WCR Letters to the Editor

McCaffery a treasure for archdiocese

Thank you for printing such a heartwarming article about Father Mike McCaffery. He is a real treasure to our archdiocese.

It is refreshing for a change to read an upbeat article highlighting a personable individual who has an inspiring and positive impact on others. He is sincerely loved and adored by many people.

Tassia Jevne
Edmonton

Don't blame energy program for oil industry problems

It is a little tiresome to continue to read the views of some Albertans who love to hate the federalist Liberals for their policies and incorrectly use the NEP as a battering ram. Just a few of the facts have to be noted:

1. In 1957, the Borden Royal Commission established by Diefenbaker accepted the U.S. oil companies' plan to send Alberta oil only as far as Ontario, reserving the rest to be shipped south to the U.S. Oil for Quebec and the East would be imported from Venezuela.
2. During the early 1970s, the OPEC countries forced world oil prices very high. Ottawa froze the domestic oil price for Alberta oil. Alberta increased the royalties on oil exports to the U.S. and created the Heritage Fund.
3. By 1979, the feds were having to pay upwards of $3 billion a year to bring the price of oil imported from Venezuela down to the western domestic price.
4. The NEP was introduced to rework the sharing of the royalties and other taxes to offset the payment of subsidies for offshore oil in the East. The policy also had a back in provision whereby Canada, through PetroCanada, took a 25 per cent ownership of all new oil discoveries by U.S. oil companies in areas beyond Alberta to enhance Canadian ownership of the petroleum reserves in Canada.
5. Lougheed was happy to sign the NEP agreement with Trudeau. World oil prices were predicted to rise to $50 and up per barrel and Alberta and the Canadian government would jointly benefit.
6. In the 1980s, the world oil price dropped dramatically and the bottom fell out of the oil exploration industry. A world recession set in. This resulted in severe economic and unemployment conditions in the huge oil states of Texas and Oklahoma at the precise same time as the Alberta industry got hit.

Phillip H. Walker
Edmonton

Mayor must explain support for Planned Parenthood

This was confirmed by Planned Parenthood in their 1999 annual statistics report. Unfortunately, I was not able to get figures for the year 2000.

I think Mayor Bill Smith needs to explain to the Catholics of the Edmonton Archdiocese why our hard earned tax dollars were given to an agency which encourages the murder of unborn children and why he himself approved of such funding?

I am curious because in the Sept. 10 WCR, he said: "I think we should be pursuing marketing our Christianity and our Catholic religion. . . . As Catholics we have an obligation to spread our faith."

One last comment: a new abortion mill will open in Edmonton. It will be located on 124th Street and 109th Ave.

I urge all Catholics to do everything within their power to stop this charnel house from becoming operational.

Lonny D'Agostini
Edmonton

Author seeks interview subjects

They can contact me by e-mail (omallory@aol.com), regular mail (1657 E. Gordon Ave., Spokane, WA 99207-4651, USA) or phone (509-484-4668). Identities will be concealed upon request.

Mitch Finley
Spokane, Wash.

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