Nanoose Conversion Campaign

2150 Maple Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6J 3T3 (604)739-0432 Tel/Fax e-mail: iaabbey@alternatives.com

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N E W S R E L E A S E

December 11, 1998

Parksville candidates respond to survey on

Nanoose Testing Range

Green Party, NDP and Independent Brunie Back Peace Position

FCP and Liberals Back Continued Nuclear Testing

NANAIMO -- Green Party candidate Stuart Parker, NDP's Leonard Krog and Independent candidate Brunie Brunie scored "A" on a questionnaire circulated to Parksville-Qualicum byelection candidates by the Nanoose Conversion Campaign. Of the ten byelection candidates, seven responded. Independent candidates Les Blank and Bruce Ryder and BC Party candidate John Motiuk failed to respond.

The survey asked candidates' their positions and those of their parties on the following questions: 1. Should nuclear armed/powered vessels be permitted in BC waters? 2. Should there be a full public review of the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR)? 3. Should closure of the Nanoose range be used as a bargaining chip in Canada-US negotiations regarding lumber, fisheries and energy? and 4. Should there be a provincial-federal transition strategy to protect the jobs of current CFMETR workers while converting CFMETR to alternate civilian use?

Of the candidates who responded, only Mary Moreau of the Family Coalition Party and Judith Reid of the BC Liberals supported nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed vessels continuing to travel through BC waters. The survey results were letter-graded by NCC. Independent candidate Brunie Brunie and Green Party candidate Stuart Parker received "A" grades for calling for a full public review of the Nanoose Testing Range, along with an end to the BC and Canadian governments utilizing the CFMETR lease as a negotiating chip in trade negotiations with the US. Along with the NDP's Krog, they also supported a transition strategy to civilian use for Nanoose.

NDP candidate Leonard Krog's also received an "A" for his personal views along with Brunie and Parker. Unfortunately due to the Clark government's use of Nanoose as a bargaining chip in 'salmon war' negotiations, Krog stated that he would have to vote against his party. Therefore the overall grade awarded the NDP's Krog campaign was an "A-."

Reform candidate Roger Rocan was also marked-down by the Campaign for his support for using closure of the Range as a bargaining chip in international trade negotiations. Rocan and Reform declined to take a position on developing a transition strategy to protect existing jobs at Nanoose while converting the facility to civilian use. Rocan was therefore awarded a grade of B-.

PDA candidate Bruce Hampson received a "C+"; although he too supports an end to nuclear vessels in BC waters, Hampson and his party do not support a full public review of CFMETR and although Hampson, himself supports a transition strategy, the PDA does not. Some of the PDA positions on Nanoose surprised NCC as they appeared to be reversals of past support for a public review and transition strategy. Hampson also failed to respond when asked whether he would vote with his party or his conscience in the event of a conflict.

Grades of "I" standing for incomplete were awarded to the three candidates who failed to respond. "F" grades were awareded to Moreau and Reid.

While there is a range of choices on December 14th for those opposed to the current use of the Nanoose Testing Range, those who support continued nuclear testing in BC waters have a clear choice between Mary Moreau of the Family Coalition Party and Judith Reid of the BC Liberals.

Copies of the surveys completed by candidates will be made available upon request.

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Information: Ivan Bulic: (604)736-7732