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OPINION

wy
The Cast gar.Sun
a SS
ATS
PUBLISHER MARILYN STRONG
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editoriatcomment

_ Ugly hearts or
ugly buildings?

Although few will disagree that there is a defi
nite need in Castlegar for the Young Mom's Pro.
gram, some city councillors are questioning the
means in which to facilitate the young mother's
education and allow them to spread their wings

Earlier this year Suzanne McPherson, Program
Co-ordinator for the Young Mom’s program, peti-
tioned Castlegar Schoo] District No. 9 for a portable
classroom which up until that time, had been sitting
vacant, and therefore unused at Stanley Humphries
Secondary School (SHSS). The petitioners showed a
definite and urgent need for the 15 students to have
“an enough space to acquire their much needed edu-
cation. When the program was first conceived, and
then implemented, it was expected there would be an
anticipated enrollment of eight students. That antici-
pated enrollment, in comparison to the actual enroll-
ment, has almost doubled. The classroom, which is
only 24 square meters, would have adequately
served the students and their needs. But who could
project that within nine months enrollment would
Jump to 15 students, thereby allowing each student
only 1.6 meters each in which to spread their books
and get down to the business of leaming?

Now that the program has been offered the use

of the portable, it appears there are city. councillors |

who are more concerned about looks than higher
leaming. Some councillors feel that the addition of

A story without a voice

DALTON CAMP.

On the day Prime Minister Brian Mutroney
met his party caucus fo tell them he was resign
ing -< which was Wednesday, the 24th of Febru:
ary Ottawa looked like Dead City

A woman I know who works in one of the
government departments said her office tele
phone rang only twice during the day and one of
the calls was personal. Politics and power are
Ottawa's daily bread, its staff of life, the only
me in town, so that after Otawans had
watched CTV's Craig Oliver, on the late news
Tuesday night, mount an ingeniously speculative
but convincing story proclaiming the Prime Min
ister’s imminent retirement, the whole city went
to bed resolved to rise the next morning and head
for the nearest television screen.

There would be no other business on Wednes.
day. The CBC, sensing one of those moments in
history for which its mandate was made, pre
empted Fred Penner’s Place, Under the Umbrella
Tree, and Sesame Street in order to bring viewers
full details of this historic event, which began on
Newsworld with reporter Don Newman inter
viewing a random assortment of Mulroney
friends and advisers along with veteran analysts
and other all-sorts, until the batch was passed to
anchor Peter Mansbridge, who looked as: though
he had just emerged from the shower.

There was a camera deployed at 24 Sussex
Drive, where closer Mulroney friends and adyis:
ers were seen departing in limos, while another
camera positioned outside the government caucus
room allowed an enquiring reporter to interview
Tory MPs gathering at the scene

These interviews had a rare amorphous quality
about them since MPs were being pressed to
agree their Prime Minister had betrayed them, or
had let them down, by promising at the last cau-
cus to stay and fight the next election, but was
now going to abandon them. And how did they
feel about that?

The trouble with this media spin on the Mul-
roney story was that ‘most MPs had not been con-
vinced by Mulroney at the last caucus he was
going to stay on. One of them, the MP for Car.
leton-Charlottc, told me how he listened intently

serious §

to the Prime Minister at that meet ng so
intently he had “hung on every word” and
nowhere did he hear the Prime Minister say he
was staying. Instead, he would say things like
‘We're going to win” and “We're going to stand
together.” What was missing was the first person
singular the “I” word which is the Prime
Minister's favorite pronoun and one he avoided
in his’ speech to the. caucus

The caucus had nevertheless got the mm
which was that the Prime Minister
made. up his mind whether he was staying or
going and should not be hassled on the matter or
he had decided to leave but was not yet ready to
say so. Most of the Tory MPs I know believed
the latter. The caucus members also came away
knowing their duty, which was to tell the media
the Prime Minister was staying.

The story line that the Prime Minister had
told his caucus he was staying had been rein-
forced by another news item which informed
that Hugh Segal, the Prime Minister's chief of
staff, had chastised certain cabinet colleagues
for appearing to be over-anxious to begin their
campaigns to succeed Mulroney without waiting
for his signal. I could not find anyone who
admitted to hearing from Segal on anything
remotely to do with that subject, so possibly the
best to be said for the story was that it had been
a controlled leak from the Prime Minister's
Office fashioned out of spun cotton and perhaps
Segal’s personal sense of propriety.

