Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 3, 1981, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press wednesday june 73 to f f a 7 i v Winnipeg free press. Wednesday i Bennett inebriated flushed Hud in House Naper testifies Vancouver up _ Premier Bill Bennett May not pour scotch on his cornflakes but he drank later in the Day and was slightly inebriated in the legislature during some evening ses Sions former finance minister Dave Stupich said yesterday in . Supreme court. He said this was apparent during a couple of evening sittings when the legislature was particularly boisterous and the Premier seemed to make no Effort to bring it under on the occasions when i Felt he was under the influence of Stupich testified Bennett s face was flush his comments exceptionally loud Repetti live and out of context with the de nation Bate and his laughter loud and forced. Stupich a new Democrat noted that one evening sitting ended nearly in a physical fight with a Cabinet min ister threatening one of our Mem Bennett is suing Stupich the member for Nanaimo for accusing him in a column july to 1980, of being unfit to attend evening sessions of the Legisla Ture because of drinking. The column said the Premier at times seemed to be in no state to attend evening sittings of the and that he apparently was finding it difficult to train himself and Cabinet members when it comes to pour ing scotch with their Stupich said the Premier seemed to be drinking More heavily than he should have been and he believed the comments he made were True when he wrote them. He said that he was a near tee Totler for almost 50 years but was familiar with the symptoms of those who drink having lived in logging Camps served in the air Force and having two Broth ers who had alcoholic problems. Stu . Prison convicts go on rampage Pych said he now enjoys an occasional drink. The Long time member of the Legisla Ture said he knew the scotch on Corn flakes remark made by Bennett would be widely circulated in Nanaimo particularly by the Victoria colonist which had a Large circulation in the area and was fond of reporting things the Premier had told re porters the legislature was sitting in the morning because he knew members did not pour scotch on their Corn flakes. Stupic said the Premier s apology would not get nearly the same expo sure in my Riding that the cornflakes remarks i Felt i had to protect myself in my Riding against what i considered to be a charge against myself As Well As my Stupich said he apologized for his remarks in his next column using the same kind of language the Premier used when he apologized for the cornflakes he said that when he wrote the offending remarks he had no idea Bennett was trying to be funny. He said earlier he had ceased to find humor in any remarks made by the Premier since Bennett s attack of the nip during the 1979 election Campaign comparing them to Hitler s National socialist party. Under intense questioning by Ben Nett s lawyer Peter Butler Stupich said he did t try to Stop publication of his remarks because i feared that might make it More defence counsel Alex Macdonald an nip member of the legislature and a former , said Stupich had apologized in Good Faith. The apology was a politician s reply to a Politi Cian who instigated the column by his remarks. Bennett said the apology was unacceptable. He said Stupich s statements left doubt in the Public mind about his character and the apology did not erase this doubt. The trial continues. Matsui . Up almost one half of the Federal medium Security prison Here was burning out of control Early today after prisoners rioted apparently to protest Kitchen working conditions. No hostages had been taken but Federal spokesman Jack Stewart said Thatcher Battle rebuffed Regina up the Saskatchewan court of Appeal has rebuffed for now involvement in a bitter custody Battle involving one of the province s most prominent politicians and his former wife. And their 12-year-old son not sighted publicly since last october remained hidden. The couple s 12-year-old son lost to View of authorities since last August was apparently due to be brought to monday s court hearings by the husband s lawyer but failed to appear. At the Centre of the Case is Colin Thatcher son of former Premier Ross Thatcher of Saskatchewan and himself a progressive conservative member of the legislature for Thunder Creek. He has already been sentenced to a Fine of for contempt of court following a lower court s inquiry into the whereabouts of 12-year-old Regan Thatcher the couple s son. Authorities had not seen the boy since a court ruling last August awarded custody to Bis Mother. Tony merchant lawyer for Colin Thatcher told the court of Appeal he had planned to have the boy appear monday but changed his mind because police were Likely to inter Vene. Merchant said the boy had been in the United states attending a private school and since last month has been Back in Moose jaw living in hiding unable to go Back to chief Justice e. D. Bayda said that because Thatcher has not purged him self of the lower court contempt charge the court of Appeal was unable to Deal with three applications made monday. Two of the three applications were from Thatcher one to reverse the Cus Tody award and the other to set a Date for an Appeal of the contempt charge. Decision was also withheld on an application by Thatcher s former wife Joann Wilson to set dates for appeals of lower court property and custody judgments. Seven prisoners were injured in the rampage including one with superficial wounds to the face and shoulder. All were being treated in hospitals for apparently minor in juries. The fires were burning in the Kitchen auditorium storage area protestant Chapel administration building and two residential wings Stewart said. The prison opened originally in 1966 As a Centre for criminal drug addicts houses 312 prisoners. Prisoners had pelted firemen with stones and ramp officers had fired warning shots to protect the fire fighters he added. Kitchen taken Over they Aren t asking for Stewart said of the prisoners. We Haven t had any formal Contact with them at All. It s not he gave the following description of events prisoners armed with bats and