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Reproduction Is not permitted without the written permission of the Publisher. : PAGE 4, THE HERALD, Friday, September 15, 1978 ° Ottawa Offbeat by Richard Jackson OTTAWA - Detest or deify him - and few can ignore him such is his compulsion - when Prime Minister Trudeau leaves the national stage Canadians will lese the mast talented actor of living political memory. —. tmpulsive, he could leave on a whim. Sensitive, he could anticipate an invitation by the; Liberal party to qo. Stubborn, aware of the odds of. triumph ‘and disaster, he could tough It out and let the votes go. where they may. Any of these scenarlos are possible. - ; He sald from the beginning that he wouldn’t ’ oufstay his welcome, and In any event. would leave when he felt he had enough. That's the first eventuality. As to leaving before he Is actually pushed out of the party door, the liberals have been very . skilful with their disappearing act for unwanted leaders. Always done with style, this vanishing trick and never. with pity.” Prime Minister Mackenzie King was: ““per- suaded“ to leave and died of a broken heart, in the loneliness of his Gatineau cottage a year later. Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent was all but shamed out of his leadership as a loser, and left, broken in spirit, Prime Minister Lester . Pearson was even pressured out, [ust one week before he would have celebrated his 71st birthday and fifth an. niversary. in. office. Liberals love winners, can’t, abide losers.: While ‘there is ‘talk that Trudeau could go voluntarity or be “pushed’*; he ls a-leader like no: other the Liberals ever have had, and being his own man as no other prime minister betore him, just as likely ‘could ignore fhe party pressures. , ermments of. ‘Manitoba, “That's nothing new — my teachers are always threatening to strike me.”’ Western muscle lacking © OTTAWA (CP) — The mood in Western Canada is fast becoming unpleasant and the federal .govern- ment’s constitutional reform plans virtually ignore this alienation, says the Canada West Foundation. Spokesmen for the foun- dation, a non-profit group set up two years ago to promote western interests if the constitution is re-written, . appeared. Thursday before the joint Senate-Commons committee on the con- stitution. "TI don't. want to sound alarmist, but Quebec. has | served as a mode! for _weatern Canadians as & way. ‘of getting attention to our problems,” said.Stan Rob- ' chairman . of the: erts, foundation. Roberts, former’ vice- “: president of Slmon: Fraser University in Burhaby, BiC., ‘made it clear the’ ‘Calgary: : based foundation, financed. -in.part by its 300 members - ov- : should scrap all thought. of and partly by: ‘the | as- He Is at once their heaviest handicap and - richest asset. He dominates the emotions and Imaginailons Lo. of Canadians with his flair for the outrage’us, .. ..- He can stand up his Queen and do handstands ‘with his sons. me, He can be charming and obscene. But he can never be boring. . And that’s what makes him different - itt no better nor worse in performance than most other leaders - because he is never the same. | Only the fresh flower In his lapel, plucked In. winter from .the Governor : General's’ greenhouses across the drive from his home at24 Sussex, and in summer from his own gardens. atop the escarpment of the Ottawa River, . Is unchanging. _An actor without a peer In politics, he creates - his own changing roles with the: masks. and costumes. Thére was the first-term Trudeau of thie. giddy post-Expo years, leather-coated, tieless and trendy, flashing along In his tow-slung silver Mercedes. - Now, a decade later, In more subdued times, he is immaculate In the trimiy-tailorad con- servative blue, grey or brown pin-stripes, on forma! or public occaslons. When he gives you the Infrequent. peek behind the official prime ministerial facade, you see him in a domestic setting as the casually : slacked and sweatered single father, Up front of the press, at his infrequent con- ferences where he is so “In charge” of proceedings, he teases and toys with the cap- tivated - and captive - reporters, and. he Is: the macho bachelor of old, the graceful one-and-a- . half-backward-gainer off.the diving board, the: ‘far-younger-than-his-years athlete, . the boy. - friend again of Barbra Strelsand and other talented beauties, the thumbs cupped Into his belt, palms pointed downwards man’s man. Maybe the thing that gives him all this pizzazz is the knowledge that polls show less support of “ Quebec separation than 10 years ago - and that, he always has sald,.ls the name of his game. | sandalled, - “NEW YORK (CP) — There _. are signs that the. reign of Nicaragua’s is failing against military and ecenomic pressures by a’. ‘broad coalition of opponents. . ‘The hard-pressed dictator has ‘declared. a state of. _ emergency and suspended constitutional guarantees as . he struggles gainst a rapidly deteriorating situation. The United States, which originally trained and equipped the