OPINION |

WEDNESDAY, October 7, 1992

WZ The Ci sth dar Sun Zi

PUBLISHER JON JARRETT

editorial comment A creeping malaise

The students over at Selkirk College sure blew it this

They must think the provincialfninister responsible for the very institution they attend just drops by for coffee every other week.

A grand total of 10 students took the time to stop by and talk with Tom Perry, the minister of advanced education,

Talk to, not listen to.

How often does the average citizen get the chance to sit down and bend the ear of he man or woman whose deci- sions have a major impact-on their future?

Once, maybe twice in a lifetime.

It's often kicked around that the young, especially those

currently di of higher i are the of our future.

A future they show little concern or care about.

Great custodians.

There were about 70 students in the main lounge when Perry came to speak with the students. Their concerns went

This is the season

The problem with the upcoming referendum on the new police facil- ities is that most of our citizens have never seen the inside of the present facilities. Following a recent traffic accident, I was invited to do so, and I was not impressed. Had our more fortunate citizens taken advantage of a recent invita- tion by Sgt. Hall to come for a visit, you would know that the manner in which we house our law enforce- ment agency is inadequate, to say the least, and downright deplorable, to be blunt.

Our police deserve better. We, as a community, have much to be grateful for in the calibre of police protection we enjoy. We are offered fast response to trouble, very soon after it arises. Not all areas can so claim. We live in one of the safest in the province, rela-

beyond the needs of a fi ial: d post- dary educational system, the difficulty they will have transferring their work at College to another institution of higher learn- ing, and the high costs of getting a university education.

It was Friday after all.

There were bigger things to be dealt with. Bigger fish to

What bar to go to on the weekend, the current dating scene, and pressing social engagements.

It's time to fire Tom Perry. There are no longer concerns about education. His job is done.

He can retire a hero, the saviour of advanced education.

To be a little bit positive, a few future leaders showed their stuff at the talk.

The ten students who came to meet the minister asked questions and offered opinions on the future of education.

They discussed how we, as British Columbians and as Canadians, are going to have to educate the population in an ever more competitive world, and how we can afford that education.

And of course, they talked constitution.

But once again, it was talking, not listening. Both the minister and his tiny audience argued the finer details of voting yes or no on Oct. 27.

So the actual custodians of the future were there. Those few will be the ones to take up the challenge of the future They will be the true custodians of the future.

The other 950 will sit on their collective duff and watch the world go by.

They'll complain to their friends about how rotten the world is.

They just won't do anything about it.

By Don Addis

1S POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT AND A MEMBER OF THE STERLING NEWS SERVICE Established November 28, 1990 Published by The C: Sun

Weekly on Wi 465 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, B.C. VIN 1G8

tively free from the usual stresses of urban living. Much of this can be attributed to the high profile of our local police force. While we law abiding citizens go about our daily business, we may not particularly notice those ever-present distinctive vehicles, nor the others not so dis- tinct. But they are certainly there and not very far away. These are the deterrents that affect the not-so- law-abiding among us.

Déspite what you may think, our drivert are more cautious and cour- feous than one would see, for exam- ple, in the Lower Mainland. Locally,\recent strict enforcement of speed \imits and roadside checks of safety fevices have had a posi-

tive affect on driving habits, partic- ularly in our urban areas. You notice this most right on Columbia Avenue! Here, we may look out for our neighbours and generally keep a watchful eye on each other's property. But Sgt. Hall and his force will attest there are certainly cnimi- nals among us, perpetrating all the crimes we see te-enacted on our television screens. The number of offenses does not appear to be declining!

Some citizens will tell you that a completely new police facility is unnecessary and that we should expand the present one, which would be easier and cheaper. Not true! Just ask anyone who has

to be supportive! !

Wednesday, October 7, 1992

The Castlegar Sun

Page 7A

Letters to the Editor

No one really knows what the future holds for the Glade water supply

Dear Editor:

The Ministry of Forests came to Glade last week to talk about logging in Glade Creek water- shed.

Glade is a Scottish word meaning “a grassy place in the forest”. The Ministry officials cleared the decks in the first few minutes, with thid comment: “We are not here to decide whether to log or not to log Glade Creek watershed. That decision was made a long time ago — we didn’t make it. This area has béen part of the Timber Supply Area for years, meaning all of this area could be subject to log-

ig. In other words, “We are not

responsible for this decision, Our goal here is to set up a Technical Committee with the residents, to discuss how to log, not whether to log.’ Maybe this Committee will be able to delay this deci- sion, but maybe this Committee will only keep the residents busy while a road is being built into the logging area,

The residents of Glade and Thrums also came to this meet- ing with a position — no logging in Glade Creek watershed. Many people voiced this position, in many different ways. But the res- idents of Glade were only given the option of a Technical Com- mittee, a chance to discuss how the logging would take place

Beauty contests are as superficial as beauty itself

Dear Editor: RE: Castlegar writers who

recently tions, such as the writen, About how easily and cheaply you can expand! Others will state that our taxes are already too high. They do not believe the facts and figures, in ‘spite of what is obvious to anyone who can balance their own cheque book. They have not acquainted themselves with municipal budget information which is freely avail- able to all.

