences among the NATO leaders over other nuclear arms differences. Sitting next to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at the opening summit session, Reagan listened as NATO Secretary General Lord Carrington pledged the allies “full support” for Reagan's drive to reach agreement with the Soviets on drastic cuts in strategic nuclear weapons. But, Carrington said, “the alliance will not rest on its laurels.” NATO SEES THREAT In a six-page statement on conventional forces, the NATO leaders said: “The Soviet Union's military presence in Europe, at a political situation in Europe. “Thus, the conventional imbalance in Europe remains at the core of Europe's security concerns.” The allied leaders spelled out demands for far bigger cuts in Soviet conventional forces than in the West's military levels, during negotiations to begin in earnest this fall in Vienna, Austria, with representatives of the Warsaw Pact consisting of the Soviet Union and six East European allies. “Our aim will be to establish a situation in Europe in which force postures as well as the numbers of deployments and weapons systems no longer make surprise attack and large-scale offensive action a feasible option,” the NATO statement said. Carrington said the alliance leaders have gathered to celebrate the new U.S.-Soviet ban on medium-range missiles, and for “charting the way ahead” as Gorbachev pursues a peace offensive. “One agreement which reduces some weapons, and indeed one new Soviet leader who is ready to reduce some tensions, however significant, do not in themselves remove the military capability and potential of the Soviet Union,” Carrington said. He added that NATO's “collective determination to deploy and maintain a military capacity where necessary were what convinced the Soviet Union of the better route of arms control and disarmament.” “We wish President Reagan and his negotiators well in the effort to secure an agreement on strategic arms reduction, which has the alliance’s full support,” Carrington said. Montreal rejects loonie LAST ONES IN. . . Twin Rivers Elementary students are enjoying warm weather too much to go inside at the end of lunch hour. Top (from left): Jennifer Pacheco; Brandy Mark; Corinne Abietkoff; Jenny Wocknitz; bottom (from left) Jason Cordeiro and San- drelle Fraser. Socreds oppose premier VANCOUVER (CP) — At least three Social Credit con. stituency presidents are op posed to Premier Bill Vander Zalm's anti-abortion stance for British Columbia women. “Vander Zalm has over stepped his bounds on abor- tion,” said Clara Norgaard, president of the Yale-Lillooet riding. “I feel the premier has lost touch with the grass: roots.” Norgaard said she'll ask her directors this weekend to call an extraordinary general meeting to find out “if the grassroots still support Van der Zalm.” In Dewdney, riding presi dent Donna Telep accused the premier of imposing his moral views on women, and said her executive will decide this weekend whether to take a stand. “I'm not in favor of his stand — I feel he's bringing his own views into it,” said Telep. bill Enefer, Vancouver South riding president, said he agrees with the riding’s Socred legislative member, Russ Fraser, that Vander Zalm has gone too far. Vander Zalm’s emotional defence in the legislature of his government's decision to pay for abortions only if the mother’s life is in immediate danger was “objectionable,” Fraser said Tuesday. Vander Zalm, a Roman Catholic who has always been outspoken in his opposition to abortion, said he is not concerned that some Socred backbenchers object. Enefer said Vander Zalm is “trying to dictate to the people.” Court rules for employee VANCOUVER (CP) — Teresa Merilees hopes her court victory against Sears department store will en courage others who would rather spend Sundays with family than working. “I know that a lot of people, especially women, loathe working on Sunday but don’t refuse to because they fear being fired,” she said Tuesday. “Well, I re fused and I was fired, but now I've been vindicated The B.C. Court of Appeal this week upheld a 1986 GAS PRICES continued from front page lower court decision giving the North Vancouver woman the right to tell Sears she wouldn't work on Sunday. The appeal of Sears Can ada Inc. from a judgment of the B.C. Supreme Court awarding Merilees nine months pay plus benefits — about $30,000 — for wrongful dismissal was rejected by the appeal court Merilees was fired from her job as assistant sales manager in the cosmetics and luggage department when she refused to work Sundays at the North Vancouver store after the law was changed to permit Sunday shopping. She earlier resisted a pro- motion to the sales depart ment because it would re- quire working hours that would interfere with raising her children. When she made the move in 