Sun Shines light on more N

THE Vancouver Sun,
in a rare dispiay of
real journalism, pro-
duced a great piece of
work identifying the
hypocrisy of the NDP
and the subsequent
attempt by our very
own boy premier to
blame the media for
his own foibles.

Last week the Sun outed
the NDP for the hypocritical
gang of liars they are. Not
that there was much doubt,
but the Sax put the boot in.

According to the Sin
stories, the recall campaigns
of Paul Ramsay and Helmut
Giesbrecht were apparently
inundated with a variety of
NDP insiders, government
workers, and union associ-
ates, parachuted i in to boost
the ranks in an attempt to
foil the democratic recall
actions against those two
MLAs.

At the time of the cam-
paigns, Clark categorically
denied any such thing.

“His response. co the Su2’s
report: sue the bastards.

Clark, who was known to
his high school classniates as
“Ernie” after the bespecta-
cled nerd in My Three Sons,
stole the election in 1996 by
telling the electorate that
he’d balanced the budget.

He then doubled up on
that little gem by announc-
ing a second balanced bud-
get. Needless to say that bit
of fiction ranked right up
there with Edgar Rice
Burroughs’ tale of a man-
child being raised by the
apes in decpest, darkest
Africa.

Since the election of the
NDP, we have been treated
to a succession of decidedly
unbalanced budgets with no
end in sight. Just this past
week, the finance minister,
Joy MacPhail, finally
released the first quarter fig-
ures on the state of the
provincial economy w hich
‘were, to no one’s surprise,
mich worse than the bit of

; ete
“two weeks: efore. the end of

tn news late, barely. -

leo
Knight

crime and
punishment

the second quarter. She was
asked, Fut declined, to pro-
ject any of the sccond quar-
ter results, which promises
to be worse than the first.

f d ro actually believe
her, that she had no way of
knowing what the results
would be.

Realistically, if the finance
minister hasn't got a clue

“We should all be
sick and tired of
‘Ernie’ and the
rest of his band

of liars and
hypocrites. ”

what those numbers are with
less than two weeks to go
before the end of the quar-
ter, she is totally incompe-
tent for the office she holds.
Of course, the other possi-
bility is that she knows, and
s than forthcoming in
response to the question.
Back to Clark’s problem.
He announced he would file
a lawsuit against the
Vancouver Sun demanding a
retraction and threatening
any other media outlet with

‘the same should they repeat

the allegations.

The newspeper said there
were outsiders brought in.
Sam Bridge, a longtime
NDP insider, told all that he
did for both campaigns. A
senior organizer of the
Canadian Auto Workers
union was brought in from
Toronto to fight the recall
efforts.

The paper reported that
there were financial irregu-
larities relative to the report-
ing of expenditures. On
Saturday, B.C. Fed president
Ken Georgerti adnuitted his
organization paid for the

airline tickets of a number of

party workers brought in to
augmens the locals ‘involved
in the campaign. Were the
monies claimed as donations
pursuant to the law?
Apparently not and
Georgetti admitted as much.

PH give the Sua its due.
After receiving *Ernic’s”
threat, they refused to
knuckle under and stood by
their story. A level of
courage rare! nin the
Vancouver media, save and

ept fur the publisher of
this paper, Peter Speck, who
has demonstrated more than
hi: fair share of “cajones” in
the face of government
threats against free speech.

There was much union
help for the beleaguered
MLAs facing recall. But
“Ernie” always ensures he
pays back his union buddies.

In August, the hospital
executive of VGH acqui-
esced, after years of fighting
the issue, to an arbitration
before the stacked deck that
is today’s Labour Relations
Board, to have security ser-
vices placed within the
framework of the Hospital
Employees Union.

You remember them,
“the Heart of Health Care”
so their propaganda machine
gushed during the recent
contract negotations.

The changeover from
contract security to “in
house” HEU security will
cost VGH an estimated S$]
million annually, according
to one industry source.

