News July 7, 1990 July7,1990 CastlegarNews A3 Secee LOCAL/PROVINCIAL NEWS LOCAL NEWS Slide inquiry called By CLAUDETTE SANDECKI Staff Writer The Slocan Valley Watershed way, McCrory said. Ian Hamann, harvest operations manager for the Arrow forest district, was unavailable for comment on the stide stiidies today. inquiry that ocourréd — mone B.C. this spring, including the Slocan Valley. The two groups, who say clearcut logging is the cause of the slides, “‘want to see a very competent study team with no vested interest’’ in the logging industry study the slides and determine the cause as well as provide recommendations on how such slides can be avoided in the future, a mem- ber of the Valhalla Society said. The groups would like to have in- put into the terms of reference of the study and want to see public hearings conducted, Wayne McCrory said. The Ministry of Forests, which conducted studies of the Slocan Valley slides that closed part of Highway 6 for several days in May, “‘ean’t be considered objective’’ because the ministry sanctioned the logging on the slopes above the high- The of two studies commissioned by Slocan Forest Products, which did the logging in the areas where the slides occurted, also cannot be considered independent assessments, the group says. One of the studies said logging and logging practices had little to do with the slides. “There is no evidence that road engineering or skid road design had any part in the initiation of the four debris torrents,”’ one report said. “‘It is evident that the four debris torrents were natural geological oc- currences initiated by record peak water flows. Notwithstanding the harvesting activity, these events would have. occurred given the com- bination of climatic and soil factors.”” The alliance and the society sent a letter last week to Forests Minister Claud Richmond outlining the proposal for an inquiry and the minister has not yet replied, McCrory said. Terry Dods, divisional manager of Slocan. Forest Products, said he is said he believes will be unbiased. “They would have no compun- ction to hang us”’ if the report found SFP to be at fault, Dods said, referring to the Forest Service. If the ministry considers it necessary to conduct a public inquiry, SFP would be willing to cooperate, he said. “If there was a public inquiry on every mudslide or every problem in the province there would be nothing but an ongoing set of public inquiries, Dods said. McCrory said the inquiry is needed because ‘‘the implications of this (the number of slides that occured this for year) province-wide are extremely us.” serious. “It has serious implications for all people who live in these steep moun- tain areas."” -Crory, a long-time Valley ‘een the Slocan Valley does ‘ory of serious slide ac- ‘tivity before clearcut logging began in the area. And, fi sidan a citizen- sromenet BRIEFLY 7 From Wire Service Parton appointed to task force VICTORIA — Vancouver newspaper columnist Nicole Parton has been appointed to lead a B.C. government task force on day care expansion. Paton, who will be a Social Credit candidate in the next provincial election, said the is not “Day care shouldn't be a political issue and I want to take the politics out of that right this second,”’ she said. **] have researched day care at considerable length and at one point wrote three columns in a row a year ago about day care to the point that my managing editor asked me to stop writing on this subject.” Parton took leave from the Sun after she d her to seek political office. study, tified the need Vd better perviorant for logging and better forestry plan- ning in the area, as well as documen- ting sensi areas in the valley, he Said, However, the ministry and the forest companies have not heeded the recommendations of the Slocan Valley Forest Management Study, McCrory said. He noted a second study, known as thé Slocan Valley Planning Study, from which Valhalla Provincial Park was created, iden- tified many of the same concerns as the first study. BRIDGE WORK —CosNews photo from across B.C. are in Castlegar resurfacing the bridge at the 22 The work is expected to be completed in about 10 days, but the bridge remains open to traffic. Welder Gary Blackwood of Campbell River and a whole crew of Department of Celgar study on track By CasNews Staff The Castlegar and District Cham- ber of Commerce has collected about 75 per cent of the $50,000 it wants to raise from local business people to prepare a socio-economic impact study on the Celgar Pulp Co. expan- sion proposal, chamber president Jim Craig said. ““We've been pretty impressed” with the amount of money raised so far, Craig said. The chamber announ- ved its requiest for funds about two ‘weeks ago. “There’s been a good response from the business community,’’ he said. ; The chamber has hired a consultant to prepare the study and expects it to be completed by Aug. 15, a few weeks before the recently appointed federal- provincial review