school board asked for help Dear Sir: ‘One of the hallmarks of democratic povernment is that the process itself is Slpposed to be open to serutiny — not just the de- cisions and decision-ma- kers, but ‘all the factors considered in reaching those. decisions -are ex- posed to pithlic view. It- establishes the “informed: consent of the governed” that distin- guishes a democracy from less genteel forms of rule. * This principle has been repeatedly violated by our school board .in- their “handling” of the current round of school closures and layoffs through a ser- ies of closed-door board meetings on the subject. . I can not agree with this board decision. | believe it amounts. to a craven en- dorsation of a schaolyard . Shake-down (a.k.a. down- loading) by a bunch of New Era bully-boys in - Victoria, None-the-less, | remain willing to be convinced otherwise by any informa- tion that I may not have had available when I for- mulated that conclusion. Regrettably, the public is presently denied know- ledge of the factors the board considered in reach- ing their closed-door deci- sion. “We don’t know if all feasible options were con- sidered, or if the advice’ received from the admin- istration was comprehen- sive and balanced. All details of the deli- beralions ~ down to who voted in favour of the clo- sures. — will, through a convenient bureaucratic technicality, remain a deep dark secret until the meeting minutes are -re- leased in September. The only clue we have been given as to the board’s thinking came in the nole that was sent home with the children whose schools were sum- marily.closed, In gheir itemized .ac- counting we find Item‘2:. .") to meet the school district goals to maintain and or Buy from | Canada, eh Dear Sir: Not being a frequent shapper | am curious as to why Safeway displays a sign reading “Buy B.C. Apples” when in fact they seldom have any. Recently I was trying to buy potatoes. Numerous U.S. potatoes were on dis- play, but no Canadian var- ieties were available. . When ! asked the man- ager why this is so and what. could be done about ‘it he said he would invest- ' igate and phone me. I am still wailing for his phone call. - Safeway is buying pota- toes from a country that outright tefused to buy po- tatoes from Canada’s east coasl. They are buying fram farmers that recently received subsidies to the... _tune of (U.S.) $200 billion from the U.S. government. ‘They are buying from our friends and neighbours who have closed down our sawmills and caused thou- sands of B.C. workers to lose their jobs. They are buying from these ‘friends’ who talk a lot about free trade but practice anything but. What do you expect, you may ask, from a cor- poration with its head of-, fice in the U.S. and what is. ° the big deal anyway if you are nota farmer? “To me it’s: just one oss) ‘more example.as to why. ° the American government - is Walking all over us. We | as‘ typical Canadians. ac-.. cept anything and are not... fighting back. That goes — for’ our government and us **.. as individuals, Lam making my. small.’ effortto.stand up and be *. . counted, Should you wish, «. > -you can: also give your: opinion to Safeway. By the way Bert’s Deli sells loc-. - ally ‘gown potatoes," "John Jensen ~~ Terrace; B.C; CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail Bag Strengthen educational ser- “vices ta students. Laudable, that. If only it weren't secondary to the board’s stated primary goal ‘in Item 1; the maintenance of the long-term financial and organizational stabili- ty of the district. ] believe the board has those priorities back-ass- ward. | have always pre- sumed that the school sys- tem was there primarily for the benefit of our kids, not the perpetuation of some self-serving contrivance for the adsorption and eva- poration of tax funds. Perhaps }’m wrong but, again, I may not yet have all the pertinent facts. Please, school board, edu- cate me. John How, Terrace, B.C. Gay rights stand is wrong Dear Sir: It is disgusting that a minority group such as gays, lesbians and transgender people have to resort to a human rights tribunal in to obtain a proclamation of Gay Pride Day from Terrace city council. Who do these elected councillors think _ they are? Councillors are elected to re- + 1 present the views of all facets of the mu- - nicipality they profess to represent. Entering into the early years of this » millennium, it is apparent that the Ter- race council is not adapting to many of the initiatives that society has evolved to cmc 2002 GHC CASH PURCHASE PRICE | $22,338" 4 UACIUOES FREIGHT AND FDI | PER CASH