Page 2 March 1982 Cassiar Courier Cabinet Ministers’ Views Hon. BOB McCLELLAND Following the Public Meeting the Courier staff were able to meet with the Hon. Bob McClelland at which time he discussed various topics which came up at the meeting. ON BENEFITS OF TOUR Cassiar was in fact the 3rd stop on the tour. Mr. McClelland stated that he wes very impressed with the quality of the briefs presented so far. He stated that the tour gives the government the opportunity to find out the development required and the pro- blems incurred at the community level. This enables them to develop better solutions to the problems. Since the legislation sits for 5 - 6 months of the year, not a great deal of time is left for travel. However, two similar tours have been held in each of the past two years in other areas of the province. twas noted that all areas visited at this time had some similar problems,notably trans- portation, isolation and weather. ON PUBLIC MEETING Mr. McClelland stated that the meeting held in Cassiar was the best attended-on the tour. It was in fact the only public meet- ing to that point, other communities held group sponsored dinners which were public,as well as meetings to present the various briefs. The public had taken advantage of the opportunity to talk about their concerns. He felt that the major problem brought up at the meeting was the need to make more land available and he recog- nized that there would have to be changes made in some policies in order to begin to solve the problem of the availability of land. ON TAKEOVER OF HOSPITAL & INCORPORATION Mr. McClelland stated that both were very close to becoming facts. He noticed that people. were very concerned about what in- corporation would mean to them in terms of extra taxes, etc. He stated that the cost to the individual would be extremely small as the Company owns most of the land and so would still have to bear approximately 95% of the cost. ON HYDRO So far nothing has been approved on the proposed Stikine - Dam Project. No application has been made and there would have to be public meetings before it would even be considered. Hon. TOM WATERLAND | We recently had the opportunity to meet with The Hon. Tom Waterland while he was in town as part of the Economic Development Committee. In chatting with Mr. Waterland, we found that he is the representative for the Atlin Riding in the “buddy system” developed by the government a little over a year ago. This system was developed so that people in ridings where the V.L.A. is a member of the opposition can also have the opportunity to contact a member of government as well as their local M.A. An example of this system is that he can bring up issues concerning the Atlin area in Parliament and he has also promised to look into the problem that the Community Club is having in obtaining government grants. Mr. Waterland can be contacted at 604-387-3513. Another topic discussed was the relocation of the Forestry Department from Lower Post to Dease Lake. Mr. Waterland said that one of the major factors in choosing Dease Lake was that It is the nearest centre to the area of operation with the necessary air facilities and the field people know where they will operate. He said that with the changes of administration within the de- partment i.e. 6 regions divided into 47 districts - people in small: areas are now having more say in the handling of these areas. ©00000000000000060000006000000 In This Issue Church News Library News School News School District No. 87 News Town Council Good Hope Lake News Page 5 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10& 11 Cabinet Ministers Visit Page 12 Page 17 Rage 19 Page 20 Star Gazing Dining by Candlelight Sunduster Classified Ads Cassiar Transportation _ Projections Bob Harvey, Deputy Minister of Transportation and High- ways, said in a recent interview that no work is planned in the immediate future for the cut-off from Hwy. 37 to Cassiar. Paving contracts are being prepared for a total of 76 km. of Hwy. 37 but approval is still to be given and this is fully depend-~ ent on funds being available. Four bridge contracts are ready to go and it is expected two will be built in 1982. Design work is under way for three projects: 1. Dease Lake to Sawmill Point (31 km). 2. Vicinity of Burrage River. 3. Blue River to Yukon Border. Mr. Harvey stated the Blue River to Yukon border section was considered a priority item. He also stressed a prime objective is to reduce or eliminate the Spring break-up load reduction pro- blem on this highway. While in Cassiar, Mr. Harvey inspected thé airstrip and he said the problem with the strip is that in its present location it cannot be brought up to a fully ‘serviceable facility in order to serve sub-regional carriers, DC6 water bombers and air evacuat- ion pressurized aircraft suitable to fly province-wide. An alternate site would be necessary and this would involve a very heavy expenditure - much more than was already spent on Dease Lake. In addition there is a maintenance problem, Other strips have a municipality to accept responsibility or they have a Highways Centre, such as at Dease Lake. Incorporation of Cassiar would assist with this. 5 