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OPINION Castlégar News

PAGE A4, SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1991

MEMBER OF THE 8.C. PRESS COUNCIL

ESTABLISHED AUGUST 7, 1947 TWICE WEEKLY MAY 4, 1980 THE 12, 1978-AUGUST 27, 1980

‘LAV, CAMPBELL — PUBLISHER, AUGUST 7, 1947-FEBRUARY 15, wr PUBLISHER —.Burt, Campbell DITOR. Simon Birch FOREMAN — Peter Harvey

EDITORIAL

Lets exhibit economic support

In 1990, the sun rose on Castlegar’s economic horizon, shining the promise of midday warmth across a wintry landscape where too many businesses, government setvices and people had been waging in

* Spartan struggle to survive. /

Celgar had d‘its moderni: -expansion program, the

West Trail Approach with the needed improvements to Highway 22

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just north of it were all but guaranteed, there was the huge to the Castlegar Hospital to look forward to, and the Castlegar Aquatic Centre — a jewel in Mayor Audrey Moore’s crown of

achievements — was to be opened within a few short days. Yet, there were still some clouds in the sky.

The Robson Ferry issie“hadn’t been resolved, Cominco faced tough bargaining and the betting was that there would be a strike, the

economic forecasts out of everywhere but official Ottawa were bleak, and the prospects for the forest industry were considered marginal.

All in all, though, there was optimism in the air for Castlegar

and the Castlegar district.

Now, 1990 is history. But what about 1991? bls Admittedly, we-are having a bleak beginning. The introduction of the GST is casting its pall over peoples’ purchasing, the lumber in-

dustry is in wh

can only be described as a depressed state, and

Celgar is still awaiting federal government approval of its expan- sion-modernization plans as well as the all-important details of what the joint governments’ Major Review Panel has recommended.

Local businessman Gary Maloney has often described the West Kootenay region as a small land-locked area that needs attention. Yet the truth of that statement aside, very few people have ever indicated more enthusiasm and optimism for the area than has Mr. Maloney.

And that optimism is not entirely unique to Mr. Maloney, although its degree might be. It is an optimism that, in quite a large measure, is shared by the business community and the pedple of

Castlegar in general.

To meet the challenges of 1991 and the years beyond, our citizenry and our leaders will have to sacrifice and work together. We

believe they’re prepared to. We believe that this area’s

Pp are, brightest of any area in Canada. And we betieve that this betief; held

the

firmly enough by enough of us, can make it so. The allure of Castlegar’s bright future should be reason enough to get us moving.

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New U.S. tax hits champagne set

WASHINGTON (CP) - Canadians aren’t the only ones who rang in the new year with a new tax.

The GST may add an extra dime to the cost of a morning coffee and doughfut in Canada, but consider the unlucky American shopping for a Rolls-Royce or Mercedes-Benz.

Thanks to a new luxury tax that took effect in the United States oh Jan. 1, a Rolls-Royce that cost $160,000 US on New Year's Eye was more than $173,000 on New Year’s Day. Yachts also cost more. Fancy furs and jewelry, too.

While Canadians are up in arms over the goods and services tax, there has been no hue and cry over this latest U.S. levy.

“It’s extremely difficult for the wealthy to yell uncle,” says Bill Pier- ce of the National Tax Union,,a Washington lobby group.

**People aren't going to complain if the wealthy are taxed more . . . because they've got the money.’”

Governments on both sides of the

border want to shave their deficits, but each has chosen a decidely dif- ferent way to increase revenue.

The GST is expected to add $1.5 billion Cdn to Ottawa’s coffers this year, but at considerable cost to the popularity of the government. Unlike the GST, the new U.S. luxury levey was barely noticed.

“It’s an easy target that the rank and file aren’t going to argue with says Stephen Smythe of EuroMotor- cars, a Washington-area luxury-car dealer.

“It looks to the average American that Congress is doing something to equalize things, to have the wealthy pay a little bit more of their share, when in fact it’s not doing that at all,”’ Smythe said.

“It’s hurting business people. It’s going to cost the working people jobs.””

Under the luxury tax, a 10-per- cent levy is applied to the portion of a car’s price that exceeds $30,000 US. The tax kicks in at $100,000 for

VIEWPOINT

Getting back to the basics

By CATHERINE SHAPCOTT

Once I decided to be part of The Solution instead of The Problem, I abandoned the yuppie goal of becoming a millionaire by the time I was 40 and opted to keep it simple. Having moved no less than 20 times in my adult life, what I wanted most was a place I could call home.

