mem cntitled
Moe However, E and I alone will

a Dear Editor:

: Re: Big bexes good for W.
Van consumers (News Oct 5
letter to the editor).

Mr. Heel is, of courze,
to his opinion.

Beidecide what is, or is not,
good for me. So far as I can
tell, the only interests served
by this proposal are those of
Larco and the big boxers.

; I am heartily sick of the
social and community

ma changes that are foisted upon

mame and other unwilling and
Avirtually impotent citizen tax-
payers, all in the name of
what’s good for us and/or

mg what's politically correct.
m Politicians at all levels,

\ elected = =and unelected

a(GVRD), tell us that massive
increases in population are

“good for our economy.”
Cant see it happening yet!

Governments are getting
shorter and shorter of money
for infrastructure, education,
health and social programs,
but they just keep on going,
pedalling faster and faster,
right on over us.

. The NDP of course defi-
nitely knows what’s good for
us — you know, the group
with a majority of the seats
and a minority of the votes.
They'll give us a Band-Aid
bridge to carry all of the
increased traffic for the
what’s-good-for-us shopping
centre and the what’s-good-
for-us 20% increase in popu-

lation.”
The Human — Rights
Tribunal aided by = the

Canadian Jewish Congress

seems to know what's best
for us, too -— all that’s
required is to curtail free
speech (the very underpin-
ning of democracy).

Now, encouraged by all of
that, we have Mr. Heel telling
us to take our NIMBY atti-
tudes and disappear because,
of course, he knows what's
good for us.

Nor to worry that the
common sense of the com-
mon people's voices heard at
Mayor Boname’s “not-a-
public hearing” stated other-
wise. Mr. Heel will set us
straight. What is it about
“no” that is not understood?

Well, Mr. Heel, when
North Shore councils hoid a
referendum on the issue, if
the majority in each area
vores for big boxes, Plt

accept that democratic result,
albeit while choking on the
fumes and noise of the
increased traffic past my door
and paying the increased
taxes for yet more infrastruc:
ture.

If the vote goes the other
way, though, T hope Larco,

Wednesday, October 15, 1997 — North Shore News — 9

West Vancouver Council, and
the Squamish people will
respect that vote and act
immediately to kill the deal.
Then Mr. Heel will have a
decision to make — whether
to continue to reside on a
beautiful North Shore with-
out big box stores at Park
Royal, or to move in: beside
some other mall where he can
shop ‘til he drops.
Liz James
North Vancouver
Hames@biocycle.com

Unparalleled
personal |
finaricial service

‘Cam Capilano
‘Ga “Chilege

AT CAP

Capilano College
Open House ‘97

The North Vancouver
campus of Capilano
College is inviting you
ta join us fora fun-filled
(and educational) day
on Saturday, October 18
from 10am. to 4 pan.
There will be prizes,
sturprises, sports and
entertainment, dong
with ample tree parking.
There's something for
everyone, so come and
plan to spend the day.
Full details were printed
in Sunday's issue of the
North Shore News. If
you didn't get a copy of
the special Open House
97 insert, we will have
plenty on hand for you
at the event. For more
information, call
990-7814.

@s Participate in
Our Harvest Fair

Open House activities
include a harvest fair.

Attend ScotiaMcLeod’s

There will be lots of

" white, mp.

advertoriai, October 15/97

PARLIAMENTARY DICTATORSHIP

Gn Monday October Gth Parliament

‘commenced debating Bill C-2, an Act

which proposes major changes to the
Canada Pension Pian. The debate began in
the usual way with speeches from the
Leaders of the various parties, but as
many of you will now know, the Liberal
Government announced its intention
to clese off debate on the Bill after
just EIGHT HOURS and a minimal

-number of speakers. The Government

followed through on its closure announce-
ment. around 7pm Ottewa time last
Wednesday when it used its majority te
end the debate.

To anyone who believes in democracy, the
use of “closure” to end a parliamentary debate
is extremely offensive at the best of times, but
to use it after just eight hours cf debate, on the

_ vary first Bill brought before the House in the

36th Parliament, is an absolute outrage. (Bill
C-2 is the first piece of Government business
to be introduced since Parliament recon-

.vened. Bill C-1 is an administrative Bill con-

cerned with the reconvening of Parliament.)

