Page A10 — Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 7, 1992 TO THE TERRACE STANDARD LETTERS My blood has been slowly com- ing to a boil ever since I read a news report (The Terrace Stan- dard, Sept. 16, 1992) of the meet- ing of the “Big Four’ - Safeway, Overwaitea, Kmart and Weool- worth with the economic advisory commission member Gerry Matiin, Essentially, this mecting was all about opening Terrace’s stores on Good Friday - the day many of us commemorate ihe agony and death our Lord Jesus suffered so that all could be saved. The motive is simply greed - they calf it profit. Remember, these are the same people who gave us Sunday shopping. The hundreds of millions of dollars of profits that the Big Four have taken out of the communities of B,C. have not all gone out of the province or out of the country. Some of that money has stayed here to pay for lawyers and lob- byists who defied the law and who took the matter of Sunday shopping to court. Clearly, this is another in- cidence of where money talks and, sadly, teaches our children that the laws can be defied. Our provincial and local politicians, including several churchgoers, murmured a protest and then meekly acquicsced. Now it’s business as usual on Sunday. No doubt the police miss that day of rest when the shoplifters and the drunks were forced to stay at home. Now the grinches that stole Sunday want to secularize the last purely holy day, For many, the other annual days of homage to Jesus the Messiah have degenerated into shopping sprees and pig-ouls with the retum to purely mythical pagan symbols. During the years when J] was an obnoxious agnostic - a practical atheist with contempt for any- thing Christian - I really was most at home on Christmas or Easter in places like Reno or Juarez where it is fun and profit 24-hours a day. Nevertheless, during my prodigal years the shut down of commercial activity on Good Fri- day often struck a dissonant chord in my vapid soul. When I was denied access to the padded comforts of a bar stool, my first MLA takes on the mayor Dear Sir: I must disagree with the inter- pretation given to the reasons for the Premier’s suspension of Dan Miller in ‘Mayor blasts Har- court’s suspension of Dan Mil- ler”, The Terrace Standard, Sept. 23, 1992. It is an interpretation I had heard from the Liberal opposition but they at Icast did not try to Te- late it to the constitutional issue. This government promised high ethical standards for politicians in the province. In the face of a clear unbiased ruling by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, . Ted Hughes, that a conflict. existed, the Premier had no option but to take action. There may be disagreement on the nature of the penalty meted out to the forest minister but swift action was taken and that is certainly an improvement over some of the antics of the past ad- ministration when confronted with conflicts of interest. This case will serve as a reminder to all of us, and the pub- lic will be better served for it. Since Mr. Hughes clearly stated that Miller was not motivated by personal interest and that the cor- rect decision was made, I am quiet sure that Dan Miller will survive as well, I am more disturbed by the mayer’s comment that people in office should be permitted to use that office to enhance their return to their previous employment. I, as one of ‘‘all these govern- ment people who are now MLA’s” have the option of returning to my former employ- ment through a provision of a col- lective agreement. If that were not the case, and I were to use my position as MLA to ensure my return or enhance my futures in my previous job, the public would have the right to question the objectivity of my de- cisions and my motivation for being in this office. IC giving politicians the licence to use their office to enhance their job prospects after they leave public office is the only way we can get anyone to mun for office as the mayor suggests, perhaps we would be better off without them. Miller’s situation is most un- fortunate but I take comfort in the knowledge that the Premier in- tends to apply high ethical stan- dards. Yours truly, Helmut Giesbrecht, MLA for Skeena Shopping wish boils his blood reaction was certainly anger at those ‘‘blue-nose Christian bigots’’. Beneath that was a remem- brance of Catholic Christians of my boyhood who stopped their work on farms and in shops, of- fices and stores to gather in church to relive that awful day when God showed his love for us through the sacrifice of his son, Jesus. It was the great commercial and military enterprise of the Roman Empire which actually nailed Christ to the cross but it was the religious leaders of that day who betrayed him because they wanted business as usual. As for me (and hopefully my family) I intend to as much as possible spend my dollars at places of business where my beliefs are respected. That will mean buying more food directly from the producer, buying more used goods and doing busincss with a mail order company which does not have outlets open on days which honor the Lord. Possibly, there will be a rem- nant who agree with me and will attempt to do likewise. No doubt - Christmas and Easter openings are on Santa’s wish list for the : Big Four. Lots of luck! Sincerely, Tom Brophy, Terrace, B.C. Self government Dear Sir: When we talk about inherent rights, distinct society, and sovereignty,. we talk about the land and resources. It’s stated that we lost our lan- guage and culture. Allow me to say that the First Nations people have suffered under the narrow ‘paternalism of the- Indian. ‘Act since 1876. No other Canadians were so systematically denied such funda- mental rights as the vote (until 1962) or rights to properly and oa loyment, Ei “Sages” Shaya? '“"No other group had their chil- dren systematically removed to residential schools where culture identity and language were destroyed, Our language and culture is very much awake