a2_Castlégar News

March 18, 1990

Broader statement needed, MLA says

By CasNews Staff

A resolution calling for the rein- statement of the Castlegar-Robson ferry that was passed at a recent provincial New Democratic Party convention is ‘‘right on’ but would

be more worthwhile if it was broader in scope, Rossland-Trail MLA Chris D'Arcy said.

“It would have been more com- prehensive if it had addressed the transportation problems affecting the whole region,"’ D'Arcy said

Truck traffic has increased significantly in the province because of the shift from rail to road transpor- tation of goods and in the Kootenay region the roads are showing the ef- fects of the excess wear, he said

The province needs to invest in highways not only to deal with the in-

* creased use of roads but just to main- tain an acceptable level of service, the MLA said.

As well, in the Castlegar area there is a need for a bridge between Castlegar and Robson, rather than just a ferry link, and major intersec- tions in the community such as the Highway 3-Highway 22 intersection near the Castleaird Plaza should be upgraded, D’Arcy said

The resolution, passed unanimously by about 900 NDP delegates during the Vancouver con- vention, states the ferry should be immediately reinstated and that alter- nate routes are ‘‘wholly inadequate."*

As well, the resolution states that “inland ferries in B.C. must be main- tained and operated as integral and essential extensions of the highways and that the Highways Act (should) be amended to reflect that change.’

Theatre

continued from front poge community theatres and came back to Castlegar with plenty of ideas which were translated into building plans by the SHSS upgrade-project architects, she said.

The theatre will include raked seating for about 300 people, a lobby, dressing rooms, and possibly a “‘greenroom’’ or working space behind the stage with access to the outside for loading and unloading equipment and sets as well as proper theatre lighting and sound equipment, Moyer said

“Just think about the Capitol Theatre (in Nelson)”’ as an example of what the Castlegar theatre would resemble, she said.

Moyer noted that the fixed space of the activity room, which has no out- side walls that could be pushed out for more space, _provided_some problems in designing the theatre.

For now, the committee is waiting for the Ministry of Education's decision on the upgrading of the school and the amount the province will be willing to spend-on the theatre space, she said.

Then the committee can begin working on. the fundraising, Moyer said, adding that the committee already has about $15,000 that was raised during the Pirates of Penzance performance the committee spon- sored at Kinnaird Junior secondary school Feb. 23

Lottery numbers

The-winning numbers drawn Thur- sday in the B:C. Keno lottery ~Tfe 3. 20, 21, 30, 34, 51, 53 and 56 .

The winning numbers. in Wed. nesday’s Lotto 6/49 draw were 2, 11, 30, 34, 38 ang’4a° The bonus number was 49 ,

There was no winsier of the jackpot prize of $2,123,595,80.

The four Extra winning numbers for B.C. Wednesday were 19, 29, 41 and 73

The winning numbers drawn Wed nesday in the B.C. Keno lottery were 10, 18, 26, 30, 39, 40, 43 and 47

These numbers, provided by The Canadian Press, must be considered unofficial.

* Canada Safeway © Fields

* Overwaitea

e

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Shoppers SuperValu Zellers

Not all flyers receive full distribution.

WINNING WAYS . . . Carrie Markin, left, and Keela Tompkins

dance moves

Celebration 90 talent contest at Kinnai: ore students with the Debbie Tompkins School of Dance.

Talent show a ‘hit' |

A talent show last week at Kinnaird Junior secondary school has been judged a “‘hit.””

More than 400 people packed into the school’s gymnasium Wednesday night to watch young performers of all ages in the show which raised money to support graduation-related Projects and activities of the Stanley Humphries secondary school’s graduation class of 1990, which spon- sored the event along with CKQR radio, organizers of the show said

The performances centred on a wide range of talent from Goldilocks and the Three Bears and rock and roll bands to crayon drawings and spin- ning and weaving

There were four categories — dan- ce, drama, music and art — from which a first-place winner and runner- up were, selected. In addition, the

panel of seven judges selected a best- overall performer

That award — and $100 cash from CKQR — went to Carrie Markin and Kaela Tompkins who gave an encore performance of the Sailor's Hornpipe dance routine to the delight of the capacity crowd

Other winners were: DRAMA Heidi Smee, monologue; runners-up — Miko Yanigasawa, Jodi Jones, Maria Dallalana and Jacob Stoopnikoff, Three Bears skit.

