20 — Friday, November 14, 1997 — North Shore News Crosbie slays ’em again Colorful former politician on book tour refuses to lie low Catherine Barr Consributing Writer ALWAYS entertaining and often controversial, former Progressive Conservative MP John C, Crosbie recently proved that he is indeed a book that cannot be easily judged by its cover. The longtime politician, famous for his comment “pass the tequila, Sheila, lie down and love me again,” entertained an enthusiastic audience Sunday as he delivered a lesson in political power, corruption and the future of life in Canada. A crowd of nearly 250 came to hear him speak at West Vancouver secondary. Crosbie was in town promoting his new biography No Holds Barred: My Life in Politics. In his book he readily reveals his opinions regarding the many myths and mis- conceptions surrounding political life in Canada. Never at a loss for a quote, the indomitable statesman appeared to be enjoying himself as he recited the wisdom of everyone from Cicero and George Bernard Shaw to John A. . MacDonald and Mae West. His blunt witticisms provoked steady laughter from the entire audience. He said his propensity for dry humor led to his famous “pass the tequila, Sheila” comment, which he directed at Liberal MP Sheila Copps. Said. Crosbie: “I like to entertain the crowd. I was the author of my own misfortune and I deserved everything I got — except Sheila Copps.” -., He clearly believes Lord Acton’s dictum that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. - Bom in 1931, Crosbie’s association with politics began short- ly: after he graduated from law school. Crosbie spoke at length about his early years as a politician in Newfoundland under the infamous Jocy Smallwood, As a provincial Liberal during the 60's, he says he quickly learned that “(political) power was immense.” esggnt is sometimes shocking accusations revealed that a dictatori- ‘al 2tmosphere prevailed during the Smallwood era. Crosbie’s sto- ries about the otherwise serious issues of Newfoundland life, provincial politics and ballot burning provided moments of Crosbie said he left Smallwood’s Liberals when he realized that it was cither “him or me.” Calling the incident “participato- ry isy” instead of participatory democracy, Crosbie firmly believes that Smallwood would not have acknowledged defeat after the 1972 provincial election if Newfoundland had not joined Confederation. -. Crosbie’s tales had a warning for British Columbians: Provincial premiers, he said, have “total and absolute control” and that the provinces will almost always “blame everything on the federal government.” . ». He cited Premier Glen Ciark’s “grandstanding” over the B.C. and Alaska salmon dispute as proof. He said that Clark’s goal is simply .to. “look heroic to the people of B.C.”. He added, “There’s no point in blocking ferries and all this nonsense he’s (Clark) trying to create.” «At the federal level, Crosbie was in the spotlight for approxi- mately 22 years. He said that as finance minister during former prime minister Joe Clark’s minority reign in 1979, his budget brought down the already tenuous cight-month-old government with a bang. He joked that Clark’s government only had “time to conceive, but not enough time to deliver.” Never a man to be kept down for long, he rose again during the Multroncy era. . Crosbie has never been a big fan of the media, which he blames for turning elections into popularity contests and for | A New Youl... (aus Natural Styling Perm 100% natural, ammonia free, Great for all hai types. colored, streaked OF tinted, eliminates attar perm diyness veg. $120 Natural Streaks Naturai Coiour reg. $45 St *30 rer 917 tr $20 10% off with this ad expires Nov. 30/97 922-4911 2490 Marine Or, West Van n (next to Capers) . : . se JOHN Crosbie, the bombastic former politician, dropped in on West Vancouver to push his new book and pro- vide his controversial, and sometimes comical, views on provincial and federal politics. ~ ms ot bending the truth instead of reporting facts. . “The national media is biased against parties on the righr,” he said. Calling media members “attack dogs,” he added, “You can- not be honest or truthful or correct because of the silly things that result.” He said he still believes in the phrase “don’t be too honest with the public.” During a book signing after the lecture, Crosbie told the News that Canada’s future depends heavily on the unity issue and getting the debt and deficit under control. He called Canadians a “nation of complainers” and said that rampant regionalism “happens all over.” He said the predominantly Western-based Reform party will . never form a federal government. He blames the party for the demise of the PC party during the 1993 election and said, “They will never get a vore from Quebec or from the Maritimes.” He bluntly pointed out that B.C., like Newfoundland, is nothing more than an “appendage,” and that national unity depends, sensibly, on Ontario and Quebec remaining in Canada, He vowed that he would “go a long way to keep them part of Canada.” Crosbie also said that the next Quebee referendum must be the last and that anything less than a 60% vote in favor of sepa- ration must not be considered. He said that sepdration would leave Quebec entirely on its own and that a “kissy, kissy good-bye was not bloody likely.” Overall, his message was optimistic. He concluded that “citizens must be equal — nor provinces,” and thar the country must “never (be) disrupted.” He ended by quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson: “We will only fall if we commit suicide.” He credits his wife Jane with much of the success of his new book. She took dictation and helped type out most of her hus- . . SJ : . ~ A Musical Review starring Don Stewart ‘om The Arts Club and An Evening with Nat King Cole November 20th and 21st, 1997 Centennial Theatre 2300 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $17.00 in advance, $22 at the door Centennial Theatre Centre Box Office and Kiwanis Club of West Vancouver call 926-0102 in support of the Peer Buddy Program band’s notes. The couple have been married for 45 years. - The benefit lecture was presented by the West Vancouver Memorial Library Foundation and the North Shore: Credit Union Charitable Foundation. , Time and Again Antiquities | Affordable Antiques OPENING SOON West 16th, N.Van. § Hard if E.G Uw: COLT D. S Vancouver's Oldest & Most Respected Hardwood Flooring Co. 9 "Anat 3 & a a . During the Month of November | UPO Prefinished Ficeting Fleer }-———— European engineered Hardwood Flooring. 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