The difficult economic times we have faced since the mid 1980's has disillusioned many Canadians. Many no longer have faith in our economic future. We may have lost our normal optimism and have become anxious, cynical and resentful of the incursion of taxes into our pockets. However, let us not lose sight of opportunities when they are present.

Our City has a sound projected tax base from which we must rebuild much of our infrastructure, which includes present plans for our police facilities. Some of the items also on the agenda are the revitaliza- tion of our downtown, much -need- ed street and road repair and

and surely has to be done about our City Hall!

It is not time for us to leave the

recession reluctance behind us and

move with some

for the future of our community? Times are not so bad as to cease all growth and progress. If we allow ourselves to pay heed to some financial analysts and economic forecasters, no one would open a new business, float a loan, buy a home or vehicle or invest in the future. Castlegar has a better than average economic future. This is the time to up-grade, provide employment opportunities and get our economic climate back on a firmer footing.

We have recently seen our popu- lation expand with the influx of construction workers for the Celgar Expansion Project. From local reporting, it would seem that our crime rate has also increased. Although most construction work- ers are as family oriented as the general population, unfortunately not all of them are exemplary citi- zens.

No one is suggesting that we have too many police officers! There is definitely not room for them all in the present facilities on Columbia Avenue. Before you vote, go check it out for yourself and vote yes! On 17 October. It is the season to be supportive of our pro- tectors.

Harcourt to blame for Miller fiasco

JIM NIELSEN

premier considered Mr. Miller to be top material for the forestry portfolio. Will they never learn?

I feel sorry for former Forests Minister Dan Miller. He was paraded before the media with his boss, Mike Harcourt, to confess that he had been in a conflict-of-interest position when he, as forests minister, transferred a forest licence to a company from which he was on a leave of absence. He was treated as one might treat a naughty child. Miller should consider his future What respect he may have commanded as a cabi-

net minister is lost forever. We are far more sensitive to

career.

es of more

conflict-of-interest than we once were. The Van- der Zalm scandal made us very aware of the dan- gers. Why wouldn't any premier understand you do not appoint a person to a cabinet position which involves matters which are part of that per- sons past or present? It is Mike Harcourt who should have been given a three-month suspension.

Dan Miller was a millwright and barker/chip- per operator before being elected as an MLA With that connection to the forest industry, the

Do not appoint a doctor as Minister of Health, nor a teacher as Minister of Education, nor a social worker as Minister of Social Services. and on and on and on. No one can separate them- selves from their background, training or from narrow-minded prejudices picked up during any

We do not expect a Minister of Health to per- form surgery nor a Minister of Mines to dig for coal. It is angued by some that a minister should have a personal knowledge of the portfolio. The dge the better — but there is no rea- son to prevent any lay person from acquiring enough knowledge to interrelate with experts within the public service, and with the public.

And what may I ask is a three-month suspen- sion? The Conflict-of-Interest Act permits the

be reasonable to have the minister stand in the comer for 10 minutes or so.

Had I been in Miller's position I would have insisted the news conference be attended only by me. No need to have the boss around for his political benefit. Take the bad news as a mature adult and step down with your head high accept- ing the reality of serving in public life. If given a

second chance later, so much the better.

to make a rang- ing from a reprimand to the member’s seat being declared vacant. In between, there can be a sus- pension or a fine. A person is either in cabinet or not in. I suppose if the conflict is minor, it would —_ or — think.

Ted Hughes, the Conflict-of-Interest Commis- sioner, felt Miller should have known his actions could at some time benefit him. Hughes there- fore found the former minister to be in conflict Just as in the Vander Zalm case, there was no need to wait for Mr. Hughes’ decision to under- stand there was at least the appearance of con- flict. Miller and Harcourt should have realized that. Better, Harcourt should have protected his minister by not assigning them posts which could result in a conflict-of-interest.

It is reported Miller was warned by an aide back in July that there could be a conflict-of- interest problem. Sometimes you should listen,

Post secondary education is a right, not a luxury

“GORDON ‘WILSON

The contrasting headlines in a newspaper this week were startling: on one page a Caption proclaimed that the Federal Consti- tutional Referendum is likely to cost taxpayers more than $150 mil- lion. On the opposite page, a story detailed the problems students are facing trying to obtain post sec- ondary education in British Columbia.

It made me think. Here we have federal and provincial govern- ments that are willing to spend millions of taxpayers’ money on a constitutional referendum that amounts to little more than a pub lic opinion poll: no legal text to vote on, no guarantee the oulcome is binding, and no promise that changes will not be made after the referendum. Meanwhile, our edu cation system is cash starved, hav ing suffered through years of chronic under-funding. Intelligent and qualified youth are being turned away from colleges and

universities to face unemployment in a very uncertain job market.

