The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 20, 1993 - AS ALL ALL CANDIDATES DEBATE Reform” comes under fire National’s Sobol strong REFORM PARTY = candidate Mike Scott was the main larget in the sights of political gunners at -an all candidates forum last Thursday in Terrace, Reform’s opponents were out in force to put Scott on the hot seat for his party’s tarnished image as a haven for bigots. “The Reform Party has done everything possible to eliminate racism from its ranks,’’ Scott told the crowd, - ; “Are you going to brand these people: here as racists? I think that’s an insult to these people,’’ The Reform Party candidate was lectured by Nisga’a elder Rod Robinson on the issue of na- tive land claims and self govern- ment. Scott took the position that the courts have not indicated that na- lives have outright title to land. “Te we agrees land title is con- ceded we have nothing left to ne- gotiats,”’: Scott said, defending the Reform stance. ‘We ' have never recognized ‘aboriginal title. That’s not to say -we have denied it — we just - haven't recognized it,”” Scott also came under fire for - “his party’s plans for uncmploy-— ment insurance reform, which some. feared would end U1 for seasonal workers like loggers and . __ fishermen. _NDP candidate Joe Barrett said - Reform will institute a a right-wing "agenda. ° Conrad Black and tie big " puisiniess ‘elite’ will be toastlag the night that Reform does’ well in : this country,” he said. 7 » Scott attacked Barrett for ‘*scar- “ing the: -daytights. out of the poor, - the sick and the elderly’ with lies : about the Reform Party. ‘He. again attacked MPs pen- - sions.and- pledged he would nol : - accept one if elected. *$2.8 million for Mr. Fulton at ~ age 43 and $380 per month for _ the rest of us at age 65,”’ he said. oh ;, “Now: Task you: is that fair?’” Progressive Conservative candi- > date Danny Sheridan pointed to ‘Kim Campbell’s immediate ac- “-tlon to reduce the size of cabinet oe “when she took office. .“Preston- Manning can only of- fer you fairy tales — and they - keep changing every day,” he «sald, - Liberal Rhoda Witherly said her - A ~ voice within a Jean Chreticn goat in could give Skeena «the clout in Ottawa it has not had - since. Liberal MP Iona Campag- " nolo was in cabinet. ‘She added that there. was no : “magic answer’ to the problem “of the national debt Tt ’s going to be a slow, grad- ! wal process,’’ she said, . Green.candidate Peter Mebling highlighted - the danger of US. nuclear’ subs that cruise through. * Canadian waters on their way to sub testing grounds in Alaska. >. We're living ‘in a dream - “We don’t want a Chernobyl on the north coast,” he said. - world, ”? Mehling continued. ‘* We ‘haven't been living sustainably “Natural Law party candidate Calvin Danyluk explained his _ Party isin favour of the use of - nee: ay Ra NISGA'A TRIBAL COUNCIL’s Rod Robinson put native land claims on the agenda at last Thurs- day’ s all candidates debate by alming some tough questions at Reform’s Mike Scott. i and. ‘we've got to start thinking a “about it?’ transcendental meditation and “yogic fying’’ to uniease the creative potential in us all. All major. national problems will be solved as soon as large numbers of people do that, he. said, suggesting it was only a matter of time before everyone is voting Natural Law.” “You'll be voting for us in 25 years anyway,” he predicted. Luke Kwantes defended the Christian Heritage Party’s posi- tion in favour of mandatory AIDS testing. “It’s a communicable disease of such magnitude it must be dealt with using very drastic measures. ’* . patriotic points but were unable to force the . Reformer into any catastrophic error. Meanwhile it was the National Party candidate, Isaac Sobol, who again stole the show, tugging the heartstrings of his audience. Sobol called fora moment of si- lence at the beginning of his clos- ing address to give thanks that we live in a country ‘‘at peace, of beauty, of democracy, and of good will.”’ He then launched into a power- ful speech that drew thunderous applause from those present. “f ask you to reflect on the Progressive Conservative party, a “We will not tolerate the betrayal of ‘Canada. This is the end of politics as ~ usual.” — Isaac Soboi He also-tock aim at Danyluk and Barrett. “Will you vote for @ candidate who doesn’t even live in Skeena, or one who. has just conveniently moved in?”’ Scott, laid low by a flu bug that prompted him.to cancel all other - efigagements that day, was unable to deliver the knockout punch he was looking for. And his opponents scored — party that has betrayed Canada for the past nine years and which asks you to send It back to power. “On the Liberals, a party invit- ing millionaires to mansions to pay $1,000 to ensure future ac- cess 10 a would- be prime minis- len -“On the NDP — a party which has introduced no new ideas for oo long and which has chosen our Aiding as the spawning ground for a political dynasty.’ ‘Reform will destroy this coun- try and will destroy it in three short years.”" Sobol said he. would go to Ot- tawa with no strings attached and no political baggage... “We will not tolerate the betrayal of Canada,” he proclaimed in a dramatic finish. “This is the end of politics as usual”? It was the secqnd straight all- candidates meeting at which Sobal took the limelight from the NDP and Reform frontrunners, Tf Isaac were running for ihe NDP, we'd be-in real trouble,’’ Reform campaign manager Barry Carter conceded after the forum. He said Reformers hope Sobol will take votes away from the NDP. Progressive Conservative acting campaign manager Gary Coblenz echoed that sentiment. “*]’m sure glad he’s not running for the NDP,’’ he said. “‘He’s strong and his strength can do nothing but help us. Unless of course he wins.’”