& - North Shore [lews — Wednesday, July 5, 2000 REMIER Ujjal Dosanjh is mak- ing the right noises on the bal- anced budget front, bur they’ve long since been drowned out by the echoes of his New Democratic Party’s inept economic record. “The premier is betting much on his - balanced budget bit. His govern- ment’s Bill 28 Balanced Budget Act, Dosanjh has said, will be a vote of confidence in his government. But that confidence is non-exis- tent. Nine. consecutive deficit budgets wili do that. As will the NDP’s work in more than doubling the province’s debt from $17.3 billion to $36.5 billion. _. ‘Throw into the mix such misguid- . ed ‘and fiscally irresponsible misad- “ventures as the fast-ferry program and the addition of over $2 billion in VIEW POINT anced attack taxes, fees and licences to the taxload of British Columbians and you have a government with a confidence level of zero in all but the most partisan sninds. Bill 28 sounds like the right thing to do. But it’s difficult to square that sound with the reality of the NDP’s record of opposing balanced budgets throughout its current reign. Were it more than a pre-election ploy it would target the province’s massive debt. It would also inctude guarantees against raising taxes and to limit government spending. As it stands Dosanjh’s bill would not come into effect until 2004. That’s an eternity, especially for a government that has proved it knows nothing about running anything that is even remotely fiscally responsible. THis SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH HAS PROVIDER US WITH THE BLUEPRINT FOR HUMAN BEINGS AND AN UNPERSTANPING OF MANKIND ©rguetoo | "PRESENTING THE MAP OF THE HUMAN GENETIC CODE. | mailbox MP White firm on Ship project. stance Dear; Editoi “Your June wu edition carried two letters, one of which was not even from the North Shore, supporting the idea of pouring federal taxpayers’ money into the Cape Breton project. At my “office though, despite a great deal of publicity for the project, ! ve received ‘only ‘one communication ‘indicating support, while literally dozens of people from ‘North Vancouver have provided me.with verbal and written opposition te the idea. In light of the above, I have every reason to believe that I am correctly reflecting the views of the. majority of taxpayers in mene y stand on this issuc. Quite apart from the fact that roject Promoters wanted four times as much money as was aval le, mi cople clearly feel that the preparation of the Cape Breton, for umping in the ocean off Galiano Island (re of.the.engine ‘and asbestos) should. be paid for by tnefit trom the new “reef.” -In other. words, have already shown : $500 per ticket to watch the sinking. not: about saving the rear end of a Victory ie Cape Breton is not a Victory Ship. It is almost t finding a way to,use taxpayers’ money to sub- projects and hobbics:of special interest. groups.” 5 have’ failed'to demonstrate anything greater lc levels of pport | ‘for the project, aid I am com ised that the vast majority of North Vancouver vot- cot interested i “in having their tax dollars spent’on such” an tindertaking.-As : a ult, they can count of me to continue... *" of government referend MUCH is being written and dis- cussed in these feverish dot.com days about the potential of the Internet for solving | all our current probiems with democracy. A blissful picture is painted of every voter in the land eventually equipped with his or... her own keypad perma- nently linked via cyber.” space to amanimoth government computer. Weekly, daily or -oftener the voters would. tel, the govern-_ ment what they wanted done about this, that and the other. The. Ostawa comput- ~ er weld instantly sort out majorities _and priorities. The government would promptly act accordingly, and lo — the _ people would be in complete charge at ~ long last! :Dream_on! Which people? How often? How “pres tive? How effec. ; tively? ; As enticin as “wide *Keypa Party” "inst: nt its wishes in response to a steady torrent y seem, it: - runs right away. into ethan a few lit- tle problems with reality, Not the least being that th answer:to many referen-. - dum issues, if decided by every entitled voter, would undoubtedly, come within the 55%-45%, if not the 51%-49%, range | (remember the 1995. Quebec separation referendum) — still leavi ing a about Aalf the. citizenry unhappy. =. : But then again, few, any, i . would. be settled b ry. entitled yo ri They would be settled for the rest of us by those vorers knowledgeable about and/or directly affected by the issue in question — who, as often as not, would well be a minority of the total clectorate. Why bother even to activate your keypad for some- thing of which you know nothing because it’s of no immediate concern to you? Add the hard core of the electorate. — rang- ing from 30% at federal level to 75% in munici- pal elections — who never vote for any- thing or anyone on principle “because it only encourages them.” Would keypad - cyber-voting finally force them to do 7 their civic duty? Don't hold your breath. This doesn’t mean the Internet has no role to play in future elections. Its speed, convenience and versatility can abviously make it an ideal votc- -record- : ing and yotz-analyzing tool. But it can » never change. what the votes are ABOUT, the-key to correcting the many flaws in our Canadian system — above ’, all the dictatorial power it bestows for four to five years on the Prime minister or premier. . “The PM/premier controls the politi- -eal fature of every member of the major- . ity caucus. They obey or pay the price.- And the head of government’s ultimate power is to calla snap clection that - could end the political career of caucus’ _ rebels — the mere threat being usually |. enough to bring them to heel. This is why two elements of the American system are yastly superio’ : Separation of the: executive re (read PM/premier and cabinct) trom the leg: islarure and fixed four-year terms. The former requires the head of government to be clected on a scparate ballot from: the legislature parties and to choose non-elected cabinet from among the brightest and best in their ficlds. The I ter brings four-year government stability with no “defeats” on vores of onfidene and no snap elections. ; Draft legislation. is submitted by the cabinet to the elected legislature; whic eventually passes, amends or rejec i the latter case the governm sent back. to the drawing board to ti do better next time. Thus; the peopl . remain firmly in control of all goveri ment activities through their indepen dently elected representativ s who en; immunity from an “‘governmes il All cyberspace can do. is feed speed and efficiency, an dless jood of government-manipulated re! __enda, often with little chance of ¢ . ing any genuine. consensus of th awhole.' It, rain ; ing, busy.” The.U. s. constitution powers, whatever neg “have, ar least keeps govetnment-geriu ly busy { {and suitably, humble) item bys item, to. win the people” oo BOO MANY: HAPPY RETU. row, July 6, to West Vai - Foulds. 7 -Meriens i) “THE EbITOR must i include your ~Pame, full: adéress. and teleshone number. Submait via e-mail to: trenshaw@asnaws.com ‘1199 Lonsilale naan, North Timattry Piet A Managing Editor 985-2131 (316) frenshsmepnsnews.com Serhaca Emo : : Terry Potess Distribution Manager Creative Services Die Photography Manager i 985-2131 (127) |. 885-2131 (100) (peters@n inews.com”