SOT gS oY SASS SR a Across Canada More economic criticism — bishops | OTTAWA — The newly-elected president of the Canadian - Conference of Catholic Bhishops, Most Rev. John Sherlock, of London, Ontario, says that the bishops will continue to speak out “decisively’’ on social and economic matters. Last New Year, the conference’s Social Affairs Commission issued a document, Ethical Reflections on the Economic Crisis, which shook the establishment and won the praise oflabor. The chairman of that commission, Most Rev. Remi de Roo, echoed Sherlock’s words, Sept. 13, saying: “I think they (future statements) are going to be better than ever because we have so many bishops interested now that know how important it is to be in there that we’re going to have a better-than-ever team.” Sherlock, elected for a two-year term, said the bishops will continue to be critical of government policies which ignore the moral issues involved in economic problems. Church group in Moscow talks TORONTO — Two groups of church representatives dele- gated to an interdenominational body known as Christian In- itiative for Peace are in simultaneous talks with officials in Mos- cow and Washington. In Moscow the six from Canada have met with Vladimir Fit- sev, amember of the Soviet Council of Ministers, and with Vasily Kuznetsov, the Soviet vice-premier. Other scheduled activities include meetings at the Institute of Canada-U.S. Relations and with members of the Soviet Peace Committee. The delegates will also conduct a peace vigil at a Russian Orthodox church and a Jewish synagogue on Yom Kippur. Included in the group are: United Church Moderator Clarke MacDonald; Rev. Paul Hansen, a Redemptorist priest; Sister Mary Jo Leddy, co-editor of Catholic New Times; John Hess, pastor of Warden Woods Mennonite Church; Rev. Clifford El- liott of Bloor St. United Church; and teacher Deirdre Mc- Loughlin. Spokesperson for the United Church, Alayne Scanlon, told the _ Tribune that public reporting back would be planned depending upon the results of the talks. This delegation, along with the one in Washington, returns September 18. In Washington, CIP members met with Senator Edward Ken- nedy’s defence and foreign affairs adviser, Peter Kassander. The group conducted a vigil Sept. 14 at an arms show featuring new military hardware. Dene nation has new leader - FORT RESOLUTION, N.W.T. — Some 200 delegates to the annual Dene natinal assembly, in dramatic moves on the Sept. 10 weekend, elected 32-year-old Steve Kakfwi their new president with a 62 per cent vote; called for peace with Northwest Ter- ritories Metis Association; and took steps toward ratifying a land-claims agreement. Kakfwi replaces seven-year veteran in the post George Eras- TRIBUNE PHOTOS —JAMES LEECH Toronto men under curfew? — TORONTO — An anti-rape poster appearing on public hoard- ings and telephone poles this week in the city announced a cur-. few for all men over the age of 13, because of physical attacks against women. Following directions on the poster to contact Toronto Mayor Art Eggleton or Attorney-Gen- eral Roy McMurtry for further information, the mayor’s office was bombarded by calls from several irate men. The official-looking ‘public notice reads: ‘‘Notice is hereby given that at the request of the council of the city of Toronto the mayor has declared a curfew be- tween the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. effective immediately for all men over the age of 13 years.” The poster says the curfew is necessary because last year in the city men committed 500 rapes, 44 murders and 1,823 assaults. The sponsoring group is not identified on the flyer but one of its spokes- persons told a local radio station imposed curfew women live under through fear. of going out — at night. The city has a task-force study- | ing violence against women children. It is currently hearing submissions on the displaying of - pornographic magazines an@ | books; distribution of por — nographic video tapes and nudity | of exotic dancers. The mayor was not amused i i the poster. He has asked the ~ police to launch an investigation. mus who was accused of losing touch with the 28 Dene settle- that it was in response to the self- | ments between the northern Alberta border and the Arctic Ocean. _ Kakfwi has proposed a conference to establish the breadth and speed at which Native people want development to proceed in the Mackenzie Valley. Cruise protesters meet MacEachen SYDNEY, N.S. —It slipped by the big media, except the Cape Breton Post, but about 60 anti-Cruise demonstrators confronted Extemal Affairs Minister MacEachen when he showed up at the Strathlorne Legion hall in August for a (MacEachen) testimonial dinner. George MacEachem, vetern labor leader in Sydney, presented the minister with a brief endorsed by some 60 people who want the government to reverse its approval of tests of the U.S..Cruise _ nuclear missile in western Canada. Picketers, held back by the RCMP, included men, women, young children and babies. Cape Breton doesn’t want Cruise External Affairs Minister Allan MacEachen receives a brief de- manding cancellation of the U.S. right to test the Cruise missile in Canada. George MacEachern (right), spokesman for some 60 Cape Bretoners staging a protest hands over the brief while Aaron Schneider (centre) waits to present a protest letter. Citizen groups still critical Regina police alter dog use Changes in police use of dogs have been ag- reed upon by the Regina Board of Police Com- missioners, over a year after the newest round of revelations about police racism and brutality. Local anti-racist and human rights activists call the changes a partial victory. Mayor Larry Schneider announced Sept. 8 that the board has accepted a recommendation by Dr. Don Faris and Dr. Walter Currie, who conducted an official investigation of the canine ‘unit last fall and winter. According to the new policy, the canine unit will now be used primar- ily for detection rather than to capture suspects. “‘Off-leash use of dogs is to be considered as a use of force and subject to the same account- ability as the use of weapons’, said Schneider. Although the board also confirmed its support for the canine unit, all five dog handlers have requested transfers, saying they cannot work under the new policy. The unit had come under heavy criticism for its history of racism and brutality. Mayor Schneider responded by promising that police officers will now be supplied with truncheons for so-called ‘‘self defence’’. Bill Rafoss, a former race relations director for the Regina Friendship Centre, was a leading figure in the campaign against use of the dogs last year. He said he was pleased with the deci- sion “‘if it is the board’s intention to keep the dogs on-leash to be used only for tracking and searches’’. But he pointed out as well that the dogs are proven biters, and that effective implementation of the new policy calls for the disbandment of the existing unit, to be replaced by new dogs and handlers. From Regina Kimball Cariou The police dog furor was one of many factors leading to the recent formation of the Sask- atchewan Coalition Against Racism (SCAR), which pressed city council and the police com- missioners to act on the Faris-Currie report. SCAR is now planning further activities. In another related development, Regina’s city council has recently been compelled to deal with the near-complete lack of Native people work- ing for the city. Until now, Regina has had only one Native police officer out of 338; no Native firefighters out of nearly 300; no Native bus drivers; and very few in other city departments. Four Native constables are now in training, a0 the city plans to hire seven as firefighters and four as bus operators. While this effort is seen by many as a good beginning, the hirings are a drop in the bucket compared to the ratio of Native people in the city’s population — an estimated one in six. “Alabama North” has a long way to go in pr” viding Native citizens with genuine equality of opportunity and freedom from police harass ment. a PACIFIC TRIBUNE—SEPTEMBER 21, 1983—Page 6 Ta ce ms Sa oe