: »

Dueck delivers final blow &

Victoria — The pathetic seven-member Social
Credit caucus rump was reduced by another 14.2
per cent last week when Peter Dueck quit the
party to sit as an independent Member of the B.C.
Legislature.

The party’ response was predictable. Doesn’t
mean a thing. Far too early to predict the demise
of the Social Credit Party, said Socred House
Leader Jack Weisgerber.

Right, Jack. That’s what your leader, Rita
Johnston, said when you got clobbered in last
October’s election. It doesn’t sound any more
convincing now than it did then.

Dueck did the sensible thing. Not only did he
hear the message voters sent to the Socreds in the
October 17 election, but he interpreted it cor-
rectly. The Social Credit Party is dead, never to
mise again.

I’m glad Dueck decided to hang up his Socred
hat. The party has done very little for him. When
he needed support most, he found himself
deserted by his colleagues.

It took the RCMP more than a year to
investigate charges that Dueck, as minister of
health, had been in conflict of interest and breach
of trust with: regard to the purchase of hospital
equipment from Siemens, a German industrial
giant.

It had been alleged that Dueck and some of his
ministry officials were wined and dined at
Siemens’ expense. When the allegations first
surfaced, Dueck resigned from cabinet, and for
more than a year, he was forced to live in what he
called purgatory.

I never believed the allegations. I knew Dueck
too well. He is a kind and considerate man who
takes his responsibilities seriously. There was no
way he could be guilty of what he was accused of.

When the investigation was over, I was proven
right. Just for once, there was no fire, alleged
smoke notwithstanding. g

What had disgusted me all along was the way in
which his own caucus colleagues treated him
while the investigation was underway. Most of
them shunned his company. Reporters were just
about the only ones who would sit with him in the
legislative dining room.

By contrast, the Socreds fell all over themselves
trying to assure Bud Smith of their ever-lasting
devotion when he had to resign for good reason.
Several Socred MLAs went as far as to embrace
him in the House when he announced he was

_ Stepping down.

To Dueck’s credit, he did not mention his
colleague’s disgraceful behavior during his own
tribulations as a reason for quitting. He didn’t
have to. There was plenty of other reasons.

In a letter to his colleagues, Dueck wrote that
the Social Credit Party hasn’t learned from its
mistakes and is finished as a viable force.

“As revelations about our administration con-
tinue to unfold, I feel the party cannot regain the
trust of the people,” he said.

And just in case some die-hard Socred suppor-
ters don’t know what revelations Dueck is talking
about, let me refresh their memory. Dueck is
talking about lies and deceit. He’s talking about
trying to cover up the real deficit which tums out
to be more like $2.5 billion, instead of the $580
million the previous government claimed it was.

Dueck is also talking about the $300,000 in
party funds that disappeared. And he’s talking
about the utter arrogance with which some of the
Socreds are treating the election defeat now.

He says he hopes that some free-enterprise
coalition will eventually be formed to take on the
NDP in the next election. Meanwhile, he will sit
as an independent.

How about joining the Liberals? No, says
Dueck. “The Liberals aren’t going anywhere with
the people they’ve got. I wish them luck, but
they’re not going anywhere,” he says.

I would go along with Dueck’s assessment of
the Liberals, at least as long as they’ve got
Gordon Wilson as leader. Wilson doesn’t have the
stuff to lead an effective opposition. His own
caucus knows that, and you can wait for the
knives to come out. Wilson shouldn’t be too sure
of taking his party into the next election.

And who knows, a new Liberal leader might be
more accommodating to potential converts. Wil-
son, unfortunately, has all but shut the door to any
Socreds who might wish to cross the floor and
join his party.

As for the remaining six Socred MLAs, they
can either follow Dueck’s lead or perish in the
next election. Their talk of rebuilding the party is
sheer nonsense. Few voters in their right mind
would consider ever again supporting a party that
has let them down so badly.

I wish Dueck luck. As I said, I’ve always
considered Dueck to be a decent man who never
gave in to the temptation of playing cheap politics.
I think he deserves to sit unencumbered by any
party ballast one last term.