What is curious about all this — as became
blatantly obvious on Wednesday — was that the
media were unprepared for the Prime Minister's
resignation, that they lulled themselves into a
protracted period of denial and were for some
reason determined to believe Mulroney would
stay in place, so that when it seemed certain he
was quitting, no one quite knew what to say.
The media were noj alone. Unlike the resignation
of Unity Minister Joe Clark the week previous,
when everyone had seemed to have prepared
statements handy for the oceasion, the Prime
Minister's announced departure brought a range
of responses varying from Deputy Prime Minister
Don Mazankowski's tearful breakdown during
his caucus peroration to comments which sound-
ed more like admonition than tribute. It is not

HE'S BLUBBERING. OBVIOUSLY DIGTRAUGHT
OVER US LEAVING TOGETHER .... IS HEA
CONGERNATIVE SUPPORTER 2

every day both the media and the political com
munity are so evidently lost for words; the
silences on Wednesday were filled largely by gar
bled confusion. People were plainly having trou
ble finding out how they felt about the event they
were witnessing

When Peter Mansbridge asked former P.B.1
premier Joe Ghiz, as “a longtime friend of Brian
Mulroney,” what he thought of the Prime Minis
ter’s departure, Ghiz was careful neither to con
firm nor deny the “friendship.” Instead, he said
Mulroney had waited too long to: quit, then
launched into a tirade against free trade and the
GST, It seemed clear this was not the sort of
response Mansbridge was looking for, .but
Wednesday was proving to be that kind of day.

As proof, the CBC offered up a bouquet of
provincial premiers all doing stand-ups on “how I
feel about Mulroney resigning.” Most of them
spoke as though standing barefoot on broken
glass; only New Brunswick's Frank McKenna
was relaxed and ungrudging in his tribute. (No
better method than this could be found for mea.
suring the personal sense of political well-being
felt by each of Canada's premiers: McKenna
alone was secure enough to speak generously
even fulsomely, about Mulroney. The rest of
them spoke behind barricades of caveats.)

As Wednesday's coverage progressed, the
news of Mulroney's announced departure stimu.
lated neither celebration nor remorse nor sorrow.
The streets remained quiet: Most people stayed
irfdoors and watched television, waiting for con
sensus to form, perhaps hoping to catch some
message that conveyed true meaning and might
improve their understanding. I cannot myself
remember any event like this to which carried
with it so heavy a burden of ambivalence

People who were in politics and government,
or in the media, or in the hairdressing business,
or members of the Gatineau Gentleman's Club,
or the downtown Rideau Club, all had their own
memories of Brian Mulroney and knew him (they
would let you know) in a special way.

But on Wednesday, apart from the uttering of

leaden cliches which could as easily been uttered to ,

mark the retirement of prime minister Charles Tup-
per, the Mulroney resignation was a story without
a firm handle of a strong, guiding voice to:it

POLITICAL

Wednesday, March 10, 1993

The Castlegar Sun

Letters to the Editor

Don't cry foul because another side has spoken

Dear Editor:

In response to Mr. Murray
Rogers letter of March 3, 1993, I
feel compelled to reply

I very much respect Mr
Rogers dedication to his convic
tions. I too was, at the, Brilliant
Cultural Centre to listen to Bruce
Vincent and others speak. Mr
Rogers showed great courage to
speak at that meeting and his
views were very much in the
minority.

However to try and Push aside
Bruce Vincent's presentation as

NDP candidate maki

Dear Editor:

After a four.month rest upon
completion of the Nomination
Process, the local NDP Candidate
appears to be ourto make up for
lost time with letters to the editor

I am more than happy to
respond to these, particularly
when they invoke my name in the
article; The -NDP: candidate in
her nomination acceptance
speech stated “I look forward to
meeting with Jim Gouk, any time,
any place,” I again offer to have

SHSS spirit
makes for
proud
parents!

Dear Editor:

I would like to express thanks
to the coaches of the SHSS Boys
Basketball team, John Ritchie
and Brian Turlock. Also, to the;
team managers Janet Kalesnikoff
and Corina Wang, who were of
great assistance and constant
support for the team.

But mostly, I would like to
thank the young men on the team
for the excitement they provided
for their parents and peers. Our
emotions were pulled in every
direction by the ups and: downs
of the team
cynical-.about athletics in this age
of sport for huge salaries and

It’s so easy to be

slick and professional and at the
same time represent himself as
“down home” is very much con
trary to my feelings of what
Bruce Vincent conveyed, We
have all heard the other side of
the environmental story for a
long time: To cry foul because we
listen to some other views with-
out the counter point present
seems to me to ring hollow.

I did follow with great interest
the process that Celgar Pulp
went through to obtain its
approval to expand. There were

Heather or a member of her com-
mittee contact Martin Meyer at
365-2353 after 6 p.m. to arrange a
joint public meeting where we
can compare all our policies and
respond to public questions. I
look forward to the opportunity
and assume that the NDP would
as well .

