6 - Wednesday, November 27, 1991 - North Shore News MACCUT! SCUMBARE COWARD! CHEAT! PARAOITE!.. U Ue, cl ie y i, me iT RECEPTI | he IEE VILLE = WS NEWS VIEWPOINT all HE SITUATION at the North Vancouver yard of Versatile Pacific Shipyards Inc. continues to get messier. Activity at the yard remains on hoid fol- fowing the delivery in July cf Versatile’s business restructuring plan, which averted company bankruptcy. The shipyard’s main asset, the $60- million Panamax fleating dry dock, has been sold for $15.8 million, with approxi- mately half of that money going to pay off Versatile’s debt with the Hongkong Bank of Canada. Upper management at Versatile have heen paid off; the company’s major debt has been retired. But much unfinished bi:ixess remains: the workers who toiled at the “ace-massive _ Shipbuilding operation haye been left thus far with little more than memories of their employed past and bleak outiooks for their Suys future. A simmering ‘squabble, documented in the Nov. 24 News, pits those displaced workers against the company, the federal government and their union. The company says it could employ be- tween 30 and 50 workers on such projects as steel-cutting for the second B.C. Ferry Corp. superferry, but the union repre- senting the shipyard workers refuses to sign a collective agreement, saying it wants the issue of worker severance pay settled first. The federal government, which con- tributed $8 million toward purchasing the Panamax dry dock, has moved on to other issues. Stranded amidst the corporate finger- pointing exercise and the echoes of hollow promises are the workers — the little guy, taking the fall again. LETTER GF THE DAY Animals should remain in wild Dear Editor: On Sept. 1, 1991, I encountered an article in your newspaper, “Setting free the whales.” Al- though I usually: do not par- ticipate in social or environmental surveys, I felt an instant urge to present my opinion on this issue. For the past year I have twice visited the Vancouver Aquarium future of these animals by simply looking at our own personal desires. . Many argue that the display of whales has, over the years, pro- vided generations with scientific and recreational information. But it has also deprived the whales from swimming freely in our oceans, result, the problem of insufficient swimming area remains unsolved. I certainly believe that human beings should not, under any cir- cumstances, interfere in nature. Free atiimals, living in their wild environment, should not be disrupted by mankind for any reason. They need neither our sympathy, nor our artificial care. and each time I was faced with wonder and excitement, especially by watching the whales. Never- theless, we cannot decide the beer whaies, Peter Speck » Timothy Renshaw . ._Noel Wright Publisher Managing Editor . Associate Editor. . Advertising Director .. . Linda Stewart Comptroller Doug Foot Nerth Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph Ill of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday’ by North Shore Free Press Lid. and distributed to every door on the North Shore. Second Class Mail Registration Number 3865. Subscriptions North and West Vancouver, $25 per eat. Mailing tates available on request. iubmissions are welcome but we cannol accept tespensibility for unsolicited material including Manuscripts and pictures which should be accompanied by a siamped, addressed envelope. Newsroom V7M 2H4 Although the beluga habitat has increased two more whales have been added to the aquarium. As a Display Advertising Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Classified Advertising $86-6222 TOE. VOKCS OF ORT AND WEST WACOUVER crmnctrettrr are ‘north:shore I believe that whales must be freed into their own habitat. Amir Sadeghi North Vancouver to satisfy the North Shore managed 988-1337 986-1337 980-0514 Distribution Subscriptions Fax 985-3227 Administration 985-2131 MEMBER 985-2131 a 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, 8.C. SOA DIMISION 61,582 (average circulation, Wednesday, Fricay & Sunday) Entire contents © 1991 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. Draw a ine in the sand before time runs out CANADA’S Newsmagazine emerged from the closet last week. With a quizzical-looking Jacques Parizeau pictured on its cover, Maclean’s finally asked the unthinkable ques- tion: “WHAT IF? ... Debating The Use Of Force If Quebec Separates.”’ Its nine-page cover story noted the almost universal refusal of politicians so far even to mention the subject. For the sake of the nation it suggested the time has come to end ‘‘the eerie silence.’’ The unthinkable question pivots on the immense, resource-rich ter- ritories of Ungava and much of Labrador — neither of them part of Quebec in 1867. They were ad- ded by Acts of Parliament in 1898 and 1912, with Ottawa remaining responsible for native affairs there. Most legal experts maintain, therefore, that they do not belong to Quebec by right of the Con- stitution. They can revert to Canada at any time simply by Parliament repealing the 1898 and 19142 Acts. If Quebec, by separating unilaterally, regarded Canada as divisible, it would follow logically that Quebcc itself is equally divisible. Thus far, polite Anglo Cana- dians have uiso tended to assume that if ‘more than 50% of Quebec’ votes for sepzration, nothing much can he Jone about it. But the situation is far from being that simple. Constitutional- ly, say the lawyers, all of Canada belongs to all its citizens, in- cluding Quebecers — meaning that no part of it can be removed without the consent of the Cana- dian people as a whole. Meanwhile — if you think the gut question of a nation’s future existence is as vital to its children as to its adults — the numbers in- volved can be very deceptive. Even a worst-case scenario with 60% voting for separation in a Quebec referendum (a figure cur- rent polls suggest is much too op- timistic) could still mean only one in three Quebec citizens of all ages supported a one-sided breakaway. The province has some 4,740,000 eligible voters. An above-average 80% turnout would reduce that to 3,792,000 ballots actually cast — 60% of which would come to just over 2,275,000 “tyes’’ votes. In such an event $1.4% of to- day’s 26,440,000 Canadians, in- cluding two out of three - Quebecers themselves, would have JACQUES PARIZEAU... in plain language - treason. Noel HITHER AND YON their country destroyed by Parizeau’s 8.6% of dichard separatists — who also want to take with them one-sixth of Canada’s land mass. if that pic- ture doesn’t stir up your adre- nalin, maybe you should see a doctor. . Any government’s first duty is te defend its nation’s territorial integrity. Parizeau & Co. repre- sent no broad-based regional uprising against a tyrannical . regime. Their unilateral plans to tear Canada apart amount — in plain language — to treason. The sooner the leaders of 91% of Canada muster the courage to talk bluntly in those terms, the healthier for all concerned, not least for Quebecers. Like the police who protect your home, one hopes an armed stand-off will never come, The best chance of avoiding it — as Trudeau knew in 1970 — is to draw a line in the sand before time runs out. e200 TAILPIECES: The Reform Par- ty’s enemy among our typo gremlins pulled off a masterly coup in my Sunday column, where this alleged quote from the official RP immigration policy paper ap- peared: ‘‘The Reform Party re- mains unconvinced (sic) that im- migration has been, and can be again, a positive source of eco- nomic growth, cultural diversity. and secial renewal.” The first five words of the correct quote — as sent to our typesetters — read, of course, “The Reform Party re- mains CONVINCED...’’ (my cap- itals). Sorry about that, Preston! ..- Quality gifts galore are prom- ised Friday, Nov. 29, at the Christmas sale by the Cap College Clay and Textile Arts Dept. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in South Campus Room A117, 2055 Purcell Way .. Saturday, Nov. 30, is Yuletide gift “= “time for underprivileged pooches and pussycats, when Aid to Animals in Distress holds its seasonal fundraising sale, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at North Van Legion, 123 West 15th ... And that too is the date for all Mac’s to enjoy a Day of Scottish Culture with lec- tures and Celtic music, 9:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. atthe Scottish Cul- tural Centre, 8886 Hudson over- town — call 988-0479 for details. WRIGHT OR WRONG: Why do so many folk go through life thinking work is merely a noun — not a verb? SCRE 8