| 4 { Devine set to sell off Sask. The view from the corner of Alberta St. and Victoria Ave. in downtown Regina is different from scenes in other Canadian cit- 1€s. Besides the usual banks and oil compan- ls, you can see the prominent symbols of Public ownership: the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool (owned by farmers), Sask Power, Sas- atchewan Government Insurance (SGI), Sask Tel and the Credit Union Central. But that picture could change drastically if the Devine government succeeds in its Wholesale sellout of public assets, the big- est such move in Canada’s history. Privatization has been the key goal of the ories here since their re-election in 1986, although the issue was kept off the agenda New Titles A FATE WORSE THAN DEBT By Susan George $12.95 (paperback) REMAKING SOCIETY By Murray Bookchin $14.95 (paperback) CRISIS AND LEVIATHAN: Critical episodes in the growth of American govern- ment By Robert Higgs $28.50 (paperback) Mail orders please include O¢ per book. 1391 COMMERCIAL DRIVE VANCOUVER, B.C. V5L_3X5 TELEPHONE 253-6442 during that campaign. Since then, the government has waged a steady drive to reverse the province’s history, following the advice of the neo-conservative think tank, the Fraser Institute and Margaret Thatcher’s “experts.” The government’s March 8 throne speech moved the effort into high gear, with $2 billion of total assets up for grabs, on top of the hundreds of millions gone already. Over 80 crown corporations and government services are on the hit list. By comparison the federal Tories privatized $1.3 billion during its first three years in office. After its election in 1944, the CCF government here faced the need for a viable economic infrastructure in the province. SGI, Sask Minerals, Sask Tel, the Saskat- chewan Transportation Company (STC), Sask Power and Saskatchewan Forest Pro- ducts were established. Some other ventures proved less success- ful, but these formed a vital part of the economy over decades, providing thou- sands of union jobs. A new round of public sector expansion came under the New Democratic Party government of Allan Blakeney during 1973- 76, including the Potash Corp, Sask Oil and Gas, the Saskatchewan Mining Develop- ment Corp., and the Saskatchewan Hous- ing Corp. In a province needing a stronger local economic base, and more control to coun- ter the interest of big capital headquartered in central Canada and the U.S., the whole network of public assets is widely sup- ported. TIM LOUIS p ] & COMPANY a Trial Lawyers Uncontested divorce $200*° Conveyancing $200* Incorporations $200* Probate of will $500* Separation agreements $300* Wills $50* ICBC contingency fee agreement Welfare/UIC appeals No fee *All prices plus disbursements Divorce and Family Law Criminal Law (including impaired driving) 108-2182 West 12th/732-7678 Tim Louis Michael Hambrook For all your travel needs, big or small. Let Globe Tours find the best way for you. GLOBE TOURS 2720 E. Hastings St. Vancouver, B.C. Phone 253-1221 Visit the USSR But the often-valid perception of the Blakeney government as focussed on the expansion of its empire (in co-operation with European capital) rather than on the needs of ordinary people gave the Tories room to build up an image of uncaring “big government.” Then the economic turmoil of the 1982-84 recession hit Saskatchewan hard, reducing some Crown bodies from big money makers to losers, and adding to their debt load. The Tories used this to their advantage, first unseating the NDP, and then experi- menting with privatization during their first term in office, although with mixed results. Their auction sale of $40 million worth of road building equipment for a mere $6 mil- lion pleased the business sector, but hundreds of highway workers lost their jobs. Since then, the roads have deterio- rated, and the whole exercise is still remem- bered as a gigantic giveaway. But the Tories learned from this and other experiences, and some went to school. Saskatchewan was the best-represented province at the Fraser Institute’s ‘‘Privatiza- tion 87” conference in July 1987, learning a formula perfected in Britain and elsewhere: to buy off potential opponents by issuing a widely based, under-valued share offering; identify possible objections