MP settles into job
by calling for budget

ROOKIE SKEENA Al-

liance MP Andy Burton .

has joined other members

OF his caucus in demand-
ing the federal government
table a budget.

Although the federal
Liberals did retease- a
mini-budget last fall, just
prior to the election, a bet-
ter economic plan is now
needed, he says,

“It looks like an econo-
mic downturn is imminent
and we need a budget that
provides some tax relief,”
Burton said last week just
after the throne speech
signalled the opening of a
new parliamentary session.

He did concede that
last fall’s mini-budget did
introduce tax cuts which
took hold Jan, 1,

Still, Burton said the
Liberals must provide a
Spending and taxing plan
suitable for the coming
year, ,

Burton made his com-
ments just days after set-
thing into his MP?’s role in
Ottawa.

He’s hired one office
person, who also worked
for. predecessor Mike
Scott, but expects to hire

Burton

AS THE Canadian Al-
Hiance critie for Public
Works, Skeena MP Andy
Burton is the apposition’s
watchdog on a huge de-
partment.

Public Works employs
neatly 12,000 people and
delivers services and pro-
grams through offices
acrass Canada, as well as
in the United States and
Europe.

Its myriad tasks include

providing public service |

compensation, pension and
insurance services to fed-

eral departments and
agencies.
Through the provision of |

management consulting, |

accounting, assurance and

Andy Burton

another.

“You would not believe
the amount of paper that
flows here. I just can’t get
over it,” Burton commen-
ted.

He’s also learning new
ways in which to work and
last week, sent his first e-
mail.

Burton is the Alliance’s
critic for public works and

-has already been getting

anonymous brown enve-

lopes of information con-

cerning that portfolio.
What's interesting, Bur-

audit services on an optio-
nal, fee-for-service basis to
the government, Crown
corporations —~ and acca-
sionally provincial and
foreign governments — it
generates about $100 mil-
lion in business.

As the federal govern-
ment’s purchasing arm, it
deals with approximately .
50,000 contracts totalling -

- $8 billion annually — mak-'

ing it Canada’s largest ,
purchasing organization.

It disposes of all mov-
able, surplus Crown-owned |
assets worth about $40.

: million a year,

It manages and disposes
of seized property in con-

nection with criminal of- 7

; ton notes, is that the enve-

‘Jopes are arriving with his

name on them meaning
that peaple know who to
send information to if they
think there’s a problem
with public works.

As well as learning
more about his critic’s
portfolio, Burton spent
time preparing his maiden
speech to parliament.

He’l! be talking about
his riding and ils potential,

Because Burton is the
Alliance critic for public
works, he sits on the par-
liamentary committee
overlooking that area.

“t's a joint committee
with natural resources and
that’s exactly concerns the
tiding — fish, oil, gas,”
said Burton.

!
“There’s potential in:

Skeena for oil and gas and
mining has potential,” he
said.

“My focus will be on

the riding ~ how to make '

things happen.”
Constituents will also
be able to catch a glimpse

of Burton in Parliament —

because he sits behind and
just to the side of Alliance
leader Stockwell Day,

has a big job

fences — the net proceeds

are $10-§20 million per

year,

it acts as custodian for

approximately $6 billion

worth of Canadian govern-

ment real property hold- '
ings; houses moze than

160,000. public servants

across Canada; adminis- -

ters some 2,000 lease con-
tracts with annua} rents of
over $500 million; admin-

_ isters payments of more |
jthan $400 million in lieu-
‘of taxes to almost 2,000 '

Canadian municipalities;
and issues approximately
195 million Government of

Canada payments each —

year,

with thelr parents,

The twins’ mother chirped, "I thought we
_ could spend some quality time together. Come
on everyone, iets push the shopping cart!”

“It doesn't take 4 people to shop, Mom,” Rick

YOu BE THE June

A Crime of Chocolate Milk

“How can you embarrass us like this?”
Fourteen year old twins Rick and Jeffrey
moaned as they walked into the supermarket

BASED ON
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groaned. “This isn’t quality time, It's child abusel
What if someone sees us?”

Jeffrey appealed to his father. “Can't we just
hang out at the front of the store?”

“Well...l suppose so.”

Rick ran off with Jeffrey. “Let's chack out the
magazine rack.”

Rick reached for a copy af Video Games

while | read.”
Rick got the drink from the store fridge and
tumed to Jefirey. “Got any cash?”
: Jeffrey emptied his pockets. “i've got 16
Gents.”
Rick sighed. “Better put it back then.” He
tossed the carton to Jeffrey.
Jaffray tossed it back. “Stop fooling around,
Rick. The manager's glaring at us.”
The manager whispered to her assistant.
4. “Lat's kaep an aye on those boys.”
Rick went to put his carton back.
' The manager went right after to check the

. One of the chocolate milk cartons has bean
opened. And It's half empty!”

She ran altar Rick. “Hoy, kid! | want to talk to
you about that chocolate milk.”

Rick got flustered. “What?l | didn't do

anything.”

Monthly. ‘Hmmm...1 need some chocolate milk .

fridge. “Ah hahl | knew he was up to no good. .

The manager Ied Rick by the arm to the
office. “Did-you drink from that carton?”

Rick was getting very nervous. “No way!"

Jeffrey ran looking for their parents. “Mom,
Dadl They'’va taken Rick away!”

The parents rushed over to the manager's
office,

“Where's our son?” Rick’s mother asked.

The manager smiled. “Just a little misun-
derstanding. He's frae to go.”

Rick’s mother was outraged. “How dare
you drag my son into your office, We're suing
the store for false arrest!"

In court, Rick's mother argued furiously.
“Your Honour, tha manager took Rick away to
be questioned for na good reason. That's false
arrest, Just bacause he’s 4 kid doesn't mean a
supermarket should become a police state.”

The store manager argued back. “Rick was
acting suspiciously, Your Honour. After | found
the opened chocolate milk carton, it was per-
factly réasonable to ask him some questions. |
tack him to the offica to avoid embarrassing
him. | had an obligation to the store and tothe |
pubiic to keep the store safe."

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YOU! BE THE JUDGE - DECISION: “MR SUPERMARKET, pay Rick $500 In damages for false arrest,” heit
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"proof of a crime, But the manager didn't actually belleve Rick was the thief. Sha detained Rick In order to

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