6 - Sunday, November 20, 1988 - North Shore News INSIGHTS Will free trade be hijacked by Turner? ‘“*THANK GOD IT’S MONDAY!” will be the cry tomor- row clean across Canada. Here in Lotusland we’ll hopefully be out of our misery by 10 p.m, and can at last start con- centrating on the Grey Cup. By then Brian Mulroney's free trade deal will, to all outward signs, almost certainly be dead. But would it REALLY be dead? The final chapter of this ran- corous, cantankerous, confusing election story may be yet to come. If free trade depended for sur- vival solely upon a Tory majority government, that would — and indeed may — be the end of the matter. Since Friday’s column nothing has changed in the crystal ball. To borrow Jean Drapeau’s simile, a Tory majority still seems as possible as a man having a baby. So loyal anti-free trade Tories (pleniy) can return to the party fold with a clear conscience when they step into the polling booth! : But anti-free traders of all stripes could yet be in for a nasty surprise if the PCs were actually defeated. Among veteran politi- cian-watchers there are growing suspicions that the trade deal might survive after all — hijacked from its Tory owners by John Napier Turner. They argue that Turner’s savage campaign of fear against the pact had one sole and single purpose: to win at any cost 2 minority Liberal victory and return as prime minister. Once back in office, goes the theory, he would seek from the Americans two or three purely cosmetic touches to the deal which would enable him then to proclaim it ‘‘safe.’ If such minor changes didn't harm U.S. interests, the Americans — who also have a [ot of effort invested in the pact — might go along rather thas: sist throw the baby out with the bathwater. Meanwhile, the Tory opposition would be virtually kneecapped. They could hardly join with the NDP to bring Turner down for “rescuing’’ THEIR agreement! Bits and pieces of the scenario have been coming from too many quarters, including Liberals, in re- cent weeks to be simply ignored, especially when you remember three things. First, of course, that the Grits — not the Tories — have historically been the free trade par- ty. Second, the question of Turner’s own credibility in his ruthfess campaign: is he truly Canada's supreme patriot? Or just a desperate opportunist using the flag to fight for his political life? Finally, the 1974 memory of Tory leader Robert Stanfield who campaigned for wage and price controls to halt soaring inflation under the minority Trudeau gov- ernment. Trudeau scorned the widely unpopular Tory proposal, won a new majority as a result — and promptly introduced wage and price controls. Grits know how to handle these things, which is why they’ve won most of the elections in the present century. So happy baflot-marking! Take a final look at North Shore can- didates tonight at 7 on Shaw TV Cable 4, sponsored by the North Shore News. And have no fear — Canada will still be here on Tues- day. eae BACK TO REAL LIFE: A happy Take action HEN THE frightening results of our en- vironmental abuses seem to escalate un- checked, it’s easy to stand by and feel ending to that item 11 days ago about Capt. Michael Wood’s medals, lost in a briefcase stolen from the 6 Field Engineer Squadron officer’s car in Lynn Valley. Playing later near the scene of the break-in, Grade 7 Westover student Eran Humphrey, 12, found them in some mud where the thief had thrown them. She took them home and showed them to her Mom, who remembered the column item and was able to con- tact Michael. So last Wednesday, at the Humphrey home, a very happy Capt. Wood was decorated al} over again, this time with Eran pinning the two Korea war medals and the CD — all cleaned and shining again — back on his uniform ... If you ever attended a one-room school in the Okanagan in the 1920s, UBC researcher Penelope Crabtree, Dept. of Social Studies, 2125 Main Mall, UBC, Vancouver V6T !Z5 would love to hear from you — she’s writing a history of rural schooling ... Hap- py birthday today, Nov. 20, to West Van’s Ethane Wardell who does such a great PR job for Scor- pios ... And the same again Tues- day, Nov. 22, to North Shore News managing editor Barrett Fisher, a walking commercial for Sagittarians. wen WRIGHT OR WRONG — Quotes for votes: © “More pernicious nonsense was never devised by man than treaties of commerce.” (Benjamin Disraeli). © “Our fears are always more numerous than our dangers.”’ (Seneca). © ‘*Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.’’ (Samuel Johnson). @ HAPPY ENDING...Rebbed Korea veceran Capt. =” eet ae aes — NEWS photo Cindy Bellamy Michael Wood reunited with his medals, thanks to sharp-eyed Westover student Eran Humphrey. helpiess. The looming threats posed by the greenhouse effect, PCBs, the Port Mellon mill emissions and our dying forests — to name a few — may seem too over- whelming to be remedied by anybody other than the politicians, who are tco often unwilling to take decisive action. What people shouldn’t lose sight of, however, is that no matter how big the problem, there are always steps that individuals can take to make a difference. And while political action and lobbying are vital, it is equally important to be aware of the many ways we can be more environmentally conscious in our daily lives. Household or consumer garbage makes up more than 50 per cent of all solid waste collected in Canada. Re-using boxes and plastic bags, starting a compost and recycling newspapers, bottles and cans will all help cut down this percentage — and recycling one tonne of paper saves 17 mature trees. Since chemicais emitted from the automobile make up almost 30 per cent of the total airborne pollution from ali sources in Canada, encourage yourself to walk to work, take the bus or carpool —- and if you’re driv- ing, remember that driving at 90 km/hour instead of 1125 km/hour burns 20 per cent fess fuel. The communications branch of Environment Canada (666-5900) can answer your questions on a wide range of environmental concerns, and offers an action kit showing 2 myriad of ways in which house- holds can save resources. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can’t make a difference — when it comes to a matter of such importance, such apathy cannot be justified. 980-0511 986-6222 985-2131 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 Display Advertising Classified Advertising Newsroom Distribution Subscriptions Publisher Peter Speck Managing Editor. .. . Barrett Fisher Associate Editor Noe! Wright Advertising Director . Linda Stewart North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent Suburban newspaper and qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph tl of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free gress ‘de and distciouted 0 every oor on the North hore. Second Class Mai! Registration Number 5 Subscriptions North and West Vancouver, $25peryear, 59,1 70 (average, Wednesday failing rates available on request. Submissions are rT welcome but we cannot accept responsibilty for Friday & Sunday) aaa unsolicited material including manuscripts and pictures ' which should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed SDA DIVISION envelope. Entire contents'© 1988 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. ‘north shore’ [SUNDAY > WEDNEBDAY + ©RIDAY 1139 Lonsdale Avenue. North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 MEMBER Seen Armee of aneree * mete ——— North Shore owned and managed