Not one of those $250,000 ‘‘star- ter’” houses in Toronto, the Metropolis from which my partner and I recently escaped. The politics of living simply practically requires one to live in a humble house, which precludes chandeliers in the dining room and bidets in the bathroom. More likely than not, it also ex- cludes dining rooms and bathrooms.

As ‘born-again conservers, we sought an uncomplicated lifestyle to match the rustic home of our dreams. We would have closer con- tact with the natural world, from which we would directly receive food and water. We would experience the magic of old-fashioned ‘‘com-

commuting.

From our new home, we would live more lightly on lands that would be undeveloped, unpolluted and un- crowded. We would create for our- selves an enlightened 90's lifestyle,

i over with self-reli self-sufficiency and empowerment More than just a personal transition, we ‘would be making a political statement of the need to reduce the burden of urban sprawl.

In July 1990, we fell in love at first sight with a piece of land whose house featured no prospects for bidets or chandeliers. Quitting our work without so much as a whiff of where we'd get our next dollar, we followed our dreams to the Slocan Valley.

It took a 67-foot tractor-trailer moving van to move us — a pretty big rig for our gear, but it made more sense to bring our stuff rather than start our new lives as con- sumers, replacing it all.

Through the semi-obscurity of

oa Of rather than

drizzle, we were struck by

the contrast with the July sunshine which had obviously tinted our sunglasses. Without rosy tints, we could fully catalogue the vibrant animal and insect life.

On the riverbank where we had made our sacred decision to buy the land, there were freshly felled cedar trees and sapling stumps — as though the resident beavers in- tuitively knew we needed a jump start on our woodpile.

In the tangle of weeds where a garden once grew, deer were browsing, and in the-house itself we had more critters than we could possibly consume with: mice in the cupboards, earwigs behind the vapour barrier, and stink bugs

self-reliance, we compiled a list as long as a beaver’s tooth and com- muted to the local hardware stores.

It cost us $321.34 (not counting gas for a few trips to town), but we had quite a bit to show for it: a roll of 14-2 wire and a length of 10-2; an octagonal connector box, a three- inch switchbox, various thermostats (one wallmount and a couple for the baseboards), box connectors and wire connectors; four baseboard heaters; switches for the circuit breaker box; and a pound of wire strapping nails. t

In Toronto, of course, we would undoubtedly have spent $321.34 on much less self-reliant purposes.

Although somewhat distracted by

us in welcome.

Sheltering our unpacked boxes from the leaks in the ceiling, we bundled into our cosiest down jackets, put the flaps down on our toques and figured out our first priority: getting heat in the house. Reminding ourselves of the virtue of

the ing of our riverfront property by Canada’s buck-toothed symbol of industry, we mext disciplined our attention to receiving water directly from our undeveloped and uncrowded land. We prepared to spark up the waterpump that would redirect some of the Slocan River up the mountain into our reservoir.

GST is here and here to stay

By TERRY O’SHAUGHNESSY

So the Goods and Services Tax is now law.

It’s been almost two years since

the federal government unleashed its seriously flawed and unpopular sales tax reform package and it was only fitting somehow that the final act in this ugly debate was as distasteful as the opening.

Just two weeks before Christmas, the Speaker of the Senate, Guy Charbonneau, ended the Liberals’ lengthy filibuster on the GST and, in the process, paved the way for final passage of the new seven per cent tax. Liberal Senators described Charbonneau’s actions as ‘the most outrageous act that has ever been carried out in the Canadian Parliament’ while Tory Senators described the preceding weeks as ‘‘a circus.” Either way it was an un- dignified end to an undignified

process.

Seldom (if ever) has this country witnessed a nastier debate. With the Tory government and a handful of big business types on one side and virtually every other Canadian on the

other, the level of over the

dent Business,

GST sustained new heights in public outrage.

Early on in this battle, Canadians realized that the alliance between the Tories and big business was not only predictable but shamelessly self-

F of 5 showed. just how ineffectual the government's selling job has been. When asked who the expected win- ners would be under the GST, 70 per cent and 21 per cent of respondents said government and big business

serving as well. Th the two- year battle, Prime Minister Brian Mitlroney and Finance Minister Michael Wilson steadfastly refused to consider any of the concerns being

voiced by consumer, small business _

and labor groups, all of whom over- whelmingly rejected the GST package in its current form. Even when poll results showed that more than 80 per cent of consumers and

by the Canadian

pe ed to only three per cent and two_per cent who said consumers and small business would benefit the most.

“It’s never ecasy,"*

boats; $10,000 for furs and jewelry and $250,000 for aircraft.