panel is expected to hold public hearings on the expansion proposal, Craig said. The chamber plans to submit its study to the panel. Proposal continued from front pege specialists are now in control of 72 airports, in Canada and operate 46 airports, including Castlegar, jointly with air traffic controllers, Denis said. He said FSS personnel have taken over completely from traffic contr- ollers in a number of airports across the country. FSS BCMA to meet premier VANCOUVER (CP) — Premier Bill Vander Zalm will meet with the new president of the B.C. Medical Association next week to discuss the deadlock in doctors’ contract negotiations. Dr. Hedy Fry said she is scheduled to meet Vander Zalm next Wednesday in Victoria. “*] asked the premier in ~ my inaugural address to meet so we could find a solution to this problem that is acceptable to both sides,"’ Fry said. Arrow Builders Prices effective July 9-22 Fields Prices effective July 11-22 Overwaitea Prices effective July 8-14 Shoppers Prices Effective July 10-14 SuperValu Prices Effective July 8-14 Thunderbird Sale Ends July 30 Zellers Prices Effective July 11-15 Net alt tyere receive tull distribution. Hf you did not receive one of these and would like to do so, please ‘our Circulation Department at “And yesterday we heard that he would be willing ta meet with us... I have to feel optimistic — one must feel optimistic when one meets with the premier of the province.”” Fry said while the meeting hinges on the results of today’s negotiating sessions between doctors and the government, she is eager to ‘‘discuss ongoing issues’” with Vander Zalm regardless of the current outcome. Earlier this week, Vander Zalm said he would be willing to meet Fry to discuss the doctors’ fee dispute. who have repeatedly ion to settle 15-month dispute, have threatened to begin direct billing of patients, but Fry said that decision will depend on the premier’s response to the deadlock. This week, about 6,000 doctors throughout the province received a 26-page direct billing guide from the association. are only lified to take over from air traffic controllers at airports where aircraft traffic is light, Proulx said. LOTTERIES The six-month study will cost less than $100,000, said Carol Gran, the minister responsible for women’s programs. Parton will be paid only for her expenses, she said. The task force will number 15 people. Phone status causes concerns _ VANCOUVER — Some home computer buffs who operate bulletin boards are concerned that B.C. Tel is going to raise the status of their home telephone rates from a residential to business category. A hike being considered would about double the average monthly residential rate of $13 to $14, a B.C. Tel representative said. The pany said it was i home bulletin ~ boartf rates. Residential bulletin boards offer software exchanges, information and notices for computer buffs who dial up the service using telephone modems and their own personal computers. Ellen Mark, B.C. Tel’s regulatory and customer services manager, said the utility was investigating the issue because it felt some bulletin boards might not fall into the residential-ratt category. “A is only for and family purposes,’’ she said. Funds set aside for clinic KELOWNA — The B.C. government has delivered on a pledge to provide advance funding for a cancer cli Kelowna. Health Minister John Jansen has set aside $350,000 in planning funds for the clinic, said Larry Chalmers, an Okanagan Social Credit legislator. The money will be used to hire a consultant to help prepare plans for the facility. ‘Chalmers said he’s pleased with the announcement, and will hold the government to its promise of a full-service clinic in Kelowna. Concerns have been raised about the Kelowna clinic after the government announced plans to open another clinic in Kamloops in 1992. The Kelowna facility is scheduled to open in 1996, but Chalmers says that date may be moved forward. Uses for new act suggested VICTORIA — Premier Bill Vander Zalm said the B.C. government’s new Referendum Act could be used to decide issues like constitutional reform. The act would allow the g to conduct ona wide range of issues, but Vander Zalm said he doesn’t currently have anything in particular in mind. The NDP said the government could manipulate the vote by carefully choosing the wording on the referendums. Critics also have said the government could avoid making politically sensitive or unpopular decisions by taking issues to a vote. Premier Bill Vander Zalm dismissed those concerns, saying the referendum act provides a much higher level of democracy. The legislation requires a vote of 51 per cent for a referendum to become binding. NDP unknowingly aids minister VICTORIA — Environment Minister John Reynolds got a straight man from an unusual source. Environment critic John Cashore wanted to know in the legislature this week when Reynolds will release a long-promised list of industrial polluters. He said the promise was first made more than 15 months ago by Reynolds’ predecessor and repeated by him. “‘Has the minister finally decided to quit stalling and release that list today?’’ Cashore asked. “I couldn’t have planted that question any better with one of my colleagues,’’ Reynolds replied. ‘I’m pleased to tell the whole house that I’ll be releasing that information at 9 o'clock next Tuesday morning.” While question period is usually taken up with NDP Opposition queries aimed at putting the government on the spot, occasionally Social Credit backbenchers quiz the government on issues designed to show it in a good light. Plastic holders now returnable VANCOUVER — Liquor stores in British Columbia are now The winning numbers drawn Thur- sday in the B.C. Keno lottery were 2, 11, 18, 21, 27, 28, 38 and 43. The winning numbers in Wed- nesday’s Lotto 6/49 draw were 2, 8, 11, 25, 45 and 47. The bonus number was 24. The four Extra numbers were 17, 29, 90 and 91. The B.C. Keno numbers were 3, 9, 22, 23, 31, 36, 37 and 41. In the event of a discrepancy, the official lists will prevail. the return of plastic six-pack can holders as a public service. The plastic yokes, used to secure six-packs of canned beer and soft drinks, are considered a threat to land and sea animals when improperly discarded. The B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch said liquor stores will accept the can holders regardless of origin and there is no deposit or return involved. Parents protest dual entry RICHMOND — About 40 parents crowded into Premier Bill Vander Zalm’s constituency office Wednesday to protest a new dual- entry system for kindergarten. Vander Zalm was in Victoria, but the parents left a petition protesting the new system. “*All the children should be allowed to start in September,” said Gerry Morden, speaking for the parents and tots jammed into the office Closure continued from front pege ministries. retired and living in Sardis, B.C. he said. plaii strategy with them, he said. 365-7266 They couldn’t agree on how the centres should be funded or who should get the credit for the work the centres were doing, said Doug Glover, who is now The development centre was a neutral body with a mandate to serve the entire region including Trail, the Slocan Valley and Nelson. It was not affiliated or biased toward any city, area or business organization, The development centre helped individuals start small businesses by counselling them on the details of Preparing a business plan, the kind of attitude needed to run a small business and which government agencies can help with specific aspects of setting up a business, such as finding a location, Glover ex- ined. “We had people coming in who had very little money, had lost their jobs and wanted to do something and they wanted to start a small business,”’ he said. Many of the centre’s clients did not have money to pay an accountant or laywer to discuss business “‘Accountants and lawyers are not really there to give business advice,’ The centre also counselled business people who wanted to expand or buy another business, those facing possible bankruptcy, and inventors seeking patents or trademarks, he said. About.100 jobs per year were created as a result of the work the centre did in the Kootenay region, Glover said. Lee said the centre saw about 700 clients seeking business advice during the 1988-89 year. “‘We didn’t believe in doing things for them (clients) or they’d never learn,’’ Glover said, ex- plaining the centre’s philosophy of providing advice and pointing people in the right direction. And no organization in the area has been able to take over from the development centre since it shut down, lie said. “*No one is doing what we were doing. Absolutely no one is doing it."’ Glover is also critical of the Federal Business Development Bank which he says is “‘not interested in small business at all’’ although it claims to be. “They don’t cater ‘to the needs of the people of the Kootenays,”’ he said. * Glover noted. in the suburb of “*We've never been told why it can’t be done.”” ; Under the new rules, which start in September, children who turn five before Oct. 31 start kindergarten in September. Children born in November and December must wait until the January following their fifth birthday to start school. The old rules allowed all children to start kindergarten in September of the year they turned five. Education Minister Tony Brummet has refused to discuss changing the system. Few concerned about dual entry By CasNews Staff Some parents in the Castlegar School, district have inquired about when their children can start kin- dergarten once the dual-entry Program is implemented across the Province this fall. But there have been no strong objections to the new system, superintendent of schools Terry Wayling said, “*We have had several inqui but No strong concerns,"” Wayling said. Some parents with children born in November and December have questioned why their children