Ad - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 16, 2000

‘TERRACE

STANDARD

ESTABLISHED APRIL 27, 1988

PUBLISHER: ROD LINK ADDRESS: 3210 Clinton Street Terrace, B.C. * V8G 5R2 TELEPHONE: (250) 638-7283 * FAX: (250) 638-8432 EMAIL: standard@kermode. net ,

Hands off CBC

DA DA di da da. That’s the opening bar to the Hockey Night in Canada them music, for years the call for Canadians to spend Saturday night watching our national game.

It’s a tradition that would seem to be at risk judging from the latest pronouncements by the Ottawa mandarins who feel they know what’s best for Canadians to watch.

Yes, indeed. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, which re- gulates the CBC, wants it to carry less profes- sional sports and fewer international movies in prime time but increase what it considers to be more regional programming, ie. more amateur sports as a condition for renewing its licence.

The problem is that this would also reduce the CBC’s advertising revenue, a valuable commod- ity given the enormous budget cuts the public broadcaster has had to absorb over the last decade OF SO.

Robert Rabinovitch, the new CBC president, has told the CRTC to stuff it. And so he should. If there is no new public money for the CBC, then it should be allowed to raise what it can by offering popular programming. This is, after all, an attempt at self sufficiency, something which should be encouraged and not diminished.

The underlying theme of the CRTC’s position is it wants to assert cultural control over the air waves. That kind of thinking is way past dead given the explosion of the television universe with literally hundreds of channels now available,

To hamstring the CBC with content control re-

quirements of.the:kind:sought by the CRTC.will .. sitiply tot? Alidw' the broadcaster to have any ‘kind "

OV Tita Ob

of. presence; No thanks, CRTC. Leave the CBC alone. If you want to change the way it does busi- ness, first come-up with the money.

Doggone it AS SPRING becomes more apparent every day, so do mounds of dog excrement. They’re sneaky things, these waste products. Hidden by the snow and not obvious to the nose because they are fro- zen, these piles leap to public notice as the days warm up.

Sure, there are multiple signs in parks and foot- paths imploring dog owners to stoop and scoop when their pets poop. But for every owner who does, there are lots of people who permit their pets to freely distribute their offerings.

So here’s a solution. It’s one which could put a couple of more dollars into the city’s coffers.

Deputize a Poop Patrol. Put some teeth into Poop Free Zones. Give its members the authority to issue poop violation fines. Pay them a base rate, plus commission for every violator they bag. The city’s budget would benefit and so would those who merely want to enjoy a stroll.

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ELF...

It's time to fix The way we govern

VICTORIA — Ask any British Columbian, mildly interested in politics and the democratic process whether the current system works, and he'll likely inquire if you're out on a day pass.

The system, it is generally agreed, doesn't work. The wheels fell of it long ago. For more than a decade now, B.C. politics has been racked by scandal, turmoil and confu- sion.

Scandals have dominated the news. Three premiers have been forced to resign. The economy is in tatters. And public cynicism is rampant. The question is; what are we going to do about it?

Throwing the rascals out alone won't bring about funda- mental change, which is nee- ded to restore confidence in ‘the democratic process. ‘We've!

’ change occurred:

Changes to the very core of how we govern ourselves are necessary. And a group of British Columbians are doing more than give lip service to the demand for change. ‘They've formed a committee to suggest ideas on how to make government in British Columbia more. democratic, more responsive, and account- able.

FROM THE CAPITAL

HUBERT BEYER

Named the Ad-hoe Commit- tee on the Provincial Constitu- tion, the committee members will make recommendations aimed at a fundamental over- haul of the government.

Convinced that British Co- lumbia desperately needs a "better system of: government,

and discussion on a tong list of topics from fixed election dates to electoral reform.

The committee members aren't political neophytes,

. They are Gordon Gibson,

Garry Lauk, Nick Loenen, Rafe Mair, Mel Smith, and Bud Smith.

Gibson, columnist and for- mer leader of the B.C. Lib- erals, when the Liberals still

were Liberals, says, “We re- present no one, speak for no one, and want nothing, except to suggest solutions that will empower people and make government more effective.”

Mair of open-line fame, says, “After nearly ten years of political turmoil, the forced re- signation of three premiers, and massive mismanagement of the economy, people trust no one, and feel disconnected from the political system. We must mobilize citizens to de- mand that significant improve- ments be made.”

The committee's agenda covers topics sich as the size and appointments to cabinet, appointments to Crown cor- porations, the judiciary, an in- dependent crown counsel, bal- anced budget legislation, dir- ect democracy measures and

definition... of confidence mo- been: there: done: that, and no ‘ithe: committee: hopes -to- stimu-- “bi : late lordad-based ‘public debate

wee

‘Also“on the list i is a fixed le- -pislative calendar, separation

‘of the executive and législa-

tive branches, electoral re- form, and more. Lauk, a former NDP cabinet

minister, says, “Trust in gov-

ernment must be restored. It is .

imperative that over the next two years, British Columbians discuss the fundamentals of good government.”

