~ By JENNIFER LANG
r AT Lor OF people don’ feel like’
. their vote counts. 990". o
= Terrace’ 5 Sandra Hart: ‘wants to.
help: change all. that.
“She's: part: Of an: ‘unprecedented’:
experiment. in citizen’s‘démocra- ~
cy. that “ “could. change. ‘the. way."
British . Columbians cast ‘their ~.
yates: eae _
Over® the. next: 10 rionihis, she
and other. members of B.C.’s Citi- - |
zens”. Assembly: on ‘Electoral: Re- f
form: will-study vatious-voting sys-: |
tems’ to'sée if-thére’s a-better | way.
than ‘the. system in place mow.)
“Th year-long: exercisé. could
result:in. a- new. voting. system for.
British. Columbia,-.--*
“4 “don't think. anything’ has -
heen’ ‘ied ‘like: this: before,” » Says

: The Sai icinprised tok:
ie members, -one:.woman a

plementary T

Hart says
ics may stem
ince: of Sa

tired college
adult daughite

. all vote,”

“ond time Jan;

the assembly?

‘Ive ‘become.

adding even’

oAast fall: after, she. responded. to af -::

SITING: THE BOOKS: Sandra Hart thumbs ‘through one-of the. oe
* JENNIFER LANG PHOTO." He. said

mosphere.

200: ‘Voters in each- tiding.

ail.” ae
Then she. read‘on, Le

ed. Feally: exciting and: interest u

when: ‘she. got ‘picked along’ ‘with .
Wolfgang. Scholz..a° Tetired techni-
cian from: Kitimat.:
“They. met’ their counterparts’ ‘for

10-11:
tre. for. Dialogue.i in ‘Vancouver: as
“TL think-it's good it’s nota gov-.
ernment: committee,” shie: says.
“don’t want to,say it's ‘non-politi- -».

“party. ” .
- Has she. ever, been involved i in,
something. oft this’ magnitude ‘be

B.C,

alwalys.cast her vote, -and -is dis- -

By J ENNIFER LANG”

right to’ be cynical about. B.C."5 voting system.’
But: the*man who: once ‘led ‘a campaign ‘to
oo” fire’ Skeena’ s ‘MLA says he's éagerly watching’

the. “progress: .of the: fledging’ Citizens” Assém-

Les decides...

te ing systems,.including our.current one,
Sexton said: he’ thinks~ ‘there's “a good.

1: ternative? to: the : status: “quo
voters: will ‘like,. toon"
Se They’ ‘ll come’ up with: something,

‘ commonsense will prevail”
~ In 1997, Sexton and:his ‘supporters’ iried. to
a “Fire: Skeena MLA. Helmut. ‘Giesbrécht tising the
ae Recall: and Thitiative Act,: seakiney loge

. ‘natures on thee petition,

“She: decided: to go-to. the selec- i ing. my. vote:
tion:. meeting. “They: ‘described ‘ex- °° .-Hart who | “moved: to 5 Terrace.
actly what, ‘we had:to do: It'sound: nine: years ‘ago’ with her ‘fiusband, :”
says ‘the assembly members: ‘ares
_ boming to their: task. with an: ‘open, a

“Te F going to. be a: ‘clean slate © =
the: -only”; [electoral’ system] we:
know “is ihe: one:
past-the- post.”
he firs time earlier’ Jast:month ..°- Some: blame ; vthat,” gysteri “on
when th “assembly - convened: Jan": -B.C.'s: ‘notoriously lopsided’ elec-
tthe Mortis’ T. Wosk ‘Cen-- ‘tien’ resulls;, where - the: ‘number, of.
~ ¥Otds. each party” receives isnt ale |
‘ways: reflected ‘in- the’ number of
Tegislative seats: ‘they: Wines
; - Hart, says. she was surprised
* eal, “because” iteisé a ‘discussion. learn’ most other modern demoer.
ol about. politics, | ‘But | av $s" not -de-” cies: ‘have modified” Or. ‘abandoned
“signed any’ one: Political” this. voting system,” which? is: pre-.
i ““sently in-use: only: i in ‘Canada,
‘U.S: and-in Great ‘Britain,
"1 think this system. right | Ha
fore? . “worked when’ we- only. hdd” two. -
- Never," “says ‘Bart, who’ has - parties, Now’ we have 34. parties in :,

“TERRACE’S LORNE' Sexton has earned thé |

‘> bly-on Electoral: ‘Reform to see what the: group. :

2 7 : chance: the assembly. will’ come. up. “with: an al- 7 :

sy. “If you: get. enoigh: people | together,

“invitation Jetter sent randomly’ to. textbooks | she’ s been issued.”