In the article on the water
export problem under Free Trade,
Heather asks the question, “Does
Mr. Gouk truly believe that the
United States will go back to the
bargaining table with Canada to
remove a benefit to themselves
so that we retain control of our
water?” The NDP solution is to
terminate the Free Trade Agree-
ment (FTA) and refuse to approve
the NAFTA , the NDP policy is to
then negotiate “Sectorial Agree
ments” with the USA, similar to
Autopact

The FTA was originally pro-
posed by Canada and we asked to
be included in the NAFTA. If we
repudiate these treaties, why
would the USA rush to negotiate
néw séctorial agreements? I
believe it is far more feasible and
productive to resolve the problem
than cancel the entire agreement
and attempt to start over.

As far as her comment on the
Reform Party considering Canadi-

those that tried delay tactics and
Set up road blocks at every oppor-
tunity all in the name of Environ-
mental Protection and
Preservation.

These are some of the items
Bruce Vincent cautioned us to
guard against and to speak up
against. We all need to be aware
of the environment we live in and
protect it so it is able to sustain
all of us.

For too long there has not been
the other voice to ensure that
what happens is fair, just and sus-

tainable. If the people of this area
agree, you will have a fair non
confrontational counter point to
deal with. If this is not the case
I'm sure "Mr. Roger's (and others
like’ him) views will become that
what represents all of us whether
we like them or not Another
point Bruce Vincent warned us
about “The world belongs to
those that show up
Bill Dunn
PS. See you in the mill,
Murray!

ng up for lost time?

an water an export product, does
this mean that she does not con-
sider it an export product? The
water does flow out of our coun-
try, either into the USA or an
ocean. If we can obtain benefits
from this flow of water we should
take full advantage of it after
ensuring that Canadian needs are
met and that no economic or envi-
ronmental problems are created.

Regarding her article on Féd-
eral Drug Patent Legislation, it
should be pointed out that the
NDP support the General Agree-
ment on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT). GATT calls for stan-
darized drug patent protection
and the tariffication of food
import quotas and these are two
items to which the NDP is inflex-
ibly opposed. Once the NDP
party clarifies which side of the
fence they are on, I would be
happy to comment on their poli-
cy.

It seems the NDP party's solu-
tion to problems is to scrap them
and start over rather than try to
correct various deficiencies. Do
they really believe this or do they
just wish to oppose everything
that others have done? Is this pol-
icy or politics?

I believe we are far better to
correct whenever possible than

r

Announcement

——,

Presentation For Parents on

Attention Deficit Disorder

arbitrarily attack what others have
done. The Reform Party is not
looking for “political” solutions
{o our problems, We-are-more
than happy to make corrections to
existing policy rather than change
entire policies simply so that they
can be identified as ours

Jim G
Reform Party Can,

Consulting
Financial Counselling
and Goal Setting

Brenda
365-3487

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the portable might become an eye-sore, thereby
adding to the already well entrenched stigma of
Castlegar being an “ugly” city

We suggest that before the councillors make
their decision they ask themselves a few questions
If it were your daughter in that program, how
would you vote? Other than saying no, is there
another solution which could be offered, (one in
which the City would be fully involved). And, by
voting against the portable, what kind of a message
will yOu be sending out to these students who
already have so much to overcome? Council might

by Dr. Charlotte Johnson Ph.d
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology

One-of-a-Kind, Discontinued, Odds & Ends!

Thursday, March 11, 1993 aE VES SSSUMEVE )
— B20 aa Sii6 p.m. [ Selected Wing Selected f Contemporary
otischenia Elementary School Back Chairs Lamps Bedroom Suite

District Resource Centre
Columbia Road, Castlegar, B.C. Over 14 to choose from. One of a kind. White poly finish.
Reg. $649-$799 Good Selection, from Reg. $2099. Now $1049
want to consider the fact that more than ever

before, pregnant single women opt to >keep their 50% Off! L 1 0° J 50% Off)

aati:
babies—often at the expense of their own basic ee . ‘ —~
education. If there are currently 15 students in the ( ( Mitsubishi 4- (
Head HiFi VCR

program, how many could there be in five years?

Can we as a society afford to turn our backs on

these young women, and therefore their children? Only 7 available!
You don't even get a sales

pitch at this price.

At the same time, it's possible the number of young

dropping morals but to watch
high school athletes play “for the
love of the game” is pure joy
This teanr has converted past
non-supportive people into real
“fans” with your courage, grit
hard work and love of the game
Your spirit during the provincials
made me a very proud parent
Congratulations!

CARTOONIST.

