Canado and the Soviet Union announced agreement this week to set up a joint committee to study areas of scientific co-operation. One area mentioned was that of long distance power transmission in which the Soviet Union leads the world. Above photo shows high tension lines linking Moscow and Volgograd. UBCM STAND HIT Less concern shown for jc jobless than for cruelty to animals By ALD. HARRY RANKIN About three months ago, the executive of the Union of B.C. Municipalities presented a ‘‘position paper’’ on social welfare to the provincial govern- ment. I just heard about it a few weeks ago; the paper was never brought up in City Council. As far-as I’m concerned, it’s a disgraceful document. In it, the UBCM shows less consideration for the unemployed than the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shows for dogs. The position paper cites figures to show that municipal welfare costs are soaring City housing report aheai—but still inadequate By MABEL RICHARDS Recommendations for new and improved housing contained in a report on Vancouver’s housing needs prepared by the city planning department are not fully adequate, but are a good start at least, said Alderman Harry Rankin in an interview with the Tribune last week. The report, compiled after a three-year study commissioned by the federal government’s Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation, calls for a $40.2 million housing program to be financed entirely by senior government over the next five years. It details the city’s needs as public housing projects to provide 1,750 units; low-rental housing for 625 units; experi- mental housing for 700 units; and assitance to rehabilitate older houses for 1,250 units. The only cost to the city would be 12.5 percent of rent subsidy while receiving full taxes. Rankin said an immediate start could be made by using money in the city coffers under its five-year plan. Asked if the city could build housing without going through private developers, he said ‘‘We could build housing through a Develop- ment Corporation set up under the present Vancouver city charter. Or we could put projects up for bids. Senior Citizens housing could be encouraged through Service Clubs, with 90 percent financing from the three levels of govern- ment. The clubs would build and manage such projects, which would pay off the city in terms of social improvement.”’ The city planning report calls for $6.2 million for assistance in rehabilitation of older housing up to 1,250 units. This is necessary, Rankin said, but it should not be allocated to absentee landlords or slum- owners; rather must be used with proper restrictions. An interesting remark in the study is that citizens should be included in the process of efficient, effective programs, rather than observe them as bystanders. “Bystanders” are indeed what citizens have been in this past decade whilst dozens and more high-rent apartments for single people went up in the west end, and dozens more fancy dwellings to house business and stores went up in the central core. Housing for families, at rents within reach, have become simply a far-off dream for the average worker. Private developers have seen fit to deal mainly in high-rise con- struction with money provided by private mortgage outfits such as insurance companies, banks, trusts, etec., at high rates of interest. Why. not, when the directorships of the above institutions are so intertwined? ‘Robert Andras, federal minister in charge of Central Mortgage and Housing, said in Vancouver last September that “*B.C., for some reason, has not PUBLIC MEETING Hear BRUCE MAGNUSON, Nat'l Labor Sec’ty Communist Party of Canada Speak On: “ACTION PROGRAM FOR JOBS” SUNDAY — FEBRUARY 7th — 8 PM SWEDISH HALL (East Hastings St. & Clark Dr.) Ausp: Vancouver Regional C’ttee, GPC 291s Hier s Sis) bibe GJ PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY— FEBRUARY 5: 1971 PAGE 2° fh step been an enthusiastic recipient of public housing as some other provinces. I can’t answer why that may be.”’ The answer, of course, is simple. It is because city and pro- vincial authorities have left housing up to private developers, with NPA aldermen, particu- larly, and their mayors having.a stake in real estate and mortgage institutions. There are signs, however, that private developers are eyeing public funds for housing with a glitter in their beady eyes. Jack Poole, president of Dawson Developments, Ltd., is quoted as stating that low..,,f., income housing is one of the coming fields, with financing coming from CMHC — in other words, the taxpayer. Low-rental housing is one of the types of housing recom- mended in the city planning report. This would appear go be a lucrative operation for those private developers who are able to borrow CMHC funds at a low rate of interest and amatorize the mortgage over a period of 35 years. The rents .are “controlled’’ by CMHC, but at the end of the period those same rents will have paid off the mortgage and the whole kit and caboodle will belong to the developer, to do with as he will. However, housing we need; housing we must have at rents which we can afford, and that, to the