national guard—the force - which brought the Somozas to power and has kept them ',there—has displayed. a pine off policyon the wing crisis, After sup- pring the Somoza family r 40 years, Washington has merelysuggested that- mediation * by = the Organization of American States might help to end the fighting. MANY DIE. The struggle against the Bovernment was launched Sandinista. Liberation nt guerrillas last week and-has claimed hundreds of lives. The government initially. dismissed the rising as scattered .sni-' pers, but the fighting has be- come heavy in several urban " centras. British -members 10 _allowing .Spokesmen of their regions, the although there arg reporis of OTFAWA (CP) —. The federal government hopes to put the provinces In the awk- ward position of helping prove that Parliameat can. abolish the Senate without thei consent. - The federal goverment says it has the right to change unilaterally con- atitutional ‘provision relating to the Senate. The provinces, opposition parties and even some Liberals say federal-provincial — agreement is needed, To clarify the position, the government plans to ask the Abolishing the Senate Supreme Court of Canada for & ruling. ‘ Constitutlonal experts fear the federal government can word this reference to its advantage, so Prime Minister Trudeau announced Thursday that Justice Minister Otto Lang will consult his provincial counterparts on the wording. Trudeau also told- repor- tera that he is willing to hear . the views of opposition parties, senators and a joint Commons-Senate committee "studying the issue. But the federal govern- ment will still have the final. say on the wording and itis convinced it will win, _ “Tt share Mr. Lang’s view that we can and will win the case," Trudeau said, HOPES FOR AGREEMENT Trudeau said he hopes that — forthcoming hegotlations . With the provinces will result ‘in agreement to federal proposals ta change the Senate into a House of the Federation, filled almost equally by provincial and federal appvintees.’* However, the government has” slaled on several ac- katchewan, Alberta and Columbia, — is determined to see a united Canada preserved. ; “But we have very grave concerns about our lack of muscle in the Parliament of Canada,” said Roberts. NEED REAL STRENGTH He said much of this alien- ation could be decreased if the government is prepared to redraft the constitution to put real regional strength into Parliament. .The foundation recom:- mends several steps to ac- compllsh this, : It wants the provinces to be given a role in appointing national regulatory bodies such as the Canadian wheat board and the National Energy Board. Party discipline in the. House of Commons should be “rélaxed on certain issues, | MPs to act ‘as . penst of: other institutions of even at the cost.of solidarity within political parties. The ‘federal government” Guerrillas are reported to be using heavy automatic dictator, weapons in place of light - Anastasio’ Somoza,.may be. . toppling amid the civil war _ now raging. The. Somoza. family has - _tuled the Central American - ‘country for ‘more than 40 years, but its grip. on power - arms mustered at the start of the conflict. Thefuseto the Nicaraguan. - powder keg began sputtering .in earnest last January after : the assassination of Joaquin Chamorro,. a ‘newspaper publisher and outright op- ‘portent. ‘of. Somoza. - Critics blamed his’ death an the government ‘and ‘began violent demonstrations and a two-week national strike: ‘Then, late in August, So-- moza's authority was badly shaken by a daring terrorist riad. Guerrillas hundreds of hostages in the capitol building in Managua and exchanged them ° for jailed political prisoners, cash and safe passage to Panama. : OPPONENTS: COMBINE The latest unrest has com- bined various facets of the opposilion in commion cause, including left-wing guerrillas, roman Catholic clergy, students, labor and business leaders. Against this, Somoza has 7,500-man; guard, some defections © ‘to the guerrillas, -It ‘was’ the American-trained guard that ‘brought. Somoza’s father, Anastasio ‘ Somoza, Sr.,. to-- power more than 40 years ‘ago, The younger Somoza, a West dnherited :the mantle on his Point © graduate, father’s assaeination in 1963. casions that-it “will not be held hostage. by one * province’’ and serap its constitutional . proposals because of provincial op- position. The provinces and Senate- Commons committee wanted the government also to refer proposed con- slitutional changes regar- ding the monarchy to the Supreme Court. The federal government maintains it is ng no changes and re ses to refer that question. seized - President making any major change in the ‘constitution without — _ provincial consent. The foundalion calls for _certain changes in the Senate but suggests the federal government abandon its proposed House of the -Federation and calls for an elected Senate based on a ' redefined’ electoral map designed to make sure all -regionsof the country have a strong voice. This new Senate would be able to veto. legislation temporarily. It