Ad - The Terrace Standard, Weanestays March 29, 1995

TERRACE

STANDARD

ESTABLISHED APRIL 27, 1988

ADDRESS: 4647 Lazelle Ave., Terrace, B.C. * V8G 188 TELEPHONE: (604) 638-7283 * FAX: (604) 638-8432 MODEM: (604) 638-7247

Ban the video

THE FUNNY thing about governments is that no matter their political make up, they all strive mightily to remove whatever dollars they can from the pockets of citizens. Witness the explo- sion of the lottery business under the former So- cial Credit government.

And now witness the interest of the current NDP government in video lottery terminals — the polite term for slot machines.

These same terminals are everywhere in Sas- katchewan and Alberta. They may serve govern- ment aims of vacuuming up cash, but they’ve hurt hard the efforts of non-profit groups to raise money for community activities.

National Elks leader Don Kidd, on a recent visit to Terrace, warned that the same will happen in this province if video lottery terminals are al- lowed to flourish,

His warning brings into question the role that non profit groups play in society. They serve to generate pride in community and in volunteer service. They can provide cost effective service no government can replicate. Their activities solidify the genuine goal of humanity which is to heip others.

When governments for one reason or another interfere with the ability of non profit groups then the entire society loses. If non profit groups cannot function, then more will be asked of governments, But governments, which harmed the ability of non profit groups in the first place with their desperate search for cash, won’t be able to deliver.

The only solution is thanks, but no thanks, to video lottery terminals,

It’s confusing

LET’S SUPPOSE a business comes to town and opens up a new shoe store. There’s a lot of con- gratulations. Talk of increased access to shoes. Shoes for people who never had footwear before. A year later, the same company gets rid of the shoes in favour of stereo equipment. There’s the same kind of talk about increased opportunities, only the focus is on stereo equipment, At the same time, the company changes its business hours. Customers are left confused and a per- plexed.

That’s about whal’s happening in Terrace when it comes to the University of Northern B.C. Not a year has gone by in the three UNBC has spent here in Terrace that there hasn’t been a complete change in instructors and in courses.

Now that UNBC has constructed itself comfort- able digs atop a hill overlooking Prince George, those who supported the formation of the univer- sity have to wonder if isn’t treating its regional outposts as an after thought.

Way back when, at the beginning of the univer- sity hype, there was much talk of a true regional institution — one which would spread the bene- fits across the north.

How can Terrace and area residents plan a home-grown university experience if things keep changing year after year? How can an institution develop both stability and momentum when it changes itself year after year?

cTae Sy PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Rod Link ADVERTISING MANAGER: Mike L, Hamm PRODUCTION MANAGER: Edouard Credgeur NEWS Jeff Nagel» NEWS SPORTS: Malcolm Baxter COMMUNITY: Cris Leykauf OFFICE MANAGER: Rose Fisher, Terry Miller DARKROOM: Susan Credgeur TYPESETTER: Susie Anderton ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS: Sam Collier, Janet Viveiros, Tracey Tomas

CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR: Karen Brunette MEMBEA OF B.C. PRESS COUNCIL ~ Serving ihe Tavace and Thornhill araa. Published on Wadnesday of each week by Cariboo Prass (1969) Lid. al 4647 Lazelle Ave., Terraca, British Columbia. Slories, pholographs, illustrations, dasigns and typestylas in the Terrace Slandard dre ihe property of the copyright holders, including Cariboo Press. (1889) Ltd., lis illustration tapro services and advertising agencies. °°) Reproduction in ‘ywholo or{h part, without written perm ission, is specifically ptohibiled, Aulharized as ‘ageand: bass mail pending the Post Olfica Dapartment, for payment of postage In cash. Special thanks to all our contributors and correspondents

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Monster lurks in Victoria

VICTORIA — We have a monster on aur hands, and it's getting bigger and meaner. Conflict of interest legislation is beginning to destroy, or at least render impotent, the very political system it was to purify.

When the NDP hauled out the conflict of interest band- wagon in the last election campaign and promised the toughest legislation in the known universe, litte did it

' know that three years later, it

would be on the verge of being hoisted on its own petard,

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Premier Bill Vander Zalm had been forced out of

Office. A scandal-ridden _ Socred government had _ reached the end of its life. The - image of — politics and

politicians had plummetted to unprecedented lows. Voters were cynical as hell. The time had come for a new beginning.

To its credit, the NDP was quick tc deliver on its promise, and the stage scemed to be set for better, more open, more ac- countable and more responsible government.

But none of the afore- mentioned happened, Instead, the combined effect of access to information and conflict of

FROM THE CAPITAL | HUBERT BEYER

“interest legislation bas begun ‘to cripple the government that ‘brought in the new measures, and will cripple any new government the conflict of in- ‘terest legislation is revisited and made workable.

