——— Reform Party idea “bigger than Collins’ Dear Editor: . As the defeated Reform Party candidate following the withdrawal of Doug Collins, I have suffered in silence while Doug used a few columns to vilify our party and leader. It is such a one-sided vendetta that I felt it would soon blow away and be forgotten. A recent column, however, demands a different point of view be presented and I hope your paper, in fairness, allows this presentation. A leader of anything, be it a company, a country or a political party, who is charged with making his enti- ty successful, must have the right to choose, accept or reject his officers (or candidates). This is a right all leaders and chief executives enjoy including leaders of all the parties. Once a person is accepted as an official candidate and if that candidate is electcd, then, and then only, is our Reform Party unique in that the candidate’s primary function iz to represent his constituents and grass roots and the Reform Party leader cannot withhold or refuse that representative's future can- didacy in subsequent elections. Our pasty does this to ensure that the candidate’s first loyalty is to his voters and constituents and so the candidate cannot be controlled otherwise by the lead- ex. Doug’s first mistake was to think that our leader had to accept any person as an official candidate. To illustrate by an unrelated anct extreme example, if Keegstra were nominated as a candidate in his consti- tuency, does anyone in their right mind think any party leader would fave to accept him, and then have his party mocked to oblivion? In my view, Preston Manning, the Reform Party leader, in the light of the tremendous static he was getting, would have been derelict in his duties as party leader if he had not asked Collins to state in writing he would support the Reform Party’s views against racism. This requirement would then allow Mauning to de- fend the Reform Party’s acceptance of Collins as a candidate in spite of widespread (misplaced 7?) ap- prehension of Collins. Everyone will agree Doug has some notoriety the ordinary citizen does not have. I personally think Doug made a second mistake by being too sensitive in feeling such a statement by him would be “‘groveling.’? Doug has obviously never had to meet a payroll or to be in business because one always has to make compromises, as one does in life. One seldom gets his own way entirely as Doug wanted. Doug Collins wanted to use the Reform Party name, leader, organization, members, publicity, money and support. These were freely offered in return for a simple statement which Doug was not prepared to give. I would have given such a statement and then driv- en ahead to the main issue which was to fight an elec- tion for the principles I believe in. .As a founding member and supporter of the Reform Party and a witness to the continuing public badmouthing of the party and leader by Doug Collins, I question the commitment Doug ever would have given the party. I know he has never worked one hour for the party before or since the ‘‘Event.”* I totally support the position of Preston Manning in this affair. The Refornna Party is an idea whose time has come and that idea is bigger than Doug Collins, Preston Manning or Neil Thompson. 1 am not going to become further embroiled in this ‘matter which is becoming tedious, but | have had so many questions and phone calls that it seemed time to give a different point of view. Neil Thompson West Vancouver MP Cook shows ‘true colors’ Dear Editor: ing these stupid anglophones in the has brought our local MP out to Further to your front page story west don't know what they want, show his true colors. on May 10 on the delay to the we'd better give the work to the Polar 8 icebreaker, I think you people who do. have dramaticaily shown why B.C. can’t get any government work. He doesn’t care for the people in his riding, only for his bosses in The Polar 8 is a very important Ottawa. contract for the shipyard workers On one hand you have Mary in B.C. and this delay is un- Ron Ferguson Coltins who has been working on forgivable; but every dark cloud Presiden the shipyard workers’ behalf since has a silver lining and this delay Metal Trades Council the inception of the Polar 8 and on the other hand you have Chuck Cook doing his best to undermine her efforts. No wonder Quebec gets the work, at least their MPs work on their behalf. 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