PAGE 4, THE HERALD, Friday, March 10, 1978

EDITORIAL:
What’s $20 Million

Announcement by Ottawa, Tuesday, of two
developments for Prince Rupert — one of $11.5
million for upgrading the elevator facilities
already there, and the other of $16.5 million for a
new shipping facility on Ridley Island — is, in-
deed some toc about. But it should be
looked at as a beginning of something much
greater; more than just a political, pre-election
vote-getting ploy. .

Undoub , when you compare Quebec with
B.C., from the standpoint of population, you are
comparing “‘apples with oranges”’. On the other
hand, when one considers proximity to Japanese
and. Chinese markets for grain, minerals,
lumber, meat and fish — for export, not to
mention automobiles, radios, T.V. and electronic
equipment and the tens of thousands of other
manufactured items the B.C. coast is every bit
as important to Canada. A single item on the
news last month mentioned a $70 million dollar
port development for St, John’s Halifax. Another
item — well over $100 million (on the same
broadcast) was for port improvements for
Montreal. ;

When we talk about matching these ex-
penditures for the B.C. ports of Kitimat and
Prince Rupert — are we being realistic?

Listen to this: “Prairie Pacific Handlers
Association has been meeting with the National
Harbours Board to discuss construction of a $100
million multi-purpose bulk loading terminal at
Prince Rupert, with the emphasis on the ship-
ping of grain. Other grain handling

to be enlarged or upgraded to cope with
the increased shipments to the Orient...

“In mid-November, B.P. Canada Ltd. an-
nounced it would go ahead with development of
coal deposit in the Sukunka area. It is likely this
coal will be shipped out through...Prince Rupert
(which is) one day nearer to Japan

These quotes are from the February issue ot
Trade and Commerce magazine.

We admit we are povor at arithmetic. Still,
there seems to be a difference even we think
worth noticing between the $100 miliion figure
mentioned in the Sanford Evans publication for
the Ridley Island bulk loading terminal — and
the $16.5 million dollars announced for the same
purpose by the Ministry of Trans rt minister,
ott lang, Tuesday. What happened to that other
£72 million? -

Our Toughest Critic
No one is a harsher critic of medicine than the

dropout from first year Med. There can be few
critics more vocal about hockey than the mother

of.a. hockey: player. So it is, that the ‘harshest

critics of a newspaper are those who read it over

a neighbor's shoulder, in the public’ librai

or a8 @ proprietor of a newsstand,..but seldom

shell out their own change for a copy of today’s
. ;

Terrace is no exception. So it was, that after
trying my hand at editing Terrace’s local daily
for six whole weeks I took to hanging around an
unnamed newsstand. There I would listen to the
cheerful chatter of the two ladies behind the
counter, day after day, hoping to hear some
comment on the changes I was trying to bring
about in the daily format. Such things as trying
to keep the front page as heavily local as
possible, writing daily editorials, and aiming for
reader participation. Oh yes, and offering any
unemployed person a free ‘job wanted” writeup.

Inoticed, two Sunday afternoons in a row, the
paper had sold out. Nope — they refused my
generous offer to drop some more copies off —
even though “circulation” is not my business.
“Owner’s orders” they said, crisply, °
_ By now they knew who I was. This failed to
impress them, however. I gave them my
business card, which said, loud and clear,
“'Managing Efitor”. They were less impressed.
It might as well have read “I have leprosy”, }
thought. ‘“‘He’s the chap that writes all them
mistakes”, declared one buxom lass to the other,
more silent one, ‘You mean all those misspelled
words? I thought it would take two to do that
many. He must work night and day.” said her
counterpart. So it went, day after day. ['d-swear
I heard the pent-up complaints of every copy
ever printed since Adam wrote to Eve on the
back of his figleaf. The two “girls” were mer-

ess.

Came the morning, days later, when I was sure
we had a winner, I had been up from crack of
dawn to past midnight hopefully catching most
of the scrambles the compugraph had spewed,

It didn’t matter that some of the staff had the
flu, and others had left for an unspecified
holiday, or that Harold and Harriet the twa
mechanical monsters were dropping more lines
and scrambling more type than usual. I knew the
newsstand ladies would never accept any ex.
planation incl flood and fire and ear-
thquake. The tired lone person in the back room
wearily had kept at it, cutting, re-running,
pasting over and over well into the night before
until the copy was ready to be run off in the print

op.

I looked, wearily — but triumphantly at the
pile of forty or so copies lying there on the
newsstand — the ink so fresh I could still smell it.
Well — how does it look today? I asked the two
fadles (who always sald they never had time to’
read it, anyway. out bat an eye, the
More vocai of the two said, innecentiyy “Wot
day is it, Dearie?” ‘‘Wednesday?" I answered,
hestitantly, wondering at the question. ‘Not
according to your paper it. ain’t.” said the
woman. “It’s still Tuesday!” and she pointed to
he unchanged dateline, to prove it.

