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10

AIB Whacks North With Rollbacks Again

The Miners’ Voice

3 March 1977-1 WHITEHORSE ui sens

The Anti-Inflation Board has called for roll- backs in negotiated increases in contracts with major mines in northern B.C., the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

A February announcement from the board added Cassiar Asbestos in Cassiar, B.C., United Keno Hill Mines in Elsa, Yukon, and Cominco’s Con Mine in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories to the list of contracts being rolled back.

Earlier the AIB had recommended changes in the contract at Whitehorse Copper Mines. The Cassiar Transport contract also came under the AIB knife.

Last summer the AIB directed huge cuts in the contracts the Steelworkers signed at Cyprus Anvil Mining in Faro, Yukon, sparking a 17- week strike by production and office workers.

Full details of the effects of the cut-backs weren’t immediately known. In Yellowknife it appeared the AIB was focusing on the unique gold bonus that tied pay boosts to price in- creases for the metal on world markets.

Wage increases at Keno Hill, a Falconbridge property, averaged 21% in the first-year of the

two-year pact, but the AIB said they should be no more than 8%.

IT MAY BE GARBAGE

To THEM, BVT ITS

FILET MIGNON To US!

YURON INDUSTRIES BOX 69, WATSON LAKE, V.T.

& HYDRAULIC BACKHOES

LOADER, TRUCK.

WHAT'S AHEAD

By Jerry Rossman

I couldn’t pass up Gerry Doran’s invitation to write about the eminent development of Cassiar Country.

We lived ten months in the Cassiars - by acci- dent, really. That does not make us experts - by a long shot some thoughts.

We’re sitting impatiently in Seattle waiting for

permission to return to the Cassiars - permanent- ly. It’s quite a jolt to go from bush to city. As I} write I can hear three airplanes, trucks and cars children blaring from a neighbor’s window. med in by concrete, and RUSH-RUSH. Under these circumstances my memories of Cottonwood Lake and McDam Creek are more than vivid, and we yearn to re turn.

Being removed for awhile and living in a larg city helps me get a better perspective of the; Cassiars. As I sit here, living in the middle of ultimate, ““development’’, I can see the blessings and drawbacks of Cassiar’s future much clearer.

What about the future? What will happen? No one knows, but we can guess at what’s likely to happen - and why.

FACT: Areas around Highway 37 are loadedy with valuable mineral deposits: Copper, silver, lead, molybdenum, coal, asbestos. When the costs of mining and transporting these minerals to market falls far enough to produce a profit, Cassiar deposits will be mined out. Why else would Highway 37 be improved, or a railroad be built?

FACT: When the electrical requirements of more populated areas increase, hydro resources in the Stikine and other rivers will be dammed and harnessed, lowlands flooded and transmis- sion lines strung.

FACT: The Cassiars contain one of the largest wilderness areas in North America. As other wil- derness disappears, sportsmen, tourists and con-

I feel hem

More land will be designated as Provincial or Federal parks, no-shooting areas and “forever wild” regions. FACT: The population of the Cassiars ll in- crease dramatically as the need for our resources grows.

These are facts, not fancy thoughts. It seems bound to happen as it happened in thousands of other areas in North America. Man is destined to destroy what he would consume. The more ad- vanced the technology and higher the standard of living, the quicker these developments will take place.

If all this is inevitable, how can it be done to’ the best interests of the people who live here? That’s the real question, but it cannot be solved! Some people will gain - others lose. To,

oversimplify, I use this example: Maybe I like to live in the bush. No electricity, TV, neighbors or noise. Or, I like to live in a small town, hunt and fish and enjoy the slow pace of remote life. Most people do not want to live that way. Unless they TV,

have super-slick homes, electricity, auto-

GUNTER AMANN 536-2223 GERRY AMANN 536-7314

We So

eean’s

Ah ROLRONLGS

332 Bateman Phone 778-7428

Street

screaming and a mind-wrecking TV j

plastic, high tension wires §

servationists will look longingly at the area. -

- but it does motivate me to share jz

Geddes Construction on Highway 37.

matic heat, non-glare bulbs and the latest gadget they feel they are failures.

touted in the ads,

Material gain is the measure of a successful life to modern man.

‘I might say, “Hands off the Cassiars! Leave it alone!” The majority would say, “We need de- velopment: for jobs, security and a better way of life!’ You can’t dispute either attitude. They re- flect the inner needs of the people involved whether you, personally, think they are good, or bad.

“One significant factor in the development of the region is very often tossed aside as ‘“‘not im- portant”. Despite protests by individuals, pro- vincial and federal governments, the fact remains the land in the Cassiars belongs to the Tahltan Indian Nation. Laugh, if you will, but there is no moral or legal basis for believing otherwise. The Tahltans lived on these lands for 20,000 years. They never sold it. They were never conquered in battle for it. They never signed a treaty, agree- ment or document transferring an inch of land to any government - foreign or domestic. The fact that Canada says it is Crown Land does not make it’so. If I own a truck and you take it from me, use it, sell it, destroy it, it does not make it your truck. Show me your bill. of sale! Reverse the roles: You lived here for 20,000 years and about 150 years ago the Indians came and claimed it was theirs. Make a difference?

