Page 4, The Herald, Tuesday November 13, 1979 TERRACE/KITIMAT daily herald General Office - 633-4357 Circulation - 635-6357 Published by Sterling Publishers GEN. MANAGER - Knox Coupland EDITOR : Greg Middleton — CIRCULATION-TERRACE- 635-6357 : KITIMAT OF FICE - 632-2747 Publishad every weekday at 32712 Kalum Street, Terrace. B.C, A member of Verifled Circulation, Authorized as second class mail. Registration number 1201. Postage pald In cash, return postage guaranteed. NOTE OF COPYRIGHT The Herald retains full, complete and sale copyright In any advertisement produced and-or any editorial or photographic content published in the Herald. Reproduction Is not permitted. Editor'snote: These questions were posed by the labor council. Several of the candidates have objected to the questions. Nadine Asante, who Is running for reglonal district in Thornhill ob- jected to the statement In the labor council's questionnire that the responses would be . evaluated. She wanted her answers published so the voters could judge for themselves. As we offered to publish Asante’s responses, we made the same offer te the other candidates. Here's what we got. One candidate’s responte was hand written and so difficult to read we could net typeset It. If he would like to present us with a typed copy, we would be glad to publish it too. The questions 1) Do you see conflict between Native Land Claims and regional development. If so, how would you dea} with this conflict. 2) There has been much discussion of the possibility of Alcan developingping the so-called phemand II” project. What is your stand on this ject. 3) a) What is your concept for the future of the Hotsprings? b) Who should own and manage any future operation? 4} Hydro is planning major hydro-electric development in the Iskut-Stikine area. What are your views? = ; 5) Plans for massive development .in..the Kitimat-Terrace corridor have been hinted at by the Regional District. What are your views on development in this area. 6) Do you believe that the forestry base in the area is disappearing’? If so, what options are open tous? 7) Should preference in the awarding of con- tracts be given to firms who employ local union labour? Please comment. 8) What do you considet™ apprapHate development for this region? 9) Would you facilitate public participation in planning and development? If so, how? - Letters welcome The Herald welcomes its readers comments. Allletters to the editor of general public interest will be printed. We do, however, retain the right to refuse to print letters on grounds of possible libel or bad taste. We may also edit letters for style and length. All letters to be considered for publication must be signed. ATRILL THINKS By THOMAS ATRILL As I rounded the curve in the road I saw in the distance a sight that has become all top familiar in recent years. The hitchhiker and his thumb. I could make out the ‘uniform’,.black hat, blue jeans, long hair and pack, and thoughts flashed through my mind about the whole gimme movement. T remembered being taught that hitchhiking, like begging, was degrading. I remembered walking twenty or more miles, then cycling and later, driving my own vehicle to town. The only ‘lifts’ we accepted were freely offered, never by the begging gesture of the thumb. Mooching ts for indigents, they taught us. I wondered if this young man considered his lifestyle superior to mine. { wondered why he thought that 1 should supply his transportation., Did I owe him anything? 1 thought aot. I alao wondeted why the old law that forbids soliciting rides on a highway, is no longer enforced. I thought about the muggings, the tortures, the murders and a host of other ugly things that were perpetrated by hitchhikers. And I thought about the prison escapes and other runaways. T was almost abreast of him, He had a look of unkempt Insolence; an air of drugs and vice about him. Not a worker, f thought. Perhaps 4 student of psychology, seclal science or economics, just out of U.B.C. eager to restructure our society. Maybe not. His attitude annoyed me; he stood on the travelled portion of the road, determined to pressure me into picking him up. He willed me to stop. I drove on by. He made an obscene gesture and looked toward the next car. “Same to you, you scruffy creep," I thought. It takes all kinds ... etc. MICKEY JOHNSON In answer to questionnaire circulated to election can: didates, my thoughts are as follows: 1, ¥es, 1 do see conflict between Native Land Claima and regional development. Fo lessen this there has to be an atmosphere of trust created with the Natives by giving them a greater voice in their own affairs, such as the recent establishment of the Nishga Schoo! District. 2. Kemano II. I do not see ‘that there is any need for it at present but I have not been shown any of the facts, 3, [feel that the Hotaprings has great potential as a recreational and agricultural area. The management system devised for it is of vital importance. | Several possibilities are {a) government run (b) leased out to private enterprise (c) half and half. All alter- natives must be realistically considered, and in any case the local public must have the opportunity to make their wishes known and be able to closely scrutinize and control the efficiency of the operation. : 4, Hydro-electric development in the Iskut- Stikine area, ] have seen no atudies on this so can make ho valid comments. My approach would be that any development must be done with as little environmental damage as possible and with consideration of the views of all affected people, §. [feel that there is quite a bit of room in the Terrace- Kitimat corridor for light industrial development, not of the massive type, as long as it is compatible with the area, Again, the views of the public should be solicited and considered. 