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BRITISH COLUMBIA

Strong policies shelved as NDP convention has eyes fixed on election

By DAN KEATON

Delegates to last week’s New Democratic Party convention met in a mood of optimism that their party will form the next govern- ment. The convention, held Oct. 16-18 in Hotel Vancouver, was low on controversy but high on support for the current leadership, in- cluding provincial leader Dave Bar- rett, who was acclaimed for a twelfth term.

_ Key resolutons called on the an- ticipated future NDP government to implement a program of low- Tent, union built public housing, land banking and rent controls, ex- tended rather than reduced health care and social services, and equal pay for work of equal value for women in government jobs.

Other resolutions decried -cur- tent inadequate GAIN rates, called for extended child care facilities and attention to the needs of older women.

High among environment mo- tions adopted was a demand for scrapping the proposed Hat Creek thermal power project, while labor Tesolutions centered on technological change and the right of forest-and agricultural. workers to decent housing.

Barrett set what may be the cor-.

nerstone of the provincial party’s election platform when he an- nounced NDP plans to subsidize mortgages for homeowners by seven percent. Under this scheme, mortgages would be offered at 13.5

- percent through a special agency

created under the B.C. Savings and Trust Corporation Act, enacted by the previous NDP government but hever proclaimed.

Much of the cost for this would be reclaimed through taxes generated by increased jobs in the resultant exanded housing in- dustry, and a few cents more per bottle on liquor tax, he said.

Barrett’s mortgage scheme and his disparagement of the private banking system’s profits coupled with the federal government’s ‘phoney’? deferred mortgage plan fitted well with later resolutions on

creation of public housing and con- «

stituted perhaps the most positive note of the convention.

Less inspiring was Barrett’s assessment of the important natural resources question. He de- nounced ‘‘the subsized giveaway of our resources” --but offered few solutions for reversing this trend, other than to note that the “abyssmal”’ reforestation program could be enhanced by putting unemployed persons to work plan- ting trees, and to promise that coal carrying vessels for the Ridley Island project would be built here instead of abroad as currently plan- ned. \ He fared little better on the con- stitutional question. While acknowledging that there are

“regional needs’’ and ‘‘language.

disputes,’ he said it is important to “get the constitution behind us,”’ failing to mention Quebec and the nationalities question or the issue of native land claims.

Barrett stressed a positive role for Canada when he denounced the arms buildup, asserting that this country must take a position of peace internationally.”’ This point might have packed more punch had he suggested how ‘“‘we in Canada take the middle road’ when this country is tied economically and militarily to the Us:

Additionally, reiteration of the NDP’s demand that Canada withdraw from NATO and NORAD and a call for the im- mediate ratification by the U.S. of Salt 2 would have added substance to this positive note.

Lack of. controversy was perhaps the most outstanding feature of the convention, the ma- jority of resolutions passing handi- ly with little heated debate on the floor. Delegates received motions in much the same way as they received Barrett’s speech, with warm enthusiasm for ideas and policies calculated to win the sup- port of the broadest cross-section of social democrats.

One of the most important reso- lutions was that dealing with re- establishment of the B.C. Housing Corporation to construct an ‘unspecified amount of low-cost, ‘government subsidized ~ housing built by union labor with rents fix- ed at 25 percent of gross family in- come or market rent, whichever is less. Complementary resolutions called for implementation of land banking, with land acquired from several sources, including ex- propriations from large corpora- tions, as well as provincial subsidies of non-profit housing and strict rent controls.

Of the labor resolutions consid- ered, only two demanded any com- mitment from an NDP govern- ment. The first called on the cur- rent Socred government to consult with workers affected by upcoming new minimum housing standards for work-site accommodation, and a pledge that the NDP if elected would do so.

Canadian Farmworkers Union president Raj Chouhan was called to address the convention on this point and used the occasion to call on the NDP to change the Em- ployment Standards Act to include farmworkers, for which he receiv- ed a standing ovation.

The second resolution called on a future NDP government to ex- tend full bargaining rights to the province’s teachers. Other motions reaffirmed the party’s commit- ment to seek new policies on the ef- fects of technological changes on the work force, and denounced the federal government’s cutbacks of the VIA rail passenger service.

In the field of health care, the resolutions which made it to the floor were perhaps the most indica- tive of NDP priorities. While the

-resolutions book contained mo-

tions calling for universal, free den- tal and medical care and subsidized non-profit clinics, those considered and carried concentrated mainly on reorganization of health care facili-

ties and services, with little finan- cial commitment demanded of an NDP government.

Delegates voted for integration of health and social services with community input into decision making, for regulation and exten- sion of long-term care and home- maker services, and for legalization of midwifery.

On women’s issues, the conven- tion committed an elected NDP government to set an example by instituting the concept of equal pay for work of equal value in all gov- ernment positions. The party was also mandated, if elected, to estab- lish pre-employment programs and a job creation strategy for older women entering the work force, these motions arising from a pro- vincial study conducted by the party’s Women’s Rights Commit- tee.

The convention also reaffirmed its support for universal, free 2Ahour child care without com- mitting an NDP government to its implementation.