MUSIC

First — Debra, Ashley and Jodi Tompkins, violin trio; runners-up — Brian John, Brian Andreashuk and Ryan Fontez, The Three Amigos Band

First, — comedy

DANCE First — Carrie Markin and Kaela

Tompkins, Sailor's

Reasons for PPWC support of Celgar given in letter

By CasNews Staff

Local 1 of the Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada has stated its reasons for supporting the Proposed expansion of the Celgar Pulp Co. mill in Castlegar in a letter to mill manager Jim Browne and Dennis McDonald, regional director in Nelson with the Ministry of En- vironment.

“Long-term job stability at the mill and within the community will result in many direct and indirect benefits,"’ union president Bob Brommeland and second vice president Cal Him

increased economic stabilization from long-term em- Ployment, an increased tax base, and an increase in the level of diversify of the busiriess community will also result in many benefits to the area,” the letter says. ~~ And “‘an increased civic pride and an overall feeling of confidence in

run- ner-up — Jessica DeWolf, modern dance.

ART DISPLAY First — Warren Gouk, picture; runners-up — Selkirk Weaver's Guild, display, and Heidi Smee, por- trait drawing.

Celgat Pulp Co.’s commitment to the envi has many potential benefits."’

However, the union also outlined issues the union wants to see ad- dressed.

“The pulp mill expansion must be as environmentally sound as current technology. can accomplish’’ and

There were approxi ly; 138: volunteers involved in presenting the show as well as 38 performers all of whom were responsible for the event's success.

Funds raised by the KJSS con- cession will be used by the school’s band while the door receipts will go to the SHSS grad class.

Organizers of the event thanked all who attended as well as local mer-

i "and said they are already planning next event

year’s

Ottawa has offered more, minister says

KAMLOOPS, B.C. (CP) — British Columbia has been offered ‘‘substan- tially more than,"’ $40 million by the federal government for a renewed Forest’ Resources Development Agreement, says B.C. Forests Minister Claude Richmond.

However, the federal offer on a renewed five-year forestry agreement remains unacceptable and he will Present a final position within the next two weeks, Richmond said Friday.

‘‘We are not happy with the latest (federal) offer,’’ Richmond said, declining to ‘‘negotiate through the

‘media.’"

Richmond said Ottawa is not treating British Columbia as well as other provinces. Recent reports show Ottawa's contribution to reforestation programs in the east are disproportionately larger than what British Columbia has gotten or is requesting.

“We are not being treated fairly by the federal government on this,” he said

Federal opposition and forest in- dustry analysts have been suggesting Ottawa is prepared to offer only $40 to $50 million for a renewed five-year

agreement, far below the $700-million joint-funding program that British Columbia wants.

“Suffice to say we are not going to get what we asked for, but we are going to get far more than $40 million,"* said Richmond. “They have already offered us substantially more than that. It will be somewhere in between.**

He said he has met with federal. Forests Minister Frank Oberle three times and will meet again within weeks once the Social Credit cabinet decides what the bottom line will be to finance the reforestation program.

Return sex offender to classroom, lawyer says

VANCOUVER (CP) — Convicted sex offender Gordon Ledinski has been properly punished and should be allowed to return to teaching as recommended by a review board, his lawyer said Friday

Ken Conner’s defence of Ledinski came in a hearing in B.C. Supreme Court chambers. It was the latest legal hurdle for the Kelowna teacher in his 30-month battle to win back his

Ledinski was convicted in March 1988 of gross indecency with a 15- year-old boy and fined $1,000. The youth told Ledinski prior to their mountaintop sexual encounter in the teacher's car he was a 16-yeareold runaway

The school board suspended Ledin- ski without pay after he was charged Sept. 29, 1987, and fired him after his conviction

teaching job after being convicted of ~

gross indecency.

The Central Okanagan School Board requested the hearing, asking the court for a judicial review of the ruling by the board of reference rein- stating Ledinski

Justice K.E. Meredith reserved judgment after two hours of legal arguments.

The review board overturned the firing and suspended Ledinski without pay for 23 months retroactive to the date he was charged. That meant he could resume teaching in October.

