Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 2

A2 Canada THE EDMONTON JOURNAL, Saturday, April 4, 1987 111 Digest 1 Miners question safety measures By JULIAN BELTRAME Southam News MURDOCHVILLE, Que. -Accounts from trapped miners who miraculously escaped the Gaspe Copper Mine fire are casting doubts about the firm's safety precautions. Noranda Inc. officials are still investigating the cause of Wednesday's fire that filled the mine's 120 km of underground ramps and tunnels with deadly black smoke. One miner was killed and 56 others were trapped for up to 25 hours.

The union representing the miners called Friday for a public accounting for the fire. "We are asking the government and Noranda owner of the Murdochville mine, to publicly explain the causes of this tragedy so this drama will not happen again," said Clement Godbout, Quebec director of the United Steelworkers of America. It will take weeks or months before the province's labor health and safety commission, the Quebec Provincial Police, and the local coroner complete their investigations. Meanwhile, questions are being asked about why it took Noranda officials so long to release the news to police and families. Most families with men trapped in the life-threatening situation were not informed until the next morning, more than 12 hours after officials knew the identities of most of the men.

Provincial police were not notified until 1 a.m. Thursday, seven hours after Noranda knew of the fire. Explaining the delay to reporters, mines operations vice-president Michel Lefebvre said the firm's primary concern "was to save as many miners as possible" and not with alleviating relatives' anxieties. There are also questions about the state of repair of life-support equipment miners depended on while cut off from fresh supplies of oxygen, water and food. Ange-Marie Kenney, 37, died after being caught in a smoky area with his brother Jean-Paul.

Jean-Paul managed to breathe air from a pipe which fed air from the surface but when Ange-Marie attempted the same procedure with another pipe, it was full of water. In one area where 17 miners were trapped for up to seven hours in a lunchroom adjacent to the garage, a steel door designed to seal the room from the garage only partially blocked the smoke. 1- Ronald Reagan puppet flashes Brian Mulroney puppet in the face of larger version progress unlikely on Canadian priorities, but president will prod for more defence spending Drama OK'd for first ladies Car bomb kills driver MONTREAL A powerful bomb exploded in a car as it was travelling along a west-end street, destroying the vehicle and killing its driver. The driver, an unidentified man believed in his 60s, was blown through the roof of the car by the blast, police said. The blast left pieces of glass and shards of metal strewn in a radius of 80 metres.

No arrests have been made and detectives haven't established a motive. Help for flood damage OTTAWA The federal government is prepared to provide financial assistance to communities hit by floods this week, Deputy Prime Minister Don Mazankowski told the Commons. He said that under federal emergency planning, funds are set aside to help communities hit by disasters. Spring flooding struck communities along the Chaudiere River in Quebec and St. John River in New Brunswick.

Damage in Quebec is estimated at $10 million and is still being compiled in New Brunswick. 20 years for Sikhs NEW WESTMINSTER Four Sikhs a judge said stalked their victim like hunters in the forest were each sentenced to 20 years in prison for trying to kill a visiting Indian cabinet minister. Jaspal Singh Atwal, 31, Jas-bir Singh Atwal, 26 (no relation), Sukhdial Singh Gill, 28, and Amarjit Singh Dhindsa, 25, committed "an act of terrorism in order to advance a cause," Mr. Justice Howard Callaghan said in B.C. Supreme Court.

They were found guilty in February of trying to kill Malkiat Singh Sidhu, the Punjab planning minister, on a secluded Vancouver Island road. $15,000 in sympathy OTTAWA The federal government doesn't think it is bound to do any more for a Yel-lowknife man whose licence for a charter airline was cancelled, Transport Minister John Crosbie told the Commons. The government has offered Fred Turner a $15,000 payment out of sympathy for setbacks Turner suffered following cancellation of his licence to operate Turn-Air Crosbie said, noting his office has reviewed the case twice. Turner lost his five airplanes and has been unable to get the airline going again even though the licence has been restored. He is now suing the government for $2 million in damages.

the coptain tabls Meanwhile in Washington, a State Department official gave a preview of the Sunday-Monday meeting, noting Reagan will raise concerns that Canada is not spending enough money on defence. Speaking at a White House background briefing, the official said no agreements or joint statements have been prepared and it will be a business-like "summit without drama." Reagan will not bow to Mulroney's request for an acid rain controls program, no breakthrough is expected on a stalemate in Arctic sovereignty talks and the leaders will not discuss sticking points in the freer-trade negotiations, she said. A member of the cabinet delegation scheduled to accompany Reagan to Ottawa said that it's going to be difficult to get a freer-trade agreement "but I think it's worth a try." U.S. Treasury Secretary James Baker said there remain "some very, very tough issues still to be resolved." OTTAWA (CP) Ronald Reagan's officials gave their stamp of approval Friday to a revised dramatic performance students of Brookfield High School plan to put on Monday for Nancy Reagan. Reagan's advance organizers had objected to a series of humorous skits the students had prepared.

