OurViEWS Canadians in crisis? There's something about pulling this country together that breaks it apart. The federal government's latest venture into fence-mending has proven to be an unqualified flop. Surprise, surprise. This latest national unity ploy marks the third time in as many tries the Progressive Conservative government has failed in it's bid to build a new Canada. You'd think they'd know better. Canada — by design — is a nation that cannot be pieced together like some makeshift quilt. So why try? The government's efforts — as noble as they are — cost precious dollars. The price for this latest attempt at national unity will, no doubt, number in the millions. All this in a time when governments are asking citizens to tighten their belts. What has to be asked is, is this money well spent. The simple answer is no. While national unity is important, is it so important that spending for health care, unemployment benefits and pensions be capped? The dollars that are being idly thrown away for the betterment of personal political ends is staggering. It started with the Meech Lake Accord, a useless exercise in political bribery. Next came the ever-expensive Citizens Forum on Canada's Unity, which, when presented, was dismissed like some Grade 4 child guilty of shooting splitballs. Now - in all its wisdom — comes Ottawa's new constitutional committee. This committee has proven to be nothing more than a gathering of political hacks, who couldn't agree on a lunch menu, let alone the country’ 's future. The gig is up Ottawa. Constitutional reform and legitimate efforts to bind Scott David “Canada together have taken a backseat to Plant Foreman Mark Davis Advertising Manager Warren Chernoff Accountant Heather Hadley Circulation Manager Burt Campbell Publisher Emeritus LV. Campbet! ‘Aug. 7, 1947- Feb. 15, 1973 careless spending and political patronage. The country is hardly in the ruins politicians would have us think. As citizens, we can't afford to keep throwing away money every time a crisis is declared. Canada has always had an identity crisis. And it always will. Isn't it about time Ottawa came to recognize that? fe 1 dedi Youths rally around Walbran is is to the Grade 9 and % students of Esquimalt Secondary School who proved to me beyond the shadow of a doubt that the younger generation has all the promise we can hope for to make this world a better place than they found it. Our paths crossed as a result of a column I had written about some young people protesting the logging of the Walbran Report from Victoria obey the court orders. Reaction to the column was swift and not very complimentary. I still bear the scars. I was subsequently invited to speak to a Grade 9 class at Esquimalt Secondary and defend my column. Last week, I received 19 letters from the students. Their teacher, Duncan Sutherland, had asked them to give a critique of Valley on Vancouver Island. The young protesters had thrown themselves into the fray with all the fervor and dedication of which youth is capable. They blocked roads and chai to vehicles. Some even went on a hunger strike. They continued their protests even in the face of Supreme Court orders. In my column, I cautioned them, admittedly somewhat unkindly, not to commit illegal acts, and I accused some environmental groups of misleading the young people instead of counselling them to my column as a class project. It is those letters I wish to deal with in this column. Unfortunately, space prohibits me from mentioning all of them. Jill Galineau writes: “Most teenagers know a lot about the environment, and we don’t need people like you telling us we don’t. We have a very active part for our future and our earth.” Yes, Jill, you do, but I would suggest that, perhaps, people like me also have a part of play. please see BEYER page. A7 Time to start playing that nasty numbers game Zeros. Statisticians hate them because they don’t make good statistics. Well, here are some figures you'll never see on Family Feud because they'll always be zero: 1. The number of federal politicians you would trust with your wallet. 2. The number of sane hockey fans who pick the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cu ThomasBINK P- 3. The number of adults who can name five really good rap basketball. who can name 10 whites in pro 18. The number of people who go to gay bars “just for the Perception 11. The number of people who can name five blacks in pro golf. 12. The number of rock ’n’ roll stars who will look really neat as grandparents with all those tattoos. 13. The number of people who can remember the first stat in this column without looking back. 14. The number of Canadians who can afford to buy lots of this Ch 2 singers. 4. The number of women over 40 who enjoy telling their real age. ot. 5. The number of men who aren't afraid of going bald. 6. The number of people who think speed limits should be lowered. z e number of people who condoms “because they feel } number of adults who of ef FE i : think Rocky should give it one more shot. 10. The b 15. whe number of New wish St would tusks 6 back. cheap drinks.” 19. The number of people who laugh during “America’s it People.” 20. The number of people who think pro baseball players are underpaid. 21. The number of people who wish they could pay more taxes. 22. The number of people who always talk to strangers in an elevator. 23. The number of salesmen making money on_ the 16. The camber of men who don’t pick up Playboy magazine for the “hooters.” 17. The number of Canadians who go to the U.S. on the kends “just to visit.” of p “Mul y all the way in 92” T- shirts. Well, there you have it. If numbers never lie and you can't argue with facts, then zeros teally do make the world go “round.” Please address or deliver them to 197 Columbia Letters toWHE EDITOR Smoking over smoker It's always a pleasure to welcome new people to our city who bring with them a variety of ‘experiences, perspectives, and perceptions. We definitely need the Thomas Binks of the world to provide another point of view and remind us that we arevery fortunate to live in a country such as Canada where freedom of the press is, as well as freedom of speech, an unalienable right. Were this not the case we would not have had the opportunity to contemplate and cogitate on the recent article in the Castlegar News — "Smoker all about being a guy.” In reality the Rotary Cowes Smoker is about The Rotary ‘Smoker has been held on an annual basis for the past 25 years as a fund- raiser for community projects. Any profits realized from these events have been returned to the community in the form of the Rota-Villa, the Rotary Tennis Courts, the Aquatic Centre deck, the Zuckerberg Island project, the Rotary Exchange Program and recently the Polio-Plus campaign, which focused on eradicating poliomyelitis from the face of the globe. Many of the guys who attend