Mr. Harvey stated that his department would be: placing more priority on site location and development investigation for this airstrip. — When asked why the Highway Maintenance Camp at Good Hope Lake was not relocated to Cassiar, as had been mentioned earlier, he stated he was aware a site had been made available in Cassiar but that the employees wished to remain in Good Hope Lake, and that before such a move could be made more funding would have to be made available from the B.C. Building Corp. TO THE DITOR TELEGRAPH CREEK, FEB. 11, 1982, This week while the parliamentary Mini-cabinet held its blitz of the Atlin riding, | spent eleven days holding open meetings in Iskut, Dease Lake, Lower Post, Good Hope, Telegraph and Cassiar. Instead of hold- ing private lunches for a select few, as the mini-cabinet has in a number of communities. | have tried to meet and discuss problems with as many residents as | could. The main problems facing residents of Cassiar Country are 500% plus tax assessments in Dease, a. recent announcement that Hydro has been ordered out of the Stikine (Vancouver Province Business section, February 4, 1982), improvements for Highway 37 and northern costs and taxes. | take exception to the Cassiar Courier editorial “NDP. Visitors to Cassar in the February issue. As your editorial pointed out, questions addressed to the platform concerned: (1) Northern tax relief, (2) Stikine-Iskut Dam, (3) Crown land (4) Highway improvements (5) company towns. Maybe the Courier staff have been hiding their heads in the sands too long, or are simply not interested in the problems fac: ing the workers and residents of the north. For, to say that the answers to questions were the same as heard at previous meetings Soe is a compliment to any elected officia when viewed in terms Of recent provincial government statements. While the Courier staff may find northern tax benefits or crown land as unin- _ spiring issues, the hundreds of residents | have talked to these « last few days feel these issues are of great importance. | wholeheartedly agree with freedom of the press and the concept of editorials. Maybe the Cassiar Courier statf will mature enough in their journalistic skills to write an editorial on ““Unionism in a Company Town”. Greetings from Telegraph Creek. Al Passarell, MLA Atlin EDITORS NOTE — We did not say the the “issues” were uninspir- ing but that the meeting on the whole was uninspiring because the answers were the same as had been heard at previous meetings. RI ARACEAE A: MLA. REPORT Al Passarell Although Mr. Passarell was in the Cassiar area recently it appears he was not able to fit an interview with us into his busy schedule so we phoned him in Victoria for his views on some of the current happenings. Again he was too busy to talk. to us but his secretary gave us his answers. |. What is your opinion of the tour recently completed by the ~ Cabinet Committee on Economic Development? At a time of restraint | find a delegation of twenty or so paid staff and politicians a trifle expensive. The cost of sal- aries, aircraft, meals and refreshments for this group would go a long way toward paying for needed improvements in health care in the Atlin consituency. A visit is fine but a public relations extravaganza is too typical of the way the Socreds spend our money. 2. At the last public meeting you held in Cassiar you stressed to the people attending that they should attend the open meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Develgo- ment which wes held in Cassiar on February 10, and you said that you definitely would be in attendance. Why were you not there? : At the time of the February 10 meeting | was in Telegraph Creek attending to the needs of my constitutents. There were no transportation arrangements for my son and | to hop 200 miles to Cassiar for the Cabinet’s meeting. | did, however, visit Cassiar on February 13 in the course of my tour and stayed until February 15.1 was also in Cassiar on February 7 and 8. All MLA’s receive $1600.00 a year for constituency travel, Since | travel extensively throughout my riding on a regular - basis, my in-constituency travel fund is exhausted within a ~ few.months, The travel fund starts in April and goes to the end of March the next fiscal year. $1600.00 does not go “very far when one has to rent a vehicle at $40.00 a day, and 20 cents plus a kilometre in the north. : 3. /none of your recent letters to the constituents in this area, you mentioned one of the “problems” in the Dease Lake - Telegraph Creek area was that the workers had been pulled __ Off the Stikine Hydro project. Since you have always spok- en out against this project, why was that a problem? The point of my letter was that the government not Hydro pulled the work crews off the Stikine-Iskyt project iin Feb- ruatry 1982 after discovering Hydro’s permit expired in November 1981. The B.C. government cannot therefore avoid, responsibility for the actions of B.C:Hydro nor can they afford to ignore the concerns of the many Atlin con- Stituents who feel their income and way of life is threatened. The Perils of Periard On Saturday February 13th, 1982, in 28°C weather Yours Truly was on a private charter from