a ne eee Page 4, The Heratd, Monday, May 14, 1974 TERR ACE/KITIMAT daily herald General Office - 435-6357 _ Cireutatlon - 635-4387 GEN. MANAGER. Knox Coupland — EDITOR - Greg Middleton CIRCULATION. TERRACE. KITIMAT OF FICE . 632-2747 Published every weekday at 3212 Kalum Street, Terrace, B.C. A member of Verlfled Circulation. | Authorized as second class mall, Registration number 4201. Postage pald In cash, return postage guaranteed. NOTE OF COPYRIGHT The Herald retains full, complete and sole copyright In ény advertisement produced and-or any editarlal or | Photographic content published In the Herald. Reproduction Is not permitted. Published by Sterling Publishars 6356957 | COMMENT By CAROL GOAR OTTAWA (CP) — The Canadian economy has acted more as a dismal backdrop to the actlon than a focus for hard-hitting debate in the campaign for the federal ” election in 11 days. Unlike 1874, when the issue of wage and price controls dominated the .campalgn, there is no easy handle to the hundreds of speache: and dozens of promises which have characterized this campalgn’s economic de- One reason is that the economy la fuzzy. While the average tax- payer’s grocery bill is going up at an annual rate of 17.4 per cent, the unemployment rate (7.9 per cent) Is at its lowest level in almost two years. The cost of living is in- creasing at a leas alarming pace in Canada than the United States — 9.2 per cent compared with the U.S. rate of 13 per cent. But the Canadian dollar is worth only 66 cenis compared with ita U.S. counterpart, Choosing the favorable economic indicators, Prime Minister Trudeau promises basically more of the same — acontinuation of 11 years of Liberal management of the economy, which he says has led toa record rate of job creation, a healthy trade surplus and an industrial sector which has been steadily galning strength for the last five years. The Liberati have made a few, relatively low-cost Promises to improve Canada’s economle per- formance. Thelr major in- novation would be to offer a _ tax deduction to employees wishing to buy shares in the companies for which they Selecting the moat disturbing statiatles, the Conservatives ramind voters there are 974,000 Canadians out of work and the economy grew by only 3.4 percent last year, Party leader Joe Clark wes this as evidence the economy needs a shot in the arm, which he would provide through a number of tax breaks designed to increase the spending power of consumers and business, These measures, with an estimated net cost of about $3.4 billlon, include a §2- billion reduction in personal income taxes, a scheme allowing homeowners to deduct mortgage interest payments and property faxes from their taxable income (which would coat about $400 million in ite first ear), tax credits for small sinesses and for firms willing to invest in research and a plan to abolish capital gains taxe for shareholders who buy into Csnadian companies, The New Democrats planned a year ago, when election rumors were rampant, to make jobs the focal point of their cam- palgn. They even designed ttons with thelr campaign slogan ‘Jobs first," But since then, the Unemployment rate has dropped by more than half a percentage point and the cost of living has accelerated by a similar proportion, with food prices soaring. New Democratic leader Ed Broadbent atill believes unemployment is a major problem and says the federal government's statistics understate the suffering of the jobless, He estimates more than a milllon people are out of work. He has incorporated his job theme Into a triple: inte eaturl: * economic platform unemployment, the: cost living and the need for an industrial strategy. "His promises, with an eatl mated $3-billlon price tag, include Increased federal in- vestment In job creation in- itiatlves, a restructuring of the Industrial sector and three new inflatlomfighting meaaures. / The anti-Inflatlon program includes a cost-of-living lax credit to help low-and middledineome Canadians cope with rising prices, a fair prices commission with power to Investigate selected rice increases androilthem - ck if it fInda evidence of © price-gouging and home: . owners’ subsidies to reduce — mortgage interest charges for i and middle jscune groups. The. induatrial restruc- turing is based on the NDP's traditional objective of wresting control of key economic sectors, such as resource and energy development and export: © ‘minister, said a confident rin February as he | oriented manufacturing, from forelgn control, A second aim would be to shift the emphaala in development from raw materials to finished products. Broadbent has not spelled out in detall how he would this new regime in place, t one of the maln tools would be government {n- centives to attract Canadian investment in domestle {n- istry. : The Liberals say their latfor necessitates no increase in the government's apending deficit. In fact, months before the election, the party committed itself te reducing the gap between revenues and. spending to $10.75 billion this year. Last ear's deficit was $11.4 iUlon. The Conservatives . promise taxpayers they will ellmiate tha deficit. by the mid-1980s, but say their program of economle stimulation requires a tem- porary ‘‘stimulative deficit.”’ Estimates of how long this bulge in budget mo poke from various party spokesmen range from a few months to two or three years, The New Democrats say thelr program would cause a firatyear jump of $3 billion in the deficit, which they believe ja an acceptable price fo pay for more jobs, reased Canadian control of the economy and reduced inflation. They say their program would pay for itself within three years. A few major economic jasues which dominated Parllamentary debate day after day before the election was called have received passing mention in the campaign, Chief among these are the dollar, the possibility af government- mposad controls on the amount of money that can be taken outside the country, fears that a new spiral of high wage dema will erlpple the economy and complaints that profit levels among major corporations are too high. publication Letters welcome The Herald welcomes its readera com: ments, All letters to the editor of general public Interest will be printed. We do, however, retaln the right to refuse te print letters on grounds of possible libel or bad taste. We may also edit letters for style and length. All letters to be considered for’ must be signed. : You just can’t win -Plerre genera! election. -briefh trave By ROD CURRIE OTTAWA (CP). — The ap-. prenticeshi “Pm ready to be prime’ Joe Cla , entered his fourth year leading the Progressive .- -Conservative party. ready for his campa - Trudeau in the igi to topple Nat long ago he vir- tually unnoticed. But Clark, 38, now often stands out in airport and hotel lobby ‘crowds, recognzed and pursued for an autograph or ‘pouvenir snapshot, Some recent nition — was unhelpfui, notably the attention given to gaffes and organizational blunders on Clark's January. journey across Asia. But that trip to Japan, India and the Middle Enst received wide public attention, It's been an uphill grind for the lad from Alberta’s Tolling foothills country who first talked about being imo minister back when he gan dabbling at the fringe of politics in his native high © ‘River at age 17. - He made an unsuccessful stab at law school, worked in journallam, in Europe, then turned to politics in earnest, becoming an MP In 1#72 and the surprise winner of the Conservative leadership convention in 1976 againat 11 -other contestanta, Television in the Com- mons, introduced: last Oc- tober, helped Clark with his publica problem, and made the most of IL Debate and sharp questioning are his strong jouse sift a novelty, many were drawn to the screens to wateh Clark at his best, sparring with Prime Min- the growing issues. of | growing issues i flation and wmnernployment. Even the Joe put: down of a newspaper headline the following the leadership victory was turned to ad- vantage, From that level, Toronto t in jumt who Joo was, amy uae rm ne in ver al he could have gone into that business, but he got the political bug early. A serous university ports parties and dances, devoting spare iime backroom work for the party and pamphieteering for the Diefenbaker government of 1972-62. . is over, “Joe. Who?” is derd. Trudeau cover . ”” JOE CLARK Friends of those days say hig room was @ mess, clut- tered and untidy, in sharp contrast with his new-penny neat appearance and his flair for political organizing and planning. Later he came to Ottawa to work In the office of then- opposition leader Robert Stanfleld, Clark's predecessor as party chief. He doesn't smoke, drinks sparingly, But he loves junk food, plops ketchup on most anything, never passes up 6 . dessert and has 4 passion for ints. And with TV in the . -MeTeer pesters him to eat Coca-Cola, Wife Maureen more fruit, take more exercise, but he remains reluctant. ‘Instead he prefers to slump reading—heavy stuff, and detective yarns for relaxation—or watching TV. He tends to break the high- way speed limit and is an avid movie-goer, when time . . ome. significance that permits, In « sense, he seems to deaw inner strength from his conviction that people un- derestimate him. He never lot hope of winning the party leader- ship, he told biographer David Humphreys, even though most eaw it asa futile battle from the start, "Tl knew they were under- estimating me,” he said, the “they” being the politicians, me party foot-soldiers and news media. Being underestimated may be an advantage in dealing with political foes, but not with the voters, and Clark: has driven himself relentlessly to convince the uphill battle public of the qualities of leadership he is positive he possesses. He's probably at his best in hot House debate, and can be charming, relaxed and witty in small, private gatherings. On the hustings, however, he sometimes seems