Chapais Buries Its Fire Victims National
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THE CITIZEN. Prince George —Monday. January 7. 1980 — 7 ' P M I N E P T ' Broad bent _ . supports C la rk entices Q u eb ec Chrysler by .JFM TRAVERS by Canadian Press Southam News Prime Minister Clark WINDSOR — A massive offered $200 million in special ^ THE ELECTION injection of public funds into energy projects to Quebecers ailing Chrysler Canada, and on Sunday and asked them to restructuring of the Auto Pact help provide the majority that are needed to put the auto eluded his Progressive Conser industry back on its feet, NDP vative government in the May Promises wanted leader Ed Broadbent said here 22 election. Friday While Clark campaigned for On a campaign swing re-election on Feb. 18, New through Canada’s Motor City, Democrat Leader Ed Broad by senior citizens Broadbent called on the bent told a nomination meeting VANCOUVER (CP) - A pensions of ten per cent a year federal government to provide in Sudbury, Ont., that Clark senior citizens’ group is asking or the minimum inflation rate. immediate financial relief to was the most inept prime for commitments for pension Chrysler. minister since Mackenzie Joe Phelps, a former Sas improvements from federal katchewan MLA and cabinet “ The federal government King. party leaders and candidates minister, said that many has waited far too long to come He also said Clark was a fool in the Feb. 18 election. people in public office feign to grips with the serious for allowing increased natural Senior Citizens for Action sympathy for pensioners but Chrysler situation in the Win gas exports to the United Now held the first in a series do little to help them. dsor area.” Challenging States at the same time he was of meetings across Canada “ Seniors’ poverty should Economic Development warning Canadians of possible here Sunday. shame this country,” Phelps minister Robert de Cotret’s shortages of home heating oil. Group spokesman Tom said. “ We \Cant to ensure that decision to withhold aid to Liberal Leader Pierre Alsbury, a former mayor of no matter which party is Chrysler until after the federal Trudeau made only one cam Vancouver, said that more elected, it gets the message.” election, Broadbent said: “ It is paign appearance during the than half of British Columbia’s Phelps’ wife Eva demanded absolutely essential they take weekend, speaking Saturday pensioners are living at or an explanation for the annual action now to preserve at a nomination meeting in below the poverty line. government pension which automotive jobs in the Windsor Cornwall, Ont. He said Alsbury said a single pen former Liberal cabinet minis area.” . economic measures included sioner receives about $369 a ter Donald Macdonald An NDP government would in the Conservative budget last A mass grave was used for 31 of the 43 victims of the New Year’s eve fire in Chapais. month and needs at least $700 be willing to invest millions of month would have ensured a receives. to live on. dollars into the corporation in recession in Canada. Mrs. Phelps said Mac He said SCAN wants indexed return for equity in the No. 3 The former prime minister donald, 49, has retired from N E W YEARNS EVE TRAGEDY politics to a partnership in a automaker and investment, spent the rest of the weekend prestigious law firm, cor employment and development in Ottawa. He is scheduled to Federal plans porate directorships and a guarantees. Broadbent study campaign proposals refused to be specific about today that came out of a meet $13,000 government pension made by Regan while 1.1 million Canadians how much aid an NDP govern ing of the Liberals’ 40-member Chapais buries its fire victims AMHERST, N.S. (CP) - are expected to live on $3,200 ment would provide to the auto Kj. policy committee during the a year. company and was then hurried CHAPAIS, Que. (CP) - weekend. He resumes his cam The Daily News says in today’s Bishop Drainville praised away from a press conference A large hole in the tiny paign Tuesday in Hamilton. edition that Nova Scotia She said there is no justice the residents of Chapais for in indexed pensions giving by aides. cemetery outside this min pulling together to help the After taking Saturday off, Liberal leader and former pre mier Gerald Regan will Liberal leader Pierre Trudeau ing town became the com families of the victims. Clark flew to Quebec City with In a briejf private interview mon grave Sunday for 34 his wife Maureen McTeer and announce Thursday his inten $94,000 a year at age 70 and They had shown them Prime Minister Clark and latei. Broadbent said any gov victims of a New Year’s selves to be “ the biggest concentrated on energy issues tion to