could send " any piece of legislation back - to the Commons but would be unable to . Stop it a second . Oo MUCH POWER | : _ Thegroupsays itis critical . ‘that the new constitution in- clude provisions to stop the growth of power of the cabinel and” the prime’ ‘Parhament. It also urges that the. con- stitutiorial reform: package .. . be enlarged | "Since then, he has ruled the country of 24 million people as ‘president and virtual dictator. His regime has been condemned by Amnesty ‘International for _ torturing and killing military prisoners. The U.S. even-- tually suspended its military . aid program to Nicaragua “because of human Fights violations. . . Somoza has long described himself as the country’s only defence: -against com-. * munism, but that claim has , finally been rejected: ‘not to inglude . provisions to improve the House of Commons..- Roberts confessed the ‘foundation has ‘been unable to ‘come up with many ac- ceptable ways of reforming the House of Conimons. - “If you're a westerner and there's a Liberal govern- ment-in power, you know ‘you're going to be under- represented,” Roberts said. “But we haven't been able to come up with a saleable formula te make the Com- . Mons more responsive to the - - underrepresented regions ‘of this country," -” He said some members of: ihe foundation are convinced lhe only solution is ‘to alter _ the entire electoral: process,’ replacing the ‘traditional representationby- population a approach with anew system : ‘in, which’ each “province. would be assigned a certain proportion of the seat inthe .. Commons.: Sng “It is a solition’ “hut we, don't think the people ‘of. Interpreting the news only by left-wing opponents, but by the business com- munity 8s well, . There have been repeated ; calls from many quarters for Somoza’s resignation, both © before the. fighting started -and since; but he has vowed, to remain in office until his present six-year term. ex- pires in 1981. if Somoza is ousted, ‘the question remains whether: moderate elements could k. out .a postSomoza | agreemen th “the same time, there is no evidence that any . Mining has resulted': from construction of the : road or that, if any nine were developed in the _ .", area, that the road could be used to transport. : _fereement witht the radicals, Bloody struggle continues | MANAGUA Anastasio Somoza, in.a bloody struggle to save his government, mobilized national guard reserves Thursday in the fight against. rebels in at - least seven Nicaraguan cities and towns. * Three key cities in Nica- ° ragua’s poptilous . nor- thwest— Leon, -Eatell and Chinandega— remained in rebel hands, their national , guard garrisons hemmed in. by insurgents. Somoza’s — commanders were trying to. get reinforcements in to relieve the besieged troops, and street fighting was reported continulng in all three citles, New rebel attacks were re- ported agains! two towns— Dirlamba, 32 kilometres south of this capital city, and Penas Blancas, on the border with Costa Rica. A national guard spokesman sdid the border town attack was repulsed, but there were no details on the Diriamba fighting.’ ‘Sporadic street . fighting was reported continuing in two other towns—Rivas, 130 km south of Managua, and Masaya, 30 km to the southeast, where guard troops who won contro] of the town Tuesday were mopping up rebel stragglers. Bodies were being burned (AP) — in the streets of some towns by Red Cross workers. HUNDREDS DEAD The casualty toll from the: anti-Somoza rebellion, in its sixth day, could not be deter- -mined precisely, Red Cross officlals eatimated at lenst 500 persons had been killed and 1,000 wounded since the . pitched battles erupted Saturday." The | Nicaraguan war ‘threatened to involve other Diego Landa countries, Lt.-Col, Cerano, defence minister in neighboring Honduras, sald other Central American armies might go to Somoza's ald if the Nicaraguan president asks for assistance . under the Central American mutual defence pact. In Panama, about 1,500 people were sald to have en- rolled Ina voluntary brigade that organizers said would fight against Somoza’s forces if he accepts outside © help. A national guard spokesman claimed that three guerrilla attacks in southern Nicaragua Tuesday and Wednesday were launched from Costa Rican territory and that some of ihe guerrillas were foreigners, but he did not say what nationality. Somoza has accused Cuba of being behind the current uprising. by Jim Smith Bureaucrats aud politi- cians are not stupid. Admittedly, thisinforma- tion may come as a tremen- dous shock to many Cana- dians, (In some parts of the country, it may even rank as stop-the-press news.) But it’s true, Bureaucrats and politi- clans are not stupid. Unfortunately, those same bureauersts and politicians are often petty, jealous and more concerned with pro- tecting their own little ad- ministrative kingdoms than with doing whatever happens to be best for Canadians in _ general at that moment. This, _ in tum, makes the bureau- crats and politicians appear stupider than is actually the case, - This