From page A 1990 B.C.-wide referen- dum on citizen initiatives gar- neréd 83% support, while a News telephone poll of 49] North Shore residents on voter-mitined referenda in Alarch of this vear saw 58% in favour and only 15% opposed. Kost emphasized that under the current Municipal Act, any citizen-initined referenda is non-binding on council. “It’s only a tigger to allow people to give their opinion. Council would retain its disere- tionary powers unless the province changes the law.” Added Collis: *But such a vote by the public caukd be morally binding. We don't need to worry about it being legal if we have a council who will listen to the people. “The vote is the final thing. Direct democracy is the process of communication, a nenworking benveen citizens so thar people understand the issue and the question.” Kost said the fear thar issues can be “bought” by expensive advertising campaigns — has proved groundless in’ the United States where “big spenders have lost as often as they have won.” Neither Kost nor Collis worry that the referenda process will be abused, envi- sioning “one a year at most.” “It takes so much work to do this it can only be big issues with future implications: like Cove and Mountain Forest or secondary suites. that people will get involved with,” said Collis. Concluded Kost, “1 really have a dificulty trusting a gov- ernment that doesn’t trust its own people.” Collins no Kevin Gillies News Reporter FORMER North Shore News columnist Doug Collins and his lawyer are petitioning Saanich council to protect the right to peaceful assem- bly following a melee. at a local library over the weekend. Collins was again the cen- tre of a storm when protesters tried to block his entrance to the Nellie McClung Branch of the Saanich library for a fundraising meeting. He has launched a judicial appeal of a Human Rights Tribunal deci- sion against him. Collins and lawyer Doug Christie, mem- bers of the Canadian Free Speech League, were meeting to explain Collins’ current legal fight against the govern- ment and to raise defence money. “There were about 30 of them I would say. They were a bunch of screaming: lunatics, communists, Trotskyists, NDP and so on,” said Collins ‘NOTICED | 'BO’S DESIGN STUDIO Mm #2-2435 Marine Dr, West Von & (back taney 922-301 4 i NEWS pholo Terry Peters REIMAR Kroecher (from tet}, Dallas Collis and Corrie Kost have vowed to con- tinue the fight for direct Cemocracy in North Vancouver District. Direct democracy world-wide DIRECT democracy has its roots in a 130- year-old Swiss system of people-driven democracy. In Canada, the small interi- or town of Rossland, B.C. has adopted referendum and ini- tiative processes. The referendum process allows Rossland citizens to decide whether council bylaws will be implemented, while the initiative process allows resi- dents to introduce bylaws directly. Both processes require 20% of registered voters to sign up. Pitt Meadows adopted a referendum bylaw in 1997 which mistakenly attempted to bind council to the results. The bylaw has since been struck from the books, but Pitt Meadows is now lobbving to change the Municipal Act. The coalition Dutch gov- ernment was split and resigned three weeks ago when a single vore denied previously agreed citizen referenda. Dr. Heather Anne Harder has announced her candidacy tor the U.S. presidency based ona platform of citizen partic- ipation in democracy. The second international congress on direct democracy will cake place in) Athens, pushover in Saanich Tuesday. “1 pushed in and started punching a bir and they pushed back and shoved and ... E got through. “These people are a threat, an absolute threat, to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly,” Collins said. Christie said he wrote to the Saanich police May 25 asking that they prevent such an incident, but they didn't show up until 30> minutes after they were called to the fracas. “There was only one in uniform that was visible when that happened,” Christie said. “He stand there and watched people (being) pushed around Any car on $ 720 Marine Dr, North Van and did nothing. So now the mayor blames the police and says there’s an investigation, an internal investigation.” Christie has written te Saanich council asking for a meeting to propose a bylaw that would ensure the right to peaceful assembly. Saanich Mayor Frank Leenard said meetings are booked by the Greater Victoria Library Board which is open to any group wanting a meeting. “My own personal opinion is whether it was for Mr. Collins’ event or even the pro- testers, I'd prefer that we did- n’t book those events ...." our lot. 9BI-FIE Greece, the western home of direct democracy, in 2000. A public meeting of District, Residents for Direct Denioeracy will be held June 23 at 7 p.m. at the Capilano Library. — Martin Millerchip ..or one dozen 50 cm Premium Roses arranged in a clear glass vase with greens and a pretty bow. 29” Flowers for the wrist, Wednesday, June 9, 1999 — North Shore News - 5 BLOWOUT! modo” a inclutes: Sabet pone sofa bes freae trigie foann cove futus. scotch guarded futen Cover pilus and poleer covers Miia queahhes ast 267 £. Ist. #.Van 964-4504 FUTON FACTORY FUTON Entrance in reat lane Hon - Sat. 11-Gpm Sunday 12-5 pm Coupon ANY OIL CHANGE PACKAGE Formerly Shell Rapid Lure Lonsdale & 13th N. 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