BRITISH COLUMBIA Peace, jobs the platform of progressive candidates In Vancouver, it’s the Committee of Pro- gressive Electors. But in several municipali- ties in the Lower Mainland and around British Columbia, other labor-backed and progressive candidates are contesting coun- cil and school board seats. In Prince Rupert, Nanaimo, Gibsons and the Greater Vancouver communities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, New West- minster and Surrey, candidates are bringing platforms based on public funds for citi- zens, public sector and private sector jobs, an end to school cutbacks, and disarma- ment as a local issue to voters Nov. 17. Candidates with labor’s backing, or the support of community and peace organiza- tions are offering an alternative to big business-oriented councils that follow Vic- toria’s diktat in cutbacks, layoffs and the contracting out of public sector jobs. In Vancouver, the key battle is being fought between the Committee of Progres- sive Electors, which is contesting this elec- tion with greatly increased economic and material support from the Vancouver and District Labor Council, local unions, com- munity groups and some New Democratic Party constituency associations. Sharing labor’s endorsement with Mayor Mike Harcourt and his four Civic Inde- pendents council running-mates, COPE is the major force battling the well-financed but shaky alliance of right wingers under the . banners of the Civic Non-Partisan Associa- tion (NPA) and The Electors Action Movement (TEAM). The labor slate is urging a “tyes” vote for the referendum on cruise missile testing, an initiative of the COPE aldermen. The COPE aldermanic candidates are incumbents Harry Rankin, Bruce Eriksen, Bruce Yorke and Libby Davies, with Van- couver school trustee Wes Knapp and Solid- arity’s Jean Swanson. The Civic Indepen- dents group includes council contenders Reva Dexter, Carole Walker, Ron Johnson and incumbent Bill Yee, with Mike Har- court running again for the mayor’s chair. COPE’s full slate for school board includes incumbents Pauline Weinstein and Phil Rankin, along with former trustee Gary Onstad, lawyer Carmela Allevato, former student activist and community activist Chris Allnutt, retired teacher John Church, carpenter Bill Darnell, tenants’ leader Jim Quail, and former school parent representa- tive Charles Ungerleider. | A full slate for the parks board includes incumbent commissioner Pat Wilson, with electrician Mike Chrunik, lawyer and (runner-up in 1982) Connie Fogal, Down- town Eastside community worker Sue Har- ris, disabled activist Tim Louis, former Vancouver school trustee Mike O’Neill and West End community activist Joe Arnaud. The New Westminster and District Labor Council also endorsed slates for five communities, at its Oct. 24 meeting. For Coquitlam, the council endorsed the slate of the Association of Coquitlam Elec- tors (ACE), including trade union office worker (and close contender last year) Eunice Parker, teacher Elsie Manley- Casimir and printer Doug Schop for council, along with incumbent school trustee Louella Hollington. For New Westminster, the council endorsed Mayor Tom Baker and aldermen Ray Mercer, Ken Kabool and Chris Sargeant in their re-election bids, along with school trustees Val MacDonald and Vassant Sak- likar. For Port Coquitlam, aldermen John Kereluk and George Laking were endorsed, as was B.C. Nurses Union staff member Peter Dent in his re-election bid for school district 42. For the Surrey school board, the New Westminster council backed the bids of the two candidates with the Surrey Alternative Movement (SAM), former woodworker Maureen Hamilton and civic worker and labor council delegate Gord Savard, as well as two candidates from the “Save Our Schools” movement, Betty Allinger and Marilyn Kerr. However, the labor council withheld endorsement, in a 54-31 vote, for SAM’s four aldermanic candidates, on the grounds that there were too many applicants for labor endorsement — five — for the four available municipal council seats. But the SAM candidates, who have been endorsed previously by the labor council, have ail signed the council’s statement upholding labor rights on the municipal scene. SAM’s aldermanic candidates are cultu- ral worker Steve Gidora, office worker Donalda Greenwell, restaurateur Jim Ageli- dis and marine worker Jasbir Padda. Meanwhile, on Vancouver island, labor’s nod has gone to Nanaimo and District Labor Council secretary Walter Tickson, unemployed centre staff member Dyved Freethy and former government worker Larry Whaley in their bids for municipal council seats. For school board, labor council president Wilf Broderick is in the running. 7 Up the coast, the newly-formed Progres- sive Electors of Prince Rupert (PEPR) is running two candidates for city council — labor council president Joy Thorkelson and Commenting editorially on the Nov. 17 Vancouver civic election, the Province on Oct. 30 complained that “there is little or no real discussion of issues, primarily because the groups are shouting slogans instead of putting policies forward.” It went on to add: “What the voters need is a chance to make a clear choice and for that they need some policy platforms from organized groups putting up candidates.” The writer of the editorial :could cer- tainly not be accused of telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It is true that the NPA still has no plat- form with any specific points. All they have is a few generalities and motherhood statements that mean little or nothing. And to.accuse its imported mayoralty candidate, William Vander Zalm, of hav- ing