Opinion TheReview Wednesday, September 18,1991 — A7 Sie s : Dorman’s | Carpet Cleaners e CARPET CLEANING | e UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Owner Wilf Dorman gives personal attention to all orders y : : a JUST US 9570 Northlawn Terrace, Sidney, B.C. Don T have 10 like justice FREE ESTIMATES Phone: 656-4754 - 30 Years Experience VICTORIA — Shortly after Attorney General cannot keep some of their personal bias out of Russ Fraser announced at a press conference that _ their rulings. Bill Vander Zalm had been charged with breach I also have to wonder about the likelihood of of trust, the former premier emerged from the _ conviction. Compared with other Criminal Code Social Credit caucus room in the Parliament charges, the precedents aren’t that bountiful. Buildings. So, what’s wrong with going ahead anyway, and And for the first time, he looked like a beaten __ if the charges don’t stick, then the man’s name is man. He had served the public faithfully for 25 _ cleared. Is it really? years, he said, and he had never breached the The public doesn’t care much for the finer public’s trust. points of the law and, in keeping with the old rl oe Breach of trust is a serious charge. Upon saying, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, assumes conviction, it carries a maximum jail term of five guilt. And no judge or jury, finding the accused years. No other premier in Canada’s history has _ not guilty, is going to change their minds. been charged with this offence. I’m not saying Vander Zalm shouldn’t have The last B.C. politician charged with breach of _ been charged, but that doesn’t mean I have to like trust was former Surrey mayor Ed McKitka. He the fact that he was charged. In the contrary, I was sentenced to three years in jail. That’s bad don’t like it one bit. enough, but it’s a sad day when a former premier Fraser told reporters that he won’t intervene in faces criminal charges. this case, a right he has under the Crown Counsel What's even sadder is that Vander Zalmhasno _ Act, which states that the attorney general can idea, not even now, why he has been charged. He _ intervene where it is in the public interest. If you have been drinking. has never understood the necessity to keep his Of course, he won’t intervene, although with Call my Uncle at private and business interests separate from his _due respect to the attorney general, sparing British duties as an elected official. Columbians the spectacle of having a former M AXW ELL’S TOW! NG One of my readers, who calls occasionally to premier humiliated in court and perhaps even 24 HOUR take issue with what I write, called me whileI was convicted, might be considered in the public SERVICE 655-4442 working on this column. He wanted to know interest. 7 DAYS and you and your car will get home whether I' was satisfied now. ; All in all, it’s a very sad end to what was A WEEK safely, for only $30.00 plus G.S.T. No, sir, I am not. I had no desire to see Vander _ otherwise a brilliant political career. If only he anywhere on the Peninsula or Victoria. Zalm dragged into court. Ihave never spoken illof had been able to comprehend the strictures of the man. In fact, I liked him very much and still __ high office. do. Once during the great abortion controversy, For me, the Vander Zalm issue was done with Vander said that, of course, he had the right as a) e:5, the day he resigned as premier. His shortcomings premier to impose his moral standards on the La-Z-Boy Recliners 1) € had made it essential that he be removed from _ public. If not, the office might as well go to the office. Mafia. Se Vander, Zalm once said that he had his doubts That statement said it all. He never understood Choose from the largest selection about the justice system, and from his point of that the premier could not rule by decree, that he of La-Z-Boy reclina-rockers and view, I suppose, those doubts are quite well must scrupulously follow the standards laid down reclina-way chairs on Vancouver founded. by our system of parliamentary democracy. And island: HUngLess | in stock. 3 F : : es 3 : etime warranty on First consider that he doesn’t understand tothis no amount of explaining could convince him frame and mechanism. day what was wrong with accepting $20,000 from _ otherwise. Sal dir Tan Yu. The way he sees it, he was selling “the He just didn’t know any better. But if it be true ale priced from family home and the family business.” that ignorance is no excuse before the law, then at $ 397 00 Then consider that the decision whether or not _least let it be a mitigating circumstance. Surely, a BH to charge him was rested with one man — Peter man who finds himself in trouble because he had GS NL noes 018 Ue | Freeman, the special prosecutor. In making his no idea what he was doing wrong, cannot be decision, Freeman had to take into account _ judged as severely as someone who deliberately ice Guar, CALL TOLL FREE FREE DELIVERY AND whether there is a substantial likelihood of runs afoul of the law. ee 1-800-667-1314 Gavpananee conviction. One of my colleagues suggested jokingly that I ays CSU Sales ue S| | How difficult is it, I wonder, to keep personal might make a good character witness for Vander \WIT3N G0 DAYS OF YOUR PURGHASE IF YOU STANDARD | bias out of such decision? Canadians have, inthe | Zalm, and perhaps, that’s not as funny as it Ss aes Ea Sa CoS STANDUES [Oilcor seo past few months, suspected that even judges _ sounds. If I can help him, I’m ayailable. HE DPTERENCETONOU ae ~ wee 2 PUMP SOME GAS into your car and help the © LEA Oe ¢ Si United Way of Greater Victoria at the same time,. this weekend. From 6 p.m. Friday until 6 @ a.m. Monday, one cent from every litre of gas * 5 ES 0 Ye - pumped at Payless Gas stations will go to the Men Ss Oxfords © @ United Way. That includes regular gasoline, diesel Ce ) and propane fuels. Every Payless station on the * H ac, 3 0 Ye ee Island is participating in the fundraiser and all Ladies shoes : @ @ money will be used to fund 36 human care 5 agencies. *Boys & Men’s 5 O% ef * * & s FIRE SAFETY AT home, work or play is what Hig h Tops the Sidney volunteer fire department wants to Ce) get across during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. * 5 0 Ye ¢ & 6-12. This year the department is focusing on the _ already received all 12 volumes of the eee Belts (Canvas) @ @ use of microwave ovens in the home. Properl as part of Sear’s continuation of a project starte used, microwaves are safe and convenient but it to ERO Canada’s 1967 Centennial. The MA NY, MANY can cause scalding burns if not used properly. | world-renowned series is a rich biographical MORE Prevention officer Larry Buchanan said people _collection of individuals who have contributed in should be careful when removing a wrapper or _— shaping Canada’s destiny. School librarian Bon- IN-STORE cover from a hot item because hot steam escapin nie McComb received the index. from the container can cause a burn. As aalL ts <8 AG SPECIALS! careful removing liquids from microwaves and QUESTIONS ABOUT BAKING BREAD? *Free coffee at Miracle’s ff cooking eggs in a microwave is a particular Theres atollchee tip line snonsGred yc Plcicch: Restaurant while you wait danger. Check the microwave oven manual for ee a fia sa : ve ak Le a E for Heel Repairs! specific cooking instructions. Other tips and "42" s Yeast 3 us SUEY Te Wee: precautions are available from the fire prevention create your family’s favorite bead aioe, Sevos) aificn yeast bakers and home economists are ready to : eax answer all your inquiries from basic information : : to how to convert old family recipes, consumer ion ONGOING ERECT esulled nazi to affairs manager Lorelle Spees said. Call. 1-800- 23/6 Bevan Ave. — é library at Parkland Secondary this week 777-4959 fhe numbennnl needed HOURS: when Sidney’s Sears manager Sharen Ulmer DOL SENS s = ae 2 : ‘Ge ra Mon-Sat 8am.-5:30p.m. ee presented an index to the first 12 volumes of the 2 Ay HOF ih