the smoker have been doing so on an annual basis for many years. They realize.the intent of the evening — support Rotary to support another project. It's difficult to believe that this group of supporters have been taken in by the hype of the event. We can't understand why they keep coming back y kear after year if in actual fact they "end up going home a little disappginted, , unhappy or with an empty Perhaps, ] Bink, you may gain some rani your we have returned your $25. We really dont want you to feel ripped off by our tawdry and somewhat pathetic effort of little boys striving to emulate the likes of Hugh Hefner. But enough of this event. You should be aware that the local Rotary Club is going to sell Christmas trees in about three weeks time. This activity could provide you mayhem. peiere 5 pecned tne weer | ona ether the only to keep from freezing up. The M.V. Shelter Bay (formerly at srl wag rely dverving of ay frm of is aimed at getting a raise or response, sol guess, Bink, you succeeded. However, the Castlegar Rotary Club could have felt a lot more positive had I been responding to an article headlined "Smoker — all about being a supportive citizen". Not only that, but I don't think I can find a cave big enough to hold the guys who will be back next year supporting Rotary and this community. Lachlan C. Farrell President, Rotary Club Giving the ‘Guy’ a try Just when I am thinking that the only reason I subscribe to The News is that I know and like my newspaper boy, along comes Thomas Bink's commentary on the recent Rotary er. T loved it and took the time to read it with ally favo Kec npais 00 tied they could share in the subtleties of being Rotarian and most fal usta guy being a Keep up the good work, Mr. Bink. Carew Castlegar Resurrect Robson ferry F i ) is kept in reserve only to relieve the chip truck traffic in the summer months. The only obstacle in the way of this ferry relieving the Robson Ferry of its present duties so it could resume being the Castlegar- Robson ferry was the stubborn Social Credit government of the day. But the Socreds are now gone like last week's mushrooms, so what's the problem? Mike Harcourt was prepared back in 1988 to restore the Robson Ferry. Ed Conroy made the ferry issue a plank in his election platform and hasn't altered his stand. - The problem lies with all the sheep willing to be hereded daily up and down Columbia Avenue. If we don't voice a problem, then no problem exists. So, if you're tired of spinning your wheels in traffic jams, you might try this. For the Castlegar sheep, seek out city council and for the Robson area lambs, lobby the Regional District of Central Kootenay. Ask them to lobby the Ministry of Transportation and Highways to return the Robson Ferry until the bridge is built. Or get used to spending your valuable time for the next few years reading your neighbour's license plate. George Stein Robson, B.C. Blood drive huge success The local a Cross Blood Donor While waiting in the line-up on Columbi Avenue this afternoon, I pondered how many other motorists were also d by the Reer would like to congratulate ag people of Castlegar for never-ending gueue of turtle-motion cars. We soothe our frustrations by telling ourselves we have no alternative, right? Right. Ever since Vander Zalm & Co. closed the Robson Ferry in April of 1988, some 1650 vehicles a day (by 1988 statistics) have been forced onto Castlegar's busiest street. Add to that the figure, the construction workers now living in Robson and the general with another expose of by this group of bosses and businessmen. How about this headline: "Yes, Virginia, we could have had a Christmas but Rotary took us to the cleaners"? In the spring the Rotary pancake breakfast can be d d equally by a positive article entitled “So little for so much” or "Pancake breakfast — a gourmet tour-de-farce”. Added to these activities you should be aware that other service clubs such as the Kiwanis and Lions also hold fund- -raising in traffic, and the number is likely closer to 2,000 today. Have you noticed how the traffic thins out south of the Kinnaird in: Every wonder where all those cars turning left are bound for? I'd bet the majority are headed for Brilliant, Pass Creek, Raspberry Robson. But the Robson Ferry has gone up the Arrow Lake, you say, to be used at Arrow Park. Well, did you know that there is a 28- car ferry paal at halter Bay this instant, events to support a variety of events. Hell, Thomas, you can create its No. it's not te for passengers. It runs our annual clinic on Oct. 24 a huge success. Four hundred and twenty one individuals attended, resulting in a contribution of 368 units to make it our most successful campaign so far. Special thanks is extended The Castlegar News the other media representatives and the local b who space and helped with the cost of advertising. Our appreciation also goes out to the 40 plus volunteers who assisted the Red Cross nursing staff during the clinic. Our apologies to those tht were inconvenienced by the long lineups and processing time. We will try to do better next time. Castlegar can feel proud of this extremely valuable volunteer effort. Orla Granstrom Keith Merritt Joan Swetlishoff Jean Weir Castlegar Beyer continued from page A6 Heather Parker writes: “If loggers gave the kids a chance, they wouldn’t be out there giving loggers a hard time by going on hunger strikes or jumping in front of trucks. The old-growth forest means a lot to them because it’s the only one we've got.” growth forests herself at regular intervals, usually by fire. Chris Voyer writes: “I disagree totally with your opinion. I think if the children or teenagers strongly believe in what they are doing, then that’s what counts. Most adults don't care about the environment Chris, but you’re wrong on two counts. A lot of adults do care about the environment, and we should never place ourselves above the law. There a better ways to bring about change. Helen Urlacher writes: “I believe the whole issue of the Walbran Valley is getting out of hand. Too many people are I understand your feeli about the old-growth forests, Heather, but you should also , that ture, if left to her own devices, destroys old- The older g tion left jamnens, | and if we, the future re think that’s er I, too, ek aes great. put in jail and getting hurt over a forest of trees, (but) we should be able to protect as well as protest for things our children will want to see and preserve for their generation. ” Damned right, you are the future, Helen, and it will be your turn sooner than you know think. And yes, you do have a right to preserve, no, a duty, but the key word must be compromise, without which all that’s left is oppression. There are more letters, but there’s no lore space to run them. Let me just add that I am impressed with the genuine concern for the future these students have shown.