any clear ideas about issues in Van- couver or what concerns voters here would be most unfair. Of course, their failure to speak out has another side to it. They daren’t tell the voters what they really plan to do if elected — then they would never make it. Like Bill Bennett in the last provincial election, they are keeping their real plat- form hidden because it would be so unpal- atable to voters. But how can any editors of a Vancouver paper paint COPE with the same brush as the NPA when it comes to election palt- form? COPE conducted a community directions conference early in September with some 200 participants from dozens of community oragnizations who presented their views as to what should be included in COPE’s civic election platform. A week later COPE held a nominating convention where it also adopted a detailed 12-page election platform that touched on just every issue of concern to COPE is the group addressing issues Vancouver voters and the future of Van- couver. Since then COPE candidates have spoken at scores of community meetings outlining COPE’s position on all major issues in detail. We haven’t been shouting slogans, we’ve been putting policies for- ward. The Province, and the Sun too for that matter, reported little about our commun- ity directions conference or our nomina- tion convention. When it comes to reporting what our candidates say at meet- ings, we draw almost a blank. The fact is that the Province and the Sun are failing to inform the people of this city about COPE’s platform. They are denying people the right to know. Instead, every silly little remark by Vander Zalm is played up as startling news. The Province editorial says about COPE: “But it’s never clear on whether it’s for or against big projects like Expo, B.C. Place, and ALRT.” That remark hasn’t even a nodding acquaintance with the facts. Whether or not you are for or against Expo 86, B.C. Place or ALRT really doesn’t matter at this stage. They are both already facts of life — they are here to stay. The problems now are to get the best deal we can out of them for the people of Vancouver. Here is what the COPE election plat- form (being circulated in 185,000 copies, but which the Province editor apparently hasn’t read) says: “B.C. Place and Expo 86: These massive projects must be controlled to be positive, not disruptive, developments for the city. B.C. Place should not be overbuilt with — huge office towers, but must maximize affordable family and low income hous- ing, open space and recreational facilities. During Expo, rents and prices must not be allowed to skyrocket and city taxpayers must not be left with Expo’s debts. COPE will also work for provincial guidelines to ensure that all Expo workers receive fair wages and decent working conditions.” For the information of the Province edi- tor I should also point out some other important and specific planks in COPE’s platform: “For the past two years COPE has proved that the city can balance its budget without laying off staff and cutting essen- tial services. COPE will continue to main- tain jobs and services at city hall and will oppose Social Credit and Conservative cutbacks in services to people. “COPE has an economic policy for jobs and development. COPE will work to expand the city’s property endowment fund to provide land for housing, indus- trial development and other social uses and will help establish and develop secon- dary manufacturing in the city.” We certainly agree with the editor of the Province that any person or group seeking election has the duty and responsibility to provide the electorate with a clear policy. As for the press, its duty is to report that policy and to report it fairly. 2 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 7, 1984 EUNICE PARKER...ACE runner-ul ‘83 seeks council seat. —_ JOY THORKELSON...Prince Rul labor council president in new coaliti native court worker Wilfred Price. The key issue is jobs, said Thorkelso! a-community where unemployment ! per cent. PEPR also calls for reduced re¢ tional fees for the area’s jobless, — opposes the attempt to turn Ridley Isl into an “economic free zone” with the 10 wages and lower industrial tax base | entails. The group also calls for a formé ensure citizens can voice their opinion disarmament. - Down the coast, the Sunshine Ce Joint Council of Local Unions is ba the aldermanic candidacy of Ferry | Marine Workers member Ken Mici Local issues include “using public mone the interests of the public” — residents still angry over the donation of muni¢ properties to a privately operated mat — and increased ferry sailings to ° couver. ; Popular Sunshine Coast regional dt tor Brett McGillivray, known for his activities, was unopposed. CRTC hearing begin on Feb. Public hearings into B.C. Tel’s appl tion for an across-the-board, 15-pée f rate hike run Feb. 1-8 across the prov” But how many hearings, and where © be held, depends on the number of prot the Canadian Radio-television and | communications Commission (C. “f receives. 4 Following that, the quasi-legal fot hearings are set to begin Feb. 12 at the *” 500 Hotel in Vancouver. : Three groups — B.C. Old Age Pens! ers, the Federated Anti-Poverty Gt" the Kennedy Heights Senior Citizens already set to appear, represented by Public Interest Advocacy Centre I lawyer Dick Gathercole. The B.C. Communist Party also ha brief opposing the hike to be present the hearings by provincial leader Mau Rush. ie Those intending to oppose the hike hearings should send letters to F. Beli Secretary-General, Canadian Radiot vision and Telecommunications Com" sion, Ottawa, Ont. K1A ON2.