["T-didn't :know: ‘anything’ about. fieartened by'p poor. voter, tumouts
S ‘Hart récalls: “When: I: got'my' at, election’.time. .
leiter,. L wondered. if. it was. junk, Pane have.a ‘feeling thal’ if people’
ee thought’ ‘their: vole counted,- they.

‘night: think;,"Well, 'm: not wast-"

“" ate

ave, ‘first

“Het now: deséribes B. Cc. s- ‘recall
process” ‘aS :an_attempt to ‘deal: with
‘the shortcomings of: the: current’ Vot=
-- ing: ‘system,’ known: ‘as.
* the-post,”” wr ;
7 ‘The: candidate ~ - and ‘the’ party - ~
with’ the ‘most votes wins, a_system

; 2 oe serthat ‘works well: cin a two-party ‘Sys--
oop The: assembly, selected to! ‘reflect a cross~ |:

"section of voters, has. been. asked to: study. vot~. |
“Oy parties? forming : the ° ‘government | ‘
- Without: ‘Winning. the popular‘vots:
“The. way : things are now, with
“the - first-past-the-post system, we |
creally. havea» democracy in’ this

anybody. votes anymore.” .
“Add :to ‘that. the :fact ‘that. in BIC, we: don’ t
‘elect. goverriments: £) much | ‘as. throw: them: aut,
“many, observers ar : convinced: it’ s tine. fo
“a hange ” :
“What, we: have now, ‘of course, is that no°
. matter Who: Bets elected,

~Manvouv

> athe “

Had. a » propaitiona representa. by - will:

. p

tw Jast provincial. election, ‘B. C. “§-
Green Party. would’ have. won 10° earings:
“percent of the. seats in the: legisla-.:: across ‘the’
- ture based: ‘on’ the: popular vote,

“March.”

“In'May.and June, ihe: issGcibk
‘iL: travel : to the. different: veleétor=
I districts | ‘ACrOss B Ce for: a'series..’ ridings But:
Of public: meetings, . giving: other... Blaney: felt: there was not’ enough’:
“residents a. ‘chance: to Join. the. dis: nar

“the: assem...

“hold > -40
“pub bie

.province-in
d-.May and
Ju ne.
“That? so

Scholz ‘said.

ss The. assembly = ‘Feconvenes lia oF the. Citizen’

October. for’. deliberations. “If-- the . ‘fact. Nisga’ a.

assembly recommends a different”
Voung ‘system: in: its: final report,
the provincial. government. has- .
proritised to’ hold a:referendum: in.
“2005: (If thes ‘referendum’: sé
changes: .to “the “voting”
would be'in place by 2009.

Jacki. Tait,.

: Meantime, Hart: ‘will have. io: do Oe in, Princ

“ her homework. i An the form: ‘of: sup- °

“first. “past-

ver t half of. the pop: *

a The assembly |

agree is the be

- mechanism,”

ond, choice’ e+, woul “Wot

_awhen “the. :
-einbly ‘will See “Hart. travel tO." teal.’ work.’
Levery. two / weekends:
“between: January “and: the: ‘end. of.

~ for: the, assembly will”

‘ulation: is tinhajpy" fe says, :
will: spend. the: text

8 10 months studying voting® ‘systems a
} from. around the. world,. wWeighin
the various: pros and. cons‘in.order:
Sto come up -with: what ‘members. oe

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION: ‘The Mortis J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue looks a little like the UN. And like its better-known n counterpart, °
_ the centre was designed for discussion. Seats swivel and everyone! S got a microphone, PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY

eaiding - “and try to.

_ soak up as) much -information, as
. possible during sessions, 0.7". -

“T still think ‘it’s exciting, and: 4 ‘|
I'm glad to-be doing it -
her passion ‘for polit.»
from ‘her: home: prove

skatchewan,.. where.

“politics. is big.”
She and her. husbiand’ ‘Tobin, a ren:
instructor, have. four, :

rs.

“And,” she esis pw ™ ‘ oS :

The assembly. met. ‘for: ‘the s sec:

24-25 i in ‘Vancouver: 3
Joining Terrace’s. “Sandra Hart: ‘on.
‘from: Skeena is: Kiti- - “J
mat resident. Wolfgang : Scholz. ;

-- He called the.’ ‘first: session |
“Intense” A with: 8 high. level of i ine” :
terest from’ participants. a
‘ "Tim: excited. now about” what -

involved - it,”: he: Te-:

cently’ ‘told: ihe® Northern Sentinel,
media members. fron: ©

- Wolfgang,

" “The. assembly ‘Was originally
y- supposed to have 158. members — a’
man and -one - woman from. all” 79 ape
‘assembly: chair. Jack

First’ ‘Nation representation. .
- The.two First: Nations. members...
n’ 5. ‘Assembly. are: in

