Wednesday, October 9, 1991 Letters toW#HE EDITOR Direct democracy deserves a ‘Yes’ Your editorial of Sept. 18 suggesting a “No” vote on the two referendum questions be- ing asked in conjunction with the present provincial election should not go unanswered. ‘The first question (“Should tralia, one instrumentality there has achieved significant politician’s belief in the funda- ls of pure d ) progress with CIRs. Not unexpectedly, the may- or of that particular instru- mentality (who had used CIRs ively at the local level) voters be given the right, by legislation, to vote between elections for the removal of their Member of the Legisla~ tive Assembly?”) is one we can all decide upon. The fact you will vote no while I vote yes is not what prompted this letter. It is the second referendum question (“Should voters be given the right, by legislation, to propose questions that the Government of British Columbia must submit to vot- ers by referendum?”) that I feel especially strongly about. I disagree with your sug- gestion of a “no” vote and sub- mit a “yes” vote is desirable for a number of reasons: CRs (citizen initiated ref- erendums) are a dramatic ex- ample of direct democracy. In Switzerland, dominated by four ethnic linguistic groups, CIRs are second nature, and fundamental to Swiss pros- perity, freedom, national coop- eration and ethnic unity. Indeed, in Sydney, Aus- was elected to the national parliament with a record ma- jority for an independent run- ning in the face of entrenched party machines. The number of referendum questions could become cum- bersome (as it/has to'some de- gree in California) but this is no reason to throw the baby out with the bath water. Remember, it was in Cali- fornia that the famous tax re- volt was initiated by a CIR. The passage of that historic referendum provided the anvil upon which then President Reagan turned the country around economically. CIRs are the new wave of the future, politically, just as they provided a classic wave in the past. (In Athens, about 4,000 years ago, a noted and cele- brated Greek politician, facing a recall ballot, actually assist- ed a hostile voter to cast his blackball vote against the 14 us to demonstrating that particular Doesn’t like new News This message is being sent to express our shock and dis- belief at the apparent suicide of the Castlegar News. The big, bright, attractive paper that we hed develop over some 40 years d itself and is now nothing more than an unrec- ognizable piece of rubbish. It even downplays the name “Castlegar” in its title. Any newspaper can call itself “The News.” By cutting down the size of the name Castlegar, you have even minimized the distinctive part of the paper’s name. One cannot imagine any tarily doing the once-admirable Castlegar News. Can it be that your rival, the new Castlegar Sun, has paid you a large sum of mon- ey to destroy yourself and go out of business? My family and I will no longer be allowing this unbe- lievable excuse for a home- town newspaper into our households. Betty-Jane McLeod and family Castlegar PS. Up until the date of this letter, I personally have bought and read every single issue of the Castle News or to itself what has been done to le News, that has ever been printed. POLITICAL TRIVIA POLITICAL TRIVIA CIRs ensure democracy be- ing made stronger and could well be the actual mechanism that will save it from political cronyism, corruptness and the public apathy that is prompt- ed by the feeling that people no longer count or can have a worthwhile impact on public issues. I hope voters vote “Yes” for direct democracy in British Columbia.on Oct. 17 and give the people of this province a needed lever on government power. Burt Campbell Castlegar POLITICAL TRIVIA [POLITICAL TRIVIA October 9, 1991 Who assisted the Haley Park Project committee with a lottery grant assistance? WALTER SIEMENS Who assisted the Wins Society with numerous grant requests? WALTER SIEMENS ‘Sponsored by Young Socreds TEMENS, waiter A. Sponsored by Young Socreds i , Walter A. NEW HOURS: Mon.-Fri. - 7 a.m.