north shore news ___MAIL Box Hydro, NV band buiid partnership Dear Editor: 1 read with interest: your March 7 article regarding our Indian River Stewardship Conference. While we are pleased with the coverage you provided of this historic event, I would like to clarify one of the points that was raised. Tt was correctly reported that the construction of BC Hydro’s high voltage trans- - mission line down the Indian River Valley in the late 1960s caused severe environmental consequences. What was not mentioned in vour article is the fact BC Hydro and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation are currently working to build a partnership relationship that will ensure that errors of the past aic not repeated. One positive result of this new rela- tionship) owas that the Aboriginal Relations office at BC Hydro provided a signifi- cant devel of funding and- logistical support for the Indian River Stewardship Conference. Thank you for your in- depth coverage. In the com- ing years we will be pioncer- ing many additional initiatives that seek to integrate a First Nations perspective into many aspects of public and private activity occurring within our traditional territory. Your efforts to assist the general public to understand our initiatives are greatly appreci- ated. Chief Leonard George Tsleil-Waututh Nation Arrogant council denies democracy Dear Editor: On Monday, March 8, a very significant and discourag- __ ing event occurred during the meeting of North Vancouver District council. The council, by a 4-3 vore, denied the vot- ers their sovereign right as cit- izens to initiate and enact laws by petition and referendum, even. though a council- appointed task force had unan- imously recommended approval and 19 out of 20 petitioners urged. council to recognize the existence of the etty jealously over the regulatory power has a familiar ring to it — the NDP government in Victoqia denied the voters of B.C. the power of initiative/referendum when it perverted an 83% yes vote in the 1991 plebiscite into the hated and draconian Bill 36 which purports to recognize the sovereignty of the citizenry while, in fact, suffocating i it. To the credit of district council's members, chey did not behave like hypocrites. They were merely arrogant — “the power to regulate is ours alone,” said they. And, so, the struggle to be recognized as a sovereign peo- ple, the quintessential element in the very definition of democracy, goes on in Canada. John Kelly Vancouver We'd love to give you 50% off Buz that would mean that our Everyday fair prices were over inflated to begin with!! Visit Suite Dreams Furniture and find the high quality, excellent pricing and large selection you’re looking for at Honest - Down to Earth prices! New location of Al & Shannon & ~ Suite Dreams Furniture Inc. 1989 Boundary Rd. 320-2577 "hE. The goodwill of those ive serve is the foundation of our busines!! {| accept the legislation” and ted white, mp. Wednesday, April 14, 1999 - North Shore News — 9 advertorial, Apnl 14/1999 WESTERN ALIENATION On January 7th of this year the Prime Minister announced the establishment of a “Western Alienation Task Force”, made up of seven Liberal MPs and three Liberal senators, with a mandate to travel throughout the West on a fact-finding mission. Callers to a CKNW radio talkshow program in tate February though, wasted no time in telling the Chair of the group, John Harvard MP, that they consider the exercise to be a waste of time and | money. [n almost two hours of open line, John didn’t receive a single call of support! Not surprising perhaps, in light of some of his comments. During discussions about various pieces of § Liberal legislation which have raised hackles in the West, he reacted to input from cafiers with lines like, “We have to pursue what we think is in the national interest”, “I kope the passions diminish and Westerners “You know we don't believe in referendums.” The concept of a Western Alienation Task Force didn't fare much better during f a second talk-show which included Liberal | MP Lou Sekora a few days later. It resulted in a public airwaves whipping for Sekora — and not a single call of suppcrt. As a result of this preliminary public | reaction to the Task Force, Reform MPs have given it a new name ~ The Liberal Alienation Task Force. PLEASE START LISTENING! Winnipeg Sun Copy Editor, Mark Perry, offered the Task Force a few words of advice on January 12th of this year. He wrote that, “If Chretien and his Liberal flunkies really wanted to 1 know what's on the minds of Western Canadians, they could start by unplugging their ears and fistening to what those folks sitting across from them in the House of Commons have to say. No, not the | separatist Bloc Quebecois ... the Reform Party.” Mr. Perry then went on to state that, “They would find out very quickly and pointedly why the West doesn't elect more Liberals, which is, of course, the real point of this wasteful junket.” — Assuming that all went according to plan, there was a_ significant and meaningful opportunity for the Prime { Minister to listen to input from the West for the entire day yesterday in the House of Commons. The event was one of Reform's “Supply Days", during which we ge: to control what is debated in