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EDITORIAL

‘This lid is our land’

T he maiden voyage of the giant U.S.-owned oil tanker

Manhattan through Canada’s North West Passage

is not just a mere experiment to determine whether or not

Alaskan oil can be transported to key U.S. ports more econo-
mically by such bulk carriers.

If that were all the hazards of the route, cargo, revenues to
Canada, etc. it could be open to debate and perhaps ultimate
agreement — a debate in which the additional hazard of mass
pollution of Canadian Arctic waters would also loom large.

What is at issue however is Canada’s sovereignty, independ-
ence and dignity, basic factors which the Trudeau govern-
ment’s inept silence up until now — and on this latest U.S.
“takeover” without so much as a by-your-leave, presents a
sorry, cowardly and degrading spectacle.

A Vancouver Sun editorial of September 12 makes the
astounding assertion that ‘‘Our claim to the lands of the
archipeligo (Canadian Arctic, Ed.) is not under question, but
our right to own and control the adjacent waters is’’.

Before the advent of the Manhattan excursion, it could have
been asked of the Sun scribe and others of the Trudeau breed
who serve as the lackeys of Yankee imperialism, by whom are
these adjacent waters ‘questioned’? Now we don’t have to
ask. U.S. monopoly-imperialism and its gigantic bulk-carrier
Manhattan has given the answer.

How do our ‘“‘statesmen” in Ottawa — when they are not
engaged in the lighter art of “‘swinging’’ — reply to this new
threat to Canada’s sovereignty and independence?

Shush, shush, be cautious, don’t say or do anything, mebby it
will go away. We don’t want to see our “friendly neighbor” get
angry. Just sit tight, and ‘‘the government” will ‘make a
statement”’ in parliament sometime ‘‘soon’’.

Meantime, an assorted ‘‘representative”’ committee _hi-
tails it to the Canadian Arctic to “‘welcome’’ the Manhattan—
and by their presence there hope to indicate to these modern
Yankee pirates that, as Canadians, they have some little
“right” to be there. At best a pretty wishy-washy gesture of
Canadian “‘sovereignty’’.

Then, of course, Messrs Trudeau, Sharp, et al, together with
their Tory and Liberal predecessors, in their hesitant and half-
hearted attempts at promoting those modern esentials of
Arctic development, coastguard services. communication
etc. have also been more than hesitant in asserting Canada’s
sovreignty in the Canadian Arctic — or responsibility for its
Eskimo people.

The only time these gentlemen get warmed up on the subject
is when the U.S. manages to warm-up their antiSoviet cold-
war with “Dew Lines,”’ “‘Early-Warning”’ lines, etc. in regions
of the Canadian Arctic. Then, Canada’s Tory and Liberal
“available Joes’? become readily articulate — in support of
the cold war.

Flowing out from the Manhattan episode, comes another
grave problem, as yet scarcely mentioned: that of the ever-
present risk and danger of a massive pollution of Arctic
waters. It would only require one such catastrophe as
happened to the Torrey Castle in the English Channel, and in
ice-bound Arctic waters the risks are an hundred times higher.
to dump 200,000 tons or so of crude oil into these waters — and
the destruction of a vast wealth of land, marine— and human
life; perhaps also menacing the sovereignty and naturaf wealth
of countries other than Canada would result.

While it looks at the moment as if Mother Nature herself
had saved Canada’s Arctic sovereignty for the time being, the
people of Canada should demand of M. Trudeau and his shush-
shush followers an end to their degrading performances, and
begin to speak up for Canada NOW. As even the Sun editorial
puts it; “‘there is virtue in a fait accompli’’.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—SEPTEMBER 19, 1969—PAGE 2

NPA old guard undermin¢
democracy at city hall

By ALD. HARRY RANKIN

Like some other members of
City Council, including
Aldermen Art Phillips, Walter
Hardwick and Brian Calder, I
am becoming increasingly fed
up with the actions of the NPA
old guard on Council in over-
riding established Council policy
‘and making decisions about city
business outside of Council
meetings.

Two recent instances are the
proposed purchase by the city of
Block 71 from Eaton’s and the
installation of new types of
street lighting in certain areas of
the city.

NPA Mayor Tom Campbell an-
nounced to the press last week
that the city would purchase
Block 71 from Eaton’s for $2.5
million. (Block 71 is bounded by
Howe, Smithe, Hornby and
Nelson.) Council has never made
any such decision.

