4 THE CHRONICLE - MOUNTAINEER, Tumbler Ridge, B.C., Wed., Nov. 30, 1983 ~ Newman analyzes Canada's defences By Glenn Somerville OTTAWA (CP) — The Canadian government could refuse to test U.S. cruise missiles, agree to build up its conventional armed forces, and so satisfy domestic and foreign critics of Canada’s defence policies, says author Peter Newman. In a slim but persuasive 179-page analysis of Canadian defence policy titled True North: Not Strong and Free, Newman argues that Canada’s defences now are so miserable, they “hover perilously close to a pratfall.” “It is nothing short of a criminal act for the politicians to pretend that our warriors, clad in uniforms the color and style of green garbage bags, are adequately equipped to defend them- selves, much less to guard the nation, or even any province, county or town,” Trudeau of ‘blatant untruth” for his claim that Canada must agree to test U.S. cruise missiles as part of its commitment to Western defences or else drop out of the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization. ““‘Norway refused to test the cruise; Denmark and Holland have unofficially notified the Organization that they will not consent to having the weapons installed on their soil; Iceland has no weapons of any kind — yet all of these countries are considered to be mem- bers in good standing of NATO,” Newman writes. SEEKS TRADE The real reason Ottawa agreed that the United States may test-fly the unarmed missiles over Northwestern Canada in March is that the Liberals are seeking ‘‘a trade-off,” alleges Newman. “By agreeing to test the weapon, the Trudeau admninistration is convinced it can get the NATO allies, now pressuring Canada to spend some real money on conventional defence, off its back.” Recent events appear to bear out Newman’s thesis, especially the tongue-lashing administered in New York by U.S. Pentagon and state department officials two weeks ago tribution to NATO as shameful. ~~ > Canada “doesn’t have a very positive image in Europe’ either, the Americans said, because of its support for NATO. Some of the grievances among Canada’s allies can be traced back to the 1969 decision by the Trudeau government to ‘“‘emasculate the NATO commitment” by cutting in half Canada’s NATO contingent. Canadian troops were reduced to 5,000 from 10,000, and six CF-104 squadrons became three. So controversial was that an- nouncement, says Newman, that it was made by Leo Cadieux, then defence minister, privately in Brussels at the it of Ross Campbell, Canada’s chief delegate to NATO. “One of the European delegates burst into tears; another protested our ‘unilateral breach of the principle of mutual security’; a third murmured darkly that Canada was a def aa The consequence of suca policy, Newman said in a recent interview, is severe. “Historically, any country that hands over its defence to another becomes that country’s colony.” That concern is really the mainspring behind his decision to write a book, he said. “We're enough of a_ colony economically and culturally that if we become a client state or dependent upon the United States, then all our independence is gone,” says the Toronto-based author, columnist for MacLean’s magazine and former newspaper editor. BLASTS POLITICIANS Not all Newman’s thunder is reserved for the Trudeau government — he blasts politicians who for decades have allowed a Canadian tradition of strong military posture to deteriorate and his analysis goes beyond criticism to specific recommendations. He urges, for example, a Northern Command for NATO that would give Canada a key role through a rejuvenated navy, army and air force in protecting Arctic interests that, in a major way, are Canadian interests. But, he charges, Canada has virtually yielded Arctic sovereignty to the Soviet Union by trying to patrol the 3.7 million square kilometers in the Far North with an ill-equipped contingent of 471 regular-force troops and a 650-man Canadian Rangers force of Inuit and Indians. Canada is vulnerable on two fronts: Ottawa could do nothing whatsoever should the Soviet Union make any move toward natural gas and oil reserves there, but if it did, the U.S. might decide to do so to defend its vital interests. Newman is also a proponent of so- called AWACs surveillance planes for Canada. These are sophisticated flying radar stations that could be used to greatly supplement the existing Distant Early Warning system of land-based radar stations against a sneak attack by the Soviet Union. PUSHES AWACS Defence Minister Jean-Jacques Blais recently revealed, after a visit in Washington with U.S. Defence Secretary Caspar Weinberger, that the Reagan administration is pressing Canada to buy U.S.-made AWACs. Newman is also an advocate of de- unifying the armed forces. The decision in the mid-1960s by Paul Hellyer, then Liberal Defence minister, to unify the forces has been a persistent drag on morale that desperately needs correction. ‘ Although Hellyer said ‘every country in the world will copy us,” no other ‘country in the world has adopted the unification idea and put on common uniforms, Newman says scornfully. Since the book’s publication, the Progressive Conservative party’s Defence critic, Harvie Andre, has stated publicly that a Tory government would restore distinctive uniforms to army, navy and air force. Newman says he was told directly by Tory leader Brian Mulroney that de- unification will be a key Conservative proposal in the next election campaign. Defence is ‘‘a sleeper issue’ for Canadians, Newman feels. Fear about the nuclear arms race between the U.S. and Soviet superpowers, publicity about Trudeau’s peace initiative and embarrassment at the state of Canadian conventional defences and all it implies is a potent political stump issue. “We are a joke in NATO. We are a joke in Washington,” Newman says bluntly. Events are beginning to bear him out, and there is a belief in many quarters — shared by Newman — that Trudeau is beginning belatedly to realize it. Newman claims that is the motive for the prime minister’s current campaign. “He is lecturing as a last-gasp way to save himself at the next election campaign,’’ Newman claims, but it is “an act of political desperation” by a leader lacking credibility. JEWELLERY & GIFTWARE Stainless 6 styles to choose from including vegetable