will have to wait until January to start School this school year but no letters of protest have been received by the school board or the superintndent’s office and none has been sent to the Ministry of Education from the Castlegar area, Wayling said. The board has told concerned Parents that the Castlegar school district will follow the new School Act which includes the dual-entry system and the ungraded primary program, he added. Wayling noted a similar date problem existed with the old system because children born in early January were unable to start school until a year after they reached school age. Dual entry means the problem is “*somewhat reduced’’ now, he said. Parents in some areas in B.C., in- cluding Trail and the Lower Mainland, have expressed strong ob- jections to the new system which for- ces children born late in the year to wait four months to start school. A parent goalition in the Lower Mainland has announced plans to pressure Education Minister Tony Brummet to amend the legislation on dual entry. Calling the 1990-91 school year a “transition” year,” Wayling said Castlegar children born between Jan. 1 and the end of October will be able to start school in September to ensure no children are left out of the new system. Then, in the following years, children born between May | and Oct. 31 will start school in September and children born between Nov. | and April 30 will start school if, January, he explained. Wayling said there seems to be more concern in the Castlegar district over how kindergarten students will exit the first-year program and con- tinue on to the rest of the ungraded primary program rather than how children will enter kindergarten. For example, .Russian bilingual teacher Lucy Alimkulov wonders how kindergarten students who start in January will adapt to a classroom full of children who already have half a year of Russian instruction, Wayling said. The school district staff is working on both the dual-entry program and the new upgraded-primary system and there are no answers yet on exactly how the programs will operate. I'M OVER HERE! hie tried always to be th Th it the BCTV s Young Celebrity G MF ORE Re ntre of attention as the master of ceremonies at the Jim onT y ai and District Golf Club. But even McKeachie sometimes had to fight for the eactighe with all the sports pbhrubveset who showed up. — costiews photo NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS TOURIST ALERT VANCOUVER (CP) — Tourist Alert issued by the RCMP. The following people, believed travelling in British Columbia, are asked to call the person named for an urgent per- sonal message: John Peters Norman Cecil, Anchorage, Alaska, Cecil Jim Kerr, Richmond, call Winifred : call Joyce Aysan and Brian Snook, Wash., call Ella Snyder Kerr Donald don Chalmers. and Mary Heinrichs, Saskatoon, Sask., call Linda Andrews Joan Mann, Nelson, call Shirley Clarence and Lois Vaughan, Hope call Katheline Haroldson or Carol Clifford Aysan, Gibbons, alta, Sheila Keel, Cache Creek, call Gor- BRIEFLY From Wire Service figures released Thursday. electoral officer of Canada. the country’s defence minister said demonstration outside an air base. he said. country in Europe. “‘The Albanian authorities . Albanian news agency ATA. competition from the West. recognized In 1988, a federal election year, Canadian i and special interest groups gave slightly more than $57 million to political parties, say the figures from Jean-Pierre Kingsley, the chief Party contributions down OTTAWA — Contributions to Canadian political parties dropped by more than $20 million last year to about $37 million, according to Gorbachev asked to speak NATO calls for pact as summit meet ends LONDON (CP) — NATO leaders ended a two-day summit by inviting Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to address the western alliance in Brussels and calling on the Warsaw Pact to sign a non-aggression But the figures showed Canadians had less inclination in a non- election year to dip into their pockets for politics. Contributions to the federal Conservatives dipped to $13.8 million in 1989, down from about $24.5 million in 1988. East German tension increasing EAST BERLIN — Tension is rising between impoverished Soviet troops based in East Germany and increasingly resentful local people, Never much loved by East Germans, Soviet troops now face the unrestrained resentment of people fed up with decades of noisy exercises, troop movements and low-flying military aircraft. Defence Minister Rainer Eppelmann told a televised session of parliament there has already been one violent incident in which East Germans threw bottles and stones at Soviet troops during a ‘*We are facing a very big problem of great political dimensions,”’ There have been other protests outside bases belonging to the Western Group of Soviet Forces, as the contingent of 360,000 to * 380,000 soldiers stationed here is officially called. Albanians jump embassies VIENNA — Hundreds of Albanians are jumping foreign embassies in the capital of Tirana even after their authoritarian Communist government pledged to issue them travel papers, diplomats said. The Albanian Foreign Ministry promised to grant passports to the Their final communique also. in- vited other Eastern European leaders to visit NATO headquarters ‘‘for us to share with them our thinking and deliberations in this historic period of change.’’ At the same time, the Soviet Foreign Ministry announced that NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner will begin a visit to Moscow on July 14. It will be the first such visit by the head of the western allian- ce. Woerner was invited by the Soviet government, said ministry spokesman Gennady Gerasimov. “‘Today’s meeting begins putting a new face on the alliance,’’ Woerner told a news conference in London. **We are building a new Europe.”’ reaching adjustments to their military alliance in keeping wi ne political order in Europe As he left the summit, Pr Minister Brian Mulroney said the session had substantially changed NATO and should reassure the Soviet Union. “It fundamentally alliance with a new vocation,” he said. The NATO communique said: “We today invite President Gor- bachev on behalf of the Soviet Union, and representatives of the other Cen- tral and Eastern European countries, to come to Brussels and address the North Atlantic Council.’’ In addition, the statement commits NATO to using nuclear weapons only as a last resort, proposed troop and realigns the international In approving the final NATO leaders were pledging far- arms and the establish- ment of new institutional structures to promote dialogue between East and West. NATO also invited officials in the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania to establish regular diplomatic liaison with the western allilance. NATO will soften its defence stance in several ways, including the pledge to use nuclear weapons as only a last- resort and to work towards reducing reliance on such weapons. And, once negotiations begin on cutting short-range nuclear weapons, the alliance proposes to eliminate all of its nuclear artillery shells from Europe — if the Soviets agree to do the same. NATO also promised cuts in its conventional forces and the increased use of multinational forces as Soviet troops leave Eastern Europe. To further reduce tensions, NATO proposed that it and the Warsaw Pa- ct sign a joint declaration stating that the two sides are no longer adversaries and will refrain from the threat or use of force against political independen- ce of any state. To help create a new European of- der, the 35-country Conference for Security and Co-operation will be given a more promient role The conterence will set up a centre for the prevention of conflict that will serve as a forum for exchange of military information and discussion of unusual military activities. The conference will also set up its own parliamentary body — the Assembly of Europe, with represen- tatives from all 35 countries, in- cluding Canada, the United States and the Soviet Union. The conference will also monitor elections in member countries and hold review conferences once every two years to assess progress toward a united and free Europe. A small secretariat will be set up to co- ordinate these reviews. Yeltsin delivers strong warning MOSCOW (CP) — Russian leader Boris Yeltsin told Soviet Communists they are following their Eastern hundreds of Albanians who have sought refuge in foreign ina desperate attempt to flee their homeland, the last hardline Communist are ready to grant passports, even to those citizens who are still in the foreign embassies‘and who shall ask for such a thing,”’ said a Foreign Ministry statement carried by the official But hundreds more would-be refugees gathered outside embassies in the Albanian capital, Tirana. Police guards did not interfere as several hundred more Albanians gained entry into embassy compounds, said Turkish Ambassador Teoman Surenkok. Economy in unstable condition EAST BERLIN — More than 10,000 East Germans demanding better pay staged brief warning strikes Thursday, and Prime Minister Lothar de Maiziere complained about unreasonably high food prices. Despite the gloom prevading much of East Germany’s rickety economy, Economics Minister Gerhard Pohl said 63,490 private companies set up business, creating 150,000 jobs. But unemployment is expected to surge during the next few months as East Germany faces Pohl also said at a news conference that 6,777 of East Germany's 8,000 state companies are being privatized. East and West Germany merged their economies and social welfare systems Sunday in a prelude to full German unification, expected after all-German elections, proposed for Dec. 2. AIDS blamed for 1959 death LONDON — British doctors said tests on tissue from a sailor who died of an unexplained illness over 30 years ago had showed traces of AIDS, suggesting the disease