The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 6

ThcCitizen Published by the proprietor, Southam Press Limited, at 1101 Baxter Road, Box 5020, Ottawa, Ont. K2C 3M4 Thursday, February 16, 1978 William Newbigging Publisher Russell Mills Editor William MacPhcrson Associate Editor Nelson Skuce Managing Editor Spies evoke doubts The long road back By Douglas Fisher Citizen special correspondent Don't underestimate the skepticism and cyn'cism in Ottawa's political and journalistic circles over the expulsion of a baker's dozen of U.S.S.R. espionage people, caught by an RCMP officer they were trying to suborn. But I thought Don Jamieson did a superb job, in the House and in a press conference later, in revealing the affair, and doing it with seriousness and wit, force and sensitivity. Jamieson knew the high scale of the current doubts abroad over the integrity and capability of the RCMP.

He neither gilded nor belittled the security service, even as question after question, particularly at the press conference, revealed the skepticism. Great service That skepticism was best expressed by the wag who said: "The Liberals will have to nominate that KGB agent who went after the Mountie for the Order of Canada." A spokesman at the U.S.S.R. embassy laughed at the whole affair to a friend of mine: "What have you here we'd want to spy upon?" Anything that snaps Canada out of its economic lethargy is a worthwhile exercise, but it's highly unlikely that the first ministers' meeting will fit that bill. At the end of the conference, Prime Minister Trudeau said that the meeting had not accomplished miracles but it had made a start. In fact it produced little more than a reaffirmation of prime ministerial faith in all the things that heads of government should believe in low inflation, reduced unemployment, high productivity, industrial competitiveness, energy self-reliance and prosperity.

But it is a long haul from a communique of good intentions to pay cheques, balance of payments surpluses and an ensured energy future. For the premiers to have been convincing to the people of the Canada would have taken more resources than they had to offer. It would have taken ideas and policy proposals. Over the three days of the conference there were precious few of those. There was a reiteration (almost ad nauseum) of all the old complaints about regional disparity, about federal high-handedness and about the need for more investment from either the public or private sector (depending on who was speaking at the time).

The nation has heard it all before. For three days' work, the only specific proposals to come forth were two energy projects, one in Labrador and the other in Saskatchewan. As an expression of faith in Canada's dynamism it wasn't much. These two projects were the only reality to emerge from one of the most overblown features of the conference Energy Minister Alastair Gillespie's dramatic presentation of oil, gas and hydro projects touted as offering one million man-years of work. Gillespie's performance as energy master of ceremonies on the federal-provincial Gong Show was perhaps typical of the entire event long on self-congratulation and short on solutions.

The setting of federal targets for reduced inflation and unemployment may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but as even Sylvia Ostry, the head of the Economic Council of Canada, warned in a television interview during the conference, the targets could well be unrealistic, depending on what happens in the United States (where inflation seems ready to jump again). It would be wrong to say that the federal-provincial first ministers' conference was an exercise in futility. It may not have given Canadians confidence in the ability of their governments to reverse the nation's ills immediately, but it may have given the people of this country a chance to better appraise the people they have elected. After making that appraisal, Canadians might conclude that the day has passed when relying on government as a bulwark against economic trouble was a viable proposition. Canadians might also conclude that their own energies will be required to restore the prosperity of the past.

It's a long road back to a prosperous future but the policies to get there cannot be those of the past more foreign investment, more government hand-outs to industries that don't perform, more tariff walls and quotas behind which inefficient Canadian industry can hide in not-so-splendid isolation. Hidden in the rhetoric of the three-day conference was a challenge that might have been too well-camouflaged by self-serving politicking. It is that this country has to get off its can and fight for its economic place in the sun. Retreat from Parliament Hill Boosting our books, saving schools money Paperburden? Garbageburden? Some events in Parliamentary history are so ludicrous they defy comment. Thanks to Small Business Minister Tony Abbott for the latest.

