MAILBOX

Don’t be fooled by the title

Dear Editor:

Over the past few imonths as
our national and provincial debts
grew and taxpayers’ money
vanished into the incapable hands
of our much-revered political of-
ficials, our elected representatives
met in backrooms to discuss the
future of Canada as one nation.

Unfortunately these partisan
politicians bargained with little or
no regard to the needs or wants of
the average Canadian. This
agreement pandered only to the
demands of Quebec and the
desires of Ontario.

Once again the western pro-
vinces, the Atlantic provinces and
the territories were left out of a
“Canadian Constitutional Deal.”’

Oh sure, the West and the
Atlantic obtained a ‘‘triple-E
senate’? in name. But in reality,
this is a complete and total farce.

1 will run down the three Es
and see if the constitutional
agreement is actually a true
triple-E senate:

Elected: The only one of the three
Es that was truly incorpcrated in-
to the present deal.

Equal: Somewhat. In the Senate
there will be an equal number of
senators (eight per province), but
this is offset by many factors. The
increased representation of
Quebec and Ontario in the House
of Commons counterbalances the
senate equality. And the percent-
age system required to defeat a
bill compistely throws the equality
out the window.

Effective. Absolutely not. And
this was the E that was the most
important. Canada has one house

Negotiate
land claims
settlements

Dear Editor:

The federal government has
proposed that Canada recognize
aboriginal peoples’ inherent right
to self-government in the Con-
stitution.

The question we propose is:
Whar is the definition of “‘inher-
ent right to self-government’’?
Should aboriginal people be gov-
erned by the Federal Department
of Indian Affairs, the province in
which they live, or by other
means? What would ‘‘other
means’’ be?

Aboriginals must have ail of the
same tights, benefits and obliga-
tions as any other Canadian. The
inappropriate control over their
lives, economic activity, and in-
herent right as Canadians under
the current system must be phased
out as quickly as possible.

Land claims must be settled by
negotiation, not by the courts,
whose decisions may be based on
obscure and often inappropriate
principles of law which have little
or no relevance to today’s world.
Ron Gamble
President
Reform Party of Britis: Columbia

S.O’V. pride

Dear Editor:

I would iike to respond to
Carolyne Vesey’s letter in your
July 3 edition.

Regarding the bumper sticker
which reads ‘‘Proud to be an
S.O.V.,"" she was mistaken by its
meaning. ‘‘Proud to be an
S.O.V.’’ means ‘‘Proud to be a
Special Olympics Volunteer,’’
which I am proud to be.

May Wilson
North Vancouver

that is representative of popula-
tion, and the Senate should be the
house that represents provincial
and regional interests. The current
deal severely limits the ability of
the Senate to execute this repre-
sentation.

The voting percentage require-
ments ta beat a bill, the strict
regulations determining bills the
Senate can vote on, and the veto
power of Quebec over constitu-
tional changes turns the Senate in-
to a bigger joke than it is today.

(And @ more expensive one.} 277
Once again, the provinces of the
West and the Atlantic as well as
the North have been ripped off by
Ottawa. Don’t be fooled by the ti-
tle. Look at the substance. This
so-called ‘‘Triple-E Senate’’ is
nothing more than a facade so the
Tories can pretend they have done
something for Canada.
‘*One-and-a-half Es’’
good enough!
Ryan Jaye
West Vancouver

are not

Schreck invited to debate

Dear Editor:

Responding to the letter to
the editor (July 3) by David
Schreck, in which he denies
having had an invitation to
debate Doug Collins:

I contacted Mr. Schreck’s
office with an offer for him to
debate Mr. Collins at the Cen-
tennial Theatre in North Van-
couver. His office said they
would contact Mr. Schreck
with this offer.

Subsequently, his office call-
ed and said Mr. Schreck was
declining this offer and would
not give any reason for doing
so.

Mr. Schreck, I once again
extend this offer for you and
Mr. Collins to engage in debate
at th, Centennial Theatre, date
to be acceptable to all parties
involved.

Tom Allen
North Vancouver

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