28 : Terrace Review — Wednesday. August 3, 1988 “Women’s action group | sets election strategy Lynn Kaye, the new president of the National Action Commit- tee on the Status of Women, was in Terrace Monday announcing the federal election strategy of the national women’s group. The four main issues they will tackle include the effects of free trade on women, reproductive choice, a national child care strategy, and funding for ser- vices to battered women. In ad- dition to inviting the three na- tional political leaders to par- ticipate in a debate on women’s issues, Kaye urged Terrace area women to lobby locally, ‘To the extent you can organize here, that’s the extent we will be suc- cessful.’?’ She wants women’s issues to be front and center this election, and suggested local women’s groups ask candidates about their stand on these and other questions, or sponsor their own debate on the issues. She bagan her luncheon speech with a short history of NAC, which started in 1972 with 35. groups. After the Royal Commission on the Status of Women completed its lengthy Teport, NAC formed to monitor the implementation of the recommendations. It now repre- sents 586 women’s groups across the country, including the Ter- race Women’s Resource Centre, the Monday event’s sponsor. Volunteer executive members and regional representatives are elected annually by member groups and do the work of the organization, with the assistance of four to seven staff people. The local regional rep is Rosemarie Supernault, a legal aid director in Burns Lake, and a former Terrace resident who was instrumental in the creation of Ksan House and the Terrace Women’s Centre. Regional representation has become an important part of the organization, with the original central-Ontario focus expanding to include all of Canada. Kaye spent the morning of her visit here discussing with local ac- tivists how Northwest B.C. women can have more influence on NAC policies. Of the four election issues identified, Kaye focused on free trade. “‘It’s a Trojan horse,”’ she said, that appears good on the outside but holds dire conse- quences within for Canadian women. The service sector, where about 70 percent of employed women work, is not protected, and neither the Canadian nor U.S. government have issued Studies of the effects of free trade on this sector, With lower wages prevailing in the U.S., “What is the incentive for a data processing company to stay in Canada?’’ Labour Council attacks Terraceview decision Paul Johnston, president of the Kitimat-Terrace and District Labor Council, describes government interference in the decision- making power of the Terrace Health Care Society as a ‘‘political and ideologic decision — not a construction decision’’. Johnston says the Health Care Society's recommendation to select H & H Builders over Kermodie Construction for the extended care unit was a ‘“‘good decision’? which demonstrates they realize ‘there was something other than just price to be considered’’. Johnston points out that Terrace H & H Builders is a reputable firm which has been in Terrace for many years. He adds that the H & H bid was only three percent above Kermodie’s and that H & H employees are ail members of the labor council, which provided the low interest loan for the project through their pension fund. He says the decision effectively denies those employees the right to work on the project, There were six bids on the Terraceview project and Johnston says that three of them were below the architects’ estimate of $750,000. Kermodie was the lowest bidder with a price of $697,345, while Ter- race H & H Builders came in a close second at $759,756. Other bids came from Wayne Watson Construction of Prince George who priced the project at $743,893, Norcan Construction of Prince George with a bid of $818,000, Tendev Construction of Sur- rey who said it would cost $896,400, and Bud’s Truck and Equip- ment of Terrace who put in the high bid at $1,136,000. Steelhead —— continued from page 4 and pink salmon. ‘They really take a hammering from the com- mercial fishery,’ Hooton remarked. Ministry figures in- dicate 61 percent of summer-run steelhead this year were destroyed in commercial nets. The winter-run steelhead, however, return to the Skeena well after the commercial fishery is over. Hooton said if winter- run fish are discovered in the Copper, regulations could be amended to reflect that. Hooton said he expects the program to get started sometime in November. The Steelhead Society is expected to do the monitoring. Report —— continued from page 2 vide port access. Another item of interest was the relocation of the Terrace Corrections Centre. Pousette described the present facility, -which-he said is overflowing ils capacity, and told Parker that suitable land for a new facility is available in the city, At the same time, he told Parker that the centre's operation is unique and emphasized the need to maintain the training concept it offers. In manufacturing sectors such as textiles, where many women work, free trade will exert a downward pressure on wages, ‘*In fact, at the McGregor Socks strike a few years ago, this is the reason management gave for keeping wages low. They said they had to compete with com- panies in the southern States.”’ Free trade will only worsen this situation, Kaye said. Subsidies of Canadian in- dustries will be challenged by Americans, such as when the east coast fishing industry was considered subsidized because fishermen can collect unemploy- ment insurance for part of the year. The softwood lumber in- dustry has already felt the effect of countervailing duties, a tactic likely to be used more often under free trade. What else will be considered ‘‘unfair subsidies’’? Will a U.S.-based company, which doesn't have Canada’s medicare benefits available to its workers, complain and ask for counter- vailing duties? ‘‘What about job training? | noticed in the local paper an an article about subsidized wages,’’ she said, looking at a recent issue of the Terrace Review. “Will an American manufacturer consider this an unfair subsidy?‘ The government says there will be an independent tribunal to look into matters of this sort, but it won’t decide whether or not the duty should be paid, on- ly if American law is being fairly applied. “‘And the U.S. can change their laws if they feel they’re not tough enough.”’ Will American private day care companies move into Canada to take advantage of government subsidies? Under the free trade agreement, Kaye said, any American company operating in Canada must be treated like a Canadian national company. Kaye concluded by encourag- ing the women present to become familiar with the free trade agreement, and took ques- tions from the floor. Youngsters registered with the Terrace Library's Reading Club had a fulfliiing experience last Thursday and Friday when they took a Pause from reading and participated in the Big Rock Candy Mountain Cake Decorating Contest. Pictured above are Amanda Braam, Scott Bromley, Bao Van Diep, Phoenin Diep and Mary-Anne Bromley. Anti-poverty group gets charity status The Terrace Anti-Poverty Group just got some good news — they'll be able to use the charitable tax number of their umbrella organization, Feder- ated Anti-Poverty Groups lo- cated in Prince George. That means donations to the Terrace group will be tax-deductible, an incentive Gerry King hopes will encourage area businesses to be generous, He’ll be hitting the streets this week to solicit funds from local merchants. For four and a half years, King has volunteered his time to assist about 300 people a year with problems regarding unem- ployment insurance, income assistance, pensions, and job searches, The funding to operate the service came from communi- ty groups, unions and churches, — but many of these funding sources are also experiencing their own financial difficulties, King believes the time has come to broaden the base of the Terrace Anti-Poverty Group, His personal commitment to assisting low-income people stemmed from his student prac- ticum at a local soup kitchen in the early 80s, Since the closure of the soup kitchen in 1985 and the Unemployed Action Centre last year, King has volunteered on his own. ‘‘Now a board of directors will be formed, and I’ll start talking to local businesses about donations.” He said the low-profile nature of the group had to be changed since financial problems threatened to close the office in June. Fortunately, Tillicum Theatre waived the office rent for a month, giving King the op- portunity to make a community appeal, Plans also include a bid to get a federal grant to provide lifeskills and job training. The trainees would be paid $225 a week through the program, and be placed with focal! employers for work experience. Assuming people are poor because they’re lazy is a whitewash, he says. Although the feeling of being ‘‘stuck’’ in poverty can seem insurmount- able, he’s confident the re- invigorated group and an in- tegrated community program can assist people to overcome the obstacles. DOORS OPEN AT 4:30 P.M. _ Terrace’s Bingo Place Lucky Dollar Bingo Palace SUNDAY: Terrace Athletics Assn. MONDAY: Terrace Minor Hockey 4818 Hwy. 16 West TUESDAY: Kermodes or Jaycees OS WEDNESDAY: Terrace Blueback Swim Club THURSDAY: 747 Air Cadets | Ladies of the Royal Purple FRIDAY: Parapelegic Assn. SATURDAY: Parapelegic Foundation Regular Games 18 EVERYONE WELCOME! (Age 14 years and up) Extra Games Thank you! Have a Nice day! (tinge ee Te