Canada Coalition challenges Visions 2000 plan BY MIKE PRONIUK A weekend conference June 1-3 bringing together fishermen, Native and environmen- tal groups, and sport fishing representatives began the initial steps in mounting an alliance against, and alternatives to, a recently leaked Tory plan to privatize the West Coast fisheries: Vision 2000. The leaked Department of Fisheries and Oceans document is the latest federal government blueprint to restructure the in- dustry through implementation of a privatized quota system and a “property rights concept ” for all fisheries. It takes its lead from the 1984 Tory government Neilson Task Force Recommendations, the 1982 Liberal government Pearse Commission, and a 1981 report from the Economic Council of Canada. “The Vision 2000 paper is Pearse revisited,” United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union president Jack Nichol charged. It raises “the spectre that the right to fish and the ownership of the resource can pass from those who will initially own it into the hands of absentee landlords who have no Women greet NATO decision Canada’s largest women’s or- ganization has congratulated NATO defence ministers on their decision not to build a low-level flight training centre. Two sites had been under con- sideration: Goose Bay, Labrador and Konya, Turkey. Marion Mathieson, chair of the Survival of the Planet Committee of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women, said the action means NATO is “finally acknow- ledging the Cold War is over.” However, the real credit should go to the “people of both NATO and War- saw Treaty Organizations countries who have refused to be involved in practicing for World War Ii,” Mathieson added. Canadian Defence Minister Bill McKnight claimed he understands the reluctance of Canada’s allies to spend $500 million ona base, but was disap- pointed at “the loss of an important opportunity for Canada to make a positive contribution to the security of the alliance.” The defence minister also stated later that the number of low-level tests flights at the Goose Bay base could nearly double even under existing agreements with NATO countries. Mathieson accused McKnight of showing more concern for Canada’s allies than its own citizens. “The federal budget, already 1,000 times the amount spent on women’s equality, is increased by $600 million while women’s program spending has decreased. All this expense is sup- posed to make us feel secure, but women in Canada are not safe in their homes and in the streets,” she said. At its annual meeting last month NAC delegates called on the federal government to develop a program to convert military to civilian produc- tion, to sign a comprehensive test ban treaty and to open the current redraft- ing of Department of Extemal Affairs and National Defence policy for public input. interest in the industry — but who have the financial resources to buy up quotas and licenses, areas, and capacity and rent them out to other fishermen,” he warmed. The 1982 commission headed by University of B.C. professor Peter Pearse laid the foundation for a privatization plan for the West Coast fisheries, but was aban- doned after a high-pressure campaign by the UFAWU and allied groups. Ironically, the privatized “individual transferrable quotas” or ITQ system has been introduced in New Zealand as well — with direct help from Pearse as a consultant — in what has been called a disastrous restructuring of the industry. Nova Scotia professor Don McGinnis told of the resultant loss of jobs in the processing industries due to offshore processing and the increased corporate con- trol of the industry by giants such as Fletcher-Challenge from New Zealand’s privatizing scheme. And he cited a survey of fishermen who operated under the scheme in New Zealand and reported several weaknesses of ITQ sys- tem: 95 per cent said that it would be more difficult for fishermen to get a start in the industry under the plan; 66 per cent indi- cated that the high amount of fish discarded due to the desire for higher dollar returns was a major problem for the resource; ad- ministrative costs for policing were high; corporations pressed smaller quota holders to expand their overall limit. The same fears and demands were echoed by Richard Watts, co-chairperson of the Nuu Chah Nulth Tribal Council. In at- tacking the Vision 2000 plan, Watts told conference participants that the council sup- ported the UFAWU view that Native land claims must be recognized. “We must keep our resource as common property,»-not let.them ,be..bought. up. by Fletcher-Challenge.” Stating that “privatization will tear the fishery apart,” Watt asked the conference: “Who in their right mind thinks that private companies are going to regulate themselves (under Vision 2000).” The conservation theme ran strong throughout the conference with participa- tion by groups such as Greenpeace, Save the Georgia Strait Alliance, and the Public Inter- est Research Group. Environmentalist Colleen McCrory of the Valhalla Wilderness Society — recently returned from a cross-Canada survey of the state of the forests — warmed that “what will be happening in the fishing industry is al- ready taking place in the forest industry. There is a strong environmental move- ment, “but in spite of all of the efforts of the people there, governments are going ahead anyway.” McCrory said the survey found vast tracts of Canadian forests were being handed