national Citizen Monday, June 20, 1983 — 5 Federal study declares VDTs safe for all by Canadian Press OTTAWA - The federal Health Department says tests it conducted on video-display terminals show there is absolutely no danger posed by the minuscule amounts of radiation emitted by the machines. “There is. no reason for any person, male or female, young or old, pregnant or not, to be concerned about radiation health effects from VDTs,” said a report released Friday by Health Minister Monique Begin. "Radiation emissions from VDTs are either nonexistent or are so low that no standard in the world would classify these emissions as hazardous.” The report contained information on tests on 122 types of VDTs and 227 individual units. The tests measured emissions along every length of the electromagnetic spectrum from extreme-ly-low-frequency emissions through x-rays. Begin herself said the findings are consistent with those from other tests done by reputable scientists around the world. “This consensus leads to the unequivocal conclusion that video-dis-play terminals do not emit unacceptable levels of radiation,” she said in a news release. “I want to assure all VDT operators that they are not exposed to a radiation health hazard." None of the tests conducted by experts at the Health Department’s radiation protection bureau dealt with other health problems that have been linked to VDTs — problems such as cataracts, eye strain or pain in the back, shoulders and neck. However, the department believes these complaints are probably caused by the type of work done by VDT operators rather than the machines themselves. VDTs are widely used in newsrooms, airline ticket offices and financial institutions and are an integral part of word processors tnat have become popular in many offices. Estimates of the number of terminals in use in Canada range from about 160,000 to more than 250,000. Among the findings in the report: • No x-ray emissions were detected in any of the tests. Of the total number of models tested, 48 tests were done in a special facility that can detect low-energy x-rays half a million times lower than the government's standard for emissions. • VDTs have no components that generate microwaves, the type of radiation used in microwave ovens or radar and the type that has the potential to harm humans by heating up body tissues. No microwaves were found in any of the tests. • Ultraviolet and infrared emissions were either nondetectable or some 10,000 times below the limits for on-the-job exposure. • Small amounts of ex-tremely-low-frequency emissions were found, roughly comparable to the amounts from fluorescent lights or hair dryers and far less than the amounts found in baseboard heaters or electric hand mixers. HATFIELD PROPOSES 'TOAST OF LOVE' Fleet Street loves Disco Dick's strange toast by E. KAYE FULTON Southam News CHARLO, N.B. — The unrelenting British media turned their attention from royalty last weekend to pursue a new quarry — Premier Richard Hatfield and his "flame of love.” Cornered at the Charlo airport minutes before the arrival of Price Charles and Diana on Saturday, the flamboyant New Brunswick premier was peppered with questions about his unorthodox toast to the couple at a provincial dinner the night before. He nervously rebuffed suggestions — particularly from the blunt Fleet Street media — that he had been drunk at the dinner. “I was very, very proud about the whole evening,” he said. ‘‘I’ve worked long and hard. I thought it was exciting. The dinner was impeccably good; the lamb was perfect.” The Fleet Street crowd had a field day when Hatfield left Prince Charles "speechless” with an emotional tribute Friday that included a statement that "we have heard and read the lies . . . today it it was wonderful to meet and know the truth.” In the same bewildering speech, Hatfield — reminiscent of Margaret Trudeau’s "song of love” ditty in Venezuela — urged the audience to rise ‘in a toast of love.” To top it off, Hatfield broke royal protocol by excusing his guests from the main table and then calling them back for the blessing. “I just forgot,” he told reporters, "I make mistakes once in a while.” Acting like a fox among hounds, Hatfield defended nis toast and said the royal couple "understands” what he meant. "I’m surprised that people don’t know what love is,” he told reporters. "Or what lies are, especially English-speaking people.” Hatfield said his reference to “lies” was aimed at "so much which has been said, written or published which is wrong” about Britain's greatest tourist attractions. Asked how much sleep he had before the visit, Hatfield said “a little.” In fact, the Premier has worked solidly for three weeks to prepare for the arrival of Prince Charles and Diana in New Brunswick. "The Premier is crazy about the Royal Family,” said a New Brunswick aide along on the tour. “He was the only premier invited to the Royal wedding and he’s nuts about Charles and Diana. The last thing he’d want is to insult them.” A British journalist also asked Hatfield what kind of wine was served at the lavish dinner, and how much of it he had consumed. "It was Inniskillin wine from Ontario and I don't measure what I drink,” replied Hatfield coldly. "Just what are you suggesting?” “I think the suggestion, sir, is that you had too much to drink,” said James Whitaker, a “royal-watcher” for the London Daily Mirror. Hatfield staunchly denied it. Although Whitaker later commended the premier for "doing well. It was tough for him, bloody tough,” that didn’t stop his colleagues from filing stories back home about "New Brunswick’s eccentric Premier . . . nicknamed Disco Dick.” It also didn’t stop them from asking Canadian reporters for interesting tidbits about the next premier on the tour — Ontario’s William Davis. FOR ROYAL VISIT Peace demonstrators move OTTAWA (CP) — Anti-cruise missile demonstrators reached a compromise with the federal government Friday and agreed to shift their peace camp to another part of Parliament Hill in advance of the visit today by the Prince and Princess of Wales. The move followed harsh criticism earlier in the day by interim Opposition Leader Erik Nielsen, who demanded the government remove the "eyesores” and "rubbish’ set up more than two months ago by the protesters. "I don’t think it lends to the dignity and to the grace of the reception to which they (Prince Charles and Diana) are entitled," Nielsen told reporters after raising the matter in the Commons. Group member Andy Moxley said the camp’s torn and battered sign will be moved late Sunday to the northeast part of the Parliament Hill lawn. The demonstrators have been camped at the foot of the Hill since April, keeping vigil under a rainbow-colored sign. Moxley said the table now covered with literature on the peace movement and equipment such as sleeping bags will be removed. “We feel Mr. Nielsen is using his position in the House of Commons to criticize us and is using a medium in which we have no method of reply,” Moxley said. He said the group will continue to keep a 24-hour vigil until at least September. There is still no agreement with the government over what will happen during the Canada Day celebrations on July 1 when Parliament Hill is generally packed with tourists. Moxley said any sleeping on the Hill will be restricted to after dark so as not to "offend the tourists’ eye.” The group had earlier been been ordered off the Hill by an official of the secretary of state but the deadline was ignored and negotiations between the two sides were arranged. Secretary of State Serge Joyal defended the campers in the House earlier Friday. "They have a right to come here and express their opinion, even though their opinions might be questioned by some other people,” Joyal said. The group has said it will leave when the government refuses to test the U.S. cruise missile in Canada or agrees to a free Commons vote on the issue. Commission faces tough job by Canadian Press The federal royal commission on the economy will have to reconcile a daunting array of special ana regional interests if a series of seminars held during the weekend is any indication. Most speakers at the seminars, held in 11 centres from Vancouver to Halifax, appeared to have their own ax to grind or regional interest to serve. Unemployed workers demanded jobs, women asked for more attention to their problems, an oil executive called for increased oil prices and reduced taxes, a Winnipeg economist wanted more investment in Manitoba, and a Nova Scotia government official cried for more recognition for Atlantic Canada. If the same pattern holds true when the commission begins its formal hearings this fall, chief commissioner Donald Macdonald, a former federal finance minister, and his 12 commissioners will face a monumental task in addressing all concerns in their recommendations to the federal government. The seminars were held at universities in Burnaby, B.C., Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Sudbury, Ont., London, Ont., Quebec City, Sherbrooke,Que., Moncton, Charlottetown and Halifax. Probably the stormiest sessions were held at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby where unionists carrying signs heckled most of the speakers. One sign read: “Give me $800 a day — I’ll figure it out," a reference to the salary Macdonald is receiving as head of tthe commission. Kim Zander, co-ordi-nator of the Unemploy- ment Action Centre in sinessmen, three are Vancouver, berated' academics, two are civil commissioner Bill Ha- servants, and one is a milton for what she called his ignorance of working people and the unemployed. She said the unemployed do not need the commission, but if hearings were going to be held, her group was determined to take part. Unionists complained about the lack of labor representation in the makeup of the commission. Of the 13 commissioners, one is a lawyer (Macdonald), six are bu- union leader. At a seminar at the Nova Scotia’s deputy minister of development, told an audience at Dal-housie University the commission has already University of Calgary, i!