Parliasent Bldgs., Victoria, 3. C. opening Paintings and drawings of artist Pam Baker opened at the Home- stead Friday night. . . as Library, 501 wos .award: Kootenay winner Castlegor's Kelly Hurd international Junior Hockey League awards Friday night . . . 82 TOUGH QUESTIONS . . . superintendent of schools Terry Wayling (left) quizzes Aaron Kennedy about his project at the Kinnaird junior secondary (Story, A3) BY PPWC Trade issue opposed By CHERYL CALDERBANK Staff Writer Delegates to the 24th annual Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada convention in Castlegar this week voiced strong opposition to free trade with the U.S. According to a prepared PPWC re lease, delegates “expressed surprise at the lack of comment by any national leaders, on the shambles that the tax system is in now and the further deterioration that would take place under free trade.” “Capital would move out of the economy even faster than it is now,” the union said. The PPWC says it instead supports enlarging the secondary industry base “to create Canadian jobs and preserve the country’s own political and econ omic independence.” In other resolutions passed at the convention, which ended Thursday, delegates concurred with a Confeder ation of Canadian Unions brief to reduce the work week, stiffen controls of overtime and request legislation enabling early retirement and pension plans The union contends that smaller crews in the pulp industry are creating excessive overtime during a time of high unemployment The convention also addressed the spread of toxic wastes. The convention “deplored the lack of legislation by the provincial gov ernment on the safe handling and dis posal of toxic wastes in B.C.” The PPWC says the past practice of the forest industry in the disposal of polychlorinated phenols “has not been acceptable.” The union also adopted a resolution in favor of reopening a collective agreement to bargain over technologi cal change. During discussion of the resolution, it was reported that more than 30 workers in Westar's pulp mill in Prince Rupert were laid off this week and several other communities are suffer ing severe job losses as a result of economic cutbacks. The union also considered a two-tier wage structure which would see people with less time on a job paid less than an employee who has been with a company at the same job for a longer period of time. The resolution was defeated because the union said it believes in the prin ciple of equal pay for work of equal value. In other business the PPWC's national officers for 1986 were selected. All were elected by acclamation and all but one were re-elected Stan Shewaga of Nanaimo resumes the position of president. Len Snow of Kamloops is first vice-president, Bob Henderson of Prince George is second vice-president, while Ron Pritchard of Squamish was re-elected treasurer. The new occupational health and safety officer is Bruce Burn of Prince Rupert. He replaced Gary Newell of Prince George, a former Castlegar resident, who had held the position for 10 years. Fred Henton of Nanaimo was re elected national pollution officer. By CasNews Staff Representatives from Wester Timber and the Ministry of Environ- ment will be asked to speak to the Central Kootenay regional board about the company’ for Westar asked to 5s variance orders at its Celgar Pulp derpol pointed out atSaturday'sre- gional board meeting that the rural areas surrounding Castlegar suffer F ‘a ‘ LOTTERY. ‘NUMBERS The six winning numbers in Saturday's Lotto 6/49 drow were seven, 24, 28, 31, 37 and 43. The bonus number was 41. The $500,000 winning number in Friday's Provin- cial lottery draw is 1200870. There are also sub- Sign CosNews John problem columnist writes on the lack of signs in the Castlegar area... 63 2. The outlook is tor clouds ond @ few showers into mid-week. 2 Sections (A school science fair while director of instruction Lach Farrell looks on CanttensProte by Semon Bern Layoffs at Trail office By SIMON BIRCH Staff Writer Employment Canada’s Trail office will be laying off four workers at the end of August, office manager Jim Switzer confirmed Thursday “A notice of surplus has been issued to the employees.” said Switzer, who explained that under federal public service legislation first be notified th abolished before re notices. “It’s part of Treasury that a six-month notice period be given prior to all layoffs.” he The objective is to provide as much advance notice as possible.” Switzer said the four lay offs — three in Trail and one in Grand Forks, a branch of the Trail office from the employment unit which in cludes Employment Canada’s jc sellors. employees must r positions will be piving actual layoff Board policy said will come “We can't foresee any la unemployment insurance said But Switzer declined to identify specifie jobs that will be elimi the employment saying feels it is a matter of “p) “I'm not willing to say who's being laid off. It's a difficult thing for them to deal with.” Switzer said the some extra workload he said is overtime “All four pretty solid every day sectio’ sectior offs “w for a staff that | cause already working some counsellors are booked Employment Canada’s Trai! office employs between 22 and 29 full part-time workers, inc Juding two in the Grand Forks branch, Switzer Three layoffs in the Employment Canada office in Nelson upcoming, probably March 20,” said office Roddis He said the layoffs. « uled to take place on and are also “still after Jack sometime director el ferries essential By RON NORMAN Editor The Central Kootenay regional board wants the provincial ferries system declared an essential service. ‘The board agreed Saturday to write event of a strike by the B.C. Govern ment Employees’ Union. The move came after the board re ceived_a.copy.of a letter that a Glade resident sent to Premier Bill Bennett. In the letter, Christine Cross points out that the 400 Glade residents have only one access: The Ministry of Highways cable ferry across the Kootenay River. “There is no bridge or alternate route,” she says. In addition, Cross notes that the tiny community doesn't have a store. The only way to purchase essential food such as milk and bread during @ lengthy strike is to ferry it across the river in a private recreational boat That's also the only way for resi dents to get to work, she said. “Any working people either do not get to work, or must try to get a ride with someone in a small recreation boat. These people often arrive home after dark to hopefully get a ride back in a boat which, being a recreation boat, is not equipped with lights,” Cross says. Cross also telis Bennett in the letter the residents’ 50 school age children must either miss school or again be transported across the river in private pleasure crafts “often with no life jackets and in overcrowded boats.” “Because of the lack of safety, most of us do not send our children,” she added Cross says the provincial Essentia Services Act states that if there is any JOHN VOYKIN agrees danger ot life or limb, or any disruption in education, “the service causing the problem should be declared essential.” Therefore, she contends the Glade ferry should be an essential service Area I director John Voykin agrees. “Certainly, these people have prob- lems whenever there is a government employees’ strike,” he told the regional board. Area E director Wally Penner sug gested the timing is right for a letter from the board because the province is currently engaged in contract negoti ations with the BCGEU and could in clude the ferry system as part of the contract talks. RDCK wants gov't to take responsibility By CasNews Staff The Central Koo board wants the provincial government enay regional to assume responsibility for damages to residential water supplies stemming from mining. logging or recreational use of watersheds. Area J director Martin Vanderpol explained to the regional board day that presently if a logging company damages the water quality, local water atur users must seek compensation from the company through the courts The provincial government should automatically reimburse water and then seek compensation from the Vanderpol suggest users logging company. ed He added that since the provincial government issues licenses for water shed users, it should have the respon sibility should something go wrong 1 think it censing of forest companies in water sheds.” Vanderpol said What will stop unlimited li we are trying to ensure that people get proper drinking water and not mud Logging in watersheds is-a bone of contention in the Slocan Valley where Sleoan Forests Products wants to log in several watersheds Howe valley water users are will not be able to panies responsible er concerned tht they hold the forest co should water ality deteriorate be cause of the logging Area F director Dave Pearce sug nstead of putting the respon hands of the ning companies could province, a bond. rejected the sugg estion, pointing out that his intent is to ask sibility Vanderpol he government to assume respon not tell it how to do it It's up to them to decide,” if bonding the best method, Vanderpol said ion will go to the Association Boundary Municipalities and the Union of B.C. Municipalities for