Schultz Pontiac Buick Ltd. 11 11 Central St. Phone 563-027 1 When you call your government, June Bates answers. June Bates is one of the Government switch- than 43,000 members of the B.C. Government board operators. She's been an operator for the Employees' Union working for you all over Government for over 14 years. the Province. That's a lot of phone calls. At all lands of jobs. But she does it because she enjoys helping Under all kinds of working conditions, people. And because she knows how important ^ All people whose skill, experience and her job is to the operation of the government. y®? dedication have made our provincial public There's a good chance o"11"© employees among the most that you'll never meet June at *1*1*W% /Inirjiiniiiiiiii# efficient anywhere in North work but there's a good * (xOVCrillllClIt America today. chance you'll be talking to her. UltnillnUMfi9 TTtllAll And that's something June is only one of the more "“PWyWB UlilUU tobeproudof We’re working for you. TED'STA,L0R SHOP LTD. 1142-3rd Ave. r5T"5t»ES. — ' Fast Expert Service Dealer Licence Number 01483 The Truck People from General Motors NEW 1980 GMC PICK-UPS Buy a 6 cyl. GMC and save on gas & price. • Front Disc Brakes • Fuel Tank Mounted on .250 cu. in. Engine 130 h.p. Frame Side Rail • Heater and Defroster • New Front and Rear • 3 Speed Synchronized Trans. Shocks • 2 Speed Wipers • Cabs Completely New in Style • 5 G78x15B Belted Tires and Design with Greater In- • Rear Leaf Suspension terior Roominess • Block Heater • 117.5" Wheelbase ... phi* many more new features found only In GMC trucks SALE PRICE $5595 (plus Tax * Licence) FINANCING AT 14.75% Why Buy Anything Else Separatists will use gas hike as issue by PETER COWAN Southam News QUEBEC CITY - Federal Finance Minister John Crosbie. by raising the price of gasoline in Tuesday’s federal budget, has handed the Parti Quebecois government an issue to use in promoting Quebec independence. Quebec Finance Minister Jacques Parizeau has served notice he will "milk” the 18-cent a gallon increase in federal excise tax on gas in order to discredit the federal system and build support for a yes vote in.next spring’s sovereignty referendum. Yesterday, after attacking the budget in the National Assembly, Parizeau was asked by reporters to what extent he would use the gas tax to illustrate his claim that independence would allow Quebec to practise better fiscal management. “Oh,” said Parizeau, ‘‘I don’t know how many times a day I will be saying that, but surely several.” For Premier Rene Levesque’s administration, which has gone through a series of political problems and public sector labor disturbances, the issue is timely. Support for the government and sovereignty-association, meaning an independent Quebec in a common market and monetary union with Canada, is down. The budget gives the government something it can use to seek confrontation with Prime Minister Joe Clark’s government which, so far, has ducked fights with Quebec. Parizeau’s immediate goal is quite clear: To convince Quebecers that the gasoline price increase obviates federal subsidies for imported gasoline and that the money, in provincial hands, could benefit Quebec. He told the assembly that of the $2.5 billion which Ottawa will collect from the gas tax to lower its deficit, $600 million will come from Quebec. That, said Parizeau, is just about equal to federal subsidies on imported fuel which have often been used as an argument in support of Canadian federalism. He promised the assembly would debate to have Ottawa withdraw from raising the new tax in Quebec and turn it over to the PQ government which would apply it in its place, and ‘‘redistribute it to the public completely.” “For example,” said Parizeau, “we could reduce the general sales tax from eight to five per cent. Or, we could reduce our personal income tax by 12 per cent. Or, we could reduce property taxes by nearly 25 per cent. Such reductions would ensure the Quebec economy’s expansion, despite the hindrances which Ottawa wants to impose on it.” It remains to be seen how much support Praizeau’s motion will receive. Liberal leader Claude Ryan has not said how his party will vote on it and the Union Nationale will oppose it. Ryan, however, did express reservations about the budget and said the gas tax could “unbalance” Canada’s tax system. Parizeau said Crosbie should reduce Ottawa’s $10 billion deficit, but not until after 1980 because economic growth next year will be nil. Later, he told reporters that when the economy is slowing, “it is no time to put on the brakes” and suggested Crosbie might “wreck” the economy by using the incrsased revenues to cut the deficit rather than stimulate the economy by redistributing it. He added that if reduced gas consumption was part of the government’s goal, hi own approach would achieve that while stimulating growth. Parizeau said the budget provided him with a chance to demonstrate what an independent Quebec could do. “Politically,” he said. “It’s a very remarkable opportunity that we’ve got on this specific case that everyone will understand by the time he pays fojir ofi five bucks more for a tanletvjjl p| gas to understand what we Ve been talking scored a political victory against the former Liberal government with strong public support in Quebec. Parizeau promised the issue will be raised by Quebec at next week’s economic conference of first ministers and he wants to see if he will get some support from other provinces. But there are factors working against him as well. The Levesque government has consistently argued that oil must go to the world price and the Quebec public has been conditioned to accept higher gas prices. about.” The situation brings to mind the sales tax battle of two years ago when Parizeau P.G. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Co. Ltd. Stondard A Ai/tomatif Specialists S6.1 7667 Doys Of fvrs 500 Oueenswoy HYPNOTHERAPIST Relaxation, self confidence, quit smoking, alcohol and drugs, weight reduction. call For appt Office 562 7021 Res 563 5868 or Need a lawyer? If you think you might have a legal problem but aren't sure. If you need legal advice but don't know where to look. If you need a lawyer but don't know one . . . the Lawyer Referral Service can help you. It's simple and inexpensive. Give us a call. jc Lawyer Referral Service ^ Prince George 562-6717 Sponsored by the legol profession in British Columbia. 56 — THE CITIZEN, Prince George — Friday, December 14,1979 EFFORT TO DISCREDIT FEDERALISM Why (he Hyatt Regency Vancouver and the Bayshore Inn have cut winter rates by one-third. HYATT REGENCY VANCOUVER 655 Burrard Street Vancouver. B.C. V6C 2R7 (604)687-6543 In Canada 1-800-361-6172 gats you Hyatt world wide and toll-free. December through March are pleasantly mild winter months in Vancouver. They are also our "slow" months. So, to encourage your visit, we’re offering a splendid inducement: one-third off our usual room rates. With all due respect to the Bayshore, we believe the Hyatt Regency offers even more of an inducement than our friends up the road. Because their special winter rate gets you a luxurious room with a beautiful view at a fine hotel out near tranquil Stanley Park. But our special winter rate gets you a luxurious room with a beautiful view at a fine hotel right in the heart of exciting downtown Vancouver. So you’re steps—not taxi rides — from the city’s best shopping, nightlife, restaurants, galleries, theatres and business addresses. And, because our room rates are priced a little lower than the Bayshore’s year-round, one-third off ours is less expensive than one-third off theirs. Come discover Vancouver in winter. The only thing “off-season" about us is the price!