For what? Absolutely
nothing. The employees will
be exactly the same individ-
uals as the ones currently
employed by West Pac
Security, the contracted ser-
vice provider. The enly dif-
ference is the cost to the
taxpayer and the shirts the
guards wear.

VGH’s VP of darned
near everything, Barry
Pearce, who is probably the
busiest man in heath care, is
very concerned about the
situation. He is currently
negotiating with the union
to arrive at an equitable
arrangement that will fulfil
the terms of the LRB agree-
ment without taking a sub-
stantial hit on his already
bruised and battered bud-
get.

“Any settlement would

announcing the release ands: ile of The Ship of W isdom print by

‘Charles ve

Sandwyk .

involve re-structur-
ing,” said Pearee on
Monday. “Service levels
must change to deal with
thi

He hopes to have a com-
pleted agreement imple -
mented no later than Jan. 1,
1999,

Now the HEU has
applied to do the same in
every hospital in the
previnee. Cost to vou, the
taxpayer, assuming no
change in ser levels, over
$20 million, tor nothing
except a sop to the union
brethren of “Ernie”and his
pals.

How many beds would
that money open? How
many nurses would that
money hire? How much
could the long lines for cicc-
tive surgery be reduced if
that moncy were committed
to where it would affect
those most in need?

“Heart of health care”
indeed.

We should all be sick and
tired of “Ernic” and the rest
of his band of liars and hyp-
ocrites. If he had any class,
and God knows he hasn’t
demonstrated any thus far,
he would resign under the
spectre of yet another inves-
tigation by forensic auditor
Ron Parks and call an elec-

Announcement

The offices of
Gunnel Gavin
Physiotherapy Associates
and
David Leahy Speech Therapy
have moved to large.
fully renovated premises.
We are now located at

1€1-135 East 15th St.,

North Vancouver,
V7L 2P7

Tel.: 984-8731

We extend a warm
welcome to all.
Wheelchair access from
front & rear of the building, wn

tion,

ing seduction of power is

Wednesday, September 23, 1998 — North Shore News - 7

P hynocrisy

apparently much more
imporzant than any sense of
morality. — lknight@direct.ca

But he won't. The allur-

Aa servicns Oi, Lube & Fitter
eee” 21 pt. Safety check, 15 rmminutes - FAST!
Includes up to 5 titres of 10w30 Quakerstate I
1362 Marine Drive 980-9115
Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:00pm, Sun. 9:00armn-5:00em Expires Sept 2508 J

Laursen & Son Draperies and Blinds
em: =p 77 Serving the

SY Lower Mainland since 1971 NS

922-4975 or 987-2966
Ask about our Seniors Discount)
Labour $12.50 per panel unlined, $13.50 fined.

Custom Rods, Upholstery & Pedspreads
Low Low Pxaicis

© juto ,
_* Homeowners
@ Travel

| Defieux-Saxelby

neve
a@oervices Inc.

ar kina,

- 105-200 West "Esplanade
North Vancouver

(Located beneath
Famous Players Theatre)

ve tty *-
Sherk

: é
Cher 30 years Scns
PRe Nor

bie

Planters for. Rey
winter! a

For creative ideas on how to
combine foliage, grasses, bulbs
and flowers visit Maple Leaf
Garden Centres. Learn how to
create colourful planters and
baskets to enjoy through the
winter months. You can count on
Maple Leaf for fresh products

and helpful advice.

Anatéing. 2
_of a, Plérite tr! -
In stake i:
déemonstéitions
West Yan:
Saturday, 1Q1
Nor th Vary

Sunday. 310. ; in

Fali Garden Mums

In bloom now. From.

S 949

$ 399

“WITH ALL WE KNOW, IT HAS TO GROW.”

Winter Pansies
Lots of colours. 8 per pack...

MAPLE LEAF

GARDEN CENTRES

9:30 TO 6, MONDAY - SATURDAY... 9:30 - 5:30 SUNDAY (OPEN 7 DAYS)
NORTH VANCOUVER: 1343 LYNN VALLEY ROAD 985-1784
WEST VANCOUVER: 2558 HAYWOOD AVENUE 922-261)