As for the rest of the com-

_ incarnation,

‘mitlee, Loenen is a former So- cial Credit MLA, Mel Smith a constitutional expert and Bud Smith, and Bud Smith a former Socred cabinet minister.

The committee expects: to publish a report by next June and ils members. hope their ex- ample will stimulate others-to put forward constructive ideas on how to empower people and make gavernment accountable.

1 have, on occasion, been

_ critical: of every one of -the

members of this committee, which isn't surprising since all but one have been -active in politics as members of B.C.'s legislalure, which makes criti- cism unavoidable.

Mel Smith has’ been the tar- get of my barbs because his take on native land claims and treaties differs considerably

- from mine.

But 1 have no hesitation en orsing. ‘their’crusade for a: ‘bel.

~ter'system of: government. God

knows we néed ‘it; and. the combined ‘experience .of these six guys, who in their present have no ax to grind, could serve us all well.

Let the: suggestions come forth and ‘let the public debate

- begin.

Beyer can be reached at: E. mail: hubert@coolcom.com; Tel & Fax: (250) 381-6900; Web: http: /fwww. finbertbeyer.com

should

FOR SIX months the Vivier family from South Africa has lived in Prince Rupert on a vi- sitor’s visa. The Viviers came to Canada on a trial visit when a search of the internet, told them Prince Rupert has the dull, drizzly climate benefi- cial for people suffering from porphyria,

The father and. both child- ren have porphyria, a genetic- ally transferred condition which makes their skin sensi- tive to sunshine. —

The condition forces them to live nocturnally, like bats.

- Sunlight blisters exposed skin.

The blisters then rupture, for- ming scabs that become un- sightly brown scars.

In South Africa, a country. well known for its brilliant sunshine, the. Viviers slept during the daylight hours with the house as dark as possible, and tried to live as narmal an existence as possible during the night.

The result was the kids had no friends. Who wants to allow

CLAUDETTE SANDECKI

their child to play at the neighbours at 2 a.m.? No one visited the family because of their peculiar hours. .

In Prince Rupert, the fami- ly’s life has been normal, ex- cept the kids can’t. attend school because of their. visit- or’s visa, and the parents, can’t take a job.

But they can ali move about outsice during regular hours. The daughter is enrolled

they stay or leave?

in ballet classes and though she is much older -and taller than the other beginners, she

_ has friends in class,

The father has job prospects once Immigration allows him to work, He’s been donating his services as a computer‘and electronics repairman.

Now Immigration has told the Viviers they have 30 days to leave Canada...

I could understand Immigra- tion’s order if the Vivier family had been convicted of even a minor criminal offence in this country. Or if they were here illegally. But their only fault is seeking to become legal -resi- dents from within Canada, They should have applied from a. consulate . outside of our country.

How Immigration Canada can .deny- a. decent family seeking, only. medical relief es- capes me. Think .of the Hon- duran drug dealers in Vancou- ver, in this country illegally, arrested ‘time. after time for dealing drugs, yet Immigration

Canada makes no move lo de- port them,

Or think of the high finanes wizard from the Philippines in Vancouver: for about ten years while his illegal dealings are probed yet Canada: refuses to extradite iim.

So naturally, Immigration comes down decisively on a medically-afflicted family any- one would want for a neigh- bour. To show Prince Rupert's acceptance: of. the family, the Viviers have been given sofas, a kitchen table, ‘a TV, loan of a stereo, and an anonymous benefactor paid their $3000 rental atrears.

Premier Miller promises lo wrile a letter of support for the family. Our area: MP is sympa- thetic bul says the family didn’t follow the proper proce- dure,

“He says the family did nol follow up onan offer which would have permitted il to apply. for ‘immigrant status without first leaving the coun- try.

JUST ASECOND 7}

7 gn STEADY NOW. TUATSA Boy! NO'HE LIKES Outside of Canada (6 hs) $158.25 a nN ALL PRICES INCLUDE en 7 HOLD It! HOLD MAKING) 00D Boy!! To LEARN AND More! GOOD , MEMBER OF nig DON 'T Move? Him) bo (T MAKES HIM ! Boy! Goo Boy.’ B.C. AND YUKON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION. TRICKS yi, DON'T YoU ~ | FEEL IMPORTANT: CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION CNA (S SILLY J THINK ITS ) _ BC, PRESS COUNCIL G 5 DEMEANING?

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