Whitehorse to Mayo, where | was to be Master of Ceremonies at the wedding of Kelly Griswald and Robert Curry in Elsa " The flight left Whitehorse at 1:40 p.m, and proceeded in the direction of Mayo Airport. We were about 172 hours into the flight following the Pelly. River, when the pilot decided to turn and go back in the direction from which we came. It wasn’t fifteen minutes later when he notified me that we were experiencing en- gine problems. The main problem was icing on the carbonator, and every- thing the pilot did to try to correct the problem was in vain. He then informed me that we were about to land and to pre- pare for the landing. Not knowing the depth of the snow, and having only wheels and not skis, we landed taking 180ft of good old landing strip. We left the plane immediately to check the damage. We realized that all we had done was get the shakes and bent the front wheel on the craft. We proceeded to make a fire and opened a survival kit. By 8:00 p.m. we had relayed a message to Whitehorse viaaJAL flight _ The R.CMBP. Twin Otter located use about 11 p.m. and we remained for the rest of the night. Rescue in a single engine Ot- ter took place at 9:00 am. Sunday moming, when we vere taken to Whitehorse. The only damage to yours truly was a badly scorched boot. by G. Periard — CASSIAR © Bits & Pieces. Almost everyone will recognize the “new face” at Marvel Travel Ltd. — Marvel is pleased to announce that Anna Guarducci has Joined her staff. Nice to see Alf G. finally got his dog back. LEMON PIE DRAMA — Part 2— A nice lady made Ed T. a pie and just at eating time Ed was called back to the mill. The two - young ladies went to his house and ate three-quarters of the pie - leaving one-quarter for Ed. He was late getting home and left his pie for the next night. One young lady went to his house in the afternoon and ate the rest. Wow — is he mad! Now he wants two small pies for “the wearing of the yellow”. More on this in next issue. f A certain lady in town still blushes when she thinks of her big goof — don’t feel too bad, S. — some garbage bags could look likeadog!!!! . OVERHEARD IN CASSIAR — One little boy asking his mother — “Does Uncle Frank really look after these houses for God?’ Overheard ata recent baby shower — “I spend all my time in _the kitchen or in bed!” oe Most people who get kicked out usually move into the doghouse. However, Dr. Bruce goes out in style — a Kodiak tent! Seems Jean thinks —30C is too cold to be in the doghouse!!! Congratulations to Bub. Crossley, who received her Canadian citizenship recently. Clare is a B— ar — Be there and be on time! Nice to see Carlene Kliment back in town for a visit. The local Tackle Shop owner likes fresh Rainbow trout, but this is ridiculous! During —40°C weather he and another local took.a couple of southerners to Morchera to show how it’s done. It was so cold the ski-doo froze up; a gas cap cracked in half; a valve went and they lost most of the oil in the truck; two tanks of gas and they ran dry 20 miles from home. To stay warm a fire was built, buming a sleeve on a jacket and the pants of a “borrowed” snow- mobile suit. Add to all this some frost bite and catching the limit of Rainbow and a “good time” was had by all. Are those fish worth $10.00 a pound, boys? Goodbye and good luck to Tim and Barb Riordan, who are mov- ing to Yellowknife, Tim will be working for Giant Yellowknife. Both Tim and Barb were active in the community during their stay in Cassiar and they will certainly be missed. Brenda. Tarasuk became Mrs. Bob Lamoreaux on February 20 in Edmonton. Congratulations, Brenda and Bob. WELCOME TO: Tom and Diane Friend and family. Mr. & Mrs. Yves Roger and family. and goodbye to Mr. & Mrs. Ruff and family, who have gone to Sparwood. ARRI Erickson Creek Column —— F “rectet Ses eb ee by Pat Lewis Beaton As the B.C. Cabinet Committee on Economic Development visited Erickson and Cassiar in February | couldn’t help wishing they could really experience our northern problems themselves. Inawild daydream | imagined: } ** Highways Minister Alex Fraser driving from Kitwanga to Cassiar at 40 below and again at Spring breakup....... ** Housing Minister Jim Chabot trying to buy(or lease) a fav- - ored piece of land for a log cabin........ ** "Food Minister Jim Hewitt shopping in the north. (How do you like them apples, Jim?...some northern benefits, huh?).:..... ** Labor Minister Jack Heinrich working here and having his northern benefits taxed so that in effect his wages begin to equal those of people living in the south............ ** Parks Minister Jack Chabot having his favorite weekend re- creation lake turned into a park so that local residents can no longer build cabins on it.......... ey Oh, well. It was only a dream. | do hope the committee had a good fact-finding visit to Cassiar country. At Erickson this month spirits are running high as our min- ers open more ore zones for development. Looking across the valley at the fate of Plaza Mine we can’t help but be reminded what a risky business this gold mining is! Goodbye to Wally Lee, our assayer, who left-Erickson in February. Carol Whiteside will now take over in the assay lab. Congratulations to Tom Williams, Phil Balcom, Dave Gies and Mike Mulholland, the four miners at 21 Portal, who achieved 600 feet of advance last month. Scoop drivers Bernie Rushton: and Mike Botel, Engineer Tommy McGrail and mechanic Ken Anderson are also part of that hard-driving team. iHats off to Mike Botel this month. Mike is now one of our scoop drivers, but he has been everything from tree faller to sur- face labor to snowplow gperator. He is the longest serving Erick- son employee still on the property. Mike came up to Erickson in 1978 and helped put the mill and camp together. Now he’s work- ing at the site of Erickson’s future: 27 Level. Smile your good luck smile on 21, Mikie! We're looking forward to Schmoo Daze — we want to wirt back the Outhouse Race Title. See you there........ ; SSSR. The school office staff are really enjoying the cooking of the students involved in the activity afternoons and Mr. Lanphear hasn't been good enough to warrant any of it yet. Denise. Clark and baby Drew were guests of honor at a baby shower hosted recently by “Auntie” Karen Clark, Goodbye to Fran Turner and her children. They have left to join Mr. Turner in Prince George. ne ‘ r i: BORN TO: Lorraine Merrick and Fred Lutz, a son, Freddy, 8 /bs. 6 oz. on January 25, 1982. Peggy and Paul Brohman, a son Michael Jacob, 6 Ibs. 2 oz. on January 24, 1982 in Kitchener, Ontario. Terry and Sid Tschritter, a son Ryan Michael, 8 Ibs. 4 oz.on January 27, 1982 in Vernon, B.C. A brother for Leahann and Alyssa, Susan and Sinisa Jovanovic, a daughter Kristina Ann, 3.175 kg. on January 19, 1982 in Whitehorse. Special thanks to Dr. Beaton at the Cassiar Hospital. ; go ee oe 6 6 6 ee : NOTICE The Rod and Reel would like to remind all hunters and fishermen that licences expire March 31, 1982. Previous licences or a C.O.R.E. certificate are required for hunting licences. Please pick up your new licences during store hours — 1:00 - 8:00 p.m. Mon- day through Friday. Cassiar Courier March 1982 Page 3 cshital appenings Well, we are still coming and going. Lil has gone out on de- bushing. Hope you find some warmer weather on your trip out Lil. Katherine and Martha have returned from their European adventures and both had enjoyable times. Sandy and Mary sur- vived the trip to Port Hardy. — Some new faces at the hospital! Pleasure to have Barb and Terry with us for a week during the-School Experience Pro- gram. garb to join ex-Cassizites Hine Robichaud and Doreen Tevely in the Port Hardy Ladies Bonspiel. Thanks to the Port Hardy Curling Club for their hospital- ity and we especially appreciated the lovely flowers received for travelling the longest distance. to participate. A special thanks to Roslyn Glynn for sparing for us in the first game, due to our skip’s extenuating circumstance. Oh yes! Although the trophy may be a bit presumptuous, we did get into the prizes. — | Hine, Ludge, Doreen and Les send. their “‘Hello’s” and best wishes for the New Year to all their Cassiar friends. NOTICE TO CASSIAR AND DISTRICT RESIDENTS On behalf of Cassiar Private Hospital, Doctors and staff, | would like to bring to your attention the following list of pol- icies regarding the operation of the hospital- 7, Pharmacy hours are between 8:30 am and 5:00 p:m. Monday through Friday. Prescription drugs will not be issued at any other time, unless in the event of an emergency and the Doctor's approval is abtained. 2. The Hospital, like the stores, liquor store, lounge, theatre and all other facilities in Cassiar, is not prepared to “charge” drugs or any other item which the hospital may provide for your needs. Please bring money with you to pay for your pre- scriptions, otherwise, medications will have to be withheld un- til such time as we receive the necessary funds. This includes children.who visit the Doctor unaccompanied by their parents. 3. Appointments to see the Doctors may be made between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, ~_ when the clerical staff ison duty. Emergencies will be treated as such in the usual manner. 4. We would also ask that unless children are to be seen by the Doctor they be left at home. We have a small waiting room usually very crowded and the extra confusion of children being allowed to run and play in the waiting area can no longer be permitted. ; 5. Visiting hours for in-patients at the hospital are between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m_ in the afternoon and between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in the evening. There will be no deviation from this policy unless it is an emergency situation. All patients will be allowed two visitors only, at one time. 6. Children under the age of twelve years will not be alowed to visit in-patients. 7. Persons under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be denied visiting privileges. : Thank you for your attention and continued co-operation Lee Patton, Hospital Administrator Sandy and. Mary donned their cowgirl hats and western / ©8000 0H OOOO SOOO OSOHOHOSOHOHOHOOOOOH NOTICE A provincial, door-to-door enumeration will be held .in Cassiar March 1, 1982 to March 15, 1982. Laura Boileau, Joan Lecours, Fiona Carew and Karen Brocklebank will be Knocking on your door.