pettiness and empire- building has resulted in hor- rendous internal divisions. The fight between Quebec ‘and the rest of Canada isnot between races, Rather, it’s between politicians. Alber- tans generally like other Ca- nadians. Britis Columbians love Nova Scotians. But re- lations between the provin- cial and federal government are almost unanimously un- healthy, And Canadians at lurge are payinga heavy price . for this political intrigue. A quick explanation of one aspect of Canadian tax’ law will illustrate the nature ancl cost of this administra- ' tive empire-building. - In 1924, Ottawa intro- | duced a manufacturers’ sales © tax to raise: money. The tax ‘applies to goods as they leave the manifacturers' handsand “it does bring in a great deal” -of money every year. But it - ‘ig not a |yood tax.’ facturens include delieery For instatice, : some manu- - Not Stupid But. . . costs in their price; others don’t, The manufacturers who Include delivery must charge the federal tax onthe ~ delivery cost, The other man- ufacturers get to ship the goods tax-free. So some manufacturers pay higher taxes than others pay. There's a lengthy list of other problems associated with the manufacturers’ sales tax but the point should be clear: this is not a good tax. A federal retail sales tax, on the other hand, is excep- tionally good. It is easily ad- ministered, treats all products alike and the consumer pays exactly the same amount of tax as what the government collects. But Ottawa refuses toreplace the manufacturers’ sales tax with a retail sales tax because the provinces would collect the retail tax money and pass it along to Ottawa, The federal govern- - ment’ doesn’t want to give the provinces collection powers — so the consumer suffers on. Sometime soon, Ottawa will try to replace the manu- facturers’ sales tax with a wholesale sales tax; The new tax is barely better than man- ufacturers’ tex and isdefinite- ly inferior to a retail. tax. . ‘However, Ottawa will still - be able to colleet the money — directly — and that’s all that _ matters in Ottawa. . Stupid, no. Dishonourable -' and petty, definitely. This - isn’t good goverament;thisis - bureaucratic tyranny. Cana- da deserves beiter admini- strators — anda federal retail sales tax. : “Think small" ia aneditorial | measage from the Canadian Federation af Indepandent- " Business©® . 1 ated ‘VICTOR iA constructior) of the Omenica Mining Road In northwestern B.C. and an examination of the future of all mining and forestry roads In the province. . , “It.has been shown that construction of this particular -roaid has been very costly to the en- vironment with no compensating benefit to the . : mining | ‘industry. ” Lea sald. The Omentca Mining Road, bullt under con. tract by the Ministry of Mines and Petroteum Resources, has been under construction at. various times sin ce 1940, It runs north of Fraser -— Lake through Ger'mansen Landing + to-the Sustut region. | | \ Lea. said stud, \es by the B.C, - wildtite Federation. show ‘construction methods used have endangered fis h and animal populations. At ‘supplies in or-minerai's out, Lea said.- - New Democrat mines ‘critic - - Graham Le'a has Galled for an immediate halt to © : Fre rom 1 the Opts tion | Canada are ready to accept“ . it vel. aie wouldn't wash.” -“Why this read Is being bullt and why. millions a of dollars have alread'y been spent on. it are mysteries known only to @ select few in the mines ministry,” Lea sald. ‘Th rey apparently have not been willing to explain it' to their minister who has Issued a rebuttal fo thie Wildlife Federation’s | claims which Is much less ‘than adequate,’”’ Lea sald. (is “Presumably the. road was built to assist . exploration ‘but the eviden ce Is that the only ’ “successful, exploration. in’ thie region’ has been’ ; done with helicopters.’” He’ noted ‘there are two simall communities , along the road, but it Is not the function of the mines ministry to be building roads far public access. “The sad ‘story of the Omeni va Mining Road brings Into question the whole n vatter of. roads built by the mines ministry and the forest have at one time had justification for road- bullding-but that justification must b € questioned when, In fact, the roads. are belng us td as public access.’’ Lea, who was the highways minis ter in the NDP government, said all road buildi'ng In the province should be. brought within central planning taking into account environme, ntal and. economic impact. “ts it not ridiculoys that the hig ihways ‘department must do environmental impact studies before proceeding with road work, when the ministry of mines can hire a machine a ner fo run a caterpillar through the forest at wi II?’’. Lea said the government should appoint a t ask force under the Cabinet's environment and La nd Use Committee to examine the whole question of mines and forests roads. Such a group shou! d represent all disciplines involved as well ax} representatives of the forest and mining tIn- dustry,’ he said. _ministry,”” Lea sald, “‘These departments may —