clarinews@clarinet.com (Kelly/Standard Broadcast News) (02/05/90)
(Copps-Meech) Sheila Copps says it isn't the job of those in the race for the Liberal leadership to sell the Meech Lake accord. If the contenders put their focus on the accord, she says, in the end, they will end up without any say about its survival. She says those in the running should put their focus on other issues affecting Canada. Copps is campaigning in Newfoundland this weekend. She says it's up to the Prime Minister to sell the accord. She says while the Liberals run around fighting over the accord, the Prime Minister is sitting back and laughing. (Copps-Unemployment) Copps also took time out today to criticize the federal government for the proposed changes to the unemployment insurance act. In no un-certain terms, Copps says, the situation is a hoax. She says the proposed legislation is Mulroney's way of getting rid of the unemployment insurance system altogether. The changes would require more weeks of work to become eligible for less U-I benefits. Copps says she believes the Mulroney-government will put forward a major proposal before the next election. She suggests the government will pass responsibility for unemployment insurance from Ottawa to the employers and workers. (ViaRail) A Liberal M-P says Northern Ontario along with other areas of Canada is suffering without VIA Rail service. The M-P for Thunder Bay-Nipigon Joe Camsuzzi (cah'-MOO'-zee) says without rail service many areas are being put in jeopardy. He says several communities have been and will continue to be stranded by poor weather ..... because airports and roadways are closed on a regular basis throughout the winter along Lake Superior's north shore. Camsuzzi will be making his concerns known in Ottawa this week. He plans to tell the minister of transport on Tuesday that he's isolated over 200-thousand people in the area. He wants to ask him what he's going to do about it. Comsuzzi says the fight to reinstate rail service in parts of Canada will not die.