ee a a PAGE A6 Four Million Dollar .. Highway Repair. ~ Program Announced Highways Minister Graham Lea*‘taday announced thal Treasury Board approval has been given for a four -million ‘dollar extraordinary pavement repair program. ’ "We experienced €x- traordinarily severe Spring break-up conditions this year,” said Mr.:Lea.. “As my staff -sludied: reports from all over the province it became abvious . that our’ maintenance budget, which had been based en nor- -i-mal conditions, was-simply not ‘ adequale lo cover the extensive * repair. work: needed,” “I was gravely concerned al 7 as the prospect of having the high- ways in poor condition ausing the peak months for travel. was also concerned with the possibility thal costly major repairs would be required in many areas if the existing damage was allowed lo deteriorate further,"’ “J outlined the seriousness of the situation to the Cabinet, and I was very pleased to receive approval | for extraordinary measures.’ The major portion of the work: to be done under the program is palching and resurfacing, with Tepairs to the road base to be dane in some badly deteriorated sections. New Policies | For Senior Citizens Four new general insurance programs have been introduced '. by the Insurance Corporalion of British Columbia, including one \ . designed specifically for senior cilizens. “Program 65 has been "developed in recognition af a f special: need by. many of the, senior citizens of Brilish Calumbia as an economical way to protecting their personal belongings and effects,” said :- Norman’ Bortnick, ICBC vice- president and general manager. . Basic. difference. belween ICBC’s Program 65 and other “| policies: . insuring personal property is that ICBC has waived the minimum coverage _. fequirement and the minimum 2 premium requirement. | This permits the applicant 10 select a ‘coverage limit below Ihe customary minimum of $4,000,-and makes the lower * Hmilts of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 ‘available to. all B.C.’ senior -cilizens for: less than the ~gustomary minimum premium “of $25, ., Program 65 run from $1010 $20. Premiums under - “The “prograin is designed = primarily for ‘senior cilizens ~ living in rented = ace. “eommodation,” “We fell thal such a person “shouldn’| have to pay ‘the minimum }$25 premium if the Program 65 and other ICBC policies are available from independent agents throughout “. the province. ° , programs now being offered by : ” ICBC pertain to boats, and have Two of the other new been drawn up to serve the STAN 8 Sm RPP OTE Te 8 re ee pe Te ee nn ee ee eR ee IR nee Bortnick said, ° te _ personal effects insured were * valued al less than $4,000." many thousands af British Columbians who own pleasure craft. The Small Pleasure Craft Policy is for sail and power boais under 24 feel. in length, and \he Yacht Policy is aimed specifically al owners of larger _vessels,, Bath are for boats used for pleasure purposes only. ° ICBC also handles insurance on commercial vessels... “There are more than’ 150, 00 pleasure boats in B.C,” said Bortnie, “and our research - indicates there will be well over 200,000 by 1980. We fell it was . essential thal a. program’ for these British Columbians - showd be offered by a BC, * . insurance company. ‘ICBC has also entered ‘the travel insurance field with a program for medical, accident ~ and « baggage insurance. * Tourist Plan, as the program: is called, offers medical and ‘hospital insurance (o protect B.C. residents in a high-cost: . area such as ihe United Slates, .-”. _ as well as death benefils of up Lo "$25,000 and baggage Insurance with a maximum : benefit per : family of, $2,000. Although, Auloplan, | the vehicle insurance arm of ICBC, covers every driver and vehicle! in. the rovince, the general’ underwriting side of the crawn™ .corporalion aperates com petilively | with privale com- “- panies. : “We have written gener. insurance policies with ~ premium income of more than: . $4.5 million so far,” Borinick said, : EBEEEEERE. SEVEN SEAL RESTAURANT — Specializing in — CHINESE FOOD _ “The Hame of Goad T ashe’ Comfortable Dining Lounge EXCELLENT CHINESE COOKING SESE5bEBE6 10% “orders Every day |: 10% . | Discount for Take oul | FREE HOME DELIVERY Mon, - Thur, {Terrace City Only) 3209 Kalum St., Terrace CALL 635-4436 Across from Terrace Hotel. a | THE HERALD, TERRACE, B.C. ~ Finding ted it’s legals - _ Most deals are pood deals but too often un- : suspecting consumers have been taken for a ride by “ unscrupulous businesses. What seemed like a fair deal turned out.to be a raw deal and to make matters worse it "was legal. Now all that’s changed because of the Trade | Practices Act — the first of its kind in Canada. It’s ~ designed to stop ‘sharp’ practices and in doing this it also — helps honest businesses who've had to put up with unfair competitors for too long. : Now the law can. help you stand up for your rights. The Trade Practices Act is now law in British Columbia and will be administered by the Department of Consumer Services. Its aims are quite simple: to stop misleading and ou is bad. - . deceptive practices quickly and to help consumers