Aé4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 24, 1996 TERRACE. , ESTABLISHED APRIL 27, [988 ” y Name one man Who would be 4 better _ leader than Glen... ADDRESS: 4647 Lazelle Ave., Terrace, B.C. * V8G 1S8 TELEPHONE: (604) 638-7283 + FAX: (604) 638-8432 MODEM: (604) 638-7247 Finger pointing OF ALL THE numerous and unresolved issues surrounding land claims, none is more fascinat- ing, complex and difficult than the one of bound- ary overlaps between native groups. Overlaps exist in areas where for thousands of years native groups have shared resources such as fishing spots and hunting territories. Inter- marriage and migrations have blurred distinc- tions about who has what. Vital evidence —- par- ticularly oral histories passed down through the generations — was lost in the last century when the European culture became dominant and the social structures of native groups dimmed. Up until now, overlaps have simmered away quietly. That’s not the case anymore, particularly when it comes to the Nisga’a. The closer they get to an agreement in principle on their treaty, the more important their overlap with the Gitanyow and the Gitksan becomes, The overlap problem is two-fold. It’s political in the sense of how to resolve overlaps in hopes of reaching settlements. It’s practical in the sense of how can claims be settled when there is no agreement among native groups over who has what. The most delicate of the above is political. Overlaps are a public relations nightmare for na- tive groups who portray themselves as negotiat- ing “‘nation to nation” federal governments. with the provincial and Overlaps are embarrassing for they expose the lack of solidarity among native groups when dealing with the provincial and federal govern- ments. The image of native groups scrapping amongst themselves weakens their negotiating positions. Overlaps also provide more than enough am- Munition to those who oppose claims settle- ments. It’s an easy issue to exploit because it’s fertile ground in which to plant seeds of doubt and suspicion about why we’re negotiating land claims in the first place. Overlaps ultimately can be used to conjure up nasty connotations of cultural superiority. More cynical observers can make comparisons be- tween what’s going on in Bosnia to what’s hap- pening in the northwest. Native groups like to say it’s our fixation on drawing lines on maps that created the overlap problem in the first place, That may be partially right. Yet the native insistence on control and use of resources has also heightened the issue of who has what territory. But it would be too easy to hammer away at na- tive groups about overlaps. The instinct for terri- torial control exists within us all. Canada has problems with the United States when it comes to sovereignty in the far north. How many court cases have been fought over the years about lot lines, water rights and property sales agree- ments? Before we point fingers or delight in the prob- lems of others, we must remember that what we're dealing with here is the age-old require- ment that human beings need a sense of identity and security. That may also involve compromise and that’s not too much to expect. G5 PUBLISHER /EDITOR: Rod Link cu &/ ADVERTISING MANAGER: Mike L. Hamm PRODUCTION MANAGER: Edouard Credgeur # ccna ies Bashin VICTORIA — The release last week of Auditor Genezal George Morfitt’s annual report opened the flood gates to a kind of right-wing welfare- bashing not heard in some time. “It is infuriating to learn that known cheats and scam artists are not even kicked off welfare in the vast majority of cases, and are left off Scot-free with their illegal loot if they walk away from the system on their own accord,’’ stormed Reform j leader Jack Weisgerber, HUBERT BEYER FROM THE CAPITAL. “As premier, I would im- inediately initiate a toll-free hatline for reporting suspected welfare abuse, similar to what has been recently initiated in Onlario. As well, confirmed welfare cheats would immed} ately be booted off welfare and aggressively prosecuted to recover every penny they ever stole from B.C. taxpayers,” Weisgerber ranted on. ‘Any technology for pre- venting fraud that is acceptable to most taxpayers would be implemented under my admin- istration.’ Allow me to be a voice of Teason, before someone de- cides that public fogging might be a successful deterrent lo the abuse of our income as- sistance program. 1 perused Morfitt’s report with due care, There’s no denying that he does his job well. He audits the govern- ment’s fiscal performance, points out weaknesses and makes suggestions for im- provements, He also gives ‘credit for changes, bascd on previous recommendations. It’s te that the govern- ments social assislance pro- gram didn’t get a clean bill of health from Morfitt, but his findings don’t justify the silly howls of rage and righteous in- dignation that emanated from Weisgerber. Morfitt found that the system is excessively lenient, leading ta abuse. He acknowledges that field staff face difficulties determining who is eligible for welfare, but adds that this still doesn’t go fare enough to ex- plain the shortcomings of the system. “This may explain, but only partly, the reason for in- consisient and excessively lenient Verification and docu- mentation practices in areas where we expected a more rigorous application of the ministry’s eligibility policies and procedures,” says Morfitt. He says that recent govern- ment initiatives, once fully im- plemented, should help reduce fraud but recommends addi- tional tightening of eligibility checks, The welfare system has be- come one of British Coium- bia’s mast expensive social programs. Spending on income assistance has incrcascd by 103 per cent in the last five