My office has been flooded in recent weeks with requests for my intervention ‘against the Ministry of Transport which has, without consultation or evaluation of the con- gequences, increased the fees for leases and services ‘principles. of transport policy. Cost recovery. or the user pay concept was’ permitted with the ex- ception where transport | would be a tool of regional development or an in- atrument of national policy. Ttsaid: ‘There should be an by up to 200 per cent to objective of commercial businesses and individuals viability, including cost- who have tomake use of the recovery, both a the facilities at government operation of transportation _airports.- services and in the provision Gn June 11, 1976 we made of facilities and services for this matter a topic for _ debate in the House of Commons as we examined in particular the Minister's concept of user pay. The user pa principle basically states that the direct user of transport or related ser- vices should pay for the service rather than the taxpayer. In June, 1976, the former Minister of Transport, Jean Marchand, tabled the Provincial British Columbia's economic performance will continue to lag slightly behind thal for Canada in the coming six months according ta the Employers’ Council of British Columbia. In its semi-annual economic forecast, the Council states that ‘“‘imereased costs, continuing labor disputes, higher taxes on both in- dividuals and corporations, and a relalively low level of consumer confidence” are working to retard the performance of the provincial economy. Labor-management disputes will have the greatest effect aver the next six months. The Council points out that British - Columbia's reputation for unreliablity because of jabor disputes is ‘severely hurting” our recovery. “The current situation is illustrative: at a time af general economic recovery the unemployment rate in this province is now verging onthe highest in recent history”. The Council again called fora meeting of leaders - _from. labor, management and government ‘“‘to levelop proposals which would ovide a framework for improving these relation- _ ships. Until this is done, increasing deterioration can be expected”, the report says. adding that ‘‘it is imperative that it be done’’. * hile continuing to ‘support the thrust of the anti-inflation program, the Council notes that the ad- ministration of the program is injecting a “degree of uncertainty into business decisions which is un- precented © during the recovery phase ofa business’ cycle. Corporations are experiencing substantial costs in complying -with the program’s re orting _ pequirements in addition to growing restrictions on Foreign lags behind direct support of tran- sportation.’” recognized that, where implementation of a par- ticular developmental or national policy requires departure from principle (4), the costa imposed should be clearly and specifically identified and assumed by government.” ~In te House recently, Mr. Lang said ‘We have to be realistic about ow’ tran- economy which have corporate in decision- making, -The program continues to be severely imbalanced in favour of organized labor, despite the wide-spread public opinion io the contrary’. the Outlook continues. The provincial forest industry is showing a recovery which, when compared 10 last year is clearly an improvement but the Council points out that 1975 was an extremely poor year for the industry. It is significant that there is very little new capital investment planned and no growth in employment forecast for the forest industry in 1976. While welcoming the new mining legisiation, Council Outlook notes that the real impact will be felt commenting in 1977 rather than the current year as -exploration plans were in place prior to the in- troduction of the legislation. _ Tourism is expected to decline by 10 to 15 per cent for the year. This is par- tially attributable to the American Bicentennial celebrations, but the provines's reputation for ving “among the highest prices in North America” is aiso a major factor. The anticipated iabor force growth of 2.7 per cent while remaining high, is a drop from the 3 per cent experienced last year. Inter- provincial’ migration into, Britlsh Columbia is now marginally negative, continuing a trend which started last year, and “although foreign im- migration into the province remains positive, it is down substantially from earlier years”, the Outlook states. The unemployment rate isi fed to be 8.5 per cent for the year compare d to 7.5 per cent nationally. currency protits diminished flexibility rates The. U.S. Dollar was bolstered by favourable - trade figures for the month of May. A surplus of $396 million, the first trade surplus since December 1975 was recorded. This * follows an April deficit of ~ $202 million. A rise in domestic and Euromarket interest rates ‘served to strengthen the NETHERLANDS Guilder. Itis supposed that the Dutch _ Central Bank had