Dave MacKinnon

rapre-
sented the British Columbla
Government Employees’
Union at the NDP Task
Force meating.

16. Terrace Review — Wednesday, Feb. 19, 19

86

‘

Bam svenaneses re

The NOP Task Force on Race Relations and Human Rights recelved 10 briefs from Nor-

thwest organizations during a recent hearing at the Happy Gang Center. Panel
members are (left to right), Linda Les, moderator from the Terrace and District
Multicultural Society; Michiko Lambertson, member of the Vancouver Island Human
Rights Coalition; Emery Barnes, MLA for Vancouver Centre; and Charan Gill, president
of the B.C, Organization to Fight Racism.

Groups address human rights

TERRACE — ‘‘Racism
is alive and well in B.C.”’

This comment, from
Alberto Rodriguez from
the B.C. Human Rights
Coalition in Kitimat, was

echoed repeatedly at the -

recent hearings of the
NDP Task Force on
Race Relations and
Human Hights. The

public forum, held at the
Happy Gang Centre,
heard briefs

from 10

Alberto Rodriguez, delegate
from the Kitimat Human
Rights Coalltlon, asserted
that “racism is alive and
well In B.C.” at the NOP
Task Force hearings on
race relations and human
rights held recently In Ter-
race.

organizations over a
period of seven hours.

by Michael Kelly
Staff Reporter

The dismantling of the
Human Rights Branch
by the provincial govern-
ment in 1983 was severe-
ly criticized in nearly all
the presentations. Rod-
riguez stated that, in re-
moving the branch and
replacing it with, what he
estimated as the under-
staffed and less powerful
Human Rights Council,
the present provincial
government has tended
to play a role in the
“racist attitudes which
are so common.”’

Viola Thomas, repre-
senting the Kermode
Friendship Society,
stated that many native
people are ‘‘struggling
for survival and are
unable to go through the
formal complaint pro-
cedure,”’ and added that
racial discrimination is
‘“‘accepted as part of
life.”

The strained economic
climate in B.C, was also
blamed for the presence
of discrimination. Rod-
riguez argued that ethnic
and racial minorities and

people on government
income assistance are
‘seen as a burden to the
already weakened eco-
nomic system, instead of
the end result of a system
and a government that
has failed to provide
equal rights and eco-
nomic equality to all in-
dividuals.’’ Panel
member Emery Barnes
commented, ‘Anxiety
over employment creates
the growth conditions
for racism.”’

Education needed

Alfred Frazer, repre-
senting the Terrace Mul-
ticultural Association,
called for the establish-
ment of a provincial
Ministry of Miulticul-
turalism. The need for
such an agency was also
emphasized in the briefs
presented by Rodriguez
and the Kermode Friend-
ship Society. It was
generally agreed that the
functions of a multicul-
tural branch of govern-
ment would involve
mandatory affirmative
action, education of
public workers such as
teachers, RCMP, Minis-
try of Human Resources
staff, Canada Employ-
ment Centre counsellors
and private sector
employers, and -media
and advertising cam-
paigns to educate the
general public. Frazer
also asserted that the
Ministry would have to
be staffed primarily by
representatives of
minority groups.

The task force heard
several appeals for the
return of the rentalsman.
Joanne Peters asserted
that the Kermode
Friendship Society had
undertaken plans for
construction of a native
housing project partially
in response to discrimi-
natory practices among
some Terrace landlords.
Emery Barnes replied
that the NDP “would
endorse the return of the
rentalsman and the
Human Rights Branch;
the philosophy of the
present government
seems to be that if you
get rid of the complaints
you get rid of the prob-
lem.’’

Human Rights

Task force member
Charan Gill added that
“the removal of the
Human Rights Branch
effectively destroyed the
structure for registration
of formal complaints.”’

