But look back with pride |
A lengthy, acrimonious debate. . .

Cont'd. from page 1. ;

Eighty-two government bills
became law during the session,
which lasted through the summer
for the first time since early in this
century.

The session started both began
and adjourned while mired in

controversy.

In January, ap ition criticism
led Premier Bi nett to call a
judicial inquiry into alleged im-
proprieties revolving around

evelopment of the Grizzly Valley
natural gas pipeline.

PHILLIPS CLEARED .

The inquiry, conducted by Mr.
Justice Walter Kirke Smith, sub-
sequently cleared Economic
Development Minister Don Phillips
of any wrong-doing.

When the house adjourned at 12:50
pm. PDT on Tuesday, it had just

ished giving final passage to two
of the more controversial bills of the
session: the bill to dismantle the
Vancouver Resources Board; and
the bill setting up tougher regu-
lations for unions seeking certi-
fication.

Bennett said that as far as he was
concerned, it was “the most

roductive " session in British

lumbia’s history,” on which “we
can all look back with pride.”

“More major legislation covering
a wide variety of areas from ser-
vices to people, to greater ac-
countability to people from
government, and to improving
relationships and revenue-sharing
with other governments, has been
passed,” the premier said.

Bennett noted that the session had
not prorogued formally, and that it
could be called back any time before
the end of the fiscal year on March
31. ;

RECORD LOAD

“There is substantial time left to
improve on what already has been a
record work load of major
legislation,” he said.

While Bennett dwelled on the bills
that were of a more non-
controversial nature, Opposition
Leader Dave Barrett said that two of
the most significant pieces of
legislation were the VRB bill and the
bills abolishing succession duties
and gift taxes.

PRIORITIES TWISTED
Barrett said the repeal of suc-
cession duties best exemplified the
government’s twisted priorities.

He said that instead of lessening
the tax burden on the lower classes,
the repeal indirectly increased it by
removing a measure which raised
$30 million a year by taxing the very
wealthy.

“Allin all, I can’t say that it’s been
a productive session,’ the NDP
leader said,

He said the session produced no
answers to the most important
question of the day—unem-.
ployment—and he chastized the
government for adjourning before
anything had been done to deal with
the problem.

Barrett said the VRB controversy
showed the government has no

Legislature
wrap-up

social conscience, and will wreck
perfectly good programs solely to
produce more ministerial power.

Rosemary Brown (NDP— Van-
couver-Burrard) fulfilled a promise
by filibustering against the bill in
attempt to hold up its passage.
SET RECORD

Her five-day s
legislature record.

Progressive Conservative leader
Scott Wallace, who. announcec
earlier he is retiring from politics,
said that, to him, the best and most
significant piece of legislation was
the Municipal Amendment Act,
which sets up a formula for
provincial revenue-sharing wit
municipalities.

h set a BC.

He said, however, that in general,
“it’s been a very lengthy and un-
productive session in relation to the

unt of time we’ve spent.”
_ Walizce, along with the rest of the
opposittan, ha strongly criticized
e

another section of Municipal
Amendment Act, which give:
Municipal Affairs Minister Hugh
Curtis the right to overturi
municipal bylaws.

Wallace said it was ironic that the
Social Credit government cam
paigned on a platform of freedom,
ut has introduced several pieces of
legislation which centralize power in
Victoria.

The Conservative leader listed as
examples of that centralization the
VRB bill, changes to the Municipal
Act, and a change to the B.C. Land
Commission which gives the cabinet
unrestricted final say in ruling on
appeals to the commission.

beral leader Gordon Gibson was
out of the country and not available
for comment.
LED TO CONTROVERSY ;

Non-legislative issues which led to
considerable controversy involved
the Insurance Corporation of B.C.,
the Constitution Act: and the B.C.
Railway. |

George Kerster (SC—Coquitlam)
was accused by the NDP of im-
properly influencing the Crown-
owned insurance corporation.
forcing them to break their own
rules to pay three claims,

After several stormy sessions of
the house’s public accounts com-
mittee, Kerster was cleared by the
government majority.

The Constitution Act controversy
involved four government MLAs—
including Kerster—and Wallace.

The five unwittingly accepted
expense money from the gov-
emment, and the opposition said
they ‘thus technically disqualified
themselves from sitting in the
legisiature.

A special committee of the house

‘has been struck to deal with the

matter, although Wallace has
launched court action to resolve the
situation.

Another controversy led to the
establishment of a royal commission
to examine the Crown-owned B.C.

The controversy was triggered by
an out-of-court settlement to MEL
Paving for work done on the Dease
Lake extension, which experienced
drastic cost overruns. The com-
mission was still hearing evidence.

_Another controversy helped
lighten the often-tedious and hot
summer sittings. :

The legislative pages, led by 15-
ear-old George Cessford, staged a
ighly-publicized revolt, com-
plaining of their hot, out-dated
uniforms.

The pages were subsequenil
fired, but then rehired after OF.

position protest, and Cessford |

ame a minor celebrity.

$1,500 in cash Prizes
$ 1 ,000°° First Prize |
Thursday

AUGUST 25,1977
Arena Banquet Hall
8:00 P.M.

SHRINE BINGO will be held every Thursday
| ending each month

Proceeds to Crippled Children
SPONSORED BY TERRACE/KITIMAT SHRINE CLUB No.18.

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We're the British Columbia Government
Employees Union — the “Union that works for
B.C.” — and we've now set up our own office,
right here in town.

The idea is to improve service to the
B.C.G.E.U. members living and working here.
But we believe this office will also help us
reach another goal — increased involvement
5 in community activities. Our facilities, staff and _

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elected members of the Area Councils are
prepared to assist in many worthwhile
community projects, such as:

7 Legal aid/information services,
. Consumer groups, Handicapped groups,
N ~ | Women's groups, Native/minority groups,

° Environmental groups.

We work here. We live here. We want to .
be involved wherever we can be of service.

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The Union that works for B.C.

FOR INFORMATION
IN TERRAGE, GALL 635-9126

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