AN ABUSE OF PROCESS
During the last Parliament, the Liberals set

i” anew record for moving closure, using it more

| The Prime Minister,

.times during one Parliament than the PC

Government had used it in the previous ter

7 years. [t was their favourite tool for preventing

too much publicity about the agenda being

‘forced through the S5th Parliament, and it
i: now appears that they intend to apply it even

more vigorously in the 36th Parliament.
From a Reform perspective, Sill C-2 is one
of the most important pieces of social and tax-
ation related legislation to come before
Parliament since CPP was established in

. 1966, because we were way ahead of the old

line parties in recognizing that the plan in its
Present form could not be sustained. We pub-
ticly stated during the 1988 and 1993 election

§ campaigns that the Canada Pension Plan

was in danger of collapse, but we were
attacked as fear-mongers by the old liners, a
pattern which continued when our 52 member
Caucus began questioning the Minister of
Finance about the solvency of CPP on a reg-
ular basis after the 1993 election. There has
now been a 180 degree about face by ALL of
our opponents, with the very same Finance

j Minister stating publicly on numerous ccca-

sions that everybody knows we have to act
urgentiy to save the Canada Pension plan.

. The big problem at this stage is that

MPs are being prevented from debat-
ing the changes about to be rammed
through Parliament by the Liberals.
in a flagrant
abuse of power, has ordered his
trained seals to vote away our ability

f to speak up in the House on your

MM behalf.

Ted White, M.P. , 302-1200 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, BC. Vij 2AZ
Tel.: 666-0585 Fax: 666-0509, Internet: http://www.reform.cu/white-t/

WALKING OUT

When the Liberals announced that they
would be ending the debate on C-2, fewer
than half a dozen Reform MPs had been
given the opportunity to speak, and ! was
number 25 on ihe Reform list of around 30
Reform MPs who had indicated they wanted
to contribute to the debate. My chance, on
your behalf, to do my job by putting forward
alternatives, and critiquing the Liberat propos-
als, has been snatched away by a
Government afraid that the public might learn
teo much about what is being proposed. it
wants to rush the Bill through before
the Christmas Break, so that the
increased deductions can begin com-
ing off your paycheque on January 1,
1998.

To add insult to injury, although the Bill
requires two thirds of the provincial legisla-
tures representing two thirds of the population
to pass “Orders in Council” agreeing to the
changes, the BC Legislature does not sit
again until next Spring. This means that
Premier Clark, if he decides to go along with
the Federal proposals, can approve the Order
In Council without so much as having to
answer a question, or listen to a debate on the
issue, in the Provincial Legislature. Then,
when the Frime Minister said he was cutting
cft debate because Reforrn had asked for a 6
month delay while public consultations were
held, it was the tast straw. We made the deci-
sion to lodge a complaint of Breach of
Privilege with the Speaker, and then to walk
out of the House in protest. The NDP, who to
their credit are supporters of democracy in the
House, joined us in the walk out after their Mr.
Blaikie had put forward an excellent argument
for Breach of Privilege. The PC and Bloc
members, however, accepted the denial of
their debating rights without significant
protest.

Our hope is that by our walk-out we
have alerted you to actions of your
Government which are going to affect your
paycheques and your future CPP benefits
in a major way. As things stand on C-2, a
person in his or her twenties today will
contribute (including matching employer
contributions) at least $3,500 per year for
at least 35 years in return for a CPP pen-
sion of about $8,800 per year. This is a
NEGATIVE return on investment. Reform
believes we can do MUCH, MUCH better,
using RRSP style plans like those airesdy
adopted ir Sweden, Germany, Englaivé,,
and Chile, and invested only in
Government approved securitizs.
Untortunately, your Government prefers, to
Cling to its out of date answers to the prob-
lem, and will not let us tatk about alterna-
tive solutians.

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tables of garage sule
items, as well as crafts
and home-made
goodies. It is being held
in the Child Care
Centre, where there will
also be special activities
for children. Be sure to
drop in when you're
vising our Open House.
Proceeds will go towards
equipping the Centre.

> Doris Anderson
Speaks at

College

On Saturday,

October 18, Capilano
College is pleased co
present in the Capilan::
College Performing Arts
Theatre author Doris
Anderson. Ms.
Anderson was the editor
of Chatelaine magazine
from 1957 w 1977 and
is the author of Rebel
Daughter: An
Autobiography. She has
served as president of
both the Canadian
Advisory Council on
the Starus of Women
and the National
Action Committee on
the Status of Women.
To reserve a space or
this free event, «which
tuns from 2 to 3 p.m.,
please call 984-4953.

*» Pacific Basin
Update

Asian and South
American business
managers from the
CANASEAN program
at Capilano College will
be giving presentations
on business
opportunities in their
Tespective countries.
Held ia conjunction
with the Vancouver
Board of Trade on
Wednesday, October 29
at the Pan Pacific
Hotel, Pavilion B,
Sam. to Lam, VBT
members, $26 and non-
members, $35. For more
information, call
681-2111.

!

CAPILANO
COLLEGE

2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver
British Columbia

986-1911