“Many elderly Canadians live in poverty. Many ethers suffer a signi- ficant dectine in their standard of living inflation erodes their incomes. Our pension system is failing our elderly.” — NDP MP Ted Miller in his minority report on pension reform After nine months of deliberations, meetings and public forums from coast-to-coast, the all-party Parliamen- tary Task Force on Pension Reform tabled its findings and recommenda tions in the House of Commons on Dec. 15, 1983. On the “findings” side of the ledger, all committee members seemed to agree. Too many Canadians are not covered by our pension system, and a significant number of those who are these private plans to meet the re- tirement needs of Canadians, thereby endorsing the present patchwork pen- sion system which lets so many people slip. through the cracks into abject poverty. The task force refused to endorse the view of virtually every labor and women's group which made presen- tations at the hearings. These groups said we must expand the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to ensure Certified General 270 Columbia Ave. for all at a reasonable income level in their senior years. The CPP is presently designed to provide a level of only 25 per cent of pre-retirement earnings for average Canadians, but again, the Committee which was supposed to propose solu- tions to such problems refused to rec- MARKIN & BLAIN Certified General A MOROSO, ommend a major increase jin pensions within the public pension system. The elderly of Canada deserve a 241 Columbia Ave. covered receive inad Pp ns, which leave them in squalor and poverty in their “golden years.” If the task force mandate had simply been to catalogue these pensions inad equacies, then my colleague Ted Miller (Nanaimo-Alberni), the only NDP MP on the task force, probably wouldn't have felt compelled to issue a minority report. But that was not the mandate of this committee. The challenge facing the Parliamen- tary Task Force on Pension Reform was to chart a future course for pension reform which would eliminate these inadequacies for the current and future elderly. In this task the Liberal and Conservative majority failed miserab- ly. 4 Only half of men and fewer than one-third of women in the paid work. force are presently covered by private oceupational pension plans. These plans rarely have full inflation protec- tion, they provide inferior post-retire- ment benefits and lack complete por- tability from job to job. Even knowing this, the task force supported a continued emphasis on that they will never have to Castlegar live below the poverty line. Adherence to that basic principle is what made it Ph. 365-7287 impossible for New Democrats to suppoHt the half-solutions contained in the final report. The task force was given hundreds of i i graphic examples of the inadequate Soligo, Koide and unacceptable treatment provided & John elderly Canadians. It quite simply “I’m starting my vacation tomorrow, so I'll leave you 14 newspapers.”’ * Doulton * Wedgewood * Royal Albert 1355 Cedar, Trall 368-9533 ca Quality Wholesale Plumbing & Heating Sypplies Complete installations & Professional advice Commercial & Industrial 1008 Columbie Ave. 365-3388 __ -PRATERS CasNews Printing Letterheads, & Envelopes ( ASK CHES OR JOHN FOR BEAUMARK THE MACHINE heQSa NTH B.E.W.C. TO PRIVIDE ALL PAI . APPLIANCES " AND ALL SERVICE FOR THE ee a lacked the political will to deal Chartered completely with the problems placed hefteel it: P 615 Columbia Ave. I, and my colleagues in the NDP, will continue the fight to ensure that our Castlegar Phone 365-7745 senior citizens get the good treatment and the pension benefits they have earned and justly deserve. I would be pleased to supply any of my constitutents with copies of the Report of the Parliamentary Task Force on Pension Reform as well as the Report on the NDP Task Force on Older Women. Please address inquiries to: Lyle Kristiansen MP Henry John, B.Sc., C.A. ‘Resident Partner Russell Auctions 399-4793 Thrums Buy or Sell by Auction @ __ SMNEYS km =—- RUMFORD soca —KOOTENAY'S— PLACE Ottawa ‘Remember, no postage is required BEST Super Sweep on letters to your MP. bromnce of Mursary of ran Comumola Forest NOTICE OF FEDERAL /PROVINCIAL TO BE FINANCED BY ENVI CANADIAN FORESTRY SERVICE