cat SRE Debating recall Supporters and opponents of Skeena S MLA put each other on the hot seat We gave the pro- and anti-recall forces a chance to interrogate each other in print. Each side provided three questions to be answered by the other side. Recall proponent Lorne Sexton wrote the Crash Hel mut office’s responses. Elaine Pigeau and Ray Brady wrote the responses for the anti-recall Skeena Taxpayers’ Association. Here are the questions and answers: If the Stockell court case or the Auditor General’s report shows conclusively that the government engaged in fraud by saying the budget was balanced during the last election campaign, would you cross the floor and vote against the government on any non-confidence mo- tion? — Crash Helmut This misleading question over- . looks one crucial fact. No émployer, as advocated by the BC Liberals. The benefits — in terms of tax dollars paid by workers, goods and services pur- chased from suppliers, tax revenues from businesses dependent on the company, and millions of dollars in wages spent, in local economies — far outweigh the cost, as was confirmed by a study done by an indepen- dent consulting firm. This is a deal where we all share the risk and, ultimately, the reward. We believe the plan for Skeena Cellulose means long-term viability. Without it, we all lose. —- Skeena Taxpayers Association , In order to scare people into not signing the recall peti- tion you told them that names on the petition will be public. Why didn’t you also tell them that access to personal: information is restricted and only to be used for Elec- IN THE WAR ROOM: Anti-recall workers _ tion Act purposes with severe penalties if Marguerite Clarkson and Vicki Fenton go =‘ misused? — Crash Helmut CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail Bag MLA called deceitful Dear Sir: Once again Mr. Giesbrecht has committed a deceitful act that shows he should be recalled, Recall legislation is law. Mr. Giesbrecht and his as- sociates designed this law so that any voter, or group of voters, of any political persuasion, who believe that they have legitimate reasons to recall their MLA, would have the right to do so a year and a half after the previous clection, They designed the recall legislation so that the recall process would take 60 days, and they knew that an MLA would have io spend a fair bit of time defending himself. They also knew, when the wrote this legista- tion, that the recall process would interrupt the normal process of an MLA’s job to some degree. But now that Mr. Giesbrecht is facing recall he is trying to make the voters, who are exercising the right he gave them in the very law he passed, look like the bad guys. In his most recent ad he, shamelessly, blames them for the processes and effecis he and his colleagues designed into the legislation and passed into law. He accuses them of ‘‘using recall campaigns to grind our political system to a halt’’, and that ‘‘it’s a waste of our time and money.’’ He says, ‘il was only a year and a half ago that we elected representatives to work for our communities... and we gave them time to do it..but now individuals and special interests are using recall to hoid this system ransom.’’ The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 21, 1990 - AS ec ee ee a ee | fraud has been committed. ver telephone polling results at the offices David Stockell and the politi- of the Skeena Taxpayers Association, simply refusing to accept the result of last "ever gives specific instances. We believe year’s provincial election. They are also he had esentially nothing to do with the The issue of access to the He is saying this, of course, to manipulate the public a names on the recall petition into not signing the recall petitions. How dishonest and i was not brought up by the deceitful! Mr. Giesbrecht knew when he voted to pass Skeena Taxpayers Association this Jaw that recall would mean some MLAs would ' ws . fi ign, and Id have to defend th Ives. but by those sponsoring the petition. It is ace a campaign, and would have to defend themselves. settlement, — Crash Helmut abusing the court system — and the people of this province who pay for it — in their bid to win what they couldn’t win from the voters. The recall campaigners fail to men- those who want to see Helmut Giesbrecht and Paul Ramsey recalled that have been Ray Brady has chatienged saying that anyone who signs a petition is Now Mr. Giesbrecht has ihe audacity to slander the voters as the bad guys by saying the processes aud ef- fects he and his NDP associates designed into the law are the voters’ fault. Shame on you Mr. Giesbrecht. How could you do Troy Lanigan to a public guaranteed confidentiality. This is simply debate on two occasions, not the case. The Chief Electoral Officer, this to your own constituents. Are you willing to do Why won’t the Canadian Bob Palterson, has repeatedly made this anything, evell be dishonest, lo keep people from sign- court action. Taxpayers Federation and the —_clear, Anyone can go to the Elections B.C. | ing the recall petitions “ . ony in power? BC They also fail to mention that this lawsuit Proponents i recall sa to a pam attic ana sontr re st ee ae ° te ost Bee Masenau, Lerrace, W\- es ebate in Kitimat on the future of the 15 Strictly controlied by Elections B.C. an . . vatitionone ever the elections of ll 39 jobs at Alcan? If Troy Lanigan won’t can only be used for a bona fide purpose Fish group likes Helmut NDP MLAs. debate, why not Lome Sexton? — under the Election Act or the Recall and In- Dear Sir: = Secondly, the Auditor General is not in- Skeena Taxpayers Assocation itiative Act. But the list remains available The Watershed Bio-Enhancement Society can’ see a i_— vestigating fraud — he is investigating ac- for public