Little attention was given to the question of energy resources, other than resolutions calling for utiliza- tion of wood wastes as a source of electrical power and demanding the scrapping of the controversial Hat Creek thermal power project.

Delegates passed three last-min- ute resolutions supporting demon-

_strations against the CAIA (Cana-

dian Association — Latin America and Caribbean) conference, the Nov. 21 CLC demonstration against high interest rates, and the B.C. Organization to Fight Rac- ism. Delegates also voiced their op- position to B.C. Tel’s proposed privately-owned phone system, In- terconnect, endorsing the Tele- communication Workers Union’s campaign.

A standing ovation greeted Nic- araguan government representa- tive Olga Avile, who outlined her coun:ry’s problems since the suc- cessful revolution two years ago. Speaking through a translator, she

warned of the dangers her fledgling

government faces from hostile forces, chief among these U.S. im- perialism, which has sought to iso- late Nicaragua economically under the threat of military intervention.

Election of table officers saw all incumbents returned without op- position. Re-elected are Gerry Stoney, president; Anita Hagen, first vice-president; Joy Langan,

second vice-president; Dave Stu-

pich, third vice-president; Jim Mc- Kenzie, fourth vice-president; Roger Howard, treasurer.

Elected to the provincial execu- tive of the party were Paul Barnett, Stephen Boggis, Rosemary Brown, Johanna Den Hertog, Joe Deno- freo, John Mika, Donna Sacuto, Russ St. Eloi, Yvonne Storey, Bob Williams.

Absence of any opposition slates: for leadership positions and lack of controversy over the policies and direction of the party indicate the NDP has agreed to bury its differ-

‘ences and opt for a middle-of-the- road program in the election antici- »

pated within the next year.

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DEMONSTRATORS . . penheimer Park rally.

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ELIAS STAVRIDES — FISHERMAN PHOTO

urning of coal at Op-

Moratorium on Hydro megaprojects sought

Demonstrators representing environmental groups from across the province marched through downtown Vancouver Oct. 16 calling for a moratorium on B.C. Hydro’s numerous planned megaprojects.

Chanting, ‘‘Damn B.C. Hydro, not’our'rivers,”” ‘‘Fire:

~Bonner, not the'coal,” “‘Native’

people have rights, stop B.C. Hydro” and other slogans, the approximately 70 demonstrat- ors paraded from Oppenheimer Park to the B.C. Hydro build- ing on Burrard St.

The demonstration followed a morning mini-conference on B.C. Hydro’s planned projects, part of the week-long open con- ference held Oct. 11-18.

The theme of Hydro’s rape of B.C.’s natural resources was aptly displayed in the colorful float preceding the marchers featuring two mountains — one covered with green vegetation and the other painted brown bearing dead vegetation around a miniature ‘‘smokestack’’ belching smoke from real coal.

This theatrical approach con- tinued in front of the Hydro headquarters with a mock inter- view of acostumed “‘Mr. Robot Bomber’’.

The ‘‘Bomber’’ character, a parody of Hydro chairperson Robert Bonner, offered numerous ‘‘justifications”’ for , the devastations of large scale industrial projects to the merri- ment of the crowd.

On the serious side, John Walker of the Hat Creek Action Group, one of the organizations opposing the temporarily shelv- ed Hat Creek thermal power station, began by noting that

‘all the groups here support the demands at this demonstra- tion,’’ including calls for a gov- ernment-sponsored full public inquiry into B.C. Hydro’s pro- jects, a moratorium on all pro- jects until the inquiry’s comple- tion, and prior settlement of all native land claims.

Stressing a theme recurrent in many of the speeches, Walker

called for unity of the various groups engaged in regional struggles around the province, stating, ‘‘B.C. Hydro doesn’t want us to see their whole energy plan, and their hookups with the multinational corporations.”’ This theme was echoed by Arne Thomilinson. of the

- UFAWU which has been ‘‘long

on record as opposing the mega projects,’’ according to Thomlinson. Restating the need for a full public inquiry into Hydro’s schemes, he urged marchers not to limit their strug- gles to just one issue, stressing that ‘‘we need an energy policy for all of Canada.”

‘The people of B.C. Hydro aren’t just sitting around in meetings, they’re taking action — we have to take action too,”’ said Native representative Nilak Butler of the Society of the Peo- , ple Struggling to be Free.

George Mermanson of the United Church of Canada’s Division of Mission in stating his church’s historical support for native land claims declared, “It?s important we realize we: face a life-and-death struggle between super technologies and the environment.”

B.C. Hydro chairperson Robert Bonner was not the sole person responsible for un- popular projects, because the Crown corpo: .on was ‘‘only acting out the policies of the Social Credit government,” asserted Peter Deverell of the Hat Creek Coalition.

Mike Down of the UBC en- vironmental interest group, said many students, such as those in forestry and agriculture will face bleak job prospects in the future because of the adverse affects Hydro’s projects will have on forestry reserves and farm land.

Othe speakers included Nadine Asante of the Terrace- based Skeena Protection Coali- tion, Randy Hadden of the Peace Valley Environmental Association, and Laurie Gourlay of SPEC, Nanaimo.

PACIFIC TRISUNE—OCT. 23, 1981—Page 3