TheReview

Wednesday, February 19,1992 — A7

OOO OOCOOCOCOOC COSCO

4 THE LARGEST VIDEO STORE IN SIDNEY °
e IS e
bm bs
: NOW OPEN’ §
peecoeoeeaeoe . . 3
Enter our weekly in the old United Carpet premises 6
@ DRAW 5 in Mariner's Village Mall. e
>} For2medium, a
[) MARINER'S { FORMERLY CRAZY MIKES VIDEO + {)
LJ 2FORI PIZZA § ~~ #103-9810 7th ST., SIDNEY 656-3666 }
DOC OOO OOOO OOO OCOOOO00COOO0OOOCOOEr

Parents volunieer dance for youth

AFTER READING AN opinion piece in The
Review a few months ago, a Sidney father decided
he would take the initiative in responding to a call
from youths of “We never have anything to do!”
The result is teen dances, held in the Knights of
Pythias Hall on Third Street the last Friday of
every month. Fred Williston says each of the first
two dances drew about 65 kids between Grades
7-12 each night. With a modest fee of $5, the
parent organizers need about double the amount
of kids to pay expenses including the hall rental,
disc jockey and other expenses. The events are
well-organized with three men at the door, no
retum entry allowed, tight security even outside
the building, and, of course, no smoking, alcohol
or drugs allowed. Numerous business on the
Peninsula have contributed door prizes and,
judging from comments after the first two dances,
the music is better than school dances. “There’s
not many activities in Sidney for kids and we just
need more of them for this to work,” Williston
said. The next dance is Feb. 28.

*k*K x

“WHAT ARE YOU or your family doing to
reduce hazardous wastes?*” That’s the question
posed by the B.C. Hazardous Waste Manage-
ment Corporation to students they are encourag-
ing to take part in a contest. “Be part of the
solution: Get involved! The Enviro-Expo Hazard-
ous Waste Contest invites students to communi-
cate solutions to hazardous waste problems
through any medium they choose — including
artwork, poster, essay, photograph, song, short
story, poem, play, video and so on. The deadline is

March 1 and all winning entries will be displayed
at Enviro-Expo, March 20-22 in the Vancouver
Trade and Convention Centre. Pnzes range from
mountain bikes to ski vacations. Contest entry
forms have been sent to all schools in the
province. If schools have not received them, call
660-1177.

* OK OX

EXPENSIVE LUNCHES were eaten at the
Royal Bank in Sidney Friday after people
reached into their wallets for the Variety Club’s
Telethon during an early-morning auction. Bev
Bazin said the auction, organized by manager Pat
Hannah, raised $242.25 for the Variety Club’s
cause. That amount was added to a grand total of
$5,362.50 from all SO B.C Royal Bank branches.
The highest bid was $20 for a home-made lunch
and the least expensive lunch went for S8.

SHAUN’S
RV CLINIC

“We Make Housecalls”

EARLY BIRD TREATMENT ger

Bring your R.V. - Trailer - Motor Home - Camper - or
Fifth Wheel in to see the doctor NOW before the

spring rush hits.

NOW BOOKING LIGHTWEIGHT

TRAILER RENTALS

We have moved to a large

WE ARE! ‘PAT BAY HWY.
HERES] +
HENRY.

to serve you better:
#2 - 10025 GALARAN

RD., SIDNEY
2
655-4749 Fax: 655-1715 =

—s

GALARANS:

BEACON

Your investment and
retirement needs plus our
Personal Investment Managers
equal a well-planned
financial future.

e@ Rob Parris”
Personal Investment Manager _

(604) 385-9746

Scotiabank Personal Investment Managers,
like Rob Parris, are focused solely on your
investment and retirement needs. At no charge or
obligation, we would be pleased to sit down with
you, help you analyze your current investment
and retirement plans and advise you on what
options are available to you to help secure your
future. A future which you want to be carefully
thought out and planned for.

Please call us to arrange for an appointment,
or mail us the coupon and we will send you
additional information. We know that informed
clients make better decisions and at Scotiabank
we are committed to helping you in every way
possible.

| MAIL TO: SCOTIABANK
P.O. Box 2098

Sidney, B.C.

V8L 356

Please send me your
Retirement Income
Answer Book and your Planning Guide

NAME

r

location with easier access

ADDRESS
CITY PROVINCE
POSTAL CODE TEL

poco o---------------------

pe,

\ Sidney

Service Above Self