PURCHASE PRICE $38,188 * INCLUDES FREGHT ARD FDI | PEER EEE EERE EEE EEE EE EEE EE EEE EEEEEEEEEEEE [Bl e4eeseaes “BS 2002 Blick AENDEZVOUS CX PURCHASE PRICE $30,888" * $398" 09% _ URQLUDES FREGGHT AND 7Or SWARTLEASE §224° "0%! $2300 DOWH PAUNENT “‘esmc: 2002 GHC ENVOY SLE INCLUDES FREIGHT AND Pbr geod HIGHER QUALITY THAN DODGE RAM ‘HIGHER RESALE VALUE THAR FORD F-SERIES in respect to tolerance. One does not have to adhere to the lifestyles and sexual preferences of indi- viduals to ensure their rights are also met. Bigotry and self righteous moralistic views should not be a part of the agenda of any elected official’s platform. It Seerns apparent that at best some of the councillors would benefit significantly in attending a human rights seminar so they could be: more ‘compassionate to the views of the minority and to those who live a different lifestyle. Ross Slezak, Terrace, B.C. SHARTLEASE 48 MONTH PER MOATHAAS MOWTHS PURCHASE MMANEING = S118 OWA PAYNENT : BUICK'S FIRST CROSSOVER VEMICLE IS TRULY IMPRESSIVE. ~ JEREMY CATO, THE VANCOUVER SUN SONOMA EXTENDED CAB 48 MONTE MONTE WOKTHS PURCHASE FIKANCING a purchase SMARTLEASE | 4B MONTH $498" = 0% PER MONTHAR NON THS PURCHASE FEMANCIICG $4.10 DOWN PATNERT - 2002 MOTOR TREND SPORT/UTILITY OF THE YEAR® - esac 2002 GMC SIERRA EXTENDED CAB SLE 1 ASH PURCHASE PRICE 36 MONTH $368" "0% | PAR MORTH/36 MONTHS UT puReHASe FIXANCIIG $4,200 BOWE PATMEN | SWARTLEASE $30,198: DROP BY YOUR LOCAL PONTIAC « BUICK « GMC DEALEA OR CHEVROLET » OLDSMOBILE OEALEA, VISIT US AT www.gmeanada.tom OF CALL 1-000-GM-DAIVE, “Based on a 48 manth lease for Buick Rendezvous CX A7A, GMC Sonoma Ext. 1SB, GMC Envoy SLE AZA, Chevrola| Cavalier VL R7A, Chevrolet Malibu AC, Osmobile Alera GX Coupe AA, Chevrolet Venture Vatu Van A?A and a 36 month Lease on GMC Sierra. Total abfigation ts $22,293, $13,742, $28,094, $17,527, $10,104, $15,531, $14,138, $16,738. Annual kllo metre fimit 20,000 km, $0.12 per excess kilometre, Option to purchase at lease ond is $12,904, $11,774, $17,919, $17,664, $5,245, $9,276, $6,684, $10,051, (plus applicable laxes), Other lease options available. {Purchase financing on approved GMAC cred only, up to 48 months * Freight Included, License, Insurance and taxes nol inched, *¢4Tha SmartLease monthly payment and the GMAC purchase finance rates are riot available wih and ara nol calculated on the ‘cash purchase price’ shown, The differance between tha price for the SmartLeasa/GMAC purchase finance offer and the “Cash Purchase Price" affér is daemed under provincial disclosure laws to ba acost af borrowing, whether or nol the same represents actual interest, and is required to ba expressed as an aclua! percanlage rate which 13 0.00%, 2.18%, 2.52%, 4.21%, 9.82%, 6,06%, 4.00%, 5.26%. Example: $10,000 at 0% APR, ihe monthly payment 277.77/8208.34 for 36/48 monlhs, Cos! af borrowing is $0. Total obligation Is $10,000. Down payment, tradeand /ar security depos may be required. Monthly payment andcost of borrowing will vary depending Of amovnl borrowed and down paymenttrade, ¢Genetal Motors wil pay the first months GMAC lease payment inclusive of applicadla taxes plus security deposit. “Drive Away Without Paying* offet does not apply to purchase financing offer. Award mentions: Oldsmoblls Alera hnlds a 5-Star Fronial impact salety rating, GMG Jimmy holds a 5-Star Ske ImpaclFronl and Rear Seat Impact safety rating and Chevrolet Venture haids a Side ImpactFront Seal Impact safety rating. Testing conducted bythe Natfonal Highway Traffic Safety Admninisirationt. Venture efficiency award basad on 2002 Natural Resources Canada Olfica af Etiiciency. uD. Power Award délaits avalable onlirie at www, ipower.com. Otters apply to2002 new or demonstrator mode's of vehicles, equipped as dascribed, and applies to qualified retail customers Inthe BC Beater Marketiny Assoclatton area only. Limited quantities of 2002 models availabta. Dealer trade may ba required. Dealers are fred to sat indhidual prices, Limied tima offer subject to changa which may not be-combined with otter afters. Certain exceptions apply. See your local BC GM dealarte) for conditions and detatts, ‘ ‘ t $12,695 “> INCUUOES FREIGHT AND PO) - SOFIRSTPATWEAT SO BOHM PATMEAT SO SECURITY DEPOSI he af ~ CASH PURCHASE PRICE | IMARTLEASE QWONTH : + $22,998 $268" 0901 <> 7+ IROLUDES FRGHTAND PDL 1 PER MONTHAUO MORTHS «| PURCHASESINANEINE . Me $2075 OWN FAYWEAT a KKK . FIVE STAR SAFETY RATING® The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - A7 ‘» BROWNING * MARLIN « BERKLEY » FENWICK. 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