6 - North Shore News -— Sunday. August 6, 2000 View POINT—— Up in smoke DERAL politicians got a sharp nudge in the ribs from the judi- ciary Monday when Canada’s law prohibiting possession of marijuana was unanimously declared unconstitu- tional by the Ontario Court of Appeal. . The possession law was held to vio- late the Charter of Rights and Freedoms because it fails to adequately provide legal access to marijuana by - those who have a justified medical need of the drug. The Liberal-created, if not very lib- eral, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 1996 allowed that the Health Minister could exempt drugs from the provisions of the act if the drugs in question serve a “medical or scientific purpose.” But it took two years and a lawsuit for the health ministry to even create an application procedure. And when such applications were finally granted — some 60 in the last year — there was still no legal way for the few with permission to obtain their drugs. It’s hard to believe that such callous foot-dragging was countenanced by politicians who are always closely attuned to public opinion. Surveys showed that four out of five Canadians supported medical use of marijuana. But the pols have a year to redeem themselves on the pot issue. That's how long the court has given the gov- ernment to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, amend the law or let it die — effectively legalizing simple possession. The latter would be the simplest solution. While punishing misuse of the drug on the job and behind the wheel would be necessary, legalization of simple marijuana posses- sion would save taxpayers a fortune in police and court costs. oO OM a IT Lait V4 a vaney : Aya © POSTION OPEN /4 : SS OME wy WIRESTED Wy P Gi Oy ; x tip a Willig cy =NG yoru Sakae AS “There are lots of children there... when they say they have to go, they have to go right now.” Kevin. Pike, West Vancouver's: director of parks and community services, responding to a suggestion that the public washrooms in Dundarave park be relocated north of the train track and Beach House restaurant. (From an Aug. 2 News story.) 990 “We ask needless and icreversible harm to current and future generations if we fail to overhaul our flawed regulatory system.” Dr. Jill Sesin, a. practising physician and co-author of a . new report linking chemicals commonly found in industry and at home to behavioural and learning disabilities, on the consequences of continued lack of testing of pesti- “cides. (From an Aug. 6 News story.) O90... “1 hada lovely’ room in one @f the towers, looking out over the lake with a king-size ‘bed. We had won- » derful meals. There are some fairly: expensive Projects facing us.” North Vancouver City. councillor Bob Fearnley sug- ~ gesting a $4,000 two-day retreat to! Harrison Hot Springs < by council and Senior staff was misrepresented and didn t. do what. it/set out to -— prioritize liture city spending. (Frov an Au. 2 News story.) - : Q0 Q° To sit in a a hotel foom with no windows and away “from: ‘your family for a day and a half — it’s not the “perk it sounds,” North. Vancouver City: councillor Bill Bell responding to. Barnley's s : criticisms. _ (From the same Aug. 2 News story.) ° Bo. vou HAVE A NEVIS TIP? © Bus jess Hours: Michael Becker News Editor. : 7985-2131, local 114. Herth Shore News. undedin 13682 an independent at ‘ subudan’ newspaper and “quattied, under Schedule 119, Paragraph in of the Excise Tax Act, is published : _ tach Wednesday, friday and Sunday by HEN Publications Company and distributed to every door. contents © 2000 HEN Pobtications Company. al os tights. ‘Teserved. - ‘Average circulation for Wedesday, Friday: and Sunday is 61,582. _ resentative Joe Bad ” by the Industrial Inquiry Commission. Union wins education batt ALL set for some sizzling sum- mer class warfare? Schoo! days not being that far off, it’s a good time to stock up on ammunition and ‘other armaments because it’s shaping up to be one cooker of a fall season. We'll leave aside for the moment teacher- union negotiations, which are on simmer as we speak, Expect temperatures on that front to rise the closer we get to the start of classes in September. Instead let’s examine the ongoing union versus North Vancouver District 44 school board battle over special education staff. . And a key battle it is. At stake ts public contro! over the education system that you, me and every- one else funds through their taxes. That control remains very much in question because the NDP government is determined to replace public interest with union interest on as many fronts as possi- le. Can’t blame them. That’s what they stand for. If that's what you stand for then you'll be applauding along with Canadian Union of Public Employes (CUPE) rep- the recent decision As reported in the July 23 North . “Shore News, the commission ordered ~ the North Vancouver District 44 school \ board to drop its plan to lay off close to *. - 450 special education aides and then rehire staff to fill all but 75 of the original special aide positions. The mass layoff was in response in part to a district re-eval- uation of special educa- tion resource needs. But.more pressing was the need to conform to CUPE contract require- ments. The same union that wants parent volunteers out of focal schools has determined that special education and supervi- sion aides must work a minimum four-hour work day. The sound you hear is Badali and the ». rest of the union executive cheering back ~ at CUPE central. According to the July 23 News story, Badali called the Industrial Inquiry Commission decision “a clear victory.” And not just for the union. For the dis- trict’s students, its parents, the whole education shooting match. Well, he got the first clear victor right... His union. But victory is as clear as mud for everyone else. The board’s plan was aimed at short-circuiting the lai movement's answer to built-in obsoles- cence: union seniority. It would have allowed for the wholesale movement of aides into the jobs they're best qualified for by having them apply for the re-post- ed positions. CUPE, however, wants union seniori- - ty to prevail regardiess of its impact on District 44 education quality, its special - education needs or the special education needs of its students. “As District 44 trustee Guy Heywood. - points out, the union Process of employ- : \ LETTERS 0 THE EDITOR musi include your. name, full address and telephone number. Sabmit via e-mail to: mbecker@nsnews.com [Alter Hoare News Tips: 685-2131 (poss 3H. ees with more seniority “bumping” those ~ with less seniority from special education, « posts could take years when it involves ® hundreds of staff members as it does in the District 44 situation. And every bump would disrupt cduca- tion continuity for District 44 students. It would also put employees in posi-.. tions based on their seniority not on their . qualifications. So, as with the issue raised earlier ‘this year of removing private: tutors from pub- ic schools to protect union turf regard- less of how it affects student and educa- tion needs, the public interest is relegated : to the back of the classroom. «°° '* The erudite Heywood also points ou! that the minimum four-hour workday will result in more hours going to fewer aides based on the needs and demands of CUPE rather chan the needs of the sys- - tem’s students. it also raises the issue of: why the union is involved in determining. how many hours per week an employee can work. A 14- to 16-hour week ‘might fit the _ working needs of a host of mothers, fathers and other people in the part-tim job market. It might also fit the needs‘o! the school, the schooi district and the, school system. ’Too bad: Union bosses don’t like it. Case closed. |.» The North Vancouver District 44 school board will now be forced to nego: tiate the reassignment of District 44’s special education resources with CUP! and that bodes ill for the local education system. © Another round to. the nions then in the ongoing class warfare iti this province. Another loss for public inter sin what used to be a public education sys- “Telephone Facsimile 385-2133...