Saturday, October 17, 1992 a Circulation Manager Burt Campbell Publisher Emeritus L.V. Campbell Aug. 7, 1947- Feb. 15, 1973 OurWiEWS AdrianRAESIDE Home wreckers he City of Castlegar must hang its head in shame for allowing the most obvious of opportunities to slip through its fingers. News that a number of homes being removed in preparation for the Castlegar-Robson bridge will be demolished and/or burnt is absolutely despicable, deplorable and inexcusable. When you consider that Castlegar’s vacancy rate has remained at zero for as long as anyone can remember, low- cost housing is at a premium and the nearest women’s shelter is in Trail, you would have thought the City of Castlegar would have bid on some of the 15 buildings being removed. But Castlegar didn’t and as a result nine homes that could have gone towards a women’s shelter, a youth centre or a new senior’s centre will be destroyed because our civic leaders showed no initiative to think beyond today’s byelection and referendum or Mayor Audrey Moore’s latest twinning junket — this time to China. If there is any ounce of compassion among our civic leaders, or the provincial government, the nine homes will be saved and put to proper use. A community is measured by the way in which we look after our less-fortunate citizens. It is not too late for Castlegar or the provincial government to work out a deal that will see these homes saved. It would serve everyone’s interests — the city, the province and those in need. For goodness sake, do something. These homes can serve some good only if we try. IN THE MiDST OF SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY iN CANADA. iTS Nie TO KNOW THAT SOME THINGS RCMaiN CONSTANT... {| y Catching up on my Quebec politics When it comes to the constitutional debate, I’m finding it tough to be in the minority — among the decided. Maybe it would be easier if I was undecided. After all, the Blue Jays would get my undivided attention, my friends would get more letters and I wouldn’t get those tension headaches every time I see a ‘No’ commercial come over the airwaves. Even still, everything I’ve been hearing has been coming out of Victoria, Vancouver or Toronto — I guess it’s all part of being a British Columbian. Regardless, I decided to get the inside scoop on Quebec. And why not go to a couple of old buddies for news behind the news. With that, I telephoned my first editor, Charles Bury of the Sherbrooke Record. Charlie’s a great guy, a tough editor and one anglophone who won't cry the blues about life in la belle province. Completely Harrison Comparison bilingual, Charlie and I had more than a few disagreements about Quebec politics during our two years together and he usually won. Despite being sympathetic to Quebec’s plight in Canada, Charlie always shoots straight from the hip. And he’s | doing it again with the Charlottetown Agreement. | Unlike the political | fight in British Columbia, | Charlie says Quebecers “aren't being swayed by doom and gloom campaigning.” . That’s not to say the lines aren’t drawn, however. Charlie says there are four of them in Quebec — undecided, yes, ‘no separatists, and ‘no Trudeau idealists.” _ Charlie believes Quebec’s yes campaign got somewhat derailed thanks to comments made by B.C. Constitutional Affairs Minister Moe Sihota last week, but the detour wasn’t insurmountable. please see HARRISON page 7 ———<<—<—$_———_———_——_—__— eae Streef TALK Question: Would you support building a permanent depot for hazardous household waste? Grace Legebokoff Castlegar “Because they are piling up, it would be useful.” Elizabeth Crawford Robson “Yes, we need a place to have these things neutralized.” Jennifer Handley Castlegar “We should get a permanent one so it’s more convenient.” Chuck Salisbury “Absolutely. You know people throw it Alison White Castlegar Castlegar “Totally. A temporary one only away. I do.” does good for awhile.” if Saturday, October 17, 1992 Other VIEWS | Please address all letters to: Letters to the or deliver them to 197 Columbia Ave. Letters should be typewritten, double-spaced and not longer than 300 words. Letters MUST be signed and include the writer's first and last names, address and a telephone number at which the writer can be reached between 9am. and5 p.m. The writer's name and city or town of residence only will be published. Only in exceptional cases will letters be published anonymously. Even in those cases, the name, address and phone number of the writer MUST be disclosed to the editor. The News reserves the right to edit letters for brevity, clarity, legality, grammar and taste. Letters tcolhHE EDITOR Green delivers cheap shot @ Reporter should stop pouting and give Steve Bozek the benefit of the doubt In response to the Jonny on the Spot column in the Oct. 10 edition of The News. To Jonathan Green... somewhere off pout- ing: It seems a shame that after 11 years asa professional athlete in the National Hockey League, Steve Bozek is forced to defend his ac- tions to you, Jonathan, for what you consider a disregard of your feelings. You obviously have no insight into what Steve has been dealing with both personally and professionally. Your only concern was that Steve did not run to the phone to let you be the first to know what major decision he had made. Clearly you were unaware of the immediacy of his decision. In fact, this decision was made one day and he left the next. Had you contacted his family in Castlegar before your hatchet job you would have been told that he had left to play in Bolzno, Italy. Steve has always co-operated with the me- dia and appreciated the support of the people of Castlegar. In 11 years, (not the reported 10) and as you said, five different cities, Steve has received his fair share of media from many major newspa- rs. It is sad that the first case of bad press he has received has to be from The News. If in the several conversations you did have with him, you felt that he was holding out on you maybe that was just your quick, unfair judgement of his personality. Should