TUESDAY, APRIL 16,1991
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(Plus GST)
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Budget tied to Wilson 6
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TV series bothers reader 19
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by Canadian Press VICTORIA — B.C. Premier Rita Johnston moved Monday to erase the memories of Bill Vander Zalm’s government by introducing a new, leaner cabinet and some fresh ideas.
She also promised a tight rein on the new-look cabinet, which she reduced from 22 members to 19.
“I expect the very highest standards of personal and public conduct from all members of this executive council at all times,” said Johnston, who took over from Vander Zalm two weeks ago after he was found to have mixed private business with public office.
“And there will be absolutely no deviations from this expectation for anyone at any time.”
During his 4Vi years in office, Vander Zalm saw seven ministers quit under a cloud of scandal and another four over his leadership.
Johnston also moved to put her own stamp on the government, announcing reviews of recommendations made by a recent royal commission on education and of policy
on all government loans, grants and subsidy programs except in agriculture.
“I don’t think there was abuse, but it seems to me when he people in British Columbia pay their taxes they really don’t expect their government to be in the finance business,” she said in announcing a freeze on grants.
Noticeably absent from the new cabinet lineup was longtime Socred Grace McCarthy, who quit cabinet in 1988 over differences with Vander Zalm.
McCarthy is expected to run for the Socred leadership at the party’s convention July 18-20. Johnston has not confirmed whether she will be a leadership candidate, although most observers believe she will.
Johnston brought in backbenchers Dave Mercier as environment minister, Graham Bruce in Municipal Affairs and Larry Chalmers in Agriculture.
If nothing else, Johnston appears to have rekindled the enthusiasm
of many discouraged cabinet ministers.
‘‘I have felt very relieved ever since Rita Johnston became the premier and I feel even better today,” said Carol Gran, one of only three women in the Socred caucus. Gran remains in charge of Women’s Programs and Government Services.
NDP Leader Mike Harcourt, however, described the shuffle as ”a last, tired attempt to cling to power.
“You look to the bottom of the barrel and they don’t even have any rotten apples left,” he said.
Bruce and Mercier quit caucus in November 1989 over Vander Zalm’s leadership, but returned several months later.
“I think the former premier is a matter of history,” Mercier said.
John Savage, meanwhile, leaves Parks to become minister of native affairs. The Parks Ministry has been merged with Crown Lands to become the Ministry of Lands and Parks with Dave Parker at its head.
Jack Weisgerber moves to Energy from Native Affairs.
Hot stuff
Citizen photo by Brock Gable
A member of the Chinese Golden Acrobats and Magicians of Taipei dives not only through a burning ring of fire, but a ring inlaid with eight razor sharp dagger points as part of an exciting evening of entertainment Monday at Vanier Hall. The 14-member troupe held an audience of more than 400 spellbound with its spectacular and dangerous balancing, juggling and acrobatic acts. See review, page 2.
City tax increase to hit 9.5 per cent
City residents can blame the GST for about one per cent of the average 9.5-per-cent increase in their residential property taxes this year, Mayor John Backhouse told Council Monday night.
Aid. Colin Kinsley said that level of tax increase is unacceptable because it is well above the percentage of increase in the cost of living generally. Ratepayers should begin to expect less of government services at the municipal level, he suggested.
“We have to hold the line or cut services.”
But Backhouse countered that in many B.C. municipalities tax increases have been in the area of 12 and 13 per cent.
“Ten per cent is not out of the ordinary for other communities of this size,” said city manager George Paul.
The net cost of the GST for the city is $240,000, or about one per cent of the municipal tax increase. In addition, Ottawa intends to spin off another $719,000 of additional policing costs onto the city.
Aid. Rino Fomari said blaming the GST for part of the increase might not be accurate. He said the city should get a tax credit on the GST it pays for some equipment and utility charges because it collects the tax from residents for certain city services, such as entrance fees into athletic facilities.
But Backhouse rejoined, “The one per cent is net.
“Our calculations show that is the bottom-line cost,” he continued. “We are giving the federal government one more per cent of our budget, and in return they are giving us back $700,000 in additional policing costs.
“They are such wonderful people, so much in touch!” he said with heavy sarcasm.
Civil service gets backing
VANCOUVER (CP) — The federal government is out to bust civil service unions and introduce state-controlled bargaining with its Feb. 26 budget, the president of the Canadian Labor Congress charged Monday.
Shirley Carr also put her 2.2-million-member group behind the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s straggle against the government’s wage controls.
Speaking to the alliance’s triennial convention, Carr said restraint measures in the budget are really union busting in disguise.
“Never before has a government couched union busting under the guise of a budget,” Carr told 420 civil service delegates.
The federal government announced wage caps on civil service raises of three per cent a year for the next three years and warned it would legislate the alliance back to work if there is a strike.
The alliance said Monday it has been given 62 per cent strike mandate from its members across the country.
Area speed limits restored
Responding in part to petitions and individual objections from rural areas, city council voted Monday to restore higher speed limits on five arterial streets leading into or around Prince George.