contest the Halifax rid NDP leader Ed Broadbent ernment decision to help the party tragedy. family I have ever seen,” in a speech at nearby St. Laur ing in the Feb. 18 federal elec tion. more than $100,000 at age 70 company would be affected by In mid-afternoon a priest he said. ent. The $200 million is to be Chrysler’s long-term pros gave the last rites over the spread over three years and The newspaper quotes pro when so many senior citizens National Rev. Pierre Guenette 6f are virtually starving. pects. coffins in the 156- Chapais told the mourners: would finance projects agreed vincial Liberal caucus sources square- metre grave. Rela “ After this trial it will be to by the federal and provincial as saying the caucus would tives were not invited to the responsibility of each governments. meet in Halifax hours before attend. member of our community He said his party is the only Regan is expected to announce dead. Three people died be done to compensate for Two of the victims were to bring joy to all our one in Canada that can unite his candidacy. later and 13 are still in hos buried in separate graves in the loss. brothers. all Canadians in a renewed If Regan decides to run the cemetery and the pital. “ Financially we can help, Confederation. He then flew to federally, he will resign his remaining eight were On Saturday about 2,000 but the most tragic part is “ The pain afflicting us St. John’s where he continues seat as member for Halifax- buried in the Lake St. John mourners crowded into the that you have ... kids who will last for many years, but his campaign today. Needham and an interim region, at Val d'Or and at local hockey arena to pay have neither a father nor a we will find joy again.” Broadbent was the hardest- leader will be named. their last respects to the Edmundston, N.B. mother any more. A committee organizing a running of the leaders during The sources said the most dead and try to comfort It was only a week ago “ That’s the most tragic disaster fund for victims’ the weekend. He campaigned senior member of the Liberal each other. Almost that about 350 persons sequel and the fact that it families reported Saturday in Toronto and Sudbury on caucus is Benoit Comeau, everyone in the town of happened during a holiday gathered in the town’s that $53,000 had been con Saturday, then travelled to member of the legislature for 3,500 had lost a friend, a season makes it even more recreation centre to celeb tributed. Oshawa on Sunday where he Clare. If Comeau declines, Dr. rate the incoming New relative or both. horrible.” was nominated in his home rid William Gillis of Antigonish Chapais Mayor Gerard Year. Quebec Prem ier Rene Forty coffins were laid ing. Form er party leader would be a likely caretaker Pellerin, who suffered But tragedy struck when Levesque and other provin out on the ice as mass was David Lewis spoke in support leader. burns during the fire, told a fire took hold in tinder-dry cial and federal govern conducted by Roman of Broadbent at the nomination Reports last week indicated reporters the committee decorative spruce boughs. ment representatives Catholic Bishop Gerard meeting. the caucus was to meet on the expects to raise $ to Within a short time the attended the funeral. Drainville of Amos. The 100,000 The NDP leader campaigns weekend, but caucus leader help with the survivors’ centre was burned to the Levesque told reporters other four victims had today in Vancouver. Guy Brown said the meeting ground and 41 people were there was little that could private funerals. financial problems. was scheduled for Thursday. If Regan runs, his com petitors will be incumbent Debate Progressive Conservative George Cooper and New Trudeau supporters deny rumors threatened Democrat Alexa McDonough, • OTTAWA (CP) - Deputy things, the column said: hold a crossCanada leadership Andras, MP for Thunder both of whom have already I Liberal Leader Allan — MacEachen and Coutts convention is “ news to me, I Bay-Nipigon, attended a by Liberals been nominated. t MacEachen says he did not withheld vital information have never heard of it before. ’ Liberal policy meeting here OTTAWA (CP) - The fate withhold vital information from the former prime minis He said Trudeau had many this weekend. of a proposed nationally- from Pierre Trudeau last ter, including the fact that one sources of information during Baker denied the report that televised election-campaign month as Trudeau considered of the reasons given forstaying his deliberations, not just he had underestimated the debate between the three whether to lead the party in the on, difficulties in holding a Coutts and himself. seriousness of the threat to the major party leaders is up in the 'Feb.