PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JULY 29, 1983—Page 2 or many progressives, the idea that Pone's telephone is wiretapped is nothing out of the ordinary. But such ac- tivities, although commonplace, should not be dismissed with a shrug. They are insidious incursions on the right of trade unionists, peace workers and others to carry on their work. Theissue has taken on new importance with the recent introduction of Bill C-157, legislation by which the federal govern- ment hopes to create a civilian spy agency that will have sweeping powers allowing agents to engage in many of the current il- legal activities for which the RCMP received a wrist-slap by the McDonald Royal Commission into wrongdoing by the force. The powers it seeks are ominous in- deed when you consider what it does already. Last year, for instance, police made some 725 applications seeking authoriza- tion for wiretapping; none were refused. And, according to sources from within B.C. Telephone, there are at least 3,700 phone lines under constant surveillance in the Lower Mainland. These and other facts are aired by the Civil Liberties Action Security Project in the inaugural issue of its publication Bulletin and were related by editor Don Stewart at a public meeting July 21 in Vancouver. Stewart made it clear that authorized wiretaps are only the tip of the iceberg. For instance, prior to seeking authoriza- tion under the Privacy Act, police may quite legally install a listening device on a given line. Authorization is required only if police wish to use the information gleaned from wiretapping as evidence in court. Currently, staff members of B.C. Tel’s security service, at the request of the RCMP’s Special I section, hook up target phone lines to police tapeing machines elsewhere from the company’s telephone exchange building. -.The process is routinely simple. A sim- ple phone call, sometimes from police clerical staff, for ‘‘a feasability study’’ nets for the police the wiretap, plus the name, phone number and address of the person under whom the phone is registered. One B.C. Tel security employee, Bruce Funk, testified recently that he had-per- sonally placed 400 such wiretaps in the past four years, said Stewart. With the introduction of computer switching, access to phone lines may be accomplished simply by punching in the target phone number on a video display terminal, providing the seeker with a printout of calls, the time at which the calls were made, and the type of call. By the end of 1983, 72 percent of B.C. Tel’s lines will be computer switched. The RCMP also encourages innova- tions in eavesdropping technology, Stewart reported, noting the develop- ment at the RCMP’s request of a new automatic wiretapping system which can monitor 165 phone lines simultaneously. The work is being carried out by Telecom, a Canadian firm, at its research plant in Kanata, Ont., near Ottawa. It is no wonder that Canadians everywhere are demanding strict curbs on RCMP activity, and the cancellation of the proposed civilian spy agency. : t has often been said that even when the federal unemployment insurance com- mission grants a concession, it frequently fences it in with such restrictions that ef- fective exercise of the right is in question. And that it appears to be the case for UIC employee Christine Beynon. Because of the intervention of her union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Beynon won the right to volunteer during her spare time at the local Unemployment Action Centre. But she can’t counsel the unemployed on the very thing she knows best — unemploy- ment insurance regulations. Readers may recall that Beynon was told last December by commission ex- ecutive director for personnel Doug Lindley that she must refrain from volunteering in the unemployment action centre because her advising jobless workers of their rights under the UIC act constituted a conflict of interest. Julia Bardos, staff representative for PSAC, took up her case, arguing that Beynon’s spare time was her own and that by advising the unemployed of their rights, she was not violating public service regulations. Finally, after the case had gone all the way to the deptuy minister, a ruling came down June 27. It conceded that Beynon ‘‘acted in a responsible manner”’ and acknowledged that she indeed had the right to volunteer at the action centre in her own time. But the ruling made it clear that she could not advise the unemployed about any details of programs administered by her employer, Employment and Im- migration Canada. As a result, she can go to the action centre and talk to people about all the things she doesn’t know about — welfare and so on — but she can’t tell them about UIC. Still, the fight put up by Bardos won the right for her and other employees to volunteer at the centres was won. And much as it might like to, the federal government can’t rule their lives off shift as well as on. * * * S ome lost mail, faulty arithmetic anda shifting bank account — none of them the fault of the Tribune, we hasten to add — all cospired this year to cheat two press clubs of the correct tally at the end of the financial drive. And now that . everything has been straightened out we’s like to put it down for the record. When the drive ended, we listed the Fernie club as having reached $301 ona target of $250. But what we didn’t know is that a money order for an additional $74 had been sent on June 15 but never arrived. In fact, we didn’t receive it in the office until this week when someone, having found it on Commercial Drive during Italian Market Days, turned it in. It was a little the worse for wear having presumably fallen out of a mailbag and kicked around the street, but it was still in one piece. Thus Fernie’s final tally was $375 — half again over the target. The story was less incredible in the case _ of the North Vancouver club but some faulty arithmetic and a cheque that did the rounds of several banks left the club with only $3,333.40 on a target of $3,500. It has now been straightened out and the record now lists North Vancouver with $3,500 raised. And a note of thanks again to all of those who took part in the drive. RiBUNE Editor: SEAN GRIFFIN Assistant Editor: DAN KEETON Business and Circulation Manager: PAT O'CONNOR Published weekly at Suite 101 - 1416 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, B.C. V5L 3X9. Phone 251-1186 Subscription Rate: Canada $14 one year; $8 for six months. All other countries: $15 one year. Second class mail registration number 1560 A new front of opposition to the Socred government’s budget and accompanying legislation was opened Tuesday as Van- couver city council voted 8-2 to call on the government ‘‘to take a second look and withdraw all 26 pieces of legislation.”’ The city’s motion, initiated by alderman Bruce Yorke also called on Victoria ‘‘to in- itiate discussions with all the affected groups before making any new legislative proposals on the matters in question.” The resolution had earlier noted that the bills tabled in the legislature “‘have very little to do with restraint as such, but involve severe restrictions on human, social and democratic rights and services to children.” It further urged them to take a definitive position on Bills 3, 5, 7, 9, 22, 26 and 27 in order to make formal representations to Vic- toria on the issues affected. The bills named cover firings of public sector employees, rent controls and tenants’ legislation, property tax changes, regional planning, assessment Something pretty damn smelly is going on at the Pacific National Exhibition — again. _ As long as professional sports promoters were using Empire Stadium the turf was okay and the bleachers were okay. But now the promoters have moved their professional sports teams to the new stadium at B.C. Place. In quick succession this is what has hap- pened: @ The executive of the PNE board of directors hired some consultants to make an examination of the turf; @ The consultants reported that the turf had become dangerous for sports competi- tions; ; @ The executive took the report quickly place; @ The insurance company said it would not renew the insurance; @ The executive reported to the board of directors that since the insurance could not be renewed Empire Stadium would have to be closed to sports events; @ The board then voted to close down the stadium for sports events. The result is that 130 amateur sports events scheduled to be held at the stadium this year will have to be cancelled. Isn’t it strange (and that’s an understate- ment) that the PNE executive allowed pro- fessional sports events on the turf for years and didn’t call in any consultants to examine the turf, but the minute the professionals move out and the amateurs move in, it finds that the turf is suddenly unsafe? And isn’t it strange that the report of the consultants is immediately sent over to the insurance company even before it is presented to the board for discussion? And how is it that the PNE executive did not come up with any proposals on how to correct the problem? Why is it so anxious to close down the stadium? What plans has it in mind for the stadium? Is it planning to turn it over to some private commercial developers? The PNE board of directors has been sub- sidizing private sports promoters for years to the tune of millions of dollars — in low ren- tal fees, tax exemptions, and so on. Those subsidies come out of the pockets of the citizens of Vancouver and region. It didn’t mind putting in a new turf that cost millions as long as private sports promoters needed it. But now that amateur sports groups want to use it, the PNE board doesn’t want to part with any money. It’s solution is to close the place down. - VANCOUVER | City, teacher motions blast government bills to the insurance company that insures the ——— a changes, employment standards and huma rights. Voting for the resolution were aldermat Don Bellamy, May Brown, Libby Davie, Bruce Eriksen, Harry Rankin, Bruce Yorke and mayor Michael Harcourt. Opp were alderman Warnett Kennedy and | George Puil. Alderman Marguerite Ford was absent. Meanwhile, in Toronto, the 150 delegates to a western European organization of teachers, the Federation International dé porfesseurs de|’enseignment Secondaire OF ficel (PIFESO) voted unanimously to col demn ‘“‘the July, 1983 actions of the B.C: government which attack fundament human rights of all employees in the publi¢ service, destroy the collective bargaininé | rights of teachers and others in the public sector and dramatically reduce the fundiné necessary for quality education and othe! essential public services.” A similar resol: tion was passed earlier this month by thé Canadian Teachers’ Federation. Will Empire Stadium be next Socred sale? | Harry Rankin Amateur sports groups know that the PNE board and especially its executive hav® | been consistently hostile to amateur sp and have fought every request of amateu! groups for use of the facilities of the PNE. This is not unconnected with the fact that the majority of the board are appointed by thé Social Credit cabinet and do the bidding the cabinet. Is it the plan of the provincial cabinet now to sell off Empire Stadium just as they are selling off our provincial parks! private’ promoters? The PNE was established originally serve the recreational needs of the people? Vancouver. This intent has been steat subverted by private promoters — racin® sports, playland, who have used these publ’ facilities to make money for themselves a” to hell with the public. If the provincial Social Credit cabinet afford to subsidize private sports promo with a new $200 million stadium at B.\’ Place it can sure as hell find the money repair the turf at Empire Stadium [0 amateur sports events. And it’s time that the city of Vancouvel: which owns the PNE lands, took control 0 the whole PNE, kicked out those who mer ly act as representatives of private busines and placed the whole concern under publi control with the participation of the ci groups that use the facility. CIP fightback | meeting slated Even as quickly as the Socred governtmel has moved to enact new cuts and rest} tions, organizations are mobilizing tO op” pose Victoria’s actions. - eS Volunteers for the Community Invol¥ ment Program (CIP) which the h k resources ministry announced this we would be eliminated effective Aug. 31, h# organized a ‘‘CIP fightback.” Fl A public meeting has been set for AUS: a 2 p.m. at First United Church in Vancouv. to discuss the cuts and to consider act} against them.