The Prince George
Citizen
Bank of B.C. bail-out 2 Polish dancers defect 5 Canucks' fine reduced 11
Ann Landers. ......22,23
.........18
...........26,27 ..........7
City, B.C...... ..2,3,8,9,10,21,24
............14-20
..............22
...............4
TRADE! POLL: 'WE LOSE'
TORONTO (CP) — Sixty-two per cent of Canadians believe the free-trade agreement is a better deal for the United States than for Canada, a government poll suggests.
The poll, conducted by Decima Research Ltd. and obtained Tuesday by the Toronto Star, says just seven per cent of respondents who were aware of the Oct. 3 deal believe Canada came out on top.
Another 28 per cent said the deal was “fair and balanced” or a good deal for both sides.
Forty-eight per cent said they still support the general concept of free trade while 42 per cent oppose it, each figure down two points from polls taken in June and August.
About 2,000 Canadians were questioned for the latest poll, which was conducted Oct. 7-17.
Sixty-three per cent of respondents agreed the free-trade deal will cause the economy to “become so closely tied to the United States economy that we will lose our ability to make our own decisions.”
However, 71 per cent said it will result in lower consumer prices and 72 per cent said domestic social programs would not be affected.
Just 44 per cent were aware an agreement had been reached.
Statistically, the margin of error on a survey this size is within two per cent, 19 times out of 20.
Coquihalla probe calls key figures
It’s Tradarama time again, and your guide to the nearly 100 exhibitors, entertainment and door prizes making up the annual consumer trade show is included in today’s Prince George Citizen. The trade show starts Friday afternoon and continues all weekend at the Coliseum.
Raft death inquest ruled out
KAMLOOPS. B.C. I CP I - There will not be an inquest into the five deaths in a whitewater rafting accident on the Chilko River in the Cariboo region near Alexis Creek, regional coroner Bob Graham said Tuesday.
Graham said in a prepared statement he reviewed the previous investigation reports and concluded no further investigation into the matter was required.
He has conducted a formal inquiry into the Aug. 1 deaths, he said.
Graham said all but one of the survivors live outside British Columbia and could not be subpoenaed as witnesses.
Counsel for relatives of the deceased have advised the witnesses not to testify because of pending legal action, he said.
Graham said he will release his final report on his inquiry in Vancouver in December.
by Canadian Press
VICTORIA — Two former Social Credit cabinet ministers and a top aide to former premier Bill Bennett are scheduled to testify at a public inquiry Thursday about their roles in the deficit-ridden Coquihalla Highway project.
Hugh Curtis, former finance minister, backbencher Alex Fraser, former highways minister and Kamloops member Bud Smith, former principal secretary to Bennett, are to appear before the commission investigating cost overruns on the project.
Commissioner Doug MacKay was still debating whether to call Bennett as a witness. Commission counsel George Macintosh said Tuesday he has held a brief discussion with the former premier.
Testimony during the last month has indicated the true cost of the Coquihalla project — originally estimated at $250 million but now approaching $1 billion — was not revealed by the Bennett government for several years, even while the government continued to maintain the project would be completed within budget.
Curtis, Fraser and Smith already have been interviewed in private by the commission. Fraser and Smith both said they volunteered to testify publicly if the information they gave privately was to be used at the inquiry.
Curtis, who was questioned for about three hours Tuesday, would not be specific about what he was asked.
But Macintosh said the Curtis interview concentrated on the government’s decision two years ago to “switch” money from one authorized spending vote to another, apparently to help pay for the Coquihalla.
Poppy
campaign
ill vjrcuigc auu auiuao me tuuuuj iiuvunuw w ^
remember and honor the soldiers who fought to keep our country free in two world wars and the Korean War. Navy veteran Bernie Horinek, seen here selling a poppy to Lisa Snyder, is among many Royal Canadian Legion members volunteering services during the 10-day poppy campaign. Wearing a poppy is an easy way for every-.one to pay tribute to about 3,500 veterans in this area. Campaign funds are used to assist Canadian veterans, ex-service personnel and merchant navy personnel as well as for medical research, disaster relief and community projects. Last year’s local campaign raised about $33,000. Citizen photo by Lisa Murdoch
Air Canada faces rotating walkouts
MONTREAL (CP) - The chief negotiator for Air Canada’s 8,500 groundworkers said Wednesday he hopes that as people cancel reservations to avoid threatened rotating strikes by his members, the airline will reconsider its last contract offer.
“We believe the economic pressure has started, that the downturn in sales has already begun,” said Ron Fontaine, adding he hoped the airline would ask to resume talks today.
Airline spokesman Esther Szyn-
Drug law stalled
Southam News OTTAWA — The Conservative government may be powerless to pass a controversial new drug patent law if the Liberal-dominated Senate continues to oppose it, Consumer and Corporate Affairs Minister Harvie Andre said Tuesday as he asked the House of Commons
"I told you I wanted that $800 electronic keyboard for my birthday."
to" approve an amended version of the bill.
The amendments unveiled Tuesday would give the proposed Drug Price Review Board more power to curb drug prices. But the government rejected a series of amendments proposed by the Senate.
The controversial drug legislation, Bill C-22, would give producers of newly patented brand-name drugs 10 years of freedom from competition from low-cost generic or no-name drugs and set up a review board to monitor price increases. The current Patent Act encourages generic competition and gives no fixed period of patent protection.
The government says the bill will stimulate drug research and create jobs in Canada. Critics contend it will drive up drug prices by limiting competition.