-7 p.m. ‘FOOD DONE THE STYLE FIRE PREVENTION WEEK OCTOBER 6-12, 19) PT aad Emergency. Numbers for The Fire Department Nearest You 365-3355 Valley Who assisted the 1988 World Cup ski organizers at Red Mountain with free vehicle insurance for 19 vans? WALTER SIEMENS Who assisted the Trail Mental Health Association with a grant for their club house? WALTER SIEMENS Sponsored by Young Socreds '» Walter A. Sponsored by Young Socreds » Walter A. Thrums. Wintaw THE NEWS . . . urges you to support these local companies because they .. SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY! of ws Castlegar "We Make Buying Insurance Easy!” Cohoe Insurance Agency Lid. 1127-4th $1, Castiogar \ 365-3301 9 J ( BCTel ) IZ 1891-1991 365-2166 1761 ( CURRIERS ) Insurance Agencies Ltd. "For All Your insurance Needs” Walter Siemens, Notary Pubtic 1331 Bay Ave., Trail - 364-1285 ea a. REALTY 1p. Castlegar, B.C. ee, Auxiliary plans rummage sale The Castlegar and District Hospital Auxiliary held its first meeting of the season Sept. 16. There were 25 mem- bers present. The auxiliary was pleased to have Alice i by become a new mem- Wendy Reilly, the recre- ation coordinator, attended the meeting and gave mem- bers an outline of the activities Cat bylaw hard to enforce Can you blame your cat problem on Robin Hood? Well, we can try. While King Richard was away fighting the Huns, his broth- er John made an awful mess of things in Britain. With the likes of Robin Hood fighting 7 inevitebl side of things. Cat bylaws are virtually unenforce- able. The City of Castlegar does not have a cat control bylaw. Where does a cat carry his tag when it 1 considered dangerous to wear a col- lar? for good, justice killing off so many people that it swayed the balance of power in Britain. City Voice Identifi is a major problem in enforcing a cat bylaw. Many municipali- ties have tried and failed. You may not go into someone's yard to pick up a troublesome feline but if you have a stray, the SPCA in Trail will accept it and there is no charge for the service. Cats catch rats! What better way to control the rat population than to pro- tect felines under the new law, the What does this have to do with us? Don't forget Britain's law was brought. trol, or lack of it. to Canada under the British North America Act. ‘That is one theory behind feline con- ‘The other, of course, is the practical The SPCA will keep the animal for four clear days in case the owner in- quires and claims it, after that they put it up for adoption. SPCA hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drop-offs can be made Oct. 15-18 from 9 a.m. to noon organized the event. Trish Waldie, a new mem- ber to the auxiliary, is the Can- dy Striper convener and will be meeting with the cadets soon. Anyone interested in join- ing the auxiliary is welcome to attend the next meeting Oct. 21 in the hospital board room. Classified Ad in AND TURN THOSE UNW ITEMS INTO CASH ma FLASH POLITICAL TRIVIA Who assisted the Children's Development Centre with personal assistance and grant applications? WALTER SIEMENS Sponsored by Young Socreds Last Chance To vote in the Provincial General Election on October 17, 1991 you must be a registered voter. © You can't vote unless you're registered © You must be registered before Election Day to vote No matter how you say it, you must be registered to vote. Remember: You cannot register on Election Day. Ba Your last charice to register is Mm Tuesday, October 8-Tuesday, October 15. You may register only if you are not already registered. You may register only at a Registration Centre in your electoral district. Qualifications: © 19 years of age or older e Canadian citizen © Resident of British Columbia for the past 6 months ‘ © You must bring 2 pieces of 1.D. that show your name and current address. One piece of 1.D. must contain your signature. Remember: You cannot register on Election Day. to Register. Provincial General Election. 3 istration Centres ml October 8.- October 15. ROSSLAND-TRAIL Canada Safeway 1721 Columbia Ave., Castlegar Mon.-Wed., 9am-6pm Thu.-Fri. 9am-9pm Sat. 9am-Spm Sun. 12pm-5pm Registrar of Voters Waneta Mall 1050 Eldorado St., 8100 Rock Island Hwy., Trail Trail Tue.-Fri. 9am-9pm Tue.-Wed., Sat. Sat. 9am-5pm 10am-5:30pm Sun.-Mon. 12pm-5pm Thu.-Fri. 10am-9pm Sun. 12pm-4pm Trapper John’s Restaurant 103 Motel Ave., Salmo Tue.-Fri. Llam-9pm Sat. Llam-5pm Sun.-Mon. 12pm-5pm 4 For more information. Contact: Registrar of Voters OR Elections British Columbia Information Line 1-800-742-8683 (Toll Free) Chief Electoral Officer Province of British Columbia