Art Dusseault

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mothers in Castlegar will have decreased, and the Bleached oak finan.
need for a portable classroom will be nonexistent $

Until that time, those council members who secret- J
ly oppose allowing the portable trailer onto the prop- XV
erty should make a date to visit the young

moms—while class is in session. They might realize
how petty and insignificant their arguments, which
are based solely on looks, truly are. By the way,
councillors might like to know that each young
mother who committed herself to this progsam is still
hanging in there—despite the obvious hardships
Sure, a portable classroom might not look appealing,
but if it allows more young mothers the opportunity
to get an education, a job and a better life, how can
city council possibly second-guess the potential?
When the history of Castlegar is committed to
print, most of us would rather be remembered as
the city which had ugly buildings, and not the city
which had ugly hearts
gly he SY

The Sun

2 ~
Zii\S
1S POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT AND A

MEMBER OF THE STERLING NEWS SERVICE
Established November 28, 1990

Published by The Castlegar Sun
Weekly on Wednesdays
Member of Canadian Community Newspapers Association
B.C. Community Newspapers Association
and B.C. Press Council
465 Columbia Ave.. Castlegar, B.C. VIN 1G8

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accepted

the other day, wondering just why
we stand in line to give away our
hard-earned money

We North Americans must be the
only population on Earth who so
revere banks and bankers. In many
countries, banks are treated as neces.
sities, bankers are the practitioners of
usury and, in some, greedy ones get
“tossed out of the temple.”

I didn’t mind so much when my
money was earning ten per cent and
theirs twelve, but now I resent that I
earn two per cent and the banks
eam eight per cent or more! I do
stand in line at the bank, but not
happily

Not all people stand in line. In
the Caribbean for instance, it used
to be that it was your social status
that merited your place. Some years
ago we were visiting family on the
lovely Caribbean island of St
Lucia, once known as the British
West Indies but, since they gained
their independence, now the West
Indies. I was requested to pick up
-some small items from the
chemist shop

I entered the shop to discover a
mob of about fifty people, all black
waiving money and shouting at an

ing toys.

frame
obviously harassed clerk from
behind the counter. She spotted me
standing hesitantly at the door and
shouted to me “Yes Mistress?” Fifty
black faces tumed to glare at me. |

so I waived my hand to indicate I
would wait. But no, I would not be
allowed to wait. She insisted I be
served immediately. Then I realized
the waiting customers were growing
more restless. They were saying to
themselves “Go, you silly white
wench, be served so she can then

serve us!" I hastily purchased my
packet of bandages and fled!
Having thus philosophized why I
should be standing patiently
fully in line at the bank, I noticed
two children playing at a small table
provided for them, and nearby, a
plastic crate stuffed full 8f interest

The little girl sitting facing me
about five years of age

at the bottom. There was an hour-
glass of small plastic beads sitting
on the table. So, there was a time
element to this game as well. I
noticed that she was holding the
mallet with her index finger aligned
up the handle. Since the index fin-
ger is the strongest, and the grasp is -
weakened by extending it, the little

girl was struggling.
Seasons
Elma

Maund

a hammer!

grate

was happily it too was
Feathed over
hourglass
with the proper
Whack! Whack!

where drawer below

As she whacked away at the
balls, she did make some direct hits,
but with insufficient force to push
the balls down through the holes. It
was obvious no one had ever shown
this little girl the proper way to grip

As I stood there, probably look-
ing a bit perplexed, a kindly gentie-
man standing next to me said
something like “That's quite a good
game isn't it?” and we spent a few
minutes discussing the merits of
such toys and the skills the children
were leaming from them.

The child sitting with his or
her back to us was of indetermi
nate gender but we soon realized
alittle girl
whacking away with a mallet at col now demanded it was her turn
ored plastic balls all lined up in She
sunken holes within a rectangular
The balls being just slightly
larger than the opening, I realized
the object of the game was to tap
the balls through the holes
they would drop into a downward
curving spiral and fall into a drawer

Inverted the
took up the mallet
grip
Whack! and all
four balls fell promptly into the
Whereupon she
seized the four balls

Proper colors to proper holes. and

continued. My interested friend
and I exchanged looks and I
remarked “Well, perhaps she’s
the older sister! The smaller girl
will never be a carpenter!” But
the two children looked about the
same age

At that point, mother arrived and
took the two little girls off out of the
bank. My friend said, “Oh well,
with a grip like that she could man-
age a chain saw!” I liked his atti-
tude, smiled, and went on about our
banking business.

Later, walking across the parking
lot to my car, I again spotted the
two little girls from the bank, but
now there were two mothers! So
we had seen-two little girls from
different families; one with a decid
ed advantage over the other.

Which little girl do you think will
make her way in life full of confi
dence? As a young girl I was taught
the proper way to hold things, like a
hammer, an axe, a saw, a knife, the
reins on a horse's bridle, or a canoe
Paddle. I have always managed to
do my share of whatever had to be
done, though I must confess I have
to relearn my golf club grip many
times over!

and she

went Maybe all it takes is for parents
to take a minute to-teach the child
the proper way to do the little
things!

Like the guy in the Quaker Oats
ad says, “It's the right thing to do!”

matched

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