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N E W S L ---E T T E R

i d i - ~ a i nS t . ,

V a n c o u v e r , B. C.

APRIL 1 , 1991.

(604) 665-2289

C a r ; ~ e g i eC h a r a c t e r P o r t r a i t

J I M M Y MORGAN "The f i r s t 100 y r s i s t h e t o u g h e s t ! " M r . Jimmy Norgan i s 100 y e a r s o l d . Born A p r i l 1 , 1891 i n Winnipeg, Jimmy i s t h e d i r e c t a s c e n d a n t of Henry Norgan, famous s w a s h b u c k l e r and r u t h l e s s p i r a t e . "My f a m i l y i s n o t proud o f Henry Morgan. He was e v i l and v e r y d a n g e r o u s . P e o p l e l i k e t o t h i n k t h e r e ' s honour b e i n g r e l a t e d t o him b u t t h e r e i s n ' t . " Henry Morgan was a s l a v e , o r s e r f , who k i l l e d h i s m a s t e r & g o t o n a s h i p . He l e d a mutiny and e v e n t u a l l y became n o t o r i o u s f o r a t t a c k i n g S p a n i s h g a l l e o n s and r u t h l e s s murders o f p r i s o n e r s and f e l l o w crew men. Jimmy organ's f a m i l y came t o Vancouv e r i n 1 8 9 9 , a f t e r h a v i n g q u i t e a few y e a r s i n Wales. "We met my f a t h e r i n Vanc o u v e r . H e worked f o r BC E l e c t r i c & was a f i n e c a b i n e t maker. The f i r s t p l a c e we l i v e d was on G r a v e l y S t . , 2 h o u s e s from Victoria Dr. W e b u i l t t h a t house - i t ' s s t i l l t h e r e t o o & as good a s when h e b u i l t i t . There weren't a l o t of people a r o u n d . They w e r e s t i l l c u t t i n g down huze

Douglas F i r s , S p r u c e and C e d a r s , b u r n i n g t h e stumps. I remember G r a n v i l l e & Hastings s t r e e t s being v i r t u a l l y n f o r e s t . T h e r e were a l o t o f " s k i d r o a d s " , r o a d s made o f l o g s and teams o f h o r s e s p u l l i r l f : t i m b e r a l o n g on t o p o f them. I t was v e r y h a r d work. Cordova S t . , Lakcview D r . and Renfrew were a l l S k i d r o a d s . I d o n ' L 1i k c t h i s a r e a b e i n g c a l l e d " s k i d row" becausr. n f t h e h i s t o r y - i t ' s bad p l a y on word:;." "The C i t y o f Vancouver had o r i g i n a l l y decided t o b u i l d e a s t , because of t h e sug a r f a c t o r y , b u t somehow t h e y grew w e s t . Back t h e n p r o p e r t y on G r a n v i l l e , where B u r k ' s i s t o d a y , would c o s t o n l y $200 f o r a g o o d - s i z e d l o t . l l a s t i n g s from H e a t l e y t o Abbott was a p l a n k r o a d . Around 1900 t h e y p l a n k e d i t up t o Csmbie and had a b i g to-do w i t h t h e mayor, p o l i c e , f i r e d e p a r t m e n t and s e v e r a l p i p e b a n d s . . . i t was a r e a l go! Ply f a t h e r l o s t a l o t o f money b e c a u s e he bought l a n d i n E a s t Van where h e assumed t h e c i t y would grow. Back t h e n G r a n v i l l e on1 y had 6 store:; b u t t h e y s u r e b u i l t i t up o v e r t h e y e n r s . " Jimmy's f i r s t s c h o o l was Cranview. ilc h i s f r i e n d s used t o p l a y f o l l o w t h e l e a d e r , l ~ i d e' n s e e k and durk on t h e rccl

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" ~ u c kon tile Rock was where jrou p u t a s m a l l r o c k on t o p of a b i g one and t r y t o knock i f o f f from a d i s t a n c e . Ke had a l o t o f f u n p l a y i n g s t i c k b a l l on s t r e e t s o r m a r b l e s . T h e r e w e r e no r a d i o s s o vou made y o u r own games s e e ! " When lie was 1 0 he s t a r L e d p a y i n g room board and worked s t e a d y f o r XcKlennan, 1 . 1 ~ P h e e l e y & P r i o r i n a n o f f i c e - a t l o ! IIe l a t e r worked f o r I n ~ e r n a t i o n a lL u b r i c a t i n g O i l , t h e n a d v e r t i z i n g f o r Iludson Bay. " A t a g e 12 I went t o s e a w o r k i n g on b i g s a i l i n g s h i p s t r a v e l l i n g t h e world. I s t a r t e d a s a c a b i n boy, t h e n a d e c k hand and when I was good enough became a n N3, a n Able-Bodied Seaman. I was a n N3 a t 14 and became a c a p t a i n a t 25. Around 1910 d e i s e l s h i p s j o i n e d s t e a m s h i p s . I worked on o n e o f t h e f i r s t o n e s , a Swedish* s h i p , f o r a c o u p l e o f t r i p s . Much l a t e r I ended up i n A u s t r a l i a where t h e y w e r e c o n s t r u c t i n g a huge power p l a n t . I worked o n Sydney B r i d g e . I l i v e d q u i t e a l i f e i n Austr a l i a . I know i t b e t t e r t h a n Canada!" During t h e D e p r e s s i o n Jimmy was b u s i e r t h a n any o t h e r t i m e w i t h h i s own j o b p a i n . Ling hoincs i n Winnipeg. He'd work a l l d a y t h e n go o u t and c a n v a s s more busin--ASS. "I d i d LhaL j o b f o i 11 ~ r &s a v e r a g e d $200 a day - someiimes e v e n more. My m o t t o w a s " I h n ' t t a l k a b o u t i t - d o it!" which i s what h a s k e p t me s o b u s y . " A t t h e o u t b r e a k o f M W I I tie l o s ~a brot h e r whose s h i p was t o r p e d o e d . When Jimmy fourid o u t he t r i c d t o e n l i s t b u t t h e Army, A i r F o r c e and e v e n t h e Navy w o u l d n ' t t a k e him b e c a u s e h e was t o o o l d . "I i h o u g h t t h e Navy would g r a b me, w i t h a l l t h e n a v a l exp e r i e n c e I h a d , b u t 110 d i c e . So I b u i l t sllip:: f o r N o r t h Van S l ~ i pR e p a i r s ; we b u i l t some 48 f r i c g l i t e r s . Af ter i h e war I w e n t i n i o c o n t r a c t i n g w i t h a p a r t n e r i n Van. I a l s o g o t involved being s bookie. I d i d i t f o r q u i t e a few y e a r s , runnirig some o f t h e b i g g e s t books i n tlie c i t y . I t made me a multi-millionaire! Truly! " Jimmy d o e s n ' t remember when h e g o t marri e d o r how o l d h e was, " b u t I d o remember we g o t m a r r i e d 2 weeks a f t e r we met. She was s o b e a u t i f u l . I remember g u y s o n t h e s t r e e t would bump i n t o l a m p p o s t s . E v e r y o n e m i s t o o k h e r f o r a movie s t a r . She became

