Page 2, The Herald, Friday, Oecember 21, 1979 | Quebecers offer sovereignty vote By KEVIN DOUGHERTY QUEBEC (CP) — Next spring's referendum will give Quebecers a chance ta authorize their provincial government to negotiate with Canada to make Quebec a sovereign state having “exclusive power to make Its laws, administer its tdxes and establish relations abroad.” But the referendum question, unveiled Thursday by Premier Rene Leveaque in the national assembly, slipped in an extra punch few observers expected, After talks on sovereignty and an economic association to preserve existing ties, ‘including a common currency,” Quebecers will have a second referendum to decide whether they want the new deal. The information is in- cluded in an 68-word preamble that ends in the question: “On these terms, Clark was planning constitution reform OTTAWA (CP) — Prime Minister Joe Clark was secretly taking steps toward putting together a con- stitutional reform package this fall at the same time he waa telling irate Liberals in the Commons there were Tore important issues facing Canada. News of his initiatives sur- faced this week in Montreal when Clark promised to have & proposal far revision of the constltution by next fall if re- elected on Feb. 18. The prime minister said preliminary work on such a proposal was alreay- in progress under the leadership of Senator Arthur Tremblay, a former Quebec deputy minister of in- tergovernmental affaira, Tremblay said Thureday that Clark asked him at the end af October to take on the job. But he refused to say who else was involved in drawing up the package. The senator was equally vague on his terms of refer- ence, He said Clark had given him a target date of next fall for the package to cover the whole gamut of constitutional issues. “We are working on all aa- pects of the question,” he said in a telephone Interview from his home in Quebec City Tremblay was interviewed just hours after Quebec Pre- mier Rene Levesque released the wording of the planning referendum on sovereignty-association, During the Inst session of Parliament, the Liberal oppoaltion vigorously at- tacked Clark for not responding strongly enough to the separatist threat in ebec, Clark rejected = their repeated demands to con- vene a federalprovincial -constltutlonal conference, revive Liberal legislation allowing the federal govern- ment to conduct a counter- referendum and instruct federal ministers from Quebec to join the umbrella committee of profederalist forcea in the referendum campaign, Clark responded can- sistently that the forceful Riverside Atty Wrecking. Licensed to inst mechanics available fj L parts -Used parts & accessories -Used cars & trucks -Motors & transmissions at reduced prices -BCAA a affiliate sense. MSA Travel Protection Take us with you when you go. Ask-your Travel Agent. drive toward constitutlonal reform of the previous Liberal drove Quebecers taward separatism. He sald he was taking con- crete steps rather than sprouting propaganda to convince Quebecers to reject sovereigntyassociation and stay with Canada under a new Conservativelnspired federalism. These included the decision to give provinces jurisdiction over offshore resources and giving them control of lotteries. The former case would require constitutional amendmenta, During the May 22 election campaign, Clark balked at providing a concrete plan for revamping the constitution. He said ideas for change would have to follow federal- provincial consultation and promised to hold a first ministers’ conference on the subject soon after the election. He said a Progressive Con- servalive government would concentrate on lesa difficult constitutional queations ‘before it attempted to deal with such things as bring the constitution to Canada from Westminster. Clark, however, in- definitely postponed plans for the constitutional con- jerence after he was elected. Faced with a gloomy eco- nomic future, the govern: - ment concentrated on energy and economic policies. Tremblay said he now is gathering all the material that has accumulated during the last decade when the debate on constitutional | reform reagbed its peak. “It's arvery-old:prob N Hesald. pee of things have been said over those 10 years. We don't want to miss any good ideas.” Administered by the Medical Services Associalion. do you agree to give the government of Quebec the mandate to negotiate the proposed agreement bet- ween Quebec and Canada?"’ But the idea of a second referendum is contrary to the Parti Quebecais white paper on sovereignty- association released last month. The paper hinted the govenment would simply ask for a mandate to achleve soverelgnty-association through negotiations, In the revised party program, approved last June, the possibility of a second consultation is mentloned, but only as a last thal: qe ol eward Grafftey, ‘one of" “complicates rathersthans > The wording of the Quebec independence referendum next spring was widely condemned across the country Thursday as unac- ceptable, Prime Minister Joe Clark, campaigning In Vancouver, rejected the wording announced earlier in the day by Quebec Premier Rene Levesque and vowed a Progressive Conservative government would not negotiate sovereignty- association. Clark said sovereignty- association is = ‘‘in- compatible with the idea of a federation and there- fore absolutely unac- government. Liberal Leader Pierre "rudeau, highly popular in Quebec, told reporters in Winnipeg he fears for “the rending of the social fabric of Quebec” be- cause the Quebec government now says it would hold a second referendum before leading the pravince out of Confederation. “I always said a referendum is divisive by its very nature," Trudeau sald. “It pits neighbor Against neighbor, futher against son."’ NDP Leader Ed Broadbent, also in Winnipeg, said the ques- Hon offers Quebecers only two options: in- dependence or the status quo. He said he believes in renewed federalism. Jean Chretien, former Liberal finance minister and a Quebecer, called only three Conservative Quebec MPs, sald the REFERENDUM CONDEMNED ceptable to the federal ° the wording ‘'a fraud and In Newfoundland, a joke.” Premier Brian Peckford Scie Ministeg<::sald . the .. wording- |. question is ‘replete with ambiguities, The reaction from provincial leaders was similar. Alberta In- tergovernmental Affairs Minister Dick Johnston said the wording is “really what we thought it would be’’ but sald the province remains op- posed to sovereignty- association, Roy Romanow, inter- governmental affairs in Saskatchewan, said the | wording ‘prolongs .the uncertainty and con- fusion’ and falsely assumes the rest of Canada would agree to Quebec's terms. Ontario Premier William Davia sald the qsestion is vague and his intergovernmental af- fairs minister, Tom Wells, reiterated his governmen'‘s vow not to negotiate sovereignty-as- sociation. There was no im- mediate comment from Premier Richard Hatfield of New Brunswick but provincial Liberal Leader Joseph Daigle, . an Acadian, said he had been expecting ‘‘a pretty definitive question’ and thinks the wording isn’t “clear enough, direct engugh " Nova Scotia Premier John Buchanan said the question is written ‘‘to cloud its real meaning and the provision for a second, more far- reaching referendum is also deSigned to confuse | the Quebec people,” clarifies the whole situation . What's worse than an accident or sickness on vacation? Being without MSA to take care of the bills! Break a leg at Mount. Baker or catch a bug in Hawaii and your hospital expenses alone could run up to $400 a day. The problem is that your Provincial Government Health Insurance Plan pays only a portion of the cost. That's why MSA Travel Protection, for less than a dollar a day, makes MSA Hospital and Medical Protection pays the extra expenses when you need care away fron B.C.; medical, surgical and hospital expenses, air ambulance, emergency oral surgery, prescription drugs and more. Belore you travel, ask your Travel Agent about MSA's Hospital! — Medical, Baggage, Travel Accident and Trip Cancellation travel protection plans. ~ Chrysler ‘getting a hand | OTTAWA (CP) — The .federal government is : moving closer to a favorable | decision on financial help for hrysier Corp.’s Canadian auiaidlacy in the wake af agreement Thursday in the aid package for the parent firm The Progressive Con- servative government long has maintained it could take no action until it saw what the Carter administration was prepared to do. However, representatives of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate agreed Thursday night on a compromise between their differing versions of a bill to provide $1.5 billion in loan guarantees to the firm, which is faced with im- minent bankruptcy. They note that an ald agreement for Chrysler could give Ottawa greater leverage with the other two major automakers Yourre I our strength. it's your management. limit. British Columbia United States on details ofan . resort if an agreement’ can not be worked out. Levesque told reporters talks with the reat of Canada could take aa long as two ‘years after the spring vote. .The second referendum would not be held before the next provinclal alection, due next year or by 1981 at the latest. - Quebecers would be asked to ratify the results of negotiations with the reat of Canada for sovereignty- © association if they were positive. Hi they falled, the PQ government would seek approval “for what is commonly called. a unilateral decision," he said, presumably speaking of independence. In 8 15-minule adiiress to to the national assembly, the premier said he ip not seeking a “blank cheque’’ for change, and the second referendum would give Quebecers a chance to decide om “any change in political status.” Leyesque said that in seeking more and more powers, Quebec has been running at croas-purposes with the reat of Canada. The federal government, in turn, “has hardened its reslatance to change," What ls needed is a “more “ balanced partnership,”' between Quebec and Canada, The prospect of “renewed federallsm” held out by the opposition erals will end in dinap- pointment because it nothing more than “fear at change,” “What we're trying to do ia get out of a bind,” he said in English. ''I think the reat of Canada has suffered from the continuous pressure coming out of Quebec. “Tt has more and more shaken the federal structure of Canada which everyone says — 1 think everybody agrees on that — is ob- solete," Asked what kind of margin he wanted in the first referendum, Levesque said all his government needs is.a simple majority. ‘'A majority is a majority.” But Liberal Leader Claude Ryan called the question a “fraud” and said it was “not | clear and precise." ‘pletely unacceptable to us.’ He added that it is ridiculous for the PQ to ask for negotiations three months before its term of goverment ends. The PQ was elected Nov, 15, 1976, * Quebec governments may stay in office for five years but Ryan noted that traditionally there have been elections about every four ‘years, At a news conference the Liberal leader conceded English Canada might take a no vote in the referendum to mean Quebecera do not want change, thwarting hia plans for renewed federalism. . “That's one of the risks In- volved in the operation,” he said, ‘We're prepared to run that risk.” Ryan said he believes the rest of the country will not think the Quebec problem has been solved if the referendum is beaten and he warned reporters to be wary of declarations by politicians outside Quebec suggeating they oppose Ryan's plans. Rodrigue Biron, leader of the Union Nationale party, said he atil) believes in federallam, but thinks it must be overhauled. He said he couldn't go along with the question, ag it is worded, but he held out the possibility his party would say yes if ‘‘a collective project"’ was offered. guarantee of sound money