Post secondary education is not a luxury, it is a right. The days when a high school certificate was enough to guarantee employment are long gone. Today's labor mar- ket is demanding a highly skilled workforce, and young people need a well-rounded and balanced edu- cation. Traditionally, the work force was stable: you got a job while celebrating your high school graduation, and stayed there until you celebrated your retirement. Today's students know they are likely to switch jobs, and even careers, many times and they want to be prepared

The number of students turned away from B.C.’s colleges and universities has grown to an alarm- ing figure; this year close to 12.000 applicants were turned away. Today, when politicians and business leaders are consumed by the phrase and notion of our ‘abili- ty to compete in the global market- place’, we are condemning ourselves and this province to a

state of always being behind, tag- ging along and trying to catch up to our better trained and more pro- ductive competitors. We must act now to remedy what Could become a crisis situation.

Since 1986, the enrollment fig- ures for the three major universities have changed dramatically. Six years ago, all students who met the minimum requirements for admis- sion to general arts studies were accepted. In fact, there were still unfilled spaces after all who had applied were admitted. Unfortu- nately this year the student appli- cants were not so lucky. More than 3,300 students who met minimum university requirements were refused admission, an increase of 40 per cent over last year. These students are now left scrambling to try to find other post secondary education, or even tougher, a job.

The Liberal Caucus has received many letters from both students and parents concerning the lack of space in B.C.'s post-secondary institutions. One very sad letter came from a parent in Duncan,

be

whose child had been assured by her academic advisor she would be accepted at either UBC or UVic, as her marks were quite good. In early May, she received notice she had been refused early acceptance due to the sheer volume of applicants In a panic she dpplied to both Malaspina and Camosun College on Vancouver Island to try to ensure a place for the fall academic session. In the end, she was reject- ed at all four institutions. Thank- fully, she applied at Dalhousie University in Halifax, where she was accepted.

It is a sad day indeed when young British Columbians must move outside of their home Province to further their educa- tion. When these students leave, British Columbia loses a poten- tially valuable contributor to the future economic strength of our Province. The provincial govern- ment must ensure that post sec- ondary education :. adequately funded. Education 1s not a waste of money, it is an investment in the province's futur:

d the fact that we didn’t get a major float down to North- port, WN for the beauty queen Parade.

The reason Castlegar didn't lay out funds to flaunt the small- town royalty at the parade in Northport is because Canada is just a bit more progressive than the states in these matters.

We don't fund beauty contests so much anymore. (We provide medical care.) We generally try our best to help young women, whether they are fat, thin, have birthmarks on their faces or knobby knees. We help them to enter domains where they can build a good life for themselves and better the world outside.

Perhaps some social skills are learned by a select few who don a white gown and wave at the masses. But far more serious work is possible when women can enter as equals and work seri- ously in all the professions.

Beauty contests are as superfi- cial as beauty itself.

Besides, riding in the back of a pick-up was always a hoot. I'd be the proud Canadian who qui-

More information needed

Dear Editor:

In the October 3, 1992 issue of the Castlegar News, Ron Nor- man in his comments from the Crossroads reminds me of a statement by another famous or as the case may be infamous Ron, “Well, there you go again”.

This is the second time that our illustrious writer once again reports what he calls the facts and not only attacks an organiza- tion that has been working for the good of the community but an individual as well.

Should Mr. Norman want any information about how Mr. Green was chosen by CURB, all he had to do was pick up the tele- phone (that’s the little box that most of us have either sitting on a desk or hanging on the wall) and give me a call and ask what ever he wanted to know. Now, Ron, I know that you know

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PS. Next time you visit North- port, let it be to help clean up the Columbia River.

Barbara Murdoch

Was anyone listening?

Local MLA's Ed Conroy and Corky Evans were at the Glade meeting too, which is commend- able. But they provided no com fort to the residents with their position: “We need the Glade residents and Ministry officials to get together in a Committee to discuss how to do this proposed logging right. We have to cut trees in watersheds now because all other areas have been cut over already.” Corky Evans ran down a list of other communities that also faced logging in their water- sheds. Was anyone listening to the pleas for “no logging” in those areas?

ATCO Lumber representatives

were also at the meeting, but they didn't provide much comfort to the residents of Glade. T hey wouldn't say whether the small cutblocks proposed would be all the logging in Glade Creek watershed, or just the beginning Of course, they weren't responsi- ble for the decision to log there either.

There was alot of talk of responsibility who was responsible for the logging deci- sion, who is responsible for policing the activities of the log. ging companies? The definition of “responsibility” is “to be

answerable or accountable, the ,

ability to meet obligations or duties.” Seems like no one at the

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meeting wanted to be responsible for the decision to log in Glade Creek watershed. Can we expect

from logging?

age to the water supply results

anyone to be responsible if dam- See GLADE

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