Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - April 20, 1981, Winnipeg, Manitoba 14 Winnipeg free press monday. April 20, 1981 Senate veto dispute has revival a Ottawa up a proposal to downgrade the veto Power of the Senate part of an alternative amending formula offered by eight Canadian premiers last week marked Back to a similar Effort crushed by the upper House last fall. Rejected part of the proposed alternative amending formula immediately rejected by the Federal government would have reduced the Senate s absolute veto to a six month suspensive veto. When prime minister Trudeau unveiled his plan so Amend and Patriate the British North America act last october he suggested the Senate be allowed to hold up legislation no longer than three months. That was later extended to 180 nation Alberta might fight Ottawa in Grain Fields Days but the Concession was t enough. At least 20 Liberal senators were reported ready to defeat the whole Trudeau package unless the veto was absolute. The government capitulated. Senators led by Dave Steuart former Liberal Leader in Saskatchewan insisted they must have a guaranteed voice in their own re form. Was a Concession that infuriated Canada s Lone new democratic party Premier and Steuart s Long time political foe Allan Blakeney of Saskatchewan. The nip has Long called for the abolition of the Senate and Blakeney said Trudeau was writing in an absolute Senate veto for All time in the Federal constitutional package. In the proposal offered thursday by All provinces except Ontario and new Brunswick the premiers Rea soned that the Force of the Federal government and 10 provinces All expected to agree to their last ditch alternative to Trudeau s plan would overwhelm the senators. No opposition expected the difference is that if there is a substantial measure of agreement amongst All 11 governments in Canada i do not anticipate the Senate will raise the same Blakeney said in an interview thursday. I Don t think there s any Way that the Senate on its own could stand in the Way of added Alberta pre Mier Peter Lougheed. Blakeney lobbied hard with the seven other provinces to get the suspensive veto written Back into the proposal the eight premiers Laid be fore the Federal government last thursday. There was Little opposition. British Columbia Premier Bill Bennett has pushed for turning the Senate into a House of the provinces where . Could have recognition As a full fledged Region. Blakeney said constitutional talks during the 1970s always included a reformed Senate. Clearly Trudeau would have found Little to squabble about. Not Only did he try a suspensive veto last fall but in 1978 an earlier proposal by the prime minister for Senate change was ruled unconstitutional by the supreme court of Canada. Caller threatens Peckford s life St John s. Fld. Up Premier Brian Peckford s residence will remain under police guard following a threat on his life Friday a police spokesman said yester Oay. Police said Peckford s residence will be guarded until the Premier leaves this week on a Caribbean Holiday police confirmed an Anonymous male caller threatened the Premier s life Early Good Friday and said the Emder investigation by the rova1 Newfoundland Peckford guarded a spokesman for the Premier said Peckford is not alarmed and the threat has not caused him to change his plans. He will be leaving Early in the week for a previously scheduled Holiday in the Caribbean the spokes Man said. Peckford was not in Newfoundland when he threat was made police said. He was met by police who a pm named him Home when he returned from Ottawa on Friday afternoon. By the Canadian press Alberta s Grain Fields May be the next Battleground in the constitutional War be tween Ottawa and the prov inces. While there has been no direct provincial Challenge to Ottawa s jurisdiction Over inter provincial and Export Grain marketing there Are growing indications that Al Berta is steering a collision course with Federal regulating agencies. Dissatisfied the province makes nose Cret of its dissatisfaction with some of the rules applied by the Canadian wheat Board the Canadian Grain commission and the Grain transportation authority. Those three bodies control the Grain delivered by farm ers the elevators where it is stored and the railway cars hauling Grain to Market. Hugh Planche economic development minister in Al Berta voiced the most recent criticism of the regulatory agencies saying they Don t always assist Farmers in Selling Grain. Norair strike of d Toronto up nor Dair flight attendants have voted 95 per cent in favor of a strike after the breakdown of conciliation talks. No deadline has been set for the strike but Merl Day Central Region business representative for the Canadian airline flight attendants association said a strike is almost certain if an Independent commission is not appointed by the Federal government. The Union wants wage Par Ity with up air workers and a one year contract. The company wants a three year agreement. Norair flight attendants have a starting wage of a year and make a top rate of after seven years. Up air attendants receive 44.6 per cent More than Norair s Basic rate and 24.4 per cent More than the top rate Day said. If a regulatory body out lives its usefulness and is not moving Grain to Market and getting producers the Price they deserve then maybe time to rethink the role of those the wheat Board wonders whether Alberta is building its own collection and marketing system. The first indication was the creation of the Alberta Grain commission a farm service Agency some believe also counsels the govern ment on policy issues. The Alberta government has also purchased three Large Inland Grain terminals in Edmonton Calgary and Lethbridge and formed Al Berta terminals Ltd. To run them. It has acquired an Export facility in Vancouver that could handle bulk commodities and recently was embroiled in a controversy Over the use of railway Hopper cars to ship rapeseed without prior authorization from the Grain transportation authority. Withdrawal and a government Mem Ber of the Alberta legislature recently introduced a motion to withdraw the province from the wheat Board a move Many argue would contravene constitutional Law. In the 1978-79 crop year. Alberta Farmers were involved in 47 of the 51 court convictions for Grain Deli very infractions. In the last crop year of 1979-80, there were 166 convictions and 165 of them were against Alberta Farmers. There is even speculation that the Alberta government has a hand in financing court challenges and contributes to a variety of vocal commodity groups that frequently criticize the wheat Board. Roy Atkinson of Saska Toon chairman of the wheat Board s advisory committee and a former president of the National Farmers Union believes the Alberta govern ment is in league with one or More International Grain companies whether directly or air fare ruling results in attack on rights act Vancouver up Canada s human rights act is a worthless piece of says a Vancouver woman who won a three year Battle against discriminatory air fares through a Canadian human rights commission ruling. The commission ruled last week on charges brought by Nancy Bain a self employed real estate lecturer that air Canada s family discount fares violate the Canadian human rights act by discriminating against single adults travelling together. However f. D. Jones the commission s Independent one Man tribunal said he does not have the Power 10 Force air Canada to end the practice. It seems to me the human rights act is just a worthless piece of paper if after three years they say they can t do anything about Bain said. Did t suffer any damage Jones also ruled Bain who is single did not suffer any damage when she and a male companion were denied special family discount rates and no damages were awarded. Part of the reason i went through this exercise was to see if the Canadian human rights act has anything to Bain said. A in his decision Jones suggested a complaint be lodged against the Canadian transport commission. The human rights commission will consider the report at a meeting later this month in Vancouver. Bain lodged the discrimination complaint against an air Canada family fare providing a 17-per-cent reduce Tjon divided Between two adult individuals. She complained such fares Are not available to two single adults travelling together. Jones upheld her complaint because the act does not allow a distinction on the basis of marital status in the provision of a federally regulated service. Ally i Bank Montreal has reduced if you re considering a loan for any worthwhile purpose come and talk to us before May 15th. Well Start by offering a specially reduced rate. Then Well work out a repayment schedule that suits your needs. Finally so you won t have to wait and wonder Well make a real Effort to get your loan approved that very same Day. Believe it we really want to do business with you. So come on in and Check us out before May 15th. Our Friendly and professional Loans people will do everything they can to give you great service and a first rate break on your rate. We11gjve Abresi on your Roe. Bank of Montreal i ;