Page 2 Cassiar Courier June 1989 Province of i z British Columbia Solicitor General Angus’ Ree today announced the’ introduction of a revised driver licence Classification system effective May 31, 1989. The new system will be retaining the Classes 1 through 6 designations but will be basing the licencing requirements on the number of axles of the vehicle to be-- driven or the number of passengers to. be carried. The current system bases its licence categories on the mass or weight of the vehicle to be driven. "The new licence classif- ication system will be oriented to the specific driving skills and knowledge requirements’ for the safe operation of each vehi- cle type," Ree said. "We want to make sure that our system is in line with the multitude of vehi- cle configurations on the road today. The primary impact of the amendments will be on holders of €lass: 2 licences." who =represent 17,000 of the 2.4 million licen- ced drivers in British Columbia. These licences cover the opera- tion of vehicles such as taxis, buses, trucks, and ambulances. The impact on the average driver who holds aclass 5 lic- ence is that he/she will be able to drive all two axle vehicles except bus, taxi or ambulance Carrying passengers or a motor- cycle. Previously class 5 drivers were restricted by weight of the vehicle. . The View| From Ottawa Jim Fulton, NM.P. It's tax time and budget time. We have heard a great deal about Canada's debt. LES seein fact about $320 billion. That's a lot - in 1988 it was 40.2% of our Gross National Product. Com- pare that to the U.S.A. (41.2%), the United Kingdom (43.7%), France (22.2%), Germany (24.7%), Italy (92.6%), or Japan (26.6%). But. -det!s 2 look: anc little closer at who doubled Canada's debt since 1984. You guessed it - Brian Mulroney and the’ Conser- vatives. Who's been paying high- er taxes and who's been paying lower taxes? The National Coun- cil on Welfare this month releas- ed their shocking findings. Taxes for the rich in Canada have gone down 6% under Progressive Conservative policies. Taxes for middle income Canadians have jumped up 17% and for the working poor a shocking leap of 60%! The Conservatives are throw- ing around lots of proposals about cutting unemployment insur- ance, cutting regional develop- ment programs, cutting native education - cut, cut, cut, Most system has been developed through the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators Assoc- iation, an association represen- ting all provinces and terri- tories who have agreed to revise or upgrade their driver licencing system in order to have uniform- ity between all Canadian juris- dictions.’ Ministry of Solicitor General The revised classification Those who presently hold class 2 designation upon renewal will receive a class 2/3 licence so that they retain the same rights and restrictions obtained under the old system. "This new system should Clarify the licencing categories and more specifically deal with the complexity of vehicles’ that exist today," Ree concluded. Fight Forest Fire by Phone If you see a fire, dial O’and ask for Zenith 5555 of it is a smokescreen for the big winners under right wing fin- ancial. policy. ; Eighty nine thousand prof- itable corporations with a total last year of $22 billion in pro- fits paid no corporate tax. Cor- porations have been allowed to withhold over $30 billion in taxes owed to the federal govern- ment in the current fiscal year. While social programs have been hacked by over $100 million Since Mr. Mulroney became Prime Minister, special treatment has been given to the rich. The Conservatives gave gen- erous treatment to wealthy Canad- ians in the last Parliament by making the first $100,000 in capital gains tax free. -Then the Tories lowered the tax rate for the rich so that those earning over $117,000 paid $3,750 less in taxes. At the same time a family earning $35,000 got hit with an $840 increase. Thirty years ago corpora- tions paid one-fifth o€ the federal budget. Now it's only one-tenth. I am one of the Canadians who believe there must be serious tax changes. We learned in Otta- wa last week that bribes’ and kickbacks have been allowed as tax deductible items under. Brian Mulroney! : Perhaps it's time for the rich and for profitable corpor- ations to pay their fair share. Mr. Wilson's budget will be the proof. Reed Bae a "Standing up for B.C." There's an old saying that while Victoria is 3,000 miles from Ottawa, Ottawa is 30,000 miles from Victoria. It sums up the distance British Columbians sometimes feel from their federal government. Our present Socred govern- ment is doing little to bridge the distance. They seem deter- mined to stay on this side of the mountains, not speaking up for B.C. interests, not protecting B.C. jobs, and not participating in important national decisions. Look at the facts. First, the Socred government failed to protect B.C. farmers with the free trade deal. Next B.C. for- estry workers were hit hard over softwood lumber. Then fish pro- cessing workers were put out to sea by a GATT ruling. And now B.C. shipbuilding workers have been told the Polar- is icebreaker has been put on hold for at least a year. With it goes 1,000 jobs and an elec- tion promise made to workers at Shipyards in North Vancouver and Victoria. Where is our provincial gov- ernment when it's time to stand UDG for, B.C. 2 We're the third largest province in Canada, but with this Socred government we have no influence in Ottawa on the issues that really count for Buc:. That hurts British Columbi- ans on two counts. First, we're not receiving the fair treatment we deserve. The B.C. finance minister says federal budget cuts mean B.C. will lose about $25 million in money transferred from Ottawa to the provinces. By comparison, Ontario will lose $500 million. In other words, Ontario--with just three times our population-- gets so much more in transfer payments that federal budget cuts mean it will lose 20 times what we'll lose. Then again, this is the same Socred finance minister who re- fused to join with New Democrats in opposing Mulroney's national tax scheme and Unemployment In- Surance changes that will severe- ly hurt B.C. workers. He said we were “mesmerized by events occur- ring in Ottawa". Second, British Columbians lose because our province fails to play a leadership role within Canada. Witness the fact that B.C. went unrepresented at an im- portant recent First Ministers meeting in Ottawa after the pre- mier became ill. New Democrats pressed for the deputy premier to attend, but her response typifies this government's attitude to ma- king sure B.C. is heard in Ottawa: "It's a long way to go for lunch," she said. British Columbians deserve better. Nineteen B.C. New Demo- crat MPs in Ottawa can't do it alone against a massive Tory ma- jority. They need the support of a provincial government that also stands up for B.C. BEASTIE CASSIAR BITS & PIEC ES AN APOLOGY inappropriately peared in the Court News of last month's issue. son in the Court Section is ver Robert Repolusk. Silver Repolusk resident of long time Cassiar and eae truly sorry for any embarrassment or inconvenience caused to him. Why did Nate and Pat have to leave town before Ross came for lunch? Vickie Kornelsen and Brenda Brown conjunction with their school's Work Experi- Together they pre- pared the special section on Congratulations ence Program. pit closure. a job well done! We would like to send out Mother's and Day wish to Ross and Pat Harper. parents and grandparents. extended your arms, were very un- derstanding in all the chaos. much, Mom and Dad (Grandma and Papa). Lots of Love, Laura, Chris, Seth, Cody and Kyah Two New Minors for Cassiar and Heather are proud to announce the James Morgan, lb. 9 oz.,. and Geoffrey Alexander weighing 5 Champions" Alberta on Proud grand- and Rachel and Jim and Kathy Morgan, great grandparents and Dorrie Morgan and Tena katchewan. Cassiar Courier June 1989 Page 3 Leckie - Van Maele Wedding On Saturday, March 18 in Edmonton, Alberta, James Leckie, son of Oliver and Colleen Leckie, married Rita Van Maele, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Van Maele of Rad- way, Alberta. The bridesmaid was sister of the bride, Rosa Van Maele and best man was the groom's brother, Bruce Leckie. The reception was held at the South Convention Inn with many friends .and family in attendance. A BIG THANK YOU to David Poppy and Michelle Strydnaka for their quick res- ponse to our first very unsuc- cessful driving attempt. Nate and Seth Marin Douglas Trask, son of Eck and Iris, would like to say thanks to all the poeple of Cas- Siar for the warm welcome to the north. Marin was born at the Grace Hospital in Vancouver on Wednesday, April 26, 1989 at 7:11 a.m. Laura Anderson and Chris Molloy are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Kyah-Lee Christine Anderson, 5 lb. 9 OZisig born March 30, 1989. Excited’ brothers are Seth and Cody Ander- son. Proud grandparents are Ross and Pat Harper of Cassiar and Patricia Molloy of Windsor,. On- tario. yeaa CASSIAR MINING CORPORATION Cassiar Mining Corporation recently announced the consoli- dated financial results for the quarter ending March 31, 1989. Net earnings for the three month period were $7,343,000 which equals $0.40 basic earnings per share, compared to earnings of $1,289,000 or $0.07 per share for the corresponding period of 1988. Total revenue for the period was $33,214,000 compared to $15,019,000 for the same period in 1988. Fully diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $0/-3P61988----S0.20G)-. The Cassiar operations contributed $16,019,000 in reve- nue and the Similco division con- tributed $17,195, 000°. Revenue from the Similco division was adversely affected by a reduction in ore throughput resulting from mill down-time to replace the main gears on two of the three semi-autogenous grinding mills. ~— A total of $3,941,000 was paid in the quarter to redeem preferred shares under the bank loan agreement. The outstanding debt under this facility will be $7,279,000 after payment of $6,883,000 is made in May from the cash flow generated from the Cassiar operations during . the: first quarter. Cassiar Mining Corporation announces that on May 5, 1989, a wholly-owned subsidiary acquired 2,307,000 Common shares of Rea Gold Corporation, representing 16.9% of the issued Common shares of Rea Gold. , The shares were issued by Rea Gold, following approval by regulatory authorities, in pay- ment of the purchase price for a go .d property located in Bissett, Mainitoba. Cassiar . Mining Corporation owns and operates the Similco open-pit mine located near Princeton, British Columbia, and the Cassiar open-pit mine in northwestern British Columbia. Sales in the first quarter of 1989 from the two mines were ap- proximately $33 million. Rea Gold is a mineral exploration company participa- ting in several mineral projects, the most significant of which is the development of the Samatosum high grade silver mine, a joint- venture project between Rea Gold (30% working interest and a 5% N.S.R. Royalty) and Minnova Inc. This 500 tons’ per day operation is currently under construction and will be in production by June 1989. For further information please contact: Mr. Anthony T. Kana Vice President, Finance Cassiar Mining Corporation 2000 - 1055 West Hastings Vancouver, B. C. V6E 3V3 (604) 688-2511