“This isn’t being hit with a wet noodle,’’ Conner said of the suspen- sion. “This is not being dealt with week and limp-wristed

Ledinski taught for about a week last fall until the school board suspended him with pay and benefits pending the result of Friday’s hearing. His brief return to the classroom sparked an outcry by parents whose protests included a one-day boycott involving one-third of the school population of 500.

Conner noted the school board ap- Ppointee to the review board agreed with the suspension handed the Kelowna teacher and the decision to reinstate him.

Robert Groves, lawyer for the Kelowna-area school district, offered several grounds to quash the review board’s reinstatement, including errors in findings of fact and on jurisdictional grounds.

Post

continued from front page

“If you and other officials had truly examined these concerns and had the welfare of rural postal users at hearty you would not have imposed your Big Brother-like will upon us

“‘We find abhorrent the concept that Canada Post's bottom line is making money, rather than service to all Canadians."

Groepler goes on to say the notice is vague in its explanation of what type of service Robson residents might end up with

“‘Clgarly you are being hypocritical in your last sentence where you ask for suggestions and preferences regarding mail delivery when you haven't given specific information on these so-called options,"’ Groepler writes.

The ad hoc committee has contac- ted Rural Dignity, a Quebec-based organization which promotes and ad- vances issues that have particular relevance to rural Canda, and the committee is looking into the possibility of launching a court case on the basis of unequal treatment of rural Canadians, Groepler said. Ur- ban post office are not being privatized, she explained.

“*We have faith that the courts will decide that your plan to dismantle Canada’s rural postal system to save a © few dollars unjust and unequal treatment of rural Canadians,” Groepler says in her let- ter

As well, a petition opposing the closure is being circulated and will be

sent to the House of Commons, Groepler said.

Jack Chernoff, a Castlegar resident who has been sitting on the Canada Post board of directors, said Friday he attended a recent ad hoc commit- tee meeting but was ther® ‘‘only as a resource person’’ to explain how Canada Post works.

Chernoff told the Castlegar News he is unsure of his status on the board of directors as of the end of February and would prefer not to comment on the Robson issue until he is informed of whether or not he is still a director.

Chernoff said he should know if he still has a seat on the board when material for the next director's meeting, set for May in Ottawa, is sent out.

should be installed to ensure future environmental standards are met, the letter says.

Ceigar ‘‘should commit to install any and all new technologies as they become available to provide con-

tinued environmental improvemen- ts."

In exchange for the utilization of the natural resources, we hope that Celgar will commit to the long-term economic and job stability of the area and ensure that there be no reduction in the work force in the future.””

And “‘PPWC Local | also believes that Celgar must commit to ease_the increased burdens of the area com- munities during the construction of the proposed pulp mill expansion.”

In a separate letter, the union says Him, who is the union’s environ- mental’ pollution officer, has the PPWC'’s full support in his involve- ment with the Coalition for Infor- mation on the Pulp Expansion, of which Him is co-chairman.

“‘A number of concerns have been raised in the local media, and at the pulp mill, that Mr. Him’s efforts are having a negative effect on the expan-

the letter says.

“The mandate of the environment pollution officer through Local.1 is to monitor environmentet-problems and offer suggestions for’ improvement. Mr. Him’s association with (CIPE) has been-toaddress the community concerns about future environmental problems,’’ Brommeland says in the letter.

“*Mr. Him’s involvement in (CIPE) is with (he full support of PPWC Local 1. We support the coalition and his efforts to gather information and inform the public on the environmen- tal aspects of the proposed expan-

sion.”

Nelson man given four months jail

NELSON (CP) — A Nelson chiropractor was Sentenced to four months in jail last week for fondling a 19-year-old patient’s breast ini 1979.

Nelson county court Judge Raymond Cooper handed down the sentence Wednesday after a jury found Court MacMillan guilty Feb. 23 of indecent assault.

“*Males regard fondling of breasts as matters of little significance,’’ Cooper said during sentencing Mac- Millan. ‘“‘But any. invasion of a woman’s body is a criminal act and deserves punishment.””

Cooper noted that MacMillan, 40, had ‘‘shown no remorse and con- tinued to deny any criminal behavior’’ even after he saw a distraught witness testify.

MacMillan has been suspended by the B.C. College of Chiropractors. If he is reinstated, Cooper said, he may not_treat_women_or_be alone with females under 19 during his three-year probation.

