Doug
Collins

on the
other hand

FOR YEARS [I have bitched |
about the money being
thrown at pressure groups.
And now a politician is try-

. ing to do something about it.

‘ He’s John Bryden, an Ontario
' Liberal who has produced a bomb-
* shell of a report that would save the
country billions if Finance Minister
- Paul Martin really wanted to put
the clamps on waste.
"| These groups get government
dough and don’t have to pay taxes.
- Yet they are often involved in poli-
“tics and in manipulating, public
; Opinion.»
An example is the Marxist mob
’ that calls itself the B.C.”
-. Organization to Fight Racism. It
~ has often mounted demonstrations ~
against Kind Old Uncle Doug. No
complaints as long as they get my
ame right. But why should they be
paid for it?
That's small stuff. It gets big,
“however, ‘when there are thousands °
‘of such groups. The grant disease
also extends to many strange “char--
ities,” many: of which are helping
“,dhemselves more than helping oth- ©
. “ers. :

“not tracked.’ Once an application is
approved, the government agency

forgets about it. The recipients can
even use the grant to lobby for :
more money. ”,

Bryden explains how the system

ks.

“Here” s ‘the cash. Use it as you.
will. If you decide to spend 90% of
it on salaries, so be it. If you decide
to funnel it to third parties, hire

bbyists, or: wine and dine and
travel the world, it is no affair of
government so long as it is all part
of your noble purpose. Even if it,
isn’t, there i is no danger of an
audit.” . :

It’s a crazy situation: in 10 years
the fat-cat Canadian Labor ~
Congress has received more than
$41 million. It’s supposed to be for

educational purposes like “teaching ;

the techniques of organized labor
- activism.” " But why should we have
‘to subsidize that? ©.

> “OF the $3.6 million the CLC got
for its noble ‘purpose in 1993, 35%
“was spent ‘on salaries and benefits.
» Yet the CLC spends none of its °
“own money on such education.
.. Why should it; when Santa lives in
Ottawa? oes

At gets worse. In 1993 the CLC

gave over a million bucks to the
NDP. That was more than any
political party in this country got
from ; a single source, Buta taxpay-

Hs pleased to announce
“she i is now practicing at: °
'#5-3260 Edgemont Blvd.
ase Village’
“North Vancouver:

- 987-5323

“Grants are gifts, The spending is —

oP AH be HAA ViNct ital

er dollar donated to a CLC pro-
gram is a dollar saved for the CLC
to use elsewhere, states Bryden.
That made taxpayers the biggest
financial hackers of the NDP dur-

ing the last two election campacgns.

He took {4 groups under his
microscope and found bugs galore.

The National
Association of
Canadians of
Origins in India
(lovely title) was
another gem.
NACOI, as it
calls itself, has
received ,
$860,000 in 10
years, and it is
only one of a
mass of ethnic
groups getting
free money.

It claims to
have 39 chapters
across Canada
that represent
750,000
“Canadians of
origins in India.”
That should make it self-support-
ing. Not so. its annual report
showed it could raise only $4,881
in a year, It is a classic case of an
organization that should be cut off
at the pass.

It was the Liberals under
Tradeau who started al! this non-
sense. Perhaps that is why Bryden
doesn’t state the obvious, which is

KEN BAXTER

68 We're throwing
away nearly $4 billion
a year on what are
known as ‘discre-
tionary and uncondi-

tional grants.’

that grants are bribes. For votes.

But even on that level they
make little sense. NACOI can no
more claim to represent 750,000
East Indians than I can claim to
represent a million dog lovers.

The fem-run Media Watch is
another modern miracle. [t tells
advertisers
how they
should adver-
tise and
reporters how
they should
report,

I remember
when it got
started, Its first
grant was
$50,000 and
pretty soon a
bunch of mus-
tachioed ladies
were demon-
strating against
the late, great
Judge Les
Bewley. Also
against me.

: By 1992
they were getting $292,000. They
were cut to $218,000 in 1993 but
are still a nosy-parker public men-
ace. -

“The funding of an organization
whose primary function is to police
the media raises a serious question

99

- of government ethics,” states

Bryden. “The very essence of a
democracy is that the media must °

= LONSDALE QUAY
NORTH VANCOUVER

908-6521 |

"& SON

cUusTOM ;
. DRAPERIES, -
TRACKS AND:
VALANCES :
Labour $8.50 per:
panel unlined,
$9.50 lined.

CUSTOM ‘BEDSPREADS & BLINDS
At low, low prices.
For FREE Estimates.

call 987-2966

(Ask about Seniors’ Discounts),
Serving the North Shore for 24 years

Defi eux-Saxelby
" Insurance Services Inc.

, 105-200 West Esplande,
“North Vancouver. -
(Located beneath -
Famous Players Theatre)

ay

"api?

be free of government interference,
both direet and indirect.”

Say it again, John. And if those
fems want to be Thought Police let
them go hold a bake sale, not steal
from the pockets of their victims.

In 1988 — an election year —
the Ukrainian Canadian Congress
got $746,500. That was followed in
1991 up by a special grant of
$1,500,000 to celebrate the
“Centenary of Ukrainian
Settlement in Canada.”

Gimme a break.

We're throwing away nearly $4
billion a year on what are known as
“discretionary and unconditional
grants.”

Have a nice day.

g Monthly Income

@ Liquid

U Flexible ”%

ca RRSP/ARIF Eligible
/
foo,
‘ MIDLAND’
WAL THEN KING™ 604 925-5552

™ BLUE CHIP THINKING Is a tradamark ot Midland Watwyn Capital tes.
of “Rates as of Mar. 21/95 annual equivatent. Subject to change and availability.
Based on six bonds with average term of 8 years

Call Kathy Sager
Vice Presidént

| feu Rapa cuintc

Are the center.
anil side stones
tigitt (secure)?

at base of claws?

bathe shank

wom thin?

of settings worn?

_  Romance’s Commitment ;
To service our valued customer's with craftsmanship beyond compare.
We guarantee our customer's satisfaction.

Repair & Redesigning

Bring us your old jewellery, broken chains, of rings and redesign or fix it at a savings to you.
We will also inspect and professionally clean your jewellery at no cost, it will look like new.

Appointments can be made for your convenience.

Appraisals

Special — $15.99 for first item, $13.99 for cach additional item

ESTABLISH YOURSELP WITH A QUALIFIED JEWELLER COMMITTED
TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND SERVICE

* INSURANCE CLAIMS

* APPRAISALS

* LA¥AWAYS

* LOOSE DIAMONDS
+ LOOSE GEMSTONES
+ + GIETWARE

¢ JEWELLERY REPAIRS
© WATCH REPAIRS
» © CUSTOM DESIGNING

ee ee re eee coms cet cay mee SO Mey a) GD an SEE

FREE ENTRY

i Fil tn dis cowpca and you hare a chaoce to wan 414 kd. gokd Bracelet wih goasioncs'- ane

With This Ad
Good unt Dex, a5

=a e— ed LH

Jewellery Repair .

pe os