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111 i n t h e 1 9 6 0 ' s s o I q u i t work t o t a k e c,ire o f h e r and t h e h o u s e . I d i d e v e r y t h i n g t o k e e p h e r happy b u t s h e e v e n t u a l l y p a s s e d on i n 1978." But what k i n d of work was Jimmy d o i n g , we wonder? W e l l . . "I was a b e e r s l i n g e r ! 1'11 g i v e anyone $100 i f . tliey c a n m e n t i o n a h o t e l ( i n my d a y ) i n a11 Vancouver t h a t I h a v e n ' t worked i n . Ply f i r s L j o b was a t H o t e l Vancouver, t h e n t h e G e o r g i a . . a l l of 'em, e v e n t h e Regent and t h e B a l m o r a l . I t was a w i l d go! I s t o p p e d b e i n g a b o o k i e by t h e n b u t I was c o l l e c t i n g o l d age pension." Today Jimmy l i v e s a t Cooper P l a c e r i g h t a c r o s s from S t . James c h u r c h . I l e ' s g i v e n a l l h i s money away t o " p e o p l e who n e e d e d i t , who needed o p e r a t i o n s , p l a c e s t o l i v e ' ' IIe's up a t 4 : 3 0 e v e r y m o r n i n g , makes h i s bed a n d c l e a n s h i s room & bathroom. "Some t i m e s i t Lakes me l$ h r s t o c h a n g e my bed because of t h e wheelchair." B r e a k f a s t is a t 8am and l u n c h i s b e t w e e n noon a n d 11 :. "Gary comes by e v e r y d a y a f t e r l u n c h and b r i n g s me t o C a r n e g i e . He n e v e r m i s s e s a d a y , n e v e r . Sometimes h e t a k e s m e t o t h e ' 4 4 ' when I d o n ' t want LO eat a t Cooper A l b e r t B o e r s , who works o n Jimmy's f l o o r , l ~ i g h l yr e s p e c t s him. " I t ' s s o i m p r e s s i v e t o s - e s m c n n e l i v e 1 0 0 y r s . ~ h e y ' v es e e n s o many c h a n g e s i t ' s i n c r e d i b l e . Jimmy's a g r e a t guy. H e t a l k s L O e v e r y o n e a n d never c o m p l a i n s . . o n e of Lhe n i c e s t people!" A t t h e a g e o f 1 0 0 Jinmiy s p e n d s a l o t o f t i m e at Carnegie. "It's a n i c e place t o s p e n d t i m e . I remember corning h e r e w i t h my m o t h e r when I was a boy. T h e r e was a l i f e s i z e d s c u l p t u r e of an I n d i a n t h a t looked s o r e a l you'd almost t a l k t o i t . " Asking w h a t ' s k e ~ him t g o i n g s o l o n g , Jimmy s a y s , "I f e e l e v e r y o n e h a s a m i s s i o n t o f u l f i l l i n l i f e , t h e n God t a k e s you. Nine m u s ~ n ' t b e f u l f i l l e d i f I ' m s t i l l a l i v e a t 100. I g u e s s I want t o b e a s g i v i n g a s J e s u s was b u t no o n e c o u l d e v e r do t l i a t . T h a t ' s why I g a v e my money away. I h a v e n ' L b e e n t o c h u r c h i n many y e a r s b u t t h e B i b l e i s my church. " Uy STEVE ROSE

B r i t a n n j a C e n t r e , a t Napier & Commerc i a l , h a s a Film S o c i e t y showing f i l m s e v e r y F r i d a y n i g h t i n t h e High S c h o o l ' s a u d i t o r i u m . The program w i l l i n c l u d e films that r e f l e c t local i n t e r e s t i n t h e v i s u a l and l i t e r a r y a r t s , music, dance and t h e a t r e w i t h a n emphasis on t h e c u l t u r e of F i r s t N a t i o n s and i n d i g enous c u l t u r e s around t h e world. The work of l o c a l filmmakers w i l l a l s o be shown. Home-baked goods, j u i c e & coff e e w i l l be a v a i j a b l e and one program a month w i l l be o r i e n t e d toward f a m i l i e s . Babysitters w i l l care f o r children i n a s e p a r a t e room. The f i r s t movie n i g h t i s F r i d a y , April 1 2 . I f you buy a membership c a r d f o r $ 5 , e a c h f i l m w i l l c o s t you $ 2 w i t h a membership. T i t l e s s c h e d u l e d i n c l u d e : S t e e l Magnolias; S h i r l e y V a l e n t i n e ; The Milagro B e a n f i e l d War, Xanadu..aLso t h e f i l m s of C h a r l i e C h a p l i n , B u s t e r Keaton and t h e Marx B r o t h e r s . The b e s t way t o g e t more d e t a i l s i s t o go t o B r i t a n n i a and f i n d o u t . GENOCIDE B Y INSTALLMENT LEGISLATED ASSIMILATION The s l i p p e r y smoothness w i t h which t h e "siddon p l a n of genocide" by i n sta1,emts i s presented t o t h e Native I n d i a n p o p u l a t i o n t h a t e x i s t s on t h e s o i l of a c o u n t r y named Canada i s s i m p l y a v e i l e d d e n i a l of a n a t u r a l s t a t e of N a t i v e s o v e r e i g n t y , which d a t e s back s e v e r a l thousands of y e a r s . The word s o v e r e i g n t y i m p l i e s a d e f i n i t e t o t a l i t y of t i t l e , ownership, l a n g u a g e , c u l t u r e , government, resou-

3. r c e s and e d u c a t i o n . . . a l l of which t h e I n d i a n N a t i o n s have and a l l of which is being dishonourably predicated t o t h e w h i t e i d e o l o g y of a s s i m i l a t i o n i n t o t h e commercialized world of North American g r e e d and profit-making. I n a Canada t h a t p r o f e s s e s democracy and e q u a l i t y f o r a l l under ( w h i t e man's) law, and where f l i e s a f o r e i g n f l a g i n Quebec, no s u c h f a i r n e s s appe a r s t o be e v i d e n t i n t h e s u g g e s t e d end ( i m p l i e d programs) emanating from t h e "siddon" p r o p o s i t i o n s . They a r e i n f a c t a gradual but t o t a l assimilat i o n of N a t i v e s i n t o a c u l t u r e v o i d of N a t i v e t r a d i t i o n s . The p r o s e c u t i o n of a l l e g e d c r i m i n a l s i n v o l v e d i n road-block s t r a t e g i e s i n B.C. o n l y a c c e n t u a t e t h e v e n g e f u l n e s s o f a w h i t e j u s t i c e system. It l o s t a t Oka and, by s i l e n t a p p r o v a l , allowed t h e rock-throwing a t Akwasasne and Kanawake where N a t i v e c h i l d r e n and E l d e r s were t a r g e t s . It i s h i g h t i m e t h e hundreds of y e a r s o f p e r s e c u t i o n endured by t h e A b o r i g i n a l P e o p l e s came t o a n end and t h e i r sovereignty recognized, along w i t h f u l l e s t p e c u n i a r y compensation. T h e i r l a n d c l a i m s must be acknowledged and r e s t o r a t i o n made o f a l l c u l t u r a l a t t r i b u t e s specifically pretaini n g t o a b o r i g i n a l c l o s e n e s s t o Mother Earth. The I n d i a n way i s p r e s e r v a t i o n , n o t d e s t r u c t i o n ; usage determined by nece s s i t y , n o t by g r e e d A l l well worthy of t h o u g h t .

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An a t t i ~ u d ec a n be e i t h e r good o r b a d , b u t a bad one u s u a l l y h a s i t s beginning i n ignorance. . i n not using e v e r y moment a s a l e a r n i n g e x p e r i e n c e . I t ' s t r u l y amazing how many p e o p l e b e l i e v e t h e y c a n ' t c h a n g e , and how many more t h i n k t h a t l e a r n i n g i s h a r d . One a s p e c t o f b e i n g t r u l y a l i v e i s knowing t h a t e v e r y e x p e r i e n c e c a r r i e s its lesson. I n t h e l a s t i s s u e of t h e Newsletter t h e f r o n t page, i n a p i c t u r e , spoke s i m p l e t r u t h - N a t i v e p e o p l e slammed f o r n o t becoming " a p p l e I n d i a n s " y e a r s ago, f o r not r e a l i z i n g t h a t a smalJ, ignorant minority of non-natives ( t h e "white" r a c i s t ) would n e v e r a c c e p t t h e uniqueness of Natives. Even t h e term " a p p l e I n d i a n " comes from t h e s e few - a p p l e b e i n g f r u i t t h a t h a s a r e d s k i n b u t from j u s t u n d e r n e a t h i s w h i t e r i g h t down t o t h e c o r e . A s u p p o r t i n g s t o r y , w r i t t e n by y o u r s t r u l y on Page 2 , showed a n a l l t o o common f a i l i n g o f n o n - n a t i v e s who t a l k of t h e v a l u e of N a t i v e s t o o u r c u l t u r e ; l i k e a half-wit I s p e l l e d Gitksan ~ e t ' s u w e t ' a n wrong and d i d n ' t even n o t i c e f o r 4 o r 5 days. Small p o i n t b u t dumb..the words were r i g h t on t h e c o v e r , j u s t a p a p e r ' s t h i n n e s s away. P a y i n g a t t e n t i o n t o d e t a i l h a s been t h e mark of N a t i v e s ' l a n d c l a i m s f o r years. Every l a n d g r a b by n o n - n a t i v e p e o p l e i s now b e i n g c h a l l e n g e d b o t h l e g a l l y and m o r a l l y . Oppression has been a h a r d t e a c h e r b u t more and more Native people a r e f i n d i n g s t r e n g t h and p u r p o s e i n t h e s p i r i t u a l ways of t h e i r a n c e s t o r s , however i d e a l i z e d . A C a r n e g i e Town H a l l Forum was s e t up - a s a n i d e a anyway - f o r t h e 2 4 t h