was in existence for decades before being If confirmed, it would be the earliest recorded fatality from AIDS. In a letter to the Lancet medical journal, the doctors said they found evidence of the HIV virus which causes AIDS in tissue from a 25- year-old sailor who died in northern England in 1959 displaying symptoms now associated with the disease. “We conclude baad the patient who died in Manchester i in 1959 from an School said. and i had HIV infection,"’ the doctors from Manchester University Medical on the path to ruin and could even be brought to trial by a society demanding punish- ment for their misdeeds. The silver-haired populist rival of Soviet President and party leader Mikhail Gorbachev shook up the sleepy fifth day of the party’s 28th Congress with a blistering attack on the hardline traditionalists who dominate it. system that party leaders endorsed earlier this year. Underlining “the —congress’s traditionalist mood, Yeltsin's attack was met with only a smattering of ap- plause from the more than 4,600 delegates in the Kremlin's Palace of Congresses. Yeltsin parlayed his popularity among Russian citizens into election in late May as president of Russia, by far the largest of the 15 Soviet republics. Since quarrelling with Gorbachev in late 1987, he has been a constant critic of the Soviet leader, demanding more and quicker reforms But the congress so far has been a forum for Gorbachev's hardline critics. Yeltsin also called upon the congress to change its name to the party of Democratic Socialism. Spokesmen said Thursday that idea will be brought to a vote, despite polls showing that an overwhelming majority of delegates oppose the idea. He also proposed that the party allow rival platforms within itself and scrap party cells in the military and security forces. He said the congress should elect a new leadership which would call a further congress in six months. Yeltsin appeared to suggest that ultimately a ‘‘union of democratic forces’’ should be created, combining a rejuvenated party with other groupings Yeltsin, 59, C pr of the Russian Federation, backs more drastic market-oriented reform than Gorbachev to revive the sinking Soviet economy If the party does not. change, “inevitably, representatives of the apparatus will be dragged out of the bodies of legal power,"’ he said “Such a party will be ynable to hold on to its vanguard role, or even its representatives in the legislature.”’ Citing a growing demand to nationalize party property, Yeltsin added: “It's possible to imagine that a Struggle will begin to bring to trial leaders of the party at all levels for damages they personally brought to the people and the country “If you think there is a different possibility, look at the fate of the Communist parties of Eastern Europe. They separated themselves from the people, didn’t understand their role and were left on the side of the road.’* The only way out, he said, is for the Communist party to fully accept all the trappings of the multi-party OTTAWA (CP) — Tougher parole rules for violent offenders and drug dealers were proposed by the federal government Friday as part of a package of criminal justice reforms. Sentencing judges would have authority to delay full parole elilgibility for such offenders un tithalf their sentence is served. Currently they are eligible for parole after serving one-third of their sentence. The National Parole Board would be given the power to hold serious drug offenders until their full sentence is served. This provision is already in effect for violent offenders. Neither of these groups of of. fenders. would be eligible for day parole after serving one-sixth of their sentences, as is now the case They would become eligible six months before serving half their sentences. First-time offenders sentenced for non-violent crimes would be released under supervision after serving one-third of their senten- ces A new type of unescorted tem- porary absence program would be set up to allow offenders to do community service outside prison. But offenders in maximum- security prisons would not be eligible for such releases The Parole Act would be changed to make risk and public protection the main criteria for releasing an offender. A sentencing and parole com- missjon would be set up to Tougher parole rules proposed in reforms develop sentencing guidelines, review parole policies, and insure the system is integrated. A code of procedure and evidence would be established for sentencing hearings. It would stipulate the offender must be heard and that judges must give reasons for their sentences. The law would be changed to provide for a_means test before fines are imposed. Incarceration for not paying fines would be limited to those who ‘‘wilfully default’* on payment. The proposals were announced by Justice Minister Kim Campbell and Solicitor General Pierre Cadieux. They said they will con- sult the provinces and other in- terested, groups about the changes.