The bill has been passed twice by the House of Commons. But instead of rubber-stamping the legislation, the Senate has delayed it for months and twice returned it to the House with proposed amendments.
karsky said that was unlikely.
“It’s really up to the union,” she said. “They told us they didn’t want to meet anymore, although we are available.”
Following the collapse of talks Tuesday, negotiators for the International Association of Machinists promised to give 24 hours’ notice of a walkout, but only two hours’ notice of which airport or maintenance base will be hit.
Fontaine said walkouts could start by the weekend.
He said union members held strategy sessions in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal overnight to discuss the rotating walkouts.
Fontaine described strike action as inevitable — “it’s just a question of when and how.” The union hinted in a statement, however, that strike action could be delayed if there is a “serious” resumption of talks by the weekend.
Agents relying on alternates
Prince George travel bureaus are relying on alternate Canadian airlines to provide service for their customers if their travel plans are disrupted by rotating strikes at Air Canada.
The International Association of Machinists are in legal position to strike, following breakdown of talks Tuesday. I AM officials promised 24-hour notice of any strike action but only two hours notice of which airport would be affected.
The local travel agents contacted admitted no firm plans have been made but added they are relying on alternate Canadian airlines for service.
All those contacted said no customers have cancelled flights because of the pending strikes.
*
Postal un-ion official fired
VICTORIA (CP) — A Victoria official of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has been fired over strike-related incidents. Canada Post spokesman Mike Bradshaw said Tuesday. “
Bill Fowler, who has been president of the Victoria local since 1979, joins an estimated 200 other employees across Canada who were fired or suspended by Canada Post following rotating strikes last month.
The House of Commons has passed legislation ordering the inside workers back on the job.
Fowler will retain his union position until the dismissal is dealt with through grievance or arbitration procedures.
Stocks
tumble
again
by Canadian Press
Worries about U.S. economic problems gave investors the jitters today as prices tumbled on North American stock exchanges.
“Investors are cautious,” said analyst John Ing of Maison Placements Canada.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 27.03 points in midday trading to 1,936.50. It had been down as much as 35 points in earlier trading.
The Dow closed Tuesday down 50.56 points at 1,963.53. On Black Monday, Oct. 19, it slumped to 1,738.42.
In Toronto, the composite index of 300 representative shares was down 46.98 points today to 2,958.93. The Toronto index lost 74.01 points Tuesday to close at 3,005.91. It fell to 2,977.21 on Oct. 20, the day after Black Monday.
The underlying economic problems that helped trigger the dramatic losses on Black Monday — the huge U.S. budget and trade deficits and the slumping U.S. dollar — remain a concern among investors, said Sherry Atkinson, chief economist at Bums Fry Ltd.
In Japan, the U.S. dollar at one point sank to 136.80 yen today, its lowest level in Tokyo since modem currency rates were established in the late 1940s. It edged back up and closed today at 137.25 yen, still down 0.33 from Monday.
The Canadian dollar, meanwhile, was down 3-50ths against the American currency to 75.51 cents US.
Money traders said the U.S. dollar is so volatile because the United States is not acting aggressively to correct huge budget and trade deficits threatening tne global economy.
And Japan’s finance minister, Kiichi Miyazawa, urged the U.S. to quickly reduce its budget deficit to stabilize exchange rates.
A weaker U.S. dollar and consequently higher yen tend to make Japanese exports more expensive and therefore less competitive in the American market.
But analysts suggest there is one positive development in the U.S. dollar’s decline.
“It looks as if the dollar is coming down without an impact on interest rates,” said Ing.
Concerns over the American currency depressed prices on overseas markets.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s key index, the 225-stock Nikkei average, tumbled 298.07 points, or 1.3 per cent, closing at 23,060.53 points. On Monday, it gained 29.69 points.
Markets in Tokyo were closed Tuesday for a national holiday.
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s key index slipped 103.63 points, or more than four per cent, to close at 2,077.11 in light trading today.
By late afternoon in London, the Financial Times-Stock Exchange 100-share index was down 67.8 points at 1,586.1, up from earlier lows. Traders attributed the partial recovery to a small cut in a key British interest rate.
The Canadian dollar took a pummelling Tuesday against its U.S. counterpart, falling more than a half a cent to 75.40 cents US before recovering to 75.57 cents US at its close in Toronto.
Major North American stock markets are expected to return to normal operating hours next week.
AVALANCHE INQUEST
1A terrible noise'
KAMLOOPS (CP) — A heli-ski guide who was swept to his death in an avalanche along with six American skiers had no reason to believe the slope had high-risk conditions, several experts told a coroner’s inquest Tuesday.
The three-man, two-women jury heard that guide Fred Pfisterer, 24, was stopped on an open slope in the Cariboo Mountains range, possibly preparing to test the snowpack when the avalanche struck.
The question witnesses kept voicing, however, was why Pfisterer,’s skiers were on the slope if the guide was still testing the snow. i
Another guide and skier in a second group saw Pfisterer out on the exposed slope when their helicopter flew over the site. Both men also saw the six victims part way on to the slope, though they disagreed about the 'distance the skiers were from the guide and from the protection of a wind ridge on the side.
A California woman and two West German men are aliye today because they were lagging behind the group. Because they were on the perimeter of the ridge, they experienced only the edge of the avalanche’s force.
“I heard a terrible noise,” said survivor Anna Lutz. “I looked up. I thought the helicopter had exploded, then I felt myself moving.”
The 20-year-old San Diego, Calif., resident lost her father and his fiance in the March 23 accident.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1987 40 CENTS
Low overnight: 0 High Thursday: fi *2(Jc£Lt/lCX 2