You just can't win, sometimes, it seems,

But we're trying!

facilities are | pre

Dear Sir,

Ottawa Offbeat

by Richard Jackson
Ottawa —- Heard from that old Conservative warhorse,
Gordon Churchill, member of the Commons from 1951 to ‘68,
and Minister, in turn, of Trade and Commerce, Veterans
Affairs, and Defence in former Prime Minister Diefen-
"8 government. .
Gordon Churchill was the architect of Dief's first narrow
minority win againgt Liberal Prime Minister Louis St.
Laurent in 1957, leading the way te the Tory landslide of a
record 206 seats a year .
His strategy for the ‘57 breakthrough was simple: con
centrate on English Canada, It worked.

Now he comes along, out of retirement, with a strategy for

the oncoming election that could be titled: “Conservative

and Quebec
coming election.

‘The initiative in this great public debate has been seized
and held by Pierre Trudeau with a steady outpouring of

propaganda designed to lead Canadians to believing only he —

is competent to save the day.

This provides the Conservatives with a great opportunity. .

“Joe Clark should seize the initiative, talking with Rene
Levesque to get answers to two major questions: _
“1, Under what conditions, if any, is Quebec prepared

remain? .
“g, Or is the Parti Quebecois determined, come what may,
to proceed with a declaration of independence? . °

“Tf there are conditions they should be made public so that.

people generally may accept or reject them. There should be |

election. ;

no secret deals prior to any

_ “Tf, on the other hand, Quebec is determined to declare

independence at a time of its choosing, Canadians should
have that information prior to an election. -
“For what purpose would be served in re-electing Mr.

Trudeau on the assumption that he alone can save Con- |

federation if Quebec persisted in later declaring itself In-
dependent? ;

‘Elther way, under conditions, or if independence is
ferred, a complicated settlement between Quebec and
Canada would be required.

“Who should have charge of that settlement?. = -

“Is Canada’s fate to be arranged by a group of Parti
Quebecois at Quebec City and a group of Quebeckers in
control at Ottawa conferring together? ;

“Or are the people of the nine other provinces and the two
territories to participate? . .

“There are seventeen million Canadians outside of Quebec
who have a right to be adequately represented,

“Their future is at stake. .

“And herin lles the opportunity for the Conservative Party.

“Tt should, It must fulfil its obligations to the nation, to {ts
supporters and to Canadians generally by being the rallying
point for citizens in the nine other provinces. ©

“The future of Canada is the coinpelling issue.

“Every last effort must be made to safeguard that future.
‘ “For the Conservative Party the action is clear and
distinct,” .

The heart of the matter is this:

The fate of Confederation is not a private matter between .

two groups of Quebeckers, even.two violently opposing
‘groups such as Rene Levesque’s separatists and. Pierre
Trudeau's federalists, oo . .

But that’s the way the Trudeau troops will campaign it,
with Pierre the one and sole potential gavior a the pation.
Already they're campaigning it, in. .

Quebec questions unasked and unanswered,

The onus, and as heavy as any leader hag carried, is on Joe
Clark, to get into the action by establishing Quebec’s in-
tentions beyond any question, ee at
}

- : po. “3

Letters

Wise man! You all must die
like all the rest! You have no
greater lease on life than
foolish, stupid men. You
must leave your wealth to
others. Yes, man with all his
pomp must die any
animal ;

Death is the shepherd of ali

. mankind. So do not be

dismayed when evil men

grow rich and build their

pvely I reed etc, For in
ey die carry 0

with them! Their honours

Permit me to pen a few
lines of hope and en-
couragement to the ‘down-
trodden of our area, and
some words of wisdom to
those. who may be blatantly
materialistic In their qutl
on life. oe ;

No one needs to really fear
when trouble comes, for
although the well-off trust in
their wealth and boast of how
rich they are, yat not one of
them can redeem anyone
ese, For God's forgiveness 8 man calls himself happy
does not come that way. For il through his life — and the
the human soul is far'too World loudly applauds
precious to be ransomed by © success — yet in the end he
wealth, There is not enough _ ‘es like everyone else.
wealth in all the earth to
eternal life for just one soul.

dies just like any animal.
Rich ‘man! Proud man! The Philosopher

: Aes Ris
Ve Be Ee

Canada is not "a sick country in a healthy world”, but
rather a “healthy country in a difficult world’.

