Some real local heroes Dear Editor: On Sept. 11, 1 spent most of my day in Gibsons attending the final public hearing, prior to. a vote by members of the board of the Sunshine Coast Regional Distriet, on the rezoning of McNab Creek. This rezoning would permit Westcoast Gas Services Ine. to build the world’s largest above-ground liquefied natural gas storage tank in this wilder- Organized From page ? law enforcement officer for the city saying the problem is in decline. The Vietnamese gangs are duking it out with the Chinese. The native thugs like the Red Alert and the Warriors are struggling for recognition, while the West End Boys are doing their best to ensure Darwin’s legitimacy and Lindsay says everything's all right folks. I spent an hour last week talking to a street cop who works out of Edmonton’s West Division. He told me, officially, there is no gang problem in Edmonton. He then went on to icll me chap- ter and verse of the problems ness valley. What we experi- enced in the chilly gymnasium of Elphinstone secondary school was moving and memo- rable. One after another, resi- dents of the Sunshine Coast spoke eloquently and intelli- gently of their concerns regarding this potentially haz- ardous installation being foist- ed on their community and environment. They — came impressively prepared with sta- tistics, related information and incisive questions, In the face of our currendy demoralized provincial politics, it was refreshing to witness the hon- esty and commitment of peo- ple intent on preserving not only their environment, but their democratic right to be heard. They are the true jocal heroes! Isabelle Procter West Vancouver crime getting stronger he and his colleagues have try- ing to keep the lid on a bub- bling cauldron of organized crime wars trying to seize con- trol of the lucrative drug trade in the gateway to the north. Considering every ounce of heroin or cocaine soid in Alberta originates in Vancouver and one of the shooting victims this summer is a suspect in a B.C, homi- cide, [’'m thinking Lindsay had better extract his head from his anal cavity. Conversely, he may be try- ing to deflect attention from the allegations made by the two detectives who, like Read and McAdam, are just trying tu do the right thing. Jim Fisher, the Vancouver Police sergeant recentiy For Betser Walking HUGE CLEARANCE AS OF OCTOBER IST. DRS. KATHLEEN PERRY, ALISON PURVIS & LUCY MCSHANE Family Physicians wish to announce the relocation of their office to Suite 301 - 132 E 14th St. North Vancouver. New Telephone No. 987-7735 Office Hours Monday to Friday 9-5 pm By appointment only. We AP ok fa for any inconvenience this may cause to our patients to seving Ou in, Our new. location. : SAVINGS OF UP TO 40% eneg ty gagged hy the RCMP for doing his job, says the situa- tion in Edmonton is identical, and with some of the same players, as Vancouver had five years ago. Organized crime is more prevalene in our cities — all of our cities — than ever before. It affects cach one of us whether you realize it or not. The soldiers in the war against the forces of darkness are being gagged, maligned or condemned. Some of the people at the head of our governments, police forces and civil service are protecting the bad guys and, frankly, f don’t under- stand why we are letting this happen. + dkaight@direct.ca Wednesday, September 22, 1999 — North Shore News — 9 ted white, mp. advertorial, September 22/1999 ENDING THE FIRST SESSION Beginning even before Parliarnent rose for the Summer in June, rumours were circulating in Ottawa that the Government was planning to prorogue Parliament this Fall. Weill, rumour has now become reality - the House has indeed proregued, and did not resume sitting two days ago as predicted on the Parliamentary calendar, (Prorogation is the ending of the current session of Parliament (36th Parliament, 1st Session), and the commencement of a new session (36th Parliament, 2nd Session), with a new Speech from the Throne.) The prorogation process has, in effect, cancelled all Bills which were on the order paper, whilst delaying the reconvening of the House until mid- October. Prorogation is a convenient way for Governments to cei rid of any Bills that. turned out to be so badly drafted that they are an embarrassment, or that no longer conform to the Government's agenda. What follows is a sampiing of the Commons Bills that have theoretically, at least, been wiped out as a result of the Liberal Government's decision to start a new session: C-14 Drinking Water Materials