“s PAGE 4, THE HERALD, Friday, November 25, 1977 TERRACE daily herald Published by Sterling Publishars General Office - 635-6357 C rculation - 635-6357 PUBLISHER... W.R. (BILL) LOISELLE EDITOR... JULIETTE PROOM Published every weekday at 3212 Kalum St., Terrace, B.C. Amember of Varified Circulation. Authorized as second class mail. Registration number 1201. Postage paid in cash, return postage guaranteed. NOTE OF COPYRIGHT The Herald retains full, complete and sole copyright in any advertisement produced and-or any editorial or photographic content published in the Herald. Reproduction is nat permitted without the written permission of the Publisher. RCMP scandal another Watergate By GARRY FAIRBAIRN WASHINGTON (CP) — The Washington Post, whose zeal in exposing the Watergate scandal won it international acclaim, maintains the RCMP per- formed the same kind of illegal acts that former president Richard Nixon’s aides and officials did. But, in a lead editorial on the RCMP scandals, the newspaper applies a different standard to the Canadian misdeeds, saying in effect that the Canadian government and “Canada’s FBI” had excuses for their actions. . The Post says ‘the Canadian police scandals seem, to an American eye, strikingly similar to the history of abuses that go under the name of Watergate.”’ But it adds that Canadian political reaction is muted and “the present government under Prime Minister Pjerre Trudeau will certainly survive.” Trudeau’s political survival would come despite the fact that the RCMP “have been guilty of burglary, stealing political records, illegally opening mail and political harassment that on one occasion went as far as arson.” “The Trudeau government knew all about it from the beginning.” RECALI. FLQ : The reason for the difference in the reactions of the U.S. and Canadian publics to similar abuses, in The Post's view, is that in 1970 members of the Front: de Liberation du Quebec kidnapped two men and mur- dered one, Quebec Labor Minister Pierre Laporte. “In the midst of that crisis, the Canadian govern- inent discovered that it knew nothing about the kid- napeers or their organizations or their political milieu. The government told the Mounties that it could not afford to continue in that ignorance. “Everything that has happened since then reflects the torment of a government trying to cope with the © - threat of terrorism. “The transgressions of the Nixon White House were . aimed either at the Democratic presidential cam- paign or at subversion that existed nowhere but in the Imagination of Mr. Nixon himself. In Canada the terrorist episode was brief but it was real.” But if an isolated act of violence in 1970 can be cited by The Post to justify what the newspaper sees as hlalantly-illegal abuses of power in foltowing years, what of Nixon's excuses for his administration's burglary and political harassment? As Nixon's defenders have frequently noted, the United States at the time of Watergate had just passed through a period of turmoil and widespread violence. Cities were torn by riots, politically-inspired bomb- ings and robberies hit every region and militant agitators appeared to have links with foreign sup- porters. REJECT EXCUSES In turning their backs on Nixon most Americans ap- peared to have concluded that such turmoil was not sufficient excuse for Watergate and other White House operations, Perhaps the most intolerable of presidential actions was that Nixon lied to the American people. Because Canada was not involved in anything like the Vietnam war, The Post says, Canadians did not experience the same erosion of trust in government and ‘‘Canadian attitudes toward the Mounties are very similar to American attitudes two decades ago toward the FBI and the CIA,” The newspaper also finds consolation in RCMP clumsiness, saying ‘‘whatever the Mounties’ offences there's one thing that you have to say for them: the did it all terribly ineptly.’’ The Post does not remar on the skill of the burglars who were caught at Watergate. The editorial concludes by saying ‘‘the time to start worrying is when the politica! infiltration succeeds, the harassment works, dissidents lose the elections and never a word is heard about the methods of the police.” Others might well say that when that stage is reached it is too late to start worrying. HERMAN “I've had a hard day, so don‘t make any smart ramarks while I'm carrying a cream pie.” No change in store for Quebec Liberals Montreal Le Devoir: Those who expected Quebec's Liberal party ta undergo a radical transformation during its weekend congress were deceiving themselves. If the Liberals were to regain power next week, their program would be similar to the one we know from their recent past. Like many democratic parties in the Western world, they lean toward a conservative liberalism. Private sector initiative is supported at all levels; individual liberties ate exalted; na- tional and collective aspirations are either called into question or openly denounced; in- creased state powers are feared and society's militants—whose thought loosely reflects middle- class consciousness—are worried about govern- ment intervention. ... Concerning the collective project which is expected to culminate in Quebec's independ- ence, the Liberals are opposed to the “Quebec of liberties,’ specifically individual liberties. ... Of ali the excellent speeches heard, that made by Prof. John Trent should serve as a lesson and practical guide for them. He didn't hesitate to tell them that the image of the Quebec Liberal party wasn't very good because the population did not distinguish the changes in the party's policy. The Liberals have not reflected sufficiently on their past short-comings, their elitism, their distance from the people, and their maniputative tendencies. Prof. Trent also warned the Liberals about a double obsession: the leadership race (as if they were looking, were waiting for a saviour ‘‘on a white horse’) and the question of the referendum. In addicion many ob- servers fear that the conquest of power is being put well before the study of changes in Quebec society and of policies better adapted to social and economic conditions. ...Another observation of Prof. Trent's hit even more at the heart of the problem i+ LOY ronseron aQudAL POST CANADA which posed. . It is not enough for the Liberal party to defend the federalist option, that is necessary. ‘It must be the party of involved and reformist liberalism rather than elitist and conservative liberalism.”’