dish, gravy boat & serving plates Only $12.00... Hours: 10 a.m. toép.m. Thurs., Fri. til 9 p.m, In the Former Liquor Store 242-3983 TUMBLER RIDGE By Daphne Bramham CLEARWATER, B.C. (CP) — In this pleasant town amidst hills, forests and farms, friends and acquaintances talk in disbelief of the quiet local man accused of killing a family of six. And police, aside from noting their investigation continues, say merely that “the disclosure of matters at this time which may have evidentiary value later would not only be improper but may in- fluence Mr. (David William) Shearing’s en- titlement to a fair trial.” Shearing, 24, is charged with six counts of second- degree murder in the August, 1982, slayings of Bob Johnson, 44; his wife, Jackie, 41; their children, Janet, 13, and Karen, 11; and Jackie’s parents, George Bentley, 66, and his wife, Edith, 59. ACCUSED ‘SHY’ Ken Madland, Clear- was a shy, introverted and self-conscious student. But he did well at school with C- plus averages even in difficult academic subjects and could easily have gone on to post-secondary education. In the Class of ‘77 graduation picture hanging in the school, Shearing has shoulder-length dark hair, a prominent nose and a wispy mustache. When he appeared in court earlier this week in Kamloops, the tall, heavy-set Shearing had a dark droopy mustache and his curly hair was cropped short. Like about three- quarters of the 450 students who attend the only high school in a 110-kilometre area, Shearing was bused to school and had little chance to get involved in school activities, Madland said. Shearing grew up in an Fred House interviewed Metis to form national body VANCOUVER (CP) — Leaders from Western Canada’s four provincial Metis associations intend to form a national body to fight for land, self- government and en- trenchment of Metis rights in the constitution, a spokesman said Wed- nesday. Fred House, president of the Louis Riel Metis Association of B.C., said the Metis National Council represents about 360,000 descendants of the Red River Settlement in ‘Manitoba who now are “scattered ©" across the Prairies and B.C. “The Metis nation exists and has historically existed in a homeland now known — as the Canadian prairies,” he said. He said the Metis national council is to be headquartered in Ottawa, where it will lobby the federal government for entrenchment of Metis rights similar to those given treaty Indians in the constitution. If and when that can be accomplished, said House, negotiations will begin with Ottawa and four provincial governments to acquire land where the Metis can set up and govern their own communities. There are about 60,000 Metis in B.C. House said the four provincial organizations — the Manitoba Metis Federation, the Association of Metis and Non-Status Indians of Saskatchewan, the Metis Association of Alberta, and his own — are conducting a count of Metis populations in the four provinces to determine the exact number and location of Metis people. It should be completed by February. He said Metis are separate from status and non-status Indians, whose position is governed under the Indian Act. House said the newly formed Metis council wants to meet with federal and provincial ministers over the next few months in preparation for a_ first minister’s meeting on native affairs expected in Ottawa. some time in March. batsil He said the Saskat- chewan association will divide into two separate associations in order to prevent a conflict of in- terest between the Metis and non-status Indians. The two-day conference of Metis leaders concludes today. Classic Waterbeds BIGGEST SALE EVER Extended til Xmas BUY NOW & SAVE Upholstered Queen Sized Waterbeds $375.00 782-9307 1508 - 102nd Ave., Dawson Would Like To Thank Their Customers in Tumbler Ridge for Their Patronage. CHRISTMAS SPECIALS Studio 360 Knitting Machine. Reg. $549.95 Rughits 6.503 i eae Sie 2 cas Se eae eng ae aa 20% off Corner of 10th St. and 107th Avenue, Dawson Creek, B.C. Phone 782-8994 isolated, two-storey farm house surrounded by spectacular wilderness scenery — pine trees, waterfalls, rapids and mountains in the B.C. Interior. Madland said Shearing had a simple upbringing and his parents, William and Rose, had to work hard to make a living off their small farm near Clear- water, 350 kilometres northeast of Vancouver and 123 kilometres north of Kamloops on_ the Yellowhead Highway. Shearing’s 66-year-old mother lives in a senior citizen’s apartment building in Clearwater. His father died March 19, 1982. NEAR PARK The family’s farm is 20 kilometres from the school near the boundary of Wells Gray Provincial Park where the Johnsons and Bentleys are believed to have been killed. The charred remains of their bodies and the car and camper that they travelled in were also found within a few kilometres of the farm. Madland said the last time he saw Shearing was a few months after the murders when Shearing helped install kitchen cupboards in the Madland’s home. The counsellor said Shearing was as usual — ‘quiet and poli Lidl A craftsman, who asked not to be identified, em- ployed Shearing for most of 1982 and found him to be conscientious and a hard worker. Shearing appeared upset after his father died but was “back to being old Dave” in the summer. WAS UNCHANGED After the murders, the craftsman said Shearing was no different. He was in’ ” ficers came in Shearing even took part in discussions about the ‘How could anyone commit those murders — kids and everything — and not show any emotion when he talked about it? There was no difference in his work habits. It was just the same old Dave.” Tina Colboine, a clerk for the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, was a member of the local recreation committee three years ago and hired Shearing to help with a children’s summer recreational program. He helped her with activities and did maintenance work at the local ball diamonds. “T’ve seen him quite a bit this last little while going into the post office,’’ she delivering mail to a ry “You'd have to addi him or ask him ag les (before he’d = «g anything),”” she said, didn’t volunteer — conversation. (ay Shearing left his motl sister Marlene, 38, Ridge, the hub of the northeast coalfields. was arrested Saturday Dawson Creek, B.C. 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