The federal election_
and the fishing industry
ALMOST half of the federal election candidates polled by The Fisherman on fishing industry questions have replied in time for this survey, a dramatic improvement in response to a similar poll taken by the newspaper before the 1974 vote.
Only 18 candidates in coastal constituencies replied that year, compared with 31 this year, indicative perhaps of a greater awareness of the industry's importance.
The questions were mailed April 27 to candidates of the Liberal Party, the Progressive Conservative Party, the New Democratic Party and the Communist Party of Canada in 18 lower mainland and coast ridings. A total of 76 candidates were polled.
They were asked:
1) Do you favor strict controls on foreign investment in the fishing industry? Do you support the union's call for a full investigation of concentration of ownership in the fishing industry?
2) Do you favor inclusion of fishermen in the labor code of Canada? Do you support the union's demand for an immediate halt to the use of the Combines Investigation Act against the UFAWU?
3) Do you support the union's call for a Canadian negotiating position that maximizes Canada's boundary claims and access to stocks? Do you support the UFAWU demand that Canada not surrender any part of the Dixon Entrance to the United States?
Representative replies are summarized on this page, with the names of all candidates replying and their riding listed at the end of each party reply.
The
Liberal Party
SKEEN A MP Iona Campagnolo advised that it is not her policy "to respond to questionnaires such as this during an election period.
"This is not only because the questions are often too complex and important to be fully responded to... but also because my record, and the record of the Liberal government, is clear and well-known . . .
"I would be pleased to meet with you to discuss this matter following the election, in the same manner that I have been available to discuss it since I was first elected to Parliament in 1974."
Campagnolo enclosed a speech, however, presented April 24 to the Nishga Tribal Council, in which she argued that Canada has not sold out in any of the current treaty talks with the U.S.
In fact, she argued, pressure to maintain existing boundaries as they are has resulted in "no progress being made" in the negotiations.
Campagnolo said she has recently approached fisheries minister Romeo Le Blanc to ask for "a full investigation of foreign involvement in our fishing industry," adding that if he finds anything wrong, controls will be imposed on indirect investment.
She made no reference to bargaining rights, but New Westminster-Coquit-lam candidate Les Garrison responded that inclusion of fishermen in the labor code does not appear to be justified "because 88 per cent of the fleet is privately owned."
Garrison said that "foreign investment can be a good thing if it creates jobs," adding that it is "not a factor" because of over-capacity in the processing sector.
On the question of the combines investigation, Garrison said that "if anyone claims his rights have been violated, such an investigation would prove the case, one way or the other." He echoed Campagnolo's support for the Liberals' negotiation strategy in international talks.
Garrison said "we should not surrender any part of Dixon Entrance unless it can provide greater benefits to Canada and Canadians."
Other respondents were Art Phillips (Vancouver Centre) and Robert Monghan (Victoria*.
The New Democratic
Party
MOST New Democratic Party candidates replying to the questionnaire simply put "yes" after each question and shipped the form back to The Fisherman.
Jim Fulton (Skeena) was emphatic in his support of the union's position on the Dixon Entrance, adding that he would like to see renegotiation of the 1903 agreement that created the Alaska Panhandle.
The'New Democrats were unanimous in supporting the call for an investigation of foreign investment followed by strict controls and all supported the union's demand for fishermen's bargaining rights as well.
Mark Rose (Mission-Port Moody) wrote that fishermen must have bargaining rights either federally or under the provincial labor code, adding that he "tried to fight for this in Ottawa.
"I completely reject the co-adventurers argument."
Jim Manly (Cowichan-Malahat-The Islands) spoke for his colleagues when he said the combines investigation of the UFAWU "is an obvious continued attempt to harass fishermen and shoreworkers in their legitimate union
activity. Combines should be investigating Weston, not workers."
Ron Johnson (Vancouver Centre) replied to the question on foreign investment by promising "an industrial strategy for Canada's fishing industry ... developed through consultation with and the participation of the workers in the industry as well as industry management.
"Its purpose should be to promote the growth of the industry and increased Canadian ownership, including both public and private ventures."
The Foreign Investment Review Agency "is completely inadequate," he added.
