Hurrah for our locat

Dear Editor:

It is a beautiful Easter
Sunday afternoon. After cele-
brating the resurrection and
savoring the “good news” or
gospel from our preacher, |
was horseback riding in the
Pemberton valley. My son Ied
the way as we wandered over
trail and field, drinking in the
pleasures of nature on 2 per-
fect. spring day. The next
thing I remember is regaining
my mind in the town infir-
mary

Apparently, I had taken a
nasty spill from my horse
about an hour before.

__ We have been plagued:
with negative stories of our
eroding health care system
and, in particular, morale dis-
ilusionment of Lions Gate
Hospital «staff. But I have

some good news: it scems to
be on the mend under new
administration.

1 have no. short-term
memory of how my accident
occurred but the diagnosis of
some concussion and severe
damage to the left shoulder
was confirmed by x-rays. The
attending physician — tele-
phoned Lions Gate and deter-
mined that Dr. Thompson,
orthopedic surgeon, was on
duty and would be able to
operate on my shoulder.

An ambulance was called
and, after a stup in Whistler to
pick up an injured skier, I was
delivered to the hospital
emergency. I was quickly
admitted, particulars taken
and later seen by the doctor,
who, as it was past midnight,
postponed the operation to

north shore news

MAIL Box

replace my shoulder in its
socket until the next morning.

He explained that he
would have to install three
pins to keep broken bone
mass in place and would see
me in the morning.

After I had been admitted
to my room and had spent a
fretful night, the staff and the
doctor did their good work at
first light. On recovery, I was
given the wrong lunch which
was not compauble with anes-
thetic equilibrium bur my
mess was cleaned up withour
a complaint. I was kept under
close observation and vital
signs taken by nursing staff
because of my concussion.
Always a smile and concern
for my well-being.

Vl return in a month for
pir: removal and tien physical

therapy to regain full use of
my arm. However, my great-
est relicf is personal exposure
to the dedication and care
that still exists in our health
care professionals in spite of
governsient ineptitude.

My accident could not
have been at a more inoppor-
tune time. Obtaining remedi-
al service on Easter Sunday

Weunesday, May 6, 1998 ~ North Shore News — 9

would be problematic any-
where.

However, I was attended
to and X-rayed in a small
country town, quickh, deliv-
ered by ambulance to a loca-
tion where I would be given
specialist care and my opera-
tion was corapleted with min-
imum delay.

Throughout this traumatic

| ted white, m.p.
Dal MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES

experience, in my very con-
fused and irrational state, |
was treated with respect,
kindness and professional
competence by everyone in
the system. I may have been
just lucky but I don’t think so.
My gospel for B.C. health
care, and thank you.
James Pocklington
West Vancouver

advertorial, May 6/1998

More than swimsuit issue has
gone missing in war of sexes

Dear Editor:
Trev’s (Trevor. Lautens) complaint about
his lost: Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and his
‘rationalizing about its loss reminds mz of 3
. stand-up, comic who said that he only smoked
_ dope. while on stage, because that way, he
could write it off on his taxes as “travel
expenses.” .

. So why do J suspect Trev’s literary research
may be more than he says? I’m delighted by
his continuing interest in such things, though,
because it offers hope to us all. I fost interest
in. the -swimsuit issue when Kathy Ireland

‘ stopped appearing in an outfit consisting of
three large seashells and some string. And I
bet that one kept the Maytag Repairman both

_awake and busy. Like Trevor, my own research

~ has deen purely academic — and it’s a dirty lie
that I’ve been known to comment “Look at
the T-t-r-teeth on that!”

Since retiring from the war between the
sexes, ] was merciy checking the other side’s
latest ammuniticn, you understand. ~
: That’s one of the problems of materity —
“. most of us just get older. The wisdom comes

from realizing what we might have been doing
if we hadn’t done what we did, but it’s too late
by then anyway, so there's no use worrying.
And just to make Trevor feel better, I rust
say that I skimmed that swimsuit issue at the
convenience store the other evening, and this
one’s definitely not vp to the usual standard.
Something like our provincial government —
they’re more interested in making a fshion
statement than doing anything productive.
Lucy Lawless once said on Regis and
Kathie Lee of her skimpy outfits on Xena,
“Skin selis, Baby!” In that case, I think this

year’s S.J. Swimsuit issue is in trouble. Or —

maybe I’m just getting too picky in my old age
.- but’ I grew up in an era when men were
men, and gals were double-breasted, and
proud of it.

These days, if a gal has a magnificent chest,
it probably came from Dow-Corning. And
cuddling a gal like that is a lor like trying to
get intimate with two halves of a bowling ball.
And don’t ask how I know ...

Ray Sutton
North Vancouver

: . = : a =

Dear Editor:

- “. Re: Give us a justice minister,
with guts (Leo Knight’s April 15
column).

. > Your column is of the no-”

” - nonsense -style that should 2 be
~ Used as text material in jourralist

school as an example of how to

say something of importance
clearly, with the underlying

_ assumption that the reader is

intelligent enough to under-

stand the subject. Also, thank

- you for not using the brain-dead

politician’s current favorites;

“scenario,” “impact,” “sense of

community” and “closure.” |

think you could have a gold
mine here by adapting Suc

Zs Golden Keys To
ng &» Who You Are and
; Why You're Here

Guest Speaker: ae oe
Larry Siegel, _ z
a ae)
va

New York
- 1998 BC ECKANKAR.
Regional Seminar
May 15 - 17 + Surrey. BC
. Sheraton Inn Guildford
GUEST PASS
_ Good for one free Session |
_. (Nommembers only}
Additional Information —
(604) 434-3371 ..
: 1-800-LOVE GOD .