o f March. N a t i v e s had made c o m m i t ~ ~ ~ r n c t o come b e f o r e ~ c E a c h e r n ' s ' d e c i s i o n ' made s u c h a s t i r i n t h e i r p l a n s . I t w a s thought b e s t t o postpone i t f o r a month, a s N a ~ i v e sr e g r o u p and meet t h i s new o b s t a c l e . I n Vancouver magazine (March 1991) a n i n - d e p t h a r t i c l e t i t l e d "Wha~ t h e It I n d i a n s Want" r a n f o r 6% p a g e s . wasn't a l a r m i s t o r p r i n t e d a s a ' s c a r e ' t a c t i c . . i t talked of the c l a i m s o f Vancouver's N a t i v e populat i o n - s p e c i f i c a l l y he Musqueam, t h e Squamish & t h e B u r r a r d Bands - and t r a c t s of l a n d w i t h modern names l i k e Stanley Park, P a c i f i c S p i r i t Park, K i t s P o i n t , B e l c a r a P a r k , and s c a p e s now known a s P o i n t Grey, North Shore l a n d and a l o n g t h e E r a s e r R i v e r . A f t e r a c e n t u r y of o p p o s i t i o n , B C ' s n a t i v e p e o p l e a r e now r e c e i v i n g unp r e c e d e n t e d p u b l i c s u p p o r t . The mask o f t h e m a j o r i t y i s b e i n g r i p p e d away t o r e v e a l t h e tyranny of the minority - t y r a n n y t h a t h a s v i c t i m i z e d and persecuted n a t i v e s f o r w e l l over a century. Natives a r e the f i r s t t o say firmly 11 We're n o t h e r e t o d i s r u p t anyone. But t h e L i o n s G a t e B r i d g e i s on o u r l a n d . ' That i s something t o n e g o t i a t e . And t h e Second Narrows B r i d g e i s on o u r land. That i s something t o n e g o t i a t e . " The Town . t a l l i'orui11 mentioned w i l l be a p l a c e t o g e t t h e b a s i c q u e s t i o n s o u t i n t h e open and t o b e g i n o u r s a d l y neglected education. Natives a r e n ' t w a n t i n g t o be d e c l a r e d r o y a l t y . . b u t t h e y a r e w a n t i n g l a n d f o r h o u s i n g and humane i n d u s t r y and room t o l i v e . The l a s t p a r a g r a p h of "What t h e Ind i a n s Want" g i v e s some s c o p e t o what comes n e x t : " S e t t l e m e n t of I n d i a n l a n d c l a i m s i s inevitable. I t w i l l n o t come a b o u t t o r i g h t s o c i a l wrongs. I t w i l l n o t come a b o u t b e c a u s e t h e I n d i a n s have l e g a l leverage. I t w i l l come a b o u t b e c a u s e

tie s e t t l e m e n t makes economic s e n s e f o r b o ~ hs i d e s . Until native land c l a i m s a r e s e t ~ l e d ,i n d u s t r i e s a l l o v e r t h e p r o v i n c e , whose head o f f i c e s d o m i n a t e t h e Vancouver s k y l i n e , f a c e a n u n c e r t a i n f u t u r e . No o n e w a n t s t o spend a b i l l i o n d o l l a r s on a p u l p m i l l o n l y t o f i n d O U L t h a t . someone e l s e owns the trees. Settlement w i l l not only f r e e up i n v e s t m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r non-native businessmen, i t w i l l p u t v a s t sums o f money i n t o t h e h a n d s o f n a L i v e b u s i n e s s m e n and move I n d i a n s i n t o t h e economic m a i n s t r e a m . And t h a t , more t h a n any o t h e r e f f e c t o f l a n d c l a i m s , w i l l change t h e f a c e of Vancouver. " May you l i v e i n i n t e r e s t i n g t i m e s .

By PAULR

STRATHCONA GARDENS The C a r n e g i e P l o t s I N T E R E S T E D ? S a t u r d a y s , l o a m t o 2pm w i t h K a t h y r n Thomson. Meet on t h e s e c o n d f l o o r outside the kitchen office.

TAYLOR Small Returns ' w h i l e S u z a n n e h o l d s a m i r r o r ' L e o n a r d Cohen Wher, wimmin s p e a k , wisdom s u e s . I f e l l asleep wrestling wiht ' c r u e l t y ' , and had t h e r i c h e s t d r e a m s Lao T s e ' s l o n e l i n e s s n e v e r e n d s . . . . Truth is only c r u e l f o r a ' l i t t l e ' while. T h r e e y e a r s , i n my c a s e , f o r example. L a s t ni'ght a g o d d e s s s p o k e t o m e . N . i e t z s c h e l s f l a w s dimmed h i s c a n d l e for him. I c a l l e d i t t h e sea o f wimmin's p a i n a n d j o y T o r a made m e a s t a r f i s h . T h e r e are 'many' magic p e o p l e i n t h e word. S l i p p e r y pens a l l flow t o Dostoevaky.

'YOU HAVE a

A l l t h e c l u e s , e x c e p t f o r B l a k e you know, a r e i n Lhe n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y . No o n e h a s e v e r b e e n as naked a s August S t r i n d b e r g and C h a r l o t e B r o n t e . Now t h a t p h y s i c s i s b u r s t i n g p h i l o s o p h i c a l Now t h a t t h e o u r o u b u s h a s b i t t e n o f f i t ' s mouth Now t h a t t h e m e s s i a h i s become r e d u n d a n t , I t i s t i m e f o r we g o d s t o f o l i o w o u r sisters. Stephen Belkin

made

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s h o u l d be made p u b l i c A p r i l F o o l ' s Day. R e a l e s t a t e a g e n t May Leung r e l e a s e d t o t h e p r e s s t a p e s of c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h t h e Zalm. The l a d y i n t h e f l o p p y k,at f l i p p e d o u t , r e f e r r i n g t o t h e s a l e of F a n t a s y Gardens and a d j o i n i n g l a n d s t o Taiwanese b i l l i ' o n a i r e Tan Yu. "Tan Yu g o t a good d e a l , you g o t a good d e a l , everybody g o t a good d e a l , b ~ l c I g o t t h e bum r a p . " She was r e f e r r i n g t o $20,000 US c a s h b e l i e v e d t o be a commission f e e which s h e c l a i m e d t o have g i v e n Vander Zalm and which he a s s u r e d h e r i s " i n t r u s t " . Two weeks a g o , t h e RCMP s a i d t h e y were l o o k i n g i n t o w h e t h e r t h e Zalm and Flay Leung a g r e e d t o s p l i t a commission on t h e s a l e of l a n d s a d j a c e n t t o t h e Richmond theme p a r k . I n d e p e n d e n t pros e c u t o r P e t e r Freeman i s o v e r s e e i n g t h a t i n v e s t i g a t i o n and a n o t h e r i n t o t h e h a n d l i n g of a l i q u o r l i c e n s e a t F a n t a s y Gardens. The Zalm s a i d t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n i s

" r e m i n i s c e n t of Nazi Germany" and i s " l i k e a bunch of v i g i l a n t e a c t i o n and you s o r t o f had t o p r o v e y o u r innocence". He i n s t r u c t e d r e p o r t e r s t o r'ind o u t who i s p a y i n g May L e u n g ' s l e g a l f e e s i n c r d e r t o know uho i s o u t t o g e t him. A l l n o t a b l e socreds,, i n c l u d i n g Grace McCarthy, a r e d e c l i n i n g p u b l i c comment. One e x c e p t i o n i s f o r m e r f i n a n c e m i n i s t e r Me1 C o u v e l i e r , who s a i d h i s d e c i s i o n t o q u i t had been confirmed. "My f e a r s were r e a l i z e d , " he s a i d . Behind t h e s c e n e s , however, you c a n be s u r e t h e r e i s a f l u r r y o f a c t i v i t y t o keep t h e s o c r e d s h i p from s i n k i n g . W i l l t h e Zalm q u i t ? W i l l h e b e f o r c e d o u t by c a u c u s ? W i l l Hughes' r e p o r t c l e a r him a t l e a s t enough t o s t a y i n o f f i c e ? Are t h o s e c r o c o d i l e t e a r s ? S t a y tuned

.....