6. I believe that the forestry base of our area can be maintained with good forest management and reforestation; but certainly, other sources of income must be developed. 7. In awarding government contracts I do feel that local firms should be given preference but I do not fee) that union labour should be a primary consideration. The abllity of the firm to do the. job at a good price should have equal weight. 8, I feel that appropriate development of the region would be a slow, stead growth of diversified, small, economically viable businesses which are con- siderate of the environment. Tourism can be greatly enhanced. 9. I most certainly would yp all, avenues for ful. Rarticipation in any development, especially that of the Hotsprings. I feel that . the deaf ear turned by the Regional District Board to all attempts by the public to: influence Kitsumkalum Ski Hill management is a glaring example of how elected officials should not act. 1 thank you for this op- portunity of expressing my views. JACK TALSTRA 1. To me the potential for conflict between the desires of native people with respect to their land claims and the desires of white society Is very real and to some extent already exists. The legitimacy of the land claims by native people is of primary importance if with territorial jurisdiction there isa genuine desire or resolve to maintain a soclety with goals and objectives dif- ferent from white society's seeming goal of greater material wealth and ob- session with development. The conflict is of less im- portance if the desires of aative people is to simply buy a share of the same ple to achieve the same end as those which exist in white society. If the conflict for territorial jurisdiction is for equality of wealth, that can be distributed through negotiation; if it is for lifestyles, there is a real conflict unless white society develops a sensitivity to alternate lifestyles, For an alderman, in my view, the place to begin is to have dialogue with native peoples, first of all within Terrace (how many native names do you see on the Voters List?) and secondly within the region. It may be that in some areas a moratorium should be placed on forest, fish and mineral consuniption or extraction until the senior governmenta sort out the problem. However, with population continually In- creasing in our area it would appear that moat that can be achieved is a non-increase in the rate of resource ex- TO LABOR'S QUESTIONS — The candidates respond — traction with a view of allowing native peoples jurisdiction over legitimate areas in conjunction with resource companies .or the provincial government so that natives themselves will have a say in the rate of resource extraction and the distribution of wealth. This is not an unrealistic objective and is cbtainable through constant and at times trying dialogue ‘and diacussion by all levels of government, I reallze advocating dialogue and discussion does not sound like much of a con- crete answer but other alternatives would only lead to force on the part of one side or the other, which in my view Is no solution at all. 2. Accurate Information concerning the “‘Kemano IT" project 1s difficult to obtain. Certainly it would be unwise for myself to assume the project doesn’t exist, I believe the project is proceeding and it is the full intention of the provincial government and Alcan to complete it. To take a stand concerning the project without information is foolish. The overriding factor for me is to determine what the project is for? I understand the concept.ties into the B.C, Hydro grid system and presumably generates more hydro- electric power. But for whom? Is it for an increase in Alcan Aluminum productivity? — or is it for surplus sales of electricity to other countries, and at what expense, and for what in return, if anything. All of the risks invalved should be weighed against the presumed gains. What of the fresh-water fishing industry which in turn feeds our salt- water industry? What of the local tourist industry in. terms of wildlife, hunting, recreation and simple en- joyment of land areas that will be floaded? If the government would let me know, or convince. me that the additional energy produced is to meet the needs of British Columbians in terms of energy supply or work stability, and par- ticularly if the alternate energy saurce would be nuclear, I would have greater sympathies for the project than I now have. I would encourage open in- formation meetings and [ would make it a’ point to be there, 3 There are as many concepts for the develop- ment of the Hotsprings as there are men and women running for elected office. My own particular concept (for what it’s worth) js.a government owned