6 - Sunday, January 21, 1990 - North Shore News 20-month countdown now INSIGHTS Vander Zaim’s best bet! PREMIER BILL Vander Zalm’s Wednesday TV address teduced his professional foes in the media, opposition par- ties and labor unions to new depths of frustration. He did not call a general elec- tion and he did not make the only other announcement (‘‘I'm quit- ting’’) that would have sent them to bed happy. However, if the Angus Reid poll is to be believed, that was NOT what 40 per cent of British Col- umbians wanted to hear anyhow. So Bill had, in fact, only to con- vert eight per cent among the 54 per cent calling for his resignation two weeks earlier in order to claim majority support in B.C. It’s entirely possible that his ad- dress, warts and all, achieved that swing — or better. The warts in the speech itself were, of course, wherever you chose to find them. It was an elec- tion manifesto, to be sure, making much of B.C.'s economic boom under his government (fair enough, you may agree). A per- sonal apology for past errors ad- mitted (better late than never?). A tough-guy warning to would-be caucus defectors (traitors to B.C. and not to be tolerated!). Finaily, the *‘job to finish’’ declaration of aman putting duty (or pride?) ahead of adversity. But TV audiences judge a speaker as much by the way he looks and behaves on camera as by his actual words, and Vander Zalm isa TV ‘‘natural,’’ Even in the daily media scrums he manages to look good on the tube. This time, in a dignified setting with no inter- ference, he exploited his video- charisma to the full in a 21-minute performance that, technically, was about as perfect as they come. The overall audio-visuai image with which many average voters boundaries. Not in my block NGUS Ree can be forgiven — perhaps even lauded — for asking North Vancouver City if they would consider housing a provincial toxic waste dumping facility within the municipality’s The North Vancouver-Capilano MLA's question followed a North Vancouver City resolution requesting the B.C. government establish a provincial toxic waste dumping facility — certainly a reasonable request, but Ree’s reply was reasonable as well. North Vancouver City isn’t a practical site for such a facility, but Ree’s question underlines the philosophy that must remain foremost in the environmental movement. Namely, what action are we — individual people or individual municipalities — willing to take to help halt the destruction of the planet? Requests or resolutions aren’t going to heip if they are accompanied by a ‘‘not in my back yard”? attitude. Each suggestion that a council makes to another level of government should be preceded by that council’s sincere consideration of practical ways it can help make the suggestion 2 reality. With all the talk being generated about the en- vironment, it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that ‘‘someone else”’ is taking care of the problem. But the problem isn’t going to go away unless each individual commits herself or himself to being part of the solution. And if Angus Ree’s question was intend- ed to remind North Vancouver City Council of that fact, he should hardly be castigated. BILL Vander Zalm ...no more traitors! (as opposed to political analysts) were likely left was that of a strong, caring, dedicated and sur- prisingly conciliatory leader. On a more practical plane the Premier also has firm contro! of the election timetable, his strongest weapon against any further rebels. Since he can drop the writ whenever he wishes, all that a splinter group like the rumored **B.C. Enterprise Party’’ could do in the time available would be to GUARANTEE Social Credit’s defeat by splitting the vote, with the dissidents thereby taking full blame for an NDP victory. Bill Vander Zalm’s best course now, however, is almost certainly to brave it out — even until September 1991. If he uses that 20-month countdown as smartly as he’s used the past six weeks, he and the Socreds might yet survive. A little time can work wonders with political fortunes. Ask Brian Mulroney! kee POSTSCRIPTS: Further bright ideas from readers for rescuing Canada from the deficit have been sparked by Ontario real estate salesman Rick Arlt’s campaign (WEDNESDAY WORLD, Jan. 3). Allan Evers thinks Rick's national lottery would be more popular with 10 $f million jackpots than a single $10 million one. And publish weekly ‘thow we're doing scores, he adds. Cindy Herke, who’s asking MP Chuck Cook to get behind the campaign, suggests adding fundraising art auctions and bottle drives to the list. E.L. Devlin wants service clubs like the Kiwanis and the Legion to par- ticipate and has asked Premier Bill Vander Zalm to get B.C. into the act. More to come ... It’s ‘‘Get Quacking"’ time again for this year’s Great Capilano River Duck Race sponsored by North Van Rotary. Tickets to enter the Sun- day, Feb. 18, duck-a-thon are al- ready on sale at Park Royal, Capilano and Lynn Valley Malls and at Save-On-Foods, Park & Tilford. To learn more call 980- DUCK — and stay tuned ... And congrats to Cap College students Chris Cunningham and Bobbi Greggain on winning, respectively, the North Shore Credit Union's Sid Butterfield and Tom Dearlove Memorial bursaries. Chris is start- ing medical studies at UBC; Bobbi will train to be a legal! secretary. kee WRIGHT OR WRONG: Lending should be done with witnesses, giv- ing without. Veonis Firs §. Se iF ® sunday branch ¢ x X 6, oe NEWS photo Se indy Goodman EIGHT YEARS MEDICAL TRAINING ahead for Cap College student Chris Cunningham (right) will be helped by this Sid Butterfield Bursary cheque presented to him by North Shore Credit Union manager Penny Downie (see column item). Publisher Managing Editor . 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