POOR AIR SERVICE
Clinic comment ridiculed
by MALCOLM CURTIS Staff reporter
Mayor Joh.1 Backhouse scoffs at the suggestion poor air travel links to Prince George could knock the city out of the running as the site for B.C.’s third cancer clinic.
“That’s a hollow rather ridiculous argument at this point,” Backhouse told reporters after Monday’s city council meeting.
Brian Schmidt, nead of B.C.’s Cancer Control Agency, said during the weekend transportation service will be a major requirement for the location of a new clinic. Schmidt noted Prince George has poor air links to the west.
But after talking with Schmidt this morning, Backhouse said the transportation issue has been blown out of proportion.
“It is just one of many elements to be considered by the committee,” the mayor said, referring to the agency’s site committee, which is considering several locations in the province for a new cancer clinic.
The committee will make a recommendation to the Health Ministry early; in 1989.
It has narrowed its choices to Prince George, Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and several possible sites in the Lower Mainland.
Backhouse said Monday the committee “obviously needs more information” from Prince George, but after talking to Schmidt today he is satisfied it has all the necessary input.
“Mr. Schmidt said he was not here to be critical of Prince George.”
About a year ago council asked Air B.C. to examine whether it could provide service between Prince George and Prince Rupert.
The airline said marketing studies showed there isn’t enough traffic to make such a service economical.
But Backhouse said as Prince George offers more regional services such air routes will become feasible.
Full slate ready for federal vote
Voters in each of the two local federal constituencies will have a slate of six candidates to choose from when they go to the polls Nov. 21.
By the close of nominations Monday, returning officers in Prince George-Bulkley Valley and Prince George-Peace River had registered a total of 12 candidates.
Ten of the candidates represent six different political parties. Two are running as independents.
Appearing on the ballot in Prince George-Bulkley Valley will be: Brian Gardiner, NDP; Bob Harkins, Liberal; Michael Karpes, Independent; Valerie Kordyban, Progressive Conservative; Bert Prins, Christian Heritage Party; and Svend Serup, Reform Party.
Candidates in Prince George-Peace River are: Lome Backus, Confederation of Regions Western Party; Jay Hill, Reform Party; Howard Karpes, Independent; Jacques Monlezun, Liberal; Frank Oberle, Progressive Conservatives; and Alan Timberlake, NDP.
But voters will not be able to cast ballots if they are not registered.
Door-to-door enumeration ended Oct. 20, and any eligible voter not registered can get on the voters’ list by contacting the returning office in their constituency before Nov. 4.
Holly Tryon, returning officer for Prince George-Peace River, estimates there are still 5,000 eligible voters “out there who are not enumerated” in her constituency. Her unofficial list shows 47,780 registered voters.
Alex Clark, returning officer for Prince George-Bulkley Valley, was awaiting additional figures Tuesday and had no estimate of the number of registered voters.
The 12 local candidates join 1,557 others — for a total of 1,268 men and 301 women — who had been registered by Elections Canada staff across the country by late Monday.
The number was expected to grow as additional figures rolled in from western ridings.
There were 1,448 candidates in the 1984 election, 1,234 men and 214 women. Under a new electoral map which reflects shifts in population, there now are 295 ridings, 13 more than in 1984.
Among familiar names that
won’t be on ballots are Conservatives George Hees, Robert Coates, Pat Carney, Alvin Hamilton, Roch LaSalle, John Wise, Sinclair Stevens and Michel Gravel, Liberals Don Johnston and Doug Frith and New Democrat Pauline Jewett.
Some newcomers have unsual qualifications: Paul Vachon, a professional wrestler and brother of Mad Dog Vachon, and pianist Anton Kuerti are both running for the New Democrats. Former NHL hockey star Bill Hicke is running for the Tories.
Richard Rochefort, an Elections Canada official, said there will be
11 parties this time, including two new ones — Christian Heritage Party of Canada and Reform Party of Canada.
Two fringe parties of 1984 have since disappeared because they couldn’t get the minimum 60 candidates — Parti nationaliste du Quebec and the Social Credit party.
The Rhinoceros party is back in force. Its slate includes Real E. Humble, running in Northumberland, Ont., C. Fibber McGhee, in Peterborough, Ont., and a John C. Turner running against the better-known John N. Turner, Liberal leader, in Vancouver Quadra.
Free trade poll gives variety of messages
TORONTO (CP) - A Gallup poll released today indicates 42 per cent of Canadians are opposed to the free trade agreement with the United States.
The poll, commissioned by the Toronto Star, suggests 34 per cent of Canadians support the deal, while 17 per cent expressed no opinion.
Seven per cent said they neither support nor oppose the deal.
Gallup also suggests a majority of Canadians — 52 per cent — believe the deal would make Canada
Comic coloring winners named
The Saturday Plus comics were a do-it-yourself project on Oct. 15 due to the move of the press units to their new home in the former Hudson’s Bay Wholesale building across the street from the Citizen.
But the temporary lack of cclor inspired a bonus contest for Prince George children to color their own cartoons in the magazine that week.
Lucky winners are Joey Hegel, 12 (nine to 14 years category) and Erica Martin, eight (eight and under category).
The two children will receive their choice of five record albums each from Sight and Sound in Pine Centre Mall.
