Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - April 17, 1978, Winnipeg, Manitoba Alice Krueger on the to picture now that Manitoban can see their Federal and civic politicians in action via their to sets it s High time the television cameras were brought into the provincial legislature. Few people Ever take the Opportunity to visit the Manitoba legislature to see first hand what their elected representatives Are up to and How they perform. It s a real shame because they would probably get an entirely different picture than what they read in the newspapers or hear on Day to Day newscasts of the proceedings. There Are Many things that Are never told and which would be there for All to see if television cameras were present. If the Public could see it on to they d be Able to judge for themselves How Well their elected representative is doing instead of just taking his or her word for it. For most people it would be a real Eye opener. Words can never do Justice to Many of the antics and goings on and one would have to see it to fully appreciate it. What could be the first step toward televising proceedings of the Manitoba legislature May come later this month when a legislative committee meets to consider two applications. One is from Csc to bring a camera into the chamber to film the daily question period and major speeches such As the budget. News director Steve Halinda says the plan is not to televise such events in their entirety but to use portions for regular news clips. However he said if the government s information services wants to take a feed off that for anyone else it would be free to do so. The second application is from Videon Cable to but for sound Only. Videon general manager Sid Boyling said his company s plan is to dedicate an audio Channel on its pm band and is seeking permission to tap in on he chamber s Public address system. But he also expressed interest in televising proceed Ings in the future. The legislature s standing committee on Rales a scheduled to meet tuesday april 25 to consider the applications. The Csc s plans Aren t Likely to run into any major opposition from politicians on either Side of the House. The last time the matter was discussed several years ago there was consensus that it be allowed so Long As there was no Cost to the Public purse. Speaker Harry Graham says he s not aware that there s been any change of heart since but he added that rules committee will probably want to set out some guidelines to ensure that television does t Lake unfair advantage of any of the elected officials. For example he said panning the camera on an empty chair would t be fair Ball to the la who is absent from his seat. Graham s official response when he s asked about to in the chamber is that he really does t care one Way or the other. It won t affect me at All in my he says but he admits it May change the conduct of some members. That could Only serve to make his Job easier one would think. My concern is strictly for the conduct of the Assembly and to ensure that the democratic process is his personal opinion after watching the House of commons i would t be As enthusiastic today As i was six months he said. My fear is that there might be an attempt to relate politics to a photogenic in other words the Guy wit i the handsome face and booming voice May come out looking great on to even though he does t deserve that kind of credit. Meanwhile the diligent member who does t have the same gift of the gab or pretty face could get a less favourable audience rating. Because he s working so hard he May have circles under his explains Graham. Them s the chances. Look at what it did for Joe Clark. There s no question that the introduction of television coverage of the House of commons helped to enhance his Public image. The one stumbling Block in Manitoba May be the legislature press gallery association which would1 almost certainly oppose any move that infringes on its already cramped quarters overlooking the Cham Ber. The Csc proposal would require As Many As three spots in the gallery to make room for its camera Graham said. He feels the plan should t go ahead unless it gets approval of at least the majority of press gallery members. The Only other alternative May be to allow filming from a position just left of or. Speaker s chair he said. It would be unfortunate if plans to televise even Small portions of proceedings were thwarted by the press gallery association. Any move that will give Manitoban a better insight into their legislature should be supported. Short of coming to the legislature in person Manito bans right now have no Way of seeing what actually goes on. And there s a lot there to see. The to cameras would t be Able to capture the whole picture for its viewers but it would certainly give them a better insight. Police seek Public help Winnipeg police have asked for Public assistance in locating two or three Young men who May have been involved in a fatal Accident Early saturday at Roch Street near Munroe Avenue. Police said two and possibly three Young men were seen fleeing from a car which was1 involved in an Accident with a car driven by off duty police Constable Bob Russell of 1660 Henderson Highway suite 812. Constable Russell was reported