and very strong and growing. , You see, native people are just as distinct. We are distinctly non- French as muchas we are dis- tinctly non-English. Twenty-one comprehensive claims by the First Nations of B.C. have been legally accepted for negotiation by the department of justice in Ottawa. Settlement will be tempered by good will and understanding on all sides of the 21 B.C. claims. Ten are in whole or in part here in is not a dream the north. Every interest im- aginable will be touched in some way by the settlements. So long as there is fair and open consultation, with the certainty of no expropriation, without com- pensation (to either side), we will find our way in the next few years to a new harmony and the inclusion of a new level of goverment — aboriginal self- goverment, Docsn’t sound like dreaming, does it, Sincerely, Peter Dennis Terrace, B.C. More info on deal needed Dear Sir: As the referendum question in- stvades every channel-of our media ..- 1 have to stop and wonder. What will we say to our children in 20 years? Yes side. ‘Son, I simply could not stand anymore talk on this tiresome subject so J voted yes.” No side. ‘‘Sweetheart, you don’t enjoy the same advantages as a man and because of the gen- der equality provision for our new Senate I had to vote ‘no’ just to teach Mike and Moe a les- son!”? a comunittee. Applications for registration as a This point of view is absurd. There are plenty of points in this document I find troublesome to cause concem. Seven provinces making up 50 per cent of our population served us for over 125 years as a means of changing the BNA Act Voting for this new agreement means we now require 100 per cent consent to change the make~ up of Parliament, Senate, and the Supreme court, Using one rep for 70,000 popu- lation the House of Commons would grow to 400 members. Let us pick a number, plus or minus 5 re cent, that we can all live with. No special deals. No double. majorities. Premier ‘Happy Face’’ seems to have vanished from the planet. Prime Minister “Byron Muldoon” is dropping expensive fears in Quebec at the moment and his wife ‘‘Imelda’’ is selling shoes in Montreal! Folks, it’s time to know more about this deal! Ron Town Terrace, B.C, ho must re oister — AS a referendum comimince? Under the federal Referendum Act, any person or group that intends to spend over five thousand dollars during the referendum period, for the purpose of supporting or opposing directly the referendum question, must register as Cantons backed | Dear Sir: **Blessed are the peacemakers,”’ Jesus said. I will give ita try. What is all the fuss about anyway? Can we not learn from other countries? We don’t have to ‘“Balkanise”’ Canada, but we can create Cantons’, and live together happily ever after. Take Switzerland for instance, a country without problems. It has German, ° “French, and Italian Speaking “Cahtons?”. eel add Take Belgium - it has the Dutch speaking Flemish part and the French speaking Wallonian part. Quebec is more than just a pro- vince. It should have canton Status. For this reason I will vote “yes”? to the referendum on the constitution. Let us prevent an- other stupid ‘Balkan’ war. Bill Homburg Terrace, B.C. apply as soon as possible. To obtain additional information or an application form to register as a referendum committee, call this toll-free Voting notice TERRACE — Don’t panic if you weren't emimerated for the constitutional referendum Oct. 26. From now until Oct. 19. local Elections Canada workers are making additions, changes ‘and corrections to the voters’ list. The key, says returning of- ficer Elaine Johnston, is a-ycl- low Elections Canada card. It was left at households after two unsuccessful attempts were made to contact those living there. It contains information on how to be put on the List. Jn rural areas, changes to the list will be made by the enumerator. In urban areas, it’s being handled by a revising of- ficer. Inquiries about the proccss can be made to the locai returning office at 635-1329 manned by Johnston and co- workers. The revising officer for the urban areas sits Oct. 17-to Oct. 19 and Oct. 20 is set aside :for any objections. For those who were enumerated, cxpect voter registration cards to atrive very soon in the mail, Those cards will also give in- formation on where and when to vote. Johnston describes .: the enumeration process. — as thorough and comprehensive but says people can still be missed, * “The real problem is that people say I’m on the voters’ list. I’ve got a card. But it’s the provincial list,”’ said Johnston. She also said that ultimately a person is responsibility for being put on the list. “Here we bend over back- ward. In other places, in the States, for example, there is no enumerations process such as ours,’’ Johnston added. There is an important note for residents ofthis area. =f The ability to register at.the poll on referendum date depends upon where a person lives, pHlections Canada tegulations state that only those who live in areas of less than 5,000 people can register to vote on referendum day. Those who live in an arca of more than 5,000 people are out of luck. Johnston said that means a Terrace resident not on the list won't be allowed to ‘register but that a person who lives in Thornhill or in the rural area will be able to do so. REFERENDUM COMMITTEES AND FEDERAL LAW Note: As applications are considered ey in order of receipt, committees should. number immediately: I 800 387-2323. referendum committee must be sent to Elections Canada in Ottawa as soon as pos- sible, and be received by October 26, 1992. All applications must be addressed to 1595 Telesat Court, Ottawa, Ontario K1A OM6, | or they ¢ can n be faxed to | 800 267- 8549. | For the hearing impaired: 49] 1 800 361-8935. : : 0s. Lay - J ean-Pierre Kingsley, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada 2275268 ELECTIONS | The non-partisan agency responsible for the conduct if the feral refrendum :