Page 2 January 1989 Cassiar Courier ' OFFICE OF THE PREMIER by Bill Vander Zalm British Columbians feel alienated from a justice system which they see as too complicated, too expensive and far too slow. The provincial government responded to this pub- lic frustration late in 1987 and established the Justice Re- form Committee to investigate the attitudes and dissatis- factions of the public and make recommendations to ad- dress those concerns. The Committee has completed its report and brought forth 182 recommendations aimed at making the justice system in British Columbia more accessible, under- standable, relevant and efficient. Anyone who has ever been involved in legal pro- ceedings knows that it’s an intimidating and costly pro- cess. With this in mind, the Committee’s first recommen- dation is that the laws be in plain language. The report says “British Columbians are entitled to a justice system they can understand. Use of language that people can understand will build a positive link be- tween the justice system and the public.” It says that the use of plain language will save money and time both with- in the system and for its users. People will be able to fill out forms themselves. They will be able to read the laws and rules and regulations that affect them and to under- stand their rights and obligations. Another frustration for people is the high cost of legal services. It was described as “one of the greatest barriers to access to the justice system”. The Committee said that losing a lawsuit is bad enough but some people find that they cannot afford to win either. Lawyers, as a rule, charge fees that are moderate and reasonable but some legal fees remain beyond the ability of many people to pay. A number of recommen- dations have been made to reduce costs and make the courts accessible for everyone, regardless of income. Other recommendations include: - a toll free information line. - enhanced public legal education. - the monetary jurisdiction of the small claims’ court be increased from $3,000 to $5,000. Cabinet will review the recommendations of the Attorney-General following his tour of the province. MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAYS VICTORIA - Premier Bill Vander Zalm called on all Bri- tish Columbians to join with the provincial government in planning a transportation system “that creates a new era Opposition Leader Mike Harcourt NOVEMBER 29, 1988 “It’s a pretty neat deal,” says Bill Vander Zalm. No wonder. His former assistant, David Poole, has walked away from the Premier’s Office with a $100,000 platinum handshake after just 18 months of work. Like you, I’m outraged -- one hundred thousand of our tax dollars handed out to a friend of the government in the same week that beds were closed at Vancouver's cancer Clinic. I’m not about to be silent on this, despite the Socred government’s wishes to the contrary. It’s two weeks and counting since I first asked ‘‘who made the deal”, and Bill Vander Zalm is no closer to providing the answer. I’ve asked B.C.’s auditor-general to investigate. And while he looks into it, there remains a public respon- sibility for Bill Vander Zalm to answer some very clear questions: Did Poole quit as claimed? Or was he fired? of economic development by building on the existing sys- tem and providing improved access to all regions of the province”. The Premier was joined by Transportation and Highways Minister Neil Vant and Regional Development Minister Elwood Veitch in announcing a planning process designed to include full participation in all parts of the province through regional ministers and MLAs. The process, called “Freedom to Move”, is based on an 18-volume study outlining the status of the trans- portation system in every region of the province. It iden- tifies highway, rail, air and marine improvement projects that total more than $7-billion over the next decade. “For the first time in history we have a baseline study upon which we can begin our deliberations in the regions,” said Vant. “It has taken one year to reach this point, but only through such a process can we build re- gional transportation plans and determine priorities in creating an integrated plan that will carry us through to the year 2000.” Both the Premier and Vant said the costs of main- taining and expanding the present highways, rail, air and marine networks are enormous and that is why an integ- _tated plan must be in place. “The people who use our transportation system should have an opportunity to shape the system that will carry us into the 21st century,” Veitch said. “Members of the public will participate in the planning process through regional transportation committees. In that way, trans- portation service will improve