facility backed by substantial start- up funds granted to smaller enterprereurs, or private enterprise if you like, to operate particular businesses on the grounds or within the facillties. The water rights should always remain vested in the right of the province, The Hotsprings has potential for agriculture, health spa, mini golf course, horse rides, restaurant and hotel training centre, and really the list ia endless. There is no question the Hotsprings facilities as they once were are greatly missed by our local people and they would like to see at least the hotel and the swimming pools re-opened, In my view however, the Hotsprings will have dit- ficulty reaching its potential in terms of users unless a port facility is developed in Kitimat, Such a port facility would allow more traffic and tourists access to Highway 37 and it would ensure suf- ficient visitors to make a day or two stopover at the Hotsprings, and in turn enhance its ability to be a viable operation, [f elected [ would work to achieve these enda, 4. Your question with regard to hydro-electric development in the Iskut- Stikine area is similar in principle to your question relating to the ‘‘Kemano II” project and I would refer you to my previous comments concerning that question. Of course detaila differ and again I deplore the lack of accurate information available to the public. Similarly as in question 2, 1 would encourage open in- formation meetings, and again, 1 would make It a point ta be there, _ 6 A top priority in my mind is that the Lakelse Lake-Hotsprings area not be infringed upon for industrial use, Lakelse Lake ig our only “warm water" lake and this area should remain and should be encouraged as a- recreational region. Ex- cluding that area, there is potential in the Kitimat. Terrace corridor for light industrial or secondary Industrial use. In the past I have been, and if elected I - will continue to be concerned about stabilizing the work base of our community and lts immediate environs, Secondary industry has a role to play in that regard. There presently exists railway trackage, flat land and suitable soil conditions, and to some extent at least isolation from residential areas, which would allow manufacturing type industry to come to the area. Provided that such an in- dustry does not disrupt the quality of life we ail now enjoy in the north, I would _welcome It. In areaa not ite as suitable for in- strial use I would en- courage that these arenas be maintained for reforestation purposes to allow cur woods industry future resources. Some of these areas have already been replanted and if possible that process should continue. 6. I believe the forestry base in our area is disap- pearing. One notes the logged off river bottoms of 30 years ago are now farms, residential areas and sites for industrial plants, As the logging companies travel further and further away from Terrace in search of wood, it becomes evident that the reforestation programs have to date achieved only minimal results. Options open to us ‘are to persuade senior governments to conceive of more effective reforestation methods (and there are some presently in existence in Europe), and to set aside areas of land for tree har- vesting purposes; such land not to revert to private alienation, and to maintain the present level of cut rather than insist on faster and greater yleld or ex- pansion of wood-related mills. The second alter- native, and probably the more realistic one, is that of expanding our economic base into other areas, To some extent this has already occurred in that Terrace has expanded to become in- creasingly a regional ser- vices centre, beth for government and business. It is my intention, If elected, to continue to work to achieve diversification to the extent that if one industry base falters we have others to fall back on and thereby survive. 7. The criteria, in my opinion, of awarding municipal contracts to firms is not first of all whether such firms employ local union labour. That may be a consideration over against outside union labour or non- union labour but the rimary concern is whether the contract awarded is in the best interests of the com- munity as a whole. Those best interests include evaluating contract price, capability of the ‘firm to perform, and resident location of the firm. The lowest bid by a local firm with best capability to perform are the first criteria in my view. At times one criteria is sometimes sacrificed in order to achieve the other two but this te me is legitimate. In general (closed shops not- withstanding) every em- ployee has the option to join or not tojoin. a union and the role of an alderman, at least to me, is to obtaln the best possible deal for the tax- payers, union and non-union alike, and aldermen really should not be used as tools to persuade firms to unionize when attempts by unions themselves have nol suc- teeded. The preference in awarding of contracts should be to the benefit of the paying pubiic. 