Wednesday, March 19, 1997 -- North Shore News - 3 Election ad spending costs By lan Noble News Reporter IT’S teen more than a dozen years since 1984. Bur thanks to recent fines Jevied under the NDP’s Election Act, some sav that B.C. is leaning towards the dark thought: police scenano outlined in George Orwell's bleak novel. Under sections of the act -- which some call a gay law and others a reasonable attempt to limit spending abuses during as: election — the B.C. Fishenes Survival Coalition has been fined $220,481 and accountant Garry Nixon $13,294.60. Both were charged under a section of the act which limits clection-related advertising to $5,000 for groups that aren‘ political parties. But fisheries coalition spokesman Phil Eidsvik said the gov- ermment won't be getting a Bluenose-embossed dime from his organization. Eidsvik said the issue is about the right to have intelligent debate on a subject that affects all British Columbians without being hampered by fear that a law is being broken. “I guess you don’t realize how important free speech is until it’s been taken away from you,” he said. He expects the battie between his group and the govern- ment to end up in B.C. Supreme Court. The North Shore News is a member of a media group thet has filed a challenge to the Election Act over its constitutional validity. Elections B.C. communications officer Jennifer Miller said the fines faced by Nixon and the fisheries coalition are enforce- w Around Town @ Bright Lights. g Collins. gw Community ws Crossword @ Municipal Record. a North Shore Alert More charges may come; Elections B.C. official refuses to identify six ongoing cases able in the same manner as a judgement in the Supreme Court in favor of the government. The two were given 14 days to pay, Six tiles have been forwarded to the criminal justice board to review for Election Act violations, she said. Another seven ties have been looked at but organizations and individuals involved in those files won't be charged, she said. She would not refease details of who is being investigated. News publisher Peter Speck, an outspoken cntic of the Election Act, said voters have the right to hear a diversity of opinions, including that of the tishenes coalition. “To limit advertising to registered political parties is putting the entire debate in the hands of the performing seals,” he said. He acknowledged newspapers and all media sources do require advertising revenue, burt added this battle is about free- dom of speech and the public's right to expression. “Our political revenue is inconsiderable. This is a gag law, Pure and simple,” he said. News jawver David Sutherland said there are questions concerning the Election Act's validity, pointing to a similar federal) Jaw struck down in Alberta. Sutherland noted the act allows parties running candidates it’s raining, it’s pouring Korth Shore News, founded in 1969 as an inde- pemient suburban acwspaper and qualified undcr Schedule 111, Paragraph 111 of the Excise Tax Act. is published cach Wednesday, Ftiday and Sunday by Nonb Shore Free Press Lid. and cstrinated to every dont on the North Shore. Canada Post Canisdian Publications Mail Sales Pritut Agreement No. (8N7238, Mailing rates available on request. A cyctist (above) endures a downpour of rain during Tuesday's morning rush hour on Marine Drive near MacKay Avenue. So much rain fell overnight on Monday that a mud slide occurred on the north bank of the East 3rd Street hill, east of Queensbury in all ridings to spend millions while limiting third parties to $5,000. Organizations can’t buy a half page ad in a major daily newspaper or much more than 30 seconds of adveriising dur- ing Melrose Place for $5,010, he said. “You can’t run a cam- paign of any kind tor $5,000." Lobby groups can funnel funds through political parties, he said. “What this law prevents is groundswells during election campaigns, which is precisely when Canadians should be heard.” He’s glad to sce prosecutions taking place because it’s like- !Wv to bring the question of the law's validity to 3 head. Meanwhile, Eidsvik sad his organization spent $27,000 attacking the Nisga’a Treaty that was endorsed by the NDP. Fines under the Election Act call for penalties of 10 timcs the amount of spending, above the $5,000 limit. In a pamphlet released during the 1996 provincial election, the coalition wrote: “You can votre for anvbody but the NDP: Only the NDP refuses to make the subszantial changes that will make the treaty fair for all Canadians.” Eidsvik said Tuesday that if there are native settlements throughout B.C. similar ta the Nisga’a ueaty his members’ livelihood will be destroved. “What they are saying