This statement by Prime Minister Trudeau puts our
country’s current economic situation into a perspective we
cannot afford to forget..I think it is an assesament most
Canadians will agree with, and it certainly does provide a
framework for the federal government's current role in our

ety. ae

That role was also Well described by the Prime Minister’
Inst week, when he stated ‘that’ the gov ent ‘would
continue to strive for economic prosperity pinay through
the efforts of the private sector” but that it mfist ‘‘stick to the
principles of social justice’ in ensuring that all Canadians
efit from the reaults of that prosperity,

PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE .

In areas of Canada such as ours, this philosophy means
that the government will work to provide the economic in-
frastructure necessary to allow the productive operation of
our market-style economy, and also will tailor its social:
programs to meet the special needs of us who don’t have
peeree to many of the amenities most Canadians take for
granted. :

Two examples of this philosophy in operation have been the
subjects of announcements just this past week. These are a $2
milion contract shared 50-50 by federal and provincial
governments to upgrade four bridges on the Stewart-Cassiar
highway and a pledge of financial assistaiice for 400 housing
unita in rural and remote areas, 2: ;

STEWART-CASSIAR BRIDGES, | 7
Work will begin in early May on four rhajer bridges on the
Stewart-Casslar highway, as part of the $30 million federal-

provincial highways upgrading agreement announced last
lig .

year.

A contract worth $1,962,015 has been let for the upgrading
project, and the project should provide employment for up to
&) people for four montha, yo,

The four bridges, already in place, include the Bell-Irving
No. 1 and No. 2 bridges, Devil creak bridge and the Stlkine
River bridge, They are located along'a 360 kilometre stretch
of the highway with the most southerly aite approximately 80

months, eight years or never? :
_- Conservation and Environmental

_ opinions on Oil

will not follow them. Though.

For man with all his pride

“THIS WEEK

from Ottawa:

’ Highway 37. This was done — even

If you don't go for our men's club or badminton group,
there's another program called worsh:p!’ :

by Jim Culp

My Last Words On
The Kitimat Pipeline

_ On Feb, 23,. Len Marchand, Federal Minister of the En-
vironment, announced that the Canadian Government would
not allow an Oil Port to be built at Kitimat or on the West
Coast of B.C. for the forseeable future.

With a Federal election probably taking place sometime
this year, there is much speculation on what could happen
after the election, What is the foreseeable future, eight

“Ce A organiégtiots while
‘breathing a sigh of relief-and‘ wanting to corigtatylate the

Govovernment for its actions ig apprehensive, What will the |

National Energy Board recommend to the Government
when it completes its hearings into Canada's supply and
demand for Oil? Will it recommend a West'Coast Oil Ter-
minal? If so, where? Believe it or not it is possible that one
year from now Kitimat could once again be the focus of at-
tention for a West Coast Oil Port.

Many environmental groups want the Thompson Inquiry
reactivated so that people in the Northwest can express their
ér traffic and Port development before
the issue dies and then it is reactivated at a future date when
peoples guards are dqwn. Politicians, such as Mayor Thom of
Kitimat, are unhappy because the normal regulatory process
has been sed and a political decision has decided the
fate of the Port without the technical information that would
Have been provided by the National Energy Borad when it
completes its findings in Sept. of this year and after. it
examines the Kitimat Pipeline application (to construct a
pipeline from Kitmat to Edmonton), Mayor Thom believes

ture Industry will be seared away by this sort of political
interference. Our M.L.A. Cyril: Shelford disagrees with the
Environmental Groups and those who say oll kills fish. He
continues tosay that he has seen no evidence that oil kills fish

or where major oil spills have taken place, no long term.

detrimental effects have been demonstrated. .
_ Tagree that the Thompson Inquiry should have completed

5 —
: ye

Kilometres from Stewart, |

The federal government has committed $15 million to the

Province of B.C. for these and other upgrading projects on
ough highways are
al, a provinclal aepepatblity _ because the ding the
vernment has recognized portance of upgrading the
Stewart-Cassiar Highway in enhancing and diversifying the
economic base of northwestern B.C. ; roo

REMOTE HOUSING PROGRAM EXTENDED =.
The other announcement was that the highly successful

federal-provincial Rural and Remote Housing Program has

been extended for another year, allowing for construction of

: neatly io Fore housing units in the remote areas of our

Pro .
a TERRACE —

| daily herald

’ Published by
‘Serling Publishers
. : ’ .

§ PUBLISHER... Den Cromack
(MANAGING EDITOR... Ernest Senior

Published every weekday. at 3212 Kalum St., Tarrace,
B.C, Amember of Varifled Circulation. Avihorized as
Bacond class mali, . Roglstration number 1201. Postage
paid in cash, return postage guarantecd, ‘

NOTE OF COPYRIGHT

In any advertisement produced andor any editorlal or -
photographic content published in the. Herald. ©
Repraduction Is not permitied without the written
permission of the Publisher. . .