Let’s look at the celebrated conflict of interest in which Premier Harcourt allegedly finds himself. A long-time NDP supporter and failed can- didate, Ron Johnson, owns a communications consulting firm,

Qver the last three years, NOW Communications has received $5 million worth of government contracts, which represents roughly five per cent of the government’s total

communications budget for -

those three years.

Based on the fact that Johnson is a- long-time NDP supporter and has worked on Harcourt’s election campaign, a radio reporter asked Hughes to investigale the premier for a possible conflict of interest.

But does all this stand up to an even rudimentary test of fairness? I think not, Should a company be excluded from doing business with the government because its princi- pal supports one party or an- other? I think not.

Such an arrangement would, in fact, force goverment do business only with people who hate it, or to put it into more polite terms, who are political- ly opposed to it I couldn’t think of anything more bizarre.

The trouble with our conflict of interest legislation is that it defines conflict too broadly. Taking the NOW controversy as an example, the premier would be in a clear conflict of interest if his wife or maybe even his second cousin 55 times removed had shares in NOW.

But don’t tell me that be is in a conflict of interest because Johnson is a friend of the NDP. That's ludicrous,

John Langford, a professor at the University of Victoria's school of public administra- tion, has some interesting ob- servations on conflict of inter- est charges. He says they have become a tool of political ter- rorism. ;

“Anyone can describe some- thing as a conflict of interest and it tends to bring the whole political agenda of the govern- ment to a crashing halt, We’ve created a disease. It’s a ter- Torist toal.’’

Even Jes Ketchum, a com- munications consultant and former Socred official says, “‘I think we've gone overboard. It’s a political football’? And while the contracts awarded to NOW may smack — of patronage, they don’t add up to a conflict of interest, according ° to Ketchum.

If the Liberals win the next election, they will be em- broiled in conflict of interest charges within 12 montis, and so will any future government, unless the legislation — is changed. No govemmeni, however, will dare change it

And like the sorcerer’s ap- prentice, the NDP will have created a monster that just won't go away.

Open doors draws doubts

AT FIRST glimpse, the 4-inch item headed Doors Open to Meetings was momentous news, Aller 27 years of secrecy, Kitimat-Stikine Regional district directors have agreed to open committee meetings to the public.

Tucked away on Page 9, the revelation appears as an afterthought. And weil it might be, For what at first looks to be a democratic breakthrough may, in the end, changes the Status quo not one whit.

for some items: buying or sell- ing of property; hiring, firing or disciplining of staff. Every school board and cily council whisks these topics behind closed doors. But the tiniest whiff of salary rate, benefit scale, or any dollar figure is often enough excuse to declare a subject in-camera material, As if the usual rules won't hide plenty from public scruti- ny, the directors have ruled “delegations can request their

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‘THROUGH BIFOCALS

In-camera sessions are okay CLAUDETTE SANDECKI

presentation be in camera.”* So what directors allow to be pub- lic, the participating public can declare secret, Which leaves us right back where we were be- fore. Precious litde could be witnessed by citizens.

Shames Mountain Ski Hill's annual rearrangement of their contractwal debt — due about now — is sure to be a topic the public would like to hear fir- sthand, Given that taxpayers

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are still owed for 97 per cent of the Kitsumkalum equipment purchased by the Shames oper- ation, we have every reason to hear the latest pitch for our-

_ Selves. Many of us retain our childish love of fairy tales.

However, with the handy, all purpose request tool, Shames can ask to have their latest plant heard in-camera, Then is will be accepted or rejected by a board most of whom are un- affected by the decision. Nei- ther they nor their constituents lose one dime on the Shames’ exchange.

A cynic might say directors intentionally left gate-keeping to delegations as a favour to friends. Certainly = savvy delegations or those represented by a practised mouthpiece will supplicate be- hind closed doors. Only or- dinary joes, unaware they can call the shots to the doorkeeper, will make their case in public.

Public commiltee meetings

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are more wark and trouble for elected officials. Nothing leng- thens and widens discussion like diverse views and broad information. Decisions are quicker and easier to make on a narrower base.

In addition, the board reserves the right to exclude people ‘‘for improper con- ducl’’, Whether that’s. for im- proper conduct of the public or of the directors the news item doesn’t specify.

I’ve been to two regional dis- trict mectings, years ago, Plenly of conduct was im- proper back then. Directors weren’l identified; you had to guess who was al the table. Some directors mumbled like Marlon Brando. Others had taken a vow of silence,

But things may have changed since then. Although I expect not much. Don’t look for this —~ announcenient to change much . either.

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