6 - briday, March 9, 1990 - North Shore News

ee

INsicHts Ea

True choice is between Meech folly and

THE TROUBLE about brawts — whether in pubs or any other arena — is that the participants tend to forget what they’re brawling about. Simple fist-swinging becomes its

own justification.

Thus, the cross-Canada brawl over the Meech Lake Accord, now approaching its climax. Though you wouldn't know it from much of today's media reporting, there are numerous things that the Meech Lake battle is NOT about.

it's NOT about bilinguatism, or French immersion, or unilingual anglo rednecks, or even special powers for Quebec.

It IS about the right of every Canadian voter — anglophone, francophone and whatever-phone — to have a fair and equal say in bow the nation is run.

Mecch Lake, hyped as the new Constitution of Canada, denies voters that right for two clear reasons.

Firstly, because it retains the in- famous “notwithstanding”’ clause of the 1982 Constitution, which allows any province appased toa basic provision of the Charter of Rights to override it by passing a

GARY Filmon ...20-20 vision.

contrary law of its own,

Secondly, because Meech per- mits any one province to veto future amendments to the Con- stitution. This is far worse than the present procedure, under which

amendments need the agreement of

only seven out of the 10 provinces with 5) per cent or more of Canada’s population.

Quebec has already given a foretaste of the possibilities by banning outdoor English signs in defiance of the Charter — but the fact that language rights are in- volved is only incidental. Rights of ANY kind, in ANY province, are at risk with the “notwithstanding"* clause.

Also dead and buried by Meech would be Senate reform — sorely needed by the west and the Mari- times to give them a more equal voice in Ottawa against the domi- nation of the Commons by On- tario and Quebec. If you think ei- ther of the fauter would refrain from vetoing it, you must believe in the tooth fairy.

By the same token Yukon and N.W.T. could kiss goodbye to any hope of one day becoming pro- vinces,

So forget about the red herring of Quebec being a ‘distinct socie- ty’? — which we've Jong recogniz- ed. Forget about French on corn- flake boxes, groans over the cost of French immersion and APEC zealots waving ‘‘English only” banners.

Under Meech the rights of a ma- jority of Canadians or a majority of provinces can be flouted by a minority of either. That’s what the brawl is REALLY about.

So it’s to be hoped that Manitoba’s Gary Fifmon, New- foundland’s Clyde Wells and New

HE NORTH Shore's first dry grad represents an extremely positive sign on the long road to reducing abuse of alcohol — that most sinister

of iegal drugs.

Canada

Bronswick’s Frank McKenna will resist Bourassa’s and Mulroney's separatist threats without blinking

With 20-20 vision the three premiers see the true choice: either the nation-wrecking folly of Meech — or an amended Constitution to protect EVERYONE who wants into Canada.

tat

WRAP-UP: Congrats to artist- neighbors Ross Munro, Marven Manuel, Moira Thompson, Janis Piyth, Marja-Leena Rathje, Monica Shelton, Barry Shelton and Marke G.A. Mazeppa, whose works will represent the North Shore at the B.C. Festival of Arts in Saanich, May 23-27. Choosing

pernoerny

their eight pieces from the 162 entered proved a tough job for jurors Kitty Mykka of the Emily Carr College of Art and Design and Charles E. Scott Gallery cu- rator Gregory Bellerby ... Ever wonder, these cold days along West Van’s Seawalk, about all those birds in the water? You'll soon have answers, thanks to the environment-minded West Van Air Cadets. They’ve just compieted a neai display identifying our many feather winter visitors for the

© friday focus ¢«

Seawalk notice board at Dun- darave ... And lots of happy anni- versary wishes today, March 9, to North Van’s Paul and Agnes Zabolotny who are celebrating 63 years of marriage.

WRIGHT OR WRONG: Putting off an easy job makes it harder. Putting off a hard job makes it impossible.

NEWS photo Neil Lucente

$618 FOOD BASKET...that's how many groceries Jillian Webbe grabbed in a two-minute sprint through Stong’s, Deep Cove. She bid $375 for the high-speed shopping spree donated by Stong’s to a fundraiser for

Deep Cove schools.

And all those North Shore students and parents in- vesting time and energy in organizing the event deserve commendation for their efforts.

Like the growing number of alternatives to alcoholic beverages, the April 7 dry grad will provide a viable option for ail those who would rather celebrate without the almost socially-mandatory use of alcohol.

Even more encouraging about the organization of the event, which is sponsored by the News and other area businesses, is that it is a party celebrating a major event for an age group that is highly susceptible to peer-group pressure and could easily justify celebrating with alcohol.

And perhaps most encouraging of all, the idea for the party came from the daughter of parent committce head, Yvonne Cramer.

It is obvious, then, that the message of the dangers of drinking and driving, so effectively conveyed by such programs as CounterAttack, is being taken to heart by some age groups.

But if the North Shore and the rest of B.C. is to Associate Editor Noo Wright reduce the overwhelming financial and social costs that Advertising Director Lincs: Stewart result from alcoho! abuse, the message must be taken Nosh Shove Mews. 0 oo" a to heart by all ape groups. —

Drinking and driving annually kills 200 people, in- jures 6,000 and costs B.C. residents an estimated $130 inition.

A dry grad is just one of many ways to reduce (hose tragic figures.

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield WEST VANCOUVER Firefighters Dave Hawkes (right) and Drew McVittie explain ta West Vancouver Floss employee Heather Cuntiffe how to operate the store's fire extinguisher, This is part of a new Fire Prevention Program where firefighters, rather than Fire Prevention Officers, carcy out fire inspections in the

Publisher Peter Speck Managing Editor Timothy Renshaw

2 Ayetiiet ae oo OE EE

SIN's

59.170 bases Pens af te eh ard ad

' COMEARES. 14065 Beorth Ghor- tree Pree. dtp Ago tera’