editorial comment stand city; and land Does the ‘O’ Optional? By now a majority of local residents should be aware of something called the Official Community Plan, and if they're not, chances are they won't be reading this column anyway. But just in case, the Official (OCP) is a document which the city for land water surfaces, subdivision stating policy fa use, for expression of our fair local working hard to ensure that'ach and every citizen has his or her say Once it is completed. A lot of time, and a lot of taxpayer's money, is being spent on the OCP—city council would be wise to follow it By Don Addis Leer negersssesecuwass Published ‘Woskty i on 485 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, B.C. VIN 1G8 “Meet me at the back of the line boys — it ain't our turn.” With that invitation to other white male would-be Members of Parliament, I call off my long-planned and expected bid for a New Democrat- ic Party federal nomination. It's women's turn. It's the turn of visible minority and Native Canadians, and of people with a physical disability who are also virtually umrepresented in Parlia- ment. And rather than needing to be overthrown, it’s time that likely male candidates stepped aside. We all known the statistics. Of 295 MPs elected in 1988, only 40 were women — less than 15 per cent. It was a little better in BC's October election — but that's still only half of women's ratio in soci- ety. Affirmative action within the federal New Democratic Party might help, but is property limited by'the democratic right of party members to elect their candidates. Talkin’ to some Yanks JASON KEENAN Sun staff There's a revolution going on in = ition. And of course, most Canadians have heard about it. The revolutions name is Ross Perot, the Texas bil- lionaire who, at the very least, taken the 1992 American Presiden- tial election and given it a twist. Not since the early 1900s, when Teddy Roosevelt ran as a Bull Moose candidate, has a man who was neither a Democrat or a lican had such a good chance of ing the president of the Unit- ed States. This article does not pretend to be an exhaustive look at American atti- tudes to Ross Perot. It doesn't even come close. It does however share three very different, yet sometimes similar attitudes of three ordi ary Americans from Colville, Washing- ton. And, in the end, it may even resemble something we hear about north of the 49th parallel, a total dis- satisfaction with politicians. Sandy Simonson, who is a regis- tered independent for U.S. election, said her mind was open about Ross Perot, but it’s now closed. In fact, she’s down right scared of him. “I hope not, but I think he’s a wolf in sheep's clothing.” She said that a recent article in Time maga- zine opened her eyes to the contra- diction of the man who might become president. She said that it's the most inter- esting election in recent mory, and the first time she's felt this strongly since Richard Nixon ran against John F. Kennedy in 1960. “Our infrastructures are crumbling in the cities... there’s more unem- no solutions...and escalat- ing health care costs.” And she said Perot is not addressing any of these problems with anything more than empty rhetoric, no better than the “If he were elected I am afraid of what would happen in this country.” She said that her change of mind is As well, white men hold the vast majority of winnable seats already, with few retiring, and with it male would-be successors wontag in the wings. Sheer inertia prevents fairness. It is these le — men like me — who must step aside to ensure that affi ive action WEDNESDAY, July 15 ‘Back of the line, boys — it ain’t our turn’ of “victory” over a female com- Petitor, some of us men have all the classic advantages of having been a mayor, parliamentary assis- tant., of having public profile and old boys’ network to rely on. of us simply have to pass up ly ever. But white men — especially New — should remem- ber that they are or ought to be in Politics for the greater social good, not for personal career goals or generous pension plans. As a strong NDP member, I could not maintain my social ideals while ing against women and works and that women and other target-group people are nominated P other affirmative -action target and then elected in prop to their numbers in society. The only other route would be undemocratic mandatory quotas, which just won't fly. Patronizing? Not at all. More like solidarity. While never assured is.” She said she is the baby boomer ticket of Bill Clinton and Al Gore. With George Bush and Perot both in their sixties, she said they are yesterday’s men not in touch with the issues of today. “It's time we had some young blood in the White House.” She said that Clinton, unlike Perot, is taking stands on controversial issues like abort “At least the guy has the balls to say what he thinks.” Another Colville resident said the same thing about Perot - the man just is not taking any stands. “I think he should state where he stands on key issues such as unem- ployment, the environment, and especially abortion,” said Chuck Root, coach of the Colville Valley Swim Club. One of the big concerns both Root and Simonson have is the