is we have to suffer the destruction of our livelihoods in silence,” he said. The fisheries coalition could have funneled the money through a political party. But Eidsvik said the fisheries coalition never has endorsed a party. “To say that if we want to partake in an election we have to belong to a political party is pretty offensive,” he said. Casino bids requested in 80 days From page t Joe said a lot of people have applied for licences, not just native bands. “I don’t know whether we will get a licence or not. | mean that’s all I know and that’s all I'm going to say,” said Joe. Under a sudimentary plan released in 1994, the Squamish Nation unveiled a discussion-stage development including a native Indian heritage centre, a showcase for arts and crafts, a hotel, a restaurant, and a gambling casino. At the time, Joe said: “The economic benefits could be significant — not only for our own employment programs, social initiatives and charities, bur for all communities in this area.” Currently, however, local mayors don’t seem to support a casino in their municipalities. Said West Vancouver Mayor Pat Boname: “I’m old-line Presbyterian. It’s certainly not something I'm enthusiastic about. I’ve just seen too much grief over the years with gam- bling.” Boname is reassured by the government promise that a casino would net be foisted upon an unwill- ing municipality, But she added the possibility a local band taay receive a licence is worrisome. North Vancouver District Mayor Don Bell said council’s position is that it is against gambling. But he in North Vancouver (left). , w49 NEWS photos Miko Wakefield Man faces murder charge By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter JASON Tighe Price was charged late last week with the second-degree mur- der of a 19-year-old North Vancouver wontan. Kelly Kaler was working alone at the Money Mart store near Cambie and West Hastings streets until 9 p.m. on March 12. She was stabbed dur- ing a robbery sometime near closing time. “Kaler bled to death. Her body was discovered cwo hours after she was supposed to have closed up the store and gone home. A security guard working for Money Mart discovered the woman's body, Kaler worked at the Lower Lonsdale Money Mart store for seven months. She was occasional- ly posted at the Vancouver store, according, to her Funeral set for North Van woman stabbed to death while at work family. Price, 20, of no fixed address, is in police cus- tody. Vancouver City Police Detective Steve Pranzl, of the homicide section, said Price’s last known address was in Burnaby. Price is slated for a court appearance in Vancouver provincial court or April 8. A second man has been charged in connection with the incident. Christopher Jeremy Taylor, 19, of Burnaby, is charged with possessing stolen property and possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Vancouver City Police considered recommend- ing Taylor be charged with accessory after the fact in connection with Kaler’s death. The Crown in Vancouver declined to accept the charge. Pranzl said an accessory after the fact charge requires that an accused person has allegedly helped a criminal escape. Taylor made a court appearance on Monday and was remanded in police custody until March 24 when a court hearing will be held to deter- mine if he should be released or kept in custody pending the outcome of his charges. Meanwhile funeral services for Kaler will rake place on Saturday, March 22 at} p.m. at the Hamilton-Harron Funeral Centre, 5390 Fraser St. in Vancouver. Kaler attended Ridgeway elementary and Sutherland secondary where she graduated in 1995, She was planning to continue studies at Capilano College when she died. couldn’t say what council's reaction would be to a casino proposal for band land. Said Beil: “It would depend on whatever arrangements we have with the band as to services. I don’t think council would go out of its way to facilitate a casino on cither of the band lands because of the traf- fic problems the municipality would have to bear ... and what we consider the serious potential for crime and social problems associated with it.” The B.C. government says it will be issuing requests for proposals for casinos within 90 days. On Manday, the provincial gov- ernment tried to reassure residents that what have been dubbed Las Vegas-style casinos won't be built in B.C. Such casinos can have 150 tables and 2,600 slot machines. Instead, B.C. casinos will be limited to 30 tables and 300 slot machines. The government said destination and new charity casinos and bingo halls will require local government support and input from surrounding areas before they can go ahead. a tt