}nor®d the Atlantic re-Macdonald tried to coun- 8*on. by not seelking the ter those complaints as advice of the Atlantic well as some of the skepticism and opposition the commission has encountered since it was formed last November. "What we intend to do is have a very extensive public consultation with a lot of people contribut- Provinces Economic Council, which studied the region’s economic future several years ago. McNiven said the commissioners and their research staff come mainly from Central Canada, and that makeup will slant the commission’s ing to the commission’s report away from the work,” he said. concerns of Atlantic But Jim McNiven, Canada. Trudeau undecided7 by LES WHITTINGTON Southam News TORONTO - Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau has yet to decide whether to resign as head of his party, long-time confidante Jim Coutts said Friday. The question of Trudeau’s future simmered beneath the surface of a Liberal gathering here, although it was never officially discussed. by all accounts. A Liberal MP, who asked not to be named, said the installation of Brian Mulroney as Tory leader has focused attention in the party on Trudeau’s situation. “I expect the party will want a decision from him in the next couple of months," the MP said. “But it will never come up to the surface — you know the Liberal party.” One Liberal, who previously worked as an assistant to a cabinet minister, said, "The general feeling in the party is that, whether Liberals like him or not, the country wants a change, so Trudeau has to go." Is Trudeau aware of such sentiment? “I don’t know,” the former ministerial assistant said. “His office used to keep that sort of thing from him, which was foolish. But today I’m not sure.” Party president Iona Campagnolo said there’s no need to address the issue of Trudeau’s leadership despite the party's plunge in the popularity in opinion polls. "This party owes so much to Pierre Trudeau" that he will be making the decision in his own time, she said. “I don't think the polls are relevant at a time when an extreme amount of media (attention) has been yielded to the Conservative party." She emphasized Trudeau’s well-known position that he will resign before the next election, expected by 1985. Coutts, Trudeau’s former principal secretary, said the election of a new Tory leader has not increased pressure on Trudeau to decide his future and that he did not think the PM has made up his mind about the matter. Retirement seemed anything but a burning issue Friday as about 200 party members and dozens of self-described liberal thinkers from Europe, Central America and Israel adoringly mobbed Trudeau at a hotel reception here. Jack Speyer, a British member of the Liberal International executive, said Trudeau was highly respected in the United Kingdom. "British Liberals regard him as being a true liberal, in the real sense of the word, meaning someone who believes in open-mindedness and freedom of the individual.” Speyer said, admitting he didn’t know much about Trudeau’s imposition of the War Measures Act in 1970. The federal party’s national and Ontario executive boards were meeting here to discuss party finances and election readiness. Village saved from fire NEMASKA, Que. (CP) — A forest fire that has been threatening this Cree Indian village since last Wednesday was under control this morning, but firefighters remained leary about allowing the 275 evacuated residents to return. “With persistent heat and wind, it could be a different picture later today,” said forest fire inspector Maurice St. Pierre, recalling how the blaze slipped out of control Sunday afternoon. Nemaska, a newly-built village amidst the James Bay hydroelectric development in northern Quebec, was evacuated Friday when flames were only two kilometres away. Women and children were taken by helicopter to Nemiscau, a camp for Hydro-Quebec power line workers 30 kilometres away, while male residents took boats across Lake Champion to join them. Gregoire planning to appeal QUEBEC (CP) - National assembly member Gilles Gregoire indicated Friday he would appeal his conviction on seven counts of committing immoral acts with minor girls and refused a request by Premier Rene Levesque to resign. Judge Andre Sirois of juvenile court handed down a 35-page verdict Friday that rejected Gregoire’s testimony as "weak” and “unreasonable." Gregoire, one of the founders of the Parti Quebecois, was not in court for the decision and could not be reached for comment. He will be sentenced July 14. Levesque asked soon after the judgment was handed down that Gregoire resign but a statement from the premier’s office said Gregoire did not want to quit until he has exhausted appeal procedures. Levesque said Gregoire’s status would be discussed by the PQ caucus "as soon as possible” but did not say whether he would insist on Gregoire’s resignation, which is not mandatory because he was not charged under the Criminal Code of Canada. POLITICAL PRISONERS Latin refugees admitted OTTAWA (CP) — The federal gov- ment. ernment has decided to open Canada’s borders to as many as 300 former political prisoners in El Salvador and their families, Immigration Minister Lloyd Axworthy announced Friday. “Due to lack of stability in the area, there is concern for the safety of these Salvadoran refugees," Axworthy said in a statement. "Every effort will be made to help those who want to leave the country as soon as possible.” Canada will accept about 300 of the 500 political prisoners recently released under an amnesty proclamation by the Salvadoran governn- Axworthy, who visited Central America earlier this year, said the program meets an urgent need and called on Canadians to show their concern by offering settlement assistance and sponsorship for the families. About 2,100 Salvadorans have come to Canada since 1981 and steps now have been taken to increase the capacity of the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City