AND THE BRITISH COLUMBIA OTTAWA TOOK PART IN MIND ALTERING TESTS VANCOUVER (CP)—The _In order to “reorganize the CONTRACT PROJECT(S) | Canadian government know- behavior” of human guinea ingly sponsored research in pigs, they say, fresh infor- CANDA- | which unsuspecting patients mation was programmed into were used as guinea pigs in their brainwashed minds mind-altering MINISTRY OF FORESTS | Y&2'8 before the U.S. Central implant” tapes. pp Consignments * Coin-Operated Machines * Industrial Laur NEW APPLIANCES WE SELL: experiments through the‘ use of “dynamic UNDER THE INTENSIVE Intelligence Agency became They add that some pati itchemAid. FOREST MANAGEMENT | involved, federal documents ents whose brains resisted by SUBSIDIARY show. AGREEMENT (IFMSA) the implants were forced into From 1950 to 1964, the de- artificial comas with drugs, | WhiteWestinghouse Sealed tenders for the] partments of health and wel- or their resistance was low- following residual falling con: tracts will be received by the istry of Forests, 1002 that fare poured $500,000 into a ered through senzory depri- MA VENN-AIR regional/district manager, | Montreal psychiatric clinic vation in isolation chambers. d brainwash The show Ot WE ALSO SERVICE: M 3rd St., Castlegar, VIN 3x6, B.C., on the dates shown below projects. located: Moberly Creek Forest District: Arrow, on 10 hectares. Viewing Date: | suing the U.S. government for $1 million each over the tawa gave grants to Cam- CIA part in the program. eron’s laboratory at McGill February 15, 1984, leaving Castlegar Field Office at 10:00 .m. Viewing of this site prior to submitting a itid is man- datory. Deadline tor Receipt February 22, 1984. Contract: RF 83 NO5-002 Forest District: Arrow, on 12 hectares. Viewing Dote February 15, 1984. Leaving Castlegar Field Otfice at 10:00 to submitting a bid i datory. Deadline for receipt of tenders is 2:00 p.m. February 2 Tenders must be submitted on the form and in the envelopes supplied which, with par- ticulars, may be obtained trom the Ministry of Forests district or regional manager But the Vancouver Prov- of tenders is: 2:00 p.m.,] ince says that documents ob- tained under the Access to [ocated. Moberly Creek, | Information Act show Ot- ‘The - Detence Research tawa knew that patients in Dr. D. Ewen Cameron's pro- grams were sometimes put to sleep for several weeks, and é : given electric abiccke tothe __t Teports to the Canedian brain to study the effects on memory loss. The documents say that in produce memory loss. brainwashing tests, taped The government was also a messages were played to told that Cameron planned to MUL an ag AL patients for up to for 16 hours use insulin coma, nitrous Kenmore, Inglis, tawa knew some of the pro- Hotpoint, etc., ete. ‘The CIA provided $64,000 grams were purely experi Castlegar Plumbing Contract: RF 83 NOS5-001.} from 1957 to 1961. Nine Canadians are now treating the patients. mental and had no value in & Heating Ltd. 1008 Columbia Ave. 365-3388 Thé papers show how Ot- Cy APPLIANCES MAYTAG Chimney Services Ltd. * Complete Masonry Work * Chimney Lining © Certified Fire Satety Inspections 1406 Columbia Ave 365-6141 TOP QUALITY CLOTHING INFLATION FIGHTER PRICES NEARLY NEW SHOP 776 Rossiand Ave., Trail Phone 368-3517 Clothes taken on consignment. University, and helped him buy tape recorders and mov. ie cameras for experiments. Board, responsible for sci entific research for military use, also supplied equipment and funds. F. PIRSH CONTRACTING 2045 Columbia Ave., Trail * Renovations stom-built kitchen cabinets Ph. 368-5911 government, Cameron said how he and his staff used electric shocks to the brain to y the British Columbia Ministry of Forests. months. ents faced the tapes for 34 other chemicals for experi- a acca ty | paint Shours use, insulin coma, nitrous TMM gO The work will be | straight days, and some pati- potent sleep drug — and 412 Borast ments on the mind. 365-5451 How To:‘Start Your Own Business WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 7:00 P.M. TO 10:00 P.M. 