Lasca protesters plead guilty

Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER

Four West Kootenay resi- dents have pled guilty to civil contempt of court charges.

Two days into a Nelson Supreme Court trial Dec. 2, Andre Arnold, Candice Baty- cki, Matthew Beynon and Samuel Schickowitz pled guilty to violating a court in- junction on Sept. 24, 1991. The guilty pleas stem from an inci- dent last year when a number of area residents blocked an Atco Lumber Ltd. logging road at Lasca Creek, northeast of Nelson.

Scheduled for eight days, the trial wrapped up prema- turely with the guilty pleas.

Crown counsel Brian Ren- dell said, “we were part way through constitutional issues. (The defense) said they were ready to plead guilty to civil contempt of court.”

Rendell said the court had converted the proceedings to criminal court in August.

Rendell said the guilty plea “was acceptable to the Crown

as long as it was acceptable to the court, and it was accept- able to the court.”

Sentencing will be made Jan. 5.

Defense counsel Greg Stacey, one of four defense lawyers in the trial, argued that the contemners were in an unfair situation.

Stacey said contempt of court, whether civil or crimi- nal is “a judge-made law, it’s common law.” In addition to having the power to declare contempt, Stacey said a judge has the power to stay the charges against an individual who is caught in an abusive system.

Stacey said Atco Lumber saved a lot of money by having the charges heard in criminal court. He said once it becomes acriminal charge, it’s Crown counsel's option to proceed on the charges rather than the company having its own lawyers appear.

Defense lawyer David Okros said, “I think the whole area of contempt in the area of

protests is an unusual one. It’s a kind of hybrid of criminal and civil charges.”

As for the outcome of the trial, Stacey said, “the result is a reasonable one.”

Defense lawyer Don Skogstad said this ends a lengthy process for the four de- fendants.

“When you're brought to court as often as they were, the stress and pressure of it is nice to have lifted off their shoulders.”

As for his own feelings, Skogstad said criminal con- tempt of court is the vaguest area of law he has ever seen.

‘T'll only be happy when criminal contempt is either made clear or abolished total- ly,” Skogstad said.

Although sentencing will not take place until Jan. 5, counsé] have requested the contemners receive a $500 suspended fine, one year pro- bation, and serve 50 to 100 hours of community work.

The four contemners were not available for comment.

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Corinne Jackson NEWS REPORTER

An agreement may be within reach.

Barry Jackson said negotiations between Selkirk College Board and the school’s faculty association are progressing.

“We're reaching agreement on a few issues every day,” the board’s director of personnel and employee relations said Tuesday.Jackson said he expects a final agreement to be reached on Friday.

Although the Selkirk College Faculty Association has stat- ed that provincial underfunding is the root of the instructors’ problems, Jackson would not say whether the college is look- ing at lobbying the government for more money.

“Td just as soon not talk about these things,” he said “This will pot be an issue by Friday because we'll have a settle- ment.

The faculty association, which represents 117 Selkirk em- ployees, has been without a contract since March 31. Out- standing issues include class sizes and work loads.

Castlegar Block Parent drive is on

Corinne Jackson NEWS REPORTER

The Block Parent Program is getting a push in Castlegar.

Children will be going home in the new year with notices asking parents to get involved. Se- niors, too, will be notified that the program is aimed at helping them, Ida Cleeve said Tues- day.

“I really want to get this thing going,” Castlegar’s Block Parent co-ordinator said.

“We don’t want to have to wait until some- thing does happen,” Cleeve said, explaining the program’s aim at preventing problems rather than reacting to them. : ab

“I’m sure hoping that it will go over,” she said. ‘

According to Cleeve, people interested in be- coming Block Parents apply, are interviewed by

police and only once they pass the screening process are they given window signs indicating they are program members.

“They won’t get a sign in the window until they’ve been screenéd.

“They have to have a good record,” she said.

Cleeve said she hopes the community will pitch in and apply for signs.

“A lot of people think that if the neighbor’s have (a sign) you don’t need: one — that’s bologna.

“The more the better.”

RCMP Const. Russ Sangster said the pro- gram began in 1985, but as Block Parents have moved away membership has waned and more are needed. After two years of informal sur- veying, Sangster said he has found that it is time to “revitalize the program.

“There is a need for a Block Parent Program in every community.”

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RCMP eyeing more guns with amnesty extension

Corinne Jackson NEWS REPORTER

City plugs in-camera leaks

Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER

Castlegar city hall wants to plug some leaks.

The city has requested from its lawyers a complete de- scription of in-camera proce- dures and how to remedy breaches of confidence. In- camera meetings are those which the public, including the media, are not permitted to attend.

“Some information has been leaked,” Coun. Lawrence Chernoff said. “It’s strictly for clarification of what can be done.”

Chernoff would not say what information had been leaked or who leaked it.

The report from Victoria law firm Lidstone, Young, An- derson is dated Nov. 12. The six-page document begins by addressing the city and states, “you have requested our com- ments generally regarding in- camera meetings of council. In

this letter we discuss the con- duct of members of council in relation to decisions made in- camera, disclosure of confi- dential information, what matters should be considered in-camera and rules governing establishment, proceedings and minutes.”

The letter describes what council can do about a member who makes public the pro- ceedings of an in-camera meeting. It also addresses how such a breach might be dealt with in court.

The reason for requesting the information depends on which councillor you talk to.

“It’s general information that we all need to know that we're operating appropriately and responsibly so everyone knows what the rules are,” Mayor Audrey Moore said.

Moore said the request is simply to keep abreast of any legislative changes.

“There’s no ulterior motive,” she said.

Chernoff also said the re- port was not requested so it could be used against anyone.

“No one is being tagged,” Chernoff said. “It’s better to be — top than behind the eight-

“It’s just for the future, as a guideline,” Coun. Jim Chap- man said. “It is to remind peo- ple there is a format to be fol- lowed.”

Coun. Doreen Smecher said the information was requested to benefit the public and take away the mystique of in-cam- era meetings. She said it would bring a greater under- standing of what should be contained in-camera. Smecher said the package is so thor- ough because the lawyer “got wordy on the explanation.”

Coun. Kirk Duff said the material will help council de- termine what topics do not need to be in-camera.

“In some communities, there’s a lot of abuse with in- camera meetings.”

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A national gun amnesty — originally slotted to run from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30 — has been extended to Dec, 15.

“I don’t think the amnesty program has been too success- ful and possibly they’re look- ing at further success by ex- tending it,” Castlegar RCMP Staff Sgt. Doug Hall said.

To date, one restricted se-

brought in to local police, he said. Hall said advertising about the extension has made people aware and has resulted in more weaponry coming in, but much more is expected. “Even though there have been some (illegal weapons) turned in, I believe there are a certain number still out there. ‘T think there'll be a steady

flow.

PolicC BEAT

Richard Hawkins, 20, of Castlegar lost control of his ve- hicle, collided with the guard

rail on Frank Biender Way in Ootischenia and overturned Dec. 3. There were no injuries.

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