... ; To become once again this reform party, a party with which the people might identify, the Liberal party can’t limit itself to fighting the Parti Quebecois and its ideas. It must also prepare its plan for society. — This challenge will only really be met the day when the Liberals. will have chosen a leader who will incarnate this plan and open new ayenues. ..—-Michet Roy (Nov. 21) this congress Enemies winners in security issue Ottawa, — There has been only one winner in the political firestorm that swept Parliament over the security issue. And the one clear winner. has been Canada’s enemies. “There are people within and outside this country,’ an old friend high in the Canadian security and intelligence service observes sadly, “who are dedicated to its dismemberment and destruction.” The Conservative and New Democratic Op- position in its Watergate- like zeal to uncover scanda] has managed only to bare some of the undercover operations of the security, intelligence and counter-espionage services of the Armed Forces, the RCMP, and other establishments set up to preserve and protect the safety of the state. Her Majesty’s sup- posed loyal Opposition Volunteer study Ottawa Le Droit: The study of :Fr more significant experience when it a voluntary basis. That's the thi Education Minister Thomas Wells ¥ French becoming a compulsory } province's schools. nch is a much undertaken on ry of Ontario is opposed to ubject in the _He is not against French, as one nd es well, but qute simply against the idea of making it obligatory. It Personally, I wo S a question of psychology. td have liked, when I went to school, that mathematics, algebra, geometry and arithmetic were optional subjects. ... But at that time, there was no Wells in the education department and we didn’t enjoy the modern discoveries of psychology. We believed that it was preferable that the authorities decide what was good for students, with the result that we were forced to learn grammar, arithmetic, geography, history and all the other subjects whose necessity is recognized today, but which might have constituted so many experiences so e€ much more significant if we had begn ft to choose. ,.! Today, we know better, Perhaps:not everbody, but Wells in any case. ...The only thing which is not yet clear, however, is why our minister insists on limiting only French to this meaningful experience. Would it not be more logical for him to say that English is no longer obligatory in French schoois, thus giv ng Frenchspeaking students an equal chance to ave significant experiences?..,.And some people will say say that in the education department, there are two weights and two measures; that the education minister is unimportant; or that his logic is all divided. .. .Guy Lacombe (Nov. 18) and thé NDP have done nothing more than that — weaken Canada's defences against terrorists, subersives and espionage — cheered on by a largely hysterical and irresponsible national news media. Together the political opposition in Parliament and the bird-dogs of the “investigative” media have damaged to an incalculable degree, perhaps even tem- porarily destroyed the nation’s security system. Take just one point, the mail. During and since World War II — and likely Jong before that — Canadian security has had access to the mails. Not all the mails. Not yours. Nor mine. Nor the people next door. But to ‘‘sensitive’’ mail, which they knew or suspected through long training and counter- intelligence forces, as a channel of information between subversives, terrorists, espionage agents and other enemies of the country. These enemies — or at jeast enough of them for the Canadian security services to worry about — believed the mails were “sale” from even egitimately prying eyes. Now, thanks to the reckless opposition and the irresponsible national media they know it is not. So they will look for — and certainly find — other channels.’ And our security forces will have to start from scratch rooting them out. That’s _— only one example, the mail. There are others, where the — securit procedures, now exposed, will have to be disman- tled and others put into place. And what has it ac- complished for the Op- position and the national media? Public contempt for their attempt to soil the reputation of an honored institution, an important part of the very history of Western Canada. And proof that the public no longer can be whipped into a froth of outrage by self-seeking politicians and the national press, radio and Prime Minister Trudeau may have touched the heart-nerve of all Canadians when he said that in certain cir- cumstances when the safety of the state is at Stake, the police and security forces may have to break the law. The strange situation of the RCMP being pilloried by the politicians and the national press has been taking an even stranger twist. Some of the more sensitive Conservatives, in better touch than others with the public, have sensed the resent- ment against this smearing of the RXMP. These worried Con- servatives have started a political backfire, suggesting that Prime Minsiter Trudeau, intent on destroying the RCMP, leaked or had his agents leak information besmirching the force, and that some dumb Tories and the NDP stumbled into his trap. Victoria Report Cyril Shelford The first phase of the Food Inquiry is over which included public hearings for those who wished to present their views and for Comapny's that were invited to present their views to give the Committee information on the working sof the Industry. In most cases co-operation has been excellent. At the same time the hearings were going on, our Research people were working full time gathering information on cost of