* Opinion TheReview Wednesday, July 4,1990 — A9

has

VICTORIA — If I understand
Premier Vander Zalm correctly, he
plans to pursue the option of
sovereignty association for British
Columbia, now that the national
dream has been'so badly bruised.

Which raises the question: what
exactly does sovereignty associa-
tion mean? The premier said the
other day he didn*t know what it
meant, but if Quebec gets it, he
wants it, too. It doesn’t make a lot
of sense, but that’s what the man
said.

Webster’s Dictionary defines
sovereignty as “freedom from
extemal control . . . autonomy .. .
independence.” I don’t think Ill
have to explain what association
means.

In my books, sovereignty associ-
ation has always meant one thing
—Sseparation with special ties to
the rest of the country, and I
believe that most Qebecers would
use the same definition. Our prem-

“Whatever the views of British
Columbians on the merits of
Meech Lake or the value of the
agreement of June 9 or the process
by which those agreements were
reached, I know I can say without
contradiction that all British
Columbians are strong Canadi-
ans,” the premier said.

“We love Canada. We want

* Whatever Quebec gets Vander Zalm wants

lature last week that he was in part
responsible for the current consti-
tutional mess, because he voted
against the inclusion of native
rights, the premier replied that he
was against native self-government
because he didn’t know what it
meant.

During the first ministers’ meet-
ing in the spring of 1987,
“nowhere during the whole of that
two days was there anyone who
could give us an explanation of
what self-government meant,” the
premier said.

That’s great, just great. First our
premier votes against something
because he doesn’t know what it
means, then he wants something

the meaning of which he doesn’t

know.

The premier’s dislike for Que-
bec is a matter of record. You
probably remember his sentiments
regarding French on cornflake

‘The premier’s dislike for Quebec is
a matter of record. ’

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: : . boxes. You may also remember S
ier, on the ome hand, says he isn’t eee ae ee : x oS co u hat he On GHie BSS IS * UPHOLSTERY * DRAPE
really sure what it means. 8 Socreds at a convention with a AXANTIQUES KETC.

Alas, I think the premier had a
pretty good idea what sovereignty
association meant when he told
the media that’s probably what

@ British Columbia would negotiate -

for, if Quebec was headed in the
that direction.

It was only when his remarks
were beginning to be badly
received that the premier back-
tracked. Before the opposition
even had a chance to grill him on
his ill-advised comments to the
media, he made a statement in the
House that was drenched in
nationalism.

make a better, stronger country for
our children and for their chil-
dren,” he added.

Considering his remarks of a
couple of days earlier, these words
ning a little hollow and can only be
regarded as a collection of inspira-
tional platitudes.

By the way, Sovereignty associa-
tion isn’t the only important con-
cept that has eluded Vander Zalm.
Self-government by native Indians
is something he also professes not
to understand.

When Colin Gabelmann
reminded the premier in the legis-

ditty about frogs.

Vander Zalm’s aversion to
Ottawa is also no secret. The
premier has never been a federal-
ist. His strong belief that British
Columbia is getting a bad deal out
of confederation has never left a
lot of room for imponderables
such as love of country or pride in
the unique Canadian nation
model.

The premier abhors central con-
trol and, given half a chance, he
would take British Columbia out
of confederation.

Reference Canada tells you who to call

Who do I call to get permission
to build a dock on a lake? Do I
have to get my CB radio licenced?

~g: What constituency am I in and

Mining code

Mines Minister Jack Davis last
week introduced the new “Health,
safety and Reclamation Code,” a
set of up-to-date safety and envir-
onmental measures for the mining
industry.

“Mining is B.C.’s safest major
industry by a three-to-one mar-
gin. The new code sets B.C. mining
standards for the 1990s with state-
of-the-art safety, environmental,
and clean-up guidelines,” the min-
ister said.

The new code requires greater
worker participation and increases
responsibility of local mine safety
committees. The code, the result of
more than two years’ joint work by
government mines inspectors,
union representatives, workers and
mine managers, covers more than
20,000 workers.

Veniure growth

B.C. investors raised more than
$29 million last year to support the
growth of small business under the
Small Business Venture Capital
program.

That total is $5 million higher
than in 1988, “which clearly
demonstrates continued confi-
dence investors have in our econ-
omy, said regional development
Minister Stan Hagen.

how do I contact my Member of
Parliament? Is Boxing Day a statu-
tory holiday?

. My parents are celebrating their
60th anniversary this year; who do
I contact to have a congratulatory
letter from the Queen? Where can
I get a copy of the Meech Lake
Accord?

I’m now in a wheelchair; does
the federal government have an
assistance program to adapt my
house to my new needs?

Where would you call to get
answers to these questions? Thou-
sands of British Columbians get a
response to these and similar quer-
ies every month by calling Refer-
ence Canada, the federal govern-
ment’s telephone referral and
information service.

They call toll-free 1-800-663-
1381 from the province of B.C.
and let Reference Canada’s client
service officers track down the
best contacts for the approximately
1,400 programs and activities
administered by the Government
of Canada.

Read something in the newspa-
per and find yourself unsure of
whom to call to get more informa-
tion? Scanning the Blue Pages of
the phone book, but not finding
what you need? That’s where Ref-
erence Canada can help you.

Find a helpful government pam-

phlet and want to get a copy for
yourself? See an attractive govern-
ment poster or calendar? Refer-
ence Canada doesn’t send out
posters or publications, but they do
know where to find most of them.

Don’t hesitate to use Reference
Canada. Some clients think their
inquiries are too trivial, or are
embarrassed to ask for help.

Whatever your question, if you
think it involves the government,
Reference Canada would be
pleased to help.

They’ve answered: questions on
trap lines, aircraft and boat regis-
tration; passports and citizenship;
Canadian, private and interna-
tional pensions; trade marks, pat-
ents, incorporation, bankruptcy;
foreign embassies and Canadian
consulates, free trade; unemploy-
ment insurance, job creation pro-
grams and social insurance num-
bers; federally regulated labor
standards; arts and small business
funding, and whether chickens
will lay more eggs if you give them
toys to play with . . . just to
mention a few things.

Reference Canada is open from
8:30 in the morning to 4:30 in the
afternoon, Monday through Friday.
Call 666-5555 in Vancouver or
1-800-663-1381 anywhere else in
British Columbia. Reference Can-
ada is waiting for your call.

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REFER

RESULTS

APPLICATION FOR A CLASS “D” LIQUOR LICENCE
TO OPERATE A
NEIGHBOURHOOD PUBLIC HOUSE
AT
7147 WEST SAANICH ROAD
BRENTWOOD BAY, B.C.

In accordance with Liquor Control and Licensing Branch guidelines, a
referendum was conducted between February 16 and March 17, 1990.

For the application to proceed, a mi

vote in favour of granting the licence.

A 60% majority was not achieved
will cease on this basis.

ENDUM

nimum of 60% of those voting must

in the referendum. The application