WS ANALYSIS No time for old Despite voters’ appeal for issues, pheto-ops still a part of the process By lan Noble News Reporter tan@nsuews.com THE campaign in North Vancouver shot off to a rocketing start with the visit by Jean Chretien on Tuesday and the surrounding hoopla that went with it. With the ¢ appointment with the country’s leader. Liberal candi- date Warren Kinsella could have found himseifin an envious position. The PM's foray to our shore was ‘ well-orchestrated questions lobbed by ano College students had all been drawn up beforehand and weren’t going to catch the prime minister off-guard. And with a gailery of students, graduates and fans of the college’s ia Pacific Management Cooperative Program listening, the PM scored points for his numerous Team Canada trade ventures to Asia. So why did it al! turn out so badly in the nightly nev Thanks to some old-style, baby Ne campaign tactics, a visit by North Vancouver Reform MP Ted White and chanting college students upset at the Liberals for education spending cuts, the potentially positive photo-op with the PM spun out of control. As noted by News columnist Noe! Wright, Ki thy candidare for the Liberals. In North Vancouver less than pwo years, he was ablego mobi- lize enough support to beat longtime local law Straith for the Liberal candidacy. He’s the author of a well-researched took into Canada’s far-nght network, a former journalist: and a lawyer. He's presently ¢ communications longtime Calgary r politics. Ir seems, however, he learned too well from kis Liberal cal- leagues in Ortawa, where he was a speech-writer for Jean Chretien and a campaign worker for the Liberals in 1993's suc- cessful election effort. He also worked in the office of David Dingwall, then Minister of Public Wor The campaign stunts pulled on local stude team reek of the cast, where good Liberals wait in tit appoinunent to the secure Senate. ella is a wor- leave from his job as vice-president of a rtising firm in Vancouver. And as 4 ident, he should have a handle on Western ts by Kinsella’s for their MARY COLLINS TWO-term PC MP Mary Collins says her last ministerial position before losing in the 1993 federal election led her to where she is today. Collins served in a variety of portfolios dur- ing nearly a decade in political office. The Capilano- Howe Sound MP was western economic diversification minister, junior envi- ronment minister and lastly, health minister. She is now the president of the British Columbia Health Commission, an independent non-profit group that serves as an advocacy group for 200 health care facilities in B.C. Collins, 56, said she enjoyed her work as an MP, but did not see it as something she would do the rest of her li _ ; “Tr was a wonderful experience and I’m really glad J did it,” she said. Still a PC supporter, she acknowledges the party doesn’t appear to hold much promise in the west this time around. But she hopes the party does well in other parts of untry and gains strength. She expects the Liberals to win, but adds a lot of voters are still on the fence. “I think there’s a fair amount of crankiness out there. People aren't going to be quick to make up their minds,” said Collins, who has moved from the North Shore to Vancouver to be closer to her offt — lan Noble Without parent or schoal perm an, his campaign bused trom at least two North Shore schools. Students re promised lunch and forced to wear campaign aring the names of candidates they knew nothing Sunday, May 4, 1997 — North Shore News ~ 3 PRIME Minister Jean Chretien expected a little less controversy when he visited Capilano College an Tuesday. College students who got wind of Chretien’s visit were escorted away from the prime minister's path by security guards, but not befere the protesters had received the attention of the national press. NEWS photos Mike Wakafiete for students to relish. But the manipulation tarnished the Not surprisingly, other candidates had something to say about the event. North Vancouver New Democratic candidate Martin Stuible said he was “completely outraged” by his oppo- fent’s misuse of high schoo! students for political gain. “Taking a group of students away from their studies without the cleaz permission of the school and parents is an insight into politica manipulation of the highest order,” Stuible said Kinsella said he understood teachers had given permission to students and the only promise made to students was the promise to meet the PM. Those may have been bis orders, but too many students told the same stories of 4 free lunch and their reasons for wearing Liberal campaign stickers to be anything but authentic. Only Kinsella himself can be blamed for some of the media stunts he has pulled so far. On April 18, the News received a copy of a press release marked “announcement ef a major Canadian diplomatic initiative in Cyprus.” It was to be held at the Delbrook recreation centre. The News was not there. Kinseila bills himself as a strong voice for North Vancouver. Perhaps he can be. But he needs to realize this is British Columbia, And this is 1997, People here have expressed exasperation with old-style, pork- barre! politic: which more work goes into good photo-ops than substantial policy debate. It's still early, Let the new campaign begin. NEWS pholo Mike Wakefield FORMER Tory MP Mary Collins keeps an eye on health from her fourth-flcor office overlooking Vancouver. Her job keeps her involved in the health policy issues she worked on as a minister.