He's going to set up the office of Controller of the Paperburden to try to reduce the load of paperwork af- Moral danger The South African Parliament has defeated a motion to allow marriage and sex, not necessarily in that order, between blacks and whites. Justice Minister James Kruger said that such an arrangement would mean that people "can vote and love and live together." That would be On high-level candidates: oll Keith Spicer, the famous, perhaps notorious, former language commissioner, has been talking with both Liberals and New Democrats about a possible candidacy in the next federal election. I understand from New Democrats that the quick-witted Spicer, now a columnist and TV performer, is interested in a seat in either the Lower Mainland of B.C. or in Metro Toronto. Whether or not Bobby Hull will be a Liberal candidate in the next election," did you notice he was made a member of the Order of Canada a few weeks ago? (Bobby Orr didn't make it, although I understand on good authority his name was advanced for the honor by friends.) Advice for Bobby With all respect to Hull's large and earned following in Winnipeg and Manitoba, he should be warned there are only three seats in all of Manitoba that look promising for a Liberal candidate.

One, St. Boniface, is almost a Liberal cinch, even if Joey Guay, the incumbent, retires. The other prospects are not so rosy but "possibles." They are the seats largely based (we've just had a redistribution) on the present ridings of Selkirk and Churchill. Churchill in the north would likely for a hockey player (it had one before in Bud Simpson) and the Liberal core there is strong. Selkirk has been as volatile' as any riding in Canada, and could go to any of the three larger parties.

The incumbent, a young Tory, has been, jij-effective, at least in Ottawa. Bobby Hull should demand the Liberals open up one of those three, if he really wants to get into the Commons. The story that he would run against Tory MP Dan McKenzie in the south end of Winnipeg strains one's credulity. I'd wager McKenzie is as safe in his corner of Winnipeg as the immortal, Stanley Knowles is in his. Press Review, a not especially good and newish periodical devoted to the na-, tional media, has one indirect quote in it (allegedly from a journalist with Jhc Christian Science Monitor).

"He couldn't believe the incompetence of the parliamentary press gallery -they never knew what questions to ask, they didn't know who to ask and they ere defcrrent to politicians." (I hope the man meant "deferential" to politicians.) A mixed lot Well I think many critics who really studied the gallery closely would make such a case. What I dislike about such a generalization rises not from any self-defence but from the diverse nature of the press gallery. The latest "gallery list" is just out arid the members number 230. Thirty-five of the 230 work in French for French-language publications or stations. Twenty-, six work for English CBC-TV and 20 for Radio-Canada, another 19 work for private TV stations or networks, another 20 for private radio stations or services.

Almost 100 work for various daily' papers or news services such as ams that feed specific dailies. A score, work for weekly periodicals or for fort-' nightly and monthly magazines. LiteraJty half, at least, of the 230 members Are, rarely if ever at press conferences Or close to the unfolding of events and ihc' performances of the political actors. IjY hard to be categorically cruel about Jhc quality of such an odd lot. There are no tax dollars involved in the "half-back" program it is being financed entirely from the proceeds of Wintario.

Over seven million tickets are sold every two weeks. Just imagine the savings to school libraries if they organized a collection campaign. Citizen Forum The ministry of culture and recreation is only committed to a three-month trial period. It could (depending on the positive results) be used as a model for other areas such as Canadian films, records, and theatre. The more successful the "half-back" program the better chance there is of a continuing program.

I have no personal interest with Wintario, or the Canadian Book Publishers Council, or any others who sponsor the program. It just makes sense to me. if we can have more Canadian books in our libraries, let's do it. I strongly suggest that everyone even remotely connected with school libraries in the Ottawa area make strong overtures to their supervisors to use this program now before it expires on April 12. A former teacher-librarian, A.

B. Baker is now an Ottawa publisher and writer. Join the debate. Citizen Forum thrives on controversy. Typewritten submissions of up to 600 words are welcome.

Sorry, but unused articles cannot be returned, although excerpts may be used as letters to the editor. on business savvy crs would put most of our so-called "established churches" to utter shame. Having been more or less constantly in touch with this movement over the last four years I have seen many young and ardent men and women come and go from its midst, including Alan whom I remember as a "spaced-out," dreamy-eyed adolescent. I recall he spent a few days at the Ottawa temple and then willingly surrendered himself to Ted Patrick's goon squad when they called upon him at his family's request. When I saw him two months later on TV openly denouncing something he obviously didn't know anything about, it came to me as no surprise, Bernard Gingras Ottawa More clean air Your editorial "Putting the heat on smokers" summarizing plans of the U.S.

Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare to restrict smoking in the U.S. deserves praise for publicizing not only these encouraging moves in the U.S. to improve the environment there, but also the moral right of my neighbor to breathe air not polluted by avoidable action on my part. Allan H. Wilmot Ottawa By A.

