national Citizen Wednesday, March 30, 1983 — 5 LITTLE KIDS AND OLD MEN SIGNED All's fair in Tory leadership campaign by AILEEN McCABE Southam News OTTAWA — The general rule book doesn’t say anything about sauced-up old-timers ana nine-year-old schoolgirls picking the delegates who will choose the next Conservative leader. And what the Progressive Conservative Party constitution doesn’t expressly prohibit, it will likely have to tacitly condone. Condone things like: — Jacaues Larocque’s decision to take out PC party memberships for his nine and 11-year old daughters so they could vote for Brian Mulro-ney at a delegate selection meeting in Hull; — the Mulroney clan’s brain-wave to sell party memberships to a score of men from Montreal’s Old Brewery Mission, bus them to a delegate selection meeting in St. Jacques riding and then send them on their way armed with cases of beer; — and Joe Clark’s organizers’ cleverly arranging for a troupe of majorettes to be accredited to vote for delegates at a meeting in the Quebec constituency of Vercneres. The Conservative Party constitution doesn’t even deal with those kinds of shenanigans. They’re regulated by the constitution of each constituency association — or, for the most part not regulated, as it turns out. The national executive devised a few specific rules to govern the June 11 leadership convention, most notably that a person must be a member of a constitutency association for five working days before he or she can vote at a delegate selection meeting. But the rest is up to local riding associations. If it doesn’t include age restrictions in its constitution, then there aren’t any. Babies can be signed up the day they are born, as was the case in at least one instance recently- The national constitution stipulates only the “motherhood stuff’: bona fide members must actively support the principles of the Progressive Conservative Party, the Tho rule book doesn't say anything about sauced-up old-timers and nine- year-old schoolgirls, so they're all eligible to take a hand in choosing the new Tory leader. It's not only legal, but in areas like Quebec where the Tories are weak, it's par for the course. riding executive must meet twice a year and so on. The nitty-gritty rules aren’t dealt with. David Marley, director of legal services at PC headquarters, admits “it sure is embarrassing to the party” when grade school kids are allowed to vote for delegates, but it is legal unless the constituency constitution explicitly forbids it. Marley has drafted a model constitution for constituencies which would “get rid of this craziness," but so far it hasn’t been used. The problem of “instant Tories” is a tricky one for many Conservative organizers. The lead-up to a convention is a good time to attract new party members, so nobody wants to tighten up the rules very much — except, perhaps, to control an influx of boys from the Old Brewery Mission. But Marley doesn’t see any way to prevent a recurrence, particularly in Quebec. “That’s the price we pay for having a pretty limited involvement in that province,” he said Marley pointed out that "if you have an association that is strong and healthy, people would look askance at this sort of thing,” and candidates probably wouldn’t be able to get away with blatantly packing meetings. But Conservative associations in Quebec are anything but strong and healthy. The Liberals have dominated the province for so long that Tory associations are practically non-existent, and backroom organizers consider it fair game to move in and “tactically” win as many of Quebec’s 450 constituency delegates as possible. So fair, in fact, that since Clark’s defeat in January, his people have signed up 5,312 "instant Tories” in Quebec and Mulroney’s forces have enlisted 6,366. Marley says the same principle holds for some Toronto constituencies where Clark organizers have been accused of packing selection meetings with bewildered immigrants. He points out that, historically, the Conservative Party has fared badly in areas with a concentration of recent immigrants. That leads to weak riding associations — ripe pickings for crafty organizers wno want to sway delegate selection meetings. But Clark and Mulroney organizers haven’t restricted themselves to packing delegate meetings. Particularly in the barren Tory turf of Quebec, they’ve also been