recover their losses if someone has taken advantage of them. : By familiarizing yourself with the Act you'll ‘become an informed consumer making it far more difficult © for you to be the victim of an illegal practice. And if you ‘should become the victim, the’ Act will help open the doors to the court so-you can stand up for your rights. Consumer trans- actions defined. . Doing busineés in-the marketplace, of the, "0 Sis: “pften f More than just the-straight sale ofmerctiandise. “So ithe Trade Practices Act also defines the leasing of ’ poo’ the supplying of services and the granting of credit, “as’Gonsumer transactions. This definitién applies where you’ ‘ve entered the deal after July 5, 1974. Only dealings’. . governed by real estate, insurance and securities ~ legislation are exempt.’ 2 . vpes of illegal business Mee ‘Two basic types of practices are prohibited by the ‘Act: deceptive and unconscionable. ” Deceptive practices include everything from a dishonest sales pitch to misleading advertising y and phone _ Solicitations or exaggerated repair estimates. In other words if-it's misleading, or has the tendency. to mislead — ‘it’ ry deceptive, oe ans Let's say you were told your-new car, will get "30 miles to: ‘the gallon” when in fact you'll probably have . a ‘difficulty i in gelting 20 miles to the g gallon = hats deceptive. =< : “=~ Another example | TV. repairs, You're told you’ need anew $75 picture tube when all your set needs j is. some: minor adjustments. eo a the courtagrees that you've been misled, then, you have aright ta recover any loss or damages suffered’ =: ‘An unconscionible practice is one that involves. : “high, préssure tactics and slippery, tricky deals. You've - “ibeen: ‘conned, the: business i in question knows it and the “gourt.wan't enforce the” “bargain”. Or to put it more © politelys if the. agreement is so highly unreasonable as to re overly harsh, the court may declare the entire trans- a -_enforve, ‘the contract hut you. may: sue him it you have. ; uffered ality loss.” - 4 ourve been even Worse. ‘possible situation may be, where you are led to believe you . are renting a colour T.V., but in fact you are committed . selling tactics and other misleading practices that are the RT : : _ target of the Trade Practices Act. To help you the Act Pe - We're confident the g great majority of cases can be handled “any money lost in the transaction. | Puttinganend to caveate ’ know when someone. is trying to take advantage of you.” "Investigators, specialists when necessary and volunteers ~_ Tibrary/resource facilities. | Get i in on the act. “Bureaus, the newspaper help columns as well us the ‘and the: deceptive practice will also be: stopped — for good. : - Department of Consumer Services. oe “oan stand up for.their rights, With the help of the Trade .. “Practices Act you've got what it takes to gel yourself” a fair deal. : be unfair. or the circumstances surrounding the transuction . Pes -. Just: write to the Department of Consumer Services i in ~ Mictoria, B.C. Be.sure to specify whether you're a wos action t be unconscionable. If sa, the supplier cannot _ eee ee 0 eS fr a eB Bie Reon tan pe de Bs om TI AS OR IRB tye PR Ma Sp tee 0 WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1974 Finding out _ Anexample might be an elderly consumer who. has literally been badgered into a long-term contract. Another to buy the set from the start. These are only a few examples of the type’of lists examples covering a broad rarige of deceptive acts °. or unfair schemes. s in charge? Who's in charge: A Director of Trade Practices will be appointed to handle consumer complaints and investigate possible | wrong-doings by suppliers. The director will have a number of options available in order to settle a dispute. First of all, an attempt will be made to discuss the- matter with both sides and amicably resolve the matter. ° this way. If it appears the law has been broken, the director oe can ask the supplier to sign an agreement promising to abide by the Act and. for example. give the consumer back : If the supplier refuses, the director can ask the courts to settle the matter quickly and fairly. ipto “Let the buyer beware” is a saying 2 that’ 5 thousands of years old and the Department of Consumer Services will do everything possible to help you become aware of: : deceptive and unconscionable practices so that you will, Service Centres will be opened al several locations Bi at in the province to receive and act an complaints. The ‘ ‘centres, will be staffed by counsellors. researchers, ‘all ready to help you. They'll be located in areas where you ‘shop; clase to public transportation and equipped with One of the most important aspects of the Act i is” that it makes it easy to help yourself. ws The Act catalogues traps for the unwary, loopholes oe ‘and common abuses to watch for and what you can da ©. ° about them... and there is a lot you can do, You can.. pursue a complaint on your own, and if necessary. gO to” _court on it. You can ask the judge to stop the illegal. - practice and to Help other consumers in addition to. -yourself who may have lost money