throughout the province and tax payers’ dollars will be channelled to transporta- tion projects in every region in B.C.,” Veitch said. Vant said the wear and tear on the present system is taking a heavy toll on every bridge, road, airport, rail- way and marine facility. “A comprehensive plan will allow us to anticipate needs -- replacing, rebuilding, improving and initiating new facilities as necessary,” Vant said. Veitch said MLAs play a pivotal role in the entire planning process. Regional transportation plans will be developed and forwarded to the Ministry of Transporta- tion and HIghways for review, coordination and balance within an integrated over-all provincial transportation plan. “This will become the blueprint for action,” Veitch said. Vant said there are specific transportation projects that cannot wait. “Just as the Cassiar Connector and the Island Highway were projects that required immediate attention, a number of other significant initiatives have been identi- fied,’ Vant said. “Where the need is widely recognized, widely supported, and consistent with the long-term per- spectives, projects can begin simultaneously with the plan- ning process.” For example: to serve British Columbia’s ex pand- ing gas and oil industry in the Peace River area, improve- ments to the road and bridge network will be scheduled north of Fort St. John. Ejther way, does he deserve one hundred thousand of our tax dollars? The reaction of Socred cabinet ministers to the Poole payoff has been telling. At first, they tried to avoid responsibility. “It’s not my department,” said Cliff Mi- chael, the minister in charge. Then they said the Premier’s officials were involved. That’s been followed by an elaborate attempt to justify, rather than clarify, the payoff. Indeed, a Socred official has call it a ‘‘fair settlement” and blamed the Opposition for keeping the issue before the public. (I’ve got news for him -- we’re not about to stop fighting for British Columbians until we get answers.) But what’s been even more revealing is Bill Vander Zalm’s absolute refusal to say who made this sweetheart deal. Who made it, Mr. Premier? Once again, the Vander Zalm Socreds seem unable to tell right from wrong. They’re out of touch with Bri- tish Columbians who are understandably angry. And it’s yet another example of this government’s careless handling of our public funds, following the mis- management of Northeast Coal, Skytrain and the Coqui- halla. The Poole payoff puts a human face on the So- creds’ lack of seriousness in handling our tax dollars. David Poole has walked away with a hundred grand. New Democrats want to make sure British Colum- bians never have to pick up the tab for one of Bill Vander Zalm’s ‘pretty neat deals’ again. In order to assist tourism and general economic development, major road improvements will. be ‘under- taken on Highway 97 in the Okanagan Valley and along Highway 6 in the Slocan Valley. Construction will also proceed on the Yellowhead Highway north of Kamloops and on the John Hart Highway north of Prince George. In keeping with the goals of providing access to re- mote communities and supporting regional resource de- velopment, the provincidl government will give additional — priority to the Air Transportation Assistance Program which has provided funding for over 68 airport facilities around B.C. Further details concerning these and other initia- tives will be announced in the coming months. The Delcan Transportation Study is contained in an 18-volume report that will be available for viewing at regional highways offices until copies have been distribu- ted to regional libraries throughout the province. Indivi- dual volumes or complete sets may be obtained by con- tacting Crown Publications, 546 Yates Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 1K8. AN OPINION Omineca Update Jack J. Kempf MLA for Omineca Cancellation of the Mackenzie area Tree Farm Li- cence Application Hearing that was slated for November 23, 1988, can be considered a victory. But this is a vic- tory in only one small battle. The war is yet to be won. Those opposing the wholesale giveaway of not on- ly our forest resource, but control over other resource values as well, have a huge job ahead. It is very apparent by Forest Minister Dave Parker’s news release of Novem- ber 17, 1988, that he is being less than honest with the public. It appears he is attempting to find new, more in- novative ways to give our province to the multi-nationals. In the release he says, “Government agencies need: more time to review the area’s other resource values, such as recreation, fish, wildlife, and water.” What a crock! He even attempts to differentiate between Finlay Forest Industries Ltd. and Fletcher Challenge Canada