next presidents effect on the U.S. Supreme Court. With one judge set to retire sometime during the next ' A something that many Perot support- ers might experi b now and the November election. “As time goes on, we are going to See more and more that he’s not the angel that a lot of people think he Memories of a I recently noticed a particularly pleasant Kootenay home with wooden lattice work across the front deck. It brought back memories of a time when we were building a sawmill in tice is very popular in tropical climates where plants growth, give water, explodes at any time of year. T have had a long remembered men- tal picture of a cottage, situated under tall waving palms and com- pletely covered in blooms, such as jasmine and bougainvillaca. It prob- ably stems from childhood fantasies of scenes from Gone With The Wind, Somerset Maugham or Daphne Dumaurier. In the Fiji Islands 1 had sougt out just such a cottage but the local branch of a Major bank got there before me Upon arrival in Queensland, I one again found just the “couage™, but it was almost new, with a newly estab- lished and no tropical vines. I set out to correct the image. The year presi term, the win- ner of the election will have to appoint someone to the court, which will have final say on whether or not abortion is legal in the United home was built on stout wooden was about twelve feet above the Seasons Elma Maund garage and ground level. It had a lot of wood and glass, a fireplace, for it can be cool in July, and a spectacular view. Once comfortably organized and at home, I set about to work on the tropical garden. Plants that I had only known as house plants, in Canada, grew in mad profusion everywhere on the . I found a sprig of jasmine in the garden and started i it up one of the posts. To my sur- groups for nomination. Political ideal biti agas my riding of Kootenay West-Rev- elstoke I may be the highest profile States. Perot has yet to present a firm position on abortion. Root did say that the choice is not much of a choice. “The three big ones, Perot, Clin- ton and Bush - two have no experi- ence in the White House, while one does have experience, though he hasn't done too much.” He said that experience will win his vote over the unknown of Perot. Despite the lack of real choice, and the fact that he will not support Perot, Root said that Perot’s impact ‘on the election is “At least he’s getting a lot of peo- ple to think.” Small business man Jim Witham agreed that Perot has had a positive influence on Yankee politics. “I think it’s probably a healthy sign for this cor that someone can break the bounds of the party system.” With so many people sick of politi- cians, Americans are ready for a man who does not have a lot of spe- cific promises that will be discarded the day after the election. “Perot has said ‘If the people want to do it [rebuild the country] we'll do it, if they don’t want to do it, we won't’.” Witham like the fact Prise, within a few weeks, tendrils of jasmine appeared at deck level and thereafter I had jasmine trailing along the handrails in all firections. The Pagar not calling me to feed them bits of raw minced beef, the kookaburras amused themselves by scuffing about in the jasmine, or hunting frogs and snakes on the lawn. It was an idyllic scene. One moming, I stepped onto the deck to dry some towels and did a quick double take, for there not five meters away was a taipan snake! Taipans are aggressive, swift and deadly. It is said they can strike to three times their length. I was back behind the bedroom screen door in two seconds flat! This taipan was a baby at only about one meter long. A recent newspaper report had stated that an elderly grandmother had gone to the defense of her cat who was found playing with a taipan no more than a foot long. She was bitten and New Democrat, but I don't for a moment presume to be the only or the most qualified. In fact, many people are capable of being terrific MPs, if given the chance. Among them are many professional women, ethnic and handicapped Wednesday, July 15, 1992 The Castlegar Sun Letters to the Editor rt ad Sunfest critics should Dear Editor: For the first time I find myself with this Overwhelming desire to publicly address our ry. Since Sunfest weekend, I have up off the floor, I quickly thought that this was one conversation I Probably didn't want to entertain under such fire. heard too many of Castlegar whining about "This wasn't right", or "They sure people. Some are even i d in being a Member of Parliament So I'll be there in October when my party chooses a candidate for our riding. I'll be supporting the affirmative-action candidate of my choice. And I'll sleep well know- ing that to the extent I would help — by getting out of the way — I pushed Parliament toward more equal representation for women and minorities who currently are all but barred from its halls. Gerald Rotering is a former mayor of Nelson and is Con- stituency Assistant to Kootenay West-Revelstoke NDP MP Lyle Kristiansen, who will not seek re- election. eee about a Texas billionaire that Perot views the country as a business, where the citizens are the shareholders. Witham blames the problem