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The North Share News req-
ularly allocates space for read-
cr input on a wide range of
community issues in the form
of guest columns,

Ifyou have a column please
send it c/a The Editor, North
Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale
Ave. North Vancouver, V7Af
2H 4 or via e-mail to tren-
shaw@direct.ca. Submissions
must be typewritten and
should be approximately 500
wards,

By Behshad Hastibakhsh
Contributing Writer

OVER the last few
years, North Shore res-
idents have become
well familiar with
Doug Collins’ weekly
commentaries in which
this controversial per-

' sonality expresses his
views on different
social and economic

issues.

While these views are char-
acterized by some as racist,
extremist. and insensitive,
there is now an open debate

on whether Doug Collins:

should be permitted to pub-
lish them.

| This debate is carried out
in the same editorial pages

where this self-proclaimed

columnist. displays his anger
towards the dominant. set of
social values, It is obvious
that this anger, has blinded
Doug’s vision of reality.

Otherwise, he would not

have insulted ethnic groups,
made anti-Semitic remarks
and come to dubious conclu-
sions based on ideological
and dogmatic principles.
. Tt is my understanding
that Doug Collins fecls a
sense of powerlessness and
insecurity. This is why he sees
the immigration issue as the
source of many problems, and
uses it as a scapegoat.

His deep frustration is
closely related to a widely
held belief that the growing
role of state in society has

contributed to the loss of
individual rights and freedom.

Doug Collins despises the
overgrown bureaucracy,
unreasonable high taxes, and
publicly subsidized programs
designed tu satisfy particular
interest groups.

Although the general pub-
lic shares these beliefs, it has
become increasingly intoler-
ant towards
linking
socia-¢co-
nomic prob-
lems to the
immigration
issue. The
average per-
son in) our
community
does not
believe thar
there is a cor-
relation
between
state pater:
nalism, and
Canada’s
immigration and multicultur-
alism policies.

This raises the question of
whether Doug Collins should
be permitted to openly con-
tinue his crusade against visi-
ble minorities.

There may ‘vot be a simple
answer due to an evyisting
conflict of principles.

Based on the legal princi-
ple, as defined by Article 2 of
the Charter of Rights and
Freedom, “every individual’

has... [the right to enjoy]
‘freedom of thought, belief,
_ opinion

and expression,
including freedom of press
and other media communica-
tion” (1982 Constitution
Act).

The constitutionally guar-
anteed right to free speech is
at first glance a legally justifi-
able ground to allow Doug

Collins and his followers to:

express, print and publicize
their views.

However, most people
consider such views intolera-
ble and demand legal protec-
tion by means of censorship
in the media, Clearly, the
legality versus morality argu-

A question

Dear Editor:

Municipal Affairs
Minister Dan Miller dis-
missed the suggestion
brought forward in the legis-
lature by MLA Ted
Nebbeling for a
safer alternative
route for tank
cars of Liquified
Petroleum Gas
(Sept. 18
News).

Unfortun-
ately his lack of
interest or con-
cern means we
will continue to
see an increasing
number of the
giant tank cars
of this volatile
product moving through
miles of residential area in
West Vancouver.

.. In recent years the num-
ber has almost doubled to
around 1,800 in 1995 and
when new and expanded gas
processing facilities north of
Fort St. John come on
stream in 1997 there could
be a lot more.

‘West Vancouver Council
has no control over the types
and quantities of dangerous

vO er

goods moved by rail through
the district, because under
the Railway Act municipal
bylaws do not apply if they
interfere with train opera-
tions.
Elected council-
lors, however,
do owe it to
their con-
stituents to
ensure a work-
able emergency
response plan is
in place for all
areas.
In the event of
an LPG mishap,
emergency
response plans
generally call for
immediate evac-
uation of the area for a one-
kilometre radius from where
damaged tank cars are leak-
ing vapor.

The reason: if leaking
vapors ignite, the ctank-car
can soon explode, rocketing
chunks of metal over a wide
area,

A new © safety-minded
council may wish to consider
a suggestion previously made
thar 60 kilovolt power trans-
mission lines located along

ment intlames the war of
words berween the libertarian
supporters of free speech and
the general public.

In my. opinion, Doug
Collins docs not present a
serious threat to Canada’s
immigration policy or even
different ethnic and religious
groups.

Norwithstanding this fact,
his hate
mongering
tactics have
to be strong:
ly con-
demned.
This does
nor mean
that society
ought to
actively pro-
mote — and
entoree cen:
sorship laws.
Since the
Canadian
public is
generally

tolerant and supportive of
multiculturalism, Doug
Collins currently finds himself
ina minority camp fighting a
lost battle,

Despite his occasional
claim of support from the
silent majority, Doug Collins’
narrow minded, ethnically
and racially divisive attitude is
fully rejected by the average
Canadian, .°

Therefore, 1 consider this
whole debate to be “much
ado about nothing.”

The fact remains that
Doug. Collins is neither a
national figure nor someone
in a position of power. He is
rather powerless, because the
vocal majority in our commu-
nity rejects any form of racism

-and anti-Semitism.

Nevertheless, his words
are reminders of the darkest
moments in the history of
mankind when innocent peo-
ple have been discriminated
and prosectited. While Doug
Collins uses strong language
as a means to increase ethnic,
racial, and religious tensions,
public defiance is the best
instrument to defeat his

f gas

the narrow rail corridor in
the Ambleside-Dundarave
area could play havoc with
any emergency plan.

The possible combination
of downed lines and leaking
LPG tank cars while attempt-
ing to evacuate this densely
populated area sounds like a
formula for disaster.

Voters in the upcoming
municipal elections should
ask candidates what actions
they would take on this pub-
lic safety issue.

Harry Benson, P. Eng.
West Vancouver

cause.

By people ignoring his
camments, Doug, Collins will
lack the public attention that
has made him into a extremist
radical crusader,

Tam convinced that soci-
ety’s main focus should) be
rather on building a better
community.

This requires taking the
important initiative to make
Canada’s economy strong
and to build a social bond
between various ethnic and
religious groups.

This country's socio -¢co-
nomic provlems should be
given the necessary attention,
because doing otherwise will
only foster racism.

wi PER'BI

There's no
price like
home.

Sunday, October 27, 1996 - North Shore News ~ 47

a better community”

It is important to demon-
strate that various social
groups have the will and disci-
line to live together in full
harmony,

Fach individual can do his
or her part in bringing social
harmony to our communities,
This can be achieved through
greater awareness of our indi-
vidual responsibility to
replace economic dependency
on government.

In addition, further initia-
tives should give us a sense of
pride about our Canadian
identity, Tf new immigrants
become socially and econom-
igally integrated, Canada will
evolve into a more coherent
and economically — viable

country,

Without socio-econamic
problems, racism, — anti-
Semitism and discrimination
will disappear. Thas, Doug
Collins and his few followers
will even be more. isolated.
This isolation proves that
Canada has been and will
remain a country built by
immigrants.

— The North Shore News
believes strongly in freedom
of speech and the right of all
sides in a debate to be
heard. The columnists pub-
lished in the News present
differing points of view, but
those views are not neces-
sarily those of the newspaper
itself.

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