6 — Wednesday, October 16, 1996 — North Shore News

‘The North Shore Mews Is published by Worth
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Entire contents < x)
© 1996 North Shore ,
7 Free Press Ltd, me
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ONSENSUS is a worthy but often elu-
sive goal. In the case of smoking, that
goal is an absolute must, and it’s prov-

ing far more elusive than it should.

West Vancouver, North Vancouver City and
North Vancouver District tried to dvaw up a
common smoking policy earlier this year. It
called: for a 100% ban in restaurants, but fell
apart when North Vancouver District split
ranks and tried to implement an across-the-
board 100% smoking ban. By itself, the district
bylaw was doomed. Without at least a North
Shore-wide policy, district bars and restaurants

stood to take.a hammering.

Now West Vancouver is trying to lead the
way out of the smokey wilderness with a policy
calling for phased-in restrictions that would
become a smoking ban by the year 2000. It also

allows for strictly regulated smoking rooms

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Searching f ~

“YOU can’t trust any of
them,” gas today’s sad
refrain about Canada’s
politicians. Never before
have our leaders and clect-
ed representatives been
held by so many in such
distaste and even outright
contempt.

The reason is simple. Democracy now exists
here for only 12 hours every four or five years.

Government at both federal and provincial
levels has degenerated into benevolent one-man
dictatorships elected roughly twice cach decade
-— benevolent only to the extent of watching
opinion polls ... one-man because the prime
minister or premier now wields virtually total
power.

All this because of the “leader” cult we've
allowed ourselves to be sucked into, It starts
with that absurd institution, the leadership con-
vention — where junketing, favors-trading
party faithful from the grassroots, suitably
refreshed, finally pick the man or woman who,
with few exceptions, will eventually run the
country or the province,

From that moment onward the media com-
pound the folly by focusing 100% on the leader
— who may consequently be perhaps half-for-
Siven for assuming be or she is omnipotent, _

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members if that’s what it takes.

what the policy contains.

take the stage.

in adding to that beating indoors.

ol

When the party wins at the ballot
box, the leader’s canvierion of
omnipotence becomes absolute.

Hence, the leader chooses all
cabinet ministers, all of whose
acts and policies must have bis or
her nod. He/she directs the
party whip, who ensures all party
MPs or MLAs are herded into
the House for every vore. All
backbenchers hoping for committée jobs or one
day to make it to parliamentary secretary or
cabinet must toc the leader's line,

A minimum of five reforms are essential to
end this farce and return genuine democracy to
where it belongs — the people: |

1. An end to the leadership convention. The
party leader should be chosen — and, if neces-
sary, fired — by the party’s parliamentary cau-
cus, as in Britain. Fellow MPs and MLAs are far
better judges of a leader's qualities than a
bunch of straw-boatered yanoos in a conven-
tion centre,

2. Constituency associations must have the
sole say in the choice of candidates. The leader
should have no veto power over thar choice,

3. All votes in the House to be free votes.
Defeat on any issue would not require the gov-
ernment’s resignation but would merely send it
back to the drawing board.

4, Fixed elections every four years. End the

hither
and you

LOOKS LIKE RAIN.
BETTER GET THE
CROP IN FAST!

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/” sp0KS LIKE A POUCE \
HELICOPTER. BEIER
GET THE CROP IN

pubs and restaurants. That policy doesn’t ade-
quately protect food service employces.

What’s needed — and so far what has been
lacking — is strong leadership from al! three
municipalities. They need to hash out a policy
together — in a full meeting of all council

Making sure the policy receives the support
of all municipalities is nearly as important as

We've all heard enough input, the council
members more than, most. The information is
there, let’s have a common, fair policy. And it
must be in place before municipal elections fin-
ish and new, perliaps less informed, councillors

Urban lungs take enough of a beating out-
side without ‘this completely preventable cancer

iticians to

Have some >
concern for .
Stray cais

Dear Editor: ‘

A few days ago my daugh-
ter came home with two little.
bundles in her coat, She then
showed me the two tiny kittens
she had found in a bush a
block fram our home.

These little things couldn’t-
have been five weeks old. Not
even two months earlier, she
came home with “Sly,” our,
very lucky to be alive “foster”.
kitty. No, my daughter doesn’t’
go looking for strays, as I-
found our, they are all over our.”
neighborhood. The two ‘she...
found belong to a very wild —
mother cat and three more
brothers and sisters, oe

These cats and kittens live
in bushes, parking lots, and -
laneways. ae

I'm sure the people who.
live in. the apartments -inust:~
feed them once and. awhile:
The apartments do not take
pets. ee

Why do people allow. their
cats to get pregnant and then
don’t-look after them?

Have they been to’ the
SPCA and scen all the cats and .
Kittens up. for adoption? Are
they scared their cats ‘might be
put down so they “lose” therit:
and hope the animal fends for
itself? BOS

Pm sure they'll be glad to,
know that. Sly now: has* a,
buddy, whom my daughter has."
lovingly named Taboo. The
other little fella is now at the
SPCA and we pray that some-
one will adopt her. so

Come on people, do some:..-
thing for the animals. They
didn’t ask-to be abandoned;
they just asked for love. -

Take care of your pets, get
them fixed, and lense \ook out:
for the hungry, cold, aban-
doned ones. They need love -
too. ‘ el
Terry Markle “
North Vancouver

speak for U

ters and premiers can enforce party disciplin

5. Entitle constituencies to fire and replace
their MP or MLA for unsatisfactory service.
after a 12-month probationary period. . °°

Running a province or nation in these >,
hideously complex times needs politicians whi
win not only our vote, but our confidence.’
Under the present system they have forfeited :.
the latter by ceasing to represent us, Once» +
elected, they represent only their party and its <)-
boss. ; na
So tell them, loud and clear at every oppor-
tunity, that the reason we despise them riowa-:
days is fur perpetuating a sham democracy. ;

And that in future we'll elect only candidates’
who — if their party’s interests conflict with »
ours — pledge to speak and act for us alone. ..

an ot

HAPPY BIRTHDAY tomorrow, Oct. 17, ta
West Van's Tom Little ... And happy 49th — "
anniversary Friday, Oct. 18, to Woodcroft’s. 7.

Jack and Phyllis Insull. ae
MOR aot
WRIGHT OR WRONG: Two ways to reach -
the top of an oak tree: climb it —- or sit on an.”
acorn and wait, :

— The North Shore News believes strongly in free-
dum of speech and the right of aél sides ina

debate to be heard, The columnists published in,

the News present differing points of view, but” ~
those views are not necessarily those of the.newspa-

_ “snap election” threat with which prime, minis: __ per ftselfe 0 ee ee ee