British Columbia Most Canadians are fed up with the political haggling, the behind-the-scenes manoeuvring and the secret deals being Accord, and for good reasons. Here we have a situation where the Constitution of Canada, which involves every one-of us and the whole future of our country, is being secretly decided by ten premiers and the prime minister, without any con- sultation whatever with the people of Canada. Not only that, the real issues are being obscured in a barrage of political propaganda and emotional charges. My objections to the Meech Lake Ac- cord have nothing to do with its recogni- tion of Quebec as a “distinct society.” In international law that is a meaningless term. Of course Quebec is different from the other provinces. It is much more than a “distinct society.” Itis anation descend- ed from the first Europeans who settled in Canada. It has maintained its lan- guage, culture and territory for hundreds of years. That is the right of the people of Quebec, that’s what makes Quebec a na- tion. Unfortunately, neither the Meech Lake Accord nor the Constitution of Can- ada recognize Quebec as a nation. Those inside and outside of Quebec who hinge the future of their province on the “dis- tinct society” clause are misguided. Some political forces in this country are deliberately using the debate around the accord to foster hatred of Quebec, claiming that the accord gives special rights to Quebec which are denied the rest of Canada. That is not only unjus- tified; it is dangerous to Canada’s future. It only strengthens the hands of the sep- aratists in Quebec. The accord does not give any special powers to Quebec. It does, however, give Quebec certain rights. One is say over immigration into the province, but the accord gives the same right to other provinces if they ask for it. The accord gives Quebec the right to “preserve and promote the distinct identity of Quebec.” What’s wrong with that? The real reasons why the Meech Lake Accord should be rejected have nothing to do with Quebec. First of all, the accord ignores a whole number of basic issues that should be included in Canada’s Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. One is the right of Canada’s native peoples to self-government and settle- ment of their land claims. Another is equality of women. Still another is the right to strike and picket. It doesn’t provide for national stand- ards to ensure that all Canadians are treated the same in such matters as health care and the minimum wage and other labour legislation. Furthermore the ac- cord says nothing about Senate reform. made with regard to the Meech Lake. Hatred of Quebec fostered by wrangle over Meech Accord The accord also contains a number of clauses that are harmful and dangerous. Let me give some examples. The Supreme Court of Canada has more and more been given the respon- sibility of interpreting clauses of Can- ada’s constitution. The members of this court are appointed by the federal government and appointments are sup- posed to be based on competence in the legal field. The Meech Lake Accord would change all that. It provides that Ottawa can appoint judges only from lists supplied by the provinces. These would most certainly be political appoin- tees. You can imagine the kind of appoin- tees that Premier Vander Zalm would submit. The movement for gaining provincial status is growing in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. But under the terms of the Meech Lake Accord, they can only become provinces if all 10 pro- vinces and Ottawa agree. Each has a veto power. The prospects for provincial sta- tus for these new areas would be slim indeed if the Meech Lake Accord passes. Then there’s the question of cost- shared programs. The accord provides that any province can refuse to parti- cipate in any new programs that Ottawa may introduce, such as child care for example, or an environmental protection program. But the provinces would be compensated financially if they intro- duced a “program or initiative” that is “compatible with national objectives.” Those phrases are not defined and could be interpreted in many ways. They are simply an invitation to provinces not to extend any social programs. The Meech Lake Accord also pro- vides that appointments to the Senate by Ottawa must be from lists supplied by the provinces. As can be seen from these examples the Meech Lake Accord decentralizes federal government authority. It turns Canada into 10 Baltic states. As former judge Marjorie M. Bowker says in her highly informative book, “The Meech Lake Accord:” “What the Meech Lake Accord has done is