in stable condition sunday with injuries he received in the mishap. A passenger Darcia Ann Drewniak 17, of 7 Westmount Bay drive died. Police said one of the men seen leaving the scene was reported to have been wearing a Jean jacket. He had Long hair and was limping which May have indicated he and the others involved were injured in the mishap. Anyone have any knowledge about the Accident is asked to Call Winnipeg police at 947-1131. Winnipeg free press monday april 17, 1978 City news 2nd class mail registration number 0286 raising Legal age no hindrance students by Glen Mackenzie raising the drinking age to 19 won t Stop younger people from drinking High school students interviewed by the free press say. But the Legal age might be enforced effectively by raising it to 21, issuing identification cards bearing pictures and making sure the cards Are checked students say. The 14 students interviewed aged 17 to 19, attend technical vocational High school better known As tech voc but come from All Over Winnipeg. Even those favouring a higher age said 19 said would t make a difference. You could get anybody s . And pass for Laurie Bowarchuk 18 and opposed to raising the age said. But it would be a lot tougher passing for 21, she said. Joy Teron 19, said she had had been asked for identification Only once since she first entered pubs at age 17. Fifteen year Olds borrow identification regularly from older students and memorize the information to face questions she said. But waiters rarely Check for identification students said. Rose said some pub workers ask students if they have identification but Don t ask to see it. Joy said if police enter a pub they sometimes Check students for identification. But waiters usually know ahead of time and warn the she said. Philip Barclay 18, said he has been going into pubs since he was 16 and his brother since 15. It s their business they want to make a he said. A common question at school is can i borrow your . For All those asked said government liquor stores enforce the age limit More strictly than private inc Mirage rooms. The latest proposal to raise the i Cgaig liquor age is in progressive conservative la Albert Driedger s private member s Bill to make it 19. Driedger Emerson has said he thinks identification cards would do no Good. But All students who mentioned cards said requiring them would cause some improvement. Driedger has said his Bill would be the first step toward age for signing Legal contracts and voting. Most students thought the Legal age should be consistent. What if you got married at 18 and could t have a drink at your Laurie said. If a person is already drinking what s the sense of changing the Law Joy said. Kris Anderson 17, said raising the drinking age would deprive 18-year-Olds of Many social activities. You would have to be 19 to go to some things. I la be working after High school and i want to he said. None of those interviewed said drunk driving or students getting drunk at lunch hour is common although it happens. The Rowdy types come Back after lunch to show off. Some Guys want to prove they can drink and handle Joy said. Eight of the 14 students favor retention of 18 As the Legal age while six want it raised. All four 19-year-Olds want it increased compared with Only one of the seven 18-year-Olds and one of the three 17-year-Olds. But All said most students they know want the age left at 18. I Don Bayne 18, said he wants the age kept As is. Drinking is better than hanging around and getting into he said. If the age were raised to 19 and enforced i think there would be a lot of he added. R Don also said raising the drinking age would impose extra costs because More arrests would mean More Money spent on police and court costs. Diane Mcleod 17, wants the age raised to 21 because too Many underage students drink. She said a lot of her friends have been going to the pub since age 14 and Many underage students can t handle it particularly when driving. But Rose said lots of people at 21, or 27, or 40 can t handle it. You Only hear about drinking if it s Young Russ Krole 18, is against the age being raised and said he would buy liquor for an 18-year-old if asked. But i think 15 or 16 is too Young to drink Jim Hawthorne 19, wants the age raised. I feel in this Day and age that 18 in t quite adult age. I fee i m Able to handle it and know the consequences of driving and drinking. You can t Stop it at 21 but it s a step Jim has no illusions that making 21 the Legal age will Stop All 14 and 15-year-Olds from drinking. That you can t Stop no matter if you raised the age to 25. But it will do some Good he said. Photo by Paul Del Csc Don Wiens is about to soak Adrienne plebe with a bucket of water. The two mennonite bretheren collegiate students were taking part in a car Wash sunday. Red flood Levels stable residents hopeful Turnbull drive residents were cautiously optimistic sunday evening As flood Levels on the red River appeared stable. A Winnipeg works and operations department employee described the area As a stable and said he had had no complaints from it. Another City employee said he saw Only a garage under water. While no one s getting flooded out he said most Homes closest to the River Are sandbagged. Michael Stevens