A4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 15, 1996 ‘TERRACE, STANDARD ESTABLISHED APRIL 27, 1988 ADDRESS: 3210 Clinton Street Terrace, B,C. * V8G 5R2 TELEPHONE: (604) 638-7283 * FAX: (604) 638-8432 E-MAIL: terrace.standard@sasquat.com MODEWN: (604) 638-7247 A non-starter ONCE YOU squeeze the land claims toothpaste out of the tube, it’s awfully tough to stuff it back in again. That’s the essential dilemma facing the Liberal and Reform parties as they do battle with the NDP government in this provincial election. As much as those parties say they want to undo or substantially change the land claims policies of the NDP there are many and varied problems, The first problem is that land claims are very much an unknown. While the NDP has taken us on the first steps there is no definitive map out- lining where we should all end up. That makes it difficult for the opposition parties to take on the NDP other than to give the rest of us the uneasy feeling we’re going to end up with a domestic version of the United Nations. The second is that the NDP have created a value system surrounding land claims that is so ingrained into our social, economic and political systems, it'll be practically impossible to rip apart and start all over again. This is not to say we all buy into the concept of land claims as being proposed by the NDP — far from it — but the vast majority of us inherently feel that we have treated natives horribly in the past. And from that, we know that something dif- ferent must be done. The Reform and Liberal parties might talk about ‘‘one law for all’’ into infinity but even the more cynical critics of land claims among us realize deep down that trite political phrases won't cut it in the vast shadings of gray that oc- cupy the treaty settlement spectrum. » Dhere are. also. no. allies to. be had.by the, domi-_ ‘vant potitical “structure: in'"Ottawa."The ; power brokers there are more or 1€8s ‘coritent to let the provincial NDP run the show, treating B.C. as they always have and that is as a colony not im- portant on the national scale. But the biggest problem of all for the opposi- tion parties is that land claims do not figure greatly on the scale of issues being considered by voters in this election. So far the age-old political punching bags of taxes and tax breaks, spending, health care, edu- cation and the like have occupied the minds of politicians and their handlers. That’s because these are the popular issues in the vote-heavy south where the crucial ridings are located. Vancouver city folk and those who live in suburbs on the lower mainland simply do not regard land claims as important enough to worry about in this election. With land claims not an overriding issue, there is no need for the Liberals or the Reformers to spend a lot of time on the subject. Of course, this works against those who live in the Interior and the North. Land claims remain the single driving force that will affect our so- cial, cultural and economic structures heading into and then well beyond the next century. And this leaves us who live in the North and the Interior about where we have been all along — not really ignored but not on the top of any- body’s list, ae a A, a Sc oe oe a PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Rod Link ADVERTISING MANAGER: Rick Passmore PROOUCTION MANAGER: Edouard Credgeur NEWS Jeff Nagel * NEWS SPORTS: Dave Taylor COMMUNITY: Cris Leykauf OFFICE MANAGER: Laurie Ritter ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS: Sam Collier, Janet Viveiros ADVERTISING ASSISTANT: Emma Law, Kelly Jean TYPESETTING: Sylvana Broman . DARKROOM: Susan Credgeur CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR: Karen Brunette MEMBER OF &.C. PRESS COUNCIL Sarving tha Tartace and Thornhil area. Published on Wednesday of each week by Cariboo Prass (1969) Ud. al 3210 Clinton Street, Terrace, Brtish Columbia, VAG 5R2. . , Slories; photographs, ilustations, designs and typestyles In the Terrace Standard ara the praperty of tha cepyigt holdars, including Carlboa Press (1969) Ltd., its iMustration repro services and adverlising agencies. . Reproduction in whole or in part, without written permission, is specifically prohibited, Authorized as second-class mail pending tha Post Office Department, for payment of postage in cash. Special thanks to all our contributors and correspondents for their time and tatents TRUST, YOU GOOD PEOPLE HAVE NOTICED THAT MY MAGIC WAND 1S MUCH BIGGER THAN MR, CLARKS"... . ond tf f yy, H ca ‘ DE = BD Aen Celebrate our half full cup | VICTORIA — Cynicism has become a national preoccupa- tion that reaches a fever pitch at election time. The other day, I watched some TV reporter ask people on the street whether they give any credence to promises politicians make during the election campaign, Out of about 25 people asked, not one said, yes, which isn’t surprising. Given the tendency of the news media to cater to the nasty mood of voters, the question itself was meant to elicit negative response. Who would want to be caught on TV these days, saying they believe politicians? The question was mis- chievous, the answers lacked any thought, and neither had _, anything to do with tie real is- : sues facing British’ Colum- bians, or Canadians in general, for that matter. It was another example of media-generated cynicism. The United Nations consid- ers Canada the most desirable country to live in. Just about anywhere on our tortured planet, people seem to know that Canada is the place dreams are made of. The only ones who don’t be- lieve it are some 28 million Canadians who'd rather waste their time bitching and whin- straight and | narrow, T' have . ‘seen just about