on the lawyers who he said make up half of the government. “They're good at building empires,” he said, and not worrying about the problems of the citizens At the very least, he hopes that Perot’s ideas catch on. “If somebody like Ross Perot - I don’t know if he’s the man - doesn’t come along and make a drastic change, then this country is going to go down the tubes.” Witham said that the fact that Perot writes his own speeches, which are not as polished as those written by the professional speech writers of Bush and Clinton, is a plus. “Perot appeals to the guy on the Street - most of the guys on the Street can’t write a speech either.” Three people. They all have cho- sen different men. All are dissatis- fied with the current system. And all talk about the way that their politi- cians aren't representing them Sound familiar? eee garden—beware of the Jasmine! did not survive. Queenslanders, indeed, all wise Australians, have a healthy respect for all snakes, and I was not about to be an exception. The taipan, as I went for my camera, retreated back down the jas- mine to the garden below. Perhaps the kookaburras would have him for dinner. When I felt it was safe to venture out, I chopped down every bit of that jasmine. I did not want to do it, but I did not want any snakes on the deck either. Thereafter I also made sure the family of kookabur- ras, who love snakes for lunch, were enticed to stay around as well, When we left that home, I remarked to my husband that I had only ever seen one snake on the Property and he corrected me. He had seen dozens of them while cut- ting the grass etc. but he had not wanted to frighten me out of my enjoyment of the garden! That explained why he always cut the grass in “stubbies” and knee high leather boots! No longer do I covet vine-covered tropical cottages! d that up”, in regards to Sunfest activities and the Festival Society itself. Yet, when the Fes- tival Society requested help in Planning Sunfest, not once did these people ever attend an orga- nizing meeting or offer their assistance in planning. Most For those of you who have similar I will not apol- ogize. First, it was the picket line and the unexpected high water level which determined the can- cellation of the boat races in our fair and understanding communi- ty. Heaven only knows, the thou- sands (and I mean thousands) of volunteer man hours it took to organize the Hydro Plane Regat- ta—to organize the complete ly, I was p ing one of our local stores when the proprietor boldly stated, “Boy, you sure have a lot of gall!" Totally ignorant, I ques- tioned what she meant. “Well, that T-shirt you're wear- ing,” she stated. (It never entered my mind that I might be banished from Castlegar for wearing my Sunfest T-Shirt!) She continued to say that the society which organized Sunfest sure had a lot of gall to drop the boat races. And who did THEY think THEY were putting on such a lousy parade. Once I picked my mouth kend in fact, After all this work, the Festival Committee was the last group of people who wanted to see ANYTHING get cancelled. Then there's the parade. Well, that also hinged on the boat races. In order to have attained the high calibre of racing that Sunfest had at that time secured to race in our city, it meant accommodating Sunfest the same weekend the Pro-title series was running. It meant changing Sunfest weekend dates and losing the opportunity to have our local school bands for the parade. Believe me, that deci- Local doctor errors in his comments Dear Editor: I was surprised by the recent news coverage of the passage of Bill 71, Local B.C. Medical Association representative DR. Van Vliet makes a number of errors in his comments about the contents of Bill 71 and the nego- tiations between the government and the BCMA, and I'd like to help set the record straight. Dr. Van Vliet suggest that the government hasn't been negotiat- ing with the BCMA. Yet as a BCMA rep he'll be aware that Health Minister Elizabeth Cull has repeatedly met with the BCMA executive. On 12 separate occasions to be exact, with the latest round of negotiations com- ing over the weekend of June 27 and 28. The offer presented at that time was based on the central estimated $50 - $100 million in additional spending on doctor’s fees — on top of the record $1.27 billion already in this year’s bud- get, 2) setting taxpayers’ contri- butions to doctors pensions at $25 million per year in perpetu- ity, 3) a request to de-insure items like eyeglass prescription exams, 4) deleting references to the Canada Health Act in Bill 71 — such a move would effectively open the door to massive de- insuring of medical services and the creation of a two-tiered medi- care system, 5) the right for pro- posed Medical Service, Commission to réqyést Special, “Warrants to cover future cost Over-runs, and 6) the assurance that they will be permitted to extra bill patients. We did not want to engage in a concerns of the dical profes- sion and forms the basis of Bill 71. We've included: 1) full par- ticipation in the management of the medical services budget, 2) a co-management model which reflects a mechanism for negotia- tion fees and benefits and resolv- ing