8. The answer to the question of what 1 consider appropriate development for our region is hinted at In my answers to the previous questions. If one were to summarize I suppose it would come down to this; (a) tourism industry with particular emphasis on Kitimat port development and development of the Hotsprings, (b) a meaningful look at revitalizing our woods in- dustry with particular emphasis concerning our reforestation program (e} continued effort to woo government regional and business regional offices to Terrace and resulting spin- offs. (d) industrial development id it stabilizes our em- ployment base and is mot disruptive of the present quality of life we now enjoy. One other aspect to con- sider is that aldermen, in my opinion, should be watchful that the community never expansion of the. loses those advantages it has already gained and I'm thinking here of the present levels of services provided by Skeenaview, or the closing ef a sawmill, or the maving out of businesses and so on, Wf elected, I would hope to wark at all of the above-mentioned concepts. 9. In order for an elected official to obtain a consensus on issues, It is vital that there be public participation. The problem always |s; how does one go about achieving maximum public par- ticipation? Public meetings, questionnalres, news media ialogue, regular and telephone conversations, referendums have all been used and are atill being used by Terrace Council. I have and will always advocate their continuation. I believe major planning and development projects such as damming of rivers and flooding of valleys or whatever, which change cur environment and effect our style of life requires both public information and open input meetings of a regular nature, RUSSEL MERCER 1), [ feel that Native land claims should be settled before any major development is held in the area affected. 2. With the power now generated by Kemane I feel that the need for additional power. does not warrant the flooding of a very pic- turesque and valuable part of the B.C. countryside. 8. (a) I feel that the Hot- springs should be developed as a tourist recreation site for the Pacific Northwest with it to ne up-graded to be comparible to the Harrison complex. (b) I fee] that the Het- aprings should be controlled by the provincial govern- ment and not be sold and operated by private in- dividuals. 4. Ihave not read too much about the Iskut-Stikine hyro- electric development but feel that prior to any type of development in that area, that the Native land claims, should be settled and a full‘ scale Inquiry should be, held- concerning the effect the flooding would have on, the people, land and wildlife in” the area. 5. The Kitimat-Terrace corridor is the logical area for development in the Northwest, but before any companies decide to locate there should be a full scale and open discussion by the companies and the public to affects on the people and th environment. 9.33" ny 6, 1 feel that with proper management, the forest base for this area will last many years, Many companies in this - area resort to slaughter harvesting as I call it. They seem to think that they should make their money, now and not worry about the generations to follow, The industrial base for this area should be diversified to ensure that people of this area do not suffer from bad forest management. 7. I definitely feel local people should be hired to fill jobs in our area, also con- tracts should most certainly be awarded to local union campanies, 8, [ feel that low pollution - secondary manufacturing should be the main Interest of the regional district when trying to have companies locate in this area. #. Part of my campaign platform is the need for secondary manufacturing to locate in our area, The main part of development of any kind is the participation of the public in any final plans. Dear Mr. Johnston, Thank you for your good luck wishes regarding the upcoming municipal election which accompanied. the labour council questionaire. 1 have chosen, however, not to compile answers to your questions in writing, as 80 much of it pertains to regional district governing. I will be available at the Chamber of Commerce Public Forum at the R.E.M. Lee Theatre, on Nov, 13, to answer publicly any questions you may have, Anyone of your members may speak to me personally by phoning my home 635- Sincerely yours Molly Nattress Editor's Note: The Dally Herald invitedother regional district candidates to submit their responses to the labor council's questionatre issued by Paul Johnson. They declined. We Invited district council candidates to do the same by Friday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m, ae ean he Teast “harmntul , ijoucester Properties, owners of the Langley’ PERSKY'S |: PERSPECTIVE | By STAN PERSKY I’M LOSING ONE OUT OF FOUR potentlal readers, Of course you are. If only you'd stop writing that. : leftwing drivel, you might get some of them back. i Nice try guys, but that's not what I mean. I’m:} referring to the government-commissioned report released last month that says there are five million | Canadian adults who can't read, write or do math well’ ’ enough to use the Yellow Pages to phone in for pizza. - There are one million Canadians who cannot read or __ write at all, claims the study, penned by Hamilton, . Ont., industrial relations professor RJ. Adams, and:.: another four million unable to cope with such things as-. filling out job application forms or figuring out food- ; labels at supermarkets. lcbie cete Unbelievable? That's what I thought. ‘That's un; * believable,” I said to Fred wilson, head of Northwest”. College's vocational division. ; ds “It’s a conservative estimate,” said Wilson. - “You're kidding,” sez I. “I'm not kidding,” sez he. I’ . guess he’s not kidding. 