Ao - Wednesday, November 7, 1984 - North Shore News Gee editorial News Viewpoint Christians? Us? HE school prayers battle suggests the need for soul-searching by a good many Canadians. The B.C. Schools Act requirement that the Bible and the Lord’s Prayer be read at the start of each school day has, in practice, been widely ignored. West Van's Nigel Berttelot, who has created a furore by demanding that the Act now be obeyed, claims in justification that Canada is a Christian country. The 1981 census figures support his argument. The statistics show that 21,678,750 Cana- dians out of a population of 24,083,500 described themselves as adherents of one or another of the country's 35 different Christian denominations and sects -- ranying trom Catholics and United Church to Plymouth Brethren and the Salvation Army. The re- maining 2,404,750 consist of the Jewish and Fastern Non-Christian religions, para-religious and non-religious yroups. Presumably, the 90% of the population who said they were Christians could have no conscientious objection to a Bible reading and the Lord's Prayer, both without comment — especially as there's ample provision for non- Christians to opt out. Presumably, too, the freedoms of religion, conscience and association under the Charter of Rights — now being invoked by opponents of school prayers — apply to 90% majorities as well as to 10% minorities. The uproar sparked by Mr. Berttelot leaves one wondering, therefore, where all the Chris- tians have pone since 1981. Or, alternatively, how many Canadians wrote ‘‘Christian”’’ on their census forms merely in order to fill all the blank spaces? Costly comfort? inance Minister Michael Wilson has heatedly defended his $13,000 trip by government jet last month to check his sums for five hours with vacationing Prime Minister Mulroney in Florida. A $3 ,000-$4 000 commercial flight for his party of three would have taken too long, said Mr. Wilson, adding that they worked from 6:30 a.m. until late at night. Many small business owners who work similar hours every day may sal wonder whether speed was the real reason or comfort. (ee VEn.8 Uy URN T Or een we OT VENEER north shore news Display Advertising 980-0511 Classified Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom 985 2131 a Circulation 986 1337 Subscriptions 985 213) 1139 Lonsdale Ave North Vancouver Bt. V/M 2H4 Publlater bret yee + Asow toto Publisher tdition in Chet 44 ste asta Maeve Wey! Advorlising Viroc tor toe Personnel Director ( lanasified Manago: ma sos C bec ulation Director th ne cepts , by KA wow Peoduc tion Direc tos Photography Manoago: . . ' a . ' ft Store Nowe rou ' ' , : » | tartho Contents 1OO4 Narths Stuore Figoe BPrene Lita All vtytete ener ved Member of the BC. eee KCL SR’ THIS PAPER IS RECYCLABLE Proaa © cote tl Som The long. distance feeling... Party spirit Hk “PARTIES”? HAVE RETREATED but their ideologies still flourish in the North Vancouver board elections. Two years ago the elec tions were dominated by the battle between the lettwing North Vancouver Voters Association (NOWN A) and the tightwing Taxpayers Association for Grood Gov ernment (TAGs) bor case ot teterence they could be teparded as local farm teams of the NOP and Social © red WUorespectivedy bach fielded ws own slate of candidates adherinp to a common plat form This vear. oun least. both Wane al these munscipal quasi parties hase sa far been absent trom the Hustimgs as active political groups But in spirit they soldier on on the persons of two thirds of the Poistrret SER iva Camebidates A thot p at teast rye bent aldermen runing for ore clection the coyhtwong TACs approach as represented by Clark and Joan Cradsby both of them offteral PACK, PONS Nt the other ocnd of the realtor Craig COOPOTTEEN candidates oan probitre al Spree deur there os Sere tal woth Mary Segal whe CPrcrcagehs rreot ae tally a foe rmner District municipal and school NoVVA member, can fairly be described as leftward- leaning Add to the forces of the left the current heavyweight among outside challengers, tormer alderman Ernie Crist, who once topped the poll but was dumped fast year in a rightwing backlash against his alleged © ommu nist connections An avowed socialist, if mow nothing more, Crist i a hard hitting critic Of tax dustry, flavors toon good ato his homework and a persuasive speaker He can depend on the votes of those who tke some spicey leftwing season mein ther council menu If Crist wins back his scat by capturing the vacancy cteated by retiring Alderman Jim Ball, and if all five others mcuIMbents retam theirs wilh wind up rdcolopgae al counctl with letiwingers ana riyghtwinpers @n oa 2} balance moderated thy Aldermen Murray Dykeman and Stepben McMinn who rank Calonp with Marilyn Baker) as independents Mayor ronuine Also tree foeovtyy feor eval LETTER OF THE DAY Bliss not due thet cn ne Ss ce fer wart ee rere a Neo ND ape Loblad Perri drrep contr \ ot ‘ Popa ca OCUS Noel Wright ideological baggage ate the three other outside challengers in the aldermanny tace Lawyer businessman Peter Faminow a fortnce alder mah im the SPAbICS has Altcads sade oa couple oof comeback attempts mi recem years bde stresses harmony and Cooperation on Che civic Windsor schoal teacher Norm Vipoad wants the Pstret keg as a tarnnsly secnhe WW LLL lives on in NV residential area with ‘‘tair tax restraint’’. Adman Philip Marsh, a highly untypical Rhino Party candidate in last summer's federal elec- tion, fits into the three-piece business world so smoothly that he could pass as a closet Tory He explains it smiling: ly as Rhino “‘pragmatism’”’. In the race for the District's tour school board seats the rmght-left division dominates. Incumbent trustees Ross Regan = and Margie Goodman, both earher TAGG candidates. have teamed up for platform Purposes with outside con tenders Oliver Baker and Nancy Huot) Meanwhile, in cumbents Dorothy Lynas and Verna Smelovsky tormer NoWVVA members. now endorsed by the like thinking Citizens Associa tron fot Responsible Educa ton have taken newcomers Maureen Bubter and Donald Williams under thei public ty wing With both teams working for a clean sweep of all four vacancies, the fifth challenger, educator Sallie KRadecrali, ccmains at present a largely unknown quantity “Party tithes may be all but dead this year tn) North Van Orsteret But the “par ty sprrtoas sail very much alive and hicktng to marriage TP tae. unas ene Se ee ‘ rood , ape thee 8 ee ate RN en ee to. 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