Here’s a perfect job for Gracie

Victoria — One of the top jobs the B.C.
government has to offer becomes vacant this year,
and I’ve got just the person to replace the
incumbent.

Garde Gardom, agent general at British Colum-
bia House in London, will soon pack his bags and
come home. His five-year stint is over, and
Premier Harcourt has, no doubt, been casting
about for a suitable successor.

One of the names bandied about has been that
of Mark Rose, retired Social Democrat, excellent
orator and very affable chap, indeed. But regard-
less of how much I like him, he would be the
wrong appointment.

Somy Mark, but what we need in London is
someone with formidable skills as a sales person,
someone who can put British Columbia on the
map of the European Community and keep it
there. Someone like — Grace McCarthy.

Ah, but Grace McCarthy is a super-Socred, you
say. What would she be doing with an NDP
appointment? Serve British Columbia’s interests
to the best of her ability, that’s what she would do.
And make no mistake about it, her abilities are
legend.

And by the way, it isn’t the first time a premier
would appoint someone with opposite political
leanings to the London job. When Bill Bennett
became premier, after whipping the pants off the
NDP in 1975, he appointed Bob Strachan as agent
general in London; the same man who had been
the leader of the New Democratic Party.

It was a good move from a political point of
view. It sent a signal to British Columbians that
the new government wasn’t about to conduct a
political vendetta, that it could rise above petty
quarrels.

From a business point of view, however, it
wasn’t such a good move. Strachan was a man at
home in the daily skirmishes of the political
arena, but ill at ease on the diplomatic circuit. He
was a political worrier, not a salesman. ~

Gardom, on the other hand, has been excellent
at the job. He can charm the birds out of a tree,
hold his own at any gathering of business people,
and convince anyone that British Columbia is the
next-best thing to sliced bread.

Gardom has been painfully aware of the need
for strong British Columbia representation, not
only in the United Kingdom, but on the continent.

Time and again, he impressed on the previous
government that the changes Europe will undergo

this year are crucial to British Columbia.

He knows that with trade barriers between
members of the European Community falling like
trees in a clear-cut in 1992, we had better make
our presence known in the strongest-possible way.

The European Community’s ban on the import —

of green lumber, which we escaped by the skin of
our teeth, at least for another 12 months, is a
prime example why British Columbians must
have someone in London who can forcefully
inject himself or herself into any fray.

If British Columbia exporters found it difficult
to unload their goods in the European Commun-
ity in the past, they're going to be in for a really
rude surprise in 1992.

Europe will not come knocking on our doors.
We'll have to penetrate their defences and try to
make ourselves indispensable. That takes sales-
manship, political instinct, and energy. Grace
McCarthy qualifies on all three counts.

OK., so I like Grace. What’s wrong with that?
The point is that she would be perfect for the
London job. She knows British Columbia like few
others. She knows the politics and the economics.
During her stint as tourism minister, she put all
predecessors and successors to shame.

She also has an I.0.U. or two Premier Harcourt
might consider paying. When Bob Williams,
long-time NDP MLA, retired from politics,
former forest Minister Claude Richmond
launched a very low and undignified attack on
him in the legislature.

It was Grace McCarthy who stood up and put
her own party colleague in his place. Praising
Williams for his long service and his dedication
as a politician, Grace McCarthy showed true class
that day.

In the meantime, Williams has been resurrected
as the chief of British Columbia’s Crown corpora-
tions, a job that guarantees him the ear of the
government. A word from Williams would go a
long way towards sending Grace McCarthy on her
way to London.

The question is, of course, not only whether
Harcourt will ask her to serve as agent general,
but whether she will accept. My guess is she
would.

The job is tailor-made for her It would be a
challenge, something she has been thriving on for
more than 20 years. Appointing Grace McCarthy
as British Columbia’s agent general makes sense
every way you look at it. Think about it, premier.

TheReview

UPHOLSTERY
XANTIQUES _

6655 TRUDEAU TERRACE
BRENTWOOD BAY, B.C.

Wednesday, January 8 1992 = Al

KETC.

All the Best
For 92!

from

LEANNE’S PLACE

Haircare for the Whole Family!
Perms - Colours - Cuts - Braids

Thurs. 9-7
Fri.-Sat. 9-5

SAM SAYS,

For Appointment Call
\ HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

656-7339

SA

MUFFET SG LOUISA
ANNUAL
JATUARY SALE

e kitchen ¢ bathroom e dining room ° bedroom

MUFFET & LOUISA

MURETGELOUISA = calinensos
2389 Beacon Avenue
Sidney, B.C.
656-0011

2385 Beacon Avenue
Sidney, B.C.
656-0022

Triple luck engineers lOVen win

THE NEW YEAR was $10,000 brighter for
North Saanich municipal engineer Jack Parry
after he matched an Early Bird draw on a $20
Celebration 92 ticket. The 50-year-old Parry, who
lives in Saanichton, bought his first Celebration
*92 ticket at Tanner’s Books in Sidney, won $20
on that ticket so purchased a second ticket. He
won $20 on the second ticket, so purchased a
third ticket. When he checked all his ticket
numbers New Year’s Day, he discovered he had
matched one of the Early Bird draw numbers,
winning $10,000. He plans to pay off some bills
and then take his mother on a cruise to Alaska
when she comes to visit from Australia this

summer
* OR

AN UNUSUAL BIRD in their yard earned
former North Saanich residents John and Beryl
Holt a certificate of commendation from the
American Birding Association. They were nom-
inated by a friend, Barbara Begg, in recognition
of their hospitality to birdwatchers observing a
Brambling (finch), an Eurasian species which had
settled in their yard last winter. The couple have

recently moved to Nanaimo.
* OK

WILLING WALKERS for the Kinsmen
Mothers’ March are needed for the annual
campaign, to be held from Jan. 15 to 31. The
charity supports programs to help children and
adults with physical disabilities lead more inde-

mat

HPA I a.
rt od

pendent lives. The goal for the 1992 campaign is
$1.75 million. Volunteers are asked to call
244-7190.

* KOK

WOMEN WITH SPARK and a desire for a
better future are enrolling in Camosun College’s
new 25-week electrical training program for
women. The course, led by Kathleen Wilkins is
part of an effort to increase the number of women
working in the construction industry. The program
is sponsored by the Construction Association of
Victoria, the college and Employment and Immi-
gration Canada. The first session is already full,
with students ranging in age from 19 to 45.
Classes will be followed by a six-week work
placement with a local contractor for each
student.

‘\

Another Heritage Moment
by Carole Bawlf

9646 Sixth Street, Sidney
Roy Brethour House

The Brethours built this Arts and Crafts Style

home in 1912, just after John Brethour subdivided
a piece of his farm into residential lots. The area
used to be an orchard, and for years mail sent to
the family was c/o “The Orchard, Sidney.” The
house is known as The Orchard House bed-and-
breakfast. With a lovely setting and large lot, it is
one of the finest older homes left in Sidney. It is not
for sale.

Whether your preference is for a Vintage Home, a
Contemporary Residence, or a Condo, for your
special home on the Peninsula, call

CAROLE BAWLF
656-0911

PEMBERTON.

HOLMES “i"* 2481 Beacon Avenue, Sidney [