7 JA | 12 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER NUARY, 1973 a re. : ; | 38,000 copies printed in this issue lished once monthly as the official publication of the INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA , Western Canadian Regional Council No. 1 Affiliated with AFL-CIO-CLC ; 2859 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, B.C. Phone 876-5261 Busir Manager-—-Fred Fieber Advertising Representatives—Elizabeth Spencer Associates | orwarded to every member of the [WA in Western Canada in accordance with convention decisions : Subscription rate for non-members $2.00 per year | EDITORIAL : TWO-PRICE SYSTEM? Bg Provincial Highways Minister Robert’ Columbians be forced to pay through the 3 Strachan set the forest industry back on its heels when he charged it with “criminal irresponsibility” over the exorbitant latest round of lumber price increases. The Minister suggested that the government might be reluctantly forced to impose a two-price system to protect local homebuilders if the industry wasn’t prepared to bring prices under control. Under a two-price policy the government could prevent the industry jacking up lumber prices in British Columbia to match high export market prices. : For the past two years the B.C. forest industry has been reaping record profits ' due principally to a U.S. housing boom ‘and lumber shortage. The fantastic export prices have forced domestic lumber prices to the point where it’s virtually impossible for British Columbians to buy wood products. Mr. Strachan has brought up an interesting point. Why should British nose for lumber obtained from their own natural resources to satisfy the insatiable greed of the industry? There would be room for argument if the forest industry employees benefitted from these excess profits but they don’t. So why shouldn't B.C. homebuilders be given legislative protection against the industry's price gouging on the local market. A prime example of this gouging was reported in The Province of January 17. The article stated that the lumber price increase has added an extra $1,000 cost for every $10,000 worth of new con- struction. . This jump in prices is for a one year period and as one buyer stated, ‘The price of lumber goes up each week and there is no end in sight.” _ If the government were to institute price controls in the industry, it would also have to ensure that the industry didn't export all its prime lumber: and leave the junk for home consumption. No use growlin’ Joe. . . First thing ya gotta doin fallin’ is plan your escape route! : , MEDIATION CHANGES Under the new B.C. Mediation Services Act, mediation in industrial relations comes under control of the Depart- ment of Labour instead of the former Mediation Com- mission, which has been scrapped. Mediation officers no longer have authority to make binding decisions, but can make recommendations for settlement of disputes to the department of labour. yy: T. C. DOUGLAS, M.P. In Ottawa today we have a Parliament of Minorities. In the election of October 30th no party was given a clear mandate to govern: Nevertheless this country must be governed. We are therefore faced with two choices — either to hold an immediate election or to work out government by consensus. In my opinion there are two compelling reasons why an immediate election would probably not solve our problem. The first is that the vast majority of Canadians don’t want another election at this time if it can be avoided. Several thousand questionnaires have been returned to me by my constituents and the present count indicates that 90 percent are opposed to an immediate election. A national poll would probably show the same. The second reason is that in all likelihood another election would not change the situation materially. We might have a different party in office with a small numerical superiority but it is doubttful if any party would have a clear majority. This leaves us with the option of trying to govern by consensus. Having reached that conclusion, the New Democratic Party M.P.’s decided unanimously to follow the logical course of giving whatever party had the largest number of seats an opportunity to present its program to the House of Commons with the clearly stated reservation that if the legislation it presents fails to live up to its advance billing we will vote against the government. We have made it clear that if the Conservative Party had the largest number of seats we would give them the same op- portunity to present their program in a Speech from the Throne without moving or supporting a motion of no-confidence, It is our opinion that if Mr. Trudeau’s government is defeated during this session he has a moral obligation to recommend to the Governor-Genera’ pepe. i Sty : ap SRC RE EE OL RR SAC ET A TA that Mr. Stanfield be called upon to form a govern- ment. In that event we would accord a Conservative government exactly thé same treatment as w e have given the Liberals, namely, a chance to put before Parliament their policies to provide jobs, promote economic growth and bring about price stability. It is not our task to favour either a Liberal or a Con- servative government — that is the responsibility of the electorate. Our job is to make parliamentary government work by supporting any party. which produces results and throwing it out of office when it fails to do so. Government by consensus may be difficult but it also has some very significant advantages. It means that whatever government happens to be in office, it must be much more sensitive to public opinion and more responsive to public need. Whatever the problems of this Parliament may be, they are in many ways better than the arrogant government we faced in the last Parliament which turned a deaf ear to every plea and showed a callous disregard of the most glaring needs of many Canadians. This has been reflected in the Speech from the Throne. The Trudeau government which prior to October 30th claimed there wasn’t any unemployment problem is now putting forward measures to create jobs. They have promised a substantial increase in the Old Age Security pension and are even promising tax reductions for those in the lower and middle income brackets. This is the greatest about-face in Canadian political history. It is amazing how a kick on one end of the spine can have such a stimulating effect on the other end. The Speech from the Throne outlined many laudable and desirable goals but the proof of the _ pudding is in the eating. We will give the Liberal government an opportunity to prove that they mean -has kept successive minority governments on their .was pressured into introducing old age pensions, what they say. If they renege on their commitments, then we believe that Mr. Stanfield should be given a chance to see what a Conservative administration can do. Minority governments in the past have produced some of the most advancéd legislation on our statute books. The possibility of being defeated at any time toes. The minority government of Mackenzie King tariff reform and freight rate adjustments. The Diefenbaker minority government of 1957-58 was much more progressive and forward-looking than was the Diefenbaker administration of 1958-62 which had the largest majority in Canadian history. The Pearson minority governments of 1963 and 1965 pro- duced such things as Medicare, the Canada Pension Plan, the Canada Assistance Plan and a National Labour Code. I am not suggesting that minority government is an ideal situation but I do contend that _ it is not a disaster and that it can result in beneficial legislation representing a consensus of the views of the people’s representatives. Minority governments may be uncomfortable and inconvenient for politicians but they do reflect the opinions of the voters and they challenge us to make parliamentary democracy work in our pr esent situation. In a recent editorial the Editor of the | OTTAWA CITIZEN said: as “Minority government is a nightmare for civil servants. It is hell for politicians. But it can be really quite good for people.” : I agree with that statement and because minority | government can be good for people it constitutes 2. challenge to the Statesmanship of all the political parties and every member of Parliament. Only time will tell how well we will measure up to that challenge. Z i eines t h A