disputes through conciliation, and, 3) a fair cost shared retire- ment plan for doctors — instead of the entirely taxpayer funded plan set up for doctors by the Vander Zalm Socreds. Dr. Van Vliet should also be aware that the BCMA rejected that offer and tabled a counter Proposal that sought gains that simply weren't acceptable to this government or to most British Columbians. The key elements of the doctors’ proposal were 1) an conf with the B.C. doc- tors. We repeatedly attempted to Carry on an open and honest dia- logue with them. But the BCMA simply hasn't seemed that inter- ested. The leadership of the BCMA must acknowledge that government has the sole obliga- tion to determine the overall amount taxpayers can afford to Pay to maintain a high level of medical service. While other options were open to us — like the voluntary five per cent roll- back of doctors’ fees recently in Saskatchewan — we wanted to move forward with the medical profession to build a stronger medicare system. Ed Conroy, MLA Numbers game in Victoria placing undue hardships on families Dear Editor: MLA Ed Conroy’s comments regarding care facilities for seniors are disturbing, and indi- cate that Mr. Conroy does not fully understand seniors, their Problems and their concerns. His comments about our tax- payer dollars obscures the real While we may not need extended care beds at this time, we most certainly shall in the future. What we do need is other alternatives for seniors housing. There is a desperate need locally for creative choices in alterna- tives for housing seniors in order that seniors may remain well and ind and out of i waste, which is the ding of more taxpayer dollars on new structures, of any type, when, in many other areas of Canada, pri- vate enterprise is encouraged and assisted to provide facilities at no cost whatsoever to the taxpayer. The burgeoning Canadian pop- gov -funded i for as long as possible. Many seniors believe that once they can no longer handle, for example, their own personal hygiene, the only alternative for them is insti- tutionalization, such as in M inview or Castleview. ulation of seniors poten- tially serious situations in housing and health that should be beyond rhetoric and ideology. Statistics Canada has just See SENIOR 8A - ie 365-5304 CHICKEN TIME Summer Picnic Paks The perfect way to feed your whole family “Remember, Anytime is Chicken Time”| Ceigar & Cominco meai tickets accepted 2816 Columbia Ave. SiON was sure not made lightly. The Festival Society is no dif- ferent than any other non-profit organization in our community. It is totally made up of VOLUN- TEERS, who remain dedicated to @ cause over a long period of time (one year for Sunfest). But then, I guess only another volunteer would ynderstand this. Too often, a volunteer will show up to assist somewhere— only to find the very same faces who were at the last function that was in need of help. (i.e. school functions, families in need at Christmas, community celebra- tions). The response of Castlegar and area to the tragic death of our son and brother, Devin Turner, has been overwhelming. We owe so much to so many. To Devin’s friends for the tears, memories, songs, roses, and help on his cars. To the friends ‘of Brennan, Avery, Ris- ton, and Anita for coming around to be with them in their sorrow. To everyone who offered hugs I personally have much respect for anyone who volunteers their own time. These are the people who don't question getting up at 5 4.m. to make sure your kids get to the game on time, or those volun- teers who, heaven forbid, hassle you in the rain in front of the liquor store to buy one of their Soggy raffle tickets. Then there's that volunteer who blatantly walks into a place of business and begs for money!! The mere nerve these people have eh? Sorry folks—these people are volun- teers, and they're proud of it! They have family problems, they have demanding jobs, they have and food and flowers — and little bits of help and enc 7 put their money and time where their mouth ‘Is children, and they have little time for anything. But thank God there are people like them who are willing to MAKE TIME. ! Come on Castlegar. The next time you feel that things should have been different, or could have been better—pitch in, get involved. It only takes a whole lot of people anid plenty of money to make the difference between a failed or a successful event! So People, put your money, and especially your time—where the right time with the right To the many people who donated to the Devin Turner Memorial Scholarship, we are grateful. You've all made us realize the depth of compassion community and friends can have for those troubled in their midst. Many of you helped us get the little things right so that we could honour our young man in the way he deserved. Others came by at P that we could: get en with our lives. Although Devin had become an international citi- zen through his overseas exchange program, he loved and respected this' community, and you, the people of Castlegar, have returned that love and Tespect a thousand-fold. We, the Turner family; are deeply touched. Thank you. 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