BRITISH COLUMBIA Let’s get hucksters out of PNE In 1888, the 160 acres that later con- stituted the Pacific National Exhibition were turned over to the city of Van- couver for use as a park. It wasn’t long after that, that private business int- erests — real estate promoters and others — set about to subvert the park and tum it to commercial use that would be profitable to business interests. = a business-controlled organization called the Vancouver Exhibition Association. In 1913 it leased another 70 acres to this group, leaving only 10 acres under the control of the parks board. These leases were accompanied by cash grants from council — $20,000 in 1908 and $300,000 in 1930. In 1952 the V.E.A. was given a cash grant of $2 million by the city to build Empire Sta- dium and the B.C. Building. Gradually what was once a park and what was supposed to be used as a park for the benefit of citizens has been transformed into a commercial and professional ‘sports complex to benefit a few promoters. It’s time we ended this. Now that we are preparing to celebrate Vancouver’s 100th birthday, why don’t we take Harry Rankin people? My proposal is that the P.N.E. be transformed into a permanent people’s exhibition reflecting the life and econ- omy of the province, and how our our people make their living. Specifically, this exhibition could include: Exhibitions and models of the forest industry (sawmills, logging, ply- wood plants, pulp mills and so on); the coal, mineral and oil industry; our har- bor and shipping facilities; the fishing industry and hydro dams; and models industry. 4g _. These models could be accompanied by explanations of the growth of these industries. A building depicting the pol- itical history of our province would also be useful. Such an exhibition could be’a per. manent one, open the year round. It would be interesting, entertaining and informative for everyone, children and of tourists. It would be a healthy substitute for the shallow entertainment, the huck- sters' and the money-making skin games we now have once a year. ~ In 1908 city council leased 80 acres to” some steps to restore this park to the - reflecting our agriculture and fruit adults alike. It would attract thousands - Privatized bus bid rejected No private entrepreneurs will take advantage of the Metro Transit strike by Tunning buses through Vancouver, city council decided in a majority vote July 10. Despite the electioneering-style attacks from council’s right-wing, the labor backed alliance of Committee of Progressive Elec- tors aldermen and independent Bill Yee — joined by populist Non-Partisan Associ- ation member Ald. Don Bellamy — squel- ched a bid by “Transpo 177” to run a strike-breaking bus service. 8 - The vote came after several citizens’ dele- gations urged rejection of the proposed ser- vice on several grounds: that it would prolong the dispute between Metro Transit and the Independent Canadian Transit Union; that to grant Transpo 177 a permit amounted to council: endorsing strike breaking; and that the creation of a privately-owned bus service was the thin edge of the wedge in creating a privatized transit system for B.C. “Tf all or part of the public transportation _ system is privatized, even for a short time, it . sets a precedent for a totally private sys- tem,” said delegate Jim Gaskell. Other delegations raised the same fears, and .also pointed to the issue of safety through the use of chartered buses designed for inter-urban, rather than city street, service. Transpo 177, headed by furniture sales- man David Lewis, first tried to launch its private bus service two weeks ago, promis- B.C. crucial in ele B.C.’s 28 federal seats could be the crucial factor in determining how Canada is to be governed in the near future, B.C. Commu- nist Party leader Maurice Rush said July 12. Rush told an election rally of Lower Mainland Communists that the tight race | between two almost identical capitalist par- ties may be resolved in this province, where politics are polarized between the Progres- sive Conservatives and the New Demo- cratic Party- * : ’ “There is the possibility of a real sweep by progressive forces in this province — but it depends on the adoption of real, alternative - policies for B.C.’s working people,” said Rush at the rally in Vancouver’s Ukrainian Hall. : The rally, set to launch the party’s cam- paign in which 10 candidates are contesting ridings in the Lower Mainland and Van- couver Island, raised $1,600 for the election ‘effort. oe In his address Rush, who is running in’ Vancouver Centre, said John Turner’s vic-- tory in the recent federal Liberal leadership race means the party has moved signifi- cantly to the right. : The distance between the prime minister and Tory chief Brian Mulroney is such that “you couldn’t fit one thin dime between them,” he remarked. é On the issue of jobs, both emphasize a revitalized private sector as the means of creating employment. The only difference is that while Mulroney patterns his jobs stra- tegy after Bennett’s “restraint,” Turner’s is 500 W. 12th Avenue Peace, Jobs, _ Canadian Independence i Hear : | BILL KASHTAN Leader, Communist Party of Canada VANCOUVER COURTENAY — SURREY : . Monday, July 30 — Tuesday, July 31 Wednesday, Aug. 1 | 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Time