1980, she did so knowing the job meant work- ing Tuesday to Saturday. Sears lawyer Mike Hunter said changing circumstances, legal and economic, require changes in working condi tions. He said if the court finds the change Merilees ‘was asked to make “a funda- mental breach” of the em- ployfnent contract, it will “trigger wrongful dismissal actions” everywhere. The appeal court did not disturb the lower court's award of nine months’ salary, plus $50 a month to comp- ensate for the loss of the em- ployee’s discount. Merilees said she is con- templating her next career move. “I think I'd like to do something completely differ- ent (than the retail business) now.” Gordon Winter, vice-president of stations in B.C., tried to end the war how long a handful of the other nine stations in Castlegar could continue to lose money with each litre they pumped. Monday, the price jumped slightly to 16.9 cents a litre, before soaring to 49.9 cents Tuesday. Warm, sunny weather on the weekend translated into half-hour lineups stretching for four blocks outside the Mohawk, Perehudoff said. “This is the most traffic I have ‘ever seen in Castlegar,” said Pere hudoff, 28, whose station ran out of gas Monday. external affairs for Mohawk Oil Co., said Monday: “Quite frankly, we are just shocked they are at the level they are at right now (in Castlegar). We cannot believe it.” He said even at a price of 39.9 cents in Vancouver, “everyone is losing their shirts.” He said the winners in price wars were consumers and government. (Every litre sold in B.C. carries a Provincial tax of 9.89 cents and a federal tax of 8.86 cents no matter what the companies charge.) ». Winter said Mohawk, with'93 service in Castlegar a couple of days ago when it increased prices ‘to 49.9 cents. He said “no one followed us” and so prices once again plummeted. The war began Jan. 19 when a local independent Turbo station re- duced the regular price of 49.9 cents a litre. The next day, every station in Castlegar sold a litre of regular gas for 31.9 cents. The price eased to 29.9 cents for two weeks, then dropped to 24.9. It was 16.9 cents Wednesday and went down to 14.9 cents Thursday. TORONTO (CP) — More than 80 per cent of Canadians have used the new $1 coin and half say they became accustomed to the loonie immediately after it was introduced in July, Royal Canadian Mint officials. said Tuesday. The findings were made in a Gallup poll conducted for the Crown corporation in January, said Murray Church, a mint spokesman. “The novelty effect has worn off, but the coin is selling itself,” he said. “It looks good and it works There are now 122 million loonies circulating across the country and another 80 mil- lion are in storage. Production of the 1988 coins begins in about two weeks, Up to three million will be produced each week. Of the 107,000 vending Fraser to take b VICTORIA (CP) — Former highways minister Alex Fra- ser will be the only person investigated if the B.C. legis- lature forms a committee to decide whether the legis- lature was deliberately mis- led over the costs of the Co- quihalla Highway. The Opposition has pre- sented enough evidence to suggest Fraser knew or ought to have known the highway’s cost was rising dramatically, Speaker John Reynolds ruled Tuesday. But he rejected the New Democrats’ case against Pre- mier Bill Vander Zalm, for- mer premier Bill Bennett, Finance Minister Mel Cou- velier, former finance minis- ter Hugh Curtis and former highways minister Cliff Michael. “The honor and integrity of Fraser is in no way to be impugned or brought into question” by the ruling, Rey- nolds added. The ruling allows the legis- lature to decide whether to form a committee to deter- mine whether Fraser's fail- machines in Canada for which the $1 coin could be used, more than 60,000 machines have been converted to ac- cept them, said Dennis Cud- ahy, mint manufacturing vice-president. Use of the coins by com- muters is continually on the inerease, recent figures from the Canadian Urban Transit Association show. Commuters using Toron- to's Transit C Edmonton commuters are using an average 9,300 a day (two bills to one coin), but transit association officials are disappointed in Montreal and cannot provide a full explanation for the marginal use in Saskatoon. Montreal's subway and bus transit system: is taking in only 5,200 coins daily (11.3 bills to one coin). And Saskatoon's officials are collecti transit pump an average of 24,000 $1 coins into the system daily and the number has been as high as 30,000. The ratio of bills used to pay fares to the number of coins is five to one. Vancouver commuters are in second place for usage at 10,000 coins a day (1.7 bills to one coin) and have seen their $1 bill intake reduced to 17,000 days from 30,000 in 1985. ure to disclose information to the legislature was