years, from $888 million in 1990 to $1.803 billion in 1995, Mosi of that increase — 73 per cent — is due 1o a rise in the number of welfare claimants. The rest is the result of higher payments, But contrary to what the crit- ics would want us to believe, the increase in welfare claims is not the result of lenient policies, but Jargely due to a flocd of migration to British Columbia from other pro- vinces. And that was the reason Brit- ish Columbia recently intra- duced the six-month residency requirement before anyone coming here from other pro- g the poor a bad call vinces or abroad is eligible for welfare. While welfare fraud cannot be ignorcd, it must be kept in mind that cheating isn’t the or- der of the day for the vast ma- jority receiving income as- sistance. With few exceptions, people on welfare have no other means of surviving. And it’s our duly to make sure they do. Our social safety net is based on nothing less than the bibli- cal reminder that we are our brother’s keepers. It is Morfitt’s job to zero in on inefficiency in government spending. And if his past. recommendations and the government’s response are any indication, changes to welfare eligibility procedures. will come along in short order, reducing if not eliminating fraud, For Weisgerber to exploit Marfitt’s report for his own political ambitions is unseemly in the extreme. To be forced onto welfare is traumatic cnough for most people. To have to listen to Weisgerber’s welfarc-bashing under the thin disguise of con- demning only the cheats, adds insult to injury. Beyer can be reached at: Tel:(604) 360-6442; Fax:(604) 382- 6922;E-Mail: hbeyer@direct.ca Vet visits a welcome event DURING THE remainder of the winter, two local vets are making themselves available for house calls to care for pets of senior citizens and disabled people. They'll live to regret it, Other vets as well as people doctors are sure to be put out with them for setting a regres- sive precedent. Most doctors forsook house calls decades apo when elec- tranic gadgetry took over diag- nosing where doctors once got along using touch, sight and experience, But to maximize THROUGH BIFOCALS. CLAUDETTE SANDECKI the bottom line, efficiency be- came. equally important to cf- fective treatment, T must admit I twinge with jealousy to think a pet can con a medical specialist, a person in possession of a university degree and on-the-job training, lo hasten to its abode whereas I — so long as [ can move without a paramedic in at- drag myself lo my doctor’s of- fice and wait my turn so others may cough all over me. What have pets got that I haven’t besides a generous donation from an unknown benefactor? Pets must be ecstatic at the vets’ concession to them. Then again, they may take it as their due. And why wouldn't they? their approval: teal them to tidbils, provide them with two Square meals or more per day of their favourite vittles, and jump to open doors for them as though they were royalty. Besides the convenience for seniors of disabled who find winter weather dicey to cope with, they could save consider- able dollars in repair fees if they own rambunctious pels. When we took our ouldoor pup to the vet, she fought the confines of the truck cab as vigorously as a swimmer irying to escape form a hole in the ice. Her toenails punctured the headliner, scraped the dash, grooved the door panel, and frayed the seat upholstery. Even [ needed mending. I had a scratch down one cheek, three rows of bloody beading on one art and was wound like a mummy in her leash, If she'd been going for shots, I'd ward. As it was, she was so sick and weak, when she sat, she toppled over, The wait in the reception room was a treal I can bypass, too. [ cowered ina chair across the room from a burly fisherman anchoring a Great Dane by ils hawser. Next to him, a pit bull poised on its master’s knees, keen to pounce. With every thump of my heart the merits of house . calls became clearer, The vet on a house calf gets to see the animal for what it really is-sick or malingering. Does it mect him at the door silent and withdrawn, or bark- ing and puffed like a blowfish? Does it sniff his heels or gallop backwards ahead of him? And when the pet is told to sit, is it cager to comply or docs it stalk off, tail starched in defiance mode? ; Maybe it’s better doctors NEWS Jett Nagel * NEWS SPORTS: don’t make house calls. COMMUNITY: Cris Leyvkauf OFFICE MANAGER: Audra Creek COMTADLUTG lendance —. am expected to We make them think we need have ended in the orthopedic ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS: WHY ARE MEN THEY'RE VERY WHAT'S AN AXE “I 4 sm Coll iveitos, Tracey Tomas ALWAYS THROWNIG) | PRIMITWE!AFTER \| But A STICK |/SO WAY” (Hey KEEP THE CABIN Sam Collier, Janet Viveiros, Tracey Tomas ROCKS? ALL WHAT IS A witH A SHARP || DO WE RMA ! 4 _ ADVERTISING ASSISTANT: Emma Law ATSENEN' BULLET BUT A ROCK ON (T 2 /) BOER ON THE TABLE ! . DARKROOM: Susan Credgeur COMPOSITOR: Kelly Jean VERY FAST ROCK? WITH Me? & * CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR: Karen Brunette MEMBER OF 8.0. PAESS COUNCIL Serving the Terrace and Thornhill area. Published on Wednesday of each week by Cariboo Press (1969) Ld. at 4647 Lazelle Ave, Terrace, British Columbia, Storles, phetographs, illustrations, designs. and typestyles in the Terrace Standard are the property of the Copyright holders, including Cariboo Press (1969) Lid., its iMustration tepro services and advertising agancles, : . Reproduction in whole or in part, without written permission, is Specifically prohibited. Auhorized as second-class mail perding the Past Office Department, for payment of postage in cash Special thanks to ali our contributors and correspondents for their time and talents 7 ene ae