to handle immigration requests. Canada also has been accepting Salvadorans who face deportation from the United States, the statement said. FAMOUS PLAYERS CORRECTION PARKWOOD THEATRE rAHWARTi RETURNS eJEDI STARTS WEDNESDAY JUNE 22 Reads Atl Seats *2.50 Should Read CHILDREN *2.50 The Citizen apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this error Financial difficulties will close C-Channel TORONTO (CP) - C-Channel, the national pay TV company that called itself the lively arts network, was placed in receivership Friday after running up about $11 million in debt during its 18 weeks on the air. President Ed Cowan told a news conference he still hoped the network could be preserved and was proud of what had been achieved so far. "Who knows? There may be a way through all of this,” he said. However, Larry Ward, sitting next to him as the representative of receiver Price-Waterhouse Ltd., said programming would continue until June 30 but was not likely after that. C-Channel, which offered a mixture of “classic" movies, opera and symphony concerts and children’s shows, had managed to attract only 27.000 subscribers, 25 per cent of its goal, Cowan said. Despite the poor showing, Cowan said the network is ‘‘extremely proud” that it was able to “do what we set out to do on television.” Many of C-Channel’s 45 employees, out of work June 30, gathered quietly a few metres from the news conference in the network’s high-rise suite, then gradually moved closer to listen to Cowan answer reporters’ questions. Cowan steadfastly refused to answer questions about why and how the network had failed. “I’m not prepared to lay the blame at anything or on anybody’s doorstep,” Cowan said, adding that he needed a couple of weeks to think things over. The network had an “accumulation of problems" and the inevitability of receivership became “abun- dantly clear” about 10 days ago, he said. C-Channel had signed up about 17,000 subscribers when it went on the air Feb. 1 and research a couple of years before indicated the network’s formula would be successs-ful. “If all things had been equal, it might have worked,” Cowan said, declining to elaborate. The network’s financial troubles had been rumored for weeks, having come to light in May when Cowan announced it was for sale. In mid-May, the network made an unsuccessful bid for 25,000 new subscribers with a weekend of free programming supported by celebrity guest hosts. The “survivalathon" managed to attract about 4,500 new subscribers, but cable companies didn’t get around to installing equipment for many and some others backed out, Cowan said Friday. Cowan said he suspects the entire Canadian pay-TV industry is “not without problems right across the board" from regulatory restrictions to consumer difficulties. “I have a feeling everyone involved in pay TV are having a very, very, very close close look," at programming and what the consumer wants. Asked why C-Channel failed while other pay-TV channels appeared successful, Cowan replied: “That remains to be seen, eh?” But as Cowan was speaking to reporters, competitor Superchannel Ontario was sending out a release that boasted of 80,000 subscribers, "posting the strongest sales of any network in Ontario in the last two months.” PQ tries to end streak MONTREAL (CP) — The Parti Quebecois will try to break a seven-year record of no wins in provincial byelections today as voters head to the polls in three ridings. More than 105,000 Quebecers are eligible to vote in Saguenay, Montre-al-St. Jacques and the suburban Quebec City riding of Charlesbourg. Ruling parties in Quebec used to come up winners in byelections. But the PQ ha$ lost all 13 byelections it has called in nearly seven years in office. The party still holds a comfortable 75 seats out of 122 seats in the national assembly, compared with 43 for the Liberals and one member who is an independent. But the PQ has geared up its campaign in recent days, drawing on the popularity of Premier Rene Levesque to counter the effects of a year filled with soured relations between government and labor, growing discontent over the provincial economy and high unemployment, and a series of mini-scandals. Levesque has already campaigned three times in St. Jacques, a mostly working-class, French-speaking rid- ing in east Montreal, a PQ stronghold represented since 1970 by Claude Charron, former government house leader. Charron resigned the seat after convictions for shoplifting and impaired driving in 1982. PQ candidate Jeannine Cheron, an active riding worker under Charron, is favored to take a narrow lead over Liberal Serge Champagne, a 39-year-old lawyer. Levesque was active on the campaign trail during the weekend, taunting hecklers and urging PQ supporters at a rally in Saguenay, where the the party has also been strong since 1970. In the riding — left empty by the resignation of Lucien Lessard, fish and game minister — it appears a split vote between Liberal Ghislain Maltais and independent Pierre Mal-tais (no relation) could help PQ hopeful Johanne Isabel squeak through. In Charlesbourg, civil servants hit by government wage rollbacks are expected to give Marc-Yvan Cote, former national assembly member, a win for the Liberals. THE BAY PRESENTS GREAT LUNCHES AT LOW PRICES! SOUPER SPECIAL [i«h nokeO rn.ru toot/doty souo/(p*ly O' pug/c