LETTER TO THE EDITOR — Interference by Indonesian gov’t reminiscent of NEP

A paragraph in your editorial on Bre-X Resources, Barrick Gold and the Indonesian government, entitled “Hardball or spitball?’ (T.N.M., Dec. 9/96), represents an unbelievable zenith of naivete on your part.

In comparing Indonesian business practices with those in Canada, you stated that “it is impossible to imagine that Prime Minister Jean Chretien would ever dictate the terms of a deal to anyone with a major discovery, that he would ever seek an interest for the Canadian government or that he would interfere in any way with the normal business process.’

Only someone who is too young to have experienced the National Energy Program (NEP), or who has forgot about it, could have written such an editorial.

[The NEP was introduced in October 1980 as part of the first Liberal budget after the 1980 federal election; it was dismantled by the Progressive Conservatives after their 1984 election victory.]

Try to do a little homework on the Petro-Canada “back-in,’ then look at the cast of characters involved until the death of the government and the clean-up by then federal energy minister Patricia Carney. A cursory review will inspire you to be more careful in comparisons of any country with Canada, at least during that sad episode.

Barry McVicar, Calgary, Alta.