THE CITIZEN. Prince George — Wednesday. October 10. 1979 — 7
OF OUR 1001 IDEAS
Minor changes in day of pomp
l,u' Citizen
National
  OTTAWA (CPi - Gov.-Gen. Ed Schreyer took a wrong turn while inspecting the 100-man color guard
   Joe Clark couldn't conceal a wee smile as he claimed the seat reserved for the prime minister in the House of Com mons.
   And former prime minister Pierre Trudeau did not wear the customary rose in his lapel for his debut in Parliament as Leader of the Opposition.
   These were minor touchcs that did not go unnoticed amidst the pageantry and ritual surrounding the opening ofCanada's31st Parliament on Tuesday in wintry Ottawa.
   The day began quietly with the swearing in of 16 new senators. 12 Tories and four Liberals.
  The mood picked up when Black Rod Thomas Bowie went as the traditional Senate messenger to invite the elected MPs to the upper chamber.
   They then re-elected Liberal James Jerome of Sudbury. Ont.. to the post of Speaker, which he has held since 1974.
   Clark’s first words to the Commons were in French. He nominated Jerome as Speaker and Trudeau seconded the motion with a light-hearted speech in which he took a few goodnatured pokes at his Liberal colleague.
  After NDP Leader Ed Broadbent and Social Credit Leader Fabien Hoy approved. Clark and Trudeau dragged Jerome, faking reluctance, to the Speaker's throne.
   The ritual of feigning reluc-
 tance dates back to the days when the Commons spokesman risked death or imprison ment if his message to the monarch was displeasing The remainder of the day
  OTTAWA (CP) - Opposition party leaders say Prime Minister Clark’s first throne speach revealed an abdication of economic leadership by the new Progressive Conservative government.
   Speaking to reporters Tuesday only moments after Gov Gen. Edward Schreyer read the speech prepared by Clark. Liberal Leader Pierre Trudeau said most economic questions hinge on the future price of oil - a topic unmentioned in the throne speech.
  New Democratic Party Leader Ed Broadbent said the throne speech showed that "Mr. Clark is simply not providing economic leadership."
 was given largely to ceremony - including a 21-gun salute to mark the arrival of Schreyer and his wife. Lily, in a landau drawn by four black horses.
The day-long extravaganza
   No economic strategy was contained in the speech that traditionally outlines a government's legislative plans, he said.
   Social Credit Leader Fabien Hoy said he was surprised by what he considered a lack of specific measures to deal with economic problems.
  But Hoy. whose five-member caucus can give Clark's government a majority in the 282-seat Commons, promised to support any good legislative measures.
   Trudeau, referring to the speech’s promise to strengthen the nation by encouraging cultural diversity. criticized Clark for his
 even attracted a few protesters. About 100 Marxist-Leninists paraded in front of Ihe Peace Tower and chanted: T.et the Rich Pay "
   A smaller group of about 20 gathered a short distance away to demonstrate in favor of maintaining Petro-Canada. the govern ment-owned oil company the Conservatives say they want to sell to private industry.
   And moments before the viceregal couple arrived on the Hill, an anti-nuclear demonstrator appeared - wearing a skeleton costume bearing a
 • concept of Canada."
   "A nation is more than just a sum of its parts." said the former prime minister who had made national unity his chief crusade.
   Despite his criticisms. Trudeau said the Liberals will support most of the proposals announced in the throne speech. ‘‘I think it’s very good." he said initially when asked to comment on the speech and referred specifically to promised freedom-of-information legislation and parliamentary reform.
   Former Liberal cabinet ministers also harshly attacked the government for what they perceived to be a
 sign which read: "Step out of the Nuclear Shadow."
   Following the throne speech, the Schreyers returned to Government House in their landau. And the MPs who had crowded in at the back of the Senate chamber to hear the speech went back to the Com mons to finish the formalities of the day.
   However, because of an unexpected vote in the Commons. scores of guests - diplomats. senators and officials - were left to mill around the halls as they waited for Ihe Speaker to host his traditional opening-day party.
 lack of economic leadership
   "After five months of Conservative government, they give us snow and higher interest.” Chretien said referring to two incidents earlier Tuesday - an unseasonble snowfall and interest rate increase.
   Herb Gray, a former consumer and corporate affairs minister, said: "TheCanadian people should be very disappointed to see the government spending so much to allegedly prepare a program and come up w ith so little."
   More than four months has passed since the May 22 election - a record time between an election and the opening of Parliament.
REACTION TO SPEECH
 Opposition questions economy
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Tory front-benchers applaud Joe Clark’s nomination speech.
MUCH PROPOSED
Throne speech in brief
   OTTAWA (CP) — Changes in the powers of the Canadian transport commission and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission are forecast in the throne speech read at the opening of Parliament.
    "You will receive proposals for regulatory reform, designed to ensure that the certainty and nature of government regulation encourages individual initiative and planning," said the government document read by Gov.-Gen. Ed Schreyer.
   Communications Minister David MacDonald already has said that he believes the functions of the CRTC should be altered to reflect changing times.
* * *
   OTTAWA (CP) - A shift in social responsibility from government to private sector is indicated int he throne speech which contains such promises as cuts in unemployment insurance benefits and more power for the voluntary sector.