By JOANNE HAMEN

L i n e s from y o u r L e a r n i n g C e n t r e BRENT)A -----B e a u t i f u l Brenda, who i s o n e o f o u r s t a f f members, came t o u s from t h e P r a i r i e s a few y e a r s ago. S i n c e h e r a r r i v a l i n Vancouver s h ~ . h a s a t t e n d e d t h e Native I n d i a n Teacher Later she E d u c a t i o n Program a t U . B . C worked a t t h e L e a r n i n g F r o n t on Main S t r e e t and a t t h e Co-op Radio Access for Literacy Project. Finally she came t o C a r n e g i e ' s L e a r n i n g C e n t r e . We were l u c k y t o g e t h e r ! Brenda l i k e s m e e t i n g p e o p l e and h e l p i n g them. C a r n e g i e i s o n e of h e r favourite places. Come and meet h e r a n y t i m e Monday t o F r i d a y , 9am t o 7pm. What a g r e a t way t o improve y o u r educ a t i o n ! Free! Joan Doree, . Volunteer Tutor.

1 1'

RENOVATIONS HAVE BEGUN!!! A f t e r a l m o s t 4% y e a r s o f w a i t i n g & d e l a y s & planning & changing p l a n s & surveys & p u b l i c meetings the f i r s t t o o l was p u t t o work i n C a r n e g i e ' s k i t c h e n on Monday, March 1 8 t h . The " p l a n t ' was t o s t a r t on t h e l a n e l e v e l , where t h e g a r a g e i s , and work on c r e a t i n g a much l a r g e r s p a c e f o r S e n i o r s and a new room f o r t h e p o o l t a b l e s . There i s going t o be a n o t h e r s p i r a l s t a i r c a s e i n Carnegie s t a r t i n g where t h e S e n i o r s Lounge i s r i g h t now and w i n d i n g down t o t h e l a n e l e v e l . T h e r e was a l s o g o i n g t o be s h i f t s of p e o p l e on t h e 3 r d f l o o r w i t h t h e L e a r n i n g C e n t r e u s i n g t h e programmers ' o f f i c e s t o do t u t o r i n g and t h e main

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o f f i c e g o i n g where Classroom # 1 i s . p l e a s e n o t e t h e c a u t i o u s u s e of t h e p a s t t e n s e - "was" - a s t h e e t e r n a l d i f f i c u l t y of money e n t e r s t h e s c e n e . Vancouver v o t e r s a g r e e d t o a l l o t $650,000 ( i n a 1986 r e f e r e n d u m ) t o r e n o v a t e C a r n e g i e . We've s i n c e l e a r n e d t h a t t h i s f i g u r e was v a g u e l y b a s e d on p a y i n g f o r a new e l e v a t o r and a few c o s m e t i c c h a n g e s . R e a l p l a n n i n g and l o o k i n g a t t h e a c t u a l n e e d s of Carneg i e u s e r s h a s b r o u g h t an e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t o u t l o o k on what r e n o v a t i o n s a r e n e c e s s a r y , a l o n g w i t h an e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t assessment of c o s t s . GO B C ( l o t t e r y g r a n t ) h a s p r o v i d e d $325,000; t h e Vancouver an Foundat i o n p r o v i d e d $100,000 f o r t h e

9. s p e c i f i c upgrading of t h e k i t c h e n ; & Concorde P a c i f i c dug deep i n t o i t ' s pocket and came up w i t h $ 1 , 0 0 0 . A l l t o g e t h e r t h e r e i s $ l , 0 7 6 , 0 0 0 . . a n d we a r e o n l y s h o r t a b o u t 4 o r 5 hundred thousand d o l l a r s . L i t t l e things l i k e a c o n s u l t a n t coming back a f t e r e s t i m a t i n g t h e c o s t of e l e c t r i c a L work h e s a i d h e was s h y by $120,000. C o s t s have k e p t i n c r e a s i n g , a sum of $70Gs was l e f t o u t o f some b a s i c a d d i t i o n & t h e 3 r d f l o o r h a s been l e f t f o r t h e future. On A p r i l 1 1 t h C a r n e g i e w i l l submit a r e q u e s t f o r more f u n d s t o C i t y C o u n c i l along with every o t h e r submission from a l l o v e r Vancouver. To b e t t e r o u r c h a n c e s , a few C o u n c i l l o r s h a v e

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been i n v i t e d t o C a r n e g i e t h[ i s week & n e x t t o g e t a l o o k a t what is h e r e now and t o t r y and s e e what i s hoped f o r (and t h e n e e d f o r t h a t hope t o b e made r e a l ) . You and me and a l l of u s can c a l l c o u n c i l l o r s a t C i t y H a l l and a s k them t o h e l p C a r n e g i e . We're t h e most s u c c e s s f u l community c e n t r e i n Canada & a j e w e l among Vancouver's 2 2 c e n t r e s . C a l l Gordon P r i c e , Don Bellamy, Tung Chan, P h i l i p Owen, Georgie P u i l and

even Campbe11 and each t h a t C a r n e g i e u s e r s can t a k e 5 o r 10 b u s e s and swamp C o u n c i l Chambers any t i m e i f t h e y want some proof t h a t we need what we need - 'pace t o live! By PAULR

TAYLOR

t h e n e g a t i v e d e f i n i t i o n of freedom i n John S t u a r t M i l l ' s "On L i b e r t y ' ' - a d e f i n i t i o n s o i n d i v i d u a l and i s o l a t e d i n n a t u r e t h a t i t h a s made i t impossi b l e f o r liberalism to deal with the overwhelming c o r p o r a t e f o r c e s t h a t a r e b u i l d i n g a n o l i g a r c h a l new world o r d e r . T h i s t e a c h i n g comes i n t h e form of a paradox a s Mike Kramer o b s e r v e d i n t h e C a r n e g i e Newsle t t e r . ( a ) The i n d i v i d u a l voice is e s s e n t i a l to a u t h e n t i c i t y ; ( b ) The i n d i v i d u a l o n l y h a s meaning i n r e l a t i o n LO o t h e r s . N a t i v e c e r e m o n i e s sometimes c l o s e w i t h t h e e x p r e s s i o n , " A l l my r e l a t i o n s . ' ' T h i s p h r a s e r e c o g n i z e s t h a t which i s common among c r e a t u r e s . We a r e , a f t e r a l l , t h e c h i l d r e n of o u r mother. Life is relationship. From t h i s i n s i g h t a r i s e s r e s p e c t and b a l a n c e . Jung h a s helped u s understand t h a t t h e j o u r n e y a r i i s t s make i n t u r n i n g i n ward t o l i s t e n t o t h e i r most a u t h e n t i c images is a communal ( c o l l e c t i v e ) j o u r ney. The p a r a d o x r e m a i n s , however, and I ' m g o i n g t o s t o p by s a y i n g T o r a i s a f i n e p o e t and a r t i s t who h a s made an enormous c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e b u i l d i n g o f community a t C a r n e g i e . Sandy Cameron

Dear E d i t o r : RE: L e t u s make w a r . . . . .

We t h e K n i g h t s o f Lady P o v e r t y vow defend h e r c a s t l e a g a i n s t d i a l e c t i c a l materialistic opportunists. The j o b s of j u d g e s , l a w y e r s , p o l i c e , c a r e teams, p s y c h o l o g i s t s , p s y c h i a t r i s t s , s o c i a l w o r k e r s , l i t e r a c y boneheads and o t h e r h y p e r p a r a s i t e s depend on u s : junkies, hookers, c o n v i c t s , mental p a t i e n t s , d r u n k s , and t h e rest of u s n e ' e r - d o - w e l l s and lumpen l a y a b o u t s t h a t b u i l t t h i s c o u n t r y from t h e g u t t e r up. You s a n c t i m o n i o u s , i r k s o m e and u n c t i o u s s n i v e l e r s t h e w o r l d a w a i t s one thought of o r i g i n a l i t y . Prcpaganda i s an i n s u l t t o a l l f r e e i n t e l l i g e n c e . Although we p r o v e you wrong a thousand t i m e s you w i l l s t i l l c l i n g t o your u b i q u i t o u s axioms, d a t a , and z e i t g e i s t s and we w i l l c o n t i n u e t o f i g h t o v e r t h e crumbs f a l l i n g from t h e f e a s t t a b l e s of your s t e l l a r i n t e l l e c t s . LO

Yours i n s u p e r s u b s t a n t i a l h e a v e n ,

J. Hussy

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ALTERNATIVE :

