WHILE VARIOUS self-important parliamentary caravans huff and puff their way across Canada, fuelled by an endless supply of travel dollars, you can be comforted by the certain knowledge that numerous Conservative MPs are actively lobbying to obtain a Senate appointment. How can that be, you ask? Isn't the Senate going to be changed or abolished? What’s the purpose of an appointment before all these sincere folks get the new Senate properly defined? Banner- man is hallucinating, perhaps? We will sharpen our pro- fessorial skills and let you in on this perverse game. The first fact is that all but a handful of Conservative MPs are now underdogs in their home con- stituency. Privately, most believe that a bloodbath is just around the corner. Like the British Columbia Socreds during the past two years, they are praying for miracles. The most fervent — but illusionary — hope is that a new leader will br- ing salvation. Those who are old enough for total retirement, with sufficient tenure to attract a sizable pension, are not concerned. The rest of them have developed the politi- cian’s pathological fear of real work. They don’t know how to do it. They couldn’t achieve much status before public office, and there will be less for them in defeat. The prospect of paying rent and a secretary’s salary out of their own pocket is sufficient to - induce a nervous breakdown. Our ethically corrupt system en- sures that these losers will begin drawing $2,600-$3,000 a month unemployment benefits (i.e. pen- sion) immediately, no matter how young they are. Effectively, all of them will get a resettlement bonus worth about $100,000. But that leaves a bit of a shortfall in attempts to maintain life in the style to which they have become accustomed. This is the purpose of the Ca- Gary Bannerman OPEN LINES nadian Senate. Since the sorry days of the GST debate, when Brian Mulroney topped up the Senate with eight extra bodies, there have been a few deaths and mandatory retire- ments (age 75). Among the deceased were the elected Stan Waters of Alberta and the talented Richard Hatfield of New Brunswick. These vacancies create nervous distress within the Tory caucus. It’s rather like tantalizing starving dogs with a piece of beef on the far side of a mesh fence. Most of these people would shamelessly accept an appointment to the Senate. They have become so cynical about the system they know the censtitutional debate will sputter for years. They’!l happily take their chances on a subsequent ap- pointment to a redesigned Senate, or even an opportunity to seek election if that comes to pass. The worst thing that could then happen to them is a buy out. If the Senate as we now know it is eliminated, in preparation for a new structure, all of the incum- bents will have to be paid off. Their contracts will be bought out. My guess is that huge amounts of cash and pension al- lowances will be involved. We shouldn’t fault the lowly MP for his greed. Prime Minister Mulroney, parachute under his arm, attempted to make a soft landing at the United Nations. We hear that Trade Minister Mike Wilson — one of the few legitimate private success stories before politics — is going back to the highest offices of commerce. The Senate debate is a sad in- dictment of our system. Most bi- cameral democracies have an up- per house directly elected to ameliorate the tyranny of the ma- jority. If the more important lower house is principally formed on a representation by population basis, the upper chamber is delib- erately designed in other ways. Germany, Australia and the United States have upper houses giving small states equal power to the mighty bastions of population. New Zealand gets by without a second chamber. Ne country except Canada creates 2 national pork barrel composed at the whim uf the prime minister, with regional guidelines guaranteeing centralized power, British Columbia gets nailed in both directions. The preponderance of seats for Quebec and Ontario assures their supremacy. We are told it is because of population, Why then do Nova Scotia and New Brunswick each have 10 senators and British Columbia has only six? The most celebrated upper AG to address NV-Seymour NDP ATTORNEY-GENERAL Col- in Gabelmann will be the guest speaker at the annual general meeting of the North Van- couver-Seymour New Demo- crais on Feb. 15 at the Seymour Golf and L i 7 oe BES ty = any "Rr alimited time only... & Dinner | For Two Just $14: aaa February 3,9 "92 Country Club. Gabelmann served as North Vancouver-Seymour MLA from 1972 to 1975. Party members, supporters and the general public are in- vited to attend. The business portion of the meeting will begin at 7 p:m.; Gabelmann is scheduled to speak at 8:30 p.m. For more information call either Rick Lebitsching at 929-0307 or Helen Hawthorne at 929-1106. PHIS OFFER GET 4 ——* <9 f] 95 2°>s3 Join us Sunday STEP 1: aqthru Friday for this Present tbat yur sees ~ fi fabulous offer Choose ANY-TWo entrees toa value of $12.95 exch STEP 3: your meal... and save Faloy Yous os per couple. (P.S. Choose swo encrees greater torgiz 95 each and still receive the mag Aca $10.8 95. \ Not Expires February 13,'92) RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED COAL HARBOUR 566 Cardero 669-3687 RICHMOND 8331 River Road 273-7835 WHITE ROCK 14935 Marine Dr. 536-7320 NEW WESTMINSTER 900 Quayside 525-3474 HORSESHOE BAY Ml NSN 6695 Nelson 921-8188 shelter were providéd for abused ' women their children. last year. + ¢ You can help this Fall) = Sunday, February 2, 1992 - North Shore News - 9 Our Canadian Senate: the nat’! pork barrel chamber is the British House of Lords. !t goes back to feudal times as an appeasement to the many powerful landholders, threatened by the elected Com- moners. British tradition guaranteed the Dukes, Earls and minor gentry a powerful referee position in the affairs of state. Along with them, by definition, evolved a chamber that includes the principal judges of the realm (the Law Lords), the most impor- tant bishops of the Church of England, distinguished military leaders, university governors and retired prime ministers. Many of these appointments are etched in Jaw and others are just as firmly entrenched by tradition. Britain also has had its share of hereditary imbeciles and political scrooges appointed to its upper house, but it towers like an Everest of wisdom and decency over the sordid affair contrived by Canadian prime ministers. If the Senate could ever be an assembly of Canada’s most distinguished elder citizens, fairly appointed to represent the entire A Place To Go When You're Pregnant And Need Support: GIRTHRIGHT 987-7313 + Free Pregnancy Test B 229 Lonsdate north Vancouver 687-7223 in Vancouver Cau 3 nation, we would not only endorse it, we would stand up and ap- plaud the prime minister who had the courage to attempt it. This was the dream of the Fa- thers of Confederation. Without the shackles of British peerage, the hope was that we would be free to empanel the best. Our rambunctious, repre- sentative ones in the House of Commons, would have this wise group looking over their shoulders. In the end, the elected ones would win, but not without checks and balances. As G.B. put it: “Democracy substitutes election by the in- competent many for appointment by the corrupt few.”” = List WITH ME JOHN MCKILLIGAN CEN-TA ADVANTAGE ~ MORE BUYERS 1 FASTEST SALE w HIGHEST PRICE 1 2% COMMISSION CEN-TA REALTY : TOYS 'N = THE GREAT BOAT SALE Billings, Aeropiccola & Corel Wooden Boat Kits nd uae OFF Example. 0 Sailboats, Tugs $100 STUDY SKILLS PROGRAM | The program that helps students reach their full potential In schooi or out. ¢ Time Management « Time Power / Goal Setting e Listening * Note taking « Outlining « Reading Study strategies * Test taking strategles e 30 hrs. of Individual Instruction Sylvan Learning Cenire.