Grafton’s alphabetical series style
of murder mysteries to a political
setting. Some suggestions: “L”
for liar, *C” for corrupt, “O” for
opportunist, “S” for senator etc.
As Chretien said, “There is no
place in a parliamentary system
of government for recall or refer-

endum”; reinforced by a nonde-
script B.C. NDP backbencher’s
“We are the government, we cari
do anything.” ;

Keep up the tilting, it’s a big
windmill.
John Edwards
edwards@direct.ca

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604-986-4863

On May 31, 1993, in the Toronto Star,
the now Prime Minister Jean Chretien
was quoted as saying, “We are not
there. to serve ourselves, we are
there to serve (Canadians).” Almost
five years later, patronage apjoint-
ments by the Prime Minister have
exceeded the all-time records set by
Brian Mulroney. The system has cer-
tainly served same Canadians, but
being a well known Liberal appears to
be the best way to guesantee the receipt
of a benefit.

28 SENATE APPOINTMENTS

A check of the patronage connections
of the 28 Senate appointments made by
Mr. Chretien clearty iilustrates why the
Canaaian Senate fails to work in the best
interects of ait Canadians, and needs to be
reformed. The Senate was set up by the
Fathers of Corfederation to represent the
provinces, but the majority of senators
appointed by the Prime Minister represent
not a province, but the Party of the person
who appointed them:

Only one Canadian senator has ever
been freely elected by the pecpic he was
to serve. In 1989 Stan Waters won an elec-
tion in Alberta against the person selected
by the then Prime Minister Mulroney, but
was prevented by Mulroney from taking his
seat in the Senate for approximately a
year. Stan died of cancez in 1991, having
made Canadian history, and having proven
that no changes to the Constitution are
necessary in order to permit free elections
for senators. Unfortunately, Mr. Chretien is
refusing to endorse senate elections and
has regularly stated that he is the person
who will appoint senators, and that “they
will all be good Liberals.”

A full list of Chretien's Senate appoint-
ments is available from my office, but a few
examples are: Catherine Callbeck — for-
mer Liberal Premier of PE!, Joan Cook —
failed Libera! candidate, Ross
Fitzpatrick - prominent B.C. Liberal
organizer, Lucie Pepin — former Liberat
MP, Lorna Milne -— former Liberal riding
President, and Nick Taylor — former
Alberta Liberal Leader.

OTHER REWARDS

Ciub Chretien has so many members
collecting rewards that it is hard to know
which ones to mention first, but'Liberal rid-
ing presidents, failed candidates, cam-
paign workers, bagmen, and ministerial
assistants seem to be the main recipients
of the PM Awards Program. The National
Parole Board, and the Immigration and
Refugee Board, are favourite parking lots
for the Liberal faithful, although stints as
Consuls and representatives abroad are
also high on the list.

Amazing though it may seem, even
Elections Canada Returning Officers are
appointed by the Government in power, a

‘practice which Elections Canada woutc

‘ourselves, :
 (Canadians).”.

racies to establish their electoral systems it
specifically recommends against permit-
ting the government to appoint returning
officers. Meanwhile, here in Canada during
the 1997 election, the Ottawa assistant of
a Liberal MP was appointed as the
Retuming Officer in that MP's riding — a sit-
uation which would surely be of concem to
any impartial observer. . :

Scanning the appointment list for the
National Parole Board makes one wonder
what qualifications some of the appointees
have other. than being Liberals,.and cer-
tainly fuels speculation about the rea! rea-
son for what seems te be: an excessive
number of questionable decisions by the
Board. Examples of recent appointments
are Andre Bachand.- Liberal candidate in
1988 and tung time Lideral President in
Brome-Mississquoi, and Elizabeiix McKall
- wife of the Libera! Rising President in
Edmonton West... 2 -

‘The Immigration and Refu
though appeers to be the most common:
recipient of Liberal largesse: No. !ess
than 14 appointments of weil known

. Liberais to the IRB occurred during

1997 and 1998 Including Anita Fuuco.| :
Boscariol - twice defeated candi- |-
date; Lucie Blais - defeated. candi- |
date in. 1993; Mitagros Eustaquoi.-
failed candidate; Ronald Guerette -
former Riding President; Etke:
Homsi - former legislative assis- |) ~
tant; Joan’ Lylian Kouri - defeated ‘|:

- candidate; Gary McCauley - defeat- |

ed MP; Anna Terrana — defeated MP, [..
and Raza Naqvi - yet another faiied |. .
candidate. . of
TEFLON JEAN
Despite all the patronage, the high

taxes, the suppression of the freedom of, 2

Liberal MPs to vote in Parliarnent accord-
ing to the wishes of their constituents, and
the enormous ong*1g amounts of govem-
ment waste, the namé “Teflon Jean”
seems to be about the only thing which will
stick to the PM. Mind you, he is governing
with only 38.5% of the popular vote, a situ-
ation made possible only by our “First Past
The Post” electoral system. ie
Without the power granted to the-4:.
Prime Minister via the “First Past The 4;
Post” method of electing MPs, Club
Chretien wouid not even exist, and a lot
of people appointed to the public pay-
roll would be out looking for jobs. Even

_with FPTP though, if the political will: [>

existed in the PM's office to put an end |:
to patronage, we would likely soon see :
more of the decisions of the Senate, the
IRB, and the Parofe Board beginning to
reflect the wishes of the majarity of tax-
payers, rather than a political ideology.
Mr. Chretien could sately repeat, with
feeling, “We are not there to serve

we are there. to. se