During h i s t i m e , A l b e r t E i n s ~ e i ndef i n e d c a p i t a 1 i s m . a ~"economic anarchy" - t h o s e were t h e good o l d days. Now t h i n g s h a v e become much more h i g h l y o r g a n i z e d . The s o - c a l l e d h i - t e c h revo l u t i o n h a s r a i s e d b u s i n e s s o u t of t h e competitive anarchy of i t s adolescence i n t o a new world dominance - a k i n d of world-wide c o - o p e r a t i v e e f f i c i e n c y h a s been i n t r o d u c e d , t h a t Aight b e s t b e d e s c r i b e d as economic f a s c i s m . A l b e r t would have u n d e r s t o o d i t . Anyone who knows f a s c i s m knows i t h a s always been t h e most s u c c e s s f u l moke f o r c a p i t a l i s m . Today, b e c a u s e o f c o n s i s t e n t l y low v o t e r t u r n o u t s i n "western" e l e c t i o n s , t h e p o l i t i c a l s y s t e m known a s " r e p r e s e n t a t i v e democracy" i s no l o n g e r happening. A s t r i c t l y c o n t r o l l e d method of g o v e r n i n g by s e l e c t e d m i l l i o n a i r e s has replaced i t , but of c o u r s e t h e i d e a s of d e m o c r a t i c "freedom", "equ a l i t y " " , & s o on, c o n t i n u e t o be widel y used as propaganda, & t h e image of i n d i v i d u a l economic s u c c e s s i s b e i n g

I !

o f f e r e d 24 h o u r s a day t h r o u g h a d v e r t i s i n g & a commercially b i a s e d media. Canadians a r e waving t h e f l a g a s n e v e r b e f o r e . They t a k e p a r t i n p a t r i o t i c s p o r t s spectacles, support the m i l i t a r y o b j e c t i v e s of George Bush, t h e American image of l a w e n f o r c e m e n t , & wear t h e s u i t & t i e o f economic f a s c i s m f o r t h e i r d a i l y uniform. J u s t s i t down i n a s o b e r s t a t e of mind & watch any t e l e v i s i o n c h a n n e l f o r a n e x t e n d e d peri o d of t i m e . . t h e n t r y t o c o n v i n c e yours e l f t h a t "economic f a s c i s m " i s o n l y a p a r a n o i d f i g m e n t o f y o u r s t a r v e d imagi n at ion. Huge m u l t i n a t i o n a l n e t w o r k s around t h e world l i n k i n t e r n a t i o n a l b u s i n e s s empires c a l l e d c o r p o r a t i o n s with t h e p o p u l a r economic f a s c i s m o f r e p u b l i c a n s democrats, l i b e r a l s , c o n s e r v a t i v e s and, t o a s l i g h t l y l e s s e r degree, s o c i a l i s t s and communists. Television defines the " r e a l p o l i t i k " of p o l i c e p r o t e c t i o n f o r property values, preserving t h e mental s t a t u s quo of a c l o s e l y m o n i t o r e d consumer s o c i e i y .

O f c o u r s e , p o l i t i c i a n s know " f u l l employment" i s n o t something t h a t c o u l d t o o many peobe achieved v o l u n t a r i l y p l e h a t e o r m i s t r u s t t h e motives of governments & l a r g e c o r p o r a t i o n s f o r t h a t t o happen - s o i t ' s c l e a r t h a t 11f u l l employment" - t h e g r e a t u n i f y i n g

...

c a u s e of c a p i t a l i s t s & s o c i a l i s t s a l i k e would have t o be e n f o r c e d . How would " f r e e w e s t e r n democracy" go a b o u t e n o f r c i n g f u l l employment l e g i s l a t i o n ? Wouldn't t h i s be t h e l o g i c a l r e s u l t of economic f a s c i s m ? Such policies c o u l d p r o v i d e a s o l i d f o u n d a t i o n f o r any "new world o r d e r " , w i t h Canada, European & Asian c o u n t r s a l r e a d y ons i d e i n a b i g way. Communists & s o c i a l i s t s want t o be good c a p i t a l i s t s too. C l e a n - l i v i n g , right-minded, s o - c a l l e d sane, machinelike, thoroughly scheduled human b e i n g s a r e encouraged t o dominate & f o r c e b h e i r s y s t e m on t h o s e who already have been d r i v e n i n t o a n o u t c a s t e x i s t e n c e by t h e d i s h o n e s t manipulat i o n s & horrendous c r i m i n a l g r e e d o f it all. F u l l employment c o u n s e l l i n g & j o b enforcement c o u l d p r o b a b l y b e q u i e t l y i n t r o d u c e d under t h e g u i s e o f p r o g r e s s i v e s o c i a l s e r v i c e , The s o - c a l l e d " r i g h t t o work" i s a l r e a d y e n s h r i n e d i n o u r Canadian c o n s t i t u t i o n ( b u t n e v e r t h e r i g h t n o t t o work). I s p e n t o v e r 10 y e a r s o f my l i f e working f o r a d agencys & v a r i o u s companys i n Toronto; e v e r y one of my emp l o y e r s t u r n e d o u t t o be a l y i n g , g r e e d m o t i v a t e d power f r e a k p r e t e n d i n g t o a b e n e v o l e n t f a t h e r image. They would a l l v o t e f o r " f u l l employment" - e v e r y one of them, & t h e y would a l l l o v e t o s e e e v e r y l a s t s h r e d of human freedom channeled i n t o t h e work f o r c e m e n t a l i t y t h a t has s o thoroughly taken over t h e i r l i v e s , & l e a v e s them no a l t e r n a t i v e .

c a l o b j e c t i v e of n o t o n l y c a p i t a l i s t s , but s o c i a l i s t s a s well. To my way o f t h i n k i n g , 100% f u l l employment c o u l d o n l y mean a n o t h e r v i c t o r y f o r economic f a s c i s m o v e r c e r t a i n timeless, f r e e k and u n p r e d i c t a b l e elements i n t h e human s p i r i t . A s o c i e t y i n which t h e r e was no a l t e r n a t i v e t o economic enslavement i n l i f e t i m e c a r e e r s , resumes, g e t - r i c h q u i c k schemes & s e l l - y o u r s e l f competit i o n , would be a v e r y , v e r y s i c k s o c i e t y i n d e e d . . . & i t seems l i k e w e ' r e a l most t h e r e . A t t h e moment, t h i s " f u l l employment" s c e n a r i o e x i s t s i n t h e f u t u r e agenda of e v e r y p o l i t i c a l p e r s u a s i o n , be i t NDP, S o c i a l C r e d i t , NPA, COPE o r whate v e r . A l l p o l i t i c i a n s are r e q u i r e d t o s u p p o r t & work w i t h law enforcement & t h e s o - c a l l e d " b u s i n e s s community", t o a c h i e v e what t h e "community" wants bottom l i n e , n o t h i n g l e s s t h a n t h e comp l e t e involvement of t h e e n e r g y of every "citizen" i n business practices m a r k e t p l a c e v a l u e s from c r a d l e t o grave.

With rumours o f Vanderzalm's r e s i g n a t i o n , w i t h t h e media p l a y i n g t o t h e outrageous s c a n d a l s and s o c r e d m i n i s t ers l e a v i n g l i k e r a t s d e s e r t i n g a sinki n g s h i p , End L e g i s l a t e d Poverty saw a need t o keep t h e most b a s i c i s s u e s i n t h e minds of p o l i t i c i a n s . No m a t t e r what t h e o u t e r mask, und e r every i s s u e and concern i s t h e s p e c t r e of poverty. For many thousands i t ' s been a d a i l y e x p e r i e n c e f o r f o r many thousands more i t ' s years s t a r t i n g t o creep i n t o t h e i r l i v e s with lay-offs, p l a n t closures, gross r e n t s , u n a f f o r d a b l e c h i l d c a r e and on and on and on. On Thursday, March 2 1 s t , 13 people from d i f f e r e n t groups i n t h e Lower Mainland and on Vancouver I s l a n d went t o V i c t o r i a t o meet w i t h Norm Jacobs e n ( M i n i s t e r of S o c i a l S e r v i c e s and Housing) and, i n t h e a f t e r n o o n w i t h t h e S o c i a l S e r v i c e s Committee of t h e NDP The b a s i c i s s u e s a r e : (1) School Lunch Programs; ( 2 ) Forced Employment of s i n g l e p a r e n t s on w e l f a r e ; (3) Raisi n g w e l f a r e r a t e s t o t h e poverty l i n e ; and (4) R a i s i n g t h e minimum wage t o g i v e i t t h e purchasing power i t had i n 1975..to $7.50/hr i n t o d a y ' s money. Each of t h e s e i s s u e s i n t e r l o c k s w i t h t h e o t h e r s . Karen from Nanaimo spoke of t h e need f o r provincially-funded lunch programs t h a t would be univers a l ( a v a i l a b l e t o a l l k i d s i n school) and t h a t p a r e n t s who could pay would and t h o s e who c o u l d n ' t a f f o r d i t d i d n ' t have t o . T h i s one h o t meal should p r o v i d e 113 of a c h i l d ' s d a i l y n u t r i t i o n a l requirements. The r e a s o n s f o r a r e b a s i c : hungry k i d s d o n ' t concent r a t e on schoolwork; they g e t s i c k more o f t e n , m i s s s c h o o l and even drop o u t sooner & f a s t e r . Being i d e n t i f i e d a s a "poor" k i d can be t r a u m a t i c & s t i g m a t i z e t b e c h i l d . Support f o r t h e s e b a s i c s comes from n u t r i t i o n ex-