Americans \in the top income brackets will also pay slightly higher income taxes this year, while deduc- tions for many expenses — such as cosmetic surgery — have been eliminated or reduced.

But not all the new U.S. taxes are aimed at the champagne set.

The federal tax on a six-pack of beer doubled to 32 cents, and the federal take on a pack of cigarettes was hiked to 20 cents from 16 — hefty increases by U.S. .standards, but still well below what Canadian

drinkers and smokers pay.

U.S. taxpayers groups are opposed to any kind of new taxes, but they readily admit measures like the luxury tax are a lot easier to swallow than the GST.

“It’s very hard to concgive of the average American voter supporting the idea of paying a nickel or a dime extra on everything from candles to gardening tools,"’ says Bruce Fisher of Citizens for Tax Justice.

“*In other words, it’s unlikely that Americans would voluntarily go for what seems to have been foisted upon Canadians.””

Weeklies hit hard by GST

OTTAWA (CP) — Weekly newspapers are fuming over increases they say are as high as 1,000 per cent in the fee Canada Post charges to deliver their newspapers.

“There is no way the’ publishing industry can absorb that kind of in-

papers knew postal rates were going up.

“*We've sold all these subscriptions at the old rate and now we find out our postage costs are going up 880 per cent March 1,"’ said Fred Runge, general manager of Runge

crease in times like this,"’ said John Clement, publisher of Ontario’s Perth Courier, “It’s crazy, unfair and totally unac- ceptable.”

Effective March 1, Canada Post has announced rates in communities with letter-carrier service will jump from the current 5.2 cents for a 200- gram newspaper to 51 cents.

John Morris, president of the On- tario Community Newspapers Association, said many smaller weeklies will be out of business if the increases go ahead as planned.

“We estimate the changes will in- crease the cost of delivery an average of $25,000 to $30,000 and many of our papers don’t make that much money in a year,” said Morris.

Canada Post says the publishers were given ample warning of the changes and will face smaller in- creases than the drastic ones cited.

Morris. said of the

which operates seven weeklies in the Ottawa Valley.

Morris, who .owns weeklies in- cluding the Prescott (Ont.) Journal, said publishers need the one-year delay to either find ways to cover the higher rates or to establish their own delivery systems.

Canada Post spokesman John Caines said the Crown corporation was only trying to cover its costs af- ter a federal subsidy program was changed last year — and the industry knew increases were coming.

Ottawa has been sending signals since the 1989 budget that it was reviewing the subsidy fund that of- fsets weekly newspapers mailing costs and the Department of Com- munications consulted the industry, Caines said.

A year ago Ottawa announced it was replacing the $175-million publications mail subsidy fund with a

Canadian C

$110-million direct grant program to

Association asked for a meeting with Government House leader Harvie Andres, the minister responsible for Canada Post, to see if the rate changes can be delayed one year. Publishers say the increase was imposed without consultation and at the worst ‘possible time. They say most subscriptions were paid in early December before the

Elimination of the fund meant ,

that Canada Post had to cover its costs by directly charging publishers, Caines said.

“The industry has been subsidized for years-through federal funding,” he said.

Caine also disputes claims of rate increases for, delivering papers could jump by 1,000 per cent.

_ local

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rity Aan any ea THAWED FOR YOUR CONVE:

A Toyota Jeep took a bizarre flip onto a sidewalk on Columbia Avenue five years ago. - costews tile photo

40 YEARS AGQ From the Jan. 5, 1951 Castle News

Three new faces were seen around the Commissioners table last night when Messrs. Cherrington, Jenks and Williams appeared officially for the first time. The meeting got off to a good start with a shortage of chairs, with five Comissioners now to guide the affairs of the Village.

Mr. J. Dunlop was elected chair- man of the board for the ensuing year, and will also take the chair- manship of the Finance Committee, Chairman of other committees are; V. Jenks, Public Works;, N. Oglow, Fire, Water and Light; J. Williams, Parks and Cemetery and B. Cherrington, Health and Welfare.

6

Once again our little Village has settled back to its labor after a joyful Christmas and New Year.

It received a shock just before Christmas when the news was released that a C.P.A. plane was down and Mrs. Blackmere was on it, but breathed a sigh of relief when the news was flashed that she and all passengers were safe.

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Many changes .and- improvements have taken place in Castlegar business section during the past year, foremost among them being the remodelling of the Castlegar Hotel.

GO

A strike vote at the Celgar pulp division here has been requested of the department of labor by Local No. 1 of the Pulp and Paper Workers of f'anada.