Ltd., when by now everyone knows they are one and the same. The truth of the matter is that the concerns felt by British Columbians for the future of THEIR resource, is severely underestimated. Regardless of Bill 28 and the intent of this admin- istration to privatize an additional thirty-six (36) million hectares (90 million acres) of this province’s Crown Land, the Fletcher Challenge’s of this world will be stopped. They will be stopped whether it be in Mackenzie, the Stein, on Vancouver Island, or wherever. Minister Parker is not being honest with British Columbians by saying, ““.. . a tree farm licence simply grants the licencee the rights to trees, not rights to the land.” Bill 28 changed all that as the “EXAMPLES OF FUNCTIONS THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN LETTERS OF UNDERSTANDING” for new tree farm licences show. It was also suggested in the same memo circulated to all Forest Service Managers by Wes Chestoriy Assistant Deputy Minister of Forests, that “Specific letters of understanding may add to and/or delete from the list and may add qualifying statement(s) to any responsibility”. : Yes, the first battle was won at Mackenzie. But a war is yet to be fought, and fight we will. Our very future is at stake. I can be reached by phoning 387-3038 days, 384 9285 evenings, or by writing c/o Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4. SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR MLA. For more on the Mackenzie area Tree Farm Li- cence application, see the news release on Page 1, and “A Point of View” on Page 16. the B.C. government's trans- portation planning, see “A Point of View”, and the “Freedom to Move” article on Pages 8 and 9. For more on LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: I wish to address this letter to Mr. Don Rubis, General Manager of North Road Company, as a rebuttal to his comments in your December issue. Dear Mr. Rubis: My disbelief in reading your comments about Highway 37, was only exceeded by my astonishment that you seem to really and truly believe that the condition of _ the highway has not deteriorated. The only problem with this is that you are typical of many highways employees who do not really care about the condition of the high- way but only the best possible ways to avoid doing a pro- per job. : I have lived and worked in this area for nearly eight years and this highway is in the worst condition since it was reconstructed during the late seventies. There is absolutely no excuse for the poor job of snow removal, the icy conditions, the potholes, and the general poor job of maintenance that has taken place over the past three to four years. The worst part is, I really do not expect to see an improvement under a private contractor. As an ambulance attendant with the Provincial Health Services, I have to escort patients on transfers to the airport at Watson Lake. . If the highway is in as good a condition as you say, why is it that our patients suffer from the extremely rough conditions of the road while riding in the ambulance, but cease this unnecessary suf fering once we cross into the Yukon and travel on roads maintained by the Yukon Highways Department. The evidence of the poor conditions is all along the highway, where the telltale signs of vehicles off the road indicates a problem. Granted that some are due to poor driving, but far too many are due to the extremely poor conditions of the highway. Sir, I don’t know if it is going to take one, or two, or even more deaths on this highway to open your eyes, but if you are going to rely only on the comments of Arrow drivers you have contacted, I feel this highway will only become a danger to anyone who travels it, be- ‘cause you definitely are not responding to the citizens who have genuine concerns about the highway that is their only route to the outside world - north or south. In closing, I would like to use a well worn but ap- plicable quote: “Mr. Rubis! Wake up and smell the coffee.” Sincerely, Bryan Lundale Firemen’s Ball Unqualitied -. Success Everyone who attended was saying the same thing: “This is great!” : The annual Firemen’s Ball brought out the major- ity of Cassiar residents for a near-capacity crowd. Music provided by the “Canucks” proved very popular, as was their floor show. An added attraction to the “Canucks” was entertainer and singer Tony St. Clair. Tony has a very outgoing personality and mingled easily with the guests. On stage she was continuously on the move, whether singing or acting out her skits. Her dance act with two local unnamed volunteers brought the house down. Fire Chief Gordon Becket, in a brief speech, intro- duced the volunteer fire crew, while Keith Lanphear, on behalf of the citizens, thanked the