6 — Wednesday, February 10, 1999 - North Shore News north shore news

VIEWPOINT

Deep sixed

eft it mortally holed. The world-

class bunglers in charge of the province’s fast-ferry »rogram are still making noises amidst the ship-build- ing chaos that there will be an offshore market for B.C.-built fast ferries.

Surely they jest.

Anyone even remotely connected with fast-ferry catamaran technology around the world will have been watching the local ferry farce with more than interest. Astonishment would be a better description.

At the outset of the fast ferry adven- ture in 1994, there was perhaps an opportunity for B.C. to secure a toe- hold in the fiercely competitive inter- national fast ferry market.

After all, the province has a proud shipbuilding tradition that extends the length of the 20th century and

I: they have not sunk it, they have I

beyond. But the modern marketplace does not suffer fools gladly. It leaves them to sink or swim.

If there remained any shipbuilding goodwill for B.C. around the world coming into 1999, it will surely have been badly eroded by the events of the past month.

A quick sampling: the original $70 million forecast price of the fast ferry hits $113 million; one BC Ferries president resigns; his successor orders a financial audit; mechanical deficien- cies are revealed; elements of the report are botched; the new president is fired; more ferry deficiencies are revealed; the new minister in charge considers mothballing the entire pro- ject.

As a soap opera it is without paral- lei; as a marketing tool it is devastat- ing.

THE FUTURE vitiL PROVE US RIGHT. THE FAST FerRicS WILL JUMPSTART BC'S SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY, CREATE /f THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND Become PHENOMENAL MONEYMAKING MACHINES FOR “THE TAXPAYERS

mailbox

anes tniet met manent

Free speech line drawn at child porn

Dear Editor:

Mr. Doug Collins has long been a champion of freedom of speech and the right of the individual over government muziiing and political correctness.

Often, I have supporied Mr. Collins stance but in this instance, Mr. Collins is way off base (Sunday, Jan. 31). The freedom of the indiidual is paramount, but there is an exception to every rule and chad pornography is the excep- tion to the rule in this case. And it must always be the exeep- tion. I found it interesting ti.tt Mr. Collins chose not to touch on the origins of the child pornography in the posses- sion of John Sharpe. Perhaps Mr. Collins fahours under the impression that kiddie porn is produced with willing partic- ipants?

In adult pornography, the “actors” for the most part are willing participants for whatever reason. In child pornogra- phy, there are no willing actors. Tie kiddie porn in posses- sion of Mr. Sharpe was produced using children who were aither beaten into submission or drugged. Probably chitdren in Third World countries.

_ Regardless, these children bad their rights taken from them. What are those rights? The right to be loved, to be comforted, to be clothed, to be fed, to be educated and ro be respected by adults. I think, Mr. Collins, the rights of the abused children used in the production of child pornogra- phy far and away exceed the rights of the pathetic Mr. Jahn

hare and others of his ilk.

M. Tri North Vancouver

Mailbox policy

LETTERS to the editor must be legible (preferably type-

written), brief and include your name, full address and tcle- hone number. Duc to space constraints the North Shore ews cannot publish all letters.

North Shore tews, founded in 1969 as an Independent Suburban newspaper and qualthed under Schedule 111, Paragisph 111 of the Excise Tan Act. is published tach Wednesday. Friday and Sanday dy North Shore Free Press. Ud and cembuted to every door on the North

‘BE MIESMRB TEAR: | ==

NOW, iF You'li EXCUSE ME, 1M OFF To INVEST IN SOME SWAMPLAND.

‘Human rights’ scam simplified

CONFUSION is the key weapon in the B.C. government’s war on free speech — and never used more effectively than in its latest, most flagrant act of

censorship in

Canadian history.

Its madern Star Chamber, a.k.a. Human Rights Tribunal — with a single functionary as prosecutor, judge and jury — has now subject- ed the North Shore News and its former columnist Doug Coliins to the judicial equivalent of double jeopardy. It has “convicted” and “sentenced” them for four 1994 columns which an carliee tribunal had found not to violate the Human Rights Code.