About two hours after MacMillan received his sentence in Nelson, Castlegar provincial court judge jailed him for two months more for treating young women on his own in defiance of'a court order.

In Castlegar, Judge Ron Fabbro gave MacMillan two months after he pleaded guilty to two counts of breach of an undertaking.

Contrary to a court order, Mac- Millan treated a young woman in Williams Lake and one in Fort Langley after he was arrested and charged last September

one March 18,1990 Castlegar News a3

Briefly

In memory

age 87.

that community.

gardening and reading.

dchildren Malika and Damon

Following c a

Joseph Ulmi

Joseph Ulmi passed away in Castlegar Hospital March 13, 1990 at

He was born in Escholzmatt, Switzerland, on July 2, 1902, and: came to Canada on the SS Minnedosa on March 30, 1927. His first em- ployment was on a farm in Coaldale, Alta. He then moved to Renata in 1928 where he purchased farmland and one of the first homes built in

Mr. Ulmi worked in a loca] sawmill and did road maintenance for the Departmen, of Highways in Renata. He was also a trustee for the local fruit co-op, firewarden for the B.C. Forest Service and made a comfortable living from his fruit trees and beef cattle.

In 1965, he was displaced by the flooding when the High Arrow (Keenleyside) dam was built and moved to Crescent Valley where he resided until. his death. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, curling,

He is survived by his wife Erna; daughter and son-in-law. Ida and Ray Kosiancic and grandchildren, Dwayne and Kathi; son and daughter-in-law Ron and Sandy Ulmi of North Vancouver and gran-

Mr. Ulmi was predeceased by his first wife, Tina, brothers John, Robert and Tony and a sister, Marie.

Herman Engberink

Negraeff of Fanny Bay, B.C

I Funeral Chapel.

ial mass was Catholic Church on March 17. The Mass was conducted by Father

at St. Rita’s

John Negraeff

John J. Negraeff of Castlegar passed away Thursday, March 15, 1990 in the Trail Regional Hospital at age 76.

Mr. Negraeff was born Dec. 6, 1913, in the Buchanan District of Saskatchewan. He moved to Watson with his parents when he was 10 years old. He grew up in Watson and farmed in the summers and worked as the town police officer during the non-farming months

He married Mary Plaxin on Nov 1951, he moved to Radisson, Sask., where he worked as a In 1960, he moved to Meadow Lake, Sask., and began working for the Department of Highways building roads. In 1966, h¢ came to Castlegar and worked for the Highways Department until retiring in 1973. Mr. Negraeff enjoyed fishing, hunting and curlin,

He is survived by his wife Mary of Castlegar; one son, Dale of Regina; one daughter, Dorothy Stran One sister, Mabel Chernoff of Grand eun8k of Trail, and step-brothers Donald Negraeff of Grand Forks and Jack

11, 1937, at Canora, -Sask. In

in buyer.

of Winnipeg; six gra ‘Orks; Step-sisier, Betty maui

Funeral servive will be held at the Castlegar Funeral Chapel on Monday ai 11 a.m. with burial at noon at Park Memorial Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Castlegar

Poll puts Chretien ahead

OTTAWA (CP) — Jean Chretien has a lead of more than two-to- one over second-place Paul Martin in the race for the federal Liberal leadership, a Canadian Press survey indicated at midweek.

With 105 deigate-selection meetings completed, Chretien had 526

i del as of Martin had 248, Sheila Copps 71, Tom Wappel 12 and John Nunziata zero. There were 129 uncomit- ted delegates.

The survey, based on interviews by CP and its member

Annual fundraiser scheduled

Castlegar Mayor Audrey Moore

(left) bought the fret ticket Friday to the WestKootenay Netional Exhib re’

with riding officials and delegates, reflect current voting intentions. However, delegates are free to change their allegiance at anytime leading to the June 23 leadership convention in Calgary, where some 5,200 delegates will vote.

Sask. mill clears hurdle

REGINA (CP) The Saskatchewan government has granted Millar-Western conditional approval to build a $330-million pulp mill near Meadow Lake.

Developers of the mill, to be built about 400 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, claim the facility will release no effluent within two years of start-up.

Environment Minister Grant Hodgins said the mill can be built, but from day one it must not release any effluent.