. : Barrett’s closing statements were aimed at voters who might be swayed to Sobol... - He urged ‘them to ‘think about voting strategically” and quoted the CCF’s* founding father Tommy Douglas: “‘It’s important for us-to hang together or we'll hang separately.’’ Straight talk if you By John Pequn I REALLY really don't want to be told that we can’t. afford all our social pro- grams or thal cuts to sub- sidies for the CN or CBC must be made, I know this will result in job losses that will affect me personally. However I already know, as do most Canadians, that we cannot conlinue on our present course, Last week another of our provinces had its credit raling lowered. This too will eventually affect me. T'm an adult and you can tell me the truth. J feel like the wife or husband of an al- coholic where all parties concerned are trying keep me from finding out — Not renegotiating NAFTA makes sense if I compare it to renegotiating my mort- gage after losing part of my, “credit: rating. The. interest rate would be higher. The other alternative is to give up the House at a loss. Can we really avoid free trade? What should we do, Audrey McLaughlin? _ Trying to bribe a marriage partner. into staying usually “works in the short term - only, If Quebec really want - to leave as indicated by the Bloc Quebecois support, we. -may have to let them 80. On the immigration issue, .. for.a politician to be labeled _: racist is akin to being “sJabeled a leper. in’ previous: : history. This - appears to. ,have, ., caused, the. her MN acpaters to ee takén o1 fan | . idealized stereotype “of im-) “~ migrants, All immigrants do not *. contribute to the econonty. Immigrants are just people. Most “are hardworking, “honest, and. well trained, However, some are lazy; ‘some “are dishonest and /some are sickly and a bure . den on our social net. Just maybe we feed to ‘do. a better job of selecting im-'” ' migrants according to’ our’ Stated criteria. If a sponior What’ the fancy stuff By ROSELINE STARR THE ELECTION is a very important event for the people of Canada. In my cpinion politicians have.a lot of courage and have to be clever to handle such a stressful job. When you hear of some- ° one. doing a hard job you think nothing of it, but when you're in the position, your opinion usually changes greatly. This is why Iam glad Tam a voter, not one of those running Cnada. Byen. as a voter I find it is till a job in itself. This Is why I am an un- decided. voter. If I vole for this person, will they solve the problems Canada has. Will they do a good job. Will they make the unem- please agrees to be financially responsible maybe that should be legally enforced as the contract it really is. I really don’t know that the Preston Manning plan is best. The deep cuts may have serious repercussions which may cause wore problems than we now have. However, it is a plan that I can view, pick apart, agree with, disagree with and then make up my mind and vote onit I feel like the wife or husband of an al- coholic where alt parties concerned are trying keep ‘me from finding’ out. I have to guess at. Kim Campbell’s plan,.so'I can’t . vote for or against it. If she -is golng to make cuts, tell mé where. How is she going to stimulate the economy. Her television advertisement of Filling potholes with Lib- eral government money would be credible if she had ‘an alternative. Jean Chretien’s . plan * seeing a bit” simplistic and _ vague. I don’t belitve that if I see a trick moving goods it will make me spend my. money. Especially if the - tnick is fueled by niy money ina make work project. aba: ““T'too feel the pain ‘of the . inemployed’ miner, but that ' ; really does not help him in any Substantial way; The whole point of my ar- ticle is not to sway people to vote Reform. The fact that they can’t form the govern- + ment is a real deterrent in — my mind. What is ‘needed is straight talk by all parties, if we are evet to find a solution. John Pequin is a political . science student at North- west Community College. s under ployment bigger. Will they raise the taxes to pay for the ‘annual spending. I am a young person, but I am concerted about the | - state Canada will be left in many years from now. Will my children tive ina healthy country or will they die of cancer because the ozone js gone over Canada? In other words, does it matter who geis into office? Who will take care of Cana- da so the new generations would not be overwhelmed with great problems. All the party platforms are dressed up with all the stuff we want to see and hear. But what is actually under all the fancy stuff? Roseline Starr is a North- west Cormunity ‘Collige political science student. THE START 1S FOR - Don’t forget PEOPLE LEARNING TOREAD . _ The Next Monday is Oct. 25. It is the date of the federal election. Do not forget to vote. The pools open at 9 a.m. and they close at 8 p.m. “Voters... should have cards. telling them where to vote, Those cards came in the mail a while ago. If you have questions, »you can telephone the Elections Canada office at 635-1329, This office puts on the elections. It is not con- nected to any political party, Eight people want to be the next Member of Par- liament for Skeena. That means it could be an exciting election here in Skeena. | Nisga’a Howse of Learn- School The man in the picture is Joseph Gosnell. He is the president of the Nisga’a Tribal Council. He is signing an agree- ment. It is tetwéen the ing and the University of Northern B.C. The House of Learning is in the Nass Valley.