Ian Waddell (Vancouver-Kingsway) noted that he and Fulton held a press conference earlier this year to expose the Canadian position on treaty negotiations and to demand "that Canada not surrender any part of the Dixon Entrance."
Other respondents: Carol Langford (Surrey-White Rock-North Delta), Mer-cia Stickney (Richmond-Delta), Russell Hicks (North Vancouver-Bur-naby) and Frank Mitchell (Esquimalt-Port Renfrew).
The Communist Party
WITH two federal candidates who are UFAWU members, it is not surprising that the Communist Party of Canada is attuned to union concerns. As with NDP candidates, many communist hopefuls simply answered the questions with a firm "yes."
Homer Stevens (Richmond-North Delta), former union president, said his party supports foreign investment controls and "is campaigning for public ownership of resource and-energy holdings of the multi-nationals in Canada.
"I favor public ownership of the processing plants in the B.C. fishing industry which now are owned or controlled by foreign capital."
Bert Ogden (Vancouver Centre), union welfare director, spoke for his fellow candidates in saying that an investigation of foreign investment is "absolutely vital for the public to learn to what extent we are being gouged."
Stevens, understandably, supports the call for bargaining rights for fishermen, noting that "during the past 33 years our party has consistently urged governments to bring working fishermen under the labor code."
By the same token, he said, the use of the Combines Investigation Act "to destroy our union is a disgraceful blot on the system of democracy and jus-
tice in Canada. The act should be used to control the corporate combines."
On the question of treaty negotiations, Ogden wrote that he has "supported and been responsible for helping to put together the position that Canada must adopt a more forceful stance in the talks instead of the present cap-in-hand, weak-kneed farce presently being enacted.
"The very idea of Canada surrendering one inch of Canadian territory to the United States must be condemned by every Canadian, but especially by fishermen whose livelihoods are presently being threatened in Dixon Entrance."
Jack Phillips, (Vancouver-Kings- -way), wrote that "as Canadians, we must protect our sovereignty, national interests and national dignity. We have been surrendering too much to the big corporations of the United States. It is time to speak up and act for Canada."
Other respondents for the Communist Party were Rod Doran (New Westminster), Ernie Knott (Cowichan-Malahat-The Islands), Eric Waugh (North Vancouver-Burnaby), Sy Pedersen (Comox-Powell River), Fred Bianco (Surrey-White Rock-North Delta), James Beynon {Port Moody-Mission), and Vi Swann (Fraser Valley West).
The Conservative Party
PROGRESSIVE Conservative replies to the survey found their best expression in the answers submitted by Tom Siddon, incumbent in Richmond-South Delta.
On foreign investment, Siddon said he supports "the controls on foreign investment as they now exist under the Foreign Investment Review Act," adding that "information regarding corporate or other ownership in the fishing industry is readily available through various government agencies.
"Fishermen who wish to join a union should be permitted to do so," Siddon said, "and those who wish to remain independent should also be permitted to do so." As for the com-
bines investigation, Siddon said he can only assume the inquiry will prove the validity of the union's claim of innocence.
On treaty negotiations, Siddon spoke for all PC candidates when he agreed to a policy of maximizing boundary claims but opposed surrender of "any portion of the Dixon Entrance... unless it can be conclusively shown that it would clearly be to the advantage of the people of British Columbia and Canada."
Candidates Marg Gregory (New Westminster-Coquitlam) and Scott van Alstine (Nanaimo-Alberni) supported a call for an investigation of foreign ownership, while Don Munro (Victoria) said a Clark government will seek "to establish the appropriate
climate for Canadian investment in... fish processing."
Chuck Cook (North Vancouver-Burnaby) was the only one to break ranks on the question of bargaining rights, saying "I believe it is reasonable that members of the UFAWU should be treated equally to other workers."
Munro, PC fisheries critic, said his party is "determined to maximize the benefits to Canada within the 200-mile zone" and that is his view that "the A-B line is the northern limit of Canadian territory in the Dixon Entrance waters.
Other respondents:' Benno Friesen (Surrey-White Rock-North Delta), John Fraser (Vancouver South) and Hugh Ma why (Burnaby).
THE FISHERMAN — MAY 11,1979/5