“too American.” Thirty-nine per cent of those surveyed disagreed.
But when asked whether the deal would leave Canada generally better or worse off, 42 per cent of those surveyed said better and 33 per cent said worse. Twenty-five per cent could not say.
The poll results are based on 1,034 telephone interviews with adults conducted Oct. 20-22 and are considered accurate within four percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
The results differ slightly from an Environics poll released earlier this month, which suggested 44 per cent of Canadians support the deal while 42 per cent are opposed.
The agreement is scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1 and would remove all existing tariffs on trade between the two countries. It would also ease restrictions on U.S. access to Canadian energy and investment.
The agreement, after being held up in the Canadian Senate, is in limbo pending the results of the Nov. 21 election. The Liberals and the New Democratic Party oppose the deal.
Gallup suggests opposition to the deal is highest in Ontario, British Columbia and the Prairies. The strongest support seems to come from the Atlantic provinces and Quebec.
Ride all day for two bucks!
“Scratch ‘n’ ride” transit day passes allowing unlimited travel on city buses will be introduced Nov. 4, says Bob Thompson, transit committee chairman.
City council approved the passes Monday in an effort to lure more people to take the bus.
The transferable tickets let adults ride buses all day for $2, while seniors and students can take unlimited rides for $1.50 a day.
For adults travelling in two zones, the pass means all further rides are free for the day, since the regular two-zone fare is $2.
The passes were first proposed
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by B.C. Transit earlier this year in its marketing plan for the city’s bus system.
“We think they’ll encourage more people to use the bus,” Thompson said.
“The big plus is for seniors who’ll be able to ride the bus all day for $1.50 and the same for students.”
A single fare for seniors is currently $1.10 while students pay $1.30.
Thompson said the new fare scheme “would really reach full potential if the evening service was more extended.”
This is a goal the city is working towards as it negotiates a new five-year agreement with B.C. Transit to operate the buses.
The passes will go on sale on the 10th anniversary of the city’s transit service, Thompson said.
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Wheelchair
games
Citizen photo by Brock Gable
Bradley Boyer, 7, gives all he’s got while coach Pat Harris watches during a rug ball game during the Prince George Wheelchair Sports society’s recreation night Monday. During the recreation night at the Kinsmen complex, the youngsters get a chance to learn different wheelchair sports. Youths meet from 6 to 8 p.m. and adults meet from 8 to 10 p.m. Any able-bodied people who want to participate in wheelchair sports are welcome.
winner
Premier Robert) Bourassa’s skirts.”
“Turner obviously has mastered his subjects,” said Jean-Michel Le Prince of Radio-Canada. “He appeared rejuvenated.”
Jean-Claude Roy, a lawyer from northern New Brunswick, said: “My general feeling is that tonight Turner gained some political points.”
Louise Pharand, Toronto region
f(resident of the Canadian Associa-ion of Franco-Ontarians, thought that “if you had to choose a winner, Turner looked the best.”
But Jean Pare, editor-in-chief of the monthly L’Actualite, judged the debate a stalemate. He said Mulroney was no more convincing than usual, Turner was better than expected and Broadbent’s French was a problem.
Dubuc also thought Broadbent’s stilted French could hurt the NDP in the Nov. 21 election. “When Quebecers see Broadbent. . .it’s a reminder to Quebecers that the NDP is much more of an anglophone party.”
The free-trade deal raised the most emotion. Turner, fists clenched, eyes flashing, accused the prime minister of selling out the country. Mulroney wagged an admonitory finger and charged Turner and Broadbent with fear-mongering.
Mulroney oozed confidence as he defended nis cherished trade deal and the jobs he says it will create. He said his opponents have been raising irrational arguments against the treaty.
Turner said the whole trade deal should go.
The leaders are back before the cameras at 5 p.m. (Prince George time) today for a three-hour debate in English.
SECOND DEBATE IS TONIGHT
Turner
by JOHN WARD Canadian Press
OTTAWA — The dreaded blunder factor — the one big gaffe that might decide an election — never appeared Monday night as Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Liberal Leader John Turner and NDP Leader Ed Broadbent clashed in the first of two marathon debates.
The leaders couldn’t manage a really telling blow during the three-hour debate in French. No one stumbled. No one choked. Much of the debate was spent covering old ground.
Mulroney, with the advantage of fluent, colloquial French, was at ease during most of the televised session, fending off attacks from both opponents.
Broadbent, whose French has improved since the 1984 debate, took the reassuring, folksy approach that has become a trademark in his campaign.
seen as
But Turner — perhaps because the memory of his sweaty, nervous 1984 performance is still in the public mind — appeared to gain the most ground.
He looked relaxed and confident, natty in a dark blue suit and red tie, his close-cropped hair snowy under the glare of the studio lights.
It was a sharp contrast to the 1984 debate and won praise from the Quebec press and other members of the audience. Turner dogged Mulroney at every opportunity, sniping away at the free-trade issue.
The Liberal “did a lot better than people thought he would,” said Alain Dubuc, chief editorial writer for La Presse.
Jacques Samson, editorial writer for Le Soleil, said Turner’s performance wasn’t enough to turn the campaign around “but he was able to put Mulroney on the defensive on free trade and force him to constantly hide behind (Quebec
“What's it like for cornering?”