Wnty CEASED cut intatiene Peat gn neem atest. Sproat GT RETR armas sper AIO nana mete: Flora’s loss turned out to be a blessing ONE OF the most prominent players in modern Canadian history has quietly become a part-time Vancouverite, bris- tling with enthusiasm about the city and her latest interna- tional challenge. Not since a brief tenure with B.C. Forest Products during the past political hiatus, has Flora MacDonald been able to think of Vancouver as home. The base is still Ottawa, but the Robson Square headquarters of the Commonwealth of Learning has justified an apartment in the West End. At the 1987 Commonwealth Conference in Vancouver, the heads of state established a telecommunications strategy to br- ing education to the most distant and most impoverished of member nations. A key financier is the Sultan of Brunei. Over lunch recently at Trader Vic’s, Flora heaped high praise on the British Columbia government for its commitment to the task. As host to the Commonwealth Con- ference in 1987, B.C. was quick to volunteer the facilities of the Knowledge Network. “Their experience with distance learning was perfect for us,’’ she said. As the concept evolved, with projects in the South Pacific, the Caribbean, Africa and elsewhere, a secretariat from around the world was assembled and brought together in Vancouver. Canada’s former External Af- fairs Minister is the key expeditor with governments and the author of promotional material. nae Flora MacDonaid’s globe trot- ting fascination started not long after her childhood in North Sydney, N.S. Returning to Canada after three years abroad during the 1950s, she was seconded to work for Robert Stanfield in a campaign that was thought to be impossible: unseating Premier Angus L. MacDonald. Pundits and Liberals alike thought the rich Mr. Stanfield too dull for barnstorming Maritime politics. Not only did they fail to see Stanfield’s appeal, they were devastated by an army of young upstarts. One of them was Dalton Kingsley Camp. Another was Flora MacDonald. Impoverished by travel and po- litical voluntarism, the young Flora thought a career in the foreign service might be ap- propriate. She went to Ottawa to apply for a job at External Affairs. En route to write her public service exams, she walked by the Pro- gressive Conservative Party Na- tional Headquarters. She went in to introduce herself. **The name Stanfield was magic in those days,’’ she recalled. “They gave me a job right away.’” But perserverance can pay off. She finally got a job at External Affairs. No exams were required. ““When I went back, it was as the Minister.” When Prime Minister Joe Clark made her the Minister of External Affairs, the opportunity finally presented itself to do something truly significant for the underpriv- ileged of the world. Flora cites as the highlight of her life a policy she forged in the wake of the Vietnam war. The government would match every refugee an individual Canadian agreed to sponsor. More than 30,000 Canadians answered the call. This was far beyond even the mest optimistic projection, and — on 2 per capita basis — this coun- try Jed the free world in its com- passion. The success of the Vict- namese in Canada has under- scored the wisdom of the policy. Gary Bannerman OPEN LINES In the Brian Mulroney govern- ment she was able, as Com- munications Minster, to further her pass.oa for third world devel- opment. ket What political scientists now teach as ‘‘The Flora Syndrome’’ she lists as the major disappoint- ment of her career. The disappointment was not the loss of the leadership race to Joe Clark — that was a victory she shared with her friends Dalton Camp, Richard Hatfield, Lowell Murray, Norm Atkins and the en- tire enlightened ‘‘Red Tory’’ brigade. They defeated a reactionary and dangerous move spearheaded by the late Claude Wagner of Quebec. John Diefenbsker, in his blind hatred of Camp, joined forces with pcople he would have destroyed a decade earlier. Flora MacDonald’s pain was the result of well-meaning but totally dishones: friends. From coast to coast they pledged their support. What happened could be described as betrayal. It was not really that. These people were so genuinely fond of Flora, and in- debted to her, they couldn’t tell her the truth. ‘‘It was upsetting to me that they felt | couldn’t take it and that they had to lie.’’ Thus *‘The Flora Syndrome.”’ Politics delivers it peaks and valleys. She was defeated in her long-time bastion of Kingston at the last election. But the heart- break was far less than the lead- ership convention. Recalling that last campaign, she said it was a mixed blessing. “There is always an element of hurt in losing, but there also came a great sense of freedom... to get on with so many other things I’ve wanted to do.”’ eur During the course of our recent lunch, I thought back to a Sunday breakfast in the distant past at the now defunct Admiral Beatty Hotel in Saint John, N.B. Flora had driven all the way from Kingston, Ont., after completing her Friday work at Queen’s University. She came to help Richard Hat- field win the New Brunswick Conservative leadership. After the Saturday victory, the party went into the wee hours of the morn- ing. At dawn, Flora and I were the only ones in the dining room. It was easy for me. When the party ended, I wrote my stories. After breakfast, it was straight to bed. Flora MacDonald, with only two or three hours sleep, embark- ed on the 1,000 mile drive back to Kingston. Sunday, Seprember 16. 1990 - North Shore News - 9 2,00 students waiting to get into Cap College ENROLMENT AT Capilano Cal- lege is up this year over 1989, By Surj Rattan News Reporter And while the North Vanoucouver-based college has about 2,500 names on course waiting lists, the college has managed to avoid the registration chaos experienced by other post- secondary education institutions. College spokesman Bev Greene said the college is 97 per cent full, an inerease from the 94 per cent capacity the college had at this time last year. Greene said there were about 2,500 names on waiting lists for courses on Sept. 4, the first day of classes, compared with the 1,500 names on waiting lists at the same time last year. She added that there are still some spaces left in language. science, art and music courses. Greene said enrolment and the demand for courses at Capilano College is increasing every year and added that the college faces problems in accommodating some students because of a lack of space. “When other colleges talk about turning away students, they use different methods to calculate the number of students. We go by a waiting list which is much more scientific,’’ said Greene. She added that the college has not experienced any problems associated with students registeri- ng for classes because they can only register at certain times. The Canadian Federation of Students estimates at least 10,000 students could be turned away from B.C. post-secondary educa- tion institutions this year due to a Jack of space. Earlier this month police had to be called to Vancouver Communi- ty College's King Edward campus after pushing and shoving broke out in a crowd of about 600 stu- dents, who, in some cases, had lined up the previous night in a bid to sign up for English-as-a- second-language ciasses. VCC, which is embroiled in a labor dispute with staff, is ex- pected to turn away 1,000 stu- dents, while Simon Fraser Univer- sity has already turned away the same number. A Place To Gc When You're Pregnant And Need Support: GIRTHRIGHT Cali 587-7313 » Free Pregnancy Test » 229 Lonsdale In Vancouver Call 687-7223 00 AMBLESIDE a TOYS ’N HOBBIES 1425 Marine Dr., Wes! Van. "922-3512 UP TO 60% OFF REG. DEPT. STORE PRICES eDelivery as fast as 3 days ¢ Free in home estimate Call Now ¢ YALETOWN BLIND & DRAPERY INC. Visit our Showroom OPEN 7 DAYS 9am - 9pm 987-0203 or ————_ 926-1848 BEAT ANY PRICE BY 5% Executive Townhomes NOW READY FOR OCCUPANCY e 3 bedrooms e Recreation room e Double garage ¢ Patio e 3 fireplaces © 2 wet bars © 2% bathrooms e Large sundeck Over 2600 sqft. ¢ Family room ® Jetted tub Gas furnace e 6 appliances Fully fenced — Natural setting — Adult oriented with electronic security gate at entrance. #19 — Duplex style home (view) Open Saturday & Sunday 1-5 p.m. Priced to sell from $285,000 #6 — SingleL SOLD} home #8 — Duplex styie home 1900 Indian River Crescent, North Vancouver REDEKOP PROPERTIES INC. 662-8144