Hodgins had also instructed Edmonton-based Millar-Western not to build a pipeline to the Beaver River to discharge the effluent. That was the issue of greatest concern expressed during public hearings on the mill Proposal earlier this month.

Sky Train's Surrey run opened

, SURREY (CP) — Balloons, a brass band and a throng of Politicians heralded the rapid transit SkyTrain’s inaugural crossing of the Fraser River to suburban Surrey on Friday.

But the officials who crammed into the four aerial cars had only a couple of to admire i 's 50- high view of logbooms and fishing boats at work on the river below.

It takes only 2% minutes to cross to Surrey from New Westminster on the three-kilometre bridge that, with the new station, cost $179- million.

The crossing is the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge designed solely for rapid transit.

WCB gets new governors

VICTORIA (CP) — The B.C. Workers’ Compensation Board has a new board of governors.

Fhe 10-member board was announced by Labor Minister Norm Jacobsen on Friday.

The five labor delegates are: Peter Cameron, director of the Health Sciences Association; Lief Hansen, president of the United Food and

and Woodworkers of Canada.

Employer_representatives_are: James Matkin, president of the Business Council of British Columbia; Quintette Coal president Paul Kostuik; Murray Farmer of the B.C. Construction. Association; Elyne Johnson, president of logging firm Goodwin Johnson Ltd., and John St. C. Ross, senior vice-president of forest giant MacMillan Bloedell.

Meech still stirring pot

OTTAWA (CP) — It was another week of angry rhetoric, rumors of secret talks and dark warnings about Canada’s future as the deadline for the stalled Meech Lake constitutional accord crept closer.

With about 100 days to go before the accord expires, its supporters took up a spiteful tone and its opponents appeared more set than ever to scupper it.

An antagonistic tone was set by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney on ‘Wednesday when he told Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells — through the media — to mind his own business when it comes to poten- tial talks among the forces campaigning to have the accord passed before it expires June 23.

Contras attack troops

MANGAGUA (CP) — U.S.-backed rebels attacked Nicaraguan government troops southeast of the capital Managua and three rebels were killed, the government said Saturday.

The report came the day after a U.S. government source said some rebels slipped into Nicaragua. The exact number is not known, but U.S. officials said they believe the number of rebels inside Nicaragua has grown from 3,500 to 5,000.

The rebels have resisted calls from President Daniel Ortega and

i he Violeta Chi to disband before her April 25 inauguration.

In its the Defence Ministry said the latest fighting came Friday when the rebels attacked troops at El Ojoche hill in Rio San Juan province, about 300 kilometres southeast of Managua.

Couvelier denies deal made

VICTORIA (CP) — Finance Minister Mel Couvelier said Friday there was no pressure put on Social Credit riding mate Terry Huberts to drop out of the nomination battle in a new riding.

Huberts and Couvelier, who currently occupy the twin riding of Saanich and the Islands, were facing a showdown for the Socred nomination in the new riding of Saanich North and the Islands.

“I’m confident there were no deals,’’ Couvelier said Friday of Huberts’ decision not to seek re-election. ‘Certainly from my suppor- ters there were no deals and I’m confident-that there was no interference from others in that respect.””

Huberts said Thursday he had no doubts he would have won the nomination, but decided to drop out so he can spend more time with his family.

Huberts also said he didn’t want to be part of an internal party struggle.

Last month, Huberts upstaged Couvelier in a battle to get suppor- ters elected to the executive of the new riding association.

Couvelier said he was looking forward to the nomination contest and it wouldn’t necessarily have been divisive.

He said he was ‘‘disappointed to see a person of Terry’s calibre decide to quit politics.”

Government angers B.C. doctors

VANCOUVER (CP) — The provincial government is ‘‘goading the B.C. Medical A: iation into all-out ion,’’ its says.

In a strongly worded letter to association members, Dr. John An- derson says doctors are being set up as a major election issue.

While he says doctors must avoid “falling into (the) government's trap,’’ he urges them to continue pressuring their legislature members with letters expressing their anger about the government's royal com- mission on health care.