busy founding PC "campus clubs” and youth organizations. Since the end of January, the rival organizations have formed a total of 123 in Quebec, of which the national youth executive has decided to accept 57. Sources say Mulroney ended up the loser in this fight, that Clark’s forces had more of their “tiny Tory" clubs accepted. No matter, the fact is that, thanks to Clark and Mulroney organizers, a party that elected only one MP in Quebec can now boast 118 campus and youth clubs — 36 more than in Ontario, and more than any other province. Surprisingly, many Conservatives are not very upset by this kind of politicking. Formal investigations are being sought into two instances where intimidation and “irregularities” were alleged, but for the rest it appears all’s fair in love and war — and politics. Gregoire stays out of caucus QUEBEC (CP) - Gil-les Gregoire, Parti Que-becois member for Fron-tenac, will not sit in the national assembly pending the outcome of his trial in May on charges of committing immoral sexual acts with seven girls aged 12 to 17. Gregoire, 56, announced his voluntary withdrawal from the PQ caucus in a letter to government Whip Jacques Brassard. In the letter, Gregoire protested his innocence, saying: ‘‘I have the firm intention to prove there is no basis for the accusations.” But he said he is withdrawing from caucus until his trial in juvenile court May 3, “because of professional ethics, and to better assure my defence and not place my colleagues in an embarrassing situation.” Violence letting up CAMPBELLTON, N.B. (CP) — A cooling-off period among New Brunswick workers unhappy with jobs going to Quebecers in the Campbell-ton area appeared to be taking hold early today following outbursts of violence on Tuesday. Spokesmen for two major groups of workers in northeastern New Brunswick — millwrights and truckers — said any plans for further demonstrations had been put on hold pending action by New Brunswick government officials on the workers’ complaints. Joe Mombourquette, New Brunswick’s labor minister, met with representatives of the disgruntled workers Tuesday night and promised to take their grievances to Premier Richard Hatfield’s cabinet and report back within 10 days. Protests have been taking place at the Inter-provincial Bridge linking Campbellton to Quebec. Bank rate ALBERTA PROPOSAL March 28 Prime Mortj Coruna Sav mgs r Tar m dapo sits 1 x“f Bonus 3Q^*y 1 9Q<*«y Royal Bank ’ITT 11.5 12 75 immmm 6.5 7 25 7.5 amssaft ■DB Tr 8.5 QBC 11.5 11.25 12.75 14 6.25 7 7.5 7.25 8.5 Bank of Mofltrtai 11.5 11.25 12.75 14 6.25 7 7.25 7.25 8 Toronto-Oomin*on 115 11.25 12.75 14 6.5 7 7.5 --- 8 Scotia Bank 115 11.5 12.5 13.5 6.25 7 7.25 --- 8 Royal Trust --- 11.25 12.75 14 6.75 7.25 8 8 9.75 Canada Trust 11.5 11.25 12.75 12.5 6.5 7.25 7.75 --- 975 National Tout 115 11.25 --- --- 6.25 7 8 --- 9.5 Canada Perm an ant 115 11.25 12 75 14 6.75 7.25 8 8 --- Montrtal Trust 11.5 11.25 12.75 --- 7 --- 8 --- 95 Hospital fees under fire Effective REGIONAL INTEREST RATES Monday Rates are supplied to the Citizen by local otllces Prime Morti jages Consumer Sav ngs Tl ;rm depos its 1 year 3 year loans Daily Bonus 30 day 90 day 1 year Bank of B.C. 111/2 113/4 12% 13V2 6% 71/4 71/2* 71/2* 8V2* Continental Bank 111/2 --- --- PP 6% --- 7%** *^1 8%** + + m Canada Trust 111/2 111/4 12% 121/2 6% 71/4 7%** 7%** 9% Northland Bank 1 1 V2 - --- --- --- --- 81/2** 81/2** 9** Spruce Cr. Union 111/2 12 --- 14% 7 71/4 7V2** 9** 9 The rates quoted above do not constitute the full range of loan and deposit options offered by local financial houses. F'ive-year mortgages, for example, are available at some institutions and higher rates are often offered on term deposits exceeding $100,000. Symbols used in chart: PP — Prime rate plus; * — $5,000 to $9,999; * — $100,000 and up; ♦ — Mortgage renewals only; ■ — $50,000 and up; ★* — $5,000 and up. Local lending institutions are invited to contact The Citizen for inclusion in this weekly chart. Mackasey inquiry hits snag OTTAWA (CP) — A Commons inquiry into allegations that Liberal MP Bryce Mackasey was a paid lobbyist stumbled Tuesday as Liberal and New Democrat MPs rejected the first witness sought by Progressive Conservatives. The first session of the committee on privileges and elections was devoted largely to argument over published statements that indicated the inquiry’s