delib- erate. The 300-kilometre highway was originally forecast to cost about $500 million. But the 182-kilometre first and second phases from Hope to Merritt and Merritt to Kam- loops actually cost $729 mil- lion. The 118-kilometre third phase from Merritt to the Okanagan -Valley will bring the Coquihala’s cost to almost $1 billion when it is com- pleted in 1989. The cost overruns were a mere 15 loonies a day. “Montreal is disappointing and we are unable to explain it,” Church said. “In Sask. atoon . . . the only explan- ation we have is that cash fares are still below $1.” Winnipeg commuters use an average of 4,750 coins a day (1.2 bills to one coin), followed by Ottawa with 4,000 (3.8:1), Hamilton 3,000 (1.3:1) and Calgary 3,000 the subject of a government- appointed inquiry. Commissioner Douglas MacKay concluded in De- cember that the legislature “lost control” of the public purse and that the legislature and the public were “de- ceived” by a government “politically motivated” to hide the highway’s real cost. Reynolds said Tuesday that MacKay’s conclusions were based on an incorrect contention that funds for the highways were improperly transferred from one sub- vote in the highways budget (5.7:1). In the Halifax-Dartmowth area, only 300 loonies a day are collected (23.3:1). However, local transit offi cials expect that number to rise beginning this month because cash fares have in creased to $1. With use of the coin ex pected to rise dramatically when the withdrawal of the $1 note begins in 1989, entre. preneurs are preparing to cash in on the biggest change in Canadian currency in 50 years. An Ottawa man has modi. fied the traditional leather wallet and built in a magnetic panel that tightly holds loon- ies and other small coins. A British man has modified a coin-holding device he in vented when British intro- duced the one pound coin and is selling it in Canada. estimates to another. He said acting auditor-gen- eral Robert Hayward as- sured him in a letter that if the transfers were improper. ly made, the audited financial statements would have re flected that impropriety. New Democrat Moe Si hota, who made the original motion, said he was “aston. ished ahd. somewhat disap- pointed with the decision. “I would have expected something more from the Speaker than this,” he told reporters. HAPPY NEW YEAR .. . Keith Chung (right foreground) pas \out samples of Chinese delicacies to one of the hundreds of students at- Castlégar News TREET TALK CENTRAL FOODS owner Mike Bondaroff and CasNews publisher Burt Campbell are still arguing over who got the best deal at a recent fund-raising auction held in conjunction with a Kootenay West PC Association- sponsored wine-and-cheese party. MP BOB BRISCO took a special necktie away from guest speaker Science and Technology Minister Frank Oberle. The tie, one of only 50 marking the accomplish- ment of Commander Marc Garneau in becoming Canada’s first man in space, was “won” by Campbell when the bidding reached $100. However, not to be outdone, Oberle took away Brisco's tie and it went for $40 to Bondaroff. Oberle said Bondaroff got the best deal because Brisco’s tie is sprinkled “with authentic soup stains from the Parlia- mentary dining room.” FEB. 17, HERALDED the Year of the Dragon or, on the lunar calendar, the beginning of the year 4685. And Selkirk College's international students marked the occasion by sharing their celebration of the event with schoolmates, staff and faculty. During the noon hour, the college's Chinese students manned tables in the main lobby of the Castlegar Campus, where they handed out home-made Chinese del. icacies including egg rolls, turnip pudding, cookies, tea and candy to an enthusiastic crowd. Students also dispensed “red pocket money”, sym: bolizing luck and wealth, and provided an opportunity for many to have their fortune told. The lobby was decorated with New Year's wishes and posters depicting the dozen animals that are associated with the Chinese calendar in a 12-year cycle RUSSELL AUCTION posted a record Saturday when more than 500 people attended af auction of surplus government vehicles. Those in attendance came from all over B.C. to bid on the vehicles. FORT STEELE saw a slight decline in attendance last summer. The number of visitors was down 3.6 per cent compared to 1986, but was still up 2.3 per cent from 1985. The historic fort near Cranbrook also collected $100,000 in admission fees in the first summer of the new provincial government policy charging fees for admission to major attractions. The fees will be uséd to upgrade the fort. THE FOLLOWING news release was received in the mail at the CasNews newsroom last week: Vanquish Marketing of Saskatoon is introducing to Canadians its key chain of the times, the Condokeyper. This product combines novelty and usefulness. This