_ us to believe, It is well known that the Kitimat O02 Port and ‘_

_ itaprots of offshore oil may not be avialable in ten years,

The Herald retains full, complete and sole copyright :.

"Its mandate to hear the views of people living in the Nos.

thwes!, with Community hearings being held in Kitimat. ©

"Terrace, Pr. Rupert and on the Queen Charlottes,

The present regulatory which stipulates that the
Energy Board must hold public hearings before a pipeline is,
approved is not a fair system for public expression. The
Energy Board does not have an environmental awarences
nor the expertise to evaluate environmental concerns.

The Termpol committee which is responsible for the

marine aspect

A major legislative gap exists in the area of environmental -
Pattee Peprings into. major industrial and ©
resource developments in Canada. With at least a
moratorium on a West Coast Oil Port development our -
Canadian Government should now pass legislation making it
mandatory for all developers to submit environmental im-
pact statements and that full public hearings will be held tn |
the communities that will feel the impact of a major |
development. The days that Industry and Governments can
run roughshod over people must end — otherwise conflict will

‘continue to play a role in future decisions and political in- :

terference will invevitably take place. ;
Whiie I hestitate to debate the questions of lethal effects of :

oll upon aquatic life and the after effects of major oil

upon marine life, 1 feel some comment is necessary.

off, the questions are so broad and complex that I cannot in

my column or Mr. Shelford in his weekly , give ce

to such important subjects. Considerable scientific data Ls

- available on the lethal and sub-lethal effecta of oil upon

aquatic life. Unfortunately it js difficull to interpret, due to
the many variables associated with toxisity. Temperature of
the water where an oll spill may occur apparently has con-
siderable influence upon the toxisity. As well the type of
crude oll or refined product and their chemical make up
varies considerably resulting in some fuel oils mixed in
water being highly toxic. While crude oil, depending on |
source may only induce very toxic efforts Up:
life. Smothering and the reduction ‘of light Zan ead
othér hand car’kill bottom fishiard organisms and ste f
photosynthesis or marine vegatiatlon. : : q
Thave read that pilchard spawn and herring spawn are -
very susceptible to mortality from oil spills. Pilchard :
float on the surface and asa result can be killed very :
by the toxic components of the oi] spilled, Hi spawn .
does not float on the surface but attaches itself to ced grass |
and thelr marine vegatation or floats semi-suspendedingulet /
bays and inlets. At low tide being close or on the surface:
herring eggs conceivably would ba subjected to the toxic 3
effects of an oif spill. (Actual mortality has been observed =
and recorded by a scientist named Kuknhold from 1949-1971.) .:
Herring provides a $50,000,000 dollar (wholesale value)”:
Commercial Fishing Industry to B.C., while providing a a
important source of food to our seagoing salmon and trout. .-;
Even though it has been difficult if not impossible to assess‘;

the long term effect of some cil spills, it is a fact that Com“:
mercial landings of fish after the Santa Barbara of] spill in’
California were way down from normal la Un .
fortunately reduced fishing activity for a period of time due
to oil coating nets, etc., made a true evaluation very difficult.

I doubt Lf all the data in the world were avilable showing
without a doubt that oil ports, pipelines, oil spills, severely
hurt the environment, that certain people and politicians
would ever change thelr minds, I am convinced that the
Proponents for a Oil Port at Kitimat haveshut tthelr eyes and
ears to the environmental and social consequences of the

nce

, Which Includes Oil port and tanker routes
_ does not hold public hearings. st

a)

eed ps.

development. They decided that the jobs, taxes and money.
generated through the construction’ peica were of mre a

value to the communities eff i.
and social losses, Sted than the enviroumental -

. On afinal note, it is very interesting to look at the que: 7
| — Does Canada need a Weet Const Of Par? Wits

the dark a8 0 many supporters of the Kitlmat Port have led _
Pipeline was designed to move Alaska ail to the Mid-West

_ States in the U.S. unit] the late 1990's, The likelyhood of |:

dmninaning the Western world is rising while the supply is.
Arabia, These countries are actually considering putting a | °
ceiling exports of oll, In fa :
Minlater of Energy, Alastair Gillespie is quoted in the °
Tuesday, March 6 Vancouver Province as saying that further

willing t -_
It is almost laughable to think that after the balk bates a

terminal- which néver provided for movement. of col into ’

Canada for Canadians. Is a West Coast Oil Port a viabla”

‘sbiective when the question of available supply of off-shore MY

| TACKLE SHop |

4120 Hwy. 16 E
635-947)

With Spring around the corner-- now Is the.
time to get your fishing tackle ‘ready: -
m replace a guide or reel part and if we don't
have it -.we will try and get* it.

| And if you are thinking of a new rod or reel.-
come and see us;

wie

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