The curtailment of
funding for legal aid in
B.C. was singled out
several times as being an
additional obstacle to en-

2 “s ae i

Nia,

Usk resident, Tom Brophy,
presented an antl-abortion
brief to the panel.

is i *
rr a ae
Hh we 3 3

PR ola!

forcement of the Human
Rights code,

Walter Taylor and Pat
Moss of the Smithers
Human Rights Society
proposed that the resolu-
tion of aboriginal land
claims could have a satis-
factory and beneficial ef-
fect on both native and
non-native peoples. ‘‘A
creative resolution of
land claims will contrib-
ute to future high quali-
ty, low impact develop-
ment,’’ their brief
argues, and went on to
warn that ‘Seven short-

term profits will soon
come to an end if we
continue to scoff at the
inviolable laws of
ecology.” The brief also
pointed out that the con-
cept of communal rights,
a cultural fixture in
native societies, deserves
consideration as well as
individual rights.

Commitment
wanted

BCGEU president
Dave McKinnon called
for a new human rights
act which would ‘‘put
legislation in place to
form an enabling tool
that people can pick up
and use, regardless of
which party is in
power.’’ .

At the conclusion of
the Kermode Friendship
Society’s brief, Viola
Thomas challenged the
task force by saying,

‘We want a commit-
ment in terms of
action.’’ Speaking for
the task force, Emery
Barnes acknowledged
that complete implemen-
tation of the panel's fin-
dings would only be
‘possible if the NDP
forms the next provincial
government. He added,
however, ‘‘This is not an
exercise in academic ex-

perience; we are talking
about real people’s
lives.”?

Jackie’s Column

THE NUTRIENT AGE

Q: As I was frowing up.
there was very little (alkkabout
“nutrition. Now. more

discussion is devoted to
nutrients. Exactly what are
(hey?

A: Nutrients, like gas in a
car, keep your body running
In good condition. Your body
can adapt to a poor diet, bul It

will not be as healthy, and can
be moresusceptible to iliness.

Although the word
nutrient may sound unfamil-
lar, fats, protelns, carbohy-
drates. vitamins, minerals.
and water (all nutrients) are
terms that are widely used.

Your nutritional requtre-
ments will vary according to
age, sex, weight and physical
activity. If you are skipping
meals, you can become
undernourished, Peopleoften
belleve they are eating well
bul are actually deficient in
one or more nutrients.
Fatigue. trritability or
depression are all signs of an
Inadequate diet.

Good nutrition doesn't just
happen. It requires aware-
ness. Knowledge and
planning. Contact your Diet
Center Counselor at 638-8380
for other valuable informna-
(lon and advice.

OHM ALINE LOS 4
eo

. inthe Ferrace

Mini Mail
638-8380

ST

ey
Tex "GCO Se

Coming Events

Thursday, Feb. 20 — Annual general meeting of
the Terrace Public Library Assoc.will be held at
7:30 In the !Ibrary meeting room. Elections to the
board of trustees will take place and nominations
for these positions will be accepted from the
floor. Refreshments will be served.

Thursday, Feb. 20 = ‘Love on the Run’ by Fran-
cols Truffaut witl be shown at 8 p.m. It is the 2nd
film in the Paciflc Cinematique extension tour,
presented by the Reel World and NWCC.
Subscription tickets to the series will be on sale at
a discounted price. Please note we have a loca-
tion change for this evening only. The film will be
shown Inthe Art Gallery. Please note: We have an
earller screening at 4 p.m. In the Learning
Resource Centre of NWCC on the same day.

Friday, Feb. 21 — RAlck Hansen Benefit Dance, '
Thornhill Community Centre. All proceeds go to
(Rick Hansen) Spinal Cord Research. Four local
bands will be appearing — Fox, Borderline, One of
Each and One Step Beyond. Many local
businesses have donated prizes so there will be
prize glyveaways every hour. Tickets are on sale at
Sight and Sound, Kelly's Stereo Mart, Dr. Green-
woods office, and Terrace Travel. For further Info,
contact Tammy, 635-4227 or Gall at 638-0506.

