EE

IN ROSSLAND, a
Kootenay town of 3,700

' people, residents have more

of a say in municipal
affairs than anywhere else
in B.C.

Through a@ constitution
adopted in 1990, Rossland

_.citizens can reverse council
decisions and put forward

proposed by-laws by

By SHARON TAYLOR
ISN’T IT enough to go out and
vote every three years? In a word:
Nol’ U

The world is full of people who
are content to sit back and bel-

‘lyache about decisions elected of-

ficials make. In politics and civic
affairs, as in sports, armchair
quarterbacks abound!

Citizen referenda?? You mean
actually become informed, get in-
volved and have a say in what
goes-on? I think it’s an idea that
is worth exploring. Whai better
way for people to become in-
volved?

In the past few years, we've
seen an astonishing number of
forums to inform, and solicit pub-

- li¢ response, All levels of govern-

ment have been holding ‘town
hall meetings”, ‘‘public informa-

_ tion sessions’, “‘surveys’’ and

“consultations’’. We've been

Make

votes

count

By VAL GEORGE
MOST OF us probably used to

agree with the well-known com-:

ment of Winston Churchill about
democracy being the worst sys-
tem of government if it weren’t
that-none of the others are any
better. a,

Many of us are now saying that
with our so-called democratic
syslem having degenerated to its
present level of political and

‘moral bankruptcy, there has to be

a better way.

When’ governments can get
elected, as is presently the case in
B.C., by considerably less than a
majority of the voters and then
act as if they represent the majori-
ty interests, there’s not much
democracy left.

When politicians can be so
completely out of touch with the
electorate on very. major issues
like the national constitution, then
its time for a fundamental
change.

.One way to bring some sem-
blance of tre democracy back

into the system is to go for some

form of direct.democracy. We
“need mare binding referenda and
related ways of ensuring that
governments al all levels follow
the wishes of the people.

‘In a referendum system, most
questions would still be decided
by our elected politicians. But
matters with far-ranging con-
sequences would be put to bind-

ing referenda.

No gain for d

By JOHN HOW
The relative merit of a
referendum system would seem
to me to depend on whether, as lis
proponents claim, it is somehow

“more democratic’’ than compe-

ting. systems, I would contend

’ ; that itis not.

The only novelly of the so-
called direct democracy process
compared to normal Canadian
political practice is that the initia-

“tive for involving a referendum

would pass outside tradilional
political institutions. In this case

-to registered voters ralher than to

elected municipai officials.
. Let's look at how such a system
might function in Terrace,

At the time of the 1993 city
election, thére were 5,854 regis-
tered electors on the voters list,

‘Using the 20 per cent minimum

requirement under the Rossland
Rules, a total of 1,170 Terrace
electors would be needed to force

holding a referendum.

To hold a referendum, a

petition containing at least
20 per cent of the
community’s registered

voters must be signed.
Budget items and those
which affect other

jurisdictions cannot be

subjects of a referendum.
Six items have so far been

consulted to exhaustion!

Bul the fact remains that at the
end of the day, we still feel
powerless because the decisions
are still being made by the few.

Rossland has taken a bold step
by instituting a constitutionat
bylaw that enables citizens to
sponsor their own legislation.

Their experience in the past
four years has shown that il has
not been abused. So why not
here? It seems to me that it would
mean that people could take their
ideas out of the coffee shop and
put them to the test.

It would mean that people
would have to be a lot better in-
formed about the ‘‘why’’ of any
particular by-law or issue, and
would be compelled to hear all
sides.

The requirement for 20 to 30
percent support to get an item on
the baliot ensures that Erivolous

taken to referendum. Three
involved proposals to
increase council members’

pay. All three were

defeated.

But the process doesn't
always work in the way
some intended,

-A proposed development
came under fire by
neighbourhoed residents.

actions wor’ t happen.

And best of all, in my view, it
means that council needn’t be in-
limidated. or pressured by small,
vocal, special interest groups!

But [do think there should be a
provision in the process fo make
sure that any petitions are worded
properly. How many petitions
have you seen that are so vague
or so motherhood that it would be
immoral not to sign!

And yet the proponents of the
petition have something very
specific in mind that isn’t stated
on the document. Clear, concise,
truthful statements are essential!

We have every right to be proud
to live in a democratic society.
But we also have a responsibility
to be participatory, effective
citizens.

If we don’t have the courage to
participate in that democracy,
then we really shouldn’t expect

Under the old system the
project more than likely
would have been rejected.
However council told
protestors to gather the
required signatures for a
referendum. They failed
and the project went ahead.
Below are the thoughts of
three local residents on
municipal referenda.