over to multinational corporations without public debate. “We need a tenure system that is smaller, that is compatible with the community”, she said. “What we are looking at is total corporate control of the land, and when I hear about Vision 2000, they are moving in the same direction”. “What we need, whether its fisheries or forests, is a national movement going so that we can interlock and exchange information and stop what is going on,” McCrory said. Simon Fraser University economist Mar- jorie Cohen said that between the Canada- U.S. Free Trade Agreement and Vision 2000, “corporate concentration will increase in the fishing industry”. If the processing of fish goes entirely to the U.S., the public will be less supportive of enhancement programs which benefit consumers outside of Canada — therefore conservation is threatened under the plan, she wamed. She reminded the conference that the B.C. fishing industry has already suffered a setback in the recent ruling by a panel of the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs regarding the processing of B.C.-caught fish. Referring to the Tory policy of “economic terrorism,” Cohen said that the struggle against the agreement is about who has economic control over Canada. Conference participants voted to call for a moratorium on implementation on any aspect of the Vision 2000 plan, and for the establishment of a network of groups and individuals to fight both the Vision 2000 plan and the privatization of the fishing resource. There was also discussion on the proposal of a People’s Commission to mo- bilize community input and support against the plan and its impact on B.C.’s community, if implemented. By MERLE TERLESKY OTTAWA — In a wrap-up news con- ference capping his 30-hour visit to Canada, Soviet President Mikhail Gor- bachev expressed his frustration with the lack of progress in East-West relations. He referred specifically to western in- terference in Soviet internal affairs, par- ticularly with regards to the Baltic States, and the West’s continued insistence that aunited Germany must remain in NATO. It is “like an old record that seems to be playing the same note again and again. I would like us to overcome that pitch and find a new melody,” the Soviet leader said. In his strongest statement, Gorbachev wamed that if a mutually acceptable solution isn’t found, it could trigger a reversal to Cold War mentalities. “We want to find a solution that will enhance the process which is taking place in Europe and not damage, or reverse it. That course of action must be found together. I have not heard until now any option from the West that isnew or different.” Germany was also on the agenda of a two-hour meeting between the two foreign ministers. Eduard Shevardnadze told reporters that a “difference of ap- proaches still exists on our positions of a united Germany,” adding that there were three options for Germany: neutrality, membership in the NATO alliance or _ membership in the Warsaw Pact. That third suggestion was a dicey point for External Affairs Minister Clark who hid his discomfort with a chuckle. Gorbachev also reported that he and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney dis- cussed moves towards independence by the Baltic states, but reiterated that this was an internal Soviet matter. He also had strong words for Lithuanian _ leaders unilateral secession of the republic, call- ing it adventurism and insisting new relationships between the republics would be negotiated. Gorbachev talks to Ottawa crowds at Sparks St. mall. Cold War thaw still too slow: Gorbachev who _ declared. No formal agreements were signed during the Soviet president’s stay. But Gorbachev as “the man of the people” through downtown Ottawa, thousands lined the streets to welcome him on his first official state visit since he was here in 1983 as minister of agriculture. Accompanied by his wife Raisa and Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze, Gorbachev toured the Capital’s sights including various museums, met with Parliament and laid a wreath at the National War Memorial. The Soviet leader also acted on his natural inclination to meet the public. In an unplanned move, heand Raisa took an hour and a half out of their busy schedule to take a walk through downtown Ot- tawa. Wading through throngs of on- lookers, the Soviet leader talked and laughed amongst Canadians displaying a calm assurance that he was truly in friendly territory. He signed autographs, received gifts, was applauded, cheered and received personal thanks for his contribution to. world peace and security. Later at a luncheon hosted by the prime minister, Gorbachev addressed a large audience of parliamentarians and invited guests. Toasts were exchanged. “At a time of turbulent change and of a breakdown of established views and stereotypes, contacts and mutual under- standing between states acquire special value, particularly between those that have special responsibilities to the world community. In this context, we value good-neighborly relations between the Soviet Union and Canada,” he said. Before departing for Washington, a joint press conference was held with the two leaders. While answering questions Gorbachev reiterated that “neighbors can simply live side by side or they can share their problems and try to deal construc- tively with issues of mutual concern to both countries.” 3 * Pacific Tribune, June 11, 1990 : : i 7 1 SPINS ns enRaeaN