wearing them. It concerns an Englishwoman who has been here for 25 years and has been refused Canadian citizenship by an East Indian im- migrant. The reasons? The English lady doesn’t know enough about Canada and perhaps needs some English lessons. I would not have believed this stuff if 1 hadn’t scen the docu- ments. But the story is a perfect example of how abject Ottawa has become in wanting to wipe the English from English Canada. The story involves Mrs. Kha- toon Parpia, a citizenship judge who lives in West Vancouver, and Mrs. Jennifer Thiessen of Surrey. Here’s part of what Mrs. Parpia wrote to Mrs. Thiessen in June, 1989: “TF found that you did not have an adequate knowledge or under- standing of Canada, including: its political system; (and) system of government. You were only able to give the name of the Governor General.”* Mrs. Thiessen was told she could appeal or make a new ap- plication. “If you decide simply to make anew application you should, with the help of family or friends and perhaps some language classes (my italics) and/or citizenship classes, soon be able to improve sufficiently to meet the require- sments of the Act.” Mrs. Thiessen's reaction was predictable. She gave up trying to become a citizen of this great country. I talked to her on the phone and her English is as good as such a community. Life ar Cedar Village is about looking to the future. It’s about making a positive change in your lifestyle and spending the best years to come in the company of others over 60 just like yourself who value owner compatibility, residential security, and a neighbourhood atmosphere in the place they choose to call home. Cedar Village in North Vancouver is A new concept in retirement residences Cedar Village introduces a new concept in anyone's. She told me that part of the trouble when she was questioned was that she couldn’t always un- derstand what the citizenship judge was saying. Il called Mrs. Parpia and when she gave me the address of the cit- izenship court I too didn't entirely get what she was saying. It was only later that I realized she had been trying to say ‘‘The Sinclair Centre.” I didn’t discuss the Thiessen case with her because | knew she could add nothing to what had been written. But | did ask her about herself. Several times I had to get her to repeat her statements, for al- though she knows the words cf the language she hasn’t conquered the music. In short, she has a marked East Indian accent. She came here from Kenya in 1974 and doesn’t know why she was asked to be a citizenship judge. Perhaps it was that she had been involved in community work, she said, and had funded a schol- arship at UBC. Pat Carney, then a cabinet minister, offered her the job. We discussed the kinds of ques- tions applicants had to answer, and I mentioned that when Rosemary Brown was running for the leadership of the NDP she hadn't known how many pro- vinces there are in Canada. Mrs. Parpia had never heard of Rosemary Brown. Which made me wonder, unkindly, no doubt, whether the citizenship judge knew all that much about this country. Boug Collins jo. gS ON THE OTHER HAND Whatever, ! can tell her why she was put into a job in which she can say yea or nay to English people who want to become citi- zens. It’s because our rotten poli- ticians will go to any lengths to court the ethnic vote. That’s why citizenship courts and refugee boards are heavily laced with East Indians, Chinese, and blacks. seniors living called “Private Equity Residences.” At its simplest, this means combining the best of having your own affordable private condominium space with shared luxury amenities including lounge, library, billiards & games room, large-screen television, entertainment kitchen, patio, and beautiful gardens and walkways. In seniors’ Private Equity Residences, ownership is restricted to seniors 60 and over - forever! And the location was chosen specifically with seniors in mind: a natural woodiand setting yet just five minutes’ walk from Lynn Valley Centre or the therapeutic pools and seniors activities of che Recreation Cencre. And only a nine minute drive from Park Royal. Wednesday, February 13, 1991 - North Shore News - 9 Courting the ethnic vote IF THIS one doesn’t knock your socks off, you're just net It would make sense if Ouawa were to rule that citizenship judges have to have been born here, Is there any other country where immigrants can decide whether other immigrants should have citi- zenship? The citizenship rules are in any event a lot of swill. What has knowledge of the political system got to do with character ang enterprise? And are we to believe that the flood of Third Worlders now beating down our doors know more about this country than an Englishwoman who has been here for so long? When Mrs. Thiessen was con- sidering an appeal, ske told the Federal Court: ‘‘I have lived in Canada for over 20 years. I mar- ried in Canada and have raised two girls. | am a moral and upright person and have obeyed the Jaws of the land.”’ If | weren’t a citizen already, | would tell Brian Baloney in no uncertain terms that he could stuff his citizenship. a Affordable living ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER Barristers & Solicitors Personal Injury AFTER HOURS FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION Criminal Matters Only . FAX 926-3181 986 4 3 66 986-9286 #300-1401 LONSDALE NORTH VANCOUVER, BC. Seniors co-op proposed CRITICIZED LAST year for re- jecting a proposed affordable seniors housing project in the British Properties area, West Vanceuver District Council is now looking at a seniors co-op project Proposed for the 800-block of 22nd Street. A March 4 public hearing date has been set for the proposal from Buron Homes Ltd. to build a 35- unit three-storey apartment build- ing on the site. The proposal has already received approval in principle from West Vancouver’s Advisory Design Panel and the Advisory Planning Commission. Adjoining property owners have met with the applicant and have expressed their support for the project, subject to certain condi- tions, primarily related to land- scaping. Several design changes have al- ready been made, including redesigning the driveway to con- nect with 22nd Street and reducing the bulk of the building. If you’re renting, you'll probably find it makes financial sense to apply for a Cedar Village mortgage, available with nominal qualifications. If you own a home already, but would like a more carefree way of life, you'll find that moving to Cedar Village will open up an exciting future of new friends and activities. Presentation Centre open this weekend To find out more about the luxury one and two- bedroom suites of Cedar Village (priced affordably from $129,600 to $202,068), visit our new Presentation Centre today. Completion is May 1991 so come and get the best choice of suites now. Centre Hours: Monday thru Thursday 2-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 15 p.m. Telephone: Pamela Bell 980-4134 Full co-operation with agents.