pipes took Over the Kitchen at p.m., forcing four staff members to flee. Shortly after prisoners invaded the Hospital area where More staffers had to flee. Seven patients including two quadriplegics and a heart patient were evacuated. Then guards at two residential wings fled to a roof and were taken away two at a time by helicopter. Stewart indicated the riot apparently started Over Kitchen working conditions. The Only indication we have is a meeting that took place this afternoon with the inmate Stewart said. There were concerns expressed at that time about working conditions in the Kitchen but 1 can t be More specific than trial. Alcohol brewed in prison the incident actually erupted in the Kitchen so they might be the prison has been the site of sever Al disturbances in the last year. In june three prisoners were injured in a series of disturbances that prison officials said involved alcohol brewed in the prison. Officials said a prisoner under the influence of alcohol kicked a guard As he was being escorted to a segregated cell and then slashed himself with a broker Light fixture after he was put in isolation. Guards later found two other prison ers badly beaten in their cells. During another incident two prison ers took a guard hostage when they were discovered attempting to escape. The Federal medium Security prison opened 15 years ago As one of five Canadian treatment centres for Crimi Nal drug addicts. Workmen come to the Aid of a horse that became ensnared Between railway ties on a Bridge passing Over the Welland horse Rescue canal near St. Catharines yesterday. Rail traffic was delayed for almost two hours before the horse was freed unharmed recipe for Good country voiced it Anuw c a a St. Johns fld up canadians can expect to have a Good country Only if each Region of the nation is Strong in its own right Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed said yesterday. I feel this country will be stronger if the regions Are Lougheed said in a luncheon speech to the Newfoundland Institute of chartered accountants As he wound up a visit to the Atlantic coast. Canada counts Heads in nationwide census Ottawa up the Day of the big count the once a decade National Cen sus has arrived. Today everyone Down to the last Hermit is being asked to answer a number of questions about themselves. The government will use the information to compile some of the country s most important statistics. Census Day has been Well advertised at the Cost of million and a census worker should have already left a form at your Doorstep. So it should t come As a surpise. And some people May have already filled out and mailed their forms. That s what happened Dur ing the partial census five years ago a statistics Canada official said tues Day. If everyone filled out their forms on the same Day the results would be More precise he said. But what about someone who industriously completed their form a week Early and then died statisticians have concluded that the results would t be distorted significantly the official said. Then there Are those who fill out their forms late or refuse to fill them out at All. A person who throws his form into the garbage shredder because he believes the questions Are none of the govern ment s business could be fined up to and end up in jail for three months. It won t be Long perhaps about a week before census workers Are on the Trail of these objectors the offi Cial said. After the 1976 partial census 37 people were taken to court for not filling out their forms and 28 were fined. So just what is required today most people will be asked to answer 12 questions about age sex number of people in a dwelling and their relation ship to each other. One in five will have to answer a longer form with 45 questions about housing Home heating religion eth Nic background and economic Circum stances. Farmers will fill out a special Agri culture census. The information is used in Many ways devising government pro Grams building roads schools and hospitals setting immigration Levels and deciding How much Money the Federal government should Transfer to prov inces for Cost sharing agreements. A population figure should be Tabu lated by mid-1982. Statistics Canada is estimating it will show a 5.9 per cent population growth since the 1976 partial census for a grand total of canadians. Lougheed s speech covered much the same ground As one he gave in Halifax sunday night at a progressive conservative fund raising dinner with some additional arguments in favor of Newfoundland s stand on offshore resource ownership. Premier Brian Peckford and Lough eed spent most of monday together in private discussions following an afternoon tour of an Oil Rig being refitted at a South coast shipyard. They visited a St. John s fish Plant tuesday morn ing. Peckford said at a news conference after yesterday s luncheon that discus Sions covered Energy and forthcoming fiscal negotiations Between All the provinces and the Federal government. Both Peckford and Lougheed declined to give details of their discussions. Lougheed said in the speech that ownership of its resources enabled Al Berta to build the present Economy and Newfoundland should be Given the same Opportunity. He said a provincial government is the Best judge of How fast natural resources like offshore Oil should be developed. Ownership and control by the Federal government could Lead to a Boom and bust Economy with disruption of local lifestyles and Environ ment. Lougheed s views on the need for provincial resource ownership parallel those of Peckford who says Newfoundland did not give up its right to Oil deposits on the Continental shelf upon joining confederation in 1949. Peckford said at the news conference he is trying to determine if there has been any change in prime minis Ter Trudeau s position on offshore ownership. Newfoundland liberals have said Trudeau offered to make a Deal with Peckford during the prime minis Ter s visit to St. John s last month. Peckford was away at the time. Lougheed said control of offshore Oil development by Newfoundland like control of onshore resources by Al Berta and other provinces would Lead to an evenly paced strengthening of the local Economy that in the end would Benefit