production, processing, regional mark up in dif- ferent areas to compare with Alberta and the Nor- thwest U.S.A. It be interesting when all this in- formation comes together, which is expected to be completed in three months, however some may take a little longer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture came out with a report last week indicating the average Canadian spends less of his or her disposable income on food an any other country in the world, according to this report the average ind;ustrial worker spends only 13 per cent of disposable income on food, down from 17 per sent three years ago. Some people watching the inquiry are a little confused between the Committee lic Hearings and Research studies being done through questionnaires that ask hundreds of questions, to be followed through with interviews where further information is needed. All research is being done with the view of continuing up-date of in- formation that can and will be a quide to future governments as to Production costs and market trends in the U.S. North West and Western Canada. As I see, our main function on the committee is tryrying to find ways for the Government to maintain a stable ind; us! at all levels; production, processing, wholesale and retail. There is no question that this willr equire far more planning and co-ordination between ail levels that seen in the past. There is simply no point in the Government encouraging production and processing unless there is long term assurance of sales. This year we have seen two clear examples of this weak ess with the closing of the Hog slaughter plant in Vancouver and the recent problem with the possible closing of the potato plant in Rich- - mond, which could leave 14,000 tons of potatoes on the farms with no place to fo. All of these things affect the employment of our people and will require definite government policy and planning to maintain stable employment and production. The makret system which served society well for several decades has been largley destroyed by many restrictions of Government regulations and the concentration of market power in the hands of a few. The greatest danger is where one powerful retailer can import cheap products for shorterm which destroys our production units then increases costs in the long term to our consumer and risks shortages in the future. It also leaves their competitors, loyal to B.C. products, at a disadvantage. This is the most serious issue to be faced by the Committee members because unless solutions can be found in this area, the Minister's target of 65 per cent self-suffieciency can’t be achieved. The use of House Brands by the major chains can be dangerous for the local processing in- dustry and partly tre reason for many processin plants going under in the last few years. This area wi looked at with care by the Committee and the Research Staff in the next few months. Our future policy concerns must be to insure production of a high quality and nutrtritional product at a reasonab]p price to the consumer at all times, which will also maintain a hgih level of employment in the industry. We should never allow ourselves to be entirely dependent on foreign supply as we can see the results of that with high coffee prices and the 10 per cent increase of most fruit and vegetables due to the devaluation of the Canadian dollar, which will go even lower yet, likely to 4 cents. Thsi will greatly affect most food prices due to our dependence on foreign supply and a situation I warned about as far back as 1971 with few people inside Government or out, listening. Oil hopes rest in Atlantic TORONTO (CP) Farther north, an Canada's best hopes for environmental stud major new oil reserves lie announced by the federa in areas off the northeast government could further coast of Newfoundland delay exploration drilling and off Labrador and in an area where en- Baffin Island the vironmental studies ‘the president of Imperial Oil Ltd. said Tuesday. JA. Armstrong said estimated ; recoverable oil potential in the eastern offshore region could range from’ three billion to 26 billion barrels, “which would put it in the North Sea catefory.” But getting the oil to market would pose a monumental problem, Armstrong told delegates to a seminar on Canada’s oil future. If early exploration is successful, oil production “from the deep-water Atlantic will be con- strained by the speed at which deep-water production technology can be developed and by the availability of financial, manpower and material resources,” he said, “Under the most favorable circumstances, we think it will be the early 1990s before oil can move to market in large quantities.” Armstrong said the dispute between the federal and Newfoun- dland governments over the ownership of offshore minerals in Newfoundlandand Labrador areas is a major impediment to exploration. the case of Imperial he said, this dispute and other uncertainties have delayed the company’s proposed east-coast drilling program by at least a year. already are taking place, he said. Armstorng siad governments must find a way of speeding up the decision-making process and ‘the many time- consuming consultative procedures involved in _ petroleum development if we are to have a hope of meeting our national energy targets.” The seminar was sponsored by the Toronto investment house of McLeod, Young, Weir and Co. Ltd. William Daniel, president of Shell Canada Ltd., said the refining and marketing business in Canada has developed an “infrastructure,” which has enabled it to survive hardships of recent years, He said there has been too much government intervention in the past but there is a growing awareness of the serious effects it has had on business, J.P. Gallagher, chairman of Dome Petroleum Ltd., said discoveries in the Mackenzie delta and Beaufort Sea regions have been especially encouraging. These discoveries indicate there will be sufficient reserves during the next three years to support construction of a gas pipeline by 1983 to move delta and Beaufort gas via an all-Canadian route along the Mackenzie valley, he said.