the House, and was centred around a Motion | had proposed in connection with provincial alienation by the Liberal Government, and, | in particular, its failure to listen to Western concems. The generat thrust of my Motion, which was selected by the Reform Caucus at a meeting in late March, was as follows: That, in the opinion of this house, the Liberal Caucus Committee on Western Alienation should be renamed | as “The Liberal Alienation Committee” since it is the Federal Liberals who | have alienated themselves from the provinces by failing to listen and respond to provincial concerns with respect to: 1. The Native Land Management Bill 2. The Wheat Board Monopoly 3. The Nisga‘a “Template” 4. The tailure to promptly deport criminal refugee claimants 5. Judicial activism 6. The failure to reform the Senate 7. Excessive taxation 8. The lack of choice in medicare and alternative medical therapies 9. Patronage appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board 10. Government waste in the form of grants and stibsidies 11. Fisheries mismanagement 12. A Gun Control Bill which targets honest citizens while doing nothing te curb the criminal use of guns 13. A dysfunctiona! Parliament devoid of free votes and meaningful debates, with too much power centred in the Prime Minister’s § Office 14.The use of Federal spending powers to interfere in areas of | provincial jurisdiction 15. The failure to directly involve citizens in the process of governance through _ citizens initiated referendums and the right of recail Assuming that the debate did indeed take place yesterday as olanned, you should be able to find the entire Hansard | , record on the Internet at www.parl.gc.ca. OUR INPUT [S IRRELEVANT Perhaps the most vivid recent examples of the arrogant disregard for provincial concerns over Federal legislation lie with the Liberal Government's handling of Native Land Claim issues. Bill C-49, The Native Land Management Act was rammed through Parliament using motions.to limit debate, and without incorporating a single amendment to dea! with legitimate concerns raised by municipal mayors, fion-native leaseholders on reserves, or even native band members themselves. We now have to hope that the Senate will hold the in-depth. public hearings, ‘and: make ail the necessary and essential, amendments which should have been done whiie the Bill was stilt at its second. treading. The Government has now indicated that it might introduce enabling legislation for the Nisga’a Treaty, and could even pass it at the Federal level before the Provincial Legislature has done so. This is yet another slap in the face for the West, but one which can guarantee the Prime Minister's task force will brush aside as irrelevant. i suspect, even after the Task Force hearings are over and the report has been turned in to the Prime Minister, it will be business 2s usual at the House | of Commons. The Ontario majority, | which for the time being is Liberal, will continue to tell the West. what to do, and when to do , with little or no regard fc; input received. ”. Fed White, M.P, ''#302-1200 Lynn Valley Road, North ‘Vancouver, B.C..V7 : Tels 666-0585" Fax: 666-0509; Internet: hetpsiferww.re hite AT CAP ‘> Murder mystery evening Relive the days of prohibition, gangsters and speakeasies at Capilano College's first annual murder mystery fundraiser. Presented by che professional theatre group, Murder Unlimited, ail proceeds go to the Capilano College Performing Ans Theatre. Prizes will be awarded for the best. worst and most ingenious answers. The event will be held Saturday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Capilano College Performing Arts Theatre. Tickets are $15 for adults and $19 for students or seniors, and include complimentary appetizers. Cali 990-7810. Learn Mandarin in b Beijing The Language department is offering two exciting Chinese immersion / experiences in Beijing this summer. From May 15 to June 7, an intensive Mandarin program will be offered for $2,690. For those wanting university transfer credit, a three- credit Mandarin course will be offered from July 5 to August 13 for $3,950. Fees include tuition, airfare, accommodation, meals and sightseeing crips. Call 986-1911, ext. 2423 for more information. D> Celebrate the music of Duke Evlington The Jazz Studies department celebrates Duke Ellington's 100th ” birthday Friday, April 16a at 8 p.m. in the.Capilano. College Performing Ans Theatre. Performing the jazz great’s music will be 1999 juno award winner, Brad Tumer, and his “A" Band and Rejean Marois’ top vocal ensemble, Nitecap. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students or seniors. Call 990-7810. b> Spring is time to be creative Feeling inspired by the beauty of spring? Enrol in Studio Art Drawing with Marcus Boweett offered Tuesdays, May 1 to June I from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Or learn howto create a photo journal in a ‘ one-day-warkshop - presented by professional ~ photographer, Julie Schultz, on Saturday, May. 8. For those writers out there, join author,” Crawford Killian, forhis ~ Fiction Writer's workshop, * which runs all day Saturday, April 24. Please call 984-4991 io register. CAPILANO | COLLEGE | 2055 Purcell Way North Vancouver 986-1911