We give your maney all the security it needs — and all the interest it deserves. Factis, all credit union deposits and interest are protected without CREDIT UNIONS over 900,000 members and more than 300 offices and branches in NEWS BRIEFS LONDON (AP) Rhodesia's contending leaders signed a fragile peace settlement today promising independent black rule for Britain's last African colony after 14 years of rebellion. A British spokesman said theelgning went off “without _ ahiteh,” With Foreign Secretary Lord Carringlon presiding, the ceremony brought togetLer Abel Muzorewa, & black bishopturned- politician, and Joshua ' gitional Nkomo and Robert Mugabe, cocommanders of the Patriotic Front guerrilla armies, The documents they signed bind them to accept a package of agreements providing for an early ceasefire, a series of carefully defined tran- arrangements preceding country-wide elections by late February, a new constitution and then establishment of an inde-. pendent Zimbabwe ruled by the black majority for the first time. Letter-bomb found in time LONDON (AP) — A letter bomb addressed to Em- ployment Minleter James Prior was found by a sorter in a post office today in eastern England, police sald. The parcel had a Belgian postmark, like previous ex- Posies mailed to leading inessmen this week, The latest bomb was ad- dressed to Prior's home in Beccles, Suffolk County. The building was cleared 2s army bomb disposal experts were called in. Prior was the first politician and the seventh target of a letter bomb In the current wave. Although two letters ex- ploded in sorting offices, the others were spotted and defused. Scotland Yard sald the de- vices contained enough ex- plosives to kill and that the campaign bears . the hallmark of the Irish Republican Army. Rape victim compensated? VANCOUVER (CP) — A young female hitchhiker from Delta, B.C., who suf- fered numerous ‘bodily in- juries and mental anxiety after she was beaten and raped by & man who gave her a ride has been awarded $3,270 under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act. Forty-eight awards totalling: $175,894 were made in November including an award of $325 a month to the widow and two children of a 37-year-old Burnaby, B.C., man who was fatally stabbed by a male assailant. Under the act, ad- ministered by the Worker's Compensation Board, anyone who is a vicdm af crime in B.C, may apply for compensation. Shotgun student nabbed BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) A Westerfi Washington University student who fired a shotgun from his apartment for more than three hours Thursday afternoon was arrested after ° officers fired tear gas can- ister into his room, police ‘The man was identified by Bellingham Police Chief Terry Mangan as Robert David Duncan, 30, There were no injuries and little damage reported, Mangan said. He sald Duncan, a Viet- nam veteran, told officera he wanted to shoot Iranian students. Duncan was booked for investigation of arraulting police officers. Mangan sal: he expected arraignment Monday. Schreyer not seen as idiot L wacbhe PQ. option: ts. Mogmed ioe! ‘BEAUSEOUR tien: (CP) — Gov.-Gen. Ed Schreyer stepped into his past Thursday when he paid -a special visit to the school where he was first a pupil and then a teacher. His return marked the renaming of the school in his honor, the first in Canada to carry the name of the current GovernorGeneral, “Every .prophet is con- sidered an idigt in his own home town," said Schreyer, queting a Slavic proverb at + the-dedication eorernone "You obviously don't con- sider me an idiot... nor prophet either,” His eyes filled with tears as he spoke to 900 students and 100 guests who crowded two auditoriums to greet him and ‘his wife Lily. He later unveiled a showcase con- taining tributes and pictures of himself, some of them dating from, his days as a high school student in Beau- sejour, about 35 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. OPEC still bickering CARACAS (AP) — Ministers of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries left Caracas still arguing over the prices they were unable to agree on, raising the prospect of continued tur- moil in world olf markets if petroleum demand doesn't start to slow down, The dispute raging within the 13-member cartel, which produces almost two-thirds of the non-Communist world’s oil supply, centred on a bottom price for oll and the issue of haw much each producer can tack on to the base. “Some countries are doing their best to keep prices down but we are not in 4 position to give oil free of charge," said AH Akbar Molnfar, Iran's oj) minister and, along with Ezzedin All Mabruk of Libya, a leader of the cartel's price militants. But Venezuelan Oil Minister Humberto Calderon Berti still held out some ho that a settlement can reached when the cartel has its next meeting sometime during the firat quarter of FLO member returns MONTREAL (CP) Allain Allard, a onetime member of the Front de good company. Service andservices, that’s Liberation du Quebec, will return to Montreal on Saturday after spending almost 11 years of exile in Cuba, police sald today. Allard, thought to be the last FLQ exile on the Caribbean island, was ex- pected to be arrested shortly after his arrival In Montreal on charges arising from terrorist bombings in 1968- 69, sources said, He will be returning from Havana with his Cuban wife and child, one source sald. He had been negotiating the return through a Montreal lawyer for the last several a months. FLQ exile Jean- Pierre Charette came back ' last January, pleaded guilty to three terrorist bombings and was sentenced to elx months in jail. He was released on his experiences in Cuba, It was expected tiara would face similar charges and would be released on tail during the Chistmas holidays while awaiting further proceedings. formal charges ageinst Allard were drawn up this week and have only been outstanding for several ys.