fire crew for their ser- vice. Bruno Koch and team were responsible for serving up an excellent dinner. A good time was had by all. On behalf of the Cassiar Fire Department, we would like to thank all the people who supported and made the Firemen’s Ball a success. Special mention must go to Garry Periard and the Community Club; Cassiar Mining Corporation; Bruno Koch; and Rachel Becket. Dear Editor: CASSIAR GOAT TRAIL In regards to your December issue front page arti- cle on the North Road Co. or Highways Department, I find it very appalling to commend this Company on the onditions of our Goat Trail from Cassiar to the Yukon border. If this stretch of road is any indication of pri- vatization, the only people who will benefit will be the owners of wreckers and funeral homes. If you consider from the start of winter conditions to this letter dated December 19, 1988, 35-40 vehicles rolling or going in the ditches “good road maintenance”, then we should all hand in our driver’s licences. I guess the five vehicles that went off on the same corner and were totalled all have the same driving habits. No amount of sand will fill in the washboards, uneven road and over-plows. And people complain about high insurance rates - perhaps they should start sending in their bills to this Road Company. I pity the person who might have a spi- nal injury and have to travel this road in the ambulance to catch a flight out. It’s very ironic that so many people were con- cerned with a petition concerning banking hours. Yet the odds for a fatality on this road are greatly increasing; one shouldn’t be so concerned about withdrawing money, *cause you can’t spend it six feet under. Though all these above conditions are really fig- ments of our imagination, it’s funny that when you get to the Yukon border there’s not a bump or-uneven piece of road. I guess the Yukon crews are doing something wrong. All you residents of this area had better start get- ting concerned about our roads by contacting our MLA’s _ wherever they are hiding, and voicing your concerns a- bout our Goat Trail. A fatality is fast approaching; it may be you or | someone you dearly love. A Concerned Resident Cassiar Courier January 1989 Page 3 December 14, 1988 Dear Sir, Recently we have had a number of inquiries concerning the installation of an Automated Banking Machine in Cassiar. As you may know, the Royal Bank has the largest ABM network of any financial institution in Canada. ABM’s are very technically complex units which require, among other things, highly qualified repair technicians. In addition, the machines must have a very consistent and level power supply. These machines com- municate with our central computers via telephone lines and require uninterrupted, high quality connections. Unfortunately, the cost of servicing an ABM in Cassiar at this time would be prohibitive. Having worked in a branch with an ABM for four years prior to being transferred to this branch, I can also assure you the amount of downtime the machine would experience here would not make it practical. With the technology of banking machines changing rapidly (I believe we now have four different models): hopefully in the future, a machine will be produced that will both be practical and economical so that we may in- stall them in locations such as.ours. On another note altogether, we are considering offering evening seminars in the upcoming months with topics such as RRSP’s, budgeting, operating and balancing a chequing account, and investments. These seminars will ‘be put on providing enough interest is shown. Anybody interested in these topics, or for that matter, any other topic dealing with banking, please let me know, and we will schedule these seminars. Yours truly, Ken J. Buchanan Manager EDITOR’S NOTE: The Courier welcomes readers’ comments to this section. The writer’s name must be in- cluded on the letter, but may be withheld if so requested. Our last phone call to highways officials indicated a date in January for the privatization of the Cassiar section. CASSIAR Bits & Pieces The picture of this smiling lady was supposed to appear last month with the announcement of her win at the Minor Hockey Gigantic Bingo. Sorry, Marg, I lost the picture! From the Community of Good Hope Lake, we give thanks to: From Cassiar - Teresa Bartel Helen Joseph Judy Gwilliam Heather Joseph Rachel I. Joseph Mrs. Pat Madore Angie Gorski-Morgan From Good Hope Lake -Evelyne Smith Lynne Coutts Carol Johnny Irene Beno Jackee Sutton for donating their time in baking some wonderful, tasty treats that were sold instantly, for Christmas gifts for our children. We are very grateful. Wishing everyone a very Prosperous New Year! THE RALF CAFE Will Be Open Soon at the Ralf Voss Centre