1977

THe HERALUL, fuetday, July 5,

PAGE 4,

—(the herald) .

Tefrace . 635-6357
Kitimat + 632-5708
Circulation - 635-2877

' PUBLISHER... GORDON W. HAMILTON
MANAGING EDITOR... ALLAN KRASNICK
KITIMAT MANAGER... W.S, ‘KIM’ KIMBLE
CIRCULATION MANAGER... JACK JEANNEAU

Published every weekday at 3212 Kalum St. Terrace B.C. A
member of Varified Circulation. Authorized as second class
‘mall, Regisiration number 1201. Postage pald In cash, return
postage guaranteed,

Published by
Rerling Publishers Ltd,

NOTE OF COPYRIGHT

The Herald retains full. complete and sole copyright In any
advertisement produced andor any editorial.- or
photographic content publishad Inthe Herald. Reproduction
PY eat permitted witheut the written permission of the

han

- Bankruptcy
in Ottawa

The federal government’s acquiescence in
Quebec's French language charter completes the
bankruptcy of federal language policy. Mr.
Trudeau came to office in 1968 promising to
_ promote biculturalism and national unity. Both

causes have almost totally failed. Now Mr.
Trudeau has virtually endorsed the extermination,
by Quebec, of bilingualism in the one place where it
has had some currency for 200 years.

He has done so on the false and deceitiul grounds
that the French language is in danger of
elimination in Quebec, when, in fact, it is stronger
there and elsewhere in Canada than it has ever

While Ontario and New Brunswick have, albeit
belatedly, enhanced the status of French within
their borders, Quebec has imposed heavy fines for
billboards, office memos, menus and contracts
where French does not predominate regardless of
the language of the people involved.

Mr. Trudeau, who masqueraded as the man who
would “entrench” fundamental human rights in
Canadian texts of law in 1968 and promised never to
desert cultural minorities including the English
Quebecers whose Member of Parliament he has

been for the last 12 years acquiesced in this also -

attempting to establish a spurious connection
between the English in Quebec and the French
outside Quebec. (Mr. Trudeau is MP for the
predominantly English speaking riding of Mont
Royal and has never personally faced a French
electorate.) .

The government of Quebec wrote off the external
French Canadians long ago as having been

assimilated. While the other-provinces have been .
modestly promoting linguistic liberty and variety, . .

has so infringed on written forms of free
speech that it has ceased to be a democracy as
most western countries would define it. ,

Mr. Trudeau has acquiesced in this, while
serving up the old worm-eaten chestnut that
Quebec has always treated its English minority
well. In fact, non-French Quebec, with less than 20
percent of the province’s population, has long
contributed more than 30 percent of its tax revenue,
soitis the English Quebecers who could move (and
now are moving) elsewhere, who have subsidized

.the French Quebecers. ;

Since the federal Liberals returned to office in
1963 the overtly separatist vote in Quebec has gone
from 2 percent to 9 percent in 1966 to 24 percent in
1970 to 30 percent in 1973 to 41 percent in 1977, At
the same time the Quebec Liberal Party has been
transformed from the reasonably federalist party
of Jean Lesage, whom Mr. Trudeau and his
colleagues dumped from the leadership in 1969 to
the corrupt neo-separatist grotesquerie of Robert
Bourassa. Mr. Trudeau has conspicuously failed to
explain federalism in any important part of
Canada. -

Nine years ago Mr. Trudeau promised us a “Just
Society”. He has delivered hypocrisy, cynicism,
and incompetence on such a scale that he is
sustained in office only by the fact that the
Opposition appears even more inept.

The collapse of the Canadian federal state is in
full progress and unless there is a drastic turn of
events the language fiasco culminating last week
will mark an important stage in its fall.

ACRAAN

a Sj

1
ees ee LEA
01977 Untveral Pree Syndicate

“Mr. Harrison took-off for South America with the
company pay-roll, D'yer wanna leave a message?”