a part in ‘ the interest rate adjustment in an attempt ta strengthen ‘Tt should be - 2 the “ tinues to strengthen amid specualtion that Italy may receiveaid from her trading partners following the economic summit in Puerto Rico. PERU adjusted the Sol downward by 30.7__ per cent against the U.S. Dollar on . June 23. The new rate stands oliar as at 65 Soles Ret D compared with 45 per dollar formerly. CHILE revalued its Peso by a little over 11 per cent against the U.S. Dollar on gportation costs’. To that-I agree, but we say that the inister has not. been realistic: about costs him- self. Witness the con- struction of airports-the current federal deficit of airports is $243 million, To offset this debt, Messrs. Lang and Chretien an- nounced on December 18, 1975 a $22 million increase in user charges at airports. The $22 million is a drop in the proverblal bucket but increases are romised. In effect, these increases force the user to pay jor the government's planning and construction of airports. Yet, the user’has had litle say in the developmental process A salient example: 8 Mirabel, Currently, the RCMP are investigating the contracts and. tenderin: procedures of Mirabe which permitted costs to escalate—-$40 million alone attributed to ‘consultants’ under 105 contracts--none: ut out for id. The of which were competitive ‘ participation FRANK OBERLE — REPORTS | original estimate for con- sultants was $6,000,000. The user ig expected to pay for this cost. ; In the House Mr. Lang said, ai you do not like the expression ‘user *, you have to defend the proposition that the non: user ought to pay for transportation costs.” The user and the non-user (the taxpayer) should not be forced to pay for the bungling of the federal bureaucrat.Yet, this seems to be the Minister's policy. In esgence, J agree with the ‘user pay’ principle as long as there exists ‘user say’.\The user should pay for capital costs of airports as long as hehas meaningful into the planningand development of the Facility. The airlines, as , have no with this concept either. This is but one example of the deliberate misin- terpretation and manipulation of government policy. The cost increases to which my constituents eed protest are definitely not- realistic in terms of the user pay principle. It was announced today in Ottawa that the Joint Federal and Provincial Program on Native-and . Bural Housing will again be extended by an additional 379 housing units, which are tobe built in 61 communities at a cost of $14 milllon. The program provides for mortgage payment sub- sidies of 75 per cent by the PARADE LEAVES GITY HALL PARKING LOT AT 11:00 A.M. SATURDAY MORRING . Parade entries are requost ed to ba there by 10 a.m. a . Federal Government and 25 per cent by the provinces for qualifying: families.- - This ‘program was initiated’ in 1974 ‘resulting from. an experiment in Chetwynd which resulted in the construction of 30 homes. This season the following allocations have been an- nounced for the Prince George-Peace River areas: Fort Nelson-25 units; 10 units in Pouce Coupe; 5 in each of the following cen- tres-Valemount, Bear Lake, Moberley Lake, Summit Lake, Hixon and Fort St. James;:.3 new homes are planned for Lower Post. I am particularly pleased with the success of this program as it has found implementation in all parts af sanada and has offered, perhcularly, small com- munities, a means to overcome a most serious shortage in their housing inventory. me ster of Manpower and [Immigration has. an- nounced the Government's Terrace Centennial Lions Club 2:¢ 6th Annual 2% %5 & [ THE HERALD, Wednesday, July 7, 1974, PAGE AJ a by the middle of July and, as approval for a new Local in previous years, ap- tiatives Program for the winter of 1976-77, plications will be screen $100 million has been by a Constituene Advisory allocated for the new Group which will be ap- rogram. Themoneyis tobe pointed. iirecied to high” unem- ' A number of worthwhile ployment areas. and imaginative projects Application forms for the were carr. ed out in our area program will beavailable at and hope that this program Canada Manpower Centres will be equally successful. JIM'S TACKLE SHOP Rod & Reel Repairs — Custom Rods — Fresh and Salt Water Fishing Tackle — Fishing Licences. 166 Hwy. 16 East Terrace, 8.6. 635-9471 ALSO now selling Local Handicratts — All Inquiries Welcome. 3 = r = e 7 S NCE| 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. | ‘ the Guilder and thus relieve June 30. The current rate pressure on dwindling was adjusted upward from ‘monetary reserves. 13.90 Pesos to 12.50 to the dollar. ' ,. The ITALIAN Lire _con- plese MILLWRIGHT. Expanding T millwrights with “perience. “. fered. For McLean, Plateau Mills Ltd., Box 2001, -derhoof, B.C. Phone 567-9850. ‘northern interlor sawmilling operation: has immediate requirements for several years of sawmill ex. — Excellent wages and benelits are of. further information contact Barry’ Van-