Big ‘yes’ to citizen power

Sharon Taylor

any better than we get.

Sharon Taylor works for
Skeena Broadcasters and is the
president of the Terrace and Dis-
trict Chamber of Commerce.

fe ops

planned residential development.

CITY COUNCILLOR Val George stands at Howe Creek, the site of a recent

tie

hana or

controversy over a

With hundreds of people signing a petition against development,
it brought up the question of how city council makes decisions and what say, if any, specialized in-
terests have in municipal government.

Examples are major budget
items, and government programs
and services that affect a majority

‘of the people in important ways.

There are a small minority of
very important issues, however,
that should no be decided by
referendum - those wilh very
serious moval implication, like
capital punishment, declaring war
on another nation, and abortion.

We can’! expect our elected
representative to support the ma-
jority opinion against his or her
conscience.

a referendum here. This is not tri-
fling undertaking, as anyone who
has experience in organized can-
vassing can attest.

I’s unlikely to be accomplished
by a few folks clustered around
the coffee pot on a sunny sum-
mer’s morning; the chamber of
commerce with its organizational
resources could likely pull it off.
So too might the labour council.
But can cither of those institu-
tions claim to be inherently more
democratic than the Tuesday
morning coffee clatch? I don't
believe so.

Our last. city election cost
$5,700 to solicit, collect and
count the vote (over and above
any money spent by the candi-
dates). I’d expect the cos! of
organizing a formal petition
campaign to be comparable, So
substantial resources. — skills,
time, and money — would be re-
quired to mounta petition

So how do we deal with such
issues? By requiring that those
running for political office
declare their positions, especially
if it’s very likely these issues will
come up for debated during their
term.

The other safeguard for the
electorate on serious moral is-
sues, and all others that voters
feel strongly on, is politician
recall, This should go along with
the binding referendum system.

If we don’t think that our
politicians are properly represent-

ing us on serious issues, we
should have the right to kick them
out without having to wait until
the next election.

Sure, there are problems with
referenda systems and recall, But,
as we said, no system is perfect,
and there has to be a betler onc
than what we've gol.

Referenda and recall work well
in other jurisdictions in the world.
Let’s give them a try here.

Val George is a consultant and
a member of Terrace city coun-
cil,

emocracy >

And he who pays the piper
would no doubt feel justified in
calling the (une or at least take
proprietary interest in the
campaign’s agenda.

In order for the referendum pro-
cess to be effective, the question
itself must lend itself to a simple
‘yay’ or ‘nay’ answer. You may
recall that the entire Canadian
Constitutional debate was
reduced finally to just a dozen
words on the referendum ballot
— please vote ‘yay’ or ‘nay’.

The world we live in is seldom

so simple. But. that’s the un-
fortunate tendency. of the
referendum process — to trivial-
ize issues down to the point
where any competent pollsier can
come up with the right answer
plus or minus 5 per cent 99 times
out of a hundred, .

So why not dispense with
referenda and. go with. polls?

Cheaper than a’ referendum?

- SHOES |

Probably. Effective? © Most
govemmients evidently think so.
But democratic? Hardly. After
all, citizens want to count, not
just be counted.

So, no, I don’t think that the
direct democracy movement as
manifest In Rossland is any more
democratic than the status quo.

Yd prefer to sce more
participatory democracy instead.
Imagine 1,170 Terracites not
merely making their mark on a
petition, but calling on their
mayor, their councillors, their
neighbours to express their con-
cems by showing up 1,170 —
strong to a’ council mecting

’ (wherever could we hold it?!?) or

even by writing letters tu the
edilor. :
I’s just a question of citizens
relaking the initlative. _
When he's not working on. his
house, John How casts a keen
and critical eye on various is-

J. says Weisgerber.

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 8, 1994 - AS

0
CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD

The Mail Bag

Council’s vision lacking

Dear Sin

Council’s vision seems to be absent when it comes to develop-
ment in our community. We seem to drop the ball in our subjective-
ness, and fail to sce what is ahead, and how vital it is to plan for the
increase in immigration to our area. The lack of rental accommoda-
tion, and the exorbitant rents charged fer what is available, is our
first clue that something is amiss in terms of planning on the part of
our city officials. ,

Perhaps B.C, landlords should talk to their counterparts in Ontario
to find our just what rent controls have done to them. I can see that
if things are to continue the way they have, that is what is in store, ©
When you have a short supply and a big demand, the little person is
the one thal is exploiied for basic shelter, and then the government
is eventually forced to step in and protect them. ;

It appears we do everything in our power to force our retired, and
quiet money out of town as well. Where is there adequate condo-
minium housing, on an upscale level, when your older homeowner
would like to rid themselves of excessive domestic maintenance
and security concerns when they travel?

