Wednesday, February 10, 1993 & : 5 PAGE INtON ony AdrianRAESIDE or almost 50 years, it has been the great privilege of those of us who have worked at the Castlegar News to record the many events which have made this such a vibrant community. Today that privilege — and with it, the special feeling of pride that inevitably grows among people who are involved in our profession — has been revoked. We grieve this loss, for ourselves and for our faithful community. The News has remained true to the principles of journalism ever since its humble start on Aug. 7, 1947. We have challenged- this community as any newspaper should, demanding answers to pressing questions, never losing focus on those who matter — the people. Many more challenges lie ahead for this community. Sadly, though, The News will not be there to report these events as they’ unfold. Nevertheless, we urge everyone to take an interest in the affairs of this glorious city. -We must ask questions and demand answers to ensure that Castlegar lives up to its full potential. We have been silenced. You have not. Stand up and be counted. Castlegar is your community, a community we had the pleasure of serving for 46 years. Farewell. Street WALK NDP® New OF ee Sick feelings and fond friends This is a column I never ____ blast: I’ve learned a lot from wanted to write. I don’t know how to write and I don’t want to write. Monday at 4 p.m. I was in- formed that the Castlegar News was shutting its doors. Forever. Fighting the tears and seeking answers to long- standing questions, I can’t re- ally say that I am totally my- self. Instead, I feel as if a large piece of me has been lost. For- ever. There are no words that Harrison wt Comparison each and every one of you. But most importantly, I’ve learned that there is humor in everything, even the clo- sure of this newspaper. To Heather Hadly, Elaine Sallis and Mary Ann Fuller- ton, thanks for being you. My constant teasing and tasteless jokes have always been taken with a smile... thankfull: y- To Bob Proctor and Neal McKenna, I promise never can describe the sickness that has intruded me. The feelings of disillusion and sadness are unmatched by any other emo- tion I have ever felt. Even when my three-year engagement fell apart three months before an August wedding. Instead of wallowing in i eaten I feel it necessary to say a hearty thanks to those that have made my Castlegar News experience as enjoyable as it has been. To our production staff of Micky Read, Pe- ter Harvey and Tom Brodman, it’s been a to make another N&B joke again... honest. It’s been a treat to work with both of you. The measure of professionalism you both have brought to the office has been admired and appreciated. To Warren Chernoff, here’s hoping that you never have to look blurry-eyed at another phone bill again. As for your undatinting sup- port of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s time to switch to a real team. Montreal Canadiens perhaps? please see HARRISON page 7 Question: wit the federal Sovernenent: 's plan to cut down on youth’s smoking be effective? Helene Warawa Castlegar “It’s a good law, but kids will still get cigarettes.” Sandra Sawchuk Castlegar “It’s a good idea. It might help a few people.” Jason Cordeiro Castlegar “Yeah. It will prevent other people (from starting).” Fred Pudmoreff Castlegar “It might help, but kids are still going to buy cigarettes.” Sandi Simpson Glade “It will be effective as long as it’s followed through.” ———— te es SEE a OtherVIEWS ™@ Wednesday, February 10, 1993" The News Please address all letters to: Letters to the Editor Castlegar News P.O. Box 3007 Castlegar, B.C. V1N 3H4 or deliver them to 197 Columbia Ave. Letters should be typewritten, double-spaced and not longer than 300 words. Letters MUST be signed and include the writer's first and last names, address anda telephone number at which the writer can be reached between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The writer’s name and city or town of residence only will be published. Only in exceptional cases will letters be published anonymously. Even in those cases, the name, address and phone number of the writer MUST be disclosed to the editor. The News reserves the right to edit letters for brevity, clarity, legality, grammar and taste. Letters tcoWHE EDITOR Governments must respect will of the people The following is taken from my letter to Premier Mike Harcourt expressing concern for the predicament of the commercial fishermen in B.C. — and for the enormous implications of Native land claims in this province: Although I am not in any way connected with the fishing industry, I am writing to you out of concern for the commercial fishermen of our province — in their expected serious loss of livelihood because of Native land claims. I also write to express alarm over the devastating implications of these extensive land claims, with their related large scale job losses in forestry, mining and agriculture in this province. It seems that both our federal and provincial governments have forgotten that in the federal referendum of last Oct. 26th almost 70 per cent of the people of B.C. (as well as significant majorities in the other Western provinces and territories): said no to special deals for separate ethnic groups in Canada — including our Native bands. It is commendable that most of those who voted no in October have made it clear that they nevertheless have an attitude of equality and goodwill towards the Native people. Nevertheless there is no doubt in my mind that the referendum’s high-rate of rejection in B.C. was in large part out of concern over the enormity of the land claims and their related implications. It particularly distresses me that our government is not consulting the other 90 per cent of the people of this province in these crucial matters — especially those who will be affected in a highly adverse way. Unilateral actions of this sort are likely to cause desperate people to take matters into their own hands — with results that could be considerably worse than those at Oka several years ago. Please do not make unilateral, “carved- in-stone” land