The skits were to have been performed for Mrs. Reagan and Mila Mulroney when the two women visit the school. The visit will take place while President Reagan visits Prime Minister Mulroney. But officials from both governments objected earlier this week when they saw the skits involved joking pokes at the leaders and their wives. It was decided instead that the students would put on an excerpt from William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Two of Reagan's officials, four officials from Mulroney's office and about 15 Mounties on security detail showed up at the school Friday, drama teacher Michael Wilson said. "They gave it the seal of approval." MONDAYS TUESDAYS 5:30 p.m. on THE ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT FRESH FISH BROIL fKA'm 4 ratrhae Grouper 0 0 A' Tuna Dover Sole Sword Fish 4 Halibut Red Snapper Mahi-Mahi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fillet of Sole Cod Fish Salmon Trout Abortion report fuels B.C. house feud Includes Soup Salad plus dessert bar. A la Carte also available Our famous Seafood Buffet Fri.

Sat. RESERVATIONS 484-0821 SUNDAY EVENING ALL YOU CAN EAT CRAB DINNER kAr INCLUDES SOUP SALAD thmayficld inn 0 16! VICTORIA (CP) An abortion-related debate in the B.C. legislature Friday highlighted animosity that iis developing over women's issues. Joan Smallwood (NDP-Surrey Guildford Whalley) used the members' statement period to applaud per person 16615-109 Ave, yjj "I don't think religious views or even family upbringing are sufficient in this day and age to deal with what is a very provocative and sexually loaded culture," Campbell said. But Gran said she couldn't "believe a woman can stand up and say it is her right to destroy a life.

It is not her right to destroy a life." She accused the NDP of encouraging women and girls to have abortions. Instead, Gran said they should be encouraging pregnant women to have the children so they can be adopted by "loving families." the government report released this week on abortion. She said it made sound recommendations for increased counselling for pregnant women, more money to promote alternatives to abortion and greater access to education for pregnant teenagers. Smallwood said the government should "take the next step" and ensure equal access to abortions. That provoked an angry response from Carol Gran (SC-Langley), but some sympathy from Kim Campbell (SC-Vancouver Point Grey), who said it is difficult for young people to deal with their emerging sexuality.

Get ready, the Bay's great Canadian Fur Sale is coming! More Canada news A 10 I21CIIUSIWE PERSDAM RUGS YOUR LOCAL OLDEST REPUTABLE DEALER ANNOUNCES OU SELECTION OF GORGEOUS FURS FOR 9 DAYS ONLY CjOlf Oil I J5 BEFORE OFF ON SELECTED ITEMS UP lii 1 Li he prices are exceptional, the quality outstanding! Why wait any longer for that fur coat! The Bay's Great Canadian Fur Sale is back, with terrific deals on a wide assortment of styles. A deposit of 10 will layaway your fur coat until the fall, so don't miss out. Buy your fur with cash or on credit card and save an additional 10! You'll also receive complimentary storage for 1987. It's our sale of the year! Sale starts April 9 and ends April 18 Be at the Downtown Bay early for the best selection. 156 Furs Downtown OFF 1 ON EVERY ITEM A real opportunity for investors, collectors, and besinners to own an authentic, exceptionally hish quality rus at incredibly low prices durins this 1 once forever closing out sale.

WT only! FINAL DAYS OF CLOSING OUT, MUST SELL EVERY RUG A 424-0121 Ext. 259 Sheikh Oriental Rugs Inc. 426-1471 (V4V 1 SHOWROOM FOUR SEASONS HOTEL LOBBY OPEN: 9:30 TO 7:00 SUNDAY I I TM I Mark ol Excellence YES, that's all it costs at the Bay SPlm DOWNTOWN d94-m 91 I v3U 2 OR PERSONAL CHEQUE WELCOME ALL SALES FINAL HO REFUND OR EXCHANGE. NO DEALERS ALLOWED..