SNe nes, WN INSIGHTS TR Gon (ia D ont blow it all by playing games, Ovide! TASXE A break for a moment from worrying about what exactly ‘‘distinct society’? means and start worrying about what exactly “‘native self-government’’ means. Potentially, 5 it could be even more threatening — especially for two. § million or more British Columbians. Indian leaders want it enshrined as an ‘inherent right’’ in the Constitution. But like Quebec pol- K iticians (‘‘make us an offer and we'll tell you if it flies’), Ovide Mercredi and his colleagues are extremely coy about explaining the rt effect on their fellow Canadians. NEWS VIEWPOINT Abortion HE NDP government has pushed the abortion issue to the top of B.C. hospital agendas again. On Friday it announced a new policy that requires 33 regicnal hospitals in the province to perform abortion operations. Hospitals, like Vernon’s Jubilee, that had previously aduopied kospita! board policies banning abortions from being per- formed in their facilities kave little choice but to comply with the new government directive. B.C. hospitals are, afterall, funded by the provincial government. The provincial government’s new policy might well defuse one of the most con- troversial issues that engulf local com- munity hospitals during hospital board elections. Abortion was an emotional and moral flashpoint during mest of the 1980s . operation at Lions Gate Hospital board elections. That flashpoint has now been removed courtesy of the NDP government. But what has also been removed is the right for local communities fo decide through freely elected hospital boards what will take place in their community hospitals. According to the NDP, greater access to abortions is a benefit to our society, but access to abortion is not an issue for communities to decide. Had our provincial government done the reverse of what the NDP government has done and ordered that hospitals not per- form abortions, the outcry would surely have been far greater and far more virulent. The people’s party has given us greater access to abortion and a lesser say in what goes on in our local hospitals. LETTER OF THE DAY What are plans for Seymour boulevards? Open letter to North Vancouver District Council: About two years ago, a boule- vard down the centre of Mt. Seymour Parkway was extended. Since this has been completed it has looked a disgrace to the entire area and to visitors. Why has this project not been completed and landscaped? The council and planning committee Publisher Managing Edito Associate Editor. Comptroller North Shore Naws, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph Ili of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press Ltd. and distributed to every door on the North Shore. ...Peter Speck mothy Renshaw .. Noel Wright Advertising Director .. .Linda Stewart Doug Foot have ignored this project. I, along with the rest of the taxpayers in this Seymour area, drive this route every day and view this mess that has been left. Can’t something be done? I feel we shovid not pay our property taxes unless the district can com- plete the project this spring. Where are our councillors who live in this area and what are their comments? Display Advertising 960-0511 Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Newsroom 985-2131 Teel VOCE OF NORTH AND WEST WANCOUVER ‘north shore a SUNDAY » WEONESDAY « FaIGAY Second Class Mail Registration «umber 36885. Subscriptions North and fest Vancouver, $25 per 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, Distribution Subscriptions Ciassilied Advertising 986-6222 Fax Administration The same applies to Mt. Seymour Road, now that the Parkgate Centre has opened. You have constructed a boulevard along this route. What are your plans to make this look complete? Or do you plan to leave this a mess for two more years? Gordon R. Partridge North Vancouver 986-1337 Gaw North Shore 986-1337 [ig managed 985-3227 fe 985-2131 MEMBER CoS <= SR Ld SDA DIVISION “*First, we insist you put it in,”’ they say. “‘Then we'll figure out the details. We're sti!! working on them."” Oh yes? Non-native Canadians have shown considerable sympathy for greater Indian control over their own affairs up to a certain gov- ernmental level. Given the small size of most of the individual bands claiming tke title of nation, the average non-native Canadian probably has in mind something akin to municipal government — of which the Sechelt Band is al- ready an apparently quite suc- cessful model. The chiefs have been careful so far not to disturb this soothing concept. But a recent book, /n- dian Country: Inside Another Canada by Larry Krotz (Mc- Cleiland & Stewart), paints a very different reality. Krotz interviewed numerous of the chiefs — among them George Erasmus, then head of the Assembly of First Nations. The bottom line he got from them was_ that native self-government means, in the end, nothing less BLACK WOULD stay white... black areas show only portions of B.C. remaining if all 22 tand claims succeeded and **sovereign’’ native self- government took over in white sections of map. Noel Wright HITHER AND YON than total ‘‘national’’ sovereignty. Nation-bands would have their own legislatures, law and social services. They would be subjeci to- neither the Charter of Rights nor © Canadian criminal law. The RCMP and the Canadian armed forces would be barred frora their territory. As virtually independent states, loosely ailied to Canada, they coukl have their own diplo- matic and trade relations with other countrizs. But they'd still claim the $4 billion Canadian taxpayers an- nually shell out for them — as “vent” for Canada’s use of native lands. ‘ Nearly 80% of B.C.’s landmass is the subject of 22 native land claims, including most of Greater’ Vancouver and allthe North = - Shore. Should they all succeed — © and assuming the hidden native agenda is for real — Premier . Mike Harcourt could end up with - only the black portions of former . British Columbia shown on the accompanying map. . If Krotz and other probers have’ got it all wrong, please stand up, Ovide, and tell us loud and clear it ain’t so. Don’t blow the genuine goodwill non-natives have for : your cause by playing games. WRAP-UP: Start the day in tune tomorrow, March 26, courtesy West Van Community Arts Coun- cil, when cellist Joseph Elworthy performs in the 10 a.m. ‘‘Music and Muffins”’ session at The Silk Purse, 1570 Argyle — tickets at the door ... Already hard at work planning this year’s September event are 1992 Coho Festival . president Bill Soprovich and his board members ... Saturday, March 28, brings your chance to **Challenge the Nutrition Myths,’’ compete for prizes and enjoy lots © of other nutritious fun at the North Shore Nutrition Fair, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Lonsdale Rec Centre — call 987-PLAY for more info ... And many happy returns of today, March 25, to Mt. Seymour Lions birthday boy David Sinclair. WRIGHT OR WRONG: The losers always remember the battle longer than the victors. ES year. Mailing rates avaitable or request. ubmissions are welcome but we cannot accept tesponsibility for unsolicited materiat including manuscripts and pictures which should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope. North Vancouver, 8.C. —————ooo Oe eee V7M 2H4 61,582 (average circulation, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday) Entire contents © 1992 North Shore Free Press-Lid. Ail rights reserved. OVIDE MERCREDI... say it ain’t so.