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of a f f o r d a b l e c h i l d c a r e a n d l a c k of ~erts and s o c i a l workers a l i k e . A a j o b p a y i n g enough t o s u r v i v e . . l e t r e c e n t s t u d y showed t h a t t o buy t h e a l o n e raise c h i l d r e n on. most b a s i c food f o r a f a m i l y would . c o s t a b o u t $20 more t h a n t h a t f a m i l y Raising welfare r a t e s t o t h e poverty received i n support f o r food, c l o t h i n g l i n e is also a basic necessity. The and e v e r y t h i n g e l s e a month. They i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f l i v i n g on t h e meagre s a i d i n l o u d v o i c e s : "There i s simply amounts now set r o b s p e o p l e of d i g n i t y n o t enough money provided. Budgetting and hope. This i s e s p e c i a l l y t r u e f o r i s a s t u p i d s u g g e s t i o n when p r i c e s a r e f a m i l i e s and c h i l d r e n . Always h a v i n g t h e issue." seconds, always b e i n g robbed o f s e l f To t h i s J a c o b s e n r e p l i e d t h a t h e had esteem makes b e i n g on w e l f a r e more t o a s k 'What a b o u t t h e weekends and t h e work t h a n a job. This a l s o blends summer?' "Who c a r e s f o r f e e d i n g k i d s w i t h t h e minimum wage, where p e o p l e t h e n ? " P a t Chauncey (ELP) r e p l i e d s i m p l y c a n n o t a f f o r d t o r e n t AND have t h a t r a i s i n g t h e w e l f a r e r a t e s would m e d i c a l i n s u r a n c e AND g e t d e n t a l work then allow p a r e n t s t o feed t h e i r kids. done AND have a t e l e p h o n e . Programs S i n g l e p a r e n t s with a c h i l d over 6 s e t up by t h e government pay t h e minimonths o l d a r e b e i n g f o r c e d t o s e e k mum wage f o r 6-month o r 1-year p e r i o d s employment o u t s i d e t h e home. Not d o i n g and t h e p e o p l e d o i n g t h e work have no s o c a n be r e a s o n f o r g e t t i n g c u t o f f c h o i c e b u t t o go back on w e l f a r e . and l o s i n g t h e i r c h i l d . Government Jacobsen t a l k e d i n megadollars, c i t i n g programs p r o v i d e them w i t h c h i l d c a r e t h e b i l l i o n d o l l a r s b e i n g s p e n t on s u b s i d y and t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a l l o w a n c e s o c i a l services, pointedly refused t o f o r 1 y e a r , b u t most mothers s t a r t a t l i n k t h e growing numbers of p e o p l e on minimum wage j o b s ( $ 5 / h r ) and a f t e r a s o c i a l a s s i s t a n c e programs w i t h h i s y e a r would need t o be e a r n i n g $9.79 a n government's d o u b l e s t a n d a r d s . It's h o u r t o a f f o r d what i s n e c e s s a r y t o quite f i n e f o r h i s cronies t o give s u r v i v e . What happens a l m o s t always away m i l l i o n s t o c o r p o r a t e w e l f a r e bums i s t h a t a f t e r a y e a r i s up t h e mothers i n attempts t o ensure t h e i r p o l i t i c a l have t o back on w e l f a r e due t o l a c k f u t u r e , b c t blaming p e o p l e f o r t h e i r

v e r t y i s okay by J a c o b s e n & S o c i a l e d i t . . During t h e 45 m i n u t e s t h a t we t with him, J a c o b s e n w a s n ' t even pay{ing a t t e n t i o n when s p e a k e r s t a l k e d on each of t h e 4 c o n c e r n s . He had h i s r h e t o r i c down p a t and when e a c h s p e a k e r elaborated on how t h e p r e s e n t r u l e s & r e g u l a t i o n s of GAIN i n c r e a s e h a r d s h i p i t was l i k e t a l k i n g t o a n empty c h a i r . The NDP were much more r e c e p t i v e and Joan Smallwood made commitments t o r a i s e w e l f a r e r a t e s and t h e minimum wage. She r e p e a t e d h e r d i s g u s t w i t h the c u r r e n t p r a c t i c e of f o r c i n g s i n g l e parents on w e l f a r e t o t a k e any work a t any wage and w i l l c o n t i n u e t o assist in e s t a b l i s h i n g food programs i n o u r schools. The NDP w e r e n ' t a l l aware o f the r e a l i t y of p o v e r t y ; one MLA o r staff person t r i e d t o launch i n t o a debate of o u r u s e of " t h e p o v e r t y l i n e " Claude Richmond, when h e w a s mini= s t e r of s o c i a l s e r v i c e s , a l s o t r i e d t o make i t an academic i s s u e , s a y i n g t h a t there w a s "no s u c h t h i n g a s a p o v e r t y line." ( !) I n e a c h meeting t h e f o l l owing s t a t e m e n t w a s made and is t r u e : "I doubt i f anyone i n t h i s room, e x c e p t members o f ELP's d e l e g a t i o n , have e v e r experienced p o v e r t y . G r a n t e d , some of you may have been b r o k e now and t h e n , or had t o budget l i m i t e d f u n d s , b u t never l o n g enough t o have any proGetting o u t of poverty nounced e f f e c t . is h a r d l y e v e r a matter o f p u l l i n g There yourself up by t h e b o o t s t r a p s . are 181,000 p e o p l e unemployed and a l . most o n e - q u a r t e r m i l l i o n p e o p l e on wel, f a r e i n BC a l o n e , y e t t h e m a j o r i t y of jobs a r e minimum wage o f t e n worse than w e l f a r e . I t w i l l t a k e p o l i t i c a l w i l l and s o c i a l l y - c o n s c i o u s l e g i s l a t o r s t o change t h i s . I f you have t h e former and c o n s i d e r y o u r s e l f one of the l a t t e r , r a i s i n g t h e minimum wage and r a i s i n g w e l f a r e r a t e s t o t h e pove r t y l i n e s h o u l d be a p r i o r i t y . "

...

By PAULR

TAYLOR

An open l e t t e r t o a l l MLAs of B . C . :