If government or individuals feel they can go full speed ahead and do what they. will with the land, they may have some surprises coming. The Indians are learning to govern their own affairs, and assert their rights. How do they feel about mining development, damming the Stikine or setting aside parks and no-shooting areas?

At the risk of being presumptive, I have a sug- gestion that might go a long way toward inte- grating development with the best interests of the people. I suggest that responsible people from all communities in the area form a coali- tion group - an organization - that would act as a watchdog over any public or private develop- ment project.

...To learn of forthcoming development plans or actions.

....fo communicate these plans to the people.

...To solicit and act on the mandate of the peo- ple in all matters concerning development.

...Tro provide an informed public forum for dis- cussions and analysis of any attempts to develop the resources of the area.

If such a group could operate free of preju- dice and.vested-interests, it might represent the “common good” as expressed WITHIN the Cas- siars. Unless something like this happens, the development will favor interests OUTSIDE the area.

I-can use three recent examples of what hap- pens when there is no “watchdog” activity. First, the proposed improvement of Highway 37

_ from Pinetree Lake to Cassiar Junction is being

laid over a 1958 survey line that promises to fill in the shoreline of a lake. Why? Second, if you

heard anything about the Dease Lake Land Auc-\- _ tion egrlier in the year,

you learned of mis- management, lies and political and financial delays which cost local residents applying for lots many thousands of dollars. Three, the Pro- vincial Parks and Recreation People met and decided to put the Stikine in a hydro and mining reserve.

If you want it to continue this way - do nothing. If not, let’s get started! _

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‘They made the decision without any | representative of the area present at the meeting.

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Tourist Industry Talk

Discovering Region H

A GOOD OFFER

Tourist Operators all over Region ‘‘H’’ must now be aware that Tourism British Columbia is supporting them all the way, as the department tries to make the industry the most important in the provincial economy by 1982.

Now the department has another great offer. How would you like to have space at trade shows, absolutely free?

Perhaps free is a bit misleading: you would still incur the cost of getting there, along with freight on such promotional equipment as you chose to take along.

But Tourism British Columbia will pay the cost of floor space.at the show alright, whether it’s in Vancouver, San Francisco or London. This is quite a gift: that floor space can cost a lot of money.

In a recent memo to Tourism Co-ordinator Don Ashley, Wayne Currie, the new Deputy Minister for Tourism British Columbia, asked to have the names of interested people in Region “H". The department intends to produce a list, from which names can be drawn as required.

Let nobody doubt the value of trade shows and displays. Region ‘‘H”’ has already had some experience of this, with the gold panning demonstrations it has put on at the request of Tourism British Columbia in Berlin, Atlanta and latterly Bendigo. It is too early to assess the effect of the Bendigo venture but with the Australian gold panning champion coming to Region “H”’ in September it is very likely that at least, he will be accompanied by a charter plane load of tourists. The display at Atlanta, (where a convention of convention organisers was being held) elected a large number of enquiries as did the display in Berlin. Indeed, even in 1976, just a few months after the show, there was a detectable increase over previous years in tour- ists from Germany.

Participation in shows could take many forms. Guides and outfitters might choose to display trophies, or run wildlife films taken in their territory. Smaller businessmen could get

together to promote package holidays, with say

farm house accommodation, a bit of boating and trail riding thrown in. Others might choose to involve the public in such things as gold panning demonstrations. The possibilities are consider- able.

Any tourist oriented businessme: in Region “H" who feel that this offer might hald some- thing for them are urged to contact the Regional Tourist Co-ordinator, Don Ashley as soon as possible.

This series is sponsored by the Peace River- Alaska Highway Tourist Association (PRAHTA). Additional information may be obtained by con- tacting PRAHTA, attention, Region ‘‘H’’ Tourist Co-ordinator, P.O. Box 6850, Fort St. John, B.C. - V1J 4J3. Telephone 785-2544.

The B.C. Film Classification Board states that all persons must be 18 years or over to be in attendance at a RESTRICTED MOVIE. Persons under eighteen can be granted admittance

\

DON’T SHOOT!

The Minister of Recreation and Conservation, Sam Bawlf, announced today that ‘no shoot- ing’ areas along some northern highways have been extended. In designated areas, shooting is not~ permitted 400 metres (approximately one-quarter mile) from the centre line of high- ways.

The Highway 37 closure has been extended from Kitwanga to the Yukon border.

The Highway 97 closure has been extended from Dawson Creek to Lower Post.

Along the Carcross-Skagway Road, at pre- sent under construction, the closure extends from the Log Cabin railway station to the Yukon border.