B. Baker Why hasn't the ministry of education advised all schools in Ontario to utilize the recently announced "half-back" program? Culture and Recreation Minister Robert Welch announced on Oct. 11 a plan to use all non-winning Wintario tickets as discount coupons for purchases of any eligible Canadian-authored book (including texts), or a subscription to a Canadian magazine. In my recent discussions with school librarians in this area it seems that no directive or guidance has been forthcoming from on high. May I suggest that every principal and every school librarian in the area immediately check with their local bookseller? If he is accredited (which means he must have 350-500 Canadian titles in stock, or 25 per cent of his display area, or 25 per cent of gross sales in Canadian titles) he should rush down to save money.

Every non-winning Wintario ticket is worth 50 cents to a school library or anyone else. This program is experimental and only applies to Wintario tickets from the Jan. 19 draw to April 12 and a maximum of four tickets could be used for each purchase on any book or set of books worth at least $3 with no limit of the number of books purchased. A library could therefore buy many $3 books for only $1 if they had enough non-winning Wintario tickets. I'm certain many of these tickets would otherwise be discarded.

city hall falls down cut the cost dramatically and partially restored the credibility of and by opening one eye and telling what was so easy to sec in Ottawa. You still could, if you care. K. O. Bardwell Ottawa Not all 'cults' Re Alan North's letter "Cults use coercion (Jan.

21): I would warn against the indiscriminate lumping together of all these new "cults" when it is obvious that they differ greatly in their purpose, methods and general credibility andor reliability. The intelligent and scrutinizing observer will realize that while many of them are simply what they are made out to be by the media a wishy-washy ill-defined concoction designed to amass the greatest amount of money with the least expense of time and energy others, and I refer specifically to the Krishna consciousness movement, commandeer much more than just a passing glance to be appreciated for what they arc in even a small way. The traditional Vaishnavism of India or "Hare Krishna" as it is known over here will come as close to any standard or definition of bona fide religion wc may care to set down and the enthusiasm, faith and sincerity of its praction- Readers' views: Civic concern appreciated, but dieting small businesses. Paperburden? What about Abbott-burden? In a speech to the Brampton Board of Trade, Abbott even admits, "My hope is that expectations of early and dramatic success will not be excessive." Having helped create the problem, the government now intends to create another problem to correct the first problem. Or as Abbott put it in Brampton: "The operation of the paperburden initiative will be of modest size and should not be construed as a bureaucracy chasing bureaucracy but an active approach to resolving the problem of paperburden." Garbageburden.

agers were permitted to meet their quotas of bilinguals, real or in-training, by designating anyone they chose, even the unproductive, disinterested or about-to-rctire. There was patronage, and malice, in deciding who would go on course. Hundreds of old men retired before finishing, other hundreds were dropped by the simple expedient of not notifying them to reapply for cyclic courses. Don't accept my word: The computer has, or should have, data on all classes and all students. Analyze the figures for those stupendous failure rates (up to 80 per cent) that Spiccr used to wallow in.

Why did it happen, again and again? You have played up the idea that classes were on government time and involved no sacrifice by the student. Perhaps that is generally true. On the cyclic program some of us who worked alone and had no back-up went back to work after classes, and on weekends, and then ran like mad to catch up on back-log after each three-week cycle ended. I have no guilty feelings about having slaved in this way to finish my course. I do resent the media, and the establishment, who never asked the obvious questions.

Don't just close the book and end the program because Spiccr now says it didn't work. All Spicer ever gave us was denigration and derision. You could have Controller Ralph Sutherland's concern for small business, of which we are one, is commendable (Feb. 6). However, city hall is the last place I would go for advice about running a business.

In my opinion, some of the elected officials, in particular, consistently demonstrate a level of naivety that would be difficult to match in the average elementary school. My experience with the various departments of the city is rather limited, but if the tax department is any example, the employees seem to be up to their cars trying to cope with elementary accounting. Harry B. Dulmage President and General Manager Harry Dulmage Associates Ltd. Ottawa and waste We read that Keith Spiccr, now a columnist, says the language training program cost a cool $1 billion and was a total waste.

His cost figure may even be correct, but his assessment of the waste is a bit severe. Admittedly, nothing he did during his extended term of office as Official Languages commissioner reduced the waste factor. The potential for economic sabotage was enormous from the beginning. Man.