= Alberni PORT ALBERNI — The Tri- dent nuclear submarine base and B.C. Hydro were targets of jspeakers at an anti-nuclear demonstration here April 26. About 75 demonstrators at a ral- ly sponsored by the Alberni En- vironmental Coality to mark the international day of anti-nuclear protests heard Nanaimo-Alberni NDP MP Ted Miller condemn the federal government for not oppos- ing the U.S. first strike Trident nuclear base at Bangor, Washing- ton. ° Miller was followed by NDP MLA Bob Skelley who blasted B.C. Hydro for its projection of a island by 1995. The dual focus of the day — nuclear weapons and nuclear power — was reflected in the infor- mation booth and films set up by the participating environmental and peace groups, including the Mid Island Coalition on Energy, Comox Committee for Nuclear [Responsibility, B.C. Peace Council nuclear reactor installation on the - Vancouver Island Notes” MP-scores Trident and the Victoria Coalition for Disarmament. Miller called for Canada to “adopt a genuine independent foreign policy as a positive step towards reducing international ten- sions. “Canada derives no benefits at all by this government’s endorsa- tion of the U.S.’s foreign policy adventures,”’ he said, adding that the government should “‘speak out now against the Trident submarine base.”’ Skelley re-stated the ‘‘long-held fear that B.C. Hydro is moving towards nuclear energy as a means to meet growing energy demands on the Islands.” He stressed that~personal and public energy conservation pro- jects, undertaken on a wide scale, would ‘‘undermine Hydro’s growth predictions,’’ and told rally participants to take advantage of the federal government’s home in- sulation program for a start. Sewage plan opposed COURTENAY — The Comox-. Strathcona Regional District’s” plans to build a primary sewage disposal plant in Comox that will dump tons of untreated sewage sludge into the coastal waters off Cape Lazo has angered local en- vironmental, community and labor groups. : The Community Planning Ac- - tion Committee, United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union, Baynes Sound Oyster Growers Association and the Comox Valley Nuclear Responsibility group are actively petitioning the Pollution Control Branch to turn down the permit ap- plication sought by the regional district for the plant’s construction. Local commercial fishermen and oyster farmers fear the sewage will pollute the ocean environment and, along with other concerned citizens, are demanding that secon- dary treatment facilities be installed in the proposed plant. Sewage given secondary treat- ment could either be disposed of on land or made into fertilizer, and the large quantities of methane gas produced by the settling sludge could be used to fuel the plant’s op- erations, they point out. The regional district’s sewage committee seems prepared to stand by: the plans for the primary treat- ment plant only, but groups oppos- ing the plan are calling for public support to force the regional district to build a secondary sewage treatment plant. McKnight wants E&N nationalized and electrified PORT ALBERNI — The Alberni-Clayquot Regional District has adopted a motion from Port Alberni aldermari George McKnight calling on the provincial government to examine ‘‘the whole transportation problem on Van- couver Island.”’ McKnight has called for a study of the possibilities of nationalizing the CPR’s E & N Railway, eliminating oil use and electrifying it, and extending the railway to Campbell River. ‘*A first class, fully serviceable, electrified railway under public ownership and control may well be the key to the development and fur- ther growth of the economy of Vancouver Island,’’ said McKnight. Victoria unions — mark May Day VICTORIA — The Victoria Labor Council observed May Day for the first time in several years May 1, with a special meeting of the coun- cil at the Union Centre auditorium. Affiliates were asked to send a full complement of delegates and the meeting was opened up to the general public as well. Larry Ryan, long-time council secretary and former Victoria alderman, was the speaker.