How then did Mayor Campbell
arrive at this conclusion? He
personally polled NPA aldermen
by phone. Apparently Aldermen
Adams, Broome, Bird, Linnell,
Sweeney and Wilson assured him
of their support. Only Alderman
Calder did not go along with the
idea immediately; he reserved
decision. Aldermen Hardwick,
Phillips and I were not
consulted.

Is this the way to decide a
major issue such as the spending
of $2.5 million of the taxpayers’
money? What is the point of
having Council meetings at all if
the NPA is going to decide city
business outside of Council,
completely ignoring the elected
aldermen who do not belong to
the NPA? This is a crude

_violation of even the most ele-

mentary democratic procedures
at the civic level.

A second instance of violation
of city policy by the NPA old
guard occurred last week when
Council was sitting as a court of
revision, hearing a request by a
delegation of women for special

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Oh, say can you see...

street lighting in three areas on
the west side of the city. They
didn’t like the standard type of
gooseneck - shaped light poles
and wanted a post-top type
instead.

Personally, I was quite willing
to go along with their request. I
see no special merit in
uniformity, If the residents of
any area want something
different that appeals to their
aesthetic tastes, why not?

As a matter of fact, Council
last June already agreed to this,
Stipulating only that if the new
and different type of light poles
cost more than the standard
type, then the residents of the
area would foot the bill for the
additional costs. The delegation
of women seemed satisfied with
this too and was prepared to go
along with it.

Pollution issue
at civic parley

t
When more than 1,300 delegates from B.C. municipalities. Oe

in Kamloops September 17-19 at the 66th annual convention ° ny
Union of B.C. Municipalities, they will have before them ma 1
resolutions dealing with urgent matters affecting ~ Br

Columbians.

High among the list of 106
resolutions from municipalities
all across the province are many
dealing with pollution and civic -
provincial financing.~ Much
attention is focused on a report
of a joint study by the UBCM and
the provincial government on
finances and _ relationships
between the two levels of govern-
ment.

Resolutions on pollution, ex-
pressing general disatisfaction
with present provincial govern-
ment plans, lay particular
stress on the lack of provincial
funds being made available to
municipalities. Typical of the

But not Aldermen Broome al
the NPA old guard. Theh
(Mayor Campbell and Alder :
Linnell, Bird and Broome)
to have the city pay the tt
costs of the special ligt”
requested for these areas: ie
doing so they not only Dr
established Council policy & |
violated a city by-law; they i {
showed favoritism for their |
west side) of the city which ¥
not be subsidized to the Be
many thousands of dollal®
Aldermen Phillips, Calder
voted against the NPA may at
(Aldermen Hardwick was 1
the meeting. ) 5

I'm sure the citizens |
Vancouver, whatever
political persuasion may b& Fi
join me in demanding an re
such actions by the NPA %
guard. <7

I q
of

==

resolutions-on this subject
one from Salmom°Arm.
Moody’ and Alberni-Clavod
councils, which was gal
endorsed by the Okang
Municipal Association, © i
on the ‘‘provincial gove :
to enact province - wide !
tion providing for star
enforcement and penaltle> 3)
all sources of environme™ ane
ollution.”’ ol
Tanethes resolution ent
by the Kootenay and Bou
municipalities calls 0” ome
provincial government 1 ont
up ‘with a workable eco”
solution to the whole propa
sanitary sewer and sewaet ution
are
points out that present plant {0

A resolution from the 1 py
Alberni council, and endor
the Association of Vane
Island Municipalities. nie
against artificial limita ne ut
property assessments ai “oS:
of-date assessment valuale

The resolution asks to |
provincial governme? iy
amend the Assessment Eq” ciple
tion Act to restore the pr cable
of equalization to be aPP’ of
to all classification cial .
property without any 4 on
limiting conditions whateY® ‘air
The resolution calls f0F ® nin
and equitable assessment tio"
and between all classifi¢ ities
of property in all municlPT” ‘ne
and in all sections °
rovince.” in
: The many resolutions dea
with lack of finances iojcultié
cipal activities. and @!
in raising funds fOr — ious
projects. point to the "vost
financial crisis facine Ban
cities and towns In »% thes®
main thrust of most  jro |
resolutions is for greale ie si
vincial government -
financing.