This was/announced this week by jent Dick Paul.

The y spokesman said the company has requested of the gover- nment that if a strike vote is requested by the union that it be government approved.

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Castlegar is a town.

At 12 midnight last Friday while district residents were busy saying goodbye to 1965 and were happily ringing in 1966, the old Village of Castlegar automatically assumed its new town status.

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Castlegar Mayor R.C. Maddocks made it clear this week that he is per- turbed that the proposed new mill rate is 18 mills and is hopeful it can be significantly reduced.

In a memo from him to the coun- cil delivered on Tuesday night, he said: ‘‘The provincial budget will be distributed and is to be adopted by

rate of 18 mills has been proposed.” 15 YEARS AGO From the Jan. 8, 1976 News A sincere but jovial atmosphere was evident as Castlegat’s Mayor

VICTORIA (CP) — The federal government is building a $3.8-

million missile maintenance facility at its ammunition depot at nearby

Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt. d It is the first facility of its kind on the West Coast and is scheduled

that.’" “The voters will be able to tell me whether they approve of the job I'm More simply, Mulroney’s message is that once again consumers and small business, who have to live with

mment and big business.

for in Di Lt.-Cmdr. Mike Considine

“It's a workshop where they'll work on the guidance system and all aspects of the vertical launch Sea Sparrow missile.’’

The Sea Sparrow is a short-range missile capable of shooting down attacking missiles. HMCS Huron, which left Friday for Halifax, is currently the only ship in the Pacific fleet equipped with the missile system.

The expenditure has been criticized by peace activists.

Betty Brightwell, an Esquimalt resident who is a member of the Raging Grannies peace and environmental group, said money is being wasted on defence when “there isn't any enemy out there.

“| wish we didn’t have such an escalating naval presence in B.C.

can’t see any need for it now that the Cold War is over.”’

BRIAN’S REPAIR SERVICE

SMALL ENGINES * AUTOMOTIVE GENERAL MECHANICAL 613-13th St., © 365-7233

ARROW LAKE ELEVATION

1426.83' on Jan. & Forecast of Elevation 1422.24’ by Jan. 12

bowed his head to have the chain of office placed on his shoulder by Justice of the P. Carl Loeblich following his swearing \p at Monday night’s 1976 statutory meeting of city council.

This is Mayor Mosby’s sécond term in office as mayor. He has also served three terms as alderman.

re eae

An amusement centre on Front Street, which closed its doors in the early part of July of last year may once again be open, but under new management.

o 8 «@

Pat Haley was unanimously elec- ted chairman of the board of trustees for School District No. 9 following the swearing in ceremonies late Monday afternoon.

Mr. Haley fills the position previously held by Ernie Mills who at Monday’s ceremonies declined to ac- cept a nomination for vice-chairman for personal reasons. Sam Konkin has been elected to this position.

5 YEARS AGO From the Jan. 5, 1986 Castlegar News

A bizarre mishap Saturday sent @ Toyota Jeep skidding across Colum- bia Avenue where it flipped over on its side arid onto a sidewalk.

Castlegar resident Harold Leslie was travelling northbound in the 100- O-block on Columbia Ave. at about 1:18 p.m. Saturday in a 1969 Toyota Jeep when Marilyn Helfer, also of Castlegar, pulled onto Columbia Avenue in her 1972 Datsun from the Castlegar Plumbing and Heating parking area.

. 2° @

A $40 million waferboard plant

planned for the northern B.C. town

. B . PLEASE NOTE: Copy changes tal Deadline is the last Wednesday of each mo

TTI CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH

809 Merry Creek Rd. 365-3430 — SUNDAY MINISTRY — %: . — Bible School

lights ~ EVERYONE WELCOME —

© DELI FAVORITES ¢

of Dawson Creek will not discourage a Salmo company from going ahead with a feasibility study for a wafer- board plant in the West Kootenay, a co-owner of the company said Friday.

Jim Mitchell of Four Leaf Logging Ltd. in Salmo said he has “heard verbally’’ that the company’s ap- plication for a Department of Regional Industrial Expansion grant for the feasibility study has been ap-

proved. . 8

The amount of money and the number of hectares allocated to the Nelson forest region under the federal-provincial Forestry h Development Agreement is ‘‘not fair in relation to the rest of the provin- ce,” a silvilculture officer from the Ministry of Forests told the Regional District of Central Kootenay board Saturday.

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Regardless of the market, 0 good method of ensuring your home sells is to price it properly from the start

°F’sta te WITH BARRY BROWN

HOW TO GET YOUR HOME SOLD

especially in a buyer's market, to be more realistic.

