Here’s what’s ailing Canada Dear Editor: What’s wrong in Canada? 1. Government does not pro- tect us. Convicted perpetrators of sex attacks on women and on children are almost invariably given appallingly light sen- tences. These people are usu- ally out early on good behav- ior but are rarely rehabilitat- ed, resulting in repeats of the offence. Our faws aliow Clifford Olson the right to apply for early parole and at that hear- ing the additional right to subject the grieving parents to his interrogation. Will Paul Bernardo in furure demand the same obscene privilege? Our laws allow young offend- ers to kill and receive a few years of confinement. Rehabilitation again is rare and has lead to further crimes upon release. _ Prisoners including murder- ers and sex criminals are often allowed three-day unescorted passes from prison which ave often resulted in more crimes committed in the three-day period. Numerous Polls invariably show Canadians want a return of at least some form of capital punishment but no povernment of recent years as had the courage to put the question to official refer- endum. 2. Without your leave busi- nesses (including very large corporations) are given gov- ernment — grants (your money). 3. Government MPs cannot vote in Parliament to reflect their own or their con- stituents views. They can only vote according to the views of one person, the prime minis- ter. We therefore vote for “puppets” with the PM pulling the sirings. 4. In the nomination process a prospective MP can be hand-picked by the leader of a political party and the con- stituency must accept this individual and disallow any- one else to run for that party. What happened to democra- cy? §. Our senators are appointed over the years by a succession of prime muiinisters (another handful of individuals) and not by the will of the Canadian people. 6. Income tax is geared to furnish a good living for accountants and other profes- sional tax preparers. The forms can and should be sim- plified so the average Canadian is able to do his or her own. Can we seriously expect any of the three “old line” parties to change any of this, they who at the federal and provincial levels created these conditions in the first place? Rod Butler North Vancouver rvbutler@axionet.com A Retreat For Advancement Friday, June 27, 1997 — North Shore News — 14 north shore news _MAaIL BOx Rally disturbs reader Dear Editor: Cn June 7, | decided to attend a rally being held downtown for citizens opposed to the inclusion of gay and lesbian materials in B.C. schools. T thought it would be an opportunity to indicate my support for such a stand in a pub- lic way, so my wife and [ and our three chil- dren headed off to Robson Square. Upon arriving there, we found that a “counter-rally” had been organized with the specific purpose of shouting down or elinii- nating the original rally. We watched as crowds of gay rights sup- porters circled around 2 small group of people preparing for their rally. They shouted names and insults at them as the circle grew tighter and tighter. They tore a sign out of one elder- ly man’s hands, destroyed it, and chased the man out of the area. I was fearful for the safety of my children. As 11:30 neared, the group marched into Robson Square to further disrupt the activi- ties. They carried signs proclaiming tolerance, which they used to knock down the signs rep- Lead the way, NV council Dear Editor: I attended the North Vancouver City public meet- ing on the preparation of a new smoking — regulation bylaw which will require 100% non-smoking in restaurants, pubs and other adult-oriented and they are quite prepared to aid and abet a known health hazard and encourage the continued use of a very dan- gerous commodity. To my mind it would be a great shame if such a forward- looking council backed down resenting opposing viewpoints. Their speakers openly encouraged the crowd to harass any- one seen talking to the media because, *...we don’t want THEIR message getting out!” I found the whole event very disturbing and was left with these questions: 1) Is this the kind of tolerance that the gay conumunity advocates? 2) Do we want to live in a society where people are not free to have their own moral and religious beliefs, and are shouted at and threatened if they gather together to express them? 3) If the roles had been reversed, wouldn’t these citizens have been guilty of “gay-bash- ing” under recently passed laws? Is this not a case of “Christian-bashing?” This is the first time I have experienced such religious persecution in Vancouver. We felt that it was unsafe for our family to partic- ipate in this rally opposing the inclusion of gay and lesbian materials in B.C. schools. Peter Findlay Burnaby pfindlay@plancteer.com ronment. I was concerned because even at that meeting there was a muttering by a council member of a capitulating amendment. Let's see a strong decisive council that will lead the world in some premises by Jan. 1, 1998. The people who lobbied against the suggested bylaw were mostly those who had their own little empires in the hospitality industry who have very little concern for the well-being of their customers, Clam Bay In the Gulf Islands. A quiet place in the country to plan your company’s future. 100 acres on the water. Private, exclusive, extraordinary. For a full information package call 1-800-626-5955 or visit our web-site at http://www.clambay.com/ from its very courageous and bold instruction they gave to their staff for the preparation of a 100% smoke-free envi- sane and constructive legisla- tion. David Jones North Vancouver Our free press is sacred Dear Editor: The right of a free press in our society is sacred! Anyone who questions that right can be nothing else but iu favor of censorship. There was noth- ing libelous or slanderous in Mr. Collins’ writings. As we watch what precious few freedoms we have left being taken away from us a little at a time (so that we don’t realize that they are being taken away) by self- appointed “Do-Gooders,” let us ponder just what is hap- pening to Mr. Collins. The North Shore News and Mr. Collins deserve to be congratulated for reporting this matter, which is a lot more than those disciples of revisionist history and censor- ship would do if they owned a newspapcr! Robert M. Baker MFulier@cssmusic.com MAILBOX P: Y. LETTERS to the editor must be_ legible (preferably type- written) and include your name, full address and tele- phone number. Submissions can be faxed to 985-2104 but still must be signed and fully addressed. Our pecpie at Mountview Dodge Chrysler make the difference. 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