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Textures and hand-stipple ceilings FREE ESTIMATES 367-7756 ~ advertising he most respec- the moving Ph. 365-3328 Collect >See || PIANO TUNING UROR)_ FUNERAL CHAPEL |] — rvtetered crattemon TERRY HALLERAN Nelson 3532-5606 Atfordable Prices TERRA NOVA MOTOR INN 1001 Rossland Ave. , Trail Reservations 364-2222 THE COLANDER SPAGHETTI HOUSE Specializing in ltalian cu’ For Reservations Phone 364-1816 ate Te Avenue COLEMAN COUNTRY BOY SERVICE Sump & Septic Tank Pumping Phone 365-5013 3400 - 4th Avenue Castlegar Granite, Marble and MM: L LeRoy OMETRIST p.m. 2 noon PROFESSIONAL Tree Topping. Shaping. Removal & Fruit Tree Pruning LT. (Tim) ALLAN B.S¢.0.D. OPTOMETRIST 366 Boker $t. Nelson, B.C. Ph. 352-5152 — Soles — Service Filter Queen Stan Harding Jr. 693-2369 By ADRIAN CHAMBERLAIN Statt Writer A 1984 budget which includes cutting five teaching positions and one non-teaching position was made public Tuesday by the Castlegar school board. costs students. For each student lost, the district loses $3,585 in provineial funding. And the outlook isn’t any rasier for 1986. Castlegar school district enrolment will drop by about 75 more students next year, according to Ministry of Education projections. ‘That means the district will receive about $265,000 less CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1964 3 Sections (A, B & C) Wayling said the district has “been able to avoid reducing staff this year, and hopes to be able to keep it up until June.” In a press release, the Castlegar school board gives the “final 1984 operating budget” as being $8,874,035. But this includes a 1983 “operating surplus” of $230,000 — much of which will be used to pay things like severance own $330,000 1983: about one teacher to 16.21 students, compared to one teacher to 16.135 students last year. “It is our hope we will affect the least amount of youngsters by maintaining the PTR (pupil-teacher ratio),” explained Wayling. He said “nothing specific” has yet been planned regard ing the cutting of special programs — such as the French The basic 1984 operating budget — the bulk of which goes to pay for teachers’ salaries — is nearly $8.5 million ($8,492,355), down about $86,000 or one per cent from the 1983 level. The one per cent reduction is part of the provincial restraint program, which calls for a one per cent drop in the basic operating budget every year. In total, the school district will receive about $330,000 less this year than in 1983, because enrolment is down by 69 Pememmme FIGHT FOR CASTLEGAR FERRY CONTINUES jum By CasNews Staff Highways Minister Alex Fraser has a list of all Interior ferry routes, but hasn't yet made a decision which ones to shut down, Mayor Audrey Moore said Tuesday. Moore told Castlegar council she met with Fraser for about a half hour earlier in the week to convey concern about the announced clo- sure of the Castlegar-Robson ferry. “T would like to think I made some progress,” she said. She added that Fraser is aware of the ferry’s history and the fact that Keenleyside Dam road is not always kept open. In addition, she pointed out to him that there is a three- minute delay on the dam road be- cause of the traffic light there. She confirmed that the Castlegar ferry is on Fraser's list, but also that the list indicated the ferry “is one of program. FERRY PETITION . . . Robson resident Mary Kinakin collects signature Rob: for their 1985 basit operating budget, in addition to another drop of $85,000 — or one per cent as part of the restraint And the same trend of eliminating about five teaching positions will probably.continue in 1985, and even into 1986, if the government restraint program continues, said district schools superintendent Terry Wayling. “But that's pure speculation,” he added. ferry. Petitions have also been ea from Kevin New for petition against closure of Castleg ferry. Robson residents collected hundreds of signatures on the Still no decision on ferry the . . . less expensive to operate.” Moore said the ferry is also one of the most heavily travelled Interior ferries. She made the comments during a presentation by the newly-formed Robson ad hoc committee to pre- serve the ferry. Council agreed to write a letter supporting continued ferry service. The two-person delegation con- sisted on Hank Cameron and Bill Marks. Cameron explained that each committee member was assigned a specific area to cover, such as economic ramifications and safety problems, should the ferry be dis- continued. He said the