Canada As a whole. Apart from economic benefits the process of provincial control would be satisfactory in other ways. You lose the sense of accomplish ment if you have to ask Ottawa if you can do Lougheed said. While Many newfound Landers and Nova Scot ians had found Good jobs in Alberta they should have the same opportunities in their Home provinces if they wanted to return. Lougheed also reiterated his earlier comments about rising interest rates saying it is time for Canada to Stop tracking the United states Economy. The High Cost of borrowing was Hurt ing too Many canadians. He said a drop in Canadian interest rates would cause the Dollar to dip initially but would not harm the Prospect for Long term investment in this country s resource Canada because of its resource potential is More attractive to the International investment Community than is the Peckford is to visit Alberta later this week with the main Public event being a luncheon to the Calgary chamber of Commerce on Friday. Maritime premiers Analyse Leau s speech diff Fredericton up prime min ister Trudeau has mapped out wide open territory for change when and if Canada enters its second crucial stage of re confederation new Bruns Wick Premier Richard Hatfield said yesterday. Hatfield Nova Scotia Premier John Buchanan and Prince Edward Island Premier Angus Maclean closed the 10th anniversary session of the Council of maritime premiers with an analysis of what Trudeau their anniversary guest had said in his speech Here monday night. Maclean and Buchanan criticized the prime minister for a Philosophi Cal speech that raised Many questions but gave no answers. The two premiers expressed alarm at indications from Trudeau that the fed eral government is too broke to continue massive Transfer payments to poor provinces and therefore the source of Money should switch to wealthy prov inces. I think the idea of tapping the resources of provinces and talking about distribution of wealth in the prov inces is really not the problem nor the Buchanan said. What he is in effect saying is that if you re going to need funds in the regions then Don t ask the Federal government for the Money ask the provinces. That is certainly contradictory to the whole Federal Maclean said an Energy agreement with Alberta will not solve the coun try s economic problems. Therefore i think the Federal government has a heavy responsibility to continue with equalization and Transfer but while Buchanan and Maclean took Issue with the prime minister s Call for a fair distribution of provincial resource wealth Hatfield said the eco nomic plight of the Federal government has to be addressed by the prov inces. I Don t think the answer is going to be found in taking All the Money from Alberta because that s not enough Money but i think there does have to be some recognition that the Federal government is not As fiscally Strong As it should be and that should be a concern to All of Hatfield said. The new Brunswick Premier who along with Ontario Premier William Davis supports Trudeau s constitutional plans said the prime minister s speech Here set the stage for the second stage of constitutional discussions which will take place if the supreme court of Canada approves the first stage unilateral Patria Tion by the Federal government. Trudeau said in his dinner speech that improved regional representation will be the next major Issue for constitutional Reform in Canada. The prime minister said the Senate has failed to represent the regions and a new system will have to be found. Hatfield approved of Trudeau s efforts to open up very serious questions about proportional representation in parliament and the future of the Senate. He said the prime minister made it Clear that because he does not have answers improved regional representation will be a wide open subject in the second phase of constitutional debate. As my colleagues said the prime minister did t answer the questions but i think his purpose was to get away from this impression that he has some kind of grand design which he wrote in 1966 and is now literally imposing on the country against the country s Hatfield said. I thought he demonstrated last night that he is quite prepared to discuss an elected Senate an appointed Senate or no Senate at All and i m anxious to get on with that Riun will us Tel Ulsch Solun. . Claims offshore Oil resources Victoria ccp1 British Rel Nohia hot upon turn Zhilian Victoria up British Columbia yesterday claimed jurisdiction to some of the Petroleum resources off its coast in a move that could renew a Battle with Ottawa Over control of valuable offshore Oil and natural Gas. Energy minister Bob Mcclelland said he has set up an administration program for Inland Waters that cover vast undersea reserves of natural Gas. The program is the first step in allowing companies to begin exploration of an area that could contain Between two trillion and three trillion cubic feet of natural Gas. The areas include Hecate Strait Dixon Entrance Queen Charlotte sound Queen Charlotte Strait John Stone Strait Georgia Strait and Juan de Fuca Strait. There Are estimates that the geological conditions Are right and that there could be As much Gas in that area than we have known reserves in British Columbia at the present said Mcclelland. Exploration companies will have to negotiate with the province Tor leases and permits to Drill Inland seabed. Mcclelland said there Are indications that the Federal government will lift its 10-year moratorium on offshore exploration sometime this year and . Wants to be ready when that happens. He also said . Plans to press its claims for jurisdiction Over Waters that lie beyond the Inland Waters off the Mainland coast. The . Jurisdiction claim could wind up in the supreme court of Canada where Mcclelland said . Will argue that Waters lying within a nne Down the coast outside the Queen Char Lotte islands and Vancouver Island Are Inland Waters and under provincial jurisdiction. The . Court of Appeal has ruled that the province has jurisdiction Over Inland Waters. Ottawa has appealed the ruling but there has been no action on the Appeal for three years. We Are acting now because of the growing concern Over Oil Mcclelland said ;