timely keychain is designed to prevent the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. tracted by the Chinese New Year Display at Selkirk College Feb. 17. SPECIAL TIES... astronaut, Space” tie. + Marc Garneau, Canada’s first wearing his “Canada’s First Man in Serving a dual function, the Condokeyper is not only an attractive key chain but also conceals a contraceptive, the condom. Bearing various brightly colored graphics such as “Open in Case of Emergency,” the Condokeyper snaps open for retrieval of the condom. The Condokeyper effectively eliminates the inconvenience and embarrass. ment of carrying a contraceptive. Introduced into the market for both men and women, the Condokeyper will soon be available on college campuses and at local convenience, drug and retail stores. liquor, THE WARM weather continues. We set a record high temperature Tuesday with 10.1 C. That topped the old mark for March 1 of 8.3 set in 1973 PICNIC SMOKED PORK WHOLE OR SHANK PORTION kg. $218)... 99 . CHICKE ROASTING FROZEN UTILITY. 5-LB. AVERAGE 32 GY ROAST BONELESS rum or OUTSIDE ROUND. CANADA .. .GRADE A kg. 56 1 Shu. $979 PORK LOIN WHOLE OR HALF CUT INTO CHOPS wg. 943 Ih. $198 GROUND BEEF ,.,, $919 SAUSAGE STICKS FLETCHERS. ASST'D. FLAV. ... 2528 COOKED HAM FLETCHERS, LEAN & TASTY. SMOKED, MAPLE OR HONEY. .... 100 G. PKG. “$1 69 TURKEY FLETCHERS. LEAN & TASTY ... 100 G. $489 WIENERS FLETCHERS. REGULAR BEEF, 450 G. CHICKEN, 375G. . CHEESE ARMSTRONG. RANDOM CUT, MILD. MEDIUM, MARBLE OR AGED. FEB. 15 TO MARCH 15 IS EDUCATION MONTH! WE ARE PROUD TO EXHIBIT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GRADE 1, 3, 4 & 6! — CENTRAL DELI DELITES — BLACK FOREST HAM OVERLANDER eee DELI LEAN OR REG. BEEF SALAMI $] 1 9 OVE ANOS AT 100G..... OVERLANDER SUMMER SAUSAGE 66° EUROPEAN GERMAN FRANKS 66° OVERLANDER 100 G. UKRANIAN GARLIC RING OVERLANDER. 300 G. EACH OVERLANDER 100 G. DELI LEAN OR REG. BEER SAUSAGE CHEESE SLICES KRAFT PROCESS. VELVEETA. .. 500 a 5 $999 CHOC. MILK 9... 89° DAIRY MAID. ........ LUNCHEON MEAT Srrrrr 340,G. TIN $479 FLAKES OF HAM OR TURKEY. MAPLE LEAF .. . Pe abd PEANUT BUTTER SQUIRREL. SMOOTH/CRUNCHY 1.5 kg. $493) PANCAKE MIX REGULAR Of ‘OR BUTTERMILK ROGERS MacDONALD'S CIGARETTE REG. OR DIET 750 mi . PEPSI or 7-UP 87° PLUS DEPOSIT HAWKINS BABY DILLS CHEEZIES COMPLEX continued from front reduction of user hours by minor hockey and continues today,” the report says. The recreation department is hoping an “increased interest in adult activities” will “offset any further reductions by minor hockey.” Revenue from the pools shows a marked decrease in usage, with swim lessons down at both Bob Brandson and Robson pools. “It's our feeling that there are less young families in the community,” Metge said. Province of British Columbia PUBLIC NOTICE ROYAL COMMISSION ON EDU CATION (Public Inquiries Act, R.S.B.C. 1960, Chapter 315) Barry M. Su llivan, Q.C. has been appointed as Commissioner with a genéral mandate to review education in the province of British Columbia, kindergarten to Public hearings will be held at grade 12 Creston, Monday, March 14, 7 p.m. (Local Time) Prince Charles Secondary School The Commissioner will receive written briefs and verbal submissions from individuals and organizations All representations to the Commission must be made either at a hearing, or by a written brief, or by letter, addressed to the Secretary. Telephone (24 Hours) Call collect (0) 660-4010 On behalf of the Commission Mr. John Walsh, Secretary Royal Commission On Education #350 - 900 Howe St., Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2M4 . Canc. 1 t. a 1 a YUM YUMS .. 1 L. JAR $988 ie 225 G. $429 CHECK OUR FLYER THAT WAS IN THE CASTLE NEWS SUN., FEB. 28 FOR OUR CASE LOT SALE AND MANY MORE SUPER SPECIALS! — ROBIN HOOD — QUICK OATS REGULAR OR WILD 225 G. $949 $169 PUDDING MIXES CHERRY, BLUEBERRY, APPLE CHOCOLATE, LEMON, CARMEL CAKE MIX 1-STEP ANGEL FOOD, WHITE, LEMON CONFETTI, OR CHOCOLATE COFFEE CAKE MIX 250 G. ea. 450 G. 99° $198 $939 — HERSHEYS — CHOCOLATE SYRUP BROWN COW INSTANT. ........... STRAWBERRY SYRUP STRAWBERRY COW. INSTANT CHOCOLATE BARS IGULAR SIZ! FAMILY SIZE BARS LICORICE TWIZZLERS STRAWBERRY. OR Y&S PARTY PACK DENTURE CLEANER $398 PALM ICE CREAM ALL FLAVORS. 21. TUB OR PAPER CARTON YOGOURT NATURAL. PLAIN OR REAL FRUIT OR LISTERMINT. 750 mi . — M LOW CALORIE EFFERDENT EXTRA STRENGTH. PURE VEGETABLE LISTERINE $319 BATHROOM CLEANERS] 69 SANTI FOAM. DISINFECTANT. . 425 G. CENTRAL FRESH PRODUCE LETTUC HEAD CALIFORNIA GROWN nerve Q , TOMATOES ORANGES sunnist LARG! SIZE $1.06/kp. . CARROTS _- 481s 5.1 OPEN SUNDAY — PRICES EFFECTIVE THURS., MARCH 3 THROUGH SUN., MARCH 6/'88 -Coutral Foods YOUR COMMUNITY AWARD WINNING FOOD STORE BUSINESS HOURS Thurs. & Fri 9e.m. to 9 p.m SUNDAY WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES. onion, #8? a.