claim deals which will cripple the viability of our province forever. In view of the October referendum, neither our federal nor our provincial government has the mandate to do this. They do not have the right to make special deals which are not in the best interests of British Columbians. It is my belief that our present federal government — in keeping with the usual lack of interest in the West — would unfortunately not care a great deal if our entire province were to be sacrificed in the name of these land claims. I believe it is entirely possible to give the Native people the respect and consideration they deserve — as equal Canadians — without causing devastation to thousands of other people in this province. The people of Western Canada said no to special deals for separate ethnic groups in Canada. Please honor their decision. This letter is submitted with the realization that there are different viewpoints on this matter. But surely it is better to have sincere discussions now — by all British Columbians — than a dozen “Oka situations” down the road. Let’s quit the double talk and stop pretending. We want a viable and comprehensive future for our province, where every citizen is considered equal — no more and no less. Our governments have no mandate to do otherwise. H. F. Killough Castlegar Reformer’s remarks require further explanation The Reform Party candidate in Kootenay West-Revelstoke assures us in a recent letter that his party will amend the Free Trade Agreement to maintain exclusive and unre- stricted control of water in all its forms. He does not, however, give any indication how he and his party intend to make those amendments. Does Jim Gouk not realize that the Free Trade Agreement has been in place now since Jan. 1, 1989 and the NAFTA will be on the _— when parliament resumes sit- ting in February? Does Mr. Gouk truly believe that the United States will go back to the bar- gaining table with Canada to remove a bene- fit to themselves, and to renegotiate the NAF- TA so that we retain control of our water? The Liberals, like the Reform Party, have al- so said that they would renegotiate the NAF- TA and early in 1992 they defeated a motion in Dave Barrett to abrogate the Free Trade Agreement. The NDP is the only party to say we must revoke the FTA and the only party to say no to NAFTA. When the House resumes sitting in spring and NAFTA is on the agenda, leader Audrey McLaughlin has said the NDP will use every procedural means at our dispos- al to defeat or prolong the passage of this de- structive legislation. The Reform Party considers our Canadian water an export commodity. The Reform Par- ty however, gives no indication of the extent to which they would be willing to export our wa- eT Would it be to the extent of our Columbia River Treaty? Or to the tune of one million acre national Water and Power Inc. in their plans to divert the North Thompson River into the Co- lumbia River system and south to California Canadians, we must regain control over our water, our natural resources, as well as our social programs, cultural institutions and our sovereignty. We must abrogate the FTA and say no to NAFTA and build trade relationshi — on what is best for Canada and Conate Heather Suggitt NDP candidate Kootenay West-Revelstoke Amalgamation of school districts makes sense Iam bea this letter as a taxpayer. We have dollars if school districts were reorganized. School districts were formed in the early 1900s when small communities struggled to build and fund their village school. Communication and transportation were limited. All that has changed today. My suggestion is to amalgamate the school districts of Nelson, Arrow Lakes, Trail and Castlegar. There would be fewer trustees (perhaps three from each), assistant superintendents, maintenance supervisors, assistant maintenance heard how the provincial government is suffering from a lack of money. Education is one of the largest expenditures of provincial funds. Taxpayers could get more value for their tax supervisors, transportation supervisors, assistant transportation would disappear. supervisors and the list goes on. As well, when one area suff ers an industrial or residential change the “per capita” loss could be spread over a larger student population. Cross boundary disputes The Minister of Health is moving in the direction of amalgamation of services for health care as have our health professionals with the Kootenay Health Plan. Education and its administration and maintenance needs the same modernization. It will put education dollars to better use if school boards and the Ministry of Education investigate amalgamation before each school district grows so top heavy it topples. Robert Barkley Harrison To Denis ‘Crash’ Medeiros, I hope you take what I taught you, Lastly, and most importantly, the very thought that has landed hope you recover from your acci- dent because I know the van won't. Oh yeah, get a hair cut. To Jonathan Green, Neil Rachynski and Corinne Jackson, I thank you all. Seriously. Each one of Bate deserves a badge oeet > ia up with my temper tantrums, beng all ive the foun- dations for brilliant careers and I rework it and succeed in your next positions. Take heart, gang, we gave it our best shot, breaking stories instead of following them. Be true to yourselves and your stories and you will also succeed. You didn’t think I'd finish with- out my famous cliche, did you? Remember, there are no boring stories, only boring writers. Good luck friends. I want to thank the readers that have supported The News to the bitter end. I have only been a part of The News for the past 16 months, but it’s been the best 16 months of my journalism career. My future will bring new jobs and new towns, but none will compare to Castlegar. I simply won't let them. I leave you with one thought, me in more trouble than I care to remember — seek the truth, de- mand answers and never allow yourself to be snowballed by an establishment that refuses to ac- knowledge that its foremost re- sponsibility is to the public. Loyalty to a petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul. — Mark Twain