“City council should be commended because they listened to the people,” regional district director Jim Scott said today. “Maybe people will now drive the speed limit instead of 10 kilometres per hour over it”
In late January aldermen had gone along with a public works department recommendation to reduce speed limits on these roads by 10 kilometres per hour in most cases.
Foothills Boulevard was reduced to 70 km-h from 80 km-h, and the speed limit on Northwood Pulp Mill Road was reduced to 60 km-h from 70 all the way from Highway 97 to the plant
On Otway Road the limit was set at 60, down from 70.
In addition, the speed limit on North Nechako Road was set at 50 instead of 60 km-h. On Giscome Road it was reduced to 50 km-h from 60. On Blackwater Road from Highway 16 West to the south city limits, which had not been previously posted, the limit was set at 60 km-h.
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WAGE LAW PROTEST
Local teachers reject walkout
by BEV CHRISTENSEN Citizen Staff
Teachers in the Prince George and Vanderhoof school districts will not take part in the province-wide, one-hour walkout planned for Wednesday by the B.C. Teachers’ Federation.
But the 300 teachers employed by the Qucsnel school district will leave their classrooms one hour early Wednesday to stage a rally in front of the provincial government building, says Randy Curr, president of the Quesnel and District Teachers Association.
“We will be demonstrating our disappointment with Bill 82 and letting them know we believe it will have serious implications on the education of the province and Quesnel in particular,” Curr said today.
He believes that because teachers employed by the Qucsnel school district may have their wage increases rolled back by compensation stabilization commissioner Ed Lien, it will be more difficult for the district to retain
existing teachers and attract new teachers to work in Quesnel.
Meanwhile, spokesmen for more than 1,200 teachers employed by the Prince George and Nechako school districts say they are not affected by Bill 82 because their contracts were signed before Jan. 29 when the Compensation Fairness Act came into effect.
They arc planning alternative action to protest B.C.’s new wage control law .
The more than 1,000 teachers employed in Prince George’s School District 57 will remain in their classrooms for the full day Wednesday but will donate one-hour’s pay — $40,000 to $50,000 in all — to help the BCTF fight the new legislation, says Rene Schwcizer, president of the Prince George and District' Teachers’ Association.
They will also hold a protest rally Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m. in Vanier Hall.
“We’re asking other unions and members of the public to attend the rally,” Schweizer said today.
The new act will affect contracts signed by about half of B.C.’s 75 school districts, Schweizer said.
“This shows how silly it is, some districts will be affected and others won’t,” he said.
The legislation enables Lien to include the cost of contract items such as class size, supervision and preparation time as part of the total compensation package and roll back the amount teachers receive to conform with government standards.
“What is most objectionable is school districts signed contracts on what they believed was their ability to pay and everyone agrees and everything goes along then along comes the government and switches the rales,” he said.
Bill Nicholson, president of the Nechako District Teachers Association, says the more than 200 teachers employed by that district will remain in the classroom Wednesday. But they plan to launch an advertising campaign protesting the unfairness of the new legislation.
Cabinet size trimmed
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'Mildew, I know you like fruit, but you're supposed to test one apple and one grape."
Ann Landers .... 19
Bridge.................18
Business..............8,9
City, B.C.............2,3
Classified .... 15-18
Comic..................14
Commentary..............5
Crossword..............16
Editorial...............4
Entertainment ... 14
Family..................19
Horoscope..............18
International...........7
Movies.................14
National................6
Sports..........11-13
trachan cheers changes
by BEV CHRISTENSEN Citizen Staff Prince George South MLA Bruce Strachan says B.C.’s new, leaner cabinet provides a clear indication Premier Rita Johnston intends to put her own stamp on the government.
“I am particularly pleased to see Dave Mercier and Graham Bruce in the cabinet. Although they were opposed to some aspects of Bill Vander Zalm’s leadership, they are both very bright and both were former mayors so they bring a lot
of experience to their new positions,” Strachan said from Victoria today.
Former Burnaby mayor Mercier replaced Cliff Scrwa as Minister of the Environment Brace, a former mayor of Cowichan, replaced Lyall Hanson as Minister of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Culture in a cabinet shuffle announced Wednesday by Premier Rita Johnston.
She also trimmed the number of cabinet ministers to 19 from 22.
Prince George North NDP MLA
Lois Boone feels the premier’s cabinet appointments are an effort to distance herself as much as possible from the Bill Vander Zalm government.
She has not succeeded because there are so few Socreds left who have not been in the cabinet before, she said Monday.
“This is a deathbed repentance by the Socreds,” Boone said.
Strachan said he is pleased he’s retained the Ministry of Advanced Education, Job Training, Science and Technology.
“This is an indication of this government’s ongoing commitment to the University of Northern B.C.,” he said.
He did not think Johnston’s decision to appoint John Savage as Minister of Native Affairs would stall B.C.’s efforts to negotiate native land claims.
“I don’t see any hiccup in that process because we’re already committed to it,” he said.
Strachan described the reassignment the former Native Affairs Minister Jack Weisgerber to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Resources as a logical step because he has been the acting minister of that department for some time during the lengthy illness of the previous minister Jack Davis, who died recently.
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