Collins offensive, racist, inflammatory, reader finds Dear Buitor: My wife and I have recentty moved to Vancouver from Winnipeg. Receiving the North Shore News has provided us with helpful information and assistance as we adjust to a new community. However, an article in the Dec. : 10 issue of your paper has lead us | to request that the paper no tonger | be delivered to us. The article wits by Doug Collins and the topic the plight of young white males. We found the views expressed offensive, racist, and inflammatory. The plight of all young people, of whatever cthnic origin, is a major issue for our society. Retrenchment in both the private and public sec- tors has left young people of talent and potential searching for non- existent jobs. The cost, in terms of personal demoralization: as well-as the eco- nomic consequences for all of us, is incalculabic. _ The; problem is exacerbated by the rantings of Collins, who choos- es to blame immigrants for the problem of unemployment. Both my wife and 1 are immi- grants. We have lived in Canada for nearly 25 years and have certainly benefitted. We also feel that we have made 2 contribution to Canada - and ils economy. We both came to this country at atime when Canada was actively recruiting people with skills and qualifications from abroad, and was benefitting from the investment made in our educations from the countries we left. Collins’ article in our communi- ly newspaper succeeded in making us feel unwelcome, There is one aspect of Collins’ diatribe that [ think requires particu- Jar attention, and that is his con- tention that employment equity is ‘socialist social engineering. There is no question that the Jack of e1 nployment opportunities ‘for today's $ youth creates tension, The basic issue is who is going to get the jobs that are available, Clearly employment equity prac- fice is an attempt to ensure that peo ple across the spectrum of socicty who have skills are not excluded. | At the same time there is a strong economic basis for employ- ment equity, and it is this that Collins chooses to ignore, or is unaware of. The reality is that many private Canadian corporations are actively pursuing employment equity prac- tices because it is good business for them to do so. In a competitive Family enjoys article on healthy eating Dear Editor: ‘Our family really likes reading the articles on low-fat healthy cat- ing by. Victoria Hogan. We look forward te future arti- cles! Doug Medley North Vancouver Ted White, MP. Suite 302 1260 Lynn Valley Rd. North Vancouver V7F 2ZA2 Telephone: 666-0585 Fax: 666-0509 ODDS AND ENDS Here are the answers to afew of | it on job related travel. os "the questions | get asked ona. regular basis about the operations : of otur North Vancouver office. TELEPHONES Why do your telephone numbers start with "666"? | made the decision to be connected to the Government of Canada Centrex system in order to significantly reduce the cost of long distance calls. . Do you have & cellular phone? Yes, | owned a Cellphone prior to beirig elected so only the monthly usage comes under my ‘office budget. The “handsfree” kit ensures safe driving while | return calls and liaise with my office from the car. FLAGS AND PINS Can 1 get a flag or pin from your office? Yes and No! Many MPs’ offices give out flags and pins at no charge, but when | calculated the annual cost of these items | decided that it was way too high. So : if you ask me for flags or pins be prepared to prove a real need. Gifts and decorations will not be financed by taxpayers so please don't ask - we all have to get used to asking less of our governments at all levels. You can easily obtain flags and “pins for _ decorations at a retail store.. _ CARS AND OFFICE MACHINES Do you have a government vehicle?. No, | own the car | drive and it was not purchased with tax . dollars. However, [ do get reim- bursed for use of the car when | use gifts or Who owns the furniture and office equipment? Most is owned by taxpayers but some is borrowed fram the local Reform Constituency Association as a way af saving money. Nothing is leased. The copier, computers, fax, shredder, printers, etc. were all purchased because | did not want to use your money to pay interest on leases. SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS How do you handle special interest groups? We keep a “Special interest Log Book" in the office and it is open to the public. Every time | receive a letter from, or Meet with, a special interest group an entry is made in the Log to record whio is lobbying me and why. | encourage special interest groups to work on convincing the community of the merit of their movement before approaching me for support. CONTACTING YOUR MP How do } get in toucti with you? The best way is by mail. You do not need a postage stamp but please send letters to the North Vancouver office, not Ottawa, because we handle almost everything at the focal level. If you are intending to suggest a topic of general interest for this columa but you are unsure whether itis a federal, provincial or municipal issue please call the office before you write the fetter. You should also phone first if you have a problem with a government department so that we can determine whether a letter will be necessary. marke! itis an advantage fo liwe a worktorce that more closely reflects the composition of Our sociely as a whole, that is inclusive rather than exclusive. In trade, raarketing, sales, finun- cial services, resource development, there are clear advantages for com- panies who demonstrate their will- ingness and ability to communicate and operate effectively across the spectrum of our multicultural mosi- ic. Perhaps Collins is old, tired and irritable, Perhaps he is unhappy with the way the world is changing. [have some good news for him: The world has not changed that- much. 1 work with a large Vancouver corporation. Fifty-six per cent of the employees ure male, the great majority of whom are white males, Subjectively, | would guess that a good 10% of the workforce are white male British immigrants, of whom | happen to be one. Mysteriously, we seem to escape both the outright condemnation and the more subtle manifestations of racism that are experienced by fel- low immigrants of other rices. Peter Ferris West Vancouver nee TINEDS 2 DRAPES, WAN gai att DRAPES NSS a sc ut Frat dy ah cae a és ig a CES: BT na a SALE ENDS JAN 29th LINDS ertecers Staats Wednesday, Januaty 5, 1994 ~ North Shore News - ri emi rw ‘ aa iL... ee SENIORS! Make a New Year’s Resolution -\ __/} for Better Hearing te Those who HEAR bul have trouble Z UNDERSTANDING conversation are urged to have this modern electronic test to find cut if their loss Is one of many that can be helped. Everyone not hearing clearly should have a hearing test. Even people who wear aids, or those who believe nothing can be done for thom, should be tested. Today, most hearing problems can be helped. No hoaring problem should ever be ignored. Cail for your appointment to avoid waiting T. 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