He also encourages doctors to involve their patients in the letter- writing campaign.

annval fundraiser, a silent ‘auction of fine art, which will take place at the NEC May 17 —— at 7 p.m. The of is

selling the mayor the ticket. Amo: th artists whose work the NEC will auction are Les

Maggie Tchir and Pat Freschi. Tickets are $20 and include hors d'oeuvres, entertainment and wine tasting courtesy of Grey Monk Estate Wines. Startin: April 25, the NEC will display the artwork which will be auctioned.

Lithuania headed for showdown

of Latvian i Li ian S

MOSCOW (AP) — Th rallied and Estonian n

Baltic republics.

Runoff elections are also planned today in the Soviet Union’s heartland, which makes up 80 per cent of the country’s territory and is home to some two-thirds of its

population.

Most of the 1,800 races held March 4 require runoffs because no candidate won 50 per cent of the vote.

Latvian and Estonian nationalists hope to follow Lithuania’s lead and see their candidates emerge vic-

torious in the elections.

Separatist candidates swept the field in Lithuania in February's election, and the republic's new parliament issued-a declaration of independence last Sunday. Soviet Gorbachev pronounced the move “illegal and invalid’’ and gave the republic until Monday to take back the proclamation. He has not said what the

President Mikh:

Kremlin will do if Lithuania refuses.

Lithuania’s President Vytautas Landsbergis rejected

ionalists plotted political strategy Saturday on the eve of elections in the txo Soviet

plan to comply

Addressed ‘‘to the governments

nations,’

Council to western news media and

embassies in Moscow indicated the new leaders do not

of democratic

the message said recognition of Lithuania's new status and government would be ‘‘an important sign of political and moral support.

“This we kindly request,"’ it concluded.

It was signed by Landsbergis.

The new president also rejected the Moscow deadline in remarks earlier Saturday, complaining the Soviet Congress is treating Lithuania

ike a naughty girl,”” said al ian TV editor.

Lithuania.””

Landbergis also renewed his call for talks with the Kremlin. He said perhaps the telegram could be inter- preted as the beginning of the negotiating process, and “we remember Gorbachev's words about a dialogue with

Gorbachev told a news conference Thursday night he

plans to have ‘‘a respectful dialogue’’ with the republic's

the deadline and appealed to ‘‘democratic nations’’ to

recognize the newly declared state. URGES ACTION

The Soviet Congress of People’s Deputies urged Gorbachev on Thursday to defend Soviet interests and

citizens in Lithuania.

In a terse telegram Friday, Gorbachev directed Lan- dsbergis: ‘‘In a three-day period, inform about measures

toward realizing this directive.’’

But a Telexed message issued Saturday night by the

leaders and people RULES OUT FORCE

He has not said what action he will take if Lithuania does not respond within the three-day limit. However, the

Also at

Soviet leader and his advisers have ruled out the use of force to bring Lithuania back into the union.

Saturday's legislature, “Algirdas Brazauskas, the republic's former president, was elected to the post of deputy premier. A

session of the republic’s

former Communist, economist Kazimira Prunskene, was

named premier

Government to get

Minister says some mills will be closed

EDMONTON (CP) — The federal government realizes its plans to toughen anti-pollution regulations for the pulp and paper industry will force some mill closures, Forestry Minister Frank Oberle said.

But Ottawa also recognizes it must clamp down on the industry, which has become the subject of intense public scrutiny, Oberle told the Ed- monton Journal’s editorial board.

Oberle said new federal pulp mill emission standards will be released soon and will apply to all plants across Canada.

He said «there will be some flexibility in the regulation because mills in Canada don’t all operate in the same environment

Setting one standard at a level to

Protect the most sensitive ecosystems would be too strict in others, he said He said he’s discussing the issue with the industry and may be looking at tax incentives for pulp mills which upgrade anti-pollution technology And the minister said Ottawa wants to move ly on what

something in place that would allow one region of the country to compete for investment capital on the grounds of more liberal environmental stan- dards.”"

Oberle said Ottawa has heard war nings of possible mill closures if

é are too strict. One mill in

“We probably have to close down all pulp mills, which we aren’t about to do,’” he said. But he added in- dustry and Ottawa want to reach some kind of standards that apply across the board.

