RCMP sent a detachment to MARCH, 1971 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER By Alderman Harry Rankin There is nothing unique about Ernest J. Aubichon, who is 41 years of age, except possibly for the fact that he is a Metis with a grade 6 education, presently unemployed with a health condition that is described as ‘‘fair’’ but having had ulcers. He is married to an Indian woman and has eight children. The probation report describes Ernest Aubichon as being born at Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, having had-a variety of jobs all of them in the low wage level and un- skilled. The records of the Police describe him as having a completely clear record except for an offence for which he is presently serving one year in jail. That offence was ob- taining social welfare by defrauding the public. The facts were that Mr. Aubichon after a length of unemployment, worked at the Olympic Hotel in North Vancouver from June ist to August 29th, 1970, as a beer waiter and earned during that time $1,261.48. During the same period of time he obtained two allot- ments of social assistance totalling $840.00. As a result of this, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail. In order to arrest him the IWA members employed at the Finlay Forest Industry’s Sawmill at Mackenzie 100 miles out of Prince George, recently formed a Social Committee for the purpose of raising money to purchase sporting equipment for both adults and children in the area. The Committee’s first venture to raise money was a dance held March 6th in the Banquet Room of the Alexander Mackenzie Hotel, which proved to be an over- whelming success. Saskatchewan where Aubichon was taking an up-grading course, with which he hoped to improve his position, brought him back to B.C. where the sentence was imposed. His wife came to my office for leave to appeal the sentence. After preparing the material a lawyer appeared as is usual before an Appeal Court Judge in Chambers to ask for leave to: appeal the sentence. The ap- peal was opposed by Crown Counsel and the learned Court of Appeal Judge said that there was no error in principle in the sentencing of Ernest Aubichon to one year in jail for his first offence before the Courts. It was brought to his Lordship’s attention that persons who are convicted of income tax evasions of large sums of money never receive jail sentences or if they have, it has not been within the last twenty years, certainly within British Columbia. In fact, five cases at least come to my mind in which probably $1 million Were defrauded from the Income Tax Department; one con- cerned a very large business firm; the second, a lawyer; the third, an accountant; and the “other two, businessmen in the City. His Lordship was in agreement that this was the case but distinguished the persons charged with tax Approximately 180 turned out for the gala affair and included members from the Finlay Forest mill, a number of friends from the B.C. Forest Products sawmill at Mackenzie, and IWA In- ternational 1st Vice-President Keith Johnson and Assistant Director of Organization Bob Schlosser. Thanks to the generosity of the Hudson’s Bay Company, the Local Co-op store and Finlay Forest Industry, the Committee was able to award evasion from persons charged- with Welfare fraud on the grounds that the person charged with Welfare fraud is in no position to pay a fine. In addition, he distinguished it on the grounds that there was no great a need to deter persons who are committing crimes of tax evasion as there is for persons defrauding the Welfare Department as the incidence of defrauding the Welfare Department is higher than it is for tax fraud. i I think a short analysis of that particular distinction would be a rather interesting one. To my knowledge, there are literally hundreds of in- come tax cases where ‘the cases are Settled at the Income Tax Department level and never come before the Courts. The only cases coming before the Courts have been the most flagrant cases of Income tax evasion. The reason for this is that there is a policy position in the Income Tax Department, the major concept being the recovery of money. No matter how fraudulent the business operation, the criteria of the Income Tax Department is pay your taxes and no further questions will be asked. It would probably be somewhat redundant to say there is a law for the rich anda law for the poor. numerous doorprizes throughout the evening. The tremendous success of the dance, both financially and socially, has prompted the Committee to plan another one which will be held April 3 and will include special enter- tainment. Officers of Local 1-424 have commended the members at Finlay Forest for promoting the socials which they state, will go along way to better community relations’ at McKenzie. SECONDARY INDUSTRIES ORGANIZED BY LOCAL 1-423 Officers of Local 1-423 IWA Kelowna report that their efforts to organize workers employed in secondary in- dustry in the Kelowna area have met with considerable success over the past few years. The latest operation organized is the Comfort Manufacturing Company located in the Westside In- dustrial Park outside of Kelowna. The Company has just started in business and manufactures furniture. It employs approximately thirty workers at the moment but this number will increase as the business expands. The Local also holds cer- tification for the Chateau Homes Ltd., which manu- factures pre-fabricated houses. This too is located in the Westside Industrial Park. Another secondary industry in the Kelowna area.long cer- tified to Local 1-423 is the Westmills Carpet Company. This Company manufactures ‘carpets of every description and employs both men and women. IY