in advance to avoid political pitfalls; retain some degree of government ownership; conduct a hard hit- ting ideological campaign against your opponents — in this case the NDP opposi- tion and the labour movement. It’s a recipe the Tories have begun to follow, offering their Sask Tel bonds, for example, at 14 per cent interest. But as the process gains momentum, wilder schemes are coming to light. According to a local news magazine, Briarpatch, there’s a plan afoot to use a “shelf company” to take over STC, before selling it off at $8 a share. That would give investors a breathtaking 1000 per cent profit. FRRANKIN COMPANY Barristers & Solicitors 4th Floor, 195 Alexander St. Vancouver, B.C. V6A IN8 682-2781 Offers a broad range of legal services including: 2 Personal Injury & Insurance claims © Real Estate & Conveyancing ® Divorce & Family Law © Labour Law 9 @riminal Law 5 Estates & Wills Florists Flowers for all occasions #15-4429 Kingsway Burnaby B.C. V5H 2A1 Telephone 434-3533 (Toll free 1-800-663-1014) J IN . We specialize A Pree in weddings. Faasd pe S% ? SN _ Classified Advertising COMING EVENTS APRIL 10 — Marxist Study Group. Four Mon- day evenings, April 10, 17, 24 and May 1. 7:30 p.m. Centre for Socialist Education, 1726 E. Hastings. Pre-registration appreciated. Regis- ter by calling 254-9836. $5 employed/unem- ployed free. Sponsored by Greater Vancouver Regional Committee, CPC. APRIL 16 — Come for Breakfast! 2435 Frank- lin St. $4/person, $2/children 12 years & under. 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Sponsored by Van- couver East Club, CPC. Proceeds to Pacific Tribune. APRIL 26 — Public forum on racism in B.C. Speakers: Phil Rankin, lawyer and former school board member; Charan Gill, president B.C. Organization to Fight Racism; June Willi- ams, former co-ordinator for BCTF Program against Racism: 7:30 p.m. Auspices: Centre for Socialist Education. PENTICTON APRIL 30 — 2nd Annual May Day celebra- tion. Pot luck dinner & fundraiser for Tribune. Leir House Cultural Centre, 220 Park Manor. 1 p.m. All welcome. For info. phone Dawn: 497-8449. KAMLOOPS POLITICAL DISCUSSION group open to everyone. 2nd Wednesday each month held at North Kamloops library meeting room, 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Kamloops Club of the Communist Party. TRIB LENDING LIBRARY — 242 Larch Ave. Lots of labour and progressive literature for your reading enjoyment at no cost. For info 376-7110. Kamloops. FOR RENT VICTORIA BASEMENT of family home. Quiet, single, non-smoker preferred. $375/month. Available May 1, 1989. Phone: 380-0255. COMMERCIAL TRIB PHOTOS — Would you like a specific photo in the Pacific Tribune? Copies available: 5”x7"/$4.50, 8”x10"/$6. Phone 251-1186. GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete print- ing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. A union shop. 2089 Commercial Dr. Vancouver. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 254-7717. AUTOPLAN, GENERAL INSURANCE, Early Agencies Ltd. 5817 Victoria Dr. Home, tenants, business, trade union. Call Dave Mor- ton, 321-6707. KARL ZUKER Jewelry Repairs Reasonable Charge 254-7678 VICTORIA BILL HARTLEY your AutoPlan man. All types of insurance. Mail in or phone in. 2420 Douglas Street, Victoria, V8T 4L7. 388-5014. STEREO, TV REPAIRS. All makes. Rebuilt TVs for sale. TVs bought and sold. Call Andre anytime! All Star TV-Stereo. 724-7238. Port Alberni area only! LEGAL SERVICES RANKIN, BOND, McMURRAY. Barristers and Solicitors. 2nd Floor, 157 Alexander Street, 682-3621. CONSTANCE FOGAL. Family law, wills and estates. #401-207 W. Hastings St., 687-0588. DIRECTORY COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA office located at 1726 E. Hastings St., Van., V5L 1S9. Phone: 254-9836. Office hours: 9:30-12 noon; 1-5 p.m. Mon. to Fri. For information on political issues or assistance in political activity. HALLS FOR RENT RUSSIAN PEOPLE'S HOME — Available for rentals. For reservations phone 254-3430. UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Vancouver. Available for banquets, weddings, meetings. Phone 254-3436. Classified advertising rates $1.25 per line per week. Deadline for insertions: Monday of week prior to publication. Pacific Tribune, April 3, 1989 « 11 PTR ae eee |. ae