Wty hy MTA LT MINT Ltt BRITISH COLUMBIA The recent announcement by Social Credit government that it plans to end the 16-year moratorium on the oil and gas exploration in a vast area of the west coast — stretching from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to the Alaska Pan- handle — indicates the threat to B.C.’s environment posed by Socred policies. This threat was underscored a short time ago when the Socreds lifted the moratorium on urainium mining. In a joint statement B.C. Energy Minis- ter Jack Davis and federal Energy Minis- ter Marcel Masse said the moratorium would be lifted as soon as a cost-sharing government. They hope to strike an agreement in approximately one year. Chevron Canada Resources has already announced plans to drill two exploratory wells by 1991. Some drilling was carried out in the area during the 1970’s until halted by strong public protests. However, the election of the Bill Vander Zalm government with its anti-environment policies — coupled with the release of recent results of geological tests by the federal government suggesting significant oil and natural gas deposits — have led the giant oil companies which hold exploration permits to press for an end to the moratorium. deal is struck between the two levels of The province Maurice Rush More than 90 per cent of off-shore exploration permits have been grabbed up by a few, mostly U.S., oil monopolies. The largest holdings belong to Shell Oil, which was granted permits to about 5.1 million hectares (about 12.6 million acres. San- Francisco based Chevron Canada had an agreement with Shell to operate on 50 per cent of Shell’s holdings.) - The lifting of the moratorium in an area as large as the North Sea would be a bonanza to the U.S. oil monopolies. and pose an extreme threat to B.C.’s environ- ment. A ‘major concern of opponents of gas and oil exploration in the area is the poten- tial disastrous effects of a well blowout or oil spill. It should be noted that the region involved is an active earthquake zone, and that the most recent one a few weeks ago was in the range of 5.6 on the Richter scale. Equally of concern is the effect of explora- tion on the vital fisheries in the area. Oil and gas search threat Another issue of major importance is the unsettled aboriginal land claims of the Haida people which extend into Queen Charlotte Sound. The B.C. government is . completely ignoring the aboriginal land claims and rights in the region, claiming that it is a federal matter and Victoria washes its hands of the issue. The Haida Nation on the Queen Charlotte Islands has charged that the move is a further encroachment on Indian rights. A glance at the map shows that the new national park to be created on Moresby Island, which was won by public opinion over the objections of the Socred govern- ment, lies in the centre of the region. A major oil spill or well blowout could result in an environmental disaster for the highly vulnerable ecology of the region. The Vander Zalm government, which was all set to permit logging on Moresby Island, seems little concerned that the lift- ing of the moratorium could result in des- 4 Quee Charlotte Y Islands YY PACIFIC OCEAN PROPOSED AREA | FOR EXPLORATION THE GLOBE AND MAIL ae truction of the park. The premier’s every project concerning B.C.’s resources is that if it can turn a profit for the private sector, “it gets the go-ahead. In this case, the profit will go to the U.S. oil companies while B.C. faces a possible major ecological dis- aster. Public opinion should demand that the moratorium be continued and that no exploration for oil or gas be allowed in the region. Groups say gov't must end GAIN discrimination Human nights and unemployment acti- vists have won a significant victory against GAtNrates discrimination — but the'B.C. Human Rights Council has significantly blunted that victory. The council ruled July 9 that the Ministry of Social Services and Housing discrimi- nates by paying people 25 years and under $25 less per month than older welfare recip- tents. But in making the ruling in the case, launched by the B.C. Human Rights Coali- tion and member groups, the council failed to order any remedial action. “We've won a victory, but it’s an empty one,” said coalition spokesman Peter Beau- “We’re not very pleased with the lack of remedy,” echoed Sue Harris of the Down- town Eastside Residents Association. But Beaudin said a B.C. Supreme Court case initiated by the Vancouver Unem- ployed Action Centre may achieve a ruling that the provincial government has violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Lawyer Dick Gathercole said the chal- lenge was launched citing Section 15 of the Charter. A favourable ruling for Gather- cole’s client, referred by the unemployment action centre, will mean the government has been found to discriminate on the basis of age and on the basis of its “employable/ un- employable” definition. Using the definition the social services ministry pays less benefits to those deemed unemployable. “That will cover one person. But what about the other 18,400 people who’ve been unjustly denied full benefits for the past three years,” said Beaudin. He said the Human Rights Council has the authority to order the government to discontinue the practice and to force retro- active payments dating back to 1984, when the discriminatory measure was introduced. Mike Watrin, co-ordinator of the Unem- ployed Action Centre, said a public cam- paign around the issue is being considered. Under ministry regulations people 25 years of age and under are paid $334 in GAIN benefits for the first month, com- 2 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JULY 15, 1987 WWLRONEY'S. WHITE. IAPER Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (inset) was the centre of unwanted attention in Nanaimo July 11 as protesters of the Tory White Paper on defence and of free trade dogged the PM during celeb 1 week. Presence of protesters so worried the prime minister that a scheduled luncheon and press conference at a local hotel were cancelled. pared to those 26 and over who collect $359. Harris said former provincial ombuds- man Karl Freidmann wrote in 1984 that the government is “knowingly discriminating” against younger people but said he was powerless to change the practice. Harris said a similar attempt to pay less benefits to recipients under the age of 30 back in 1981 prompted a large demonstra- tion at the Social Credit party’s annual con- ie Ret ‘] & ¢, Nanaimo protests dog Mulroney vention, and the option was subsequently dropped. Jean Swanson of End Legislated Poverty said the government must now be pressured not to use the council’s ruling “as an excuse to penalize other people on welfare. “We're not just speculating that the government will reduce all rates. Lawyers for the government side in the Supreme Court case were saying the government may rations opening the Vancouver Island city’s Bath Tub PHOTOS — DEBORAH MACDONALD cut all benefits because of the costs involved if they lose,” she said. She said ELP is calling for welfare rates to rise to 75 per cent of the recognized - poverty line. “If GAIN rates rise, the expenditure will create thousands of jobs, help businesses in low-income neighbourhoods, and reduce health, social service and corrections pro- gram costs,” said Swanson.