committee plans to compile the information Saturday and send it to Victoria in the form of a brief. The ferry service will have a devastating effect on tourism, es. pecially because the ferry is con sidered “an attractive asset,” Cam eron said. He noted the ferry provides much needed access to health and rec- reational resources in Castlegar and teenagers will be forced to hitchhike to town or wait for a ride from parents in order to attend athletic or social programs. “This is basically one community, even though it is djvided up into ++. Seven or eight names,” Cameron said. Meanwhile, Marks said the CPR foot bridge has been suggested as an alternative for pedestrian traffic. He said the ad hoc committee made a tour of, the bridge earlier Tuesday. “Many of these planks are burnt,” posted in downtown Castlegar pay, early retirement payments, and the increased costs of personal benefits, said secretary-treasurer John Dascher. _garten students. An additional $127,875 included in the 1984 operating budget represents expenses such as teachers on leave and reimbursed by the Department of Nati expenses that in previous years were in a separate budget called “non-operating.” al Defence, Bridge in works for island park CasNews Phoote by Chery! Colderbonk Marks said and many support beams and boards on the outside railing are split. Pathways leading to the bridge on both sides have “very steep em- bankments,” he added, making it difficult for seniors or handicapped to use the foot bridge. As well, there are no lights on the bridge and access from the Robson side is through private property. Marks pointed out that without the ferry there will be more traffic along Broadwater Road, in addition to more pedestrians and hitch- hikers. Meanwhile, Cameron agreed with Moore's earlier statement about the heavy use of the ferry. He said the ferry is “the most heavily travelled in B.C." other than the ferries to Vancouver Island. continued on poge A2 FOR 17TH STREET INTERSECTION Two new traffic lights planned By CasNews Staff There will be two new traffic lights installed near Columbia Ave. and 17th St., not one as was originally an- nounced, Castlegar council disclosed Tuesday. Igor Zahynacz, public works super- intendent, said one set of lights will go in at the Columbia Ave. and 17th St. intersection and the other just north of the railway. crossing on Columbia Ave. Originally, only the light at the 17th St. intersection was announced. How- even, Zahynacz explained that the sec- ond Jight is to ensure that southbound traffic stopped for the light at the 17th St. intersection does not back up over the railway crossing. He added that the two lights will be synchronized so that the light at the railway crossing will turn red before the light at the intersection. Thus, southbound ears will have to stop before the railway tracks and cars that made it through the light will have time to make it through the 17th St. intersection light. Zahynacz said the two traffic lights further south on Columbia Ave. will not be synchronized with the new lights, but “have the potential to be interconnected.” As well, council indicated in its works and services committee meeting that it will monitor the intersection after the installation. Meanwhile, council’ will investigate installing timed traffic lights at the Columbia Ave. and 6th St. intersection. Ald. Bob Pakula said he has received several complaints that the light at the intersection turns red for Columbia Ave. traffie when there isn’t any traffic on 6th St. He pointed out that the traffic light at the intersection of Columbia Ave. and 8rd St. is put on flashing amber at night to speed up traffic flow. Pakula suggested at the very least the lights at 6th St. should be placed on flashing amber in the evening. Council agreed and will have the lights placed on flashing amber after 7 p.m. and will look at how much it will cost to install timed lights. ‘Timed traffic lights are activated when a vehicle passes over a wire in the pavement. For cars on 6th St. the lights then turn’green for a certain time, allowing cars to get through. Otherwise, the light remains red. Mayor Audrey Moore noted that timed lights are used on highway intersections and could be used for 6th St. traffic. cinside By RON NORMAN Editor The