scope and powers are limited. The Tory members were outvoted as they tried to get direct testimony from the reporter who had interviewed Marcel Pelletier, Parliament’s head legal counsel. “I’m willing to bend over any way to avoid a partisan atmosphere right at the outset,” Liberal MP David Smith said as the dispute began over Pelletier’s comments, quoted by Ottawa Citizen reporter Greg Weston, that the committee “doesn’t really care” whether Mackasey was paid to lobby. After Pelletier told the committee he believes he was misquoted and taken out of context. Smith joined other Liberals and New Democrat Laverne Lewycky to smother the Tory attempt to hear Weston. The committee is investigating allegations in three Montreal Gazette stories this month that Mackasey owned a company known as 109609 Canada Ltd., through which he was supposedly paid to lobby for another company, Les Ateliers d’usinage Hall Ltee., now bankrupt. Mackasey, denying the charges in the Commons, asked for the inquiry, saying the accusations prevent him from doing his job as an MP. Mackasey listed two allegations he wants investigated: That he "owned 109609 Canada Ltd. and, through that company, while being a member of the House of Commons, was a paid lobbyist.” Pelletier was quoted as saying the committee can only look at the allegations in the motion and: "Did Mackasey receive that money? The committee doesn’t really care.” EDMONTON (CP) -Hospitals Minister Dave Russell isn’t getting the support he expected for a decision to implement hospital-user fees of as much as $20 a day. Russell’s announcement Monday that fees will be introduced Oct. 1 has met with condemnation and a warning from federal Health Minister Monique Begin. Begin said she will study the plan and threatened to withhold all or part of about $353 million in federal hospital funds if “it breaches accessibility or universality.” Russell said the 75 Progressive Conservative members of the 79-seat legislature had discussed the issue with constituents. “I think the support is going to be there, otherwise we wouldn't have done it.” Russell said if Ottawa tried to cut off federal hospital funds, the province would fight in Parliament, in the courts and in the political arena. To give hospitals extra income, Russell said admission fees will be doubled to $10; emergency and outpatient services, now covered by the province, would cost $10 a trip; hospitals will be able to charge the lesser of $20 a day or 10 per cent of the average daily cost of the hospital making the charge and that private rooms will cost $16 and semi-private rooms $8 over the daily rate now paid through the province’s hospital-insurance plan Margaret Ethier, president of the United Nurses of Alberta, said Alberta could be heading a move to dismantle universal health care in Canada Ethier said provinces which are not as wealthy as Alberta may follow the move to hospital-user fees as a way of in-creasing revenues. “They’ll look at us and say ‘If Alberta, which is supposedly rich, can do this then why can’t we?’” Liberal Leader Nick Taylor said the move was a "cowardly way (for the government) to force municipalities and hospital boards to collect a tax they don’t have the guts to collect themselves.” Ethier said user-fees are being implemented because the government made the mistake of building expensive facilities instead of investing more money into home care and nursing homes. “Nursing homes are cheaper than shiny huge hospitals .... now patients have to pay for the government's mistake.” Opposition Leader Grant Notley said the user-fee concept is “rotten” and accused the government of trying to dump the medicare sys- tem and its philosophy of universal health care. "It’s a scandalous effort to turn back the clock and repeal programs universally accepted throughout North America.” "This is absolutely ludicrous and ridiculous and can’t be tolerated," said Sally Hall, president of the Alberta branch of the Consumers’ Association of Canada. “It’s going to spell the end of medicare.” HUMAN RIGHTS Tougher guides sought OTTAWA (CP) -External Affairs Minister Allan MacEachen expressed support Tuesday for a tougher policy on providing aid to countries with poor human rights records. He told MPs he agrees with a Commons subcommittee recommendation that foreign aid should be substantially reduced or