This you won't lose g in-

buyers: by overpricing. By the time you've dropped your e onyway, they will probably ed found another home.

It’s certainly a natural inclination to value your own property, but this is where the services of a knowled. geable real estate associate will stand you in good stead. Overpriciny means you increase the amount of time it tokes to sell your home. Sooner or later, you'll be forced,

LNRS,

WF THERE IS ANYTHING 1 CAN DO TO HELP YOU IN THE FIELD OF REAL ESTATE. PLEASE CALL OR DROP IN AT

a NATIONAL REAL ESTATE SERVICE

Movnteinview Agencies Ltd. 1695 Columbia Ave., Castlegar

yet. You can

closing date to ae] you the extra time you need to ind a home and buy it. ledgeable agent will know several options that will protect you from ending up with two homes or no home. including making o purchase conditional on the sale of your present home or arranging interim inancing

ken once per month only. nth, for the following month.

ROBSON COMMUNITY MEMORIAL CHURCH

1st & 3rd Sundays 7:00 p.m. 2nd & 4th Sundays 10 a.m No Service 5th Sunday

ES ———— ae ae

Attend the Church

of your

UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA 2224-6th Avenue 10.0.m. Worship

hO.a.m. Sunday School

Mid-Week Studies & Youth Activities Rev. Ted Bristow

ADVENTIST CHURCH 1471 Columbia Ave. Troi! 364-0117 Regular Saturday Services Pastor Slawomir Malarek 365-7759

—— LE ne mmmnnannl

Phone aeesie 5818 PASTOR STUART LAURIE + 365 3278 a Worship 10:300.m. Sunday Morning Worship

Children’s Church i: Week Service & Study

Wed 6:30-8:00 p.m. Minto reaching or ll ogee

A Non-Denominationa! Fornily Church Preaching the Word of Faith!

choice!

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ST. PETER LUTHERAN

LUTHERAN CHURCH CANADA 713-4th Street Olfice 365-3664 PASTOR GLEN BACKUS SUNDAY Worship Service 9 a.m NURSERY PROVIDED Sunday Schoo! 10:15 0.m

Listen to the Lutheran Hour Sundoy 90.m. on Radio CKOR

FULL GOSPEL FELLOWSHIP

1801 Connors Rd. Phone 365-6317 PASTOR: BARRY WERNER * 365-2374

_ nang fA gallos =) _—

CHURCH OF GOD

2404 Columbia Avenue

Church School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 1} a.m

Pastor Ira Johnson * 365-6762

nat aaememnannsonmdaesnian meneame GRACE PRESBYTERIAN 2605 Columbia Ave.

Morning Worship 11:30.a.m.—

Rev. Murray Gavin 365-2438 1-226-7540

ST. DAVID’S ANGLICAN CHURCH 614 Christina Place 8a.m. Holy Communion 19.0.m. Family Euchorist ‘and Church Schoo! The Rev. Dorothy Barker 365-2271 or 365-6720

NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY 602-7th Street * 365-5212 Be a port of our coring friendly, growing family — SUNDAY SERVICES — 9:20 — Aclass for oll ages 10:30 Morning Worship Chaldren « Church & Nurvery Provided 6:30 Evening Celebration — WEDNESDAY — 7:00 Adult Bible Study Youth Power Hour Missionettes & Wee College

— THURSDA’ 10:00 o.m. Bible Study

7:00 p.m. Youth Explosion Counseling Services Available pease OUR DESIRE 1S TO [prec] Sorecmcees Fy nwahg—n hep mera = ieee

HAM

Black Forest ..

ROAST BEEF

With or Without Garlic ...... 100 g,

Pee bis

419

Chilean $2.18/kg.

TOMATOES

Medium Imported. $1.10/kg. ...-

e IN-STORE BAKERY FRESH @

BREAD

White or Whole Wheat. Sliced ........

DONUTS

Assorted ..... se

TIDE OR OXYDOL

10 L. Box Limit 1 Over Limit 8.48

78s

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Flaked in Water 147 G.

9

MIRACLE WHIP

Kraft IL. Reg. or Light Limit! Over Limit 3.48

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*15.88

Viva Paper 12-2 Roll

*9.99

Advertised Prices in Effect ~ Sunday, Jan. 6 through Saturday, Jan. 12/'91

Mon. to Wed. & Sat. Thursday & Friday 9a.m. to? p.m.

9a.m. to é p.m.

Sundey 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

We reserve the right to limit sales to retail quantities.

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We bning it all together ¥