I think we simply force them to head for the Okanagan and the Is-
land; not just for the milder climate, but for the opportunity to
secure nicer housing in pretty settings, .

We do not simply need ‘seniors’ housing for those who are still
wanting of independence and real estate investment opportunity and
choice of view locations,

At the same time, in light of all the single family development in
the ranges of $200,000 to $300,000 dollars, is it not time for council]
to perhaps consider the position of by-law enforcement as being a
full time position. If taxes continue to rise based on increases in
property values, let us ensure our values are protected by (hose who
leave empty lots turn into weed patches in the midst of a lovely
neighbourhood. This is impairing the property values of adjoining
properties while the negligent speculators play the market.

wo Dawne Kay,
Terrace, B.C,

Single parent achievers
‘ Dear sir:

This year is being heralded as the Year of the Family. Many mag-
azine articles are ciling single parented families as ‘‘over
achievers’. They seem to be awarding special acclaim to these
people because they are raising well balanced happy families.

This kind of article leads us to believe that it is newsworthy when
one parent accomplishes what society (still) feels it should take two.

Perhaps what these magazine articles fail to mention is that
certain people achieve and others do not, regardless of whether they

‘have children or not. Single parenting is what we do, it is not who

‘ we are.

Are we the paragons of virtue as touted by many magazine arti-

. cles? Is it such a surprise that it warrants a place in a major publica-

tian? Or. are we simply your neighbours, taking pride in our chil-
dren’s accomplishments and raising them with quiet dignity.

a Lina Pavanel,

Terrace, B.C,

Veteran frustrated

An open letter to Veterans Affairs
_ Dear Sirs: ceo, rr errs Te ae
_ On April 42, I had to, go, to, see a doctor in, Burnaby. regarding

~ “treatment of my’eyes. A day or two prior to this, I phoned’ your of-

fice to inquire about reimbursement of travel expenses. -

The lady I spoke to informed me I would have to pay out of pock-
et, submit the reccipts and the money would be reimbursed. I asked
if they would give me an allowance before I left, and I could return
my receipts and any remaining money upon my return. She insisted
I had to pay first and be reimbursed later. ;

- [had explained that I had only $12 in my pocket, and was notin a
position to pay out of pocket This really did not seem to matter. I
wonder, if a person does not have the money to pay first, and has no
one they can stay with, will they have to go without medical treat-
ment because they are poor?

My coverage with Biue Cross is group B, so all expenses are sup-
posed to be paid. I willingly served with the Merchant Marints to
serve my country and my fellow man. It is now my expectation that
Veteran Affairs will willingly assist me. -

There are many people in our country who do not have any extra
money to pay these expenses and wait for the money - myself in-
cluded. Every dollar spent is food out of the cupboards. While I
probably may be able to borrow moncy somewhere, am I honestly
expected to do this every time I go for medical treatment?

__ tis frustrating and extremely demeaning to have to beg for some-
thing I fought to earn years ago. When you needed me I was there;
now: I need you, Where are you? .

. Harvey W, Paul,

- Terrace, B.C.

More letters, Page A7

Dew al
THE START 1S FOR PEOPLE LEARNING TO READ

The Start |

New daycare place

THERE IS going to be a new daycare centre in town.

It will be at Caledonia schoo! and be for students who
have children. This will help students go to school and
still take care of their children.

The daycare centre will cost $507,000 to build. It will
be big enough to take care of 24 young children.

Daycare for students now takes place at the Pentecostal
(PENT-A-COS-TUL) church. There is room for only 12
children.

The daycare centre will be for students going to Grade
11 and 12 at Caledonia and for students in lower grades.
It should be finished by early next year. EE

Vote wanted.
A POLITICAL leader wants people to vote on all land
claims deals. eee
Jack Weisgerber is from the Reform Party of B.C: He
says people who live ina land claim area should vote on
any agreement. oe
And he wants there to be more information on land
claims talks, Weisgerber says too much is taking place
behindclosed doors, «32
If more information was out in the open, more people
might accept land claims deals, he says. Land claims is-
-sues-ate too important'to.be kept behind. closed doors,