4 I stil] think it’s a shocker. One out of every four . Canadian adults is, for all practical purposes, func+ tionally illiterate. Terrace and Kitimat school boards, please take note. . Report-writer Adams thinks one of the: solutions Ig, worker education. By that he doesn’t merely mean. | more vocational training, but general education for working adults. He proposes various recom-- mendations (taxes and tax credits) to put the squeeze: . on employers to permit their workers more-: educational opportunities. Alcan, Eurocan and . Cancel, please take note. . And speaking of adult education, whatever hap | pened to the Northwest College report prepared by, ; Kispiox community-educator Frank Cassidy that, - urged the regional college to make basic literacy education a top priority over the next five years? College board, please retrieve from dustbin. wd “ao POOR BILL BENNETT is probably going ¢o end up'~ in the Intensive Care Unit of a veterinary hospital; - Everytime he makes a move on the disappearing farmland question he steps into a fresh cowpod. In the last stirring episode of this barnyard saga, ° you'll recall that the premier ordered the En- vironment and Land Use Committee of his cabinet to. take another look at the 626-acre chunk of Langley’ | farmland which they ordered removed from the,. province’s agricultural land reserve over the. - protesting grunts and squeals of the B.C. Land Commission the provincial Federation of Agriculture, : - ‘the Institute of Agrologists, and sundry other nor-’ ‘mally contented cud-chewing citizens. Even as ELUC members were being rounded up — from the pasture, various neighbours and critics. pointed out to the premler that the piece of legislation drafted by his government in 1977 which unwisely. gave ELUC the power to overrule decisions..of tps; ‘ independent Land Commission did-not give them then power to reconsider such decisions. Well, you guessed it. The eight ELUC cabinet} ministers got together in Environmnet Minister Rafe : Mair’s stall last week, as requested by their leader, And a lawyer patiently explained to them (it only took. him four hours to do so) that ELUC had no power to” reconsider its earlier ruling which permitted: éreage, to remove the land from the reserve and: . Inake@ bundle by selling it as industrial sites.(If only they had read their own legiststion, they could havei saved us taxpayers the lawyer’s fees, Perhaps the: aforementioned illiteracy problem has spread to the | most exalted levels of government.) " It now requires an order by the entire cabinet to put {he Langley land back into the reserve before ELUC can hold another hearing to decide whether it should. or shouldn't be in the reserve, mooed a discomfited: Mr. Mair, the big cowbell under his beard jangling in the breeze. It's anybody's guess ag to what happens, All this would be worth little more than a chuckle around the crackerbarrel were it not for the snake of croneyism crawling through the alfalfa. One of the prime beneficiaries in the deal is Gloucester Properties director Ainslie Loretto, a Socred sup- porter who avidly worked for the re-election of Health Minister Bob McClelland in May. (The land im question is in McClelland’s riding and was, of course, plastered with ‘re-elected Bob” signs.) McClelland is a member of ELUC. However, during the July meeting of ELUC that debated the request from Gloucester and director Loretto, the honourable Mr. McClelland didn't vote on the matter. As sure as the setting of the sun, last week 't transcript of the July ELUC hearing fell into the han of the press. You remember the press, don’t you? They're the nasty folks Bill Bermett blamed for getting his government in trouble when he gave his rousing speech at the annual Socred convention two weeks ago. (That was the same convention at which Bob McClelland masterminded the election of “Whistling’’ Bernie Smith as the new Socred party president. And Ms. Loretto? There sh ‘ F Bernie placard.) © was, carrying a ‘ Whistling” Oh yes, the transcript of the meeting at whicl honorable Mr. McClelland didn't vote it contains tt impassioned speech to his fellow ELUC members urging them to approve th oy Gloucester Properties. e request from Ms, Loretto’s FANS OF RACISM WILL BE DELIG that racial slurs are alive and Wellin the Ontarie legislature, That's where Conservative MP Ed Havrot called NDP member Tony Lupusella a “wop" last The incident occured, appropriatel | Lupusella was talking about the need for ontnt od rd inal Gerald Carter's report on racism problema in Taranto. While Lupusella was speaking, Havrot ma¢ le 4 series of interjections, all of which were uiiully recorded in Hansard, the official record of legislative proceedings: “Mama mia;” “It's the wop maeite a nice. Good for Benito Mussolini,” Had The next day Havrot denied he was admitted he had been looped, The Tory MF explained he ma le the remarks at a time when he “wasn't ing any pain,” because he had been celebrating ’ 1 the birthday of Ontario’s minister of agriculture.