To compound the contusion the latest tribunal — in addition to imposing a $2,000 fine — ordered the News to print the tribunal's dictated findings within one week and to cease publishing statements chat expose or “are likely” to expose Jewish persons (or anyone clse) to “hatred or contempt.”

This despite the face that the Human Rights Code gives tribunals no authority to force a newspaper to publish their findings, nor diccate what “likely” material the paper may publish at some future date, Moreover, a court challenge secking to have B.C. human rights laws declared unconstitutional — which, if successful, could topple the whole B.C. human rights house of cards —

—_

has yet co be heard.

But aside from this latest confusion, just what are the reasonable timits to tree- dom of speech in a democratic sociery (and please spare me the one about ery-

ing “fire” in a crowded theatre)? First, anything that incites violence (c.g. calling for the killing, of abortion doc- tors). But this, of course, is a non-starter anyhow, because such messages are themselves a criminal offence. Aside from that, the unwritten law in today’s onstaught on free speech — based on political correctness and the booming vie- tim industry — says you nvust never hurt anyone's feelings. As rigorously enforced by Human Rights Tribunals, it can stifle virtually all comment on controversial public issues. Such issues inevitably guar- antce that some individuals on cither side may be outraged or personally insulted by strongly expressed opposing views.

The obvious intent of the legislation lies in that ominous word “likely.” In any given case, who can ever precisely define the meaning of “likely to expose” {i.c., to hatred or contempt, etc.)? Thus, the word “likely” has become the most lethal item of ammunition in the government's confusion arsenal.

Nobody has to agree with Doug Collins or any other writer. For years media comment and readers’ letters have shown Collins’ own supporters and oppo- nents at least equally divided. That's exactly as it should be in the free market-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must include you: name, full address & telephone number.

place of ideas, with its unique powers of self-correction. It’s what entitles newspa- pers — collectively — to be the watch- dogs of free democratic sacicties.

For wannabe dictators like Glen Clark’s NDP mob, wacchdogs should ide- ally be destroyed or, ar very least, kept tightly chained.

As well, Glen badly needs the votes of minorities, ethnic or whatever. The Human Rights Code is an ideai tool for delivering these votes by sitencing rele- vant comment,

Finally, there’s a money angle. Any Human Rights Tribunal case can be han- dled far more fairly to all involved by the civil and criminal courts under Canada’s libel, defamation and anti-hare laws. But it can cost a bundle (recoverable in civil trials if you win), whereas Human Rights complainants necdn’t pay a cent. Why, then, pay lawyers hundreds or more to risk having your gripe dismissed in a proper court, when you can so easily win nice money with no entry fee at all ina bogus one? .

So don't let Glen Clark's confusion campaign contuse you, The scam is seally quite simple.

Q900 i MANY EXAPPY RETURNS of tomor- . row, Feb, 11, co West Van birthday girl Joan Jackson and North Van Kiwanian Doug Horner .... Meanwhile, from the Better Late Dept., bappy “new year” wishes to last Sunday's (Feb.7) birthday boy, West Van Kiwanian Larry Coles,

900 : WRIGHT OR WRONG: Every patient iz a doctor after they've been cured.

WET OSRENCHIOS!” Administration 05-2131 - Display Advertising 80-0511”

Real Estate Advertising

VIA e-mail: trenshaw @ direct.ca

oetive Toonad

Jonathan Beli

Human Resources Manager Comptrotier 985-2151 (177)

Terry Putors Valerie Stephenson Classitied Manager

985-2131 (133)

Managing Editor 985-2131 (116)

Aven Evers Acting Disptay tanager General Office Manager

* Michael Backer - News Editor

985-2131 (114)

Barbora Ero Distribution Manager Creative Services Manager 986-1337 (124) 885-2131 (127)

61 S82 (average circurat.on, Weanesday. Friday & Sunday) The North Shore News Is published by North Shore Free Press Ltd., Publisher Peter Speck, from 1139 Lonsdate Avenue North Vancouver, 8.C., V7M 24

Photography Manager 985-2131 (160) 986-6222 (202) Entire contents © 1997 Norlt Shote Free Press Lid. Ail rights seserved

Andrew McCredie - Sports/Community Editor

989-0511 (307) 985-2131 (105) 985-2131 (147)

internet- http:/jwww.nsnews.com