IT WAS my intention to be noble and not mention the
Reform Party again until after the election, but I’m afraid
E. Preston Manning is asking for it. So I’m prepared to

deliver.

The change of mind comes
about because Manning has writ-
ten to members across the country
Stating, correctly, that a lot of heat
was generated by his refusal to sign
my nomination papers as a can-
didate. He then attempts to justify
his action and repeats the charge
of ‘extremism and racism’? on my
part (albeit clothed safely in the
Statement that there is only ‘‘a
perception” of same).

He also implies chat that great
nomination meeting in West Van
wasn’t reafly a Reform Party
meeting, Rather, it was a Doug
Collins groupie meeting, and
although 1,100 people were in at-
tendance, only 178 were party
members, It therefore wasn't that
important.

Members who were not present
will be interested to learn that they
stayed away because they objected
to my nomination. In fact, though,
for 178 out of a total of 450 to at-
tend was a pretty good score, since
they all knew I was the only can-
didate. Not only that, but a
number of members couldn’t even
get in, and others who were there
didn’t register.

Manning continued his theme in
a pro-Manning puff piece on the
incident carried in Western Report
magazine, an Alberta publication
that applauds every time he
belches. You-know-who was the
villain, of course.

One gets the impression from
the great leader’s statements that
nothing much has happened except
that an extremist and racist has
been shown the door; that all is

well in the best of Reform Party
worlds, and that even in
Capilano-Howe Sound, dumping
Doug ‘‘will help in the long run.”
So states Mr. Manning, who as far
as I know has not been to the doc-
tor to have his head examined.

The truth is that in B.C., at
least, the Reform Party is in a state
of disarray, not because | am im-
portant but because people can see
that in denying me the nomination
Manning was jettisoning his par-
ty’s overriding principle of consti-
tuency democracy.

Resignations have poured in. I
myself have received about 40 un-
solicited copies of letters to Mann-
ing from members who have quit,
and if ] have had that many he
must have had 10 times the
number. Provincial PR man Barrie
Wall has also Seft the fold in
disgust.

But don't take my word for the
reaction to Manning’s move. Con-
sider what the North Vancouver
Constituency Association executive
has done.

After Manning denied my
nomination, the association passed
a resolution demanding that he
explain himself. It also wanted an
inquiry into how he could justify
breaking the party’s constitution,
adding ‘‘... should the facts as we
understand them be confirmed, the
Executive Council (should) de-
mand the immediate resignation of
all those responsible.’’

‘‘All those,’’ would, presum-
ably, include Manning.

The executive stated that Mann-
ing’s action had seriously impaired

Language protection

From page 5

and museums wil} also be atten-
ding.

The event, hosted by the
Squamish Band, represents nine
months cf planning, and is the
first gathering of its kind to ad-
dress aboriginal language issues in
B.C. There are nine different lan-
guage families in B.C. Within the
nine families, several of the
dialects are near extinction.

The gathering will include 30
workshops focusing on lfegislation
and indigenous language protec-
tion, immersion programming,
curriculum content and develop-
ment.

Among the panel presentations
on Thursday will be discussions on
community-based language pro-
grams, the role of today’s church
in ensuring survival of aboriginal
language, provincial and federal
perspectives, ensuring museum ac-
countability, and responsibility to

the party’s chances on the North
Shore and probably reduced the
possibility of electing candidates in
other B.C. ridings. Why? Because,
“the fundamental principle... that
the majority decisions of members
and constituents will be paramount
at all times”’ has been violated.

Party Vice-Chairman Gordon
Shaw of West Vancouver {a key
member of the Kill Collins plot)
came in for a mention, too. The
day before the nomination
meeting, states the resolution,
Shaw had refused to discuss the
budding crisis and had assured the
Reform Party Area Council that
the matter was well in hand.
Members would be pleased with
the result, he is reported to have
said. .

Manning was told in advance
that if he denied a constituency
nomination he would be making
the biggest political mistake of his
career. But the message still hasin’t
sunk in, and it’s my guess that
unless he beats Joe Clark in
Yellowhead his days as party lead-
er arc numbered, with or without
the slavish support of Western
Report magazine.

As for me, I have no regrets and
am well out of it. Wimpland is
beyond saving, and Spud Istand
looms. In spite of everything,
though, if 1 lived in North Van I
would still vote for Ron Gamble.
Ron is 100 per cent honest and
never wavered in his opposition to
what was being done.

As he told me when he was try-
ing to inject some sense into Man-
ning and Shaw: ‘‘I don’t really
care about you, Doug. What I care
about is this party and what it
stands for.” @

discussed

first nations.

A. cultural evening of celebration
is also planned at the Squamish
Nation longhouse on Saturday.
The four-day event will also in-
clude an aboriginal film festival,
native theatre, arts and crafts, art
exhibitions, dance and song, and a
story-celling festival.

On the last day of the event,
gathering participants will consider
resolutions and policy statements
regarding aboriginal language
revival.

9 - Wednesday, November 16, 1988 - North Shore News
VOTE FOR
EXPERIENCE

AND COMMITMENT
RE-ELECT

BARBARA HOWARD [I
SCHOOL TRUSTEE
_WEST VANCOUVER,

Ernie CRIST
Wb, ALDERMAN

A VOICE FOR PEOPLE
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