to transfer to all provinces powers which properly belong to the central gov- ermment, if Canada is to remain a co- hesive unified nation. Just as some issues are best resolved at municipal or provin- cial levels, others are clearly best left to a government that speaks for all Can- adians “Instead of a strong federal system such as we have now enjoyed for over a century, Canada could become fragmen- ted into something resembling ten fief- doms. Each headed by its own miniature prime minister. Yet Canada needs a strong national government to speak and act for all Canadians. to be the centre of gravity, to resolve regional disparities and to respond to national crises.” It could be added that if Canada is made up of 10 independent provinces it will be that much easier for the U.S. to swallow us up piece by piece. In this sense the Meech Lake Accord is a com- panion piece to the free trade deal. Decisions of this kind should be made in a national referendum in which all of us could participate. It’s our constitution, it’s our country, _and it’s our future. The decision should be made by us, not for us. Pacific Tribune, June 11, 1990 «2 es ee er EN a er ee ee ee eee a ey Se, ee eae Work towards peace, The Canadian government must be told to cease all bilateral aid to the government of El Salvador and call for an end to human rights abuses in the Central American country, a rally in Vancouver June 1 was told. : “We have a moral obligation to speak out against this injustice, particularly when our country is an accomplice through its silence and its direct aid,” Bumaby New Democratic MP Svend Robinson said. Speakers promoted the boycott of firms dealing in Salvadoran coffee and urged mes- sages be sent to Canadian and U.S. govern- ment officials at the rally, one of several held across Canada to mark the first anniversary of the government of Alfredo Cristiani. Since the election of the governing right- wing National Republican Alliance — ARENA — more than 3,000 Salvadorans have been murdered by government army attacks and death squads, said the rally or- ganizers in a release. The B.C.-El Salvador Support Coalition also issued a report on the process of peace talks between the ARENA government and the liberation forces, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). El Salvador rally urged Dave Pritchett of ILWU holds candle during vigil to commemorate those killed by government forces and death squads in El Salvador’s 11 year conflict. What was a “dialogue” between the op- posing groups has now assumed the stature of negotiations, with both sides presenting clear positions under the mediation of United Nations Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar, the coalition reported. But it pointed out that while the groups met in Caracas, Venezuela May 16-21, the Sal- vadoran army launched a major military offensive around the country. The government proposes an end to all hostilities and the eventual incorporation of FMLN fighters into the civilian, institutional and political life of El Salvador. The FMLN proposals are more detailed, demanding electoral reform, human rights guarantees and economic restructuring including land — reform. Longshoreman Dave Pritchett related the efforts of the Longshoremen’s and Ware- housemen’s International Union to stop shipments of Salvadoran coffee to firms in the U.S. and Canada by refusing to offload ships. “The price of coffee for some people in Canada is expensive; for the people of El Salvador, it’s a real tragedy,” he said. 17 critical days Here are the totals ... GREATER VANCOUVER Target Achieved Aubrey Burton 700 --- Bill Bennett 500 460 Burnaby 6,000 2,259 Coquitlam 2,500 2,025 Effie Jones 1,500 615 Kingsway 5,000 1,938 New West. 2,000 1,197 Nigel Morgan 600 100 North Van. 2,500 1,005 Richmond 1,500 555 Stan Lowe 250 230 Van. East 6,800 893 Westside 4,800 2,465 FRASER VALLEY Delta 600 20 Fraser Valley 1,000 1,076 Maple Ridge 2,200 582 Surrey/ White Rock 3,100 1,975 OKANAGAN Kamloops 1,100 1,029 Okanagan 600 760 Vernon 1,600 685 N. COAST/INTERIOR Correspondence’ 1,500 1,280 Creston 200 220 Fernie 250 325 L. Similkameen 500 --- Powell River 500 605° 5 Prince George 200 300 Prince Rupert 300 --- Sunshine Coast 500 400 Trail 700 265 VANCOUVER ISLAND Campbell River 2,000 1,689 Comox Valley 1,400 380 Nanaimo 3,000 2,676 Port Alberni 1,500 227 Victoria 3,300 1,858 Miscellaneous 2,500 1,903 TOTAL: ° 63,200 31,998 On press day, there are only 17 days remaining to raise our target of $82,000 in the Tribune Financial Drive. That leaves $49,000 to go. Please make that extra effort for victory in 1990.