Mr. Bawlf said these 400 metre closures are put into effect to benefit the general public by minimizing hunting activity near selected main highways. In addition they reinforce the need for continued public safety in the use of firearms.

R.CM.P NEWS

Cassiar and Good Hope Lake received a visit from two members of the B.C. Police Commis- sion Mr. Bob Burrows and Bob Fullerton during the first week of April. They spent a good amount of time talking with the people of the area. As a result of their visit, meetings are being conducted under the chairmanship of Al Passa- rell once a month or so in Good Hope Lake. De- tachment members will be present and we in- vite any persons that wish to attend to do so. The April meeting was well attended and Al Passarell at the school will be setting the date for May.

Cassiar Detachment has a new member Cst. Bob Gregorash. He hails from Manitoba and was last posted at Hazelton Det. Ken Elliott is off to the rainy district of Prince Rupert.

COURT NEWS

-Norman Hennel of Cassiar was found Guilty of Possession of Wildlife & Game Birds out of Season and was fined a total of $125.00. The charge of Trapping without a Licence was dis- missed.

Brian Carlick of Good Hope Lake was fined $150.00 for killing big game out of season.

Gary Leonard of Cassiar was fined $15.00 for operating a snow machine without a permit and $35.00 for operating an unlicensed vehicle.

Bruce Paddon of Cassiar was fined $35.00 for fishing without a license.

Dan Leckie of Cassiar was fined $35.00 for fishing without a license.

Donald MacLellan of Cassiar was fined $50.00 for littering.

Rolie Holman of Good Hope Lake was fined $35.00 for fishing without a license.

_ALL CASSIAR RESIDENTS

CCC. ANNOUNCEMENT

ONLY if accompanied by a parent. Letters will —

nok be accepted.

$35/Couple

By Cocktails 7:30 P.M. ake 5S

SATURDAY MAY 7, 1977 At the Community Centre

Music by the CANUCKS

Meal and wine will be served to your table DANCING 9 - 2 A.M. Tickets from any Lions Member Number is limited so purchase them early!!

THE BEST DANCE OF THE YEAR |

.

a.

RE: Electric Meter Reading

Effective March 1, 1977, electric meters in each house will only be read once every three months. The charges for the intermediate months will be based on ‘‘past average’. This may mean that at the end of each three month period your bill will be slightly higher or lower to correct the total account. This service is to assist the company in utilizing its electrical personnel to the best advantage.

fotoicictciinicrtotortctiettetcttetcirt toi ii io po th ttrby

14TH ANNUAL CASSIAR LIONS BALL

Dinner 8:00 P.M.

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Ta Tee PST A Oe Re

‘Sour ea enn ee

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Can We?

Eyes strained to burn images I would not forget...

By Jerry Rosman

The eagle gliding over the Cottonwood; An early- -morning } moose stepping daintily Into a marsh; A beaver family chirping.up the Dease; The tree marking the grizzly’ s corner, Squirrels chattering at my<trespass. ‘\ Turning full round I saw no markwhere Man had stepped nor stopped. The same turn took in snow-iced mountains, Deep valley and textured treelands. The silence was pure as you would expect Before God might speak.

How long before these sights and thoughts can Never be repeated?

How many seasons before Cassiar Country Surrenders to man’s grinding footsteps?

“T hope I’m not alive to see it!”

A coward’s thought. Will I fight to save this Peace - a little longer -

For the unborn?

How?

Thirty civilizations have disappeared because ' Man believed he could control nature.

Will Cassiar Country be any different?

Will its silent acres fall under concrete,

Plastic and garish lights?

Will this be different?

History is an unfailing teacher. It shows Man destroying what he would consume. Sad he never learned.

Can WE?

11

Se le |

NEW LIQUOR STORE HOURS

CASSIAR

Tuesday - Saturday: 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday & Monday: Closed

SUMMARY OF B.C. LIQUOR POLICY

in the prices of all

- Reductions domestic and imported wines. - Reinstitution of the licensing of ‘‘neigh-

borhood pubs” under rules that will take local concerns into account and prevent license proliferation. Some hotels will be allowed “‘pub”’ licenses.

- Prices of LDB brands to bt pegged against lowest private brands so as not to compete unfairly.

- There will be no changes in the mark-up of Scotch.

- Beer and wine will not be allowed to be sold in grocery stores.

- Retail prices of liquor will be changed only quarterly.

Not only is he idle who does nothing; he is also idle who could be better employed.

SOCRATES

SPRING and SUMMER

FASHIONS.

NOW ARRIVING

EVENING and. CASUAL WEAR Sizes 5 to 20

HOURS Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.. 3:30-7:30 p.m.

Wed. - 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. Sat. -2:30-6:30 pm Sunday - CLOSED

Af you would like to come at some other time please call 778-7329

noses

631 Teast Street | p

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