awkward, wooden and tentative, and aides used to fuss thathe wag a reluctant campaigner. He's struggling hard to do better and on a recent pre- campaign swing through Atlantic Canada, often dressed casually in sweater and slacks, he pumped hands with enthusiasm, chatted jj, and joked, giving every Indication of enjoying it, Party reporters tend to slip easily into a firstname relationship and Clark doesn’t mind, He puts great emphasis on his small-town, gtasssoots connections, saylng: ‘I consider it a matter of people will come up to me and call me Joe.” Humphreys, in his book Joe Clark, elevates to virtue Clark's qualities of or- dinariness — ‘They are, on balance, an asset because they are shared by most le." ‘ ' But Clark's career ag leader was studded with early disasters — Tory losses in five Quebec byelections, after Clark had gambled a tot of time cam- paigning there, an almost comicaily mismanaged tour of British Columbia, the loss of several lieutenants ap- parentiy digenchated with Clark's style. _ Stitullonal - had retarded workers and « OTTAWA | ‘OFFBEAT ° _. BY RICHARD JACKSON _ accurately, - helpfal- to: the ‘Liberals+as- Ottawa,-Pierre Trudeau is ; “a great showman,” one of the Liberal party ng the ©" backroom boys is tei world, but what he isn't saying is that the Prime Minister's leadoff ‘‘act” in% his regular platform ap: pearances is not original. It's ‘not really’ Plerre Trudeau playing the part of Prime Minister fighting for the life of his government. Rather it 1s a clear copy of Hollywood act George C. Scott playing the role of Genera] George Patton . leading the American troops in the bitter Battle of t Bulge. This particular Liberal backroomer serves ag the party intelligence agent assigned to feeling the pulse of the national media as it flies into Ottawa on weekends with the party leaders after five or six days in the field, He listens to what the media Is saying--not in the paper nor on the air, but among —_ themselvea-about how the leaders sre dolng. Presumably then, after making his soundings he summarizes in- an in- telligence report to Liberal campaign commander In- Senator Keith Davey for whatever bearing it might have on strategy: in the remaining days of the campaign. a But listening is not the © Liberal backroomer’s. only _ function, He talks, too--or. more: plants. idea. any good: propagandist ~ should, : bee Dive 7 But he picked up 10 of 15 vacant Commons seats in byelections last October, He inherited a party split over issues, some dating - ‘back to the John -Diefen- 3... baRer era launched In 1956. , But Clark claimis to” have fostered more unity in the party than members have felt in 15 years. - During pre-campaign tours, the outline of his campaign strategy became clear. Under Trudeau, -he charged, the central government had grown fat and wearing, Remote and out of touch, it had so muddied federal-provincial relations that compromise was almost impossible. Clark would bring about more -consultations with provincial leaders. There was need for con- reform, but Trudeau was pushing the issue Into the Hmelight to . distract public attention from the real issues— the dire state of the economy created by Liberal govern- ment mismanagement. Trudeau had tried to cast the Queen in the role of an assistant governorgeneral. Government bureaucracy industrial growth and free enterprise, while also frightening off foreign investment, ‘he charged. . Repeatedly Clark ad- vocated reducing income taxea, freezing public ser- vice hirlngs and eliminating some Crown corporations- including such expensive “Trudeau toys’’ as Petro ‘Canada, the Crown cor- poration that spent $100 million, he sald, and had yet to discover a single barrel of Aman who can cat-nap on airplanes and in car back seats, Clark has travelled well over 150,000 miles in Canada since becoming leader, aside from trips to the United States, Europe and Asia, . It's all part of shaking the Joe Who? image, and in the campaign he'll have a lively assist [rom wife Maureen McTeer, the polltically- astute law graduate he mafried June 30, 1973, Daughter Catherine was born Nov., 1978. Ms. McTeer has lined up time off to campaign from the Ottawa law firm where she works. Now begins the new phase of the long plan, launched when Clark ieft Stanfleld's backroom crew and struck out on his own. “IT decided my usefulness to him was expiring and his to me,” he said later. ‘I wanted to be elected. ] think muy talents are greater in the front room.” "He's been very. ” the “tough gly” image of the hoy ere cs it proud of” “Prime Minister, making anide comparisons to what "> he ealls “the kid, Joe." He talks a lot about the “great tableau’ Trudeau presents, when he stands up there in the spotlight on the stage, a sole microphone before. him, and 4 huge Maple, Leaf. flag,. often. ,. brilliantly backiighted ‘behindhin,””’ Htetk q, Ueber Isa great frame for ‘The Mat, i “hn le Mt ample... 