International
seniors group
will hold
congress

INTERNATIONAL SENIOR Cit-
izens Association delegates attend-
ing the XVth Congress on Aging
in Vancouver on Sept. 22 voted
unanimously to return to its orig-
iral charter as a functioning in-
ternational membership organiza-
tion. with a goal ‘to promote
peace, education and improve the
living environment of all senior
citizens and children in countries
of need worldwide,”’ according to
Lois Wellington, president of the
200-pius member international
seniors organization.

Wellington said that the original
charter was the wish of ISCA
founder, the late Majorie Bor-

chardt, who, in 1964, saw the
need to bring together senior citi-
zens for social change, world
peace, disarmament and the pro-
tection of the environment.

Today, ISCA, based in Los
Angeles, California, is building its
membership worldwide, with nine
countries currently being repre-
sented.

Other important resolutions
presented and accepted at the
XVth Congress involved:

@ the status of women;

@ the environment;

@ and population growth and
control.

Individual delegates also voted

Sunday, Saptember 27, 1992 — North Shore News - 31

to mount a concerted grassroots
effort to convince heads of state
te begin training adequate per-
sonnel in varied fields of geriatics
to man the hospitals of their
respective countries; to connect
with retired professors of univer-
sities throughout the world at
Enieriti Centres to assist in train-
ing seniors in their home countries
to become enthusiastic, healthy,
practising students and productive
resources for future generations;
and to open a line of communica-
tion between the 40-plus age
group (better known as the first
tier of Baby Boomers) and the
65-plus seniors to begin working

Over the past two years, federa!, provincial and Aboriginal isaders have
consulted with thousands of Canadians and special interest groups from coast to coast.
. These consultations included Royal Commissions, participatory conferences, parlia- .
: ~ mentary hearings, and hearings in the previnces
- and territories held by provincial and territorial legisla-
tures. Federal, provincial, territorial and Aboriginal leaders
. have agreed unanimousiy on a package of constitutional
“ proposais that recognizes the equality of all Canadians
‘and represents all cf our interests. The agreement is now
. before Canadians.
a . The agreement proposes that the new Constitution
weuld contain a statement of key economic and social objectives shared by all of the
“<govemments in the federation. The objectives include comprehensive, universal,
portable, accessible and publicly administered health care, adequate social services
7 Sand benefits, high quality primary and secondary education and reasonable access
‘to post-secondary education, collective bargaining ;

: . tights and a commitment to protecting the environment.

-?s The eccnomic policy objectives to be entrenched
-. would be aimed at strengthening the Canadian econcmic
~ union; the-free movement cf persons, goods, services,
‘~- and capital; ensuring full employment and a reasonable
-: Standard of living for all Canadians; ensuring sustainable
“and equitable development.
; Exclusive provincial jurisdiction would be recognized in the areas of forestry,
: mining, tourism, housing, recreation, municipal affairs, cultural matters within the
. province, ani abour market development and training. In addition, te ensure the two
; m@ levels of government work in harmony, the government
of Canada commits to negotiate agreements with the
: provinces in areas such as immigration, regionai develcp-
~ ment and telecommunications. Federai-provincial
“agreements on any subject could be protected by the
Constitution from unilateral change.
... . As was the case in the Meech Lake agreement,
“the new Canadian n Constitution would recognize the

together toward establishing a
cohesive program for seniors of
the 21st century.

The ISCA delegates also made a
resolution to support the work
currently being accomplished by
the United Nations in their Action
Plan for Aging.

“This is the vehicle in which ail
nations are to be represented and
through which world develop-
ment, world peace, human rights
and dignity can move forward,”
noted Wellington.

The final resolutions received
the Seal of Acknowledgement
from the American Consulate in
Vancouver, B.C., on Sept. 19.

distinct nature of Quebec, based on its French language,
unique culture and civil lav tradition.

: ln the reformed Parliament, the Senate would
reflect the equatity of the provinces while the House of .
Commons would be based more on the principle of
tepresentation by population: As well, Quebec would
be assured a minimum 25% of the seats in the

House of Commons.

The proposed Senate would be made up of six elected senators from each
province and one from each territory. Additional seats would provide representation
for Aboriginal peopies. The reform Senate's powers should significantly i increase

the role of the elected Senators in the policy process.

The proposals recognize that Aboriginal peoples have an inherent right to sett-
government and that the Constitution should enable them to develop self-government
arrangements and to take their place in the Canadian federation. The proposais :

recognize Aboriginal governments as one of the three
constitutionally recognized orders of goverriment in

_Cenada. In addition, the proposals provide for a negotia- ~

tion process between Aboriginal teaders and provincial
and federal governments to put this righi into effect.
The recognition of the inherent right would not create
any new rights to land.

Now thai Canada's federal, provincial, territorial

and Aboriginal leaders have reached a consensus, it is the right of alt Canadians
to understand the new proposals. Call the toll free number below to receive an *
easy-to-read booklet on the new constitutional agreement or a complete text.

(t's your right to know what the constitutional proposals say, before voting

on October 26.