Ad - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January %, 2UUZ * TERRACE. -- STANDARD ESTABLISHED APRIL 27, 1988 PUBLISHER: ROD LINK ADDRESS: 3210 Clinton Street Terrace, B.C, * V8G 5R2 TELEPHONE: (250) 638-7283 * FAX: (250) 638-8432 WEB: www.terracestandard.com EMAIL: standard@kermode.net Huge gamble MORE THAN anything else, controversy sur- rounding health care doomed the New Demo- cratic Party in the north in its last years in power. Angry doctors and nurses, closed beds, budget deficits and the feeling nobody was listening all combined for doom on election day in May 2001. The B.C. Liberals promised health care “where you need it, when you need it” and they’ve now embarked upon a huge gamble by dissolving local health councils made up of volunteers with super-boards of appointed people. The knock against local health councils was that they never had the money or the power to deliver an adequate amount of health care. In the north- west, criticism was aimed at the inability of those local health councils to get along and to make de- cisions for the betterment of the entire region by portioning out money and resources in a rational manner. All that is now gone. There are no more geo- graphical boundaries, no more bureaucratic bar- tiers and no more, at least in theory, community rivalries. We now have the Northern Health Au- thority, based in Prince George, with a budget of $271 million. It’l] get two things from the pro- vince, performance standards it will be expected to meet along with money to make it happen. It is, as the new people in charge admit, very much a corporate style — here’s the money, here : are the orders, go do it. The B.C. Liberals say this will give the new au- thorities the flexibility and decision making power that is now lacking. There’ll be no more going to the provincial government for permis- sion to buy equipment, introdtice’new services:or |. to make changes. It’ll all be up to the authority. It is something we’ve all said we’ve wanted for years — control of our own budgets and control to make our own decisions, It is, at the same time, a - Shield for the province for whatever unpopular decisions that may await, particularly if there’s a _ lack of dollars. The province won’t be making those decisions, the new authority will. If you have a problem, go to the authority. This is where the Liberal gamble will work or fail. If this is to be a business-like organization working through contracts signed with the pro- vincial government that supplies the money, how does the public fit into this? What influence will we have for health care in our own communities? How will we get involved in defining “where you need it, when you need it”? Will the Northern Health Authority sign ac- countability contracts with communities? While removing any semblance of local control in favour of a corporately-driven enterprise de- signed to do what is needed just may be the ticket when it comes to health care, But if that ticket is- just one-way, the B.C. Liberals better beware - come the next election. PUBLISHER/ EDITOR: Rod Link ADVERTISING MANAGER: Brian Lindenbach PRODUCTION MANAGER: Edouard Credgeur NEWS: Jeff Nagel | NEWS/SPORTS Sarah Zimmerman NEWS/COMMUNITY: Jennifer Lang FRONT OFFIGE: Darlenc Keeping & Carol McKay CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR: Terri Gordon ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS: Mark Beaupre & Stacy Swetlikotf TELEMARKETER: Stacy Swellikoff DARKROOM/COMPOSING: Susan Credgeur AD ASSISTANT: Sandra Stefanik SUBSCRIPTION RATES BY MAIL: $55.15(+$3.86 GST) per year; Seniors $48.85 (+$3.42 GST); Out of Province $61.98 (494.34 GST) Outside of Canada (6 months) $152.34 (+$10.66 GST) MEMGER OF B.C. AND YUKON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION, CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION 200) WINNER CCNA BETTER NEWSPAPERS COMPETITION CNA “nt Serving tha Terrace and Thomhlll atea. Published on Wednesday of each week at 3210 Clinton Strat, Tairace, British Columbia, VaG 5R2; : Stories, photographs, Illustrallons, designs and typesiytes In the Tarrace Standard ate the paparty of the copyright holders, Including Cariboo Press (1969) Lid., its illustration repro services and advertising agencies. - Reproduction in whele of lo part, wilhout witlen pemmission, Is specifically prohibited. Aulhorized aa second-class malt pending the Post Office Dapartmerit, for payment of postage in cash, Special thanks to ali our contributors and correspondents ~_ os, for thelr time and.talents.. . AND B.C. PRESS COUNCIL (waww.bepresscounc!!.org) Yet another mistake by the NDP VICTORIA - A couple of days ago, | finally managed to get hold of my friend, Corky Evans, You could do worse in your choice of friends. Like Cyril Shelford, who died a couple of weeks ago, Corky was a poli- tician who gave politics a good name. Is been my good fortune that amongst the parade of po- liticians whose contribution to our society I have chronicled during my 40 years in the newspaper business, a few be- came good friends, Cyril was one of them. Corky is another. I don’t know what it is that draws me to certain politi- cians. In the four decades [ have been busy on the fringes of politics as an observer and commentator, I have met scores of good people. Public disdain for politi- cians notwithstanding, I have found most of them to be hon- ourable and hard-working people, determined to serye -the- people who elected them. That goes for politicians of all Stripes. Some, however, stand out, Cyril certainly did. Not a bad bone in his body. , Of old pioneer stock, Cyril Teally wanted nothing but to give back to the province that was his home. Although of an - Opposing political philosophy, Corky is in the same league as Cyril. STUDENTS WHO get away with smoking pot on school property or within the bubble zone gloat about pulling the waol over a principal's eyes. But they may not realize since September 11 they’re also handcuffing their future travels, education, and em- ployment opportunities. The terrorism attack on New York City changed many things, most notable airline security, America tightened airline security