39, ‘of, Givivinksibikew .
: isa payroll. and. benefits clerk. for’. |.-
‘the. Nisga’a “Valley. Health Board. ©
She’ s married. and has" two 8 hilt:

ee the: Nigga’ a nation who sia 2S
e Rupert. He lives in”.
ia Lower Mainland: . we

st option. °

“If they can get a more: ‘deridcratic _
form of, picking | our ‘government...
j representative, Wes
4 wouldn't. ©. need, oe
says the “ormer te- on be
Lorne Sexton ~ call: petitioner.” “: oe
: . “Sexton will: only” ‘suppart. a. 1-pro
“posed voting system ‘that ensures.-voters: in-thi
- north have. adequate repiesentalion. ok

He thinks a form of proportional. representa: e
lon might: “work. the-best, for B, C= ~ provided the a
* north doesn’t: lose. seats...” aa
OSA, preferential, ballot system where * if you
‘don't get ‘your-first choice

~recall

you do get your sec

begins” oe

hs “rough “cet eay io: meet 100; er, cent. cof. ils: s-smelter.

probably. ;

nost as well, he As

+ The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February-4, 2004 - AS.

_: CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD

~The Mail us

_ Awful dog attack

Dear. Sir; a
ALD: 15 a, m, ‘on ‘Briday, ‘Jaa. 93, 1 heard 1 a horrible
sound. coming from’ our. ‘completely - fenced: ‘oft
” backyard On. Alder’ Ave. in Upper. Thornhill:
assumed like every. -other - ‘morning,’ the: gale- ‘to’ ‘ke
yard. was closed. and Jatched. This. was not’ ‘the -case:.
~L then heard nails | scraping all ‘over‘our back’ palio’
_| and loud growling. We spotted two- large. dogs, one: all De ts
white, and -one-all: ‘black’ with a, small ‘white spol .on
— its. chest running, all over. our: ‘yard. Tsaw. ‘sofmething 80
- hortible 1am: unlikely’ going to’ forget it any time:soon..”’
When. ‘opened: ‘the: ‘sliding’ glass. ‘door the: large’ black”
dog stopped déad'in its tracks just: Staring at-me.from
across the: yard. Tn: ils: mouth, : was my, pet, rabbit,
squirming and: crying. “The white dog: ‘began to :
aggressively try-and také it: from: the other dog- and: a
they. began to: fight over: her.’ All the: while she’ ‘was a
just making: these: horrible : ‘crying ‘sounds; ". ae!
My children and: 1 were: very-upsel,, [ran out-intd
the yard yelling at: them. They both ran off. through my
“barely. open gale, the -black..one: with:my rabbit
What, if this: was my. child or my: ‘small, ‘dog it. my
“own back: ‘yard? What if we were ‘in :the ‘front. yard?
“Would: they -have : attacked’ my child -or- my. dog-that” *
way? ‘Most: people: around here. don't: chave:: ‘Fully: = -
‘fenced off yards, and ‘most. people, let: their children:
“bike: around. con. their. street! ‘Has’. ‘this neighbourhood,
_feally. become, this. unsafe? I-see kids’ walking: their... |
° péls arourd the ‘neighbourhood: all the time:’ What if." |
-]--one ‘of ‘these dogs: was. to: allack their dog and: che ve
ic child. got.in the sway? em : : oa
“T found out that ote. neighbour: said. ‘she saw ; the.. :
‘sane (wo. dogs: laté. the’ evening ‘before roaming “our:
| strect-alone.:_ Went: looking: for the dogs: I meittioned.
“| what happened: ta-a-mail’ carrier, in the ‘area, hoping.
> she could keep and: eye ‘out, for. the-.pair* “of: vicious”.
“thieves. “The: animal. control: was unable: to find the’. “
~-dogs bit. close’ to‘ lunch, time: that-day. a mail jcarrier*
galled, saying that, she saw: the: dogs with our “rabbit: ‘a