Safety Act (This Bill is no big loss - it was a great deal of bureaucracy for little useful purpose) C-48 An Act respecting marine conservation areas (A very controversial, and impractical, Bill) C-54 Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Aci C-63 An Act respecting Canadian Citizenship (The much vaunied changes to the immigration Act. Never fully debated. Deliberately held back by the Government.) C-66 Youth Criminal Justice Act (Lorig awaited changes to the Young Offenders Act. Never taken seriously by the Government.) G-87 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (impaired driving causing death) There were also a few outstanding Bills before the Senate when Paton vecessed for the Summer, two of which were: C-32 Canadian Protection Act, 1998 C-78 Public: Sector Pension Investmerit Environmental ‘ Board /.ct Both of these Bilts were priorities of the Government prior to the Summer Parliamentary recess, sc the Senate sat briefly before prorogation in order to pass them. Despite all the legislative carnage caused by prorogation, under new rules suggesied by Reform, and adopted by the Government before the last election, the Government has the option of reintroducing < ;wiped-out Bills at the same point’ in the legislative process which they occupied prior to prorogation. This means that at least some of the above Bills will probably be reintroduced, perhaps in amended form. If the same pattern is followed as last time the Government prorogued back in 1995, many of. those amendments will have f already been suggested by Reform, but ‘bow fo ‘the Throne whenever Excatiency uses the words “Members of: the House” during the course of that’ previously rejected by the Government for political appearances sake. Once the Bills are reintroduced though, the Government will likely claim Reform's amendments as its own. THE SSEECH FROM THE THRONE It is presently expected that the new Governor General (Adrienne Clarkson) will be giving her Throne Speech on October 42th - a speech which will provide an indication as to the direction the Government intends to take in the new session. There is a great deal of pomp and ceremony associated with the Speech from the Throne, most of which is drawn from British Parliamentary _ tradition. Following _an_ introductory Speaker's parade and prayers in the House of Commons, the Gentleman Usher of the Biack Rod will arrive from the Senate and state that the attendance of Members is desired in the Senate. He will then bow to the Speaker, turn and proceed towards the Bar, stop midway in the Chamber, bow, turn and stop at the Bar, where he will turn and bow again. He will then move to a position at the outer door and await the procession from the House of Commons. At this point, the Sergeant-at-Arms will shoulder the Mace and move to the centre of the -fleor near his desk and, when the - Speaker, the Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Clerks- at-the-Table, and the Members arrive within tan feet of the Sergeant-at-Arms, the entire group will proceed to the Senate Chamber. . Upon arriving in the Senate, the Speaker of the House will take a position on the dais in the centre of the bar. The Sergeant-at-Arms will stand at the right of the Speaker with the Mace lowered to the floor, and the Members of Parliament will cluster around the Speaker and remain - standing. When everything is in order, the Speaker of the House will lift his hat and bow to Her Excellency the Governor General, General will read the Throne Speech. The Speaker of the House will lift his hat and Her Speech. After the reading of the Speech, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod will at which time the Governor turn and face the rear of the Chamber and, - proceedings have been concluded. Traditionally, _ with a nad of his head, will indicate that the. the House adjoums’. shortly after the throne speech, with the. following ‘day being designated “as. the: “Leaders Day,” when the Leader of each party in the Commons debates the throne speech, and proposes an amendment. I The next two days will likely be days two. and three of the throne speech debate. if you would like to watch the Throne ° Speech on October 12th, or the ensuing | debates, they will be televised live on. CPAC, which is Channel 58 on the >| North Shore. CPAC televises all proceedings of the House, including Question Perlod, which. takes piace’ when Parllarnent’ is in session at approximately 11:15 am (Vancouver: |: time) from Monday through Thursday, and 8:15am on Fridays.