Page A10 — Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 18, 1990 Premier aims at na unity health care costs _ in this, the second in a twa- part interview with Terrace Standard Victoria columnist Hubert Beyer, Premier Bill Vander Zalm comments on Quebec and rising health. care costs. BEYER: Let's change the topic. Meech Lake, has your proposal helped in any way break the constitutional log jam? VANDER ZALM: Yes, I think initially there was little accep- tance for it, particularly back seat and especially so with the federal government because they took the stance that if we indicate at all that we are prepared to move 2 little bit then it’s Meech Lake over and it'll be a whole new ball game. So they have resisted that. Now, I think, they are beginning to realize they are running out of time. Not only are they realizing it, but with all of the publicity emanating from Quebec, some people elsewhere are getting jittery. Maybe Quebec or the people in Quebec that promoted this, didn’t intend it to come out that way, but in effect, we are now seeing people ready to consider change. I’m not saying that the B.C proposal is the total answer, but it’s a basis from which we might begin. And I think we will see a better acceptance for it over the next while, BEYER: Even taking the worst-case scenario, nothing works, Meech dies on June 23, surely you don’t believe and none of the other premiers believe, that this will mean the collapse of Canada. Wouldn't you expect everybody to get back to the drawing board after crying a little bit. Meech Lake or die? I don’t buy that. “They say, if | were liv- ing in Quebec, maybe ! could be a separatist.” VANDER ZALM: I do believe there is a great difference bet- ween B.C. and Quebec, We are together on some issues and when I attend a con- ference, often I find that my best allies are those from Quebec because we do have some similarities. We often feel different or distinct for different reasons, too. So we get together on a good many issues, surprisingly, However, the people here in B.C. can get very upset with Ottawa and with eastern Canada, BEYER: You're not really discouraging that, are you? VANDER ZALM: No, ] am not discouraging that. I think the people need to be aware of the inequities. It’s only through people becoming aware that, hopefully, some of these inequities will be address- ed. So] don’t discourage this. However, even though peo- ple here may get upset with Ontario and Quebec or the federal government, they are always Canadians first. But in Quebec, people are Quebecers first, and understandably so. They have a French language, a French culture, a French law. They have pride in all of this, and all of this is somewhat threatened by their participation in Canada. So there are many Quebecers that honestly feel that they could be a district society as a country in North America. So I wouldn’t write off the possibility of Quebec going it alone. And you know, what really surprises me is that when British Columbians who have lived here all their lives but have been to Quebec for a week or two or three, they come back saying almost the same thing, They say, if I were living in Quebec, maybe I could be a separatist. So the possibility of Quebec deciding to go it alone can’t be ruled out, but it might be avoided. BEYER: Anything special planned for the session? Anything you would like to see done? VANDER ZALM: There is ob- viously not very much left of this term, regardless of when the elections are. Right now, during a strong economy, we are fiscally in good shape and everything is great, but it’s also all very fragile. An action from Ottawa,.a particular direction by the peo- ple in the province, could soon threaten the economy and our fiscal situation. So, it’s fragile, - and what I had hoped to work towards next is greater security for our people. The trend is very good, but you know, we still face situa- tions like in Kimberley where a town could end up on its back when an industry decides to pull out. We still face situa- . tions where we suddenly have a bout of inflation such as we had in the early Eighties. I want a greater security for the people of our communities and the economy in general, BEYER: Well, that would in- dicate plans for economic ex- pansion. VANDER ZALM: Not entirely so. Economic expansion also means a lot more people. And la am nol sure that a lot more 48.75 per week! Call Today! Advertise Your Garage Sale! You will reach 6,000 households and businesses when you adver- tise your garage sala in the Terrace Standard. Your 2x12" Is only GARAGE SALE SUN., APRIL 1 10 a.m. Everything must gal! T.V., furniture, clothes, 4647 Lazelle Bill Vander Zalm people is what we want right now. I think we have to try to ' provide better for the people who are already here. I am not sure we want to encourage a California a la 1970s, BEYER: You could try to be a little more specific, you know, instead of talking in generalities. VANDER ZALM: Well, I guess what J am saying is that growth is one of the problems we Have to deal with in the next while. We have areas | where growth could be a real problem like the lower part of Vancouver Island, the Fraser Valley, the Okanagan, areas where growth could be our biggest problem. So growth in itself or growth alone is not what we are looking for. ional. “You could face atime when you have huge in- frastructures but not the monies to provide the services.” " BEYER: I would like to very briefly touch on the Royal: Commission on Health Care. 1 don’t think we have to reiterate all the problems that exist in the health care system in British Columbia and elsewhere. How many anwers do you hope to get out of the: Commission? VANDER ZALM: Well, the terms of reference are fairly broad. And the Commission 875 a STAN aD -4847 Lazella provides a very broad range of. expertise. Given those facts, I: expect that we might get more’ answers than what we could a hope for. >” BEYER: What about the. answer a lot of people have got. They ‘say, “we know what the problem is, we just have to spend more money.”? What about that argument? VANDER ZALM: Well, that is not the answer, because ob- viously there'will be a time when we may not have the money. And if you develop a system based on just putting ‘more money into it, you could . face a time when you have huge infrastructures, a tremen- dous overhead, the equipment and the facilities, but you don’t have the monies to pro- vide the services. . If we could eliminate some of the excesses, if we could eliminate some of the abuses, and if we could limit somewhat the cost of pro- viding the services by not over- doing it in some of the profes- sions — that's a tall order — say, a sustainable system. In other words, it would stili be there five, ten or 20 years from now. If the commission could ’ come back and recommend to us alternative approaches in health care, this could be the best investment we ever made, Waveviuveveed iy. ~ RETRACTION. 2 ‘The: Easter Basket as advertised on page 6 of Our Easter Flyer dated April 8 to 14 are transpos-. ed. ‘Wealworths’ apologizes for arly. inconvenience _ this may have caused. HY Inn of the West is honoring ‘a pte Apt 95 with a spec ned chot our ballot today 10. nd rein a the West's Secretary Cali tor reservations at 636-8 "S Luncheon In Fanny Lounge 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. 4620 Lakelse, ANe.- Terrace, B.C. he sua eon . rotates, plus ¢ a com: “e ask for sin ‘town’ on -- They wil be ar Shei Bruce. Rusty Liungh 635-5754 _ MEMBER ROYAL L:PAGE= Dennis J. E. Maxwell on his recent purchase of the BIRCHWOOD APARTMENTS at 4506 Little Avenue We are pleased to have been of assistance in the purchase of your apariment block. 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