‘me when she tried to. wave, her i ice’ scraper at’ ‘them to, orn
oy Make: them: -drop,- ‘what “she thought’ ‘was. a cal. al. the: cae
| time,’ they2 viciously growled at her. She ‘said. thes)
*plack dog: actually laid’ ontop ” “of the’ ‘fabbit.so- it; :  ~
‘| Gouldn’t be taken: ‘The: mail: carrier gave ‘me. ‘the: exact
-addréss,:. and: said. she‘.was. certain ‘both- dogs lived
[othere. and had problems with them in. the past:
~Later that*day; the owner was -given two tickets. for :
vallowing ‘the ‘dogs, to roam ‘free, and-a third ticket for -..."°
‘having one-unlicensed dog. ‘This ‘is not, the first time «" . °°
“these: dogs. have: been: loose. Don’t most: people. notice a
When their ‘dogs: are missing. over: night’ % Manes
OA néighbour i in.the.aréa. has had. these, ob dogs run
, up onto’ their: -balcony and break a baby. gate. .down-to
“try to get. their: cat: The. dogs : have, been. picked’ up ee
> before’ by. the ‘pound for’ ‘Foaming: ‘loose. Up. until -now
-V-they:had ot béen “declared vicious" so-they’ will not.
"be put.to sleep; They. will haye: to-be 8. caught: a. second:
_ . time. doing -something vicious, : : ;
- The ‘facts:tell us. the « owners. are’ 2 not able, or do: not Dee te
| care, lo: -keep, their: dogs: leashed -or: “at. home’ “because .
“before F found dut that-the black. dog hasbeen ipigkedy)
[> up: by. the ‘pound. ‘for running: loose in the area: three
"days: later? The: owner‘had: made” thé decision’ ‘tocha
the white- dog’ put down: but took the: -black-one: home.”
~~. Although-[ am sorry for her loss, as 1. am ‘sure. she-i
mine,. it: still “obvious ‘to -me-‘that: the. owner is. ‘nol
‘concerned about: a. répeated. ‘offence « OF. the dog. “would
‘not’ have: been ‘loose’ three days after. the. first: incident.
Anyone who : sees’ this: large’ black dog’: roaming:
160se; please contact: the ‘Thornhill: Animal Control. or
|) RCMP ‘and: let: them, ‘know: that: the’ ‘dog ‘has -been
. “declared vicious.” "And : please, Keep an-eye on your
a “pels ‘and children, even if-itis in’ your: own. back: yard.
; “People-should ‘take’ ‘better care of ‘their, “petsto
‘|: prevent these Kinds of situations: It’s not. the pets fault:
When they'ar are. ‘allowed | to roar the: neighbourhood,. we ad
wn Danielle Eavol “Thornhill, B. c. a

“Dear Sire aoe nel -
“What would: make ‘Alcan, waint 10. sell power « at-a-.
“discounted rate in. ‘the: region if il.can“make- more.
~money: selling. the: power. ‘outside the. region? ‘The. truth
Sh. “75 not very much, Unless we can start ‘discussion: on
“| the; Kemano. Completion’ Project, ‘Alcan: ‘is, ot going: |
“7. to” ‘be promising anew smelter anylime: ‘soon, ee
. Kemano ‘Completion ‘stands - as one ‘of the: ‘most ' Se
“environmentally sound projects in B.C. “This is ‘mainly: eer
“due to ‘the: fact: thai: ‘a large Portion. of this: ‘project Is

* valready ‘completed. rn ; a
oo Why. ts it that. there has’ béen. no: discussion on the, - *

| issue? Ido. recall. the opposition . Liberals” hounding £

i then-NDP. ‘Premier Mike: Harcourt to. quash thé: project ne

* back* in: ‘4992- 93, “ Perhaps’: this: isthe“ reason: why: no. Be aon

one wants'to.lalk about. Kemano. Completion.” ne

a i ‘Certainly the” province : would” have’ to. piv
ye considerable money’ back. to Alcan, if: they. went back.

tothe? 1997. ‘agreement and: ‘compensated ‘Alcan. int:
" a instead of subsidized. Power over ten oars “he

'[eneeds and. have: surplus power’ to sell both: “in thé:
: région ‘and out. ‘What. would:it take’ for: the” government:
and the* company. to. sil: -down: and: ‘take another: look: at: =.
the” 1997. ‘agreement: ‘and come: up witha. renewed oe,
commitment. to. real: and sustainable: developnient: in.
fe the. riorthwest again. , ee Ney
So = Ibis time: to: put iawsuits and: ‘aging shniellers: ‘Lo. rest
: and start’capacily building. in that ‘industry: and. others
“Grice: ‘again Kitiniat® needs: ‘an’ “assurance “that” “Alcan”
will-be.an ‘aluminum producer: there. for ‘many, years. ‘lo

“come, ‘Alcan wants. At) diversify ‘its Product offering
‘and: have, otherincomeé streams. 7°.

-:Kemano-Completion is the solution ‘that’ ‘will bind. a
: (hese two ‘sides ‘and .their ;issues. It_is time. for the “
Y government, to hand over. the keys. and let'us finish.
; ‘Allan Melntyre, Terrace,:B BI c.

oy Mie

. “About the Mail Bag. oe
The: Terrace Standard. welcomes. letters: ‘Ou
address “is ‘9210° Clinton ‘St. Terrase, B:C..V8G 8
“BR2: You can-fax: us’ at: 250-636-8432: Orie-mall <0
us at:néwstoom @terracestanidard. com. No: *:
-attachments,. please, We ‘feed “your: name, :
address and phone number:for: verification. Our:
| -deadline is-noon: Friday. or-naon on Thursday. if Its ‘Ay:

jong wpekenge : Cape