every political’ FROM THE CAPITAL HUBERT BEYER ing than counting their bless- ings. I make my living observing and commenting on politics and, in the process, trying to shenanigan imaginable, but I’ would quit my job tomorrow if I ever found myself half as deep in the morass of cynicisin and mistrust as the majorily of the public, The truth is that the dishonest and self-serving politician is the exception. The vast majorl- ty are honest, hard-working people who really believe they can make a difference. And they do, which is more than can be said for the legions of snipers, whiners and com- keep our politicians on the plainers who would have us believe that politicians can’t be trusted. What's more, mast election promises ever made have been kept. And that record can’t be wiped out by the odd promise broken, like Jean Chretien’s promise to get rid of the GST. Mike Harcourt promised in 1992 to end the confrontation over our forest resources. He delivered, in spades. Yes, he also promised to end pork- barrelling, and didn’t do so well in that department, But he kept his promise to double British Columbia's park land and bring in tough environmental laws. Both earned the government intema- tional praise, The NDP also promised to “Fowrlle the lahour Jaws. And, they did Tiel spp ive! a criticized’ ‘the changes, ‘claim- ing they benefit unions, is no big surprise. Did anyone ex- pect the NDP to pass labour laws favouring big business? The point is that the NDP didn’t spring any surprises on the voters. They said what they would do during the last elec- tion campaign, and they did it. Going back in time some 42 years, W.A.C, Bennett Promised to turn British Columbia from a have-not pro- vince into an economic power house, perhaps the most am- bitious political promise ever made, I don’t think I have to explain in detail that he more than kept that promise over the 20 years he served this pro- vince as premier, T came to British Columbia from Manitoba when W.A.C. Bennett was premier, and I have been an observer of provincial politics through five different governments. I -have known hundreds of MLAs, on both sides of the political fence, who gave their time and dedication to making British Columbia a better place to live, And most of them succeeded. . Give the record of the vast majority of the people who have served the public during the, past, 70 years, there is no logical repson for.the contempt in Which the public holds our ice rer aey politicians. While the media must bear some responsibility for the public’s cynicism, they're not the, only culprit. Ultimately, the fault lies with the individu- al. Nobody is forced to swal- low the garbage some of the media a feeding the public. Try looking at a cup as half- full rather than haif-empty. Beyer can be reached at Tel: 920-9300; Fax: 385-6783; E- Mail: hbeyer@direct.ca , Do not listen to Rafe Mair FIRST TIME election candi- dates — like butterflies emerg- ing from a chrysalis — have only hours to ready themselves to withstand the rigors of campaigning. The election call instantly targets them for voter scrutiny, media comment, and opponents’ jabs, Often newcomers enter a provincial election coached by party brass to spout the party line, deflect difficult questions, and spin a situation to reflect a good light. But it’s left to them to hold a smile, choke back tears, and ride out embarrass- ment. They need to quickly devel- op skin as thorn proof as a Maori’s heel, Old bands at campaigning who have clawed their way up the political ladder from school tusiee to city councilor to mayor have had years to grow armor plate, Repeated stings ftom public ridicule, smarts from scathing editorials, and THROUGH BIFOCALS CLAUDETTE SANDECKI bruises inflicted by jockeying politicians have all callused them until they neither flinch nor react to anything less than a threat to their indexed pen- sion. How can a first time candi- date acquire rhino hide tough- ness in short order? During the weeks between nomination and the dropping of the writ, she can substitute WE CAN ANALYZE TRAC N YOU PRECISEL ELEMENTS (AJ POLLUTION ! CAN STOP WHERE IT Y } | COMES FROM «: wits NEW TECHNOLOGY a 7 DOES THAT MEA teach junior high classes, At family gatherings, instead of charades, role play the part of an abused spouse. Accustom herself to re- jection: Apply and interview for every advertised job she could conceivable qualify for, Offer thoughtful, detailed ad- vice to all who dump their troubles on her. Pretend to be Sheila Copps or Lucien Bouchard and saturale her evenings watching Air Farce re-runs; neither laugh nor cry. Spend every spare moment listening to confidence build- ing tapes. If caught with no lead time between nomination ° and campaign, she could wear ear plugs to block aut: negative comments, Avoid watching television news, listening to radio news, or reading newspa- per editorials, Under no cir- cumstances tune in to Rafe Mair. : ! BUT Now WE. KNOW Give no off-the-cuff inter- views, Because it would be insensi- live for the public to attack a handicapped person, limp and support one arm in a sling, If possible, the sling should be a white terry towel, Put out the word she’s bat- tling a dysentery bug, clearing the path for a sprint to the Washroom if tears should threaten. That’s when she can whip off her sling and soak up all signs of a fortitude break-. down, | Apply pancake makeup with the gusto of a drywaller plastering scams. Hang the cost, so long as the rosy glow from embarrassment is mini- mized. At all limes, wraparound dark glasses, Above all, she shouldn't worry about insincerity. Con- sider these measures tricks of the trade, Voters will forgive... or at least forget. . wear