average family, does not mean $200 - $300 a month. It should be up to city fathers, planning authorities, and the citizens — who indeed can no longer afford to be the ““bystanders’’ mentioned in the report — to see to it that housing is provided without millions in cream being siphoned off the top by private developers using our money. If the three levels of govern- ment are Serious in at last under- taking a genuinely adequate housing program for the city, the taxpayer must keep a way eye on Se astronomically. It correctly points out that property taxes can’t be increased to meet these growing costs. It proposes that the municipal share of social assistance payments be cut back from the current 20 percent to 10 percent, or, alternatively, that per capita grants be increased by $3.00. So far so good. With these state- ments and proposals, any reason- able person can agree. If anything, they don’t go far enough. Senior governments should bear the entire cost of welfare because unemployment is the direct result of the fiscal and economic policies of senior governments. Furthermore, the UBCM should be demanding new policies by senior govern- ments to create jobs. But having made some reason- able proposals, the position paper of the UBCM proceeds to launch a vicious attack on transient unemployed, coming up with 13 different proposals for making it more difficult for them to obtain social assitance. It demands that all applicants under 19 be returned to their parents at the parents’ expense, and if the parents don’t respond, then charges are to be laid against the parents. No cash allowances are to be given to single transient unem- ployed. They are to be housed in dormitory style hostels in winter and tents in summer. Under no circumstances are they to receive any money for ‘‘rent, clothing, fuel, emergency health aid, etc.”’ Transient unemployed fra out of the province are to! shipped back. The cost of im grants on welfare is to” charged totheirsponsors. And to add the ridiculous 10? already inhumane approach, "| UBCM wants the ‘‘norm® residence’’ of any applica under 25 considered as residence of his parents, % matter how long he has be away from home! The nor x | residence” of all over 25 will? | the location of their last T@ dence while in employmel Presumably they will be ship back there; unemployed mv not be allowed to travel 100 1 for work. A meaner or mor more calldl ] approach to human beings all fellow-Canadians would be to contrive. our sons and daughters; they not pests or predators to bee rid of. We have a direct resp bility to take care of them. ) situation single unemployed d fi | themselves in is not of their ‘| making; it is the result of © a| policies followed by the gové ments of prime minis! Trudeau and premier Benneth | The single unemployed ? Z| Municipalities should not! squabbling among themself over responsibility for the ! mit thousands. of transié unemployed in our country. © should join together to deme that senior governments #@ proper care of them and 1 steps to create jobs. Three hundred women attending a conference in Vancouver on January 30th voted unanimously to work for the four point plan of action contained in the Report of the Royal Commis- sion on the Status of Women. Singled out for special con- centration was the key point in the Report — Equal Pay for Equal Work. A steering committee com- posed of representatives of Organizations present was established to organize further activities. The conference was sponsored by the University Centre for Continuing Education in co- operation with the University Women’s Club. Women from all age groups and walks of life attended. Organizations represented included the University Women’s Club, the Unitarian Church, the Council of Women, Women’s Liberation Movement, Business & Professional Women’s Club, U.B.C. School of - Social Work, United Community Services, various trade unions including the U.F.A.W.U., and the B.C. Federation of Labor. Guest speaker, Anne Francis, chairman of the Royal Commis- ’ -the way thein money isjhandled. y5..sjon,, told the gathering of. the, sogiety.’’ . 300 at women’s parley. urge action on report | * By HELEN O'SHAUGHNESSY work done during the two of hearings and reitef) many of the importt recommendations in the rep) After the question peri0 fi conference divided into discussion groups cenl@) around the themes of Economy, Poverty, Educat™ Society and the Family. All groups concluded " equal pay for equal wol?. given top priority, along ~ | high priority for child y centres. The reasons y logical. With more money more facilities for child % many of the other provigy facing women would sta! better chance of correction. A quick and definite resp? | was -given to a motion 10. st Prime Minister Pierre Trude and Premier W.A.C. Belly wires supporting the princi of the recommendations % 4 Commission and urging thela “Get With It.” All women were urged t0 wi their MLA’s and MP’s let them know they expect 2° Plans were made to continv® a study and popularization of | Report. And finally the ste committee charged with the ‘ of further work was instruc stress that ‘‘we all want aP =.