of 340 Turnbull drive said As far As he one s been flooded yet As Levels were lower than predicted. He said some people had been diking along the drive while others had removed furniture from their Homes. Some Turnbull drive Resi dents were irritated by sight seers who flocked to the area near the flood Way Gates sunday. One resident said rows of cars parked on both sides of the Road was just like a causing traffic jams. She said it was a poor time for sightseeing when some people Are trying to save their another Turnbull drive Homeowner said the spectators blocking Turnbull drive were a Damn nuisance and an invasion of a spokesman for the emergency measures organization said red River flood Levels across the province were generally stable Sun Day. While the red River level South of flood Way Rose 1.35 feet he said the River dropped 3.6 feet North of the flood Way. However heavy precipitation could change things he said. The red River peaked in Drayton n.d., sunday and is expected to Peak in Winnipeg april 22. The level of the red River at Morris dropped about one half metre one thing mayor Jack Murray termed mighty unusual and very in past years the River has risen steadily until the Crest arrives but this year s Crest is not expected until Friday. I can t figure it out at he said. Meantime residents of the Border Community of Emer son Are m Ore relaxed than one week ago. We feel pretty mayor Ralph Eisbrenner said sunday. The red Rose Only one tenth of a metre four inches from saturday to sunday. In previous Days the water had been rising nearly two tenths of a metre six inches a Day. Emergency measures organization officials maintained a close watch on the. Situation Over the weekend one official said recent Cool weather has kept thawing and run off at a Low level. Private investment growing Lyon Premier Sterling Lyon of Manitoba said sunday there is evidence of increased Pri vate investment in the prov Ince in 1978 which is higher than the National average. Lyon told the annual convention of the Manitoba Chambers at the Marlborough inn that the Manitoba government has provided a sounder climate for investment and develop ment in the province. Despite our problems we Are looking for 1978 to be a year of modest recovery in Lyon said. While the Premier was optimistic about the Short term economic goals for the prov Ince he expressed dissatisfaction with the recent sales tax Cut agreement with the Federal government. He called the move right in principle but wrongly applied because it led to fed eral government intrusion into provincial areas of constitutional and fiscal author Ity. Lyon said it appears Over lapping regulatory functions of the Federal and provincial governments and the excess administration that goes with it constitutes a 56-Biilion Cost to. The econ omy. He said he asked at last february s first ministers conference for a study of government regulations to see How much of the red tape and wasted time and the paperwork can be avoid he did t provide details of who conducted the study or How the figure of billion was arrived at. Lyon called on the Federal government whose debt charges alone he said a trucking fleets termed wasteful Mackling Al Mackling chairman of the Manitoba motor trans port Board sunday de scribed manufacturer owned trucking fleets wasteful and that their Cost of ship Ping goods to Rural Manitoba should be questioned by Chambers . Mackling told the annual meeting of the Manitoba Chambers at the Marlborough inn that the companies with shipping fleets of their own have blinkers he said that the for Industry was under great pressure to get goods from plants to custom ers. He said that manufacturers decided their own fleets were an answer to their ship Ping problems. As a result private firms bought fleets of their own to get their product from the Plant to the Market quicker. He said that Canada has Only one major Highway and that everything has to Stem off it. The manufacturers should have come to the motor transport and told us that they weren t getting the service they he said. Mackling said it was time to get Back to Public car Ken Fraser president of the Manitoba Chambers called on Mack Ling to work with the Cham Bers to shift the volume Back to for hire carriers from Pri vate manufacturing fleets. Count for 14 per cent of All spending in Canada to follow Manitoba s example in improving efficiency. Lyon called on All Public sector bar gainers to heed the Call at the last Federal provincial first ministers conference for Public ser vants wages not to Lead those in the private sector. It is for this reason that we Are asking All those involved in Public sector Nego dating to recognize that our provincial revenues a which reflect our ability to pay for increased costs including wage settlements will Only grow by about four per cent this Lyon said. Lyon continued the criticism of the Federal govern ment s offer to the provinces to finance a partial lowering of provincial government sales tax rates raised at the. Western premiers Confer. Ence in Yorkton last week. We estimate that this last venture will increase the fed Cral deficit by As much As several Hundred million dollars in this fiscal year which will have to be danced by even More Federal ;