Saturday, Feb. 22 — Registrations are now baling
taken for the “Women in Working Cooperatives”
workshop which will take place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
Kermode Friendship Centre, sponsored by Ter-
race Women’s Resource Centre. For more infor-
mation ph. 638-0228, 12 to 4 p.m., or leave your
phone number on the centre’s answering machine
and we wiil get back to you.

Monday, Feb. 24 — Terrace Coffeehouse presents
Stephen Fearing in a dinner concert at Don
Diego's. Ph. Lorl Merrill, 635-9533 or Greg Frezell,
638-8623 for more information.

Monday, Feb. 24 — Dinner Concert with Stephen

Fearing at 6 p.m. at Don Diego’s. Tickets $12.50

advance, $14 at the door If avall. Presented by the

Terrace Coffeehouse. Come and enjoy an evening

of folee and gultar while feasting on a Mexican
uffet.

Tuesday, Feb. 25 — Terrace Group for Nuclear
Disarmament is presenting a slide show and
discussion of the trip made last summer by Ter-
race aldermen George Clark and Fred MacDonald
to the 1st Annual Inter-City Peace Conference in
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. This event starts
at 7:30 p.m. in the Terrace Library basement. After
the slide show plans will be made and a commit-
tee set up to organize the 5th Annual Terrace
Peace Walk, to take place in April. Everyone in-
terested in the cause of world peace and disarma-
ment Is encouraged to attend. For further Info, ph.
Danie! Ignas 635-4836.

Feb. 28 deadiine — B.C. Festival of the Arts, entry
forms tor jurled shows are avall. at the Terrace
Publlc Library.

Feb. 27, 28 & Mar. 1 — In conjunction with the B.C.
Winter Games, a Winter Games Craft Sale is be-
ing organized. All crafts people are urged to come
and display and sell their work and show the peo-
ple of B.C. the talent In our area. Anyone in-
terested, please ph. 635-9960.

Feb. 28, March 1 — Terrace Youth Soccer Assoc.
is holding registration at the Skeena Mall 1
weekend only: Friday, Feb. 28th, 5 to 9 p.m. and
Saturday, Mar. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Boys and
girls born In 1968 to, and including 1979, are allgi-
ble. Photocopies of birth certificates are required
for all players born in 1975 and all older players
who have not previously registered. For further in-
fo, ph. Don Highe, 635-7562, Mike Brady, 638-1884
or George Bujtas 635-3719.

Sunday, Mar. 2 — Lauria Thain in concert, 2 p.m.
at the R.E.M. Lee Theatre. This Is a benefit concert
in ald of the Terrace Little Theatre. Tickets at
$4.00 avail. at Carters Jewellers, or $5.00 at the
door.

Saturday, Mar. 8 — The.parents of All Seasons
Pup Reps are sponsoring a dance at the arena.
This fund raiser will assist the team with travelling
expenses to a major provincial tournament to be
held Apr. 3 to 6 In Langley. Music is provided by
Bad Manners and a midnight lunch will be served.
Tickets avall. from Sharon Larmour 635-3161 and
Katle Nixon 635-5887 or any team parent. Sorry,
no minors.

Saturday Mar. 15 — Terrace Royal Bank staff Is
holding a Benefit Dinner and Dance at the Elk’s
Hall to ralse money for the purchase of diagnostic
equipment for B.C. Children's Hospital. A talent
contest is belng planned and groups or In-
dividuals wishing to enter can obtain entry forms
at the Royal Bank, Terrace. Deadline is Mar. 1.
Prizas will be awarded in various categories.
Tickets can also be obtained at Royal Bank. For
further Information, ph Helen Mcinnes, 635-7117.

Saturday, Mar. 22 ~— Thornhill Primary Schoo!
Flea Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Thornhill Com-
munity Centre. Tables available. Ph. 635-7066.

en