ELAS, Li Seen Just say no to no-fault insurance plan for B.C. Dear Editor: We are writing this letter to you in response >the no-fault insurance program. We cannot sec any rhyme or reason to this approach for auto insvrance. It is our under- standing if a car was to broadside us in an inter- section no one would be at fault. Meanwhile our injuries cost us our health, job, home and any future happiness if those injuries were permanent. And to add insult to injury the person who ruined our lives actually gets rewarded for doing so. This makes no sense at all. Who then is going to look after our needs? Vent transit If someone is not held responsible for a car accident then what is going to stop people trom driving recklessly? What's to stop people from getting, upset when someone cuts them off in traffic, why not just rear-end the individual to get back at then) because you won't be at fault? Ontario and Hawaii have repealed their no- fault insurance programs. It has always been our night as citizens to take our disputes before the courts. ICBC has no right to become our judge and jury. Julianne Lucier Linda Huber North Vancouver frustrations | School story facts _Nednesday, December 4, 1996 — North Shore News — 9 PIES ATL IMT TROT eT Oa eT RT Thanks for truly enchanted evening Dear Editor: ir gives us great pleasure to write to the North Shore News and the Lynn Valley Centre Merchants to express our appreciation for a wonderful evening spent at Lynn Valley Centre on Nov. 19. All those involved in presenting the “One Enchanted Evening” fashion show should be congratulated on a job well done. Laureate Lambda Chapter Beta Sigma Phi | Real C Christ ins: Walk to Bethleh a Dear Editor: I am a Grade 7 student attending West Vancouver sec- ondary school. I would like to tell you that in your Sunday (Nov. 24) issue you wrote a story about 17th street and the proposed idea of making the lane go through to Inglewood. You wrote “...more than 300 Grade § and 9 students go to what is referred to as the school’s South Campus...”. I would just like to point-out that only the Grades 7 and 8 2 BC. V3T. ST4, or call her at attend South Campus. The Grade 9s were sent to Rockridge ; 540-3434, or fax her at 540- to have their senior year. Also the south campus is too small » 8045." to have another grade“ of students attend. Next year the » My other suggestion is ‘to grade nines will return for Grades 10 through 12 and the withhold the Transit Levy and south campus will have Grades 7, 8 and 9. A number of the added GST portion of our portables (I have heard) will be put on our lower gravel field. - “hydro bill. At that time we will then have cough classrooms for all "Just make sure you send three grades. Also, the map that you displayed showed our an explanation with your bill. gym, cafeteria/office and ACCESS, the lower building If our government wants shaped like an awkward cross. Where most of our teaching us to.use transit I feel they takes place is the L-shaped building above Inglewood : should: be making it easier Avenue. Next time you wnte, I think that you should try to in Canada's Political System". | heve our system of government when peo. ‘instead of more difficult to get your facts straight. often given speeches In Parilament, and ple, presumably intelligent people, cron written In this weeldy report, about the lack have to be whipped into ‘_poting.a Dear Editor:. -- 2... If anyone out there is, as “= frustrated with our transit sys- ; _-tem as Lam ‘and feel that your.” complaints are. not. being rheard, send: your letters and “faxes. to’ Carol. Evans at “13401-108th “Ave., Surrey, On August 9, 1996, at a meeting of the tively the best interests of Canadians. His co . Rotary Club of Toronto, Libere! MP John. ments about the party. whips were, "The Nunziata gave a speech entitied “Honesty, whip's role is to tell people. when and Ethics and Accountability: Does it exist how to vote. It is.a sad ‘refi: ™. ‘make it viable. P. Cam 2 ell West Vancouver Rolex and Swedish Jeweler: Llegance and Excellence. W ROLEX Gxcettence withstands the passage of time. Moment by moment, i: is defined by craftsmanship, reliability and service. Rolex guarantees excellence. Swedish Jeweler also guarantees excellence. We honour our customers with the world’s finest merchandise and outstanding service. We are proud to be your authorized Rolex jeweller. OVSTER PERSETUAL TADY-DATEJUST. Park Royal South 922-2255 Pacific Centre Auium/Upper Level 682-6711 of democracy in our present system of gov- ermment, so It is certainly refreshing to see a high profile Liberal deliver the same mes- sage to a group of business people in Toronto. This week's report contains a selection of quotations from John's speech, but you can obtain a complete copy by calling my office. THE CENTRE OF POWER John pointed out in his speech that in order tor MPs to advance in the power structure ir” Ottawa they usually have to sacrifice the pub- lic interest to their own ambitions. "The real power, the ability to influence, is con- centrated in the office of the leader of each of the parties. !t is most pro- nounced in the case cf the government, where the power is in the Prime Minister's Office, or the PMO, as it is known." Pandering to this power centre is virtually the only way an MP can hope to be recognised as Cabinet Minister material, to be appointed as Chair of a committee, or to be given some other job which carries a presti- gious title and public recognition. "Surprising as this may sound, in fact this country is run by half a dozen people, half of whom are unelected. This may not be something that Canadians realize, but it is something that they should be extremely con- cerned about. These unelected officials have a tremendous influence over pub- lic policy and the careers of individual MPs. They determine who is rewarded and who is punished. With that control they have the real influence, and with that influence they have the real power, My removal from Caucus is the perfect example of the reward/punish- ment system I've referred to. I was removed for voting against the federal buciget because it failed to fuifil the Liberal Party's election promise to replace the GST." THE NEED FOR CHANGE John went on to say that there is a well established need to break the current power structure in Ottawa. He said it robs MPs of their independent thought and their ability to truly represent their constituents and collec- tain way. It is also contrary to the pub: lic interest and ‘it feeds the. cynicism and almost contempt that Canadians have for thelr elecisd representatives. | The notion of discipiining reasonably | intelligent adulta who were given’ the trust of their constituents is a practice: _ that Canadiens feject.. If the leader can't count on the majority of members _of his own team to support a particular & policy based on its merits, obviously. there is. something wrong with it. Allowing free votes. on every issue’ would show true leadership: in this country - whether it is the leader of the government or of any of the opposition parties." ON THE HILL : The election of the Chairs of committees came in for special mantion. John said that, “Committee chairs should bz’ elected by their peers as opposed to the pre! sent ‘Soviet style’ system. Elections for chairmen are currentiy a farce. The’ PMO selects a person arid thé govern- ment MPs go through a phoney ritual to vote for the PMO choice." This is car- tainly borne up by my observation of the sys- tem. In September, for example, noi ony did the Vancouver area Liberal MPs,. Herb Dhaliwal, Anna Terrana, and Ted McWhiriney, vote for PMO choices for chair, they also voted for Bloc Quebecois MPs over Reformers to be Vice Chairs. The entire system is a disgrace — { could personally write pages of material on the flack of democracy in committees. John closed with the statement that, "Restoring real power to individual MPs will ease cynicism and restore con- fidence in our system of government because it will make every single voter more powerful. By reforming the par liamentary system, the current concen- tration of power will naturally break down and that will, in my opinion, be a } large step in the right direction.” The changes John is promoting have been Reform policy since 1987. He deserves congratulation for speaking out publicly about Ottawa's dirty little secrets. " ‘Ted White, M.P, , #302-1200 Lynn Valley Rd, North Vancouver; B.C, V7} 2A2, Tek: 666-0585 Fax: 666-0509 :