Re-open

Cont'd from pg. 1

ultimately be weighed, we believe
_ Mat the proponents have not
demonstrated a compelling or
: Convincing case. For each of the oil
| Supply problems that a west coast
} il port could address, alternatives
exist and in some cases are
already being pursued.”
Although Anthony failed to call
for the reopening of the Inquiry, he
id recognize the legislative
Pressure in the U.S. that will be
brought to bear on Canada for an
€arly decision on Kitimat. Canada
Should reject such pressure, An-
: “tony said, but if pressed the
| federal government ‘‘has no
| _ lternative but to tell the American
G0vernment that it is not prepared
approve a west coast oil port.”
__The trade union movement
added its voice to the opposition
| With a written presentation from
_ the Canadian Labor Congress, the
. Federation of Labor, the
= Pacific Coast Maritime Council of
| Unions, the Kitimat Labor Council
| nd the Prince Rupert Labor
uncil. The unions were sharply
critical of Thompson, however, for
Tefusing the CLC and the B.C.
Federation of Labor the op-
Portunity to make a verbal
_ Presentation. The denial ‘when
nat matter is of such crucial
Portance to the future of the
|. hation, casts doubt on the entire
Process of the investigation or the
| <Nquiry,’’ Federation secretary
- Guy said in a statement.
| The economic issues surroun-
s ding the port issue are “‘by far the
_ Most important,” the union brief
Slated, “any massive capital in-
vestment project has immense
_ lMplications for the Canadian -
_ ©Conomy generally. Energy
j evelopment policies are inex-
: RY related to industrial
€velopment, and _ industrial
_ v€velopment questions in turn
3 =e wide ramifications with
;°Spect to employment. The
uiry must evaluate the returns

inquiry

Opponents urge

economy when the primary
justification of port development is
to serve American or ‘‘con-
tinental’’ energy needs.”

The unions urged Thompson to
continue the Inquiry with broad
terms of reference to probe all of

the environmental, economic and -

political issues surrounding the
proposals.

The terms of reference for the
Thompson Inquiry was a matter of
concern for a number of in-
tervenors: in their summations.
The UFAWU warned that if
Thompson delays the reopening of
the Inquiry too long, the federal
government is likely to drop the
questions of need, and supply and
demand from his terms of
references and make _ those
questions the. sole prerogative of
the National Energy Board.

“We oppose such_a move,”’ the
UFAWU’s president told Thomp-
son frankly, ‘‘We do not trust the
NEB to hold democratic hearings
into the question of need, and
prefer that this Inquiry conclude
the examination of need for a west
coast oil port.”

Thompson suspended the Inquiry
in the middle of ‘‘phase two”’ which
was about the need for a port, but
the UFAWU and other opposition
groups had not yet had the op-
portunity to call their witnesses.
Nichol called on Thompson again
Tuesday to reopen phase two and
subpeona witnesses such as
Marshall Crowe, former head of
the NEB, John Heliwell, UBC
resource economist and William
Hopper, president of Petro-
Canada. Hopper has_ publicly
stated that the NEB’s estimation of
oil discoveries in Canada could be
ten times too low.

On the basis of the evidence

presented so far, however, Andrew ..

Thompson should be compelled to.
recommend in strong terms
against any oil port on or near
B.C.’s coastline.

= any — to the Canadian

Greetings fo 1

UNITED FISHERMEN & ALLIED
WORKERS’ UNION

The movement

LOCAL 4
LADNER

a

Industrial Union

Marine Workers’ And

Boilermakers’

Local No. 1

ons: Z,

Commissioner Dr. Andrew Thompson reconvened -hearings December 13, 14, 15 to hear summations by
intervenors before he prepares his interim report to be filed with the federal government. The hearings are
the last scheduled before the inquiry is suspended indefinitely.

—Sean Griffin photo

Merry Xmas and Happy
New Year to all

_members and friends
of Local 2

UNITED FISHERMEN and ALLIED WORKERS
LOCAL 2 - SHOREWORKERS

Right now, a fleet of new police A blood/alcohol reading over .08%
breathalyzer vans is prowling the streets and’ means a driver is legally impaired. Convic-
roads of British Columbia. These new vans tion means a criminal record. Three months
will greatly assist police in the fight against or more without a driver's licence. A fine of
drinking drivers. They'll be on duty all year up to $2,000, or even jail. Just for a first
‘round. All over B.C. offence. Penalties for second offences are

The way the breath alcohol units work even more severe.

_ is simple. And very effective. Remember Sound tough? For drinking drivers, it's
that police officers are extremely adept at going to be tough. Because drinking and
spotting impaired drivers. There are all sorts driving concerns every one of us. For more
of clues. And once a suspected driver is information on what you as an individual, or
stopped, he or she can now be asked to take a group, can do to help combat drinking
a breathalyzer test immediately in a mobile driving; write:
unit. If anyone refuses, a criminal charge DRINKING DRIVING COUNTERATTACK
will result. 411 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver, B.C. V6B 1X4

DRINKING DRIVING
COUNTERATIACK

Prownce Ministry of the
British Columbia

HERE FOR LIFE.

Attorney Genet

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—DECEMBER 16, 1977—Page 3