A6 Terrace Review — Wednesday, May 2, 1990 ‘There they go During the period last summer while the B.C. Nurses’ Union was on strike, it became increasingly apparent that Terrace was exempt in some. ways from the hospital staffing problems coming to light in other areas of the province. The picket lines were quiet and peaceful to a point that could nearly be described as idyllic, management and striking staff cooperated to keep medical care in Mills- Memorial Hospital wards at an adequate level, and Terrace seemed isolated. from all the fireworks that were going off elsewhere. - Even so, at that time local BCNU reps said the provincial nurse shortage would grow worse and eventually make itself known here, particularly if the BCNU didn’t achieve its objectives in a collective agreement, Well, here we are.. Last summer the only nursing staff problem was a shortage of casual workers. Although nurses at MMH were working consider- | able overtime because of that, full-time staff vacancies were rare and that situation was attributed to good management-staff relations. There have been changes in the upper management at the hospital since then, but it is probable that the five apparently unfillable vacancies in the nursing staff would have occurred anyway. News reports out of the lower mainland recently have shocked many people with their tales of people dying due to long waits for critical surgery; other reports tell of patients being sent to Washington or Alberta for the same reasons. By all accounts the delays are caused by bed closures, which occur because there aren’t enough nurses. These problems seem remote to us, taking place down there in the urban congestion, but the people who are suffering in fact come from communities like ours and any one of us or our friends or relatives could be the next patient sent out, too late, to a bordering province or state. - The B.C. government, in time-honored fashion, has struck a Royal Commission to examine the health care system, and the commission is expected to focus strongly on how the system is financed. We can expect to see many of the same issues. that ‘were prominent during the nurses’ strike unearthed again, but this time by an independent fact-finding commission rather than by iwo hostile bargaining teams. It’s been nearly a year since the Strike, and the forecasts of shortages and nurses leaving the profession are coming true. We have to wonder if an examination of the health care system in isolation will yield any results other than the conclusion that the system is very expensive. We already know that, but expens- ive in relation to what? Perhaps we should be looking at other _ areas of expenditure by government and asking how important those are compared to a well-run, universal medical: care plan. It’s the function of the government as a: whole that. should be. under question in this commission. NWORRUS? ' the extreme. Second-class mall registration No. 6896, All material appoaring in the Terrace Review is protected under Canadian copyright Reglstra- thon No. 362775 and cannot legally be repro- duced for any reason without permission of the publisher. Errore and omissions. Adverlising is accepted an the condition that tn the ovent of typographical error, that portion of the advertis- ing Space occupled by the erroneous item will not be charged for, but the balance of the adver- tisemeni wil) be pald for at the applicable rate. 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Dosanjh One year subscriptions: In Canada $24.00 Out of Canada $50.00 Seniors In Terrace and District $12.00 Seniors out of Terrace and Diatrict $18.00 The view from Victoria — by John Pifer: VICTORIA — It’s time for - some careful and objective discussion about the tempest ‘surrounding. the REAL Women ‘controversy which erupted last week. Perhaps the most sad, most disturbing thing about the . whole affair is that so many of the Social Credit Cabinet and caucus appear honestly not to comprehend what all the fuss i is about. True, some of them agree that much of the vitriolic dia- : tribe against homosexuals, AIDS sufferers and feminists in the REAL letter to its‘ members is offensive, perhaps even in True, some of them agree that it is ‘“‘unfortunate’’ that the strident material was sent out by the tourism ministry ~ through a worthwhile program which is designed to show off the province to convention delegates from across the coun- try and around the world. But some of them say that to scrutinize any outside material, being mailed in taxpayers’ envelopes carrying stamps paid ‘for by taxpayers’ money, would be ‘‘censorship’’. Well excuse me, but that’s not the point. What is at issue is the responsibility which is required by any minister of the Crown - to ensure that his or her department is not disseminating hate literature or the like. Imagine the sight of the government of B.C. being haul- ed before a court under federal laws or human rights legisla- “tion, simply because it did not ‘ seview printed material it was dispensing free! The legal implications of. . adopting the stance taken by |» Tourism Minister Cliff "What is at issue is the responsibility which is required by any minister of the Crown to ensure that his or her department i is snot disseminating hate literature..." a ‘Michael, and by Premier Bill Vander Zalm are frightening. Not the most intellectually- | gifted member of Cabinet by a fong chalk, Mr. Michael not only admitted that there is no screening process, but he failed to comprehend the danger of violating the laws of the land. And the premier ducked the question of law, too, repeatedly telling reporters: ‘‘I refuse to “ bea party to censorship.”’ That is commendable, I am sure; but if extremists from the Aryan Nation or Hitler Youth: or Marxist Leninist groups de- cided to hold a ‘‘convention’’ in B.C., would any of their literature which preaches hate be passed along blindly and quietly by Mr. Michael and Co.? I have read the rambling, narrow-minded, 12-page message from REAL Women’s B.C. president, and yes, | find it to be offensive, frightening and sadly sick. Opposition MLA Dale _ Levick said in the House that it indeed was ‘‘hate literature... and racist.”’ He added: ‘‘When I am ac- cused of suggesting that there is perhaps a similarity between the Ku Klux Klan and this group... | must answer that based on the evidence in the “document, yes indeed there is.’’ To agree in print with Mr. Lovick without the protection of the Legislature would be in- . viting legal trouble of my own; suffice to say I found his com- | ments incisive. There is one other aspect of. the REAL Women document : which begs comment. President Peggy Steacy reminds members that the group took “a leadership role ‘in supporting the Premier dur- ing ‘the troubles’, and attended the various rallies to encourage: - him to stay.” One might point out that Ms. Steacy (who will simply hate being called Ms.) and her. husband Charles were (coin- cidentally I am sure) two of . Mr. Vander Zalm’s Richmond - delegates to the Socred leader- ship convention in 1986, One might point out the ‘other coincidence which has the REAL delegates taking tea at Fantasy Gardens, the Premier’s and Miz Lillian’s religious theme park. One might also point out that Mr. Vander Zalm would not condemn the content of the letter, telling reporters it was no story, and that the media was at fault for pursuing it. - And one therefore could hardly be blamed for wonder- ing if the views expressed by Ms. Steacy are in fact sup- ported wholeheartedly by their idols, the Vander Zalms. Frankly, I don’t doubt it for a moment. Parting Thought: The best quip of the week, and one which is very tough to argue with suggests that having Cliff Michael in charge of “damage control’? when the excrement hits the revolving blades, i is like placing Donald .Trump in charge of teaching how to con- trol your.ego. - a a