you ever again decide to belittle a Castlegar native who has dedicated 11 year of hard work to his career in the NHL perhaps ~ should first to try skating a mile in his ates. Pat Bozek Castlegar Mulroney crying wolf with Canada During the recent weeks, I have heard state- ments which remind myself of an old fairy tale told to every child in North America. These statements are those of the Prime Minister and his cabinet ministers along side the leaders of the opposition parties. Four years ago, John Turner and Ed Broadbent informed the Ontario electorate and various other geographical sectors of this country that the Free Trade Agreement with the United States would have a negative effect on employment and result in many layoffs and corporate shutdowns within our own borders. The Prime Minister replied both gentlemen were trying to scare-monger the Canadian public and there was no just reason to raise such misinformed advice by shouting wolf. When the opposition parties diligently repeated such advice with regard to the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Progressive Conservatives again rose trying to dispel the shouting of wolf. The Conservative party again stated the opposition members were ill-advised and misinformed to shout wolf once more in regard to the devastating effects of the GST legislation on the Canadian economy. That same governing party once more delivered a warning of wolf shouting with regard to various program expenditure cuts such as Old Age Pension, Medicare, UI benefit cuts, or education deficiencies along with the previously mentioned GST were actually implemented for the betterment of Canadian society and not its detriment. Today, it is Brian Mulroney and his pack who are shouting wolf in regard to their yet incomplete Charlottetown Agreement. Mulroney, who refused to adhere to the warnings of the Loyal Opposition before, is using now them to spell those dire words spoken so many times before... wolf. Mulroney is emulating the story of the Little Boy Who Cried Wolf, but I find it extremely difficult to believe his words at this late a date. Why were all past wolf announcements untrue, yet this be the real thing? Canada will not self-destruct, regardless of a Yes or No vote. Gordon Trudell Hamilton, Ont. Column not appreciated I’m not alone when I say Jonathan Green’s column on Steven Bozek wasn’t appreciated. Our sports community is very proud of each! and every athlete who can make it to the top of his/her sport and Steve was the first in his generation. We are also very proud of those who try and lat least have the ability and drive to make i part way because we know that we didn’t o: perhaps couldn't get that far. You are not the only one that Steven doesn’t} phone so why waste a boring half page on such} ridiculous negativeness in trying to know him! down. Dorothy Martini Castlegar PS. Please try to be more positive as your cut downs, (to me) don’t come out that funny. We should vote yes for Canada Politics is the art of the possible. The Charlottetown Agreement is the best deal we can get at this time because those whom we have elected nationally and provincially have agreed to a deal. Those who wish us to vote no could not come up with a better deal: they could not come up with a deal at all. The agreement is not perfect. Perfection is not possible. If we elected those who lead the no forces, what would we get? We would get those who put their special interests ahead of the interests of a country as a whole. If you believe that the country includes Quebec and if you agree that regional interests are served, vote yes. However imperfect the process, it has been democratic. However flawed the agreement, it is better than no agreement or one imposed by right-wing or left-wing ideologies. John Myers Pass Creek Harrison “The yes side seems to be gain- ing some support,” he said. “It’s nice to see. I think we'll see a slight victory for the yes.” Charlie’s optimism couldn't be shared by another Quebecer — Claire Champeau. Known to me simply as Mama because she and her entire family spoiled me rotten when I came to Quebec with their daughter fol- lowing Katimavik, Claire says Quebec will vote against the agreement. “I hate to say it, but I think Pierre Trudeau was right. The Quebecois want too much,” said Claire, who together with Papa — Fernard — will vote in favor of the Charlottetown Agreement. “It’s easier to vote no and say no rather than say yes,” she contin- ued. “I’m really worried that the Quebecois will say no because they want more, but what more can we ask for.” Claire said her biggest fear is seeing Parti Quebecois leader Jacques Parizeau take over Que- bec if a no vote prevails. “He doesn’t care about any- thing but separation and I don’t want that. I want to stay in Cana- da and most do but I still think most people will vote against it thinking they can get something better.” Buddy Jack Branswell agrees. A beat-reporter in Montreal, Jack says the vote will be close — guessing a 51-49 split for the no forces. Jack admits that he doesn’t know where to cast his ballot, say- ing he’s having troubles with the aboriginal self government clause. “What does it mean,” he asked. “And how much is it going to cost you and I, because that’s who's go- ing to pay for it. “It’s not easy to know how to vote here,” Jack said. “As an An- glo-Quebecer you've got to look at so many things. The agreement it- self and what will happen with a no vote.” Jack said he, too, is worried about Parizeau. “All along he’s been saying we can put it off and we can wait, but I know if Quebec votes no and we have an election and he gets in, he'll say “OK, we have voted for independence.” Jack confesses that he isn’t sure where to cast his ballot or how his vote will be interpreted. “There are a lot of things I want to vote no for, but I’m a federalist deep down. It’s tough to know what will happen here. “There are no easy answers to “Canada is a country that seems to have nine lives, I just hope this one isn’t our last.”