CanCel re

Dear Sir:

U

The writer of an editorial
in your June 12th issue,
headed “Bennett Sells Us
Down the River’, appears
to have based his comments
on the misconception that
Canadian Cellulose is a
Crown corporation whose
policies and actions are
directed by the Provincial
Government. As this is not
the case, | thought it might
be useful to explain how the
company does function.

Canadian Cellulose is a
public company with more

than 5,500 shareholders, -

including the Provincial
Governmen:‘ 5 the majority
shareholder.. As a public
company whose shares are
traded on the major stock
exchanges in Canada, we
are subject io the regulatory
controls and operation
standards of any such publie
enterprise.

-* Voice of the readers

Since the re-organization
of the company in 1973,
Canadian Cellulose has
operated on an independent
basis regarding direction or
influence of the majority
shareholder, Th
relationship has been and
continues to be one of “arms
length”.

A’ Board of Directors
composed of responsible,
experienced businessmen
establishes company policy
and a professional
management team runs the
operations of the company.

Your editorial” si
that at the time of the re-
organization, . the
government ‘“‘chose to
purchase” the company.
This implies an exhange of
funds. What did happen was
that the government
acquired 79 percent of the
shares 0: Canadian
Cellulose in exchange for

ests

puarantesing the long-term
onds of the company. The
Province paid no cash
whatsoever for its shares
and has not been called upon
to make any paymen under
its guarantee. The long-
term debt has been reduced
by the company from the
initial $68 million to $43
million by early 1977,

‘The editorial’ makes a
complete error in
suggesting that company
earnings have been diverted
to support such government
programs as ‘‘Mincome,
Pharmacare and northern
ambulance services”,

The Province, as a
shareholder, has, indeed,
shared to an extent in the
company’s success -
primarily through dividend
payments on the same basis
as all shareholders. The

cumulative amount of
dividends received by the
Province tothe end of April,
1977, is $7,245,000,

_&,

‘The earnings of Canadian
Cellulose have mostly been
re-invested in the
company’s operations. We
currently have underway
the largest single capital

roject in the province - the
$100 million modification of

the former sulphite pulp:

mill to the kraft pulp
process, at Prince Rupert.

We also are spending a
further $18 million to
improve the existing kraft
pulp mill at this location.
The decision to modify the
sulphite mill was taken by
the Board of Directors of
Canadian Cellulose on the
recommendation of its
professional management,
and not by the Provincial
Government as your
editorial incorrectly
implies.

This investment is based
on sound business principles

Carter the controversial activist —

By GARRY FAIRBAIRN
WASHINGTON (CP) —

“With less than six months in

office, Jimmy Carter is fast
making his mark as a U.S.
president who is willing to
tough, controversial
decisions and slash through
complex political
stalemates.
Apprehensive
governments

now are

wondering whether he.

indends to apply that damn-
thetorpedces approach to
the Middle East by
considering the possibility

se in Israel,

of settimg up a major USS. .
military 4 ae

The dangers in any such
move would be numerous:
hostile reaction by Arab
States; resurgent Soviet
influence in the Middle
East; a divisive and intense
domestic controversy in the
United States; a crippling of
Carter's ability to get other

rograms through

gress; and even greafer
arms race in the region. .

Years of U.S. dipmomatic
effort would do down the
drain if the Arab states and
supporters turned again
tonthe oil weapon or decide
to attack Israel before the
US. presence could be es-
tablis

REWARDS GREAT’

But if the risks are great,
so are the potential rewards.
A formal U.S. commitment
to Israel and the presence of
U.S. forces might induce
Israel to yield enough

territorial and other

concessions for a peace

settlement with its
. neighbors.

One supporter of a U.S. -

military commitment to
Israel, representative David
Obey (Dem. Wisc,),

“He wants to know, if we're so democratic, how is it you don’t have an opposition

in Alberta?”