until even those whose flights touch down on U.S, soil only an hour or two for refuelling are affec- ted, Prior to the Twin Trade To- wers altack, passengers aboard planes stopping for refuelling weren’t subjected to U.S. cus- toms and immigrations clear- ance, Now they are. And if there’s a drug con- _ Viction in your past, you could lose your prepaid flight and be sent back to Canada. One 29-year-old returning to New Zealand was refused entry to a Hawaii airport trans- it lounge for a mere two-hour stop-over. Because he had been convicted of possessian FROM THE CAPITAL. HUBERT BEYER Born in the States, Corky (what his dad called him) whose full name is Conrad St. George Evans emigrated to Canada not, as is sometimes reported, to dodge the draft, but because he believed that the Canadian way of life was closer to his expectations. His father was steeped in the American trade union tra- dition, which made him a na- tural for interest in the New “Democratic Party" 91h» When Corky was first elec- ted in 1991, as MLA for the interior riding of Nelson- Creston, the first thing that Struck me was his unassuming nature. He would speak from the heart, inside and outside the legislative assembly. When he was appointed minister of agriculture, it oc- curred to me that something strange was going on when the THROUGH BIFOCALS. CLAUDETTE SANDECKI of hash oil for the purpose of trafficking when he was 20, he was sent back to Canada and lost his $2100 ticket. He must pay for another trip, using a route that doesn’t touch down in a U.S. state. He wasn’t the only one re- fused clearance. Another pas- Senger on the same flight was sent back to Canada because of his drug record. He lost both his ticket and his prepaid driving holiday. His dollar loss was five or six limes that of the New Zealander’s, staff of the legislative dining room, who had strict orders to call anyone by the las! name, would say, “Hello Mr. Beyer,” but resort to a cheery, “hi Corky,” when the minister ar- rived. OK, so Corky is a populist, but one who will quate Plato, Aristotle and Kant at the drop of a hat. When then premier Mike Harcourt resigned under the weight of the Bingogate scan- dal, with which he had absolu- tely nothing to do, Corky ran for the leadership. Unfortunately the NDP in- stead chose a young a brash Glen Clark, who had cut his teeth as one of the pil bulls in the legislature when the New Democrats were in opposition. When Clark resigned, Corky threw his hat in the ring once more. This time, he was a serious contender. The party was at a cross roads, badly mauled by what was widely perceived as‘ years of failure “and “bad ‘government under’ Clark. - - “Had common sense pre- vailed, Corky would have be- come the leader of the NDP and, by default premier, but a funny thing happened on the way to the premier’s office. Ujjal Dosanjh, the attorney general, East Indian by birth, managed to turn the leadership race into an assertion of Cana- da’s multiculturalism. One ont coud Tun yourlie” Imagine, $12,000 down the drain for a confiscated ticket. Thal amount is probably sev- eral times the fine he paid for his drug conviction. Recently Terrace RCMP scooped nine students in a noon-hour sweep for pot smok- ing on school grounds or in the bubble zone. Each student will be suspended from school for five days (no doubt a treat and a badge of honour in their eyes), must write a letter of apology to the school and per- form community service in the school. Police warned the students if caught again, they will be charged. If charged and con- victed, the tougher American security rule could restrict their travel and vacation desti- nations throughout the rest of their lives. Long before September 11, Canadians convicted of a drug- related offence were turned back at the U.S, border. In fu- ture, if drug users succeed and grow up to be owners and pi- lots of their own airplanes, the new tougher airline security would refuse them landing pri- vileges at all U.S. airports, GEEHAL! You NevERy OPvFevtaat | (f ENEN TRIED TO , BEAT ME?! Corky didn’t have a chance, as busload after busload of East Indians arrived at the conven- tion to cast their ballot for what was to become the first Indo- Canadian premier in Canadian history, Ujjal is a nice guy, but he didn’t get the nod by totally kosher means. Most of the de- legates who were mass-drafted and voted for him have long since disappeared. Ujjal. is gone and so is the NDP. Electing Dosanjh as leader was the worst mistake the NDP could have made. Had they opted for Corky in- stead, the last election would have been a different ballgame. He would have presented the public with not a different message but a different vision. Messages are hype, created for politicians who stay “inside the box.” ; Visions are something someone can make you believe in. Corky has that gift. My guess is that had! Corky -became leader of: the- NDP: he would have led 10 to 12 NDP members back to the legisla- ture, instead of the two that now constitute the unofficial opposition. And that would have been good for the democratic pro- cess. Beyer can be reached at: E-mail: hubert@coolcam,com; Tel (250) 381-6900; Web http: /fwww.hubertbeyer.com Without a mid-flight refuel- ling stop, they’d need a plane with a monstrous fuel tank to over-fly all of the U.S. on their way to Mexico of South Amer- ica. Their scope of education and employment are both shrunk by the tighter security. Engineers eying M.I.T. compu- ter whizzes longing to work in California’s Silicon Valley, ac- tors or musicians dreaming of becoming stars in Hollywood or New York. All hopes dashed, Dashed by a few minutes worth of follow-the-leader stu- pidity. Would they jump off a cliff because a peer did? Would they lie in the middle of Highway 16 with their eyes closed and expect traffic to zoom around them hecanse some other nut did? 1 would hope not. Before any teen tags behind his or-her peers and smokes pot anywhere, he or she should re- member two things: No friend would encourage the use of drugs, And being high for one lunch hour could lower oppor- tunities throughout a lifetime. Hu COMET ING. + Dar eRENT si QOUdA/ niet SOUTA !