For 15 months we have been t r y i n g , without success, t o o b t a i n from t h e S o 4 i c i t o r General and t h e Motor Vehicle Branch, the f a c t s and s t a t i s t i c s underl y i n g the conception and c o n s t r u c t i o n o f , t h e new P r i v a t e Vehicle Inspection Program (PVIP). This e f f o r t has included a debate i n the l e g i s l a t u r e on 18 J u l y 1990, during which former S o l i c i t o r General Russ Fraser took 2 questions on n o t i c e from Transportation C r i t i c Dale Lovick. Despite a number of l e t t e r s back and f o r t h , a s of today we have y e t t o receive the answers t o the questions posed on J u l y 18th. Our e n q u i r i e s regarding t h e s e e l u s i v e " f a c t s & s t a t i s t i c s " have been numerous & d e t a i l e d & pointed. However, r e p l i e s have been t a r d y and confined t o general statements about s a f e t y and enforcement methods and o b j e c t i v e s . A s t o c k r e p l y t o those of our members who have s e n t i n p e t i t i o n c a r d s appeal1;i.g f o r factua l j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r t h i s Program, has

been a p r e s e n t a t i o n of e s t i m a t e s of t h e budget of t h e d e p a r t m e n t t h a t o v e r s e e s , among o t h e r t h i n g s , t h e Commercial Vehi c l e I n s p e c t i o n Program. What i s becoming e v i d e n t i s Lhat t h e S o l i c i t o r G e n e r a l and t h e Motor V e h i c l e Branch a r e w e l l - v e r s e d i n enforcement c o n s i d e r a t i o n s and methods, b u t a r e uninformed a b o u t t h e a c t u a l m a t t e r s of v e h i c l e movement . s a f e t y . I r r e s p e c t i v e of t h i s d e f i c i e n c y , t h e y have a v a i l e d themselves o f t h e d i s c r e t i o n a r y l e g a l p r e s c r i p t i o n s of t h e Motor V e h i c l e Act t o c o n s t r u c t a m a s s i v e and e x p e n s i v e program, o s t e n s i b l y t o a d d r e s s t h e issu e of v e h i c l e movement s a f e t y . A prime example of t h i s c a p r i c i o u s & d i s c r e t i o n a r y adoption of t h e c r i t e r i a o f t h e PVIP was played o x t i n c o u r t r e c e n t l y . The new PVIP c r i t e r i a d i s a l l ows t i n t e d windows, if t i n t e d a f t e r manufacture. However, windows t i n t e d by t h e manufacturer a r e permitted. A Victo r i a man s u c c e s s f u l l y c h a l l e n g e d a t i c k e t c h a r g i n g v i o l a t i o n of t h e Motor V e h i c l e A c t , and a c o r r e s p o n d i n g o r d e r t o remove t h e t i n t i n g o r have h i s v e h i c l e removed from t h e road. The Government was u n a b l e t o prove t o t h e c o u r t t h a t t h i s was a v a l i d c r i t e r i a t h a t would improve t h e s a f e movement of vehi c l e s on t h e road. Y e t , t h e enforcement a u t h o r i t i e s a r e s o i n d i f f e r e n t t o somet h i n g a s d e f i n i t i v e as a c o u r t judgement, t h a t t h e y c o n t i n u e t o e n f o r c e - this criteria! To make c l e a r t h e p o i n t which i s fundamental t o o u r o b j e c t i o n t o t h e PVIP, n e i t h e r t h e S o l i c i t o r G e n e r a l ' s Minist r y n o r t h e M.V.B. have been a b l e t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t t i n t e d windows have c o n t r i b u t e d t o a n a c c i d e n t o r dangerou? o p e r a t i o n of 2 motor v e h i c l e . We s t r o n g l y suspect they c a n ' t , because t h i s c o n d i t i o n d o e s n ' t ! L i k e most of t h e c r i t e r i a , t h i s p r o h i b i t i o n was s i m p l y dreamed up, a s b e i n g something t h a t s h o u l d n o t be a l l o w e d . We a r e concerned! A s i t s t a n d s , w e have a s a f e t y program t h a t , i n t h e words of t h e former m i n i s t e r "...was dev i s e d i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h , and a t t h e u r g i n g o f t h e p u b l i c , and t h e automot-

i v e industry"'.' However, d u r i n g 15 months of i n q u i r i e s , r e f e r e n c e s t o s t a t i s t i c i a n s and e n g i n e e r s , and t h e jnowledge t h e y would i m p a r t t o a n i n i t i a t i v e of t h i s t y p e , a r e conspicuous by t h e i r absence. To s t a t e t h e o b v i o u s , we want s a f e t y e f f o r t s t o be e f f e c t i v e i n improving v e h i c l e movement s a f e t y , w h i l e a t t h e same time n o t b e i n g unduly b u r d e n i n g o r a b u s i v e of the public. Unless i t i s shown hat t h e c r i t e r i a upon which t h i s Program i s based a r e t h e r e s u l t of d e f i n e d and dem01:strated e v i d e n c e , t h e n i t i s obvious t h a t t h e c r i t e r i a a r e based on a s s u m p t i o n s of mechanical conditions contributing t o accidents. A s i t s t a n d s now, i t h a s been assumed t h a t e a c h c r i t e r i a i s a mechanical t h r e a t t o s a f e v e h i c l e movement. I t has been assumed t h a t t h e c o r r e c t i o n of e a c h c r i t e r i a w i l l improve v e h i c l e movement s a f e t y . I t h a s been assumed t h a t c o s t and impact a r e i r r e l e v a n t i n l i g h t of t h i s i l l u s o r y g o a l . The argument h a s been made t h a t " . . . i f we s a v e j u s t one l i f e 1 ' i t w i l l be worth i t . I t is a p p a r e n t l y l o s t on t h e S o l i c i t o r G e n e r a l and h i s e x e c u t i v e s t h a t c o n s c i e n t o u s , r e s p o n s i b l e management of o u r s a f e t y monies and e f f o r t s might e n a b l e many l i v e s t o be saved. F u r t h e r , i t h a s been assumed t h a t , i n l a b e l l i n g t h i s i n i t i a t i v e 'safet y ' , i t s shortcomings and a b u s e s w i l l be unassailable. Our o r g a n i z a t i o n , and a growing p e r c e n t a g e of t h e p u b l i c t h a t a r e becoming aware of t h i s s i t u a t i o n , a r e u p s e t and r e a c t i v e t o t h i s ' ~ u b eGoldberg' approach t o lawmaking and v e h i c l e movement s a f e t y . I n t h e i n t e r e s t of e v e r y o n e ' s s a f e t y , v e h i c l e movement s a f e t y r e q u i r e s competent and responsible attention. We, and p a r t i c u l a r l y o u r members i n your a r e a , a r e concerned a b o u t t h e p o s i t i o n you a s a p u b l i c r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a r e p r e p a r e d t o t a k e , t o develop and implement a v e h i c l e movement s a f e t y program based on well-reasoned and. r e s p o n s i b l e aims and criteria. S t u a r t Meade, A s s o c i a t i o n f o r V e h i c l e Movement S a f e t y

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'I'he Cap I t~un;; i t oil a w a l l hook, up h i g h where Lhe words on t h e c r e s L can be s e e n . I t hangs t h e r e a s a symbol of a b e s ~ o w e dHonor frome one a r t i s a n t o another. ' l h a n k s L O one of 919.

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" Couvelier's departure reveals fiscal failure" The r e s i g n a t i o n o f B . C . ' s f i n a n c e m i n i s t e r may s t r i k e many a s j u s t one more a c t i n t h e 3 - r i n g c i r c u s t h a t i s t h e s o c r e d government. But Me1 C o u v e l i e r ' s e t h i c a l problem w i t h h i s premier i s n ' t t h e only s t o r y . What h e had t o s a y a b o u t S o c i a l Credi t ' s handling of B C ' s f i n a n c e s r e v e a l s a t h r e a t t o your f a m i l y ' s w e l l - b e i n g . Me1 C o u v e l i e r a d m i t t e d BC f a c e s a t l e a s t a $700 m i l l i o n d e f i c i t f o r t h e l a s L 1 2 months, and i t c o u l d be much more. He was i n an i m p o s s i b l e s i t u a A t Lhe same t i m e h i s government tion. i s p r e a c h i n g r e s t r a i n t , he had t o adm i n i s t e r an enormous s o c r e d p r e - e l e c t ion s p e n d i n g s p r e e l e d by Bud Smith and o t h e r s . (One r e a s o n w e ' r e u n l i k e l y t o s e e a p r o v i n c i a l budget b e f o r e a n e l e c t i o n i s b e c a u s e i t would e x p o s e the socreds' pre-election overspending) Couveilier f o t caught i n the socreds' d o u b l e s t a n d a r d : an u n f a i r p o l i c y of f r e e spending, while t e l l i n g nurses, t e a c h e r s and o t h e r working p e o p l e t h a t t h e y must c u t back. O r d i n a r y women 6 men a r e e x p e c t e d t o t i g h t e n t h e i r b e 1 t s , b u t n o t t h i s government The f i n a n c e m i n i s t e r ' s r e s i g n a t i o n

