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, 1997
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84 Pages

By Andre Ramshaw
Contributing Writer

THE MAN whose words
are at the centre of a
Jewish group’s human
rights complaint took the
stand in his own defence
Wednesday and declared:
“Tam not anti-Semitic.”

North Shore News colunnist
Doug Callins made the comment at his
human rights tribunal before chairman
Nitya Tyer and about 100 spectators, mostly supporters.

Phe hearing was moved to Vancouver's Holiday inn
hotel on Howe Street to accommadate the crowd, which
gathered to hear Collins defend a 1994 column he wrote
that sparked the complaint by the Canadian Jewish
Congress (CJC).

Across the street, the Pacific Cinametheque theatre
was preparing to screen Weapons of the Spirit, one of the
movies it its Week-long Jewish filo festival, The movie is
billed asa rare, upbeat look at the Holocanst,

Ironically, the offending column by Collins is head-
lined Hollywood propaganda and is an examination of
the Steven Spielberg motion pictuce Seiiudler's List,
Collins called the film Swindler'’s List and. said crities

al

Vey,

Taomrarelammensen rere enter ree rr er a ene en tem

Collins takes
hearing stand

“Lam not anti-semitic,” News columnist tells tribunal

On Trial

REFORM'S John Reynolds provides pension puzzle.

Are we being set up to LOSE
the fight for FREE SPEECH?

Real Estate 53
Homes section inside
plus Real Estate Weekly

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internet: ht p://WWW.nsnews.com

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fawn over i because of the Jewish infla-
ence in Giveriaking and the media,

Collins vigorously denied
Wednesday that the pigce was meant to
slur Jews or deny the Holocaust,

“Do you hate Jews?” News lawyer
David Sutherland asked,

“do not,” replied Collins ina loud
and firm voiee,

He added: “Tan not anti-Semitic.”

And to illustrate, the 76-year-old
writer rehited an anecdote fram his
wartime adventures, He recalled being
holed up ina prisoner-ofwar camp —
nursing at bad deg -- when a Jew with
whos he was imprisoned pulled a razor
blade trom his hat and “stit my leg” to speed his recov:

Collins said his 19944 column is not meant to he hate:
ful toward Jews or deny the Holocaust but hightight the
“deleterious effects” movies such as Schindler's List have
on Germans “who had nothing to da with Hitler.”

He said the “degree of Jewish influence in
Hollywood is significant” and the figure of six million
killed in the Holocaust is regularly quoted even though
“it doesn’t stand up as fir as the evidence of Holocaust
experts is concerned,”

Collins said he had no intention of apologizing for his

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Violist Theresa Rudolph
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TV listings and
leisure guide

North Shore
This Week 1113

NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge

NEWS columnist Doug Coltins arrives at the B.C. human rights
See Collins page 3 hearing with News lawyer David Suthertand (left).

By Steve Braverman
Contributing Writer

will fight for change.”

¢ ’ Reform party says is too

al pension or wont he? rich, Nhe Former
John Reynalds tap-danced around — Progressive Conservative

the critical question on the stage ofthe MP> would: qualify” for

gym at Irwin Park clementary dering the savings program he

Tuesday's all-candidates meeting; for promises to change.

West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast. Six years of service in
When pressed on the issue the fol- the House of Commons is

couldn't keep up the foorwork.

ati Bills

Pension issue dogs Reynolds

elected) L will be one of the people who

And 13 months into this fight to
WILL he collect the feder- replace the pension: plan’ the

towing day, the Reform party candidate — required in order to be eligi-
ble for the MPs’ pension plan,

“The law says T have to collect,” he — which is fully indexed against inflation
NEWS photo Cindy Goodman = sail. “The taw says everyone elected and grows at twice the rate allowed in
niust pay into the pension plan and (if the private sector, And coupled with the

pension money Reynolds receives from

the province for his service as an MLA

for the West Vancouver-Howe Sound

riding, double-dipping becomes an
isstte as well,

But he won't get the chance to
go for seconds at the buffet if his
farmer party faithful have their
way,

Led by PC Senator Gerry St.
Germain, a group of North Shore
Tories wants Reynolds to do what
virtually every other Reform MP has
done and opt out of the pension plan,
50 of 81 Reforny MPs did just thar.

Ser Reynolds page 9

S100 080

North Shore
Hews Defence J
Fund Grows a

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CE1969