Interpreting the news

described the basic proble
last Januayr: “It is criti-
cally important that Israel
faces the fact that there
simply will be no peace
without withdrawal
(fromnoccupied territories)
and that the United States
faces the fact that no Israeli
‘overment is likely to have
he steength ta endorse
withdrawal in the absence of
a formal U.S, military’¢om-
mitment.” mh

Carter has saad this is a
key year to push for a
Middle East settlement and
to try to defuse the still-

- volatile confrontation there.

As with previous, U.S.

, administrations, the. r

White House has tried,jthe
earrot-andatick approclygto.
prod and lead Israel, jm
concessions.

xs
Recently there has heen
unusually direct US.
criticiam of Begin for his
refusal to negotiate aver the
oceupied West Bank, but
Carter has also approved in
principle a $115 million sale
of 700 armored personnel
carriers and 200 wire guided
anti-tank missiles to Israel.
Before that, Carter
locked an Israeli purchase
the, powerful CBU-72
concussion bomb and
forbade Israel to sell its Kfir
jets to Ecuador with U.S.
engines. But he approved a
Kiir sale to Austria and put
Israel in a favored category
for weapons sales,

POLICIES FAIL

But such mixed U.S. a
proaches have traditiona
encountered the Israeli
conviction that withdrawal
from occupied territories
would leave it extremely

vulnerable to Arab invasion. _

Such lessons and the com-
plexities and dangers of the
Middle East could well deter
Carter froma full guarantee
to Israel, but still leave him
with the option of using U.S.
forces in a more limited
way, such as posting them
along Israel’s borders as a-
buffer force that would.

and Israelis in the Sinai with
success.

One question carter may
ursue in his talks wit
egin is whether Israel

could accept such a force,

While not as much of a

*guirantee as a formal U.S.

itary commitment direct

deter both Arab and Israeli “to Israel, it should still be

attacks under a multilateral
agreement. Some 170 U.S.
technicians have heen
acting as an

unarmed, early-warnin
buffer between Egyptians

considered more reliable by
Israel than the United
Nations peacekeeping
forces that earlier left Arab-
Israeli borders at Arab in-
sistence.

our

and is designed to sustain
woo harvesting
operations in the northwest
far into the future.

Canadian Cellulose is
committed to the northwest.
Our significant capital
rogram will help stabilize
@ economy and provide
security for employment for
our own employees, as well
as for the many suppliers
and contractors we engage.
As I indicated earlier, the
company has operated
completely on an “arms
length” basis from its
majority shareholder. The
independent Board of
Directors alone is
responsible for the
company's decisions and
action.
These have been
consistently taken in what
the Directors firmly believe
to be the best interests of ail
the shareholders, as well as
our employees and the

mains committed to north

communities In which we
operate.

Certainly, profits have
been a major consideration
and I make no apologies for
that. Without profits, there
can be no Investment.
Without investment, there
can be no jobs... Without
jobs, the economy - local,
regional or ‘larger -
languishes or collapses.

Candian Cellulose is proud,
of its accomplist ments.
Misinformed comment
unfortunately does a
disservice to our employees,
all of whom ave
contributed to _—the
company’s success and
commitment to -the future,

Thank you for the
opportunity of setting the
record straight.’

G.R. McLachlin
Vice President,
Logging and Lumber
Operations

Best choice ©
for ferry port

Dear Sirs:

On the 20th of this month
your paper .carried an
article and editorial heavily

- condemning the Provincial

Government for the decision
fo provide an additional
ferry service from
Tswassen to Prince Rupert.

. The thrust of these articles

was that the facility should
have been located at
Kitimat.