i s a m a j o r blow t o t h e s o c r e d s ' f i s c a l c r e d i b i l i t y . With i t , t h e f a l l a c y of t h e BS ( b u d g e t s t a b i l i z a t i o n ) f u n d h a s been exposed. Having c o n f e s s e d t h a t BC f a c e s a budget d e f i c i t b i g g e r t h a n p r o j e c t e d , the s o c r e d s a r e d r a i n i n g t h e i r soc a l l e d BS f u n d . Yet t h e f a c t i s t h e r e ' s no r a i n y day c a s h i n t h e BS fund i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e . It's a s i f o v e r a p e r i o d o f t i m e , you and your f a m i l y s p e n t more t h a n you made. Suddenly you g e t a r a i s e , and c h o o s e t o pay o f f some o f what you owe. In t u r n , t h e bank g i v e s you a n o t h e r c r e d i t card. The p r o v i n c e i s now drawi n g on t h a t c r e d i t c a r d , n o t c a s h . It i s government by c r e d i t c a r d - a n y money t a k e n from t h e BS f u n d s i m p l y a d d s t o t h e government d e b t . And t h e s o c r e d s a r e n ' t j u s t s h o v e l l i n g money o f f t h e b a c j o f t h e t r u c k , t h e y ' r e d r i v i n g down t h e highway w i t h t h e t a i l g a t e open: 20% pay h i k e s f o r socred p o l i t i c a l a i d e s i n t h e l a s t s i x months a l o n e ; 59% pay h i k e s f o r d e p u t y m i n i s t e r s o v e r t h e Vanderzalm t e r m of government, and h u n d r e d s o f m i l l i o n s i n a pork b a r r e l f o r f r i e n d l y businesses. Good f i s c a l management o f y o u r t a x d o l l a r s ? T h i s i s t h e same government whose Expo l a n d s ' s e l l - o f f was r e c e n t l y l a b e l l e d by b u s i n e s s l e a d e r s a s " t h e dumbest d e a l o f t h e c e n t u r y " . By t e l l i n g t h e t r u t h about t h e d e f i c i t and s o c r e d o v e r - s p e n d i n g , Me1 C o u v e l i e r h a s g i v e n many BC t a x p a y e r s good r e a son t o c o n c l u d e t h e y c a n ' t a f f o r d f o u r more y e a r s of S o c i a l C r e d i t . The c u r r e n t government i s i n a p o l i t i c a l c r i s i s o f i t s own making. Me1 Couvelier's departure is another sign a l t h a t i t ' s t i m e f o r a change and a r e t u r n t o honesty about o u r province's f i n a n c e s - a r e t u r n t o open government without double standards. By MIKE HARCOURT

Editor My l e t t e r r e f e r s t o t h e shameful d e c i s i o n of Chief J u s t i c e A l l a n McEachern of t h e BC Supreme C o u r t , which d e n i e d t h e a b o r i g i n a l r i g h t s of the G i t k ' s a n and Wet'suwet'en p e o p l e i n n o r t h - w e s t e r n B r i t i s h Columbia. Aboriginal t i t l e t o t h e land i n B r i t i s h Columbia w a s r e c o g n i z e d by t h e I m p e r i a l Government, t h e Hudson's Bay Company, and t h e c o l o n i a l government from t h e b e g i n n i n g of s e t t l e m e n t on the west c o a s t of B.C. I n 1860 t h e l o c a l Assembly i n Vict o r i a p e t i t i o n e d t h e I m p e r i a l Government f o r f u n d s t o e x t i n g u i s h N a t i v e t i t l e on Vancouver I s l a n d . The p e t i t i o n s a i d i n p a r t : "As t h e N a t i v e Popu l a t i o n of Vancouver I s l a n d have d i s t i n c t i d e a s of p r o p e r t y i n l a n d . . . t h e y would n o t f a i l t o r e g a r d t h e occupat i o n of ( t h e i r l a n d s ) by w h i t e s e t t l e r s , unless with t h e f u l l consent of t h e p r o p r i e t a r y t r i b e s , as n a t i o n a l (1) wrongs.. The C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y r e f u s e d t h e r e q u e s t f o r money, s a y i n g t h a t t h e colony s h o u l d p r o v i d e t h e f u n d s , b u t he s t a t e d t h a t h e was ! ' f u l l y s e n s i b l e of t h e g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e of p u r c h a s i n g t h e N a t i v e t i t l e t o t h e s o i l of Vancouver I s l a n d . " ( 2 ) I n 1864 James Douglas r e t i r e d a s Governor of t h e c o l o n y , and t h e new Chief Commissioner o f - Lands and Works, Joseph T r u t c h , r e f u s e d t o r e c o g n i z e abo r i g i n a l t i t l e t o t h e l a n d of B.C. When t h e colony o f B r i t i s h Columbia j o i n e d Canada i n 1871, t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of I n d i a n A f f a i r s became a f e d e r a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , and t h e Government of Canada, i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e Proc l a m a t i o n of 1763, b e l i e v e d t h a t N a t i v e p e o p l e s had r i g h t s t o t h e l a n d which must b e e x t i n g u i s h e d b e f o r e European s e t t l e m e n t c o u l d move forward. I n 1876 Lord D u f f e r i n , t h e Gover-

. .."

...

n o r G e n e r a l of Canada, made a speech i n V i c t o r i a , two months a f t e r t h e r e t i r e m e n t of J o s e p h Trutch. In his speech Lord D u f f e r i n s u p p o r t e d t h e r e c o g n i t i o n of a b o r i g i n a l t i t l e , and h i s remarks were t a k e n a s a n I m p e r i a l protest against provincial injustice. I n 1877 t h e s i t u a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g N a t i v e l a n d i n B.C. became s o explos i v e t h a t D. M i l l s , t h e M i n i s t e r of t h e I n t e r i o r f o r Canada, warned t h e p r o v i n c i a l a u t h o r i t i e s t h a t t h e fede r a l government would s i d e w i t h t h e I n d i a n s i n c a s e of t r o u b l e . ( 3 ) I n a l e t t e r t o S p r o a t o f t h e Reserve Commission, M i l l s blamed t h e simmeri n g d i s c o n t e n t on t h e l a n d p o l i c y o f J o s e p h T r u t c h which M i l l s c a l l e d I I n o t o n l y unwise and u n j u s t , b u t a l s o i l l e g a l . " (4) The d e c i s i o n of Chief J u s t i c e McEachern i s a c o n t i n u a t i o n of t h e p o l i c y o f J o s e p h T r u t c h i n s p i t e of t h e Nishga c a s e t h a t s p l i t t h e Supreme Court and t h e Sparrow c a s e t h a t upheld a b o r i g i n a l r i g h t s . It i s a n example of how t h e l a w can be used as a weapon by t h o s e who have g r e a t power. So o f f e n s i v e l y c o l o n i a l i s Chief J u s t i c e ~ c E a c h e r n ' sd e c i s i o n t h a t I b e l i e v e t h a t Chief S a u l T e r r y o f t h e Union o f B r i t i s h Columbia I n d i a n C h i e f s i s c o r r e c t when h e s a y s "I e x p e c t i t ( t h e d e c i s i o n ) w i l l strengthen support i n the general p u b l i c f o r a b o r i g i n a l r i g h t s and a j u s t s e t t l e m e n t of t h e l a n d q u e s t i i o n . " (5) Sandy Cameron (1) The S t r u g g l e f o r S u r v i v a l - F.E. L a V i o l e t t e - p.105 ( 2 ) L a V i o l e t t e - p.105 ( 3 ) The I n d i a n H i s t o r y of B.C. - Wilson Duff - p.67 ( 4 ) J o s e p h T r u t c h & The I n d i a n Land P o l i c y - R. F i s h e r - BC S t u d i e s #12, Winter 1971-72. ( 5 ) The Vancouver Sun, Mar. 9/91.

--STD CLINIC - Monday t h r u F r i d a y , 9am - 5pm. DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FREE MEDICAL CLINIC - Mon., Wed. & F r i . 5:30-7:30 YOUTH NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 221 Main , e v e r y d a y , 9am - 5pm. ACTIVITIES Needle exchange van - on t h e s t r e e t Mon - S a t evening. SOCIETY N.A. m e e t i n g s e v e r y Monday e v e n i n g a t 223 Main S t r e e t . N a r c o t i c s Anonymous (NA) m e e t s a t Dugout, 57 P o w e l l , 7:30 F r i . '

1991 DONATIONS: Oly(Sven) -$20 ende el R.-$15 H e a t h e r M.-$15 Herman L.-$10 C e c i l l e C.-$10 Sandy C.-$20 T e r r y T.-$200 Brenda - $5 J a n e t B.-$20 L i l l i a n H.-$20

C h a r l e y B.-$30 Cement Masons -$I75 Marilyn S.-$36 Darren L.-$50 F o r e s t Lawn -$20 E t i e n n e S.-$20 Nancv W.-$75 A r t VL -$5 Vishva A.-$15 E l l e n -$5

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