scrutiny. reason for a recall of Helmut Giesbrecht. His initiative counting practices and ways to improve the Contrary to the statements of Rather than frightening people, Helmut resulted in a fulure major economic benefit affecting budget process. We think it’s disgraceful Helmul’s supporters, the Ca- has been truthful. Rather than hiding behind at paxcholders in he fishing musty ible fi ' that the recall campaign is trying to confuse nadian Taxpayers Association the false promise of confidentiality, Helmut § , "CmulUres I Is not din yee with € Lor reso ‘ os is not involved in any organi- _—-has been up front and honest. As an elected ing our society's longstanding feud with governmen people about this important work. The . ws . vet MLA. Hel : b . bureaucracy in getting recognition for our sociely ac- government has already updated many of zational or decision making capacity in the » Helmut is accountable on a daily local Il . basis for hi ti d th f tivities. He was able to convince the politicians in Vie- its accounting practices, as recommended 9 “©C#" Tecall campargn. asis for his actions and those of the toria of the importance related to our habitat enhance- by the Auditor General. Therefore as the Skeena recall proponent, — government. He doesn’t hide his beliefs or ment technology. This resulted in money for phase two Let's remember that prior to the last elec- I can’t speak for the Canadian Taxpayers _ his actions. . . of our research related to acceleration of restoration of tion, all the major economic forecasters, in- Federation any more than they can speak If people want to sign a recall petition, destroyed, polluted, or nutrient-deficient watersheds. cluding the government and the B.C, Liber- for me, however I can give my personal thal is their right. But it is also their respon- Tm fully aware and familiar with Helmut’s struggle als, anticipated growth for British,Colum-. - '@480"s for not debating Mr. Brady. sibility to be open, honest and accountable with government authorities to achieve this goal, - bia’s economy. in fhe range: 062.5 percent. . a Mr, Brady’ isqnot the'subject of recall, Hel- for their actions, Just as the. names of those regardless of potential negative consequences “Nii oT Unfortunately due to a cyclical downtum in | ™¥U! Giesbrecht is. on the voters list is a public document;'so.: | ‘Soverment officials. 1- es3s ~ n _ Sekittk int ; . ‘ ols Schil nger, ~ : ‘ b The only issues that ] am dealing with are are those on a recall petition, Our demo- : . ong in any eae ms cauld keep. ou recall and the lack of representation by Mr. .cracy demands no less than full accoun- President, Watershed Bio-Enhancement Society own personal budget forecasts within 1 or 2 Giesbrecht, not some vague promise of fu- lability by those who choose to involve T t rk % accuracy, as the provincial government ture jobs at Alcan. themselves in it. — Skeena Taxpayers As- redSon at Wo has done, we'd be happy. — Skeena Tax- Mr. Brady is not accountable to anyone, sociation Dear Sir: ' . eas and as such statements he makes are not ] have not belonged to any political parly since 1986, payers Association, necessarily those of the MLA. After realizing my honcst-minded vote was being , * Mr. Brady has made the following state- Why {s Lorne Sexton in- Soci Credit Party, I quit, They uly We ty aay woe ‘ “ments recently: structing his canvassers to ; mys a good job in Skeena, work “Helmut Giesbrecht would have gol a visit voters in the workplace | oi ered, Those voter will be tossed aside like gar ; : : bigger pension had he stayed a teacher for 6 and harass them to sign the ‘ Meds B ing with business, workers . : tition? — Ske T Associa bage on the political highway. and stakeholders to preserve Yeas than he would from his MLA’s pen- Mo ons — skeena Jaxpayers Associa- Mr. Giesbrecht has my full support. When reading our major industries, Why are the Cana- 4/0". tlon letters to the editor, I sce frustration by some construc- dinn Taxpayers Federation and the mi ‘‘Recail canvassers from Terrace who tion that David Stockell is a supporter of the B.C, Liberal Party and other B.C. Liverals have provided support for this —_ tion workers For losing jobs that had been created by are working in Kitimat should ‘get the Hell Lome Sexton is not instructing the Kemano Completion Project. In reality those jobs | hi sialic neni opposed jobs st AL back to Terrace’ ”” canvassers to visit voters in were already created to build the Peace Power mega- ; , d Skeena Cellulose?” Skeena _ Mf Recall is only meant for an MLA who the workplace and harass them project 30 years ago, and the benefils can be scen now ami has performed illegal acts or for gross mis- to sign the petition. by selling that electricity to industry. Taxpayers Association It took several years of interference by outside forces — CKNW talk show host Rafe Mair and Nechako River dowastream ecnvironmentalisls -— to stop that project. I did not read an avalanche of Ictters to the editor here in Terrace to support that project except, 7 conduct.”’ Helmut Giesbrecht made the accusation @ ‘‘Signatures on the recall petition will early on in the campaign that unidentified be made public.” employers were harassing unidentified em- As all of these stateinents are either false, ployees but could not substantiate it with misleading or provocative, I would suggest —_any proof. Helmut Giesbrecht’s vague statements that he has some- how helped with the SCI and . Alcan - situations should be : , alter it was canceled. backed up with facts so voters can make an with all due respect to Mr. Brady that The Crash Helmut campaign does not The people complaining now have to blame them- informed decision debating him would serve no useful pur- need to resort to dirty tricks to get people to selves for not standing up. It is a very cheap shot now i ‘ai ’ pose. sign. to put the blame on Mr, Giesbrecht. uiere 1s ito se Chand wm s record If the Skeena Taxpayers Association Lorne Sexton has stated that anyone who Those negative statistics of earned or future pension with regare’ to . wants a debate, why doesn’t Helmut come _feels that they have been intimidated by an paymicnts to an MLA to further their shrouded cause. ' Helmut: . ' forward? — Crash Helmut employer or anyone else into signing the’ | Docs the Canadian Taxpayers Federation have in mind @ Publicly ridiculed contractors for working for SCI even though their contracts did not allow them to withhold services. m Passed the microphone to Dan Miller at the Repap rally in March after saying he didn’t know why ali the creditors were petition can ask for their name to be removed. Why is it that the pulp On the other hand, the recall committee workers in Dan Miller’s con- _ has letters from executives of two separate stituency (who are still get- unions who have been writing to their ting 95 per cent of their members and instructing them not to vote. to put a member who lives at the bingo hall in Ottawa to fill Mr. Giesbrecht’s place? Members of any group who try to bring down a duly democralic clecled government by misleading false ad- vertisements should be arresied and charged with treason. Manfred Bader, Terrace B.C, there. @ Took credit for putting the mayor of Terrace in direct contact with Dan Miller, rather than dealing with the issue himself. w Sent a mailout that stated that the future of Skeena Cellulose was secure just days before the Royal Bank backed out. m Made a public statement before the final restructuring vote that SCI creditors are in a position to demand payment every j two weeks or at least every month although the restructuring package stales that pay- ment will be made in advance for the first take-home pay and all of their benefits) | This kind of harassment is offensive. were given 20 per cent ownership of Further, Mr, Giesbrecht’s supporters have Skeena Cellulose Inc. while the creditors been advertising thal names on the petition, . in your constituency received almost sheets will be made public. This is an in- Dear Sir: oo nothing? — Crash Helmut timidation tactic and is simply not true. Recall violates one of the basic principles of demo- The very fact that Helmut supporters | °°: secret, ballet, everyone's right to priv acy ar In pulting together this ques- would try to scare people into not signing cal expression. 0 Feinaify ANORYMOUS Hl one's Polls tion, tbe recall proponents the petition underlines the reasons that . . - Appearing to better serve B.C, politics, recall is really seem to ignore the fact that recall is necessary. a step back, an aberration of the true democratic pro- Skeena Cellulose restructuring The truth behind the privacy issue is born cess. Canadian electoral experts have helped other na- = also means jobs for 800 workers atthe saw- = gut by recent quotes from Elections B.C. tions in establishing and supervising free elections in mill in Terrace, and sawmills elsewhere in spokesperson, Jennifer Miller: countries with a record of human rights violations, Just a bad idea the northwest. m ‘‘Access to personal information is Just picture Canadians now exporting recall to places year. indefinite sh The support this government has arranged _restricted.’” like Haiti, Nicaragua, Angol. Perhaps we could sell the q |_| Said nothing about ne aS, ate ut- means the company will be a viable, long- | “You can’t just pick up a copy and use idea to Fidel in Cuba, or Saddam in Iraq. Good idea, down of West Fraser 88 fend SawmIis. term, competitive operation providing it for your own purposes” hey? ith regard to Alcan: a much-needed employment and a stable eco- m ‘Any concerns would be thoroughly The present recall hysteria ees many of “s to come . m1 Helmut wos intested in saving jobs Foctase fr ou fami, out rns and reviewed by he cit leo offi, and, | lend mae ow ple ain ple Psp; he would have spoken out when the |, neighbours right here in this riding. if needed, an investigation would be | reatitv inthe vor lace , government cancelled KCP. Skeena Cellulose’s unsecured creditors. called.’ Some will argue that it all doesn’t matter much, since g The reality is that no mew jobs were voted strongly in favour of the business‘ - jj ‘‘Convictions —- including action ours is a peaceful country and nobody gets (physically) created because of the Alcan settlement plan presented to them carlier this month. against people who punish someone for hurt. Weil, it docs matter If we want to continue in the oe and, according to the CEO of Alcan, it isn’t They knew that the potential loss. of almost —_ having signed or refrained from signing the | tradition of peace and respect for due polilical process. — certain if any new jobs will ever be created. . 8,000 jobs in several communities would petition — carry a $10,000 fine or jail time Things are gelling a little uncomfortable. Recali — a _— m CASAW boycotted Glen Clark’s have had a tremendous impact on the «upto two years.’’ bad idea, and equally bad if the tables were tumed. ceremonial re-opening of Line 7 because, viability of the region as a whole, and small © Whether you decide to sign the petition or Jose Coosemans, Terrace B.C, despite all the hype from Glen Clark and business in particular. not, we of the recall committee will defend Helmut Giesbrecht, no new jobs were creat- There’s no question the business sector in your democratic right to make your own ed, the entire northwest would have been choice with no feat of reprisals. w Helmut keeps saying thathe had some- devastated by the closure of our primary. — Crash Helmut More letters, Page A& | .