6 -.Sunday, February 12, 1995 _ North Shore.News TA weal ey ie rey <2 fein, pie ocd levee ey Le ee Al eh 3 ie SAMESE TEA AAD OE CEN IS NPL TIE TR MME SNA LITE ML CL TRL TI LT “ae Sa pa Chretien sy that Quebec should f a ~aogt Harcourt’s ideas to save Federalicm 1 i FATES Bag SP EE BAP Oe HE PRINCELY pensions of our Members of Parliament should be the first casuaities in the grassroots tax revolt sweeping across Canada: So say the majority of Canadians, silent or otherwise. . According to a recent national Environics poll commissioned by the National Citizens’ Coalition, 86% of respondents say Canada’s pension plan for its MPs is too rich, and 88% _ of those polled say the plan should be brought into line with pension plans i in the private sec- tor. Suggestions that are more than reasonable. Because there is no justification, beyond the arrogance of government, in continuing a pension plan that grows 2% times faster than the maximum legal rate for private-sector pensions. There is no justification in perpetuating a MSO EGBA AE TE FEN EMILE HE TT Ce MARS ions pension plan for MPs that kicks in after six years of government service regardless of an MP’s age. T here is no justification in providing Canada's MPs with a pension pian that is fully indexed against inflation and aliows politicians to double dip at the public trough by accepting patronage appointments while collecting said lavish pension. And there may be no justification for pro-- viding an MP with any pension at all if he or she fails to listen to constituents and take their concerns to Ottawa. Concerns such as cutting spending, eradi- cating the deficit, making government accountable for budgets and getting the coun - try back on its feet. Simple concerns that if addressed ~~ really addressed —- would be worth a reasonable pension. : an treaties sCa AFTER TELLING Rogers ‘where to connect its cable, .-and Paul Martin where to ’ stuff his tax hikes, a third citi- zens’ revolt is now becoming -urgent — this one against the Indian “treaty- making” seam. Let's make one thing crystal clear. Our native fellow citizens still suffer — in many cases deeply —- from the lotisy treatment imposed on their . forebears by white colonists over a century and a half ago.. : ; Today's non-native British . Columbians bear no guilt for that. But we do have a moral responsibili- * ty to right the ancient wrongs to the -utmost extent possible in the vastly changed. world of the 1990s.",.. ..:; That said, the process for achiev- 2 those goals —. as revealed to date makes Meech Lake and .! * Charlottetown look like textbook. - models of open democratic decision- “making. This became clear during . last Sunday’s live Knowledge ‘Network program from the “Centennial Theatre, For two hours a ; panel of First Nations, federal and . provincial government negotiators, and the B.C. Treaty Commission’. chair fielded questions from four - independent panelists, the audience and Phone-in viewers, that confirmed ' “one’s worst fears about the process.: : “ Forty- -three Indian bands ory ‘nations” have now applied for-..:'. _,tveaties, Total claims submitted cover - ‘some 60% of the B.C. land mass. However, i in 42 cases negotiations have yet, to begin. The single excep- ‘HITHER AND YON , tion is the Nisga’a Tribe in northwest B.C.'which has been negotiating since 1976 and is now close to a final treaty with Ottawa and Victoria. - According to leaks by insiders, the {Tribe is believed to,have been given some 2,000 sq. km of land. half the Nass River salmon catch and between $200 and $600 million in cash. But officially the process ‘devised by the B.C. Treaty Commission.’ doesn’t permit us to know until it’s a * done deal. The rules of the game are that all face-to-face talks must take . place solely between Indians and bureaucrats of the two governments : behind closed doors. . . ; Chief federal negotiator Robin’: ' Dodson and his B.C. sidekick Linda Jolson made soothing noises about events. “consulting” affected non-native groups — industry, municipatities, fishermen, etc. But none will be- allowed even to sit in on the talks as advisers, sworn to secrecy, us is quite usual in such cases from the United Nations downward. They'll have to take the bureau- crats’ word for what's happening. So go figure for yourself how much such “consulting” will be worth. Furthermore, Chief Joe Mathias noted that Indian bands will vote on the draft treaties, That's fair enough. But no such luck for the 97% non- native population of B.C. Not even local referendums of the non-natives Most intimately concemed. Big Brother goverment knows what's best for us. Treaties will be approved “on our behalf’ simply by a vote in the legislature. If our elect- ed dictators give away the farm, it’s none of our business’ Unless, of course, we take to the fax machines onc again and bom- *. bard Victoria and Ottawa with, the message, loud and clear. that secret deats without our approval are an absolute no-no! é eee CLIMAXING CHAMBER of Commerce Week, Feb. 13-18, is Friday's Casino Night with buffet dinner and dance at the International Plaza — call 987-4488 for tickets ($45) and info on other chamber wright OR WRONG — Murphy’s 2nd Law: No good deed _ goes unpunished. quotes of the week “The land, everything in the land, everything above the land and everything beneath the land.” Haida lawyer Vina Stary, on what is on the table for land claims negotiations between B.C, Indian bands and the federal and provin- cial governments. (From a Feb, 10 News story.) “This guy does not deserve to be finance minister.” Jim MacFarlan of the anti-gov- ernment cuts Council of Canadians, on federal Finance Minister Paul Martin. (From a Feb. 5 News story.) ‘ “The reality is there isn’t going to be nuch left (of the cur- gepend iia ic rent Lions Gate Bridge) no mat: ‘ter what you do.” North Vancouver engineer Peter: Buckland, on upgrade designs for the Lions Gate Bridge. (From a Feb, 5 News story.) “They say on many days ‘I wish f could die’ and the next ‘day we have 2 party on the ward and they are in top shape. | “For every activist whe says we must change Parliament there are 100 patients who wouldn't consider the option.” : Dr. Wermer Boldt, Director of - Palliative Care at Lions Gate Hospital, on terminally il patients.’ and cuthanasia. (Front a Feb. 8 News story.) . North Van NDP MLA should be ashamed of perfonnance. . Dear Editor: NDP. MLA: David Schreck should be embarrassed, and his North. Vancouver-Lonsdale con- Stituents ought to be ashamed, by his recent ‘performance at. ‘a Vancouver anti-tax rally. His attempt to grandstand in front of angry citizens fed up with governmert overspending and wary of a pending federal budget brought a predictable reaction -—- he was _- shouted down and had the micro- phone stripped from his hands. The incre dulous Mr. Schreck | doesn’t get it — he and his spend- thrift provincial government are part . ‘of the problem, not just the feds. Perhaps this latest stunt from our. lackluster MLA: will motivate the ~ citizens in his‘riding to mount a” revolt of their: own, and turf him: under the recall legislation, expect-_ ed this spring, that he and his fellow parliamentary’ committee. members have been so loathe to enact. Don Whittred North Vancouver Poter Speck: : Publisher | : 808-24 3% (101) " Deug Foot Comptroller” 4 ge 22 THI YONGE OF WORTH AND WAET VANCOUVER tae 2 SUNDAY - WEDNESDAY « FRIDAY 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver B.C. 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