   In the preview of government policy, Prime Minister Clark pledged to cut unemployment insurance benefits, hints of which have already prompted protests from labor but praise from business, "to ensure greater equity and to remove disincentives to work.”
    Job creatio programs, specifically aimed at alleviating unemployment among the hardest hit — youth, women and natives — are to be designed in such a way that the private sector will shoulder a bigger share of the make-work burden. Such programs have been costing the government more than $700 million annually.
* * *
   OTTAWA (CP) - The government has formally announced it plans to grant citizens greater access to government information through a law strictly limiting the types of information that can be kept secret.
   Prime Minister Clark has already said a freedom-of-information law — outlined in the speech from the throne opening the 31st Parliament — is his No. 1 legislative priority.
The throne speech promised
 that disputes between the public and bureaucrats who want to withhold information will be resolved in court.
   It said the government will also introduce legislation ‘‘to further protect the privacy of the individual Canadians." No details were given.
* * *
  OTTAWA (CP) - The Conservative government announced that it plans to support the revival of a merchant marine fleet.
  In the speech from the throne, w hich outlines its legislative plans for Parliament, the government said that at the same time it will ensure an even flow of shipbuilding contracts to domestic yards.
   There were no details in the speech read by Gov.-Gen. Ed Schreyer.
* * *
  OTTAWA (CP) - The government will introduce legislation to amend the controversial Indian Act to protect women’s rights.
   In the throne speech opening the new Parliament. Gov.-Gen. Ed Schreyer said that the
 act would be amended to "correct inequities borne by some Canadian individuals."
   That was a response to a campaign by Indian women to change the law whereby they lose their property rights as registered natives when they marry non-Indians.
   The Conservatives also promised to improve and expand native training programs.
  OTTAWA (CP) - The government will launch a full inquiry into the special needs of the disabled and handicapped. says the throne speech forecasting government legislation for the 31st Parliament.
   The inquiry will be conducted through one of four select Parliamentary committees the government wants set up.
   The Canadian Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled welcomed the move, saying members had been trying for years to attract government attention to the needs of an estimated three million disabled across the country.
FOR CHARTERS
Wardair gets licence
  OTTAWA (CP) — Wardair will get its first licence for domestic air charters this week, a Canadian transport commission spokesman said Tuesday.
  The licences will allow Wardair to organize charters between Toronto and Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton and Toronto and Calgary between March and September for the next two years.
  Wardair, considered the No. 1 Canadian airline offering international charters, has been seeking entry into the domestic market for some time.
  But the new domestic licences are far from satisfying the airline, which wants to run a combination of scheduled and charter flights in Canada and abroad.
  It argued in favor of such a combination at meetings earlier this year of the air transport committee over the objections of Air Canada, CP Air and several regional airlines.
NEWS RELEASE
Royal Bank Halloween Contest
'Rate hikes are bitter medicine'
by Cunudiun Press
   Most of Canada’s chartered banks raised their prime rates Tuesday, casting a pall on Christmas shopping, capital investment and the housing market in what one executive said was necessary but bitter medicine.
   In raising their prime to 133i per cent, the banks were following the lead of the Bank of Canada which raised its lending rate to 13 per cent, a step that emphasized the belt-tightening many Canadians have come to expect in a worsening economy.
   "You just have tp swallow twice and, while it is bitter medicine, realize that it is medicine," said Sam Hughes, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
   "We don’t like it but we recognize that it is necessary to fight inflation in Canada and to reduce the flow of capital out of Canada."
   As the rate goes up. so will charges on consumer financing — credit cards - and shoppers can expect this will be reflected in higher prices for Christmas gifts. Hard-hit will be retailers, like Simpsons-Sears Ltd. department stores with fixed prices in catalogues already out.
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$500.00 In Prizes
 Once again this year at all five branches of the Royal Bank here in Prince George there will be the annual Royal Bank Great Halloween Drawing and Coloring Contest. This contest will be open to youngsters age 4-9 years inclusive. There^will be three categories broke down as follows: 4 & 5 years, 6 & 7 years and 8 & 9 years of age. There will be 3 prizes in each category as follows: $15.00, $10.00 and $5.00 bonus savings accounts for first, second and third prizes respectively. This year each of the Royal Banks here in Prince George will be participating and the prizes mentioned above will be given out at each branch.
   During the day of October 31st staff members at each branch will be wearing costumes and the branch will be decorated in the Halloween spirit. There will also be candies and treats for the youngsters who come into the branch. This community project sponsored by the Royal Hank allows the youngesters to display their coloring and drawing talents as each of the entries will be on display for review by the judges from the time they are received till the close of business on November 3, 1979.
 Shirley Waterfield, Customer Relations Officer says "the entire purpose of this program is to give the children an opportunity to show off their artistic abilities while at the same time enjoying the festive spirit of Halloween.” Further Shirley says that "last year we had some 400 entries and this year we’re hoping for many more as we now have all five of the branches in Prince George involved and the prizes given out have also been increased by five times over what they were the previous year.”
 "Branch staff have a truly good time as well as it allows them to join in the spirit of Halloween", says Pete Konkin, Manager.
 During the day on October 31st arrangements have been made for some Kindergarten classes to tour the branch so that the children will have a chance to see the staff members in the costumes. All in all it is a day of fun and excitement not only for the youngesters who are participating in the contest but also the staff who get a chance to participate as part of the community in one of our oldest customs.
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