“I clearly told my provincial coun- terparts we don’t intend to. put

British Columbia is already threatening to shut down and Oberle expects others will follow

“There’s no doubt we'll see some of that, with the costs of modification being just too high.** he called Canada’s most important industry, one which generates $40

ee

Andre

backs sale

OTTAWA (CP) — Selling shares in Canada Post to its em- Pployees is still a possibility, despite union rejection. of the idea, the minister responsible for the post office said

Harvie Andre told a Commons committee studying the post office that a share ownership program would improve labor relations_at Canada Post.

“If we're going to have some semblance of . employee- management peace over some ex- tended period of time, we've got to get rid of (the tension),’’ Andre said at the consumer and cor- porate affairs committee.

“And one of the ways that would contribute to lessening that kind of tension would be to have the employees involved directly by way of some profit sharing (or) share ownership."

The share-option suggestion was quickly dismissed by Jean- Claude Parrot, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, which has a stormy relationship with Canada Post management

tough

billion a year in annual sales, employs one million people and keeps 300 “totally dependent cities and towns afloat

“As the prime minister said, we have no intention of regulating this industry out of existence,’ said Oberle. *‘We can’t afford that, but at the same time we must recognize that the practices of the past are no longer acceptable.’

He came to the defence of the forestry industry, which he called an easy target for environmental groups such as the ones in Alberta, which have attacked proposed forestry Projects here.

“I’m not making any excuses for the industry, they know the shoe is about to drop, but the cost (to upgrade) is in the billions.”

RCMP uniform changes enrage some

although it was commonly worn before that

The helmet had replaced a pillbox hat. A’ uniform for female members

EDMONTON (CP) — Whites have become a minority in Canada and Ot- tawa’s decision allowing Sikh Moun: ties to wear turbans proves that, says a businessman who makes pins that condemn the headgear

And a woman who spearheaded a petition against changes to the traditional uniform says the issue should be decided in the Supreme Court of Canada.

Federal §olicitor General Pierre Cadieux annduaced several changes to the force’s ceremonial red tunic uniform on Thursday. Among them is that male Sikhs can wear turbans, a requirement of their religion is alive

start thinking of Canadians instead of every other minority that comes in, then we're in a lot of trouble."

Kouda, 29, came to Canada in 1968,

with his parents when Soviet troops entered Czechoslovakia. Recently, he has been making pins that show an African man, a Sikh in a turban and a man in a Chinese coolie hat standing around a white man. It carries the caption: Who is the minority in Canada?

A spokesman for the Sikh Society

cof Alberta said the isa

with the matter ‘‘encouraged the bad elements of Canadian society to speak out against visible minorities.”"

Kay Mansbridge of Calgary started a petition against changes to the RC MP uniform and helped gather 210,000 signatures — including en dorsements from 19 Indian band councils and several municipalities.

She plans to launch a legal battle over the issue and is appealing to Canadians for money to help in the fight. Mansbridge said Prime Minister

step in the right direction. Mohinder Singh Bains said not allowing Sikh RCMP officers the right to wear tur- bans was denying their right as

Brian . who endorsed the idea publicly this week, doesn't care what people think

Kouda. said the turban decision goes against the wishgs of many rs

“It looks like and well’’ on Parliament Hill, said Peter Kouda of Calgary, his voice shaking. When less than two per cent of Canadians get special . privileges, it shows that this country is going down

the drain. Unless we wake up and

c Lo ploy and

“This is the way Canada should be,"’ Bains said in Edmonton. ‘‘It is a country of many dominions from all over the world and all their traditions should be respected in this count

Bains said Ottawa's delay in deal

dians, while only a handful of Sikhs want to join the RCMP *‘Hundreds of thousands of people don’t count, but 10 Sikhs count,”” he said This is not the first change to RC MP headgear. In 1902, the Stetson hat officially replaced the pith helmet

was introduced in the mid-1970s which included a special hat for them.

Delegates to the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities passed a resolution earlier this week advocating a single Canadian culture

but couldn't come up with #defin- tion of Canadian.

Association president Bernard Kerwin said Thursday that allowing the turbans ‘‘will destroy, absolutely. destroy, the proudest police force in the world in terms of morale."* Multiculturalism works better when it isn’t pushed down people's throats, he said from Regina

Const. A. Virk, who works at the RCMP'’s Red Deer city detachment, is believed to be the only Sikh RCMP officer in Alberta. Virk has not discussed the issue publicly and would

~ nai comment Thursday.