Castlegar Heritage Advisory Committee Tuesday revealed plans for a pedestrian suspension bridge con necting Zuckerberg Island Park with the mainland. The cable bridge will measure 100 metres long and about a metre wide, committee chairman John Charters told Castlegar council. Charters said the committee has approached the 44th Field Engineering Squadron in Trail to design and con- Photo, story AS struct the bridge as part of a squadron exercise. He said committee members met this week with Maj. George Perkin, squad- ron commanding officer, and Perkin “appeared very happy with what we had to offer.” “I think we came to an understand. ing,” Charters said. However, the squadron has not yet agreed to take on the project. The squadron is looking at two other projects in the area — one in Warfield and another in Fruitvale. Charters said the heritage commit- tee has drafted a formal request and asked council to draft a similar request and letter of support. Council agreed to the request. But there’s one catch. The com. munity must come up with the materials or money for materials to construct the bridge. Charters explained that if the squadron funds the bridge materials, the bridge must be destroyed after its completion. “If it comes out of government funds, program and the Russian immersion program for kinder But he said teacher reductions could determine which special programs are dropped if any Wayling said the schgol board would look to schools with falling enrolments for “staff reductions.” continued on poge A2 they are required to blow (the bridge) up. Ald. Bob MacBain, who also met with Perkin and squadron officers, con- firmed that the bridge must be des. troyed if the squadron funds the con- struction. He added that the squadron hopes to assemble the bridge in just 16 hours after the footings are in place. “They're most energetic about t! MacBain also noted that the squad ron’s annual inspection is due and the squadron plans to construct the bridge as a field exercise which is part of the inspection. MacBain said the city may have to absorb only minor costs for materials. However, Charters indicated that the committee may be able to raise material donations from local busi- nesses. In his formal letter to Perkin, Charters notes, “We also have a num- ber of larger industrial and manufac turing firms in the area. They have been most generous in-donating con- struction materials for public projects in the past and I am sure that they would do so again if called upon.” Charters said in an interview that the bridge would probably go in to the right of the creek outfall on the mainland and connect at the island's southern point. In his letter to Perkin he says the high banks and extensive foreshore approaches “would be an ideal working area for a bridge building operation.” Meanwhile, Charters also reported that the committee met Monday night to consider immediate work to be done on the restoration of the island build- ings. CITIZEN OF YEAR: Longtime Castlegar resident Steve Jankola has been selected Castlegar’s Citizen of the Year for 1983. Jankolo’s list of ac- complishments is impresive. A retired Cominco employee, he is active in the Castlegar Selkirk Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus, and was at various times an alderman for both: Kinnaird and Castlegar. Jonkola also helped construct the Old Arena and the south Castlegar firehall, along with many other community projects. He will be presented with a plaque at a special dinner ceremony Tuesday. Tickets for the dinner are still available from CKQR Radio and Phar- masave. decision to Czechoslovakia t VALENTINE FUN: Honeygrams are the wave of the future — at least onFeb.14...A3 SERIES DEADLOCKED: Castlegar Rebels best of five playoff series with Nelson Jr. Maple Leafs is tied at one game apiece following Tuesday night's loss in Nelson... BI SPRING HAS SPRONG: The first pussy willows were spotted this week in Ootischenia. Is spring just around the corner? .. . B4 TOUGH LOSS: Canada’s Olympic hockey team dropped a 4-0 jay at the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo. The Czechs held a 2-0 lead after the first period, thou: the Canadians held them scoreless in the middle frame. The pretty well ends Canada's chances of a gold or silver medal. ue