terminated in such cases. But he also endorsed an accompanying statement in the recommendation that the government should exercise caution in tying development assistance programs directly to human rights policy. Canadian human rights policy as expressed during Prime Minister Trudeau’s January tour of Southeast Asia was that private personal appeals between leaders are often more effective than public statements of protest. MacEachen, appearing before the Commons external affairs committee, was commenting on the report last fall of the subcommittee studying Canada’s relations with the Caribbean and Latin America. He said the government hopes to present its formal response to the report sometime this spring. MacEachen also said Canada will resist efforts to manipulate world financial institutions to impose foreign-policy goals, such as in extending loans only to certain Central American nations. New Democrat MP Pauline Jewett and Liberal Maurice Dupras complained that the Unites States is using the Inter-American Development Bank, of which Canada is a minority shareholder, to provide loans to El Salvador while excluding Nicaragua Dupras, chairman of the subcommittee, said Canadians are growing impatient with U.S. policy in El Salvador to the exclusion of the needs of poor people in other Central American countries. The minister replied that international financial institutions are valuable and ought to have their integrity respected. Canada would oppose any efforts to undermine their credibility. Dupras said later in an interview the purpose of the committee’s recommendation on human rights was to sound a warning to Third World countries that foreign aid could be slashed unless human rights violations are halted. MacEachen also told MPs the government is committed to increasing the foreign aid budget to 0.5 per cent of the gross national product by 1985. 15th & Central Would the mask*} man pi—— Mk hit horse to leave our parking lot In the tame clean condition ha found It on Weatem Night pleaiel Government passes rights amendments OTTAWA (CP) — Amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act increasing protection for women and the disabled were passed Tuesday by all three parties without debate in the Commons. The amendments broaden protection for pregnant women and are aimed at preventing sexual harassment in the workplace for federal employees. A controversial paragraph was dropped from the draft of the new legislation which would have allowed employers to reject potential employees if they were "likely to behave in a disruptive manner." The new bill, which needs Senate approval and royal assent before it becomes law, forbids discrimination against both mentally and physically handicapped persons in all aspects of life under federal jurisdiction. Until a month ago, it appeared the amendments would not be passed by the Commons because of opposition from human rights activists to the paragraph allowing employers to reject potentially disruptive employees. As well, some business groups expressed fears that drug addicts and alcoholics may have to be hired because the new definition of disability includes "previous or existing dependence on alcohol or a drug.” The Commons dispensed with the amendments quickly Tuesday, one day before MPs break for Easter recess. HARDY ASSOCIATES (19701 LTD. lTiNO rNOiNtEWiNG A PROFESSIONAL Sf.RviCf S Wish to announce that in Prince George and area we are continuing to provide PROFESSIONAL and TECHNICAL services in the fields of GEOTECHNICAL and MATERIALS ENGINEERING. Also, as a CSA certified testing laboratory, we can carry out all standard tests on concrete and concrete related materials to CSA specifications A-283 * CAN3-A23. 1 & 2-M-77 as well as most other tests related to construction, such as paving & backfill materials. Come See Us At 9-1750 Quinn St., Prince George or phone (604) 562-9281 to discuss how we may be of service CORRECTION Tuesday, March 29th Food Ad PRICES EFFECTIVE DATES SHOULD HAVE READ March 30th to April 2nd The Citizen apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this orror. the THE BUFFET PRESENTS COUNTRY TIME FEATURING: CRISPY SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN FRESH BAKED BISCUIT PIPING HOT GRAVY (served in a dip cup) CREAMY COLESLAW THURSDAY NIGHT 4:00 TO 8:00 P.M. AT ALL BAY BUFFETS I lHibson’s iluj