ANADA'’S chief electoral officer

should look within the coun-

try’s borders beforé heading
off-shore in search of a cure for low
federal election voter turnout.

Jean-Pierre Kingsley said last week
that Parliament might have to consider
instituting a system of mandatory vot-
ing similar to that of Australia’s to pre-
serve democracy in Canada.

His comments followed revelations
that voter turnout for the Nov. 27 fed-
eral election hovered around 60 per
cent, the lowest in Canada’s federal
election history.

But forcing people to vote is not the
answer to preserving democracy in
Canada.

Returning some democracy to the
country’s federal political arena is.

As it stands now, Canada operates
under a system that’s 90 parts dictator-

We're governed by a party that’s
been in power 78 of the country’s 133
years — a party that’s highly skilled at
securing, votes through redistribution
of the country’s wealth and keeping a
fractured conservative opponent at bay
through astute political gamesmanship.

And Canada is ruled by a prime

minister's office with evermore central-
ized powers and a system that demands
that elected members are loyal to their
parties first and their constituents last.

Canadians have become disconnect-
ed from the country’s political process.
Their MPs are no more representative
of them than are their local milkmen,
and they have zero say in the running
of the-country between elections.

Little wonder then that increasing
numbers of Canadians have dropped
out of the political arena altogether.

It will take much more than a leg-

NOT WORKING!
Aue BANK'S REFUSING
Ato FORGIVE YOu {our

" ship and perhaps 10 parts democracy.

- malibox
Spare the disabled
the transit levy hit

Dear Editor:
“On behalf of the 7,000 British Columbians who are
afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease, I would like ta add
mother voice of anger and dismay to the debate around
“the implementation of the GVRD transportation levy. In
pidin language, this levy.is discriminatory to those people
with physical disabilities.
In fact, it isa backward step in the journey to make life.
' for people: ith disabilities more accessible.

As, Parkinson’s Disease progresses, muscles degenerate
‘and movement becomes increasingly difficult. Many peo-
/Ple with’Parkinsoa’s Disease must rely on wheelchairs and

i hicles which’ can handle them.

yatis, the very vehicles which are being’ siub- .

‘jected to the highest level of assessment which is’$120.
For péople with Parkinson’s Disease who can afford to
ave'a vehicle, their choice’ of vehicle is restricted to those
Which, can’. be: easily gotten into, bork with-and without
elchairs Posao 4 ;
aiready an expensive alternative, are
f choice: And now. t Ys are fo be’ Penalized ‘
cause of their affliction. - 7

: : ¢ transportation fee
An Rhone, President.

~. Mewsroom Editor...
985-2131, local 114

sualified under. Schedule
Excigé Tax Act, is published:
Friday and Sunday by Lower
Group inc.,a division of Sautham
CanWost Company and distributed to
ry door on the North Shore. Canada Post Canasan
les Product Aareament No."

Newstoom Editor ; .
985-2134 (116)
mbechorgasnews.coin :

Impac

islative cattle prod to bring them back.

The

BUT enough from me for the rest
of the year.

North Shore politi-
cians, business leaders,
and your ever-reliable
man on the street had
much to say in 2000,
Below are some of the
more engaging quotes
from the past year as
reported in the pages of
the North Shore News,

: 902 :

“Other than that he

- drove into a wall twice

and smashed into five

. cars, he had ao other evidence of

“impairment?”. . :

North Vancouver provincial court ©: .
Judge Reginald Grandison, finding it hard
to believe that a driver had no alcohol in
his system when he drove his vehicle ;
through the window ofa Park Royal store
and caused a multi-car pile-up. (Froar an.

Ort. 4 News story) boy ben!

g00

: “Any time you can take a truckload j |

of sewage off the road, 1 think that’s a.
thing.”
- Cypress Bowl Recreations mutketing
manager Matthew Broadbent; on West

“Vancouver District council's approval of

linking Cypress Provincial Park to the
municipal sewage system. The recreation
area’s current system requires sewage to be

- trucked fom washroom facilities to dispos-
Sal areas.: (From an Oct. 25 News story.)

O00

“The more bored we are, the better.”

West Vancouver Police Sgt: Jim Almas,
on the optimum state of mind for police
officers during the nationwide “Cperation
roadblock. (From an Oct. i

General Manager;
| 985-2139 (133).

. shore’s year

Story.)

900

“(There's a problem with) police
officers in the Peeld that
don’t take the initiative
to talk to someone
who’s on a very lonely,
unlit stretch of the dis-
trict at 1:36 in the ©
morning with a flasie-
light, standing on the
side of the road when
he’s sent to investigate

-a motor. vehicle acel- : + =.

“dent.” :
West-Vancouver resident:
Malcolm Bell, comment-
-ing on West, Vancouver. Police investigative .
initiative; or lack thereof, after he phoned
.in the report of an off- “highway crash that ..-
was eventually found to have killed 16-
year-old Nick Downs. (From a Moy 14
News story.) '
; Oo Qn:
' “They would sooner swallow.a box +
of tacks than come out to their par-
_ ents.” fe!

: | Jennifer Horgos, a. youth programs.
coordinator for Gab (the youth division of”
the Gay-and Lesbian Community Centre),
on the reluctance of young North Shore,
homosexuals to discuss their sexuality with
their parents. (From a May 7 Sunday ‘Focus

story.)
gag.

Nardwuar: When was the last time you
fantasized about (Canucks general manag-.,
er) Brian Burke?’

Judi’ abji-Wilson: I don’t know whe ¢
“he is. I only fantasize about Gordon |.
Wilson. Now where did you Bu
phony, credentials? ,

> Wes Vancouver's Nardwuat

“ * LETTERS 70 THE EDITOR anus
. name, full address. and telephone number. |

incluge your.

’ Subatit via.e-mall mbackor@nsnews. cor

Editorial Manager
98E-2124 (150)

betersansnews com,

fark Fancher
Creative Servires Director
GB5-2131 (127) °-
miancheraasre, 001

in quotes
egates at the NDP leadership convention.
(From a Feb, 25 News stovy.)
GOO .

“Besides, if you win, you get to
spend winter in Ottawa.”

‘North Vancouver lawyer Jay Stiaith;
providing yet another good reason why he.
decided not to tun as a Liberal candidate in

the federal election. (From an Orr. 8 News. ;
story.) : . :

“Pm smo! the | same stadt ag yOu.
on this aor te ye
» ,Canadian Alliance Party incumbent Ted
- White, agreeing with Mariuatia Party can
-didate Tunya Audain on the need. ;
" gpvernment-funde day care. (From 4: Nov.
19. News story: 2:

ings.
2 This Week feta) .
; mets

‘Nebbeling, on the Sallis bot erry,

co and the fast ferry service, after triends

. travelling on fast ferry No. Lweré unable.
“to use the vessel’s toilet faci es. (Frown'a

“Pm not going to hi
free speech in my country.”.’

Victoria lawyer: Doug Christi raining
‘fife ‘upon suggestions from fringe speci
interest groups that the Free Speech
_ League be prevented from: holding in

gs in such public places as libraries:
AErom Feb. 4 Ne Ps Story.) =,

1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Va

Distribution Manager:

208-1327 (124),