In the latter part of 1976
the Federal Government
removed from Northland
Navigation an Operating
Subsidy which immediately
deprived several
communities in
Northwestern B.C. with any
form of regular freight and.
passenger service. These
communities have not got
alternative methods of re-
supply, there are no roads,
no. major .airports, and, 00, -
ferry services. -

It is essential that these
communities be looked after
for the basic requirements
of a transporation service as

* quickly and expeditiously as

possib e, and- I think Mr,
avis and the Provincial
Government, using the
facilities of the B.C, Ferries,
are showing some effort in
alleviating the hardships
which have been caused,

Certainly Kitimat in the
past has not had a ferry
service so it doesn’t miss it,
but it does have an excellent.
road and it is served by an
airport which is reasonably
close by.

Witnout trying to even

answer the obvious
discrepancies in the
statements contained in the

articles mentioned, surely
all of the communities on
the mainland which are
served by truck, rail and alr
services can defer in the
short run their political
ambitions so that the
communities in immediate
need can be served first and
as these communities are

geographically closer to
Prince Rupert, it seems
logical to serye them from

€, :

Let us try and put aside
the inter-city ‘name-callin
and generate a little genuine
assistance: _ for out’
munici ies on the
Charlotte Islands and on the
B.C, Coast::which need
service now, :

Capt. R.C.E. Kitching,
General Manager

National Harbours Board
Port of Prince Rupert

Thanks

Dear Sirs:

We have. just-received a--
copy of Ae ree leh”
appeared in the June 21
issue of your publication in
support of this year’s March
of Dimes campaign. We
simply wanted to express a
very special thank you for
your assistance in helping bs
make known the March of
Dimes. campaign in your

community. —

We are well aware of the
hard work ahi in
putting together such an
event and are: grateful to
you for Ta ar support ©
to Mr. William Sturby. He
and other members of the
Moose Lodge give so
generously of-their time ta
our cause and it is nice to
see that this ‘dedication is

_recognized and appreciated

by people in.the community.

We thank you again for
your contribution - your
concern and interest in
Children’s Hospital is most
reassuring to all of .us.
Thank you for caring. -

(Miss) Maire K. DesRoches
Public Relations Officer

a

An MLA’s report

By CYRILSHELFORD
MLA, Skeena cheap imports from areas of low
; wages is the answer.
It is interesting to note that less

Good farmland lies fallow

Some people and groups think

countr
Before

industry and export jobs to other
es

than half the total agriculture land ,
is now in use and much of that in
production is not being used to
maximum capacity. We are
producing approximately 42
percent of our food requirements at
e present tlme; owr goal is 65
percent which would need nearly 4
of our total unemployed to handle

the extra production, processing

and various other functions.

One thing for sure we need better
ways to see the farmer gets his
share of the selling price. Not
many food items have kept up. with
increased wages over the last 10

years except salmon which is |

controlled by union agreements. If
they had - milk would be $3.00 a
quart and chicken $4.00 a pound.
Not that we want to see this happen
- we should be well aware of what is
going on,

"all it

accepting this we should look at
coffee and oil prices. Cheap
imports today are very expensive
tomorrow, and if we loose our
production units we will loose our

nation - as we can be held up for.

black-mail for our water, oil or gas.

Society is far too unreliable
today for us to rely. on the
transportation systems - supplying
basic food requirements from
other countries, even if ours can -
others might not. European
countries that have been cut off
from outside supply, at various
times in their history would never
let themselves get into such a
vulnerable position.

It’s very seldom the consumer
Bets the advantage of cheap
mports and in my experience as
Minister of Agriculture, both local
and imports sold at the same price,

d was destroy our home

A Minister of Agriculture has no

' power to save local production and

one cheap car load of apples,
pears, potatoes or strawberries
can set the price for our total crop -
but as I said before, the consumer
does not get the benefit,

For this and other reasons 1
recommended this week for a
license system of all food
importers. This is a very
controversial issue - completely
missed by the news media in |
Victoria.

The Agriculture Food Committee
of the Legislature will he meeting
in Prince Rupert on August 22 and .
Smithers on August 2ard. I hope
there will be a lot of interest and
many new ideas on how best to,
serve the consumer and maintain
our production units. ° =~