Sheraton Plaza Lwr. Native Sons Hall and Location 360 Cliffe Avenue to be announced | 2 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JULY 18, 1984 ing chartered coaches would be available to run from the “Kootenay Loop” terminal in East Vancouver to downtown, at a cost of $1 per ride. But this was prevented after ICTU members carried out their promise to picket the loop. cease : The company, sponsored by several Vancouver business people, has a permit to operate from the provincial Motor Carrier Commission — the same outfit that used to do compulsory inspection of charter buses, before the inspections were axed by the Socreds last February — but lacks the “mecessasry permit from the city. In voting against Transpo’s plan council instructed the permits and licences director to refuse the permit, and also agreed to amend its existing bylaw to prohibit services rivalling Metro Transit’s. “What you really do (by allowing the permit) is prolong the dispute and exacer- bate an already difficult situation,” said COPE ald. Harry Rankin in moving for rejection. Bee : On the safety issue, he noted “we've demanded more information from the operators of our pedicabs than this organi- zation has offered.” : “There’s no way we’ll approve this appli- cation with this lack of information,” said Ald. Libby Davies in agreement. “If we grant this motion, we’d have a hard time convincing some trade unions we're not engaged in some form of strike- breaking,” said Bellamy. — REG WALTERS. . .YCL organizer contesting North Vancouver-Burnaby. “modified slightly to reflect a little more government intervention in the economy . than Mulroney proposes.” Ominous rumblings on the state of the federal budget have emanated from both leaders, Rush warned. “Turner has said he’ll cut the deficit by 50 per cent. Mulroney hides what the Tories are going to do, but we have (Tory MP) John Crosbie’s recent urging that a PC government abolish the. universality of social services and impose means tests on recipients.” On relations with the U.S., Rush noted that Mulroney “supports wholeheartedly the U.S. invasion of Grenada, he supports increased military expenditures, and he supports the U.S. policy of aggression and interference in Nicaragua,” Rush said. - Rush also noted Turner “thas been very quiet on the issue of peace.” : “We must ask, ‘What about the NDP?” - Unfortunately, they’ve advanced no real alternative policies. We have a situation where the NDP could make real gains if it came forward with real, fighting policies for the Canadian people.” . To change this, “pressure must be mounted within the working-class move- ment,” said Rush. _ And the presence of Communist Party candidates in 10 ridings will help move - Valley West. Council’s right-wingers argued in re of Lewis’ bus service, launching oe attack against the COPE aldermen fort ad union sympathies and accusing them, # some delegations, of opposing the inte” . of the “disadvantaged.” “I'm taking the side of the person i? needs a ride downtown. . .I find it incr 4 that some aldermen would refuse tO allo this-service into operation,” said Pull, ing a wrathful eye towards the gallery: That theme was taken up by Trane spokesman Christina Scott, who in 4 P pared statement outside council chamb® after the vote accused council of 1gn0?™ the needs of Vancouver citizens. Scott said Transpo 177 would be appeal ing the council’s decision. how “Transpo’s seeming altruism was, he vis ever, given another dimension by ® - himself» who acknowledged that the 0" pany was in business to make money: “No free enterpriser should ever ™® company without intending to. make ‘ profit,” Lewis told the Tribune. oe Curiously, Transpo’s ambitions appeit to have grown in proportion with the op! sition it faces. Since buses were prevent from rolling two weeks ago by ! ded pickets, the company’s plans have expane™ from a simple Hastings Street route to four more routes. ae “The eventual aim is to have all of Vat couver properly serviced with buses,” a Transpo 177’s application for a city pe™ — ction, CP rally told VI SWANN...CP’s candidate for Fraset NDP policies further to the ‘left, he noted. In places where the CP is fielding 9° candidates, “We'll give critical support t® the NDP candidates, while continuing 1 press for real, progressive policies,’;’ he sa! “We will always make an appeal fo! unity with NDPers — but that doest! involve our party agreeing to liquidatiné itself. - : an ’ “We have to approach this election with optimism that the capitalist parties can stopped from attaining a majority, and W° can keep open the hope that there will be# realignment of the political forces for th® better in this country,” Rush said. § Other CP candidates nominated inlcudé Bert Ogden, Vancouver-Kingsway; Migu' Figueroa, Vancouver East; Rod Doraty New Westminster-Coquitlam; Ray Viaud, Surrey-Delta-White Rock; Viola Swan, Fraser Valley West; Sy Pederson, Comox Powell River; Mark Mosher, Nanaim0- Alberni; Ernie Knott, Esquimalt-Saanich) Reg Walters, North Vancouver-Burnaby. _ _A public rally to kick off the Communist Party campaign is set for July 30 at the Plaza 500 in Vancouver, to be addressed by CP general secretary Bill Kashtan. Kashtan, who will be in B.C. until Aug. 1, will also address rallies in Courtenay and the Frasef Valley.