1: Attention rivettlng. SU ae c, seat did it in uniform in that splendid -war movie "Pat ton." 7 _ Trudeau even locks the. part, 7 ~ . Puta uniform on him--he's already gotthereplicacfthe - gun belt, into which he hooks -hls thumbs-and you've: got the fighting hero, battling to- save Canada from the separatists, —_ _ Buttothose whohave been . listening. and - watching closely, ithas one basic flaw. Trudeau does not play. the part. in front of Quebec audiences. There's no fire-in-theeye deflanca of the separatists. Instead, in Quebec, the Prime Minlster, careful avoiding any harsh:.words about. - the... separatiats themselves). gives =the French Canadian: Voters a ‘very nice and effective soft sell on the benefits-of Con- federation. | ie £ In Quebec “it's ‘‘not, a fighting plitch-wlth* all ‘the dramatic staging--fdr, the preservation of * Quebec against = the, “' wikked machinations of". scheming separatists.”""" Nothing heroic. . Nosuggestion of Gedr ge C. Scatt and General “Patton. It's a sensible bread-and- butter pitch to the stomach and the feelings of well-being and: gecurity, of Quebec in Confederation. ~ This is not to say there is _ anything less than honbst or honorable in that approach. "It's just to say that it’s different from the Fighting Trudeau, the Crusading Prime Minister you see and hear in English Canada. Joe Clark, the « Con- servative leader who Is learning fast not Jo mince words--and reallzing that nice guys don't alwaya,win-- £ ght outinalieit: Comes BUrRIaHE | a geREUGEU, {Bolat hby i200 separatism,’ " = > +: Incumbents have the edge By JULIET O'NEILL OTTAWA (CP) — The member of Parllament running to win back a seat in the House of Commons gets a legal head start against rivals in the general election. With a monthly wage, free . airline passes and other parliamentary benefits still rolling in, the 200 or so MPs defending their seats hold an edge over competitors rivals throughout the campaign. In the twa months between the dissolution of Parliament and election day, MPs retain access — though curtailed — to their usual perquisites: Free airline and rail passes, stationery, printing, mailing and longdistance telephone services, They can keep thelr government-pald offices on Parliament Hili and in thelr constituencies. And their Commons secretaries and other aides stay on, although under official orders to confine any election ac- tivitles to thelr spare time. MPs, -who receive a standard $28,600 salary plus A $12,700 taxfree allowance annually — §6,-099 in the two montha — get paid at least until the day they re defeated at the polls. A member remalns an MP until that y, Losing MPs, by the way, get government money to move their families and furniture back home if they haven't claimed reim- bursement fora move during their last uninterrupted term of office. Commons Clerk Alistair Fraser says the perquisites are watered down during the campaign as a compromise between the MP as political - candidate and the MP as public official. The system is meant to en- sure the MP can fulfil an obligation ta look after constituents while minimizing the advantage such privileges give them over rivals, “We shouldn't be spending public money to.confer and advantage,” Fraser said in. an interview. , . At the same time, MPs need facilities to respond to constituents who have the right to political repregen- tation, election-time or not. The benefit system is based on trust that MPs will not abuse their special rights. But Fraser and others agree there is often only a fine line between partisan electioneering and Keeping constituents im- formed, Chief Electoral Officer JeanMarc Hamel warns that if an MP*s secretaries or staff “engage in campaign activities, except on their own time, it counts against election expenses,” ; There are legal limits. to what each MP can spend campaigning, depending on the number of voters in the viding. Volunteer labor Is - included in the tally, Some MPs say they use - their free mall system to maximum political ad vantage, but Commons Postmaster Horace Dunbar Saye outright abuse “would not be a very good political move,” MPs are entitled to these privileges and services during the election battle: —Free travel back to the constituency plus three return trips between the riding and Ottawa from the dissolution of Parliament to election day. _ —Free railway passes to any community. . —Free mailing rights for the first 10 days after the election is called ‘to. unlimited numbers of people, —Free printing for the first 10 days, the 35 pariamentary —print-shop employees on overtime ‘to keep preases running 24 hours a day. MPs may we one or more of their annual entitlements to four mailings to each. constituency household, ‘newsletter